A history of Mississippi : from the discovery of the great river, Part 52

Author: Lowry, Robert, 1830-1910; McCardle, William H
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Jackson, Miss. : R.H. Henry & Co.
Number of Pages: 674


USA > Mississippi > A history of Mississippi : from the discovery of the great river > Part 52


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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The towns in the county are Ripley, the county site ; Dumas, Brooklyn, Falkner, Ruckersville, Guyton, Cotton Plant, Tip- lersville, Lowery, Blue Mountain, Orizaba and Silver Springs.


The streams are Tippah and Tallabatchie rivers, West Hatchie, East or Big Hatchie, Muddy Cane and Owl creeks.


The Gulf & Ship Island is the only railroad in the county.


Tippah has 29,184 acres of cleared land ; average value per acre, $6.63 ; total value, including incorporated towns, $250,606.


The population of the county, as shown by the census report of 1890 : Whites, 9,981; colored, 2,970; total, 12,958.


585


HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.


SENATORS.


1837 Samuel Mathews.


1838-'39 Samuel Matthews.


1840-'41 Samuel Matthews.


1842 Frederick Brougher.


1843 Frederick Brougher.


1844 Frederick Brougher.


1846 N. S. Price.


1848 N. S. Price.


1850 J. H. Berry.


1852 J. H. Berry. 1854 Joel H. Berry.


1856 Joel H. Berry.


1857


1858 W, R. Buchanan.


1859 W. R. Buchanan.


1860-'61 W. R. Buchanan.


1861-'62 Wm. G. Pegram.


. 1865-'66-'67 F. A. Wolff.


1870 W. T. Stricklin.


1871 W. T. Stricklin.


1872-'72 E. M. Alexander.


1874-'75 Clarence Cullens.


1876-'77-'78 Chas. C. Terry.


1880 J. H. Dalton.


1882 J. H Dalton.


1884 W. A. Boyd.


1886 W. A. Boyd.


1888 W. A. McDonald.


1860 W. A. McDonald.


REPRESENTATIVES.


Robt H. Warren.


Jas. P. Portis, S. M. Hargrove.


J. B. Ayres S. M. Hargrove.


S. M. Hargrove, W. B Smith.


John Gordon, Samuel Craig.


N. S. Price, W, M. Wofford, W. S. Taylor, D. Griffin.


E. A. Warren, D. Griffin, C. A. Green, J. II. Berry.


J. W. Echols, J. Gatlin, J. G. Hamer, W. H. Foote.


J. H. Gatlin, J. W. Echols, B D. Nabors, Benjamin Collins.


J. D. Barker. M. W. Moody, H. A Cook.


T. C. Hindman, Jr. F. A. Wolff, John Sid- dell, J. G. Hamer.


J. G. Hamer, J. W. Thompson.


J. W. Thompson, G. W. Hamer.


S. C. Rutherford, I. R. Collins, J. M. North- cross.


S. C. Rutherford, R. McAllister, J. L. Mc- Donald, Wm. Knox.


S. C. Rutherford, Wm. Knox, J. L. McDon- ald, R. Mc Allister.


W. A. Boyd, J. C. Jackson, D. K. Childers, S W. Echols.


Jas. H. Kennedy, W. H. Holcombe, H. H. Powers.


E. N. Hunt, H. F. Wells.


E. N. Hunt. H. F. Wells, E. M. Alexander. W. A. Boyd.


Thomas Spight.


Thomas Spight.


Francis A. Wolff.


C. J. Frederick.


J. J. White, John Y. Murry.


N. L. Harmon, W. T. McDonald.


S. O. Love, Jas. C. Harris,


L. Pink Smith. Allan Talbot.


TISHOMINGO COUNTY


Was established February 9th, 1836. The following named per- sons were appointed by an act of the Legislature, February 14th, 1836, Commissioners to organize the county: Peter G. Rivers, James Davis, James M. Matthews, and A. M. Cowan. At the date of organizing the county, it embraced more territory than any other in the State.


The counties of Alcorn and Prentiss, except a small strip of territory taken from Tippah, were carved out of Tishomingo.


