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 116

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 116

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WOODLAND VOWS.

Woodland vows, meant for eternities, Though born and borne oft on the moment's wing, In joy and hope carved on the silent trees, Ephemeral die with the departing spring.

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BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL

This we are told, and often so it goes, But sometimes love and truth will keep

What these carved monograms propose, Though time and bark grew o'er the mark once deep.

"Tis one and thirty years -'tis long ago -- 1 carved by stealth, with fear and mystery,

With beating heart and love's delicious throe,

Our names united in the linden tree.

And when the summer waned, confessed my love: Ah, such a glory over woods and lea!

For, looking to the monogram above, We kissed our first kiss 'neath the linden tree.

Spring bloomed again-and with impetuous will To build a home for love beyond the sea,

I parted from my love-and pale and still We wept and vowed beneath the linden tree.

Five years beyond the stormy ocean's foam, I toiled 'neath Mississippi's tropic heat-

I carved a name, I built a cottage home, Returning, laid them at my darling's feet.

The church bells rang melodious on the air: "Mine! Mine!" they sang in happy glee; And thus united with my bride so fair, Was heaven on earth beneath the linden tree.

We bade farewell the home the tree stands nigh- "Where thou goest, e'en beyond the ocean's flood, There I will go; where thou diest, I will die; Thy people mine; thy God shall be my God!"

Thus spoke my love, and kept thro' grief and joy -- Though sorrow, sickness, loss and death would bow

ller spirit oft-her troth without alloy, And I-I hope-have kept my woodland vow.

And thus life's battle we together fought; And on our silver wedding roamed to see

Once more our childhood's homes, and sought Our dear old monument, the linden tree.

Entwined in love, as thirty years ago, With joyous hearts, from toil and sorrow free,

As flew in crowds the sparrows to and fro, We stood once more beneath the linden tree.

There was no mark of letters-not a trace; The TREE had changed in size and every bough.

I pressed upon my heart her hand and face: "HERE, darling, HERE, read thou my woodland vow!"

Mr. Von Seutter also wrote a series of interesting letters on the World's exposition in Paris in 1878, and his continental travels in that year, which were published in the Clarion, of Jackson, Miss.

Hon. E. R. Seward, of the firm of Seward Bros., general merchants at Ackerman, Choctaw county, Miss,, was born in Carroll county of that state in 1849, and is a son of

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MEMOIRS OF MISSISSIPPI.

Richard A. and Sarah A. (Doyle) Seward, the father born in Virginia in 1808 and the mother a native of Alabama. When a boy, the elder Seward went to Tennessee with his parents, thence to Alabama and later to Mississippi. He was married in Pickens county, Alabama, but was a resident of Carroll county, Miss., at the time. He lived there until about 1852, when he removed to Choctaw county and settled near French Camp, after- ward at La Grange, where he engaged in merchandising under the name of Seward, Boyd & Co. After the county seat was removed to Chester he located in that city and continued merchandising, the firm being Seward & Son. This was continued until shortly prior to Mr. Seward's death in 1887, when he retired. Mr. Seward was a good business man and a true Christian. He accumulated quite a fortune, and was one of the prominent men of the county. He was for some time circuit clerk of Carroll county, and although he had but an ordinary English education he possessed superior natural abilities. He was at one time a prominent stockholder in a cotton factory at Bankston. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, D. Mitchell lodge, French Camp, now defunct. His father, Zachariah Seward, was a Virginian, but at an early day removed to Tennessee, thence to Alabama, from there to Carroll county, Miss., and afterward to Florida, where he and wife both died prior to the war. He was a planter by occupation, and was a soldier in the War of 1812. He reared a family of six sons and four daughters. His father was an Englishman. Grand- father Joseph Doyle, was probably a native of Alabama, but removed to Mississippi about 1840, settling near Winona, where his death occurred. He was also a planter. His wife died in Alabama, The mother of our subject was a member of the Christian church and died in 1858.

After her death Mr. Seward married again and had one son, F. D.,

by the last union. The six children born to his first union were named in the order of their births as follows: Elizabeth V. (wife of R. J. Irving, of Texas), James A. (a planter of Texas, was all through the war, Confederate army, and was captured at Vicksburg and Mobile), Miss L. M. (a milliner at Ackerman), Hon. E. R. (subject), Emma (wife of M. M. Ridgeway, a planter of Choctaw county), and M. F. (a member of the firm of Seward Bros. ). The fourth child in order of birth, Hon. E. R. Seward, passed his boyhood and youth on a farm, received his education at French Camp, and then taught school a short time. In 1872 he was elected chancery clerk of Choctaw county, and discharged the duties of that office in a very efficient manner until 1880, when he was elected to the legislature, serving one term and being on the committee on enrolled bills and on the committee on corporations. In the meantime, from 1880 to 1883, he was engaged in the practice of law, having prepared bim- self while clerking. He was married in 1873 to Miss L. M. Robinson, a native of Choctaw county, and the daughter of Samuel and R. E. Robinson, natives of Chester district, S. C., but who came to Choctaw county about 1853, and there passed their last days, the father dying in 1859, and the mother in 1875. Both were members of the Baptist church, and he was a planter by occupation. To Mr. and Mrs. Seward have been born three living chil- dren. Both are members of the Baptist church. Mr. Seward is one of the energetic busi- ness men of Ackerman. Shrewd and far seeing, strictly honest and upright, his high charac- ter, both in private and business life, places his methods above criticism and secures for him the patronage of a large portion of Choctaw county's citizens. He is a gentleman of experi- ence, judgment and energy, has an extensive acquaintance, and is everywhere popular. The firm of Seward Bros. was established at Ackerman in 1884, and they do an annual busi- ness of about $30,000. This firm also has a store at McCool, in Attala county, under the name of F. D. Seward & Co., and does an annual business of about $25,000. Mr. Seward was made a Mason, m 1873, of La Grange .lodge No. 363, but now of Snowsville lodge, at

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BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL

Ackerman, No. 119, of which he was master two years. He is protector of Ackerman lodge, Knights and Ladies of Honor, No. 1290, and is past dictator of Ackerman lodge, Knights of Honor. No man stands higher in Choctaw county in the estimation of the people than Mr. Seward.

Hon. John F. Sexton, of Copiah county, was born in Rankin county, Miss., in 1844. He was the son of John C. and Mary E. Sexton, mention of whom as well as other members of the family will be found elsewhere in these pages. At about the age of twenty-two, Mr. Sexton began life for himself as a planter, in which interest he has been connected to the present time. His plantation is one of the largest and best improved in this part of the county, and he was so thoroughgoing an agriculturist that it may be said his was one of the most productive. In 1867 he was married to Elizabeth Hays, the daughter of Isaiah and Elizabeth Hays, of Copiah county, who has borne him four children: Willie F., Ollie, Eddie and Mary E., all of whom are members of their parents' household. Mr. Sexton is a mem- ber of numerous societies and secret orders, among which may be mentioned the Farmers' Alliance, of Copiah county, the Industrial Union, Knights of Honor, and Knights of Pythias, of Crystal Springs. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, wor- shiping with the congregation which meets at Crystal Springs. Four years before Mr. Sexton can be.said to have begun life for himself in business, he made a departure which, except in the South, where such occasions were common enough among the youths at the outbreak of the Civil war, would have been, in view of his tender years, worthy of more than passing comment. In December, 1861, when he was seventeen years old, he enlisted in the Withers artillery regiment of Mississippi, where he served until the close of the war, partici- pating in a number of hard fights. He was in the siege at Port Hudson, in Johnston's army in Georgia, and in Hood's army in Georgia and Tennessee. He was taken a prisoner by the Federals at Spanish Fort and kept a captive for sixty days. Although he was never wounded sufficiently to disable him, he received on several occasions slight wounds which, instead of breaking his spirit, stimulated him to fight the harder. In political life Mr. Sexton has been preferred beyond many of his more ambitious fellow-citizens. In 1888 he was elected to represent his county in the legislature, and has served during two consecutive terms. During the term of 1888-9 he was chairman of the committee on manufacturing, and also served on the committees of agriculture and temperance. During that session he introduced an assessment bill, out of which grew the present assessment law, Mr. Madison also introduc- ing a similar bill that had an influence in the same direction. In the session of 1890-91 he served on the committee of education and on the committee of investigation of the state treasurer's and auditor's offices, a labor which proved of great value to the state. As a mem- ber of this committee he helped draw up the bill which, as a law, compelled the government to appoint a committee of three each year to count the cash and to investigate the books of the state treasurer. Previous to his election to the legislature he served as a member of the board of supervisors, and as one of the county school commissioners. Mr. Sexton is a tall, well-built man with sandy hair. He is of good address, genial, whole-souled, friendly and helpful. He commands the highest respect of all who know him, not only on account of his political life, but also because of his fine family connections, and he is widely known throughout the state. Olivar P. Sexton, a planter of Copiah county, was the son of John C. and Mary E. Sexton and a brother of Hon. John F. Sexton. He was born in Copialı county in 1849, and was known as a life-long planter who was very successful. In 1873 he married Mary E. Coor, daughter of Rufus and Mary Coor, the son of D. K. Coor, whose sketch appears in these pages. Mr. and Mrs. Sexton have had seven children, all of whom

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MEMOIRS OF MISSISSIPPI.

are living at home with their parents: Ada, Walter, Eula, Cora, Frank, Mary K. and Nora L. Mr. Sexton is a member of the Knights of Honor lodge at Crystal Springs, and he is a worthy member of society and a highly respected citizen.

Dr. Frank M. Sexton, a brother of the Hon. James S. Sexton (see sketch) is one of the prominent physicians and surgeons of Hazlehurst, Copiah county, Miss. He was born in this county, July 12, 1852, the third of five sons born to his parents, all of whom have taken a prominent part in the county of their birth. After receiving a liberal literary education, he entered the Tulane university, at New Orleans, La., from which he graduated in medicine in 1876, and has since practiced his profession with marked success among the people with whom he was reared. He was postmaster at Hazlehurst during Cleveland's administration. He is an active worker for the cause of education, and is a member of the board of control and a trustee of Hazlehurst's public schools, toward the upbuilding of which he has done as much as any other citizen. He is ranked as one of the most successful planters in the county, and is the owner of a large, well-cultivated plantation. In 1876 he married Sallie, a daughter of Joseph and Lovisa Price. Her father was born in Copiah county; her mother in Covington county, Miss. Mrs. Sexton was born in Copiah county, and has four children. Dr. Sexton is a Knight of Honor and a member of Hazlehurst lodge of that order. He is a gen- ial, whole-souled gentleman, well known throughout this section of the country, and his stand- ing is deservedly high professionally, commercially, socially and otherwise. He has a charming family, and his wife takes equal rank with himself, while she is greatly beloved by a large circle of friends and acquaintances for her many estimable qualities of heart and mind.

Hon. James S. Sexton, a prominent lawyer of Hazlehurst, was born in Copiah county in 1854. John Curtis Sexton, the father of James S., Frank M., and their brothers, was the son of William Sexton, who was born in Ireland and moved to America in childhood. He married a Miss Ewen, who died during the childhood of John Curtis Sexton. The latter was born March 4, 1801, in Tennessee. At the age of twenty-eight he removed from Tennessee 'to Rankin county, Miss., where he was married, August 30, 1840, to Mary Elizabeth Perry, the daughter of William and Jane Perry. Both of her parents were born in Ireland, from which place they removed with their parents in early childhood. Coming in the same vessel, their families settled, one in Newbury district and the other in Fairfield district, of South Carolina. Jane Perry's maiden name was Jane Seymour, one of whose brothers, John Seymour, is still living in Rankin county, Miss., and is over ninety years of age. After their marriage, John Curtis and Mary Sexton lived in Rankin county until 1849, when they moved to Copiah county and settled on a place then known as the John Wilson place, four miles southeast of Crystal Springs, on the old Jackson road. This property still remains in the family. John Sexton remained on this place, engaged in farming, until 1860, when he removed to Crystal Springs. Here he died, December 31, 1861. He was an old line whig, and was devoted to that party. He was a Royal Arch Mason, and a member of the Methodist church. There were nine children born of this marriage, five of whom are still living: John F., born June 6, 1844; Oliver P., born March 5, 1849; Frank M., born July 12, 1852; James S., born November 2, 1854, and Martin L., born October 11, 1857. Mrs. Sexton (now Mrs. Mullins) still lives, and is devoted to her family, of which she may well feel proud. She has spared no efforts to insure their welfare, and now she is being rewarded by their devotion and grati- tude to her. Hon. John F. Sexton is a prominent planter of Copiah county, and a member of the legislature. He also served in company A, Bradford's battery, during the war. Oliver P. Sexton is a planter on the old home farm. Dr. Frank M. is a prominent physician of

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Hazlehurst, and graduated at the Tulane university at New Orleans. James S. Sexton was the fourth in order of birth of the sons. Dr. Martin Luther Sexton is a prominent physician of Wesson, and graduated in a class of forty with the first honors, at the Tulane university, and has been recently elected a member of the faculty of that institution. He is one of the most prominent physicians of the state, and was once the president of the state association. He received his literary education at Oxford, Miss. James S. Sexton was reared principally to farm life by a widowed inother, who struggled successfully against adversity to afford her children a good education, and to impress upon their minds the advantage of becoming use- ful men. He received his early education at a country school, and was for three years a student at the State university. He then taught school for a few years, after which he read law with Judge T. E. Cooper, now one of the supreme judges of Mississippi, and was admitted to the bar in 1881. He immediately formed a partnership with R. R. Willing, which existed for about one year. For some years after its expiration he was alone in the practice of his profession, until a few years ago he became associated with R. H. Thomp- son, of Brookhaven, who has been associated with him ever since. Mr. Sexton has never sought office, but he was elected to represent the state at large at the recent constitu- tional convention, and was the youngest member of that body from the state at large. He is a member of the Knights of Honor. In 1875 he married Mary E., the daughter of William Wilson. She was born in Copiah county, and died in 1888, having been for a long time a member of the Methodist church. She left two children. In 1889 Mr. Sexton was married to Lillian W., the daughter of Dr. J. P. Wise. She has borne Mr. Sexton one child. She and her husband are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Sexton is a well-to-do man, and has a good income from his large practice. He is in the true sense of the term a self-made man, and is regarded as one of the best lawyers in this section. In person, he is of medium stature and noble bearing. His manners are genial and affable, and he enjoys the highest esteem of all who know him.

Luther Martin Sexton, M. D., ranks among the foremost physicians of the state of Mississippi, for his efforts in behalf of suffering humanity have been attended by results eminently satisfactory. He comes of Scotch-Irish stock, and inherits the traits of character, the industry, economy and integrity, common to those sturdy people. His father, John Sexton, was a relative of James A. Sexton, the present postmaster of Chicago, and Prof. S. S. Sexton, M. D., of New York, an eminent specialist and author of the elab- orate and valuable treatise on the diseases and treatment of the eye, ear and throat. His father was also related to Sexton at present a member of the English parliament from Ire- land and a prominent leader of the liberal party. His mother, Mary Elizabeth (Perry) Sexton, was of Irish descent, belonging to one of the first families in Mississippi. Dr. Luther Martin Sexton is a Mississippian by birth, his birth occurring at Crystal Springs, Copiah county, October 7, 1857. In the public schools of his native town he laid the foundations of a liberal education, and at the age of nineteen years he entered the Univer- sity of Mississippi at Oxford, where he remained for two sessions, applying himself to his books with such diligence that he was awarded a gold medal for superiority in elocution and original address. He afterward became a teacher in the public schools of his native county, and in this vocation and in agriculture he sought means with which to continue his educa- tion. Having decided to enter into a profession, and having two brothers, both of whom had acquired considerable prominence in their respective professions of law and medicine, he was undecided as to which to choose for his life work, but the preference was finally almost given to law, as he had at college demonstrated his ability as an orator and public speaker.

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MEMOIRS OF MISSISSIPPI.

As small objects sometimes turn the current of a stream, so unforeseen circumstances ofttimes exert a powerful influence upon the whole after lives of men, and never was this more ably illustrated than in the case of Dr. Sexton, for in 1878, while in the city of New Orleans, he happened one day to see a surgical operation performed in the hospital by Prof. T. G. Rich- ardson, and the wonderful skill displayed in the alleviation of human suffering so won his ad- mniration, that from that time forward he became an enthusiast upon the subject of the study and practice of medicine and surgery, and his eminent success as a physician and surgeon has dem- onstrated the wisdom of his choice. He immediately became a student in the medical department of the University of Louisiana (now known as Tulane university), where, with characteristic energy, he devoted himself to his studies. The following spring he applied for, and became one of the successful competitors for the position of resident student for the Charity hospital of New Orleans, and for the two years following served as interne at that institution. In 1881 he graduated with the first honors of his class, and became the proud possessor of the first gold medal ever conferred by the hospital upon a student for general proficiency in medicine and surgery. One of the most pleasant incidents of his col- lege life, and a fitting testimonial of the high esteem in which he was held by his class- mates, was when he was unanimously chosen by them as valedictorian. Appreciating the high honor thus conferred upon him, he delivered upon the occasion of their graduation an address that attracted much attention in medical circles and was widely published by the medical journals of the Southern states. In 1879 boats passing up the Mississippi river had conveyed to Memphis the dreaded yellow fever, by which this prosperous city and the surround- ing country were almost completely depopulated, so fatal was the terrible scourge that swept over the country. The government was awakened to the necessity of quarantine stations on the river, and immediately following his graduation Dr. Luther Sexton was appointed government inspector of the national board of health, and was stationed on a government boat at Vicksburg, where it was his duty to inspect all boats passing up the river. In this position he continued until cold weather rendered further vigilance unnec- essary. In 1882, at the strong solicitation of his friends, he located at Wesson, Miss., where he has since resided, and where he has risen to the topmost round of the ladder of success. He became a member of the Mississippi State Medical association, and in 1884 was chosen as its president. In the year last mentioned he was elected a member of the board of health for the seventh congressional district, and medical examiner for license to practice medicine in Mississippi. In 1890 he delivered an address before the St. Louis Medical society, and those present had the pleasure of listening to a master production of a master mind. The same year he was offered a professorship in the Marion Sims Medical college of St. Louis, the chair of genito-urinary surgery being tendered him, but interests at home prevented his acceptance. In 1891 he was elected lecturer and clinical instructor in sur- gery in Tulane university at New Orleans, his alma mater, thus becoming a member of the faculty of that institution. In 1881 he was united in marriage to Miss Katherine Ella Hartwell, of Wesson, in which city they reside, enjoying the respect and esteem of their fellow-citizens. Although the Doctor is but thirty-four years of age, he has, by frugality and industry, amassed a small fortune, and has the pleasure of knowing that his efforts in the pursuit of his profession have been eminently successful to a greater degree than those of any other physician of his age in the state, and it may be safely said in the South. He is, withal, an honored citizen, courteous and affable in his manner, of pleasing address and an interesting speaker. His success in life is but an illustration of what may be achieved by energy and determination.

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BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL

Richard J. Shackelford is the third of a family of eight children born to James L. and Elvira (Payne) Shackelford, natives of South Carolina and Georgia respectively. The father removed to Mississippi in 1854, and died there in 1891. He was a son of William and Mariah Shackelford, who were of Irish lineage. The maternal grandparents were David and Martha Payne. Richard J. first saw the light of day August 3, 1841, in Franklin county, Ga. He spent his youth in Georgia and Mississippi, acquiring his education in the private schools. For his vocation in life he chose that of agriculture, and he now has one hundred and seventy acres of land under excellent cultivation. He owns six hundred and forty acres, and the whole will in time be cultivated. Mr. Shackelford has been twice mar- ried. In 1866 he was united to Miss Fannie Saunders, of Mississippi; of this marriage twelve children were born: Mary J., James J., Albert L., Francis T., Jesse M., Sallie A'., Arthur L., Myrtie I., Ella V., Martha, John and Fanny. In 1885 he was married, a second time, to Martha Hordage, of Georgia. Our subject was a soldier in the late Civil war, being a member of the Fifth Mississippi volunteer infantry, company K. He was in the battles of Missionary ridge and Franklin, and served from 1861 to the end of the conflict. He adheres to the principles of the democratic party. He held the office of justice of the peace of Leake county for one term. He has not been behind in his support of all laudable movements having for their object the advancement of the community. He and his wife are active members of the Primitive Baptist church, and greatly respected by all who know them.

Col. Thaddeus H. Shackelford has been engaged in planting nearly all his life, for to this calling he was brought up by his father, Henry L. Shackelford, who was also a worthy tiller of the soil, in which calling his efforts were attended by success. The latter was a Virginian by birth, born in 1790, and upon reaching manhood was married to Miss Sarah Jane McGowan, of South Carolina, who bore him the following children: John; Thaddeus; Charles; Mary (Shannon); Martha J. (Tucker), widow of General W. F. Tucker; Jane, (Hodges), and Augusta (Evans). Mr. Shackelford was very finely educated, and as a planter became wealthy, thus enabling him to give his children excellent education and a good start in life. He served as a soldier in the Seminole war in Florida. Thaddeus H. Shackelford was partially educated by a private tutor at home, but received his literary education in Aber- deen, Miss., and in Parson Gladney's private school in Monroe county, Miss. He made the most of his opportunities, and upon finishing was exceptionally well informed, and was well calculated to battle successfully with the world. He came to Lowndes county, Miss., in 1831, after which he located in Oktibbeha county, and finally, in 1842, settled down to planting in Chickasaw county. He was married in 1852 to Miss Virginia E. Townsend, a daughter of Col. Thomas Townsend, of Lowndes county, Miss., and to them were born two children: Thomas T. (deceased) and William A., a planter of this county. After the death of the mother of the children, Mr. Shackelford took for his second wife Miss Virginia P. Tapley, their nuptials being celebrated in 1883, and to them two children have been born: Mary P. who died January 3, 1891, and Henry L. Mr. Shackelford has been a consistent and respected member of the Masonic order from his earliest manhood. He is also an earnest and faithful member of the Baptist church. At the opening of the Civil war, in 186], he became captain of company E, Fifty-fourth Alabama regiment, Confederate States army, which was made up of men from different states, and in this capacity served one year, when he was promoted to the rank of major. He also filled this position one year, was then made lientenant-colonel, in which capacity he served until the war closed. He took an active part in the engage- ments at Island No. 10 (at which place he was captured and exchanged at the end of five months), Vicksburg, Baker's Creek, Jackson, Resaca, Mobile and the Georgia campaign, in

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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 116

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