Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi, embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the state and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy and illustrious families and individuals, Vol. II, Part 106

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed
Number of Pages: 1314

USA > Mississippi > Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi, embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the state and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy and illustrious families and individuals, Vol. II > Part 106

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).

678

BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL

where in the state are crowded with orders, and always pushed to full capacity of plant. When out at Cheyenne, Wyo., in 1888, I was surprised and gratified to find Governor Moon- light of that territory, Register Wilson, the secretary of state, the surveyor-general, and many other prominent officials, clothed in goods from the Wesson mills, and in 1882 both of the Mississippi and Georgia senators were clothed in beautiful suits of cloth made by the Wanita mills, of our state. But I tire you. I will only add that Mississippi offers greater advantages and facilities to the cotton and woolen manufacturers than any other state in the Union, and I am anxious to see you at once utilize this grand Carrollton property. Remem- ber, that under the operation of the long and short haul of the inter-state commerce law, we enjoy a vast advantage over eastern mills in the trade with the trans-Mississippi country, China, Japan and the islands of the South seas in the all-controlling matter of freights to western seaboard."

Robert E. Williams, Wesson, Miss., although but a short time a resident of Mississippi, Mr. Williams has made himself decidedly popular with those around him, and as secretary and treasurer of the Mississippi mills, a position to which he was appointed in August, 1891, his career will be noted with no common interest. Mr. Williams was born at Port Royal, Va., June 11, 1846. His father was Dr. G. A. Williams, and his mother was Miss M. R. Blackmore, both native Virginians. At the age of fourteen he removed with his parents to Missouri, and his earlier efforts in life were those of assisting his father on the farm. Later in life he removed to St. Louis, Mo. where he engaged in commercial pursuits until his appointment to his present position. Mr. Williams has no organic connection with any church, but is a believer in divinity and christian organization. He is unmarried, and like most bachelors, contented with his lot. Personally, Mr. Williams is of a decidedly retiring disposition and of as equally pronounced modesty. He is of medium hight and good build and robust constitution. He has an open, frank face that wins confidence at once and a manner of speech that bids the stranger welcome. He is a brother of Mr. Williams of the large wholesale dry goods firm of Richardson, Williams & Co. of New Orleans. Mr. Williams' whole life since he arrived at early manhood has been devoted to clerical labors in which he is an expert. He was one of the organizers of the Office Men's club of St. Louis, a club of more than usual note.

In reviewing the names of the men in Newton county, who have made a career for them- selves worthy of record, that of W. B. Richardson is found among the most prominent. He is a native of Caswell county, N. C., but was taken during his infancy by his parents to Chris- tian county, Ky. There he passed an uneventful youth until the breaking out of the Civil war. He at once enlisted under Capt. Tom Woodward, of Christian county ; the company went at once to Clarksville, Tenn., to be sworn into the service; thence, to Camp Boone, and afterward was the first company to enter Bowling Green, Ky., attended by eight other com- panies. Mr. Richardson's war record was rather phenomenal ; he went through the entire conflict without receiving a single wound. Upon the declaration of peace he went back to his old home in Kentucky, remaining there until the fall of 1866; at that time he came to Brandon, Rankin county, Miss., and entered the employ of Stephens, Willis & Co., in whose service he continued three years. In 1869 he embarked in the mercantile trade at Newton on his own responsibility. The experience he gained while with this successful firm was the foundation of his own fortune. While at Newton, a period of three years, he did an extensive business of $250,000 under the firm name of Richardson & Co. He also established a business at Jackson, Miss., still retaining control of the business at New- ton. In 1880 he returned to Newton, bought out his partner, and is now doing a business of

679

MEMOIRS OF MISSISSIPPI.

$150,000 annually; he handles more cotton than any firm between Vicksburg and Meridian, in the state of Mississippi. Mr. Richardson was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth, a daughter of Col. Thomas E. Helm, of Jackson, Miss. She died in 1886, and he was married a second time to Miss Mattie Brown, daughter of A. J. Brown. Two sons have been born of this union: W. B., Jr., and James. Believing most earnestly in the bonds of friendship fostered in fraternities, Mr. Richardson is connected with the Knights of Pythias and the Knights of Honor. His wife is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. The father of W. B. Richardson was James Richardson, who was one of a family of four sons and four daughters.

Prof. S. R. Ricketts, A. M., one of the professors of Whitworth college, was born at Vicksburg, Miss., in 1843. He is the son of Rev. R. B. and Martha (Cosby) Ricketts, natives respectively of Kentucky and Georgia. His father was born in 1794, and was a son of Abraham Ricketts, of Maryland, and who was of Scotch and Welsh decent. The professor's great-grandfather was the original settler of the family in this country, and located at New Castle, Del., among the pioneers at that point. His son, Abraham, followed farming, and removed from Delaware to Marysville, Ky., where he became a well-to-do planter, and where he reared a large family of sons and daughters, of whom Rev. R. B. Ricketts was the young- est. The latter grew to maturity in Kentucky, and was there educated. Removing to Jefferson county, Miss., in 1833, he settled near Fayette, where he engaged in planting, in which he continued with considerable success. In 1839 he joined the Mississippi annual conference of the Methodist Episcopal church. In 1843 he removed to Louisiana and engaged in sugar planting, remaining there until 1860, when he took up his residence in Iberville parish, where he engaged in cotton planting until the war. After the war he removed to Baton Rouge, where he was made steward of the deaf and dumb asylum, .. which position he held until 1868, when he purchased a plantation near Summit, Pike county, Miss., from whence he removed in 1873 to Brookhaven, where he died in 1879. Although not all of his life engaged in preaching, he was ever an active worker for the church, devoting heart and soul to all of its varied interests. In politics he was a whig, and upon those questions which the division between the North and South turned, he espoused the Union cause. His wife was born in 1809, and was a daughter of James Cosby, a native of Georgia. Her mother, who was Miss Margaret (McCall) Cosby, was also a native of the same state and a first cousin of the wife of Judge Edward MeGehee, of Wilkinson county. (See sketch of Judge McGehee.) The mother of our subject was one of a family of five children, four of whom were daughters, she being the youngest in order of birth. She was reared in Wilkinson county, Miss., where she had removed with her parents in her childhood. The other members of the family were: Eliza, who married Mr. Williams, and after living in Wilkinson county for a number of years removed to Hinds county, thence to California in 1869, dying there quite recently; Harriet married James Fuqua, and lived in Wilkinson county a great portion of her life, removing to Clinton, Miss., and thence to Baton Rouge, where she died; Louisa, who married Robert Germany, and lived and died in Centerville, Miss. (See sketch of Charles Germany). Martha, the mother of Prof. Ricketts, died in Summit in 1873, having been for many years an earnest and devoted worker in the Methodist church; Scott lived in Wilkinson county and died there in middle life. The father of Prof. Ricketts was first married to Miss Shaw, of Jefferson county, Miss., by whom he had two sons who removed with him to Baton Rouge and died while at college. His mother was first married to Mr. Chrissman, of Woodville. To Mr. and Mrs. Ricketts were born three sons and three daughters, of whom two sous and two

680

BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL

daughters are yet living. Barron C. died in the army; Mary L. is now Mrs. Woodside, of Baton Rouge, La .; Patti died in her thirteenth year; Henry P. is the city editor of the Memphis Scimitar; Lucy is a teacher in the public schools of Memphis, Tenn.

Prof. Ricketts was reared near Baton Rouge and principally at the collegiate institutions of that time. Later he attended Centenary college, at Jackson, La. After receiving his degree at the last named college, he taught school for a short time in the collegiate institute, until 1862, when he joined the Second Louisiana cavalry, and a few months later he was tranferred to the Signal corps at Port Hudson. He was captured at the time of Bank's first movement at Port Hudson, and was a prisoner for a time at New Orleans. After his release on parole, he went to camp at Enterprise, Miss., being exchanged only after a year of inac- tivity. He reported to General Forrest, at Columbus, Miss., and was sent on signal duty to a point near Grand Gulf, where he remained until the close of the war, when he was paroled at Jackson, Miss. Removing with his family to Jackson, La., he taught for a short time in the collegiate institute, until he was appointed to a position in the United States revenue office at Baton Rouge, which he filled until February, 1867, when he removed to Port Gibson, and became a teacher in the collegiate academy, remaining there until 1873. During the last year of his connection with the institute he held the position of principal. He then became connected with Whitworth college, in which he has found a field of labor since, having taught the advanced classes in all of the departments, but having for the most part filled the chair of professor of mathematics. For years he was Dr. Johnson's chief assistant. His career as a teacher has been one of almost unexampled success, and his connection with this institu- tion has brought to it much well deserved credit and prosperity. He married Miss Bertha Burnley, a graduate of Whitworth college, and a daughter of Col. Edwin and Maria Burnley, of Copiah county, Miss. Her father was a native of Virginia, who came to Missis- sippi in 1830, locating in Copiah county, and becoming a well-to-do planter. He was a very, popular and influential man, having at one time held the office of secretary of state in Vir- ginia. Her mother was a native of New Jersey, and came to Port Gibson as a teacher in 1843. She taught there and elsewhere in Mississippi. She is yet living, making her home with Professor Ricketts and his wife. She became the mother of three sons and one daughter, named: Robert, Edwin, John and Bertha. Professor Ricketts was first married to Miss Katy Bessy, the daughter of Judge T. T. Bessy, and who died in 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Ricketts are members of the Methodist Church South, and among its most liberal supporters. Prof. Ricketts is a member of the order of Knights of Honor.

Gen. Benjamin S. Ricks, Yazoo City, is entitled to a space in this record of the leading men of Mississippi, both on account of personal worth and the position he occupies in the business circles of Yazoo county. He is a son of Benjamin Sherrod and Frances (Winter) Ricks, natives of North Carolina and Virginia, respectively. His father was born in 1882, and was reared in Halifax county, N. C. He was graduated at Chapel Hill college, in 1823, and was also a graduate in medicine; he did not, however, enter into the practice of the profession, but in early life devoted himself to planting in Mississippi, to which state he had removed in 1830. In 1840 he went into the commission business in New Orleans in partnership with John Carroll, which he continued until 1862, though in the meantime he was associated with other men. He was a most excellent business man, and acquired a large fortune before the war. He was not an aspirant to political honors, and would never accept public office. Politically he was an old line whig, and a true and loyal friend of the sunny South. The maternal grandfather of our subject was Major Winter, a native of Virginia. The Ricks family is of Welsh extraction, and the Winters family is of English stock. The

681

MEMOIRS OF MISSISSIPPI.

grandmother Winter was a daughter of Bailey Washington, who was a first cousin to Gen. George Washington. General Ricks was born in Madison county, Miss., May 24, 1843. He was educated at the Bingham school and Princeton university. The war coming on before he had finished his course, he left his books to go to battle. He enlisted in company C, Twenty-eighth Mississippi cavalry, and was promoted to first lieutenant and adjutant of his regiment. In 1880 he was made major general of the state militia by Governor Lowry. He served through the entire war with W. H. Jackson's division of cavalry in Frank Arm- strong's brigade. He was in the battles of Atlanta and Adairsville, and in the latter engage- ment was wounded. After his recovery he was in many hard-fought battles in Tennessee. He was in Gainesville, Ala., at the time of the surrender. After his return from the war, he began planting in Yazoo county, where he has lived a retired, quiet life on his plantation, Belle Prairie. In 1882 he removed to Yazoo City, where he had built a handsome home. In 1873 he was married in Geneva, Switzerland, to Miss Fanny Jones, of Charlotte, N. C., a daughter of Edmond P. Jones, also a native of North Carolina. General Ricks has been a member of the levee board since 1884, and has done efficient service. He is one of the largest planters of the Yazoo delta, raising about three thousand bales of cotton annually. He owns not less than eighteen thousand acres of land, six thousand acres being under cul- tivation. He is interested in the Cotton Compress & Warehouse company, and other important enterprises of his city. Although not a member of any church, he has ever main . tained a high moral standing, and as a citizen, business man and neighbor, he has few equals and no superiors.

William W. Rife, planter, Bolivar, Miss., is a Mississippian by birth and bringing up, and his parents, William and Martha J. (Collins) Rife were natives of that state also. The father was a pioneer of Washington county, Miss., and settled near the present site of Green- ville before that town was founded. He was a farmer by pursuit and died in that county in 1843 or 1844, respected and honored by all. The mother received her final summons in 1853. William W. Rife was born near Greenville, Washington county, Miss., in 1835, and was liberally educated in Centenary college, Jackson, La. He came to Bolivar county in 1869, and as he had been trained to the duties of the plantation from early boyhood he very naturally chose that as his life's occupation. He now has about five hundred acres adjoin- ing the village of Bolivar and has three hundred and fifty acres under a fine state of cultiva- tion. This was formerly the home of General Vick, of Vicksburg, but it was a wilderness at the time Mr. Rife purchased it. He has it well improved and stocked and everything about the place indicates to the beholder that a thorough hand is at the helm. He is also the owner of a good steam cottongin with improved machinery, etc.

Thomas Rigby (deceased) who was for many years a resident of Vicksburg, was born in Manchester, England, in 1802, a son of George and Martha Ellen (Houson) Rigby, the former of whom was a minister of the Methodist church and came to America about 1820, locating in Missouri, where he preached the gospel and resided until his death, his wife also passing from life in that state. Thomas Rigby was educated in England and came to America with his parents, locating with them in Missouri, in which state his boyhood days were spent in tilling his father's farm, and in attending the public schools. After attaining a suitable age he taught school, but at about the time he attained his majority he determined to seek fresh fields and came to Vicksburg, Miss., which place was then known as Walnut Hills, Here he followed the calling of a builder and contractor for two years, at the end of which time he purchased a grocery store, which he successfully conducted for several years. During this time he also purchased some land from time to time, and in this manner soon

682

BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL

became one of the largest landholders of the county. In the fifties, with several others, he purchased the railroad from Vicksburg to Jackson, and these gentlemen with their own private means completed the road to Meridian. After serving for many years as vice presi- dent of the road, Mr. Rigby became its president, continuing such until it was purchased by a syndicate, when he retired in 1882 at the age of eighty years. Prior to the Civil war he was very wealthy, but during the struggle between those two great factions he lost $500,000. In 1846 he erected the home on Grove street, where his widow now resides. He was mar- ried to Mrs. Mary Ann Stovall, nee Jewell, a native of Maine and a daughter of Joseph Jewell, who died in the North. Her first husband, Mr. Stovall, died in 1842, leaving one child, another child being born after his death. Mr. Rigby's marriage took place in 1845 and resulted in the birth of two sons and two daughters: Thomas M. died in infancy, George Henry died at the age of three and a half years, Mary Ellen became the wife of R. F. Beck, Thomasina became the wife of M. Wolsey, and resides at Selma, Ala. During the last six years of Mr. Rigby's life he was an invalid and died March 30, 1889, at the age of eighty- seven years, having been an earnest member of the Methodist church for many years, of which church Mrs. Rigby has been a member for fifty years. He had long been a well- known citizen of Vicksburg, and not one of its residents stood higher in the estimation of the public or lived a truer Christian life. He was about five feet ten inches in hight, with blue eyes and fair hair, and his face was always smoothly shaven. In disposition he was amiable and was kind to and considerate of the wants of his family. He was a self-made man, quite an extensive traveler, and almost from the foundation of the town he was identified with its progress and development. Mr. Rigby was a very old and very high Free Mason, and was buried with every Masonic honor. His widow survives him at the present writing (1891), a true type of noble womanhood.

Among the residents of Franklin county, Miss., the name of Dr. Reuben J. Right is a familiar one, for during the twenty nine years that he has practiced his profession in this section he has become eminent as a medical practitioner, and is also highly respected and esteemed as a citizen and neighbor. He was born in this county in 1884 to Kendle and Louisa (Millsaps) Right, the former of whom was born in the state of Georgia in 1807, and about 1814 removed with his parents to Adams county, Miss., settling on a woodland plan- tation east of Washington. After residing here only a short time they became residents of Franklin county, taking up their abode on what is now known as Right's camp ground, on the Homochitto river. On this property the paternal grandfather died when the subject of this sketch was a small boy, being survived only one year by his widow. Kendle Right inherited German blood of his father, and many of the sterling business principles and char- acteristics of the German people, among which may be mentioned honesty, industry and frugality. He was married in Copiah county, but the first years of his married life were spent in this county, after which he moved to Copiah county, his death occurring there in 1857. He was a moderately successful planter, and had long been an earnest and worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. His widow died on the 13th of November, 1890, having attained to the advanced age of eighty-one years. She was also a Methodist in religious belief. Her father, William Millsaps, came from Alabama to Copiah county when this region was almost a wilderness, engaged in planting here, and soon became well known, for his intelligence and enterprise placed him among the leading men of this section. Dr. Reuben J. Right was one of twelve children born to his parents, five of whom lived to years of maturity: Elijah, who is residing on the old home place in Copiah county; Uriah W., deceased, was a prisoner at Camp Chase, Ohio, and died there, being captured on Hood's

A & Taylor

683

MEMOIRS OF MISSISSIPPI.

raid through Nashville; the subject of this sketch is next in order of birth; Sarah E., wife of George W. Mock, of Kansas, and Margaret J., widow of Frank Sessions. The Doctor was given the advantages of the common schools of Copiah county, and in 1858 began pursuing the study of medicine, for which he had a natural inclination, and under the able instruction of Dr. Hugh McLaurin he made rapid progress in his studies. While preparing himself for the practice of medicine he was also engaged in teaching school for about four years, and in 1860-1 he attended the University of Louisiana, and since 1862 has practiced his profession with success, his first experience being in Adams county, where he was married, in March, 1861, to Miss Sarah E., daughter of Benjamin F. and Sarah Tate, who came to this state from Virginia, the latter dying in 1859, on the plantation of Robert Tate, the former in 1872 in Franklin county, at the residence of the Rights. Mrs. Tate was formerly a Miss Stephens, a relative of Alexander H. Stephens. Mrs. Right was born in Washington, Adams county, Miss., and after having lived an earnest Christian life died in 1874, leaving, besides her husband, a family of four children to mourn her death: Lula, wife of Ralph L. Weibin; Robert J. ; Alice and Margaret J. Since 1867 the Doctor has been a resident of Franklin county, and has owned and operates Magnolia Grove plantation, which is situated about three miles southwest of Roxie and contains sixteen hundred acres, of which three hundred acres are under cultivation. Besides this he has five hundred and forty acres on Homochitto river, and the most of his property has been acquired by his own efforts. Since 1891 he has resided in Roxie. His second marriage was consummated in 1876, Miss Sarah E. Black becoming his wife. She was born in Pike county, and died in 1887, a member of the Meth- odist church. She bore the Doctor seven children, two of whom are living: Cecil and Stacy Ellen. The Doctor is a member of S. B. Stampley lodge No. 222 of the A. F. & A. M., at Roxie, in which order he has attained to the council degree. He is a man who ranks high in his profession, possesses excellent business qualifications, and is progressive and public- spirited in his views. He has been one of the substantial citizens of Franklin county, and would give prestige to any community in which he might choose to make his home.

F. L. Riley, Sr., a merchant of Hebron, Lawrence county, Miss., was born in this state in 1835, a son of E. M. and Mary (Shows) Riley. His father was a native of Georgia and a prominent planter, and his mother a native of Mississippi. F. L. Riley, Sr., is the sixth son and tenth child in a family of thirteen children, named as follows: John S., Elizabeth, Nancy, Ellender, James C., William, Mary, George W., Andrew J., Franklin L. (the subject of this sketch), Edward M., Sophronia A., and Missouri J. Mr. Riley received his educa- tion in this county, and afterward taught school for five years, until 1861, when he enlisted in company B, of the Sixteenth Mississippi regiment, under Captain Funtches. Being among the first volunteers he was sent to Virginia, and placed under the command of Stonewall Jackson. He took part in all the battles fought during Jackson's campaign in the Shenan- doah valley, and in the seven days' fight around Richmond. He was in the engagements at second Bull run and Antietam. In the latter he was wounded and sent to Lynchburg, Va., where he remained a short time, until sent home on a furlough. He was at home about two months, and during that time married Miss Balsorah I. Weathersby. He rejoined his regiment at Fredericksburg in time to participate in the battle at that place, afterward tak- ing part in the battles of Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Spottsylvania, and all the other prin- cipal engagements in the Virginia campaign. A few days before the general surrender he was captured in Fort Gregg, in front of Petersburg, and taken to Point Lookout, where, after being kept a prisoner about three months, he was paroled July 1, 1865, and returned home. First he turned his attention to planting, and then, in 1871, he opened a store at QQ

684

BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL

Hebron, Lawrence county, Miss., and has since done a successful business as a general merchant. To Mr. and Mrs. Riley have been born a large family, eight of whom are now living: Mollie E., Franklin L., Jefferson D., Balsorah, John B., James D., Ellen, and May. Those deceased are: Edward D., Robert E., and Maud E. Mollie is now the wife of Dr. J. R. Berry, and resides at Hebron. Mr. Riley is a democrat, and cast his first presidential vote for James Buchanan. He is a Master Mason, and he and his wife are members of the Baptist church. Besides a large and well-stocked store at Hebron, he owns about one thousand acres of land, a good proportion of which is in a high state of cultivation. Mr. Riley is an able business man and a very popular citizen. He gives his support to every- thing having a tendency to benefit the public.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi, embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the state and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy and illustrious families and individuals, Vol. II, Part 106

Author: Goodspeed Brothers Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed Number of Pages: 1314

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed
Number of Pages: 1314