Among the first settlers of the county were James Bell, who resided at Farmington, a town now extinct; Shelby Maury, who was the first representative of the county ; Reuben Boone, who


586


HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.


represented the county in both branches of the Legislature, was the father of Lieutenant-Colonel Boone, of the 26th Mississippi regiment, who was killed in Virginia, while in command of his regiment, and of Hon. B. B. Boone, who was also a Lieutenant- Colonel in the Confederate army, represented the county in the Legislature, and after the war was Circuit Judge of the judicial District in which he lived ; - Gresham, who was the father of the late Major James Gresham. The elder Gresham was the owner of the mills at the head of Mackey's Creek, more than half a century ago; after his death the site was purchased by Mr. Nelson, upon which a cotton factory was established, and in successful operation when burned a few years ago. Samuel and James E. Matthews; the former represented the county soon after its organization in the State Senate, and the latter represented the county, and was subsequently elected Auditor of Public Accounts. D. W. Hindman, who was a Representative from the county ; Major Calvin Lacey and his brother Carroll Lacey, who emigrated from Perry county, Tennnessee ; the latter has a son now practicing law at Boone- ville. The families of Martins, Kysers, Hamlins and Rogers, Wesley Williams, the Taylors, Stephen S. Houge, S. D. Gibbs, one of the early sheriffs of the county ; Col. Robert A. Daven- port, a gentleman of high standing, who also served acceptably as sheriff of the county ; John Dilworth, father of Hon. A. B. Dilworth, who served the county as a member of the Legisla- ture, and subsequently elected Secretary of State ; H. B. Mitch- ell, who was the first Probate Judge of the county. John Reeves, who was the first circuit clerk of the county. John Job, or "old Sorrell" as he was familiarly called, was one of the earliest set- tlers of the county. Leroy Pounds, Isaac Lewellen, Jas. R. Har- rell, Thomas Dilworth, the Blythes', James Senter, the Smiths', A. E. Reynolds, Colonel of the 26th Mississippi regiment, served the county as State Senator, and after the war as Chancellor of the District in which he lived ; David Hindman, Wm. Duncan, Dud. Corley, B. C. Reeves, the late Robert Lowry, who repre- sented the county in 1863, the father of Captain John A., Robert and the late Doctor W. L. Lowry, and the father of the wife of ex-Chief Justice Arnold, of the Supreme Court of Mississippi, now of Birmingham, Alabama. The late David Allen, the father of a numerous family. The eldest son, James, is a leading cot- ton factor in the cities of Memphis, Tennessee and St. Louis, Missouri ; Robert H. served the county of Lec as State Senator, and more recently Tishomingo in the Constitutional Convention.


587


HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.


John M., or "Private John," as he is more familiarly known, was District-Attorney in the first Judicial District for several years, and is now serving his fourth term as a member of Congress from the first Congressional District of his native State. Thos. Bennett, Nicholas Norket, Pat. Garner, the Bettes', Clarkes', Hester's, Price's, William Leslie, John Shepard, Vincent Smith, Henry Smith, Edward Young, John Carter, Seth Martin and Wyatt Bettis.


The towns of the county as at present organized are Iuka, the county site, with a population of nearly one thousand, situated on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, Burnsville, Eastport, Cartersville and Bay Springs.


This place was known in an early day as Gresham's Mills. Bay Springs was the name of Robert Lowry's residence, four miles from the mills.


The first post-office in that vicinity was at his store, and called Bay Springs Postoffice. When he changed his residence to near old Carrollville, the post-office was moved to Gresham's Mill's, without change of name, and the place was thereafter called Bay Springs.


The principal streams are Tuscumbia and Tennessee rivers ; Bear, Twenty Mile, Wolff, Polly's, Big and Little Brown, Dry, Okalia, Mackey's, Casey's, Meadow and Brush Creeks.


Much of the most productive and fertile lands in Tishomingo as first organized, are now embraced in the populous and pros- perous counties of Alcorn and Prentiss.


The number of acres of cleared lands in the county is 26,151, and the average price per acre as rendered to the assessor, is $4.14 ; the total value of cleared lands in the county, including incorporated towns, is $108,287.00.


The population as shown by the census of 1890 is : Whites, 8,289 ; colored, 1,013 ; total, 9,304.


SENATORS.


REPRESENTATIVES.


1837 Samuel Matthews.


1838-39 Samuel Matthews.


1840 Samuel Matthews.


1841 Samuel Mathews.


1842 W. F. Withers.


1843 .W. F. Withers.


1844 W. F. Withers.


1846 R. H. Boone.


1848 R. H. Boone.


1850 A. E. Reynolds.


Shelby Ussery.


D. W. Hindman, Shelby Ussery.


R. H. Boone, James Matthews.


R. H. Boone.


James E. Mathews, A. B. Dilworth.


Shelby Ussery, A. B. Dilworth.


R. H. Boone, W. L. Allen, James Wells.


A. B. Dilworth, D. W. Hindman, S. O. Gibbs.


A. B. Dilworth, S. S. Hogue, M. Surat, J. F. Arnold.


W. H. H. Tison, M. Surat, C. W. Bell, J. W. Chisholm.


588


HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.


1852 A. E. Reynolds.


1854 E. O. Reynolds.


C. A. Taylor, B. C. Rives, M. G. Lewis, Jas. Box.


W. H. H. Tison, M. Surratt, C. W. McLeod, Geo. Tankersly.


M. Surratt, C. W. McLeod, Geo. Tankersly, J. J. Lindsay.


1858 C. W. McCord.


1859 C. W. McCord.


1860-61 C. W. McCord.


1861-62 C. A. Taylor.


- 1865 W. L. Duncan.


I866-67 D. M. Wisdom.


1870-71 John M. Stone.


1872-73 John M. Stone.


1874-75 John M. Stone.


1876 John M. Stone.


John A. Crossland.


1877 John D. Bills.


1878 John D. Bills.


1880 John D. Bills.


W. A. Tankersly.


1882 F. M. Boone.


H. T. Moss.


1884-86 F. M. Boone.


1888 F. M. Boone.


1890 C. Kendrick.


S. L. Rodgers.


TUNICA COUNTY


Was established February 9th, 1836. Among the early settlers were S. H. Fletcher, Dr. J. C. Nelson, J. S. McPeak, Ransom H. Byrn, who represented the county in the Legislature ; Walter H. Bell was the first representative from the county ; R. H. Humphreys, Lorenzo A. Besancon, S. May, Thomas M. Fletcher, James F. Boren, Richard Abbay, who was the father of Hon. Richard F. Abbay, who represented the county in the Legisla- ture, and was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1890.


Towns in the county are Tunica, the county site, Austin, Hol- lywood, Robinsonville and Evansville. Commerce, situated on the Mississippi river, was the first town in the county, and when located it was believed that it would be a place of large commer- cial importance, but it no longer exists, having long since become a part of the great river.


The streams in the county are Buck Island and Beaver Dam bayous, Walnut and Beaver Dam lakes. The Mississippi river forms the western and Coldwater the eastern boundary of the county.


There are in the county 49,355 acres of cleared land, the value of which, per acre, as rendered by the assessor, is $12.44; total value of cleared lands, including incorporated towns $661,653.


1856 A. E. Reynolds.


1847 A. E. Reynolds.


M. Surratt, C. W. Bell, B. B. Boone


M. Surratt, C. W. Bell, F. M. Boone, J. Ackers M. Surratt, C. W. Bell, F. Boone, - Ackers. W .. W. Bonds, R. B. Smith, C. W. Williams.


J. W. Burress, B. B. Boone, W. A. Tankers- ly, M. Surratt.


J. W. Burress, B. B. Boone, W. A. Tankers- ly, M. Surratt.


Hugh M. Street, R. A. Johns.


W. Y. Baker.


Jackson Ackers.


John A. Crossland.


Frank Cook.


C. Kendrick.


M. P. Harrison.


Jas. Box, C. A. Taylor, Geo. Tankersley.


589


HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.


The population of the county as shown by the census of 1890 : Whites, 1,218 ; colored, 10,936 ; total, 12,154.


SENATORS.


REPRESENTATIVES.


1837-'38 James D. Hallam.


W. H. Bell.


1839 Felix Walker.


Walter H. Bell.


1840 Alfred Cox.


Lorenzo A. Besancon.


1841 James M. Matlock.


Lorenzo A. Besancon.


1842 Andrew Knox.


Lorenzo A. Besancon.


1843-'44 Andrew Knox.


Thos. M. Fletcher.


1846 Felix Labauve. S May. R. H. Byrne.


1848 Felix Labauve.


1850 James M. Tait.


R. H. Byrne.


1852 James M. Tait.


1854 Simeon Oliver.


James F. Boren.


1856-'57 Simeon Oliver.


George A. Sykes.


1858 Simeon Oliver.


R. G. Kelsey.


1859-'60-'61 Simeon Oliver. R. H. Byrne.


1861-'62 Simeon Oliver. Dale.


. 1865-'66-'67 Dr. W. H. McCargo. 1870 A. S. Dowd. IS71 A. S. Dowd.


Francis A. Owen.


1872-'73 J. G. Holloway, M. Gilbert Smith. Campbell.


1874-'75 J. G. Holloway, M. Gilbert Smith. Campbell.


1876-'77 C. G. Callicott, J. B. George P. A. Brown. Morgan.


IS78 C. G. Callicott, J. B. Mor- James B. Perkins. gan. W. J. Nelson. T. C. Ferguson. 1880 Iames B. Perkins. 1882 V. B. Waddell. 1884-'86 R. W. Owen. T. C. Ferguson.


1888-'90 N. A. Taylor. R. F. Abbay.


CHAPTER XXXIV.


UNION COUNTY


W AS established April 7th, 1870, carved out of parts of Pontotoc and Tippah counties, and is regarded as among the best counties in North Mississippi.


In giving the names of the early settlers of this county it must be understood that the territory was then embraced in the coun- ties of Pontotoc and Tippah. Berry Hodges and John Hodges, William D. Sloan, Allen and Barton Sloan, Samuel Knowles, Col. John S. Doxey, Shepherd A. Briggs, Barker Foster, William Ford, Moses Collins, Rev. Joseph Edwards, Matthew Wilhite, John Robbards, Vincent and John Wages and Dock Collins, settled in what is now Union county one year before the organi- zation of Pontotoc and Tippah counties, as did Dr. Ben. Ellis ; William Houston, a prominent citizen of the Buncomb section of the county ; William Hamilton, David Pannel, Samuel Atkinson, William Stone, C. T. Bond, Frank and Alexander Morgan, Jesse Collins, Dr. Thompson, Osna Alexander, Ira Kemp, Dr. H. N. Moss, Charles Walker, Clark Foster, James and Jake Borden, Samuel Govan, Sim Pannel, Marion Shelton, Samuel B. and Joseph Allen, William Duncan, Larkin Hill, Dick Hudson, James Dun- can, William Hall, John Hardy, Abe Williams, George Wiley, Robert McBride, M. W. Martin, John Y. and Milas Nesbit, Ekekiel Millsaps, Zack Tate, John Little and James Tison, settled in what is now Union county, during the years 1836-'37-'38 and 1839. One, two and three years later may be mentioned Carey Snider, J. C. and Wiley D. Robbins, John Arnold, W. C. Swin- doll, Dr. M. Wilson, B. C. S. and Dr. Porter McAllister, Russell J. Turner, John and Robert McAllister, Rev. Isaac Smith, Samuel and Tom Newton, D. F. Algood, J. A. Parker, Wm. F. Parks, Eli Corneville, Benjamin Parker, J. J. Jarvis, William Liddell, John Bills, Aleck and John A. Heard and George Hillsman. During the next three years there were Rev. James Boswell, William Langston, James Lee and William Jarvis, Jacob and Robert Dansby, Dr. C. G. Mitchell, Joshua and Isaac Smith.


591


HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.


The principal towns in the county are New Albany, the county site ; Wallerville, Ellistown, Blue Springs, Baker, Keownsville, Myrtle, Rocky Ford and Ingomar.


The streams are Tallahatchie river, Kings or Issip Creek, Lukaspur, Mud, Lapatube, Tishomingo, Big or Hill, Oklemata and Ocondihatcha creeks.


The Chicago & Ship Island and Kansas City, Memphis & Bir- mingham railroads pass through portions of the county.


Union county may be classed as a good county of lands.


The approximate value of the cleared lands in the county, agreeably to the assessment of 1889, was $4.58, and the uncleared lands $2.39 per acre.


The people of the county are prosperous and contented.


The population of the county, as shown by the census report of 1890 : Whites, 11,569 , colored, 4,037; total, 15,606.


SENATORS.


REPRESENTATIVES.


1872-'73 E. M. Alexander.


1874-'75 Clarence Cullens.


1876-'77 Chas. C. Terry.


1878 Chas. C. Terry.


W. R. Ramsey, C. S. Bobertson.


1882 J. H. Dalton.


1884 W. A. Boyd.


1886 W. A. Boyd.


1888 W. A. McDonald.


1890 W. A. McDonald.


C. O. Potter.


Z. M. Stevens.


A. J. Cochran, B. F. McWhorter.


B F. McWhorter, Jeff Wilson.


1880 J. H. Dalton.


S. Heard, N. M. Berry.


J. L. Dickerson, Z. M. Stevens.


B. F. Mc Whorter, Jas. Gordon.


W P. Stewart, M. L. Henry.


Robert Frasier, Jeff D. Potter.


WARREN COUNTY


Was established December 22d, 1809, and named in memory of Dr. Joseph Warren, a Major-General of Massachusetts Bay, who fell at the battle of Bunker Hill on the 17th day of June, 1775.


Vicksburg, the county site, was named in honor of the Vick family, some of the descendants of whom are still residents of the city.


Among the early settlers in the southern portion of the county were Jacob Hyland, who represented the county in the Legisla- ture in 1822; Wm. L. Sharkey, specially referred to elsewhere ; the families of Glass, Pace, Rawls, McElrath, Hicks, Griffin, one of whom, Francis, represented the county in the Legisla- ture ; Lewis, Lobdell and Haynes.


The central portion of the county was first settled by the Rev. Tobias Gibson, who was probably the first Methodist missionary to Mississippi, and his brother, Rev. Randall Gibson ; both were


592


HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.


citizens of prominence. Tobias Gibson moved to Louisiana. His grandson, Randall L. Gibson, is now a United States Sena- tor from that State. Col. James Gibson represented the county in the Legislature several terms, and was probate judge when killed by Col. Anthony Durden, whose mother was a Vick, and his wife a sister of Col. Gibson whom he killed. The Nailors, Mo- netts, Booths, Sextons and Valentines were connected by mar- riage with the Gibson family. The neighborhood is still called the "Gibson Settlement."


Another settlement in an early day was on the chain of lakes above where the present National Cemetery is located, commen- cing at the river at the Walnut Hills, among whom were H. P. Morancy, Dr. John Jenkins, whose son was killed in Vicksburg while editor of the Vicksburg Sentinel by Henry A. Crabb. The wife of Dr. Jenkins was a Miss Donaldson, sister of the wife of General Andrew Jackson. The Fergusons, Turnbulls, Samuel A. Davis, brother of President Jefferson Davis, and the Throck- mortons.


After the United States survey of public lands not included in previous grants, there came quite an exodus of immigrants from Virginia and settled on an attractive plat of land, some seven miles northeast of Vicksburg. The area embraced in this set- tlement was about two miles in width, four miles in length, and very nearly level. It was surrounded by hills too steep for cul- tivation. The Choctaw Indians had a town or camping ground near there, called by them Highland Lake. The cane had been burnt often, and the large timber destroyed, hence the name given to the settlement was "Open Woods," which it still bears, and for which Open Woods street in Vicksburg was named.


Foster Cook, the father of the venerable Rev. Edwin G. Cook, now eighty years of age, was the surveyor who ran out the sec- tion lines through the open woods, and then entered it all for four of the Vicks and four of the Cook families, who were related lived and prospered on their settlement, and were buried in the gardens of their homesteads. Their descendants were numerous in Warren and elsewhere.


Foster Cook had the only public gin and mill in the Open Woods to which seed cotton was brought to be ginned and corn to be ground. At that early day cotton receipts given at a gin when seed cotton was delivered, were by statute of 1822 made assignable, and if not delivered or paid for on demand, agreea-


593


HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.


bly to the provisions of the statute, the holder of the receipt was entitled to recover the value of the cotton and 15 per centum damages.


Mr. Cook's hospitable home was a stopping place for distin- guished politicians of that day, and political speeches were fre- quently made at his house. Among his guests were numbered Governor Walter Leake, Dr. Keirn, who married Miss Lucy Lcake, who was the mother of Dr. W. L. Keirn, of Holmes county, one among the accomplished and intellectual men of the State ; Hon. Christopher Rankin, Hon. David Dickson, Governor David Holmes, Hon. Ralph Ragan, a State Senator in 1822 ; Hon. Adam Gordon and others.


The city of Vicksburg, or rather the land upon which it is located, was intended to be surveyed and laid off in town lots by Rev. Newett Vick in 1819. Mr. Vick, however, died before accomplishing his intentions, but left directions for the carrying out of his wishes. His executor, Col. W. B. Vick, did not believe that such survey and sale of lots would promote the interest of the estate, but that it would be more profitable to cul- tivate the land in cotton.


His failure to carry out the plans of Rev. Mr. Vick created itigation which resulted in the appointment of Rev. John Lane, son-in-law of the deceased, administrator with the will annexed, who proceeded to carry out the wishes of the decedent.


There may also be mentioned as early settlers, J. C., N. W. and E. Ford, James McCutchen, William M. Pinckard, Thomas L. Arnold, Jacob U. Payne, Jilson P. and James O. Harrison, W. S. Bodley and Dr. Hugh S. Bodley, the latter killed while in company with other gentlemen seeking to arrest gamblers who at that time were infesting the city. Dr. Bodley's death caused the hanging of five or six of the gamblers on the 5th of July, 1835 ; there were also Hon. Thomas A. Marshall, a great lawyer and profound jurist, who has reached the age of nearly four score years, still a resident of the city, esteemed and respected by the entire community, and the late Rev. Dr. Charles K. Marshall, an eloquent and distinguished Methodist divine known and beloved, not only throughout the State, but beyond her borders as a min- ister of great force and power, and a gentleman of rare culture. N. D. Coleman, L. R. Coleman, Abram B. Reading, Atwood and Randolph Reading, Patrick W. Tompkins, in many respects gifted and unexcelled, who served as judge of the circuit court, and also as a member of Congress; he was the father of George 38


594


HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.


H. Tompkins, now a worthy citizen of the city ; Harper P. Hunt, who married a sister of Judge Tompkins, and was the father of the two gifted and brilliant ladies, Mrs. Dr. Brisbane, who still lives in the home of her childhood, and Mrs. Col. Odom, of Abilene, Texas ; Dr. James M. Hunt, an accomplished physician, Judge William Mills, Wm. H. McCardle, Wm. Pescod, Jas. R. and Robert McDowell, William Davenport, Thomas and Ed- mond Whaley, Thomas Rigby, Dr. James Hagan, editor of the Vicksburg Sentinel, and killed by General Daniel W. Adams; Michael Cuddy, William Porterfield, Rev. George Weller, the first Episcopal minister in Vicksburg; J. Fred Baum, Bonelli, Joseph and Antonio Genella.


Among the carly merchants of Vicksburg were Wm. B. Mark- ham, the father of the Rev. Thomas R. Markham, D. D., a dis- tinguished Presbyterian divine of New Orleans; Alexander C. Manlove, Samuel Garvin, James R. Harris and Richard Lyons, Wm. M. and Ferdinand Pinckard, Jacob U. Payne, Harvey Jen- kins, Wm. P. Swiney, James R. and Robert McDowell, Wm. R. Norcom, Thomas C. and Thomas J. Randolph, Crutcher and McRaven, the latter a native of Hinds county, Tilden and John- son, John C. Bull, and his partner John C. Black, George Brun- gard, the Crump brothers, Robert H., John and Benjamin; the first became mayor of the city; the Fox brothers, the Folkes brothers, Shepherd Brown and his partners, Joseph and George Johnson; Purdy and Springer; the latter became judge of pro- bate and represented the city in the Legislature more than once ; Swartout and Gwin, Thomas and Edmund Whaley and Charles W. Allen.


Among the early lawyers were Alexander G. McNutt, Wm. L. Sharkey, George Coalter, Wm. Mills, Wm. H. Benton, Wm. S. Bodley, John I. Guion, Wm. H. and Alex. M. Paxton, Eugene Magee, Albert G. Creath, Charles T. Flusser, Samuel P. Web- ster, Wm. A. Lake, Thomas A. Marshall, Sargent S. Prentiss, Joseph Holt, James O. and Jilson P. Harrison, Wm. H. Hurst, Eilbeck Mason, brother of the late Hon. James M. Mason, of Vir- ginia ; John M. Chilton, Fredrick A. Norcom, Jacob S. and George S. Yerger, Wm. E. Anderson, the father of the distin- guished Fulton Anderson, Wm. C. Smedes, a lawyer of great ability; E. S. Fisher, subsequently a judge on the bench of the High Court of Errors and Appeals; Patrick W. Tomp- kius, later a Representative in Congress and judge of the circuit court; John H. Martin, the father of General Will T. Martin ;


595


HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.


Armistead Burwell, Robert L. Moore, who fell at the head of a Vicksburg company at the battle of Buena Vista; Robert L. French, William N. Harrison, Samuel W. Dorsey, Henry F. Cook and Abram F. Smith.


Among the early physicians were Dr. Thomas Anderson, Dr. Robert J. Harper, Dr. Hagaman, Dr. Hugh I. Bodley, Dr. James Crump, followed later by his brother, Dr. George P. Crump ; Dr. Thomas M. Jackson, Dr. R. H. Broadnax, Dr. John G. Par- ham, Dr. Wm. T. Balfour, Dr. Walter Puckett, Dr. B. J. Hicks, Dr. Morgan, Dr. Alex. Hensley, Dr. Allen, Dr. Albert Chewning, Dr. M. M. Pallen, Dr. Morris Emanuel, subsequently for a num- ber of years president of the Vicksburg and Meridian Railroad Company ; Dr. George K. Birchett, Dr. James C. Newman, Dr. Church, Dr. Robert J. Turnbull, Dr. Daniel B. Nailor and Dr. Willis M. Green, the brother of General Duff Green, the distin- guished journalist.


During the early settlement of the county, when the tributa- ries of the Mississippi were full, flat-boats passed out of the Mis- sissippi river through Yazoo Pass, Coldwater and Tallahatchie into the Yazoo river to Yazoo City with produce of all kinds, to supply the demands along the circuitous route. Keel-boats were conducted through the chain of lakes north of Vicksburg to the Yazoo river through Chickasaw bayou.


The county site was at Warrenton up to 1836, when by a vote of the people it was changed to Vicksburg. When the new courthouse was finished Rev. Edwin G. Cook was appointed clerk of the county and probate courts and John M. Henderson clerk of the circuit court. The wife of the venerable Mr. Cook before mentioned, was the granddaughter of Levin Wailes, who was the son of Sarah Howard and Benjamin Wailes. Levin Wailes was appointed by President Jefferson surveyor of public lands south of Tennessee. He died in Washington, Adams county, in this State, and was succeeded by B. L. C. Wailes, who was subsequently State geologist, and made a most valuable report on the agriculture and geology of Mississippi, embracing a sketch of the social and natural history of the State, which was published by order of the Legislature thirty-six years ago.




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