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 126

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 126

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It is with pleasure that we chronicle the history of a man whose career has been so short and yet so full of the successes of public life. Hon. Lewis M. Southworth, attorney, Carrollton, was born in Carroll county, Miss., August 15, 1863, and is a son of Judge H. H. Southworth. The father was born in Kentucky and was educated in that state at Center college; he chose the profession of law, and about the year 1847 he came to Carroll county, where he at once entered into active practice. In 1852 he was elected to the legislature of Mississippi and was twice re-elected, serving three consecutive terms. He was an old line whig, canvassed the state in the interest of the whig ticket and was a presidential elector before the war. He became a resident of Le Flore county, was elected to the office of pro- bate judge and served in this position for a number of years. During the latter years of his life he retired to private life, residing on a plantation on the Yazoo river. His death

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occurred in 1878. He was united in marriage at Jackson, Miss., to Miss Mary Morgan, a daughter of Dr. J. B. Morgan, who was at one time a candidate for governor of the state on the whig ticket. Mrs. Southworth was born and reared in Mississippi. She was the mother of three sons and two daughters: Susie S. is the wife of L. P. Yerger, a well- kuown attorney of Greenwood; Mary S. married A. McC. Kimbrough, also a prominent attorney of Greenwood; the sons are H. H., a planter in Le Flore county; Fisher M., a law student, and Lewis M., the subject of this notice. He passed his youth and early man- hood in Le Flore and Carroll counties, and was given the advantage of a thorough lit- erary education, which he acquired in the universities of Mississippi and Virginia; he took the law course at the latter institution and was admitted to the bar in 1887, when he began his professional life. In 1883, before he was yet twenty years of age, he was appointed superintendent of education; in 1884 he was elected mayor of the city of Car- rollton and in 1885 he was elected to the house of representatives from Carroll county; in 1887 he was re-elected to the legislature, and has the distinction of being the youngest man ever elected to that position in the state of Mississippi. He was presidential elector in 1888 for the state-at-large, the youngest man ever elected to that position in the United States, being only twenty-four years old, being elected over Col. W. C. Falkner, of Ripley, one of the most widely known men of the state. Mr. Southworth's abilities are recognized not only at home, but in distant states; he was invited to assist in the last presidential cam- paigu in Indiana by the campaign committee, and also addressed a large meeting in Louis- ville before the canvass was closed. In 1889 he was elected to the senate of Mississippi, the opposing candidate being Col. James R. Binford, of Montgomery county, who was at that time a member of that body; the election was contested, owing to some technicality, and was finally decided at Jackson by the democratic state executive committee in favor of Mr. Southworth. Aside from his public interests he has had a large law business, has con- ducted some very important criminal and civil cases, in the management of which he bas exhibited a superior ability. It is exceptional that the first three score years or even less of a man's life should bring honor, position and influence that usually are not attained short of sixty years. Taking the beginning of this career as an index, there is nothing possible of human attainment we might not predict for the future, with a most reasonable hope that the prophecy may be fulfilled.

Aaron Spain, planter, Booneville, Miss., who has been a resident of Prentiss county for over forty years, has lived an honorable upright life, and is one of the county's most success- ful planters. His father, James Spain, was a native of North Carolina, born near Raleigh, in 1805, and was one of six children born to John and Jane (Hunter) Spain, the grandfather having been married three times. The grandmother died in Wayne county, Tenn., in 1840, and the grandfather in the same county in 1860. James Spain moved to Bedford county, Tenn., at an early date, and was there married about 1827 to Miss Lydia Gambrill, who bore him eleven children, six of whom they reared: Elizabeth, Mrs. Davis, resides in Boone- ville; John, died at the age of twenty-two years; Henry, in the livery business in Booneville; James, in Booneville, and Mechanic. Three others, Martha, Ella and Polly, died when some age, but the others died in infancy. The father of these children moved to Mississippi in 1850, bought land, and at the time of his death was the owner of two hundred acres. He was a thrifty farmer and a self-made man. He died in Prentiss county in 1859. The mother died at Booneville, this county, at the age of seventy-seven years, and was a member of the Baptist church. Their son, Aaron, was born in Wayne county, Tenn., July 27, 1837, passed most of his school days in Prentiss county, assisted his father on the farm, and at the age of

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twenty-two bought land on which he began farming for himself. He is now the owner of four hundred acres of what is known. as black land, and is also the owner of another tract of land east of Booneville. He was married in 1860 to Miss Margaret Rone, daughter of Samuel and Susan (Anderson) Rone, and a native of Bedford county, Tenn., of which her parents were also natives. This union has resulted in the birth of eight children, two sons and three daughters living: James William, farmer, residing near Booneville, and quite well-to-do, mar- ried Miss Mattie Elder, and is the father of two children, Ora and Clarence. John S., married Miss Ava Price, daughter of William Price, and has one child, Louise. He owns a good farm. Caddie, Mrs. Perkins, formerly Mrs. Johnson. She has two children by Mr. John- son, Baxter and Samuel; Eugenia and Eudora, twins. Mr. Spain lost three children, Joseph, Mary and Oscar. In 1862 he enlisted in company C, Thirty second Mississippi infantry, was in the battles of Chickamauga, Perryville, Atlanta, Franklin, Bentonville, and was paroled at Greensboro, N. C. Since that time he has followed agricultural pursuits and has been successful. He is interested in educational and religious matters, and gives liberally of his means to all worthy enterprises. He is a democrat in his political principles, and he and wife hold membership in the Methodist Church South. In September, 1885, Mr. Spain moved to Booneville to educate his children, and during that time, five years, was engaged in the livery business. In 1890 he returned to the farm.

Alexander Spain, one of the prominent planters of Prentiss county, Miss., resides three miles west of Booneville and is well and favorably known all over the county. He is a native Tennesseean, born in Lawrence county in 1838, and was early trained to the arduous duties of the farm, attending school as he could until the age of eighteen years. In 1861 he enlisted on a sixty days' service, but after that expired he returned and enlisted in com- pany C, Thirty-second Mississippi Infantry. He was in some severe battles, among the most prominent being Chickamauga and Perryville, and also participated in a number of severe skirmishes at Missionary ridge. He took a prominent part in all actions, but was never wounded or taken prisoner. He was paroled at Columbus, Miss., at the close of the war and then came home, where he afterward engaged in the active duties of the farm. He was married, in 1859, to Miss Molly Johnson, daughter of William and Jane Johnson, and to them were born six children: Theodore, Mary, Richard, Edward, Robert and Lee. Mrs. Spain died in 1877, and his second marriage was to Mrs. Vianna Green, daughter of S. Rones. Two children, Alonzo and Oscar, were the fruits of this union. Mrs. Spain received her final summons in 1880, and Mr. Spain was married to Miss Martha Prichard, daughter of John H. Prichard. Mr. Spain has attended to his adopted calling with care and perseverance and with such energy and thoroughness, that successful results have been reaped, and he is to-day classed among the prominent agriculturists of the county. He is the son of Henry and Roena (Armstrong) Spain, natives of North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively. Henry Spain was born on February 2, 1807, and was a son of John Spain, who was an old pioneer of the Old North state. The grandfather died in Ten- nessee about 1852 or 1853. Henry moved to Tennessee at an early day, engaged in farm- ing, and was there married to Miss Armstrong. Later they moved to Mississippi, and in 1850 located in Tishomingo (now Prentiss) county, where they bought 200 acres of land. He was the father of eight children by this union, seven of whom lived to be grown and who are named in the order of their births as follows: James (killed in the battle of Shiloh), Caroline (now Mrs. Stewart, of Texas), Alexander, Jane (Mrs. Parter, a widow resid- ing in the Lone Star state), John W. (see sketch), Huldah (Mrs. Johnson, a widow of this county), and Amanda (Mrs. Gambill of Tennessee). The father of these children was mar.

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ried three times, Miss Armstrong being his second wife. She was a member of the Baptist church and died about 1852. The Armstrongs were a prominent family of Tennessee. Mr. Spain was also a member of that church, and died February 1, 1887. He was a successful farmer and a hard-working, industrious man. His first wife was a Miss Johnson, and one daughter, Caroline, was the result. His third marriage was to a Miss Mary E. Plaxico, who bore him two children, George F. and Francis M.

Tennessee has given to Prentiss county many estimable citizens, but she has contributed none more worthy of respect and esteem than John W. Spain, planter, Booneville, Miss. This gentleman was born in Lawrence county in 1846, and although he started out in life with limited means he is now the owner of a fine farin of four hundred and forty acres four miles west of Booneville, and has everything comfortable and convenient about his place. He is the son of Henry and Roena (Armstrong) Spain, the father a native of North Caro- lina and the mother of Tennessee. (See sketch of Alexander Spain.) John W. Spain atten- ded school until sixteen years of age, and at the breaking out of hostilities between the North and South he enlisted in the sixty-day troops and went to Bowling Green, Ky. After returning home he joined the cavalry, company B, and was in active service at Jackson, near Atlanta, Ga., and at Selma. He was in a great many battles and fought all over the country and county where he now lives. He was discharged at Columbia, Miss., in 1865, and then returning home resumed work on his father's farm. In 1870 he bought land and began in earnest for himself, marrying the same year Miss Mary Lowry, a native of Tennessee, born in 1846, and the daughter of C. and E. Lowry. She came with her parents to Mississippi when a little girl, and was the eldest of five children; Green, William, Ida and Alma. Ida is now the wife of Mr. Stain, of Texas, and Alma is Mrs. Miller, and"resides in Prentiss county. Mr. Lowry died about 1884, but Mrs. Lowry is residing in this county with her daughter, Mrs. Miller. To Mr. and Mrs. Spain were born three children: Modenna E., John L., and Guy W. Mrs. Spain was a consistent member of the Baptist church and died on the 7th of April, 1888. She was a descendant of one of the oldest families in the state. She was a true Christian, a kind mother, and a loving, thoughtful wife. Mr. Spain's second marriage was to Miss Ora Williams, who was one of five children: Frederick, Richard, Mary and Ethel, born to Dr. Ben and - (Flake) Williams, formerly of Prentiss county. Both parents are now deceased. Mrs. Spain is a member of the Methodist church. Mr. Spain is a thoroughgoing planter and is advanced and progressive in his ideas. He has one hun- dred and seventy-five acres under cultivation and during the season has abont ten plows in the field. He is a democrat in politics and alive to the interest of the party. He takes a prominent part in all enterprises tending to the advancement and growth of the county.

A. P. Sparkman, M. D., of Magnolia, Pike county, Miss., was born in Pike county, November 8, 1840. R. F. Sparkman, his father, was a native of North Carolina, and was born in 1798. He was reared and educated there, but removed to Mississippi when quite a young man, locating in Pike county. He married here Miss W. N. Pierson, a native of South Carolina. Mr. Sparkman was a well-known planter and business man of Pike county, was a colonel in the state militia, and served his county as sheriff for a number of years. He was also a prominent early merchant at Holmesville, the old county seat, where he lived until 1845, when he died. His widow still survives him, a well preserved, healthy, old lady of eighty-five years. Dr. Sparkman was one of a family of three sons and five daughters, who grew to mature years. He has four sisters living, all of whom are the heads of respect- able families. He received his early education at Holmesville, later studying medicine and attending lectures at the University of Louisiana, at New Orleans, where he graduated in 1861,

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just before the opening of the war. In 1861 he enlisted in company E (known as the Quit- man guards), of the Sixteenth Mississippi infantry, and served until wounded and perma- nently disabled in the battle of Cross Keys, Va. He lay in the hospital for seven weeks, and was then discharged and returned home to Holmesville. As soon as the Doctor had somewhat recovered his health, he engaged in the practice of medicine. In 1875 he was elected circuit clerk of Pike county, and has been re-elected at each succeeding election, having served at this time for twenty-six consecutive years, and having the reputation of being the best circuit clerk in the state. His attention to all the duties of his position is proverbial. Of course he had had opponents at each of the above elections referred to, but he has been victorious in each by a handsome majority. He is a candidate for re-election in the fall of 1891, and there are few who entertain any doubt of his success, for, though the clerkship of the circuit court is a very desirable position, the Doctor's popularity is so well established that there are few who will offer to make the race against him. He retired from the practice of his profession about the beginning of his official career. In March, 1863, the Doctor was married to Miss M. E. Vaught, the only sister of Chancery Clerk Vaught, and a member of another of the prominent families of Pike county. Mr. and Mrs. Spark- man have a family of four sons and three daughters: William A., N. P., J. A. (who is deputy circuit clerk), Leontine, Auna, Joseph Logan and Ruth. Miss Leontine Sparkman is a very popular young lady. Ruth is a little miss of seven years, who, at the age of four years began to play upon the piano, and has since become so expert a performer that she rivals the accomplishment of many older musicians. The Doctor and his family stand high socially, and are on terms of intimacy with the best families throughout Pike county.

J. F. Spearman, a prominent planter, lives near Tremont, in Itawamba county, Miss., was born in this state in 1835, a son of Elijah and Sidney (Cotton) Spearman. His parents were born in Tennessee and there married, coming to Mississippi at an early day. Mr. Spearman's youth was spent on a plantation. He received a limited education in the com- mon schools, and began the stern battle of life while yet quite youthful. He married Nancy E. Stone, a sister of J. H. Stone. (A sketch of this gentleman is given elsewhere in this work). Her parents were both natives of South Carolina, and she was born in Alabama in 1843. Mr. and Mrs. Spearman have had born to them six children, of whom the following five are living: Marquis de L., Robert Lee, Manly N. O., Eva T., and Hattie. In April, 1862, Mr. Spearman enