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 111

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 111

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MEMOIRS OF MISSISSIPPI.

Dickson county, Tenn., for a number of years and was a man of no little influence and power. His death occurred in that state, and in 1798 his widow and seven children: Beal, Thomas, Lani, Mary, Jane J., James J. and Lion, moved to Mississippi. They settled in the wilderness about fourteen miles east of Natchez and on the farm they called Rowandale, where James H. Rowan now resides. There Mrs. Rowan died when the latter was but a little boy. James J. Rowan, her son and the father of James H., was born in Davidson county, Tenn., was reared on a farm in Adams county, Miss., and received a very meager education in the common schools, never attending more than three months altogether. Being naturally bright and quick witted, he became a man of rare business ability, and at an early age engaged in merchandising at Natchez. He soon became one of the foremost merchants and cotton buy- ers of the place, handling as many as thirty thousand bales of cotton annually. He was still engaged in business in that city when he married Mrs. Elizabeth (Handy) Leatherburg, a native of Sailsbury, Md., and the widow of Dr. Leatherburg who died in that state. She afterward came to Natchez. Mr. Rowan served as clerk of the county, and also filled the position of treasurer for a number of years. After a successful business career of many years, or in 1836, Mr. Rowan returned to the old homestead, where his death occurred in 1856. He was a prominent Mason and a member of the Methodist church. He was respected and esteemed by all. His wife, who was a member of the Episcopal church, was called to her final home in 1842. Her father, Dr. Handy, died in Maryland and but little is known of the family. Mrs. Rowan was an amiable, generous, noble woman, was very popular and a leader in society and in all works of charity or benevolence. By her union to Mr. Rowan she became the mother of two children: Alfred W., who graduated from Cambridge, Mass., became a well-to-do planter and his death occurred in 1872. The other and younger son, James. H. Rowan, was educated at home under a private tutor. In 1850 he was married to Miss Helen M. Merrick, a native of Natchez and the daughter of Phineas P. Merrick, who was born in Wilbraham, Mass., on the 7th of September, 1796. Mr. Merrick's wife, Han- nah M., a native of Elizabethtown, N. J., born on the 15th of November, 1802, he married in St. George's church, New York city, on the 11th of August, 1822. They at once came to Natchez, and there for several years Mr. Merrick was engaged in merchandising, which he continued with success until his death on the 13th of May, 1833. He was vestry- man in the Trinity church. He had been city clerk, and at the time of his death was prom- inently connected with the Agricultural bank of Natchez. He was a prominent Mason and a man of considerable wealth. His widow afterward married Judge William A. Stone, and died on the 14th of June, 1841. Samuel Merrick, the grandfather of Mrs. Rowan, was also a native of the Bay state, where he spent all his life. His father, James Merrick, was a son of Noah Merrick, who, it is supposed, came over in the Mayflower. Mrs. Rowan is one of five children, only she and a brother, Charles F., are now living. She was educated in New York city. To Mr. and Mrs. Rowan were born five children: Charles H., of Tensas par- ish, La., Mary E., wife of A. P. Miller, of Mew Mexico; Helen M., wife of William L. Fos- ter; Lelah P., who died in 1873; and James B., who died December 29, 1885, from the effects of an accidental discharge of a gun while he was engaged in Christmas festivities. He was at that time a student of Jefferson college and a very promising young man. Mr. Rowan has spent nearly his entire life on the old homestead of his grandmother, and is now the owner of about seventeen hundred acres. He is trustee of Jefferson college, and since 1878 has been a member of the board of supervisors. He is a man of unblemished character, and his word is as good as his bond. He is one of the few men of his age who were born in Adams county and still resides there. Mrs. Rowan and daughter, Mrs. Foster, are members in good standing in the Presbyterian church.

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BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL

E. Rubel, merchant, Corinthi, Miss., is numbered among the prominent citizens of Alcorn county and is a member of the prominent mercantile firm of Abe Rubel & Co. He came originally from that grand old country, Germany, which seems somehow to instill into her sons the traits of character that make them successful, prosperous and popular wherever fate leads their footsteps. He was born in Bavaria on the 20th of June, 1837, to the union of Jacob and Veronica (Frauenthal) Rubel, both of whom were natives also of Germany, in which country they passed their entire days. E. Rubel was the ninth in order of birth of twelve children, nine of whom are living, but only our subject now in America. The latter emigrated to this country in 1854, peddled a short time in Philadelphia and country in Pennsylvania, and then attended boarding-school nine months in Bucks county of that state. He subsequently accepted a situation as clerk in a dry-goods business at Lexington, Va., and remained there two years, and returned to Philadelphia in April, 1858, remained there until May, and then accepted a clerkship with M. Simon & Co., Memphis, Tenn., where he continued until the fall of that year, when M. Simon opened a store at Corinth, Miss., in copartnership with James Dobbins, of that town, and Mr. Rnbel came from Mem- phis to represent M. Simon in the business at Corinth. They started with a stock of general merchandise valued at about $3,500 under the firm name of Simon & Dobbins. About two months later the firm dissolved and was made Simon & Rubel, under which title the business was carried on by E. Rubel until the spring of 1862. Mr. Rubel, who was enthusiastic in the cause of the South, after the outbreak of the war collected funds for the purpose of making a uniform for the first company that had left Corinth for the seat of war at Pensacola, Fla., under command of Captain Kilpatrick and First Lieutenant F. E. Whit- field, Jr. Mr. Rubel purchased the goods and trimmings and had the uniforms made at Corinth, and forwarded the same to the company at Pensacola, Fla. After the battle of Shiloh he was requested to give up their storehouse for the use of the Confederate govern- ment and army, in consideration of which the government gave him transportation for him- self and goods to Memphis, Tenn., and he left Corinth with his goods for Memphis on a train loaded with wounded soldiers from the battlegrounds of Shiloh and Pittsburg Landing. After arriving in Memphis he and Mr. Simon disposed of their goods, and Mr. Rubel started to Europe to visit his parents, of whom he had heard nothing during the war. Returning in the fall of 1863 he went again to Memphis, and engaged in merchandising and buying cotton, and immediately after the war started business again in Corinth, Miss., the firm known as E. Rubel & Co., L. Sekeles being the company. This continued until 1876, when Mr. Rubel's nephew, Abe Rubel, who prior to this clerked for the firm, was admitted into the business. and the firm title was changed to Rubel, Sekeles & Co. This continued until the spring of 1882, when E. Rubel sold his interest to the other members of the firm, and started in the cloak manufacturing business in Philadelphia, Penn. Later he gave this up, and, in connection with Abe Rubel, bought out Mr. Sekeles in 1889, the firm name being changed to Abe Rubel & Co. Abe Rubel has been connected with the firm since 1866. E. Rubel selected as his companion in life Miss Pauline Hochstadter, of Philadelphia, Penn., but a native of Fayette, Jefferson county, Miss., and their nuptials were celebrated in 1869 at Philadelphia. They became the parents of nine children, seven of whom are living: Flor- ence, Carrie, Jacob, Jennie, Milton, Rose and Alfred. Florence and Carrie are graduates of the Philadelphia (Penn.) Normal High school; the eldest of the sons, Jacob, is attending the Philadelphia Manual Training school, and the younger members of the family are in school in Philadelphia, where E. Rubel has resided since his marriage. In his business career at Corinth the firm commenced on a small scale, but it has prospered, and has now

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one of the largest wholesale and retail enterprises in the state. They have a very handsome business building, erected by Rubel & Sekeles in 1873-4, and superintended and built by Mr. E. Rubel in person. He made his own brick, arranged everything, and the building, which is four stories in hight with a seventy-five foot front, cost over $40,000, and is not only an ornament to the city, but an honor to Mr. Rubel. They have a fine basement under all and carry a stock of goods valued at about $100,000. Their custom extends to Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi. E. Rubel resides in Philadelphia, as above stated, but Abe Rubel resides in Corinth, and is a live, energetic business man. The latter was married to Miss Rachel Hirsh, of Memphis, Tenn., and is the father of seven children: Simon, Jacob, Char- lotte, Lee, Milton, Carrie and Frank.

Atlas F. Rush, De Kalb, Miss., who for sixteen years has been chancery clerk of Kem- per county, Miss., is entitled to the following space in this record of the leading men of the state. He was born in Kemper county, within six miles of De Kalb, in 1842, and is a son of William C. and Elizabeth (Crawford) Rush. His father was born in North Carolina in 1814, and removed to Kemper county in 1834, bringing his wife whom he had married in his native state. He was a planter and speculator, and was very successful. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and belonged to the Center Ridge lodge, A. F. & A. M. He was a man of wide and deep sympathies, whom the woes of the people touched, and it was to him the poor and needy were apt to turn for succor, knowing always that they would recieve aid. He died in 1873. His wife was born in North Carolina; she was a daughter of Mastin Crawford, and a woman of rare force of character. She belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church. Her death occurred in 1883. They reared a family of ten children: Thomas, Mastin, John, Charlotte, Julia, Mary, Atlas F., James, William and Mattie. Thomas, Mastin, Mary and James are deceased. Atlas F. was reared in the county of his birth, and received his education in the common schools. In 1861, at the age of eighteen years, he enlisted in company I, Twenty-fourth Mississippi volunteer infantry, and went out to aid the Confederate cause. He saw some active service, participating in the battles of Perry- ville, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga and Lookout Mountain; he was captured in the last named engagement, was sent to Johnson's island, where he was held twenty-two months, being paroled at the end of that period. He enlisted as a private, and was promoted to a lieuten- ancy before his capture. When the war was ended he returned to his home, and embarked in the mercantle trade in the town of De Kalb. He has a plantation of one thousand acres within two miles of De Kalb, which he has brought to a high state of cultivation. Politi- cally he is identified with the democrat party. For the past sixteen years he has been clerk of the chancery court, and has discharged the business of that office with skill and fidelity that has won him a wide reputation. He is a member of the Masonic order, and also belongs to the Farmers' Alliance, Mr. Rush was united in marriage December 19, 1865, to Miss Cornelia Holton, a daughter of Col. John B. and Katie (McAlister) Holton, natives of North Carolina. Mrs. Rush was born in North Carolina in 1842, and is an only child. Ten chil- dren have been born to our subject and his wife: Inda H. is the wife of R. M. Hight, of Green- wood, Miss. ; Anna married Dr. M. M. Warren, of Macon, Noxubee county, Miss. ; Holton C .; Frank C. (deceased in 1888); Hugh B .; Kittie; Attie F .; Cornelia; and two who died in infancy. The parents are worthy members of the Baptist church.

Charles E. Rushing, the subject of this sketch, was born in Meltonville, Anson county, N. C., July 27, 1819. Leaving home at the early age of fifteen years to make his way in the world, he rode across the states on horseback to Mobile, Ala., accepting employment there as clerk in a wholesale shoe store. He married there in February, 1842, Miss Bridget C.

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Collin. He remained in Mobile about two years after this, when his health failing he came to Marion, Lauderdale county, Miss., being one of the early settlers of the county. He there started in mercantile business, and how well he succeeded was attested by the fortune he was the possessor of when the war began, being the owner of many slaves, the largest land owner in the county, and interested in three mercantile houses. He was opposed to secession, but when the inevitable came he did his duty as a man and citizen. He held the office of tax assessor during the war. The only office that he ever held previous to this was county treasurer, which office he held for fifteen consecutive years. After the war he was elected and served as a member of the constitutional convention to frame a constitution for the state under the rconstruction act. He then set about to gather another fortune, one hav- ing been lost by the vicissitudes of war. He started a new mercantile business at Columbus, Ky., and continned in that until February, 1866, when he was elected vice president of the Mobile & Ohio railroad, in which capacity he served until May, 1874. He then returned to Marion, Miss., where he spent the remainder of his days in peace and quiet on his farm, dying December 30, 1881. His was a busy life. Many have cause to remember him for his charities, for he was a friend to the orphan. He was blessed with several children-four sons and two daughters-his two oldest sons being victims of the war. His oldest living son, H. P. Rushing, married Miss Anna J. Cole, of Meridian, Miss., in February, 1873, and settled at Toplin, Miss., on a farm, where he now resides, and does business as farmer and merchant. He owns one of the finest herds of Jersey cattle in the state, and has a dairy with all the latest improvements, run by steam. He has also a system of private water works to supply his house and cattle with water. J. C. Rushing, the other living son resides in Meridian, Miss., and is in the railroad business. The two daughters reside at the old homestead at Marion. The following is another account of Charles E. Rushing.

One of the useful citizens of Mississippi for many years and during his lifetime very prominent in public affairs was Charles E. Rushing (deceased). He was born in the Old North state in 1819 and after reaching manhood removed to Mobile, Ala., where he resided two years and was married to Miss Bridget Collin, a native of County Kildare, Ireland, where she was born in 1817. After their marriage they removed to Mississippi, settling at Old Marion, Lauderdale county, in 1844, where Mr. Rushing engaged in merchandising. After a few years he also established a good store at Marion station, on the then new Mobile & Ohio railroad, and at both these places he did a prosperous business until the opening of the Civil war. He filled the position of county treasurer ably and efficiently for some time and was otherwise interested in the political affairs of his section. When the war opened he was elected tax assessor of Lauderdale county, but was afterward in the commissary depart- ment and was instrumental in relieving the wants of those who were deprived of help and means by the devastations of war. When hostilities ceased he was completely bankrupt, much of his valuable property being destroyed by General Sherman's army. He was an extensive planter also in connection with his other enterprise, but after the war was over he embarked in the commission business in Columbus, Ky., and had been and was a director of the Mobile & Ohio railroad, and in 1866 was elected vice president of that road, which posi- tion he ably filled for nine years. After a well spent life he died at Old Marion, Miss., in 1881, his widow surviving him until 1889. Miss Clara L. Rushing, their daughter, resides with her sister, Mrs. M. E. Robinson, on the old homestead. These ladies are engaged successfully in conducting the plantation, Mrs. Robinson being chief of the domestic inter- ests while Miss Rushing superintends the plantation. They have two thousand acres of good land, the cultivated portion of which yields from forty to fifty bales of cotton yearly. Their

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house is located seven miles east of Meridian, is pleasantly situated and makes them a com- fortable and cozy home. These ladies are proving themselves good business women and are intelligent, wideawake and self-reliant. Mrs. Robinson has two sons: Clarence E. and Collin R. The Rushing family are Catholics. Charles E. Rushing was one of the incor- porators and was afterward president of the Peoples' bank, Meridian, Miss.

Elijah Russell is a native of the state of South Carolina, born in the year 1817. He is a son of James D. and Susana (Gayden) Russell, also natives of South Carolina, of Irish descent. The family removed from South Carolina to Georgia where they remained two years, and in 1829 they came to Mississippi, and settled in Warren county, where the father died in 1834 and the mother died in Yazoo county in 1853. They were the parents of eleven children. all of whom grew to maturity excepting two, and all of whom have passed away excepting two. Elijah Russell spent his early boyhood days in his native state. In 1843 he came to Yazoo county, and engaged in mercantile pursuits at Benton; he followed this busines a few years aud then was employed in overseeing and farming for some time. He has resided on his present farm about ten years; it consists of three hundred acres of land, a portion of which is devoted to the raising of live-stock another to fruit, and the balance to general farming pur- poses; he has a fine herd numbering thirty head of graded Jersey breed, and six hundred bearing peach-trees, besides a great many apple, pear and quince trees. Mr. Russell was united in marriage January 16, 1845, to Miss Martha A. Erwin, a daughter of Abner and - (Howard) Erwin. By this union eleven children were born, five of whom are still liv- ing: Mary, wife of John Birdwell of Louisiana; Abner, a farmer of Yazoo county; Reuben G., who resides in Indian territory; Howard, a resident of Washington county, and DeFrance, a resident of the same county. Mr. Russell lost the mother of these children in 1870. Three years later he was married to Mrs. Lucy (Hearn) Foster, a daughter of John and Mary (Montgomery) Hearn, natives of South Carolina. Four children have been born of this mar- riage: Ina, who died at the age of five years; Sera, Gaydon and Irene. The mother is a member of the Rock Springs Baptist church, and Mr. Russell belongs to the Methodist Epis- copal church of Benton. He is also a member of the Masonic order. He is a man of public spirit, and has contributed both of his means and personal influence largely to the growth and advancement of Yazoo county.

Mrs. Laura V. Russell is the widow of W. H. Russell, who was born in Warren county, Miss , in 1828, a son of Arnold and Elizabeth (Grover) Russell, natives of Tennessee. Col. Arnold Russell came to this state while it was yet a territory, and entered quite a large body of land on the Yazoo river. A considerable portion of this property he afterward - sold, but a large portion of what he reserved is now the property of Mrs. Laura V. Russell. Colonel Russell and his brother, James, were in the war of 1812, at which time the former was only nineteen years of age. James B. attained the rank of captain, and both afterward served with distinction in various Indian wars. W. H. Russell was educated in the schools of Nashville, Tenn., and was one of the finest educated men in Mississippi. Although he preferred the life of a planter to any other calling, many professions were opened to him, for his father was wealthy and generous, and would gladly have given his son every advantage. During the Rebellion W. H. Russell enlisted in the Confederate service, but owing to delicate health he was unable to stand the hardship and privations of army life, and shortly after he joined he was honorably discharged. He was the owner of quite a number of slaves but, of course, during the war lost them all, and after the cessation of hostilities found himself in a destitute condition. Not heeding the dark outlook he set energetically to work and possessing shrewd and practical views his efforts were well repaid, and at the time of his death was the

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owner of the old Russell estate consisting of about three thousand acres, and an estate of his own, the entire amount of land under cultivation on the two places amounting to eight hundred acres. In 1855 Mr. Russell was married to Miss Laura V. Jackson, and their union resulted in the birth of ten children, all of whom survive: Annie D., wife of C. F. Cassey, M. D., of Satartia, Miss .; Laura J., W. H. and Lauretta, twins; Seymour, Arnold, Mellen, Lee, Ruth and Ruby, twins. Mr. Russell was a Knight Templar in the A. F. and A. M. of Vicksburg, was very popular and well known throughout the county, and was highly honored and respected by his neighbors. Personally. and in every private relation and duty of life, he was liberal, generous and high minded, was the life of social intercourse, and the soul of true honor and unbounded greatness of heart. Mrs. Russell's parents, Stephen M. and Ann Dunn (Hill) Jackson, were natives of Virginia, being members of leading families of that state. Mrs. Jackson was a member of Dr. Dunn's family of Memphis, Tenn., who was quite a prominent citizen of this city. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Jackson was Littleberry Mason of Virgina. John Y. Mason, Sr., was his uncle, and John Y. Mason, Jr., of Confederate fame was his cousin. It was he who was with Slidell on recruiting service for the Confede- racy in Canada, and was there captured. Mr. Jackson died in 1839, while just in the prime of life, and Mrs. Jackson, after remaining a widow eighteen years, married Dr. Seymour Halsey, of Vicksburg, who was one of the leading surgeons of Mississippi. He served in this capacity in the war with Mexico, throughout which war he was with Jefferson Davis. He was a member of the Halsey family of New Jersey, and when a young man came South, and first located at Baton Rouge, although the greater part of his life was spent in Vicks- burg. He was very widely known, and a man whom to know was to honor. He died in 1851, and his widow in 1885, at the age of seventy-seven years. She bore Dr. Halsey no children, but her union with Mr. Jackson, who was born in 1800, resulted in the birth of four children, two of whom are living: Mrs. Laura V. Russell and Dr. D. D. Jackson, of Greenville.

Samuel D. Russell, planter and merchant at Missionary, Jasper county, Miss., was born near Decatur, Newton county, Miss., in 1854, one of the six children of Alexander and Eliz- abeth W. (Wilson) Russell (born, McDowell). Alexander Russell was born in Anson county, N. C., in 1816, and left home when but a youth to seek his fortune in the West, but located in Newton county, Miss., early in its history, and, while a resident there was engaged in planting, and in operating a small tannery on his place. In 1869 he became a merchant at Decatur, and as such proved a success, establishing a few years later a branch store at New- ton, his partner in this enterprise being M. J. L. Hoye, his son-in-law. Mr. Russell was a man of remarkable business ability and great energy. Our subject, Samuel D. Russell, was reared in Newton county, where he received his primary education in the common schools, and later was a student at the college at Clinton for a year. He married Miss Bettie M. Longmire, daughter of Dr. G. E. Longmire, a native of Alabama. To Mr. and Mrs. Russell have been born three children: G. Longmire, R. Alexander and Samuel D., Jr. Mr. Russell located where he now lives in February, 1884, and is the owner of twenty-one hundred acres of land all in one body, besides about fifteen hundred acres in other tracts. In connection with his planting operations he has a general store, which is well stocked with such mer- chandise as is in demand in the country round about. He also has an interest in the store of Walton, Gallaspy & Russell, at Hickory, Miss. He is a thoroughgoing young man with the best business principles, and has made a success of each one of the several enterprises in which he has been engaged-his home store and the one at Hickory, each having a large trade, and his planting operations being as extensive as those of any other planter in his vicinity.

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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 111

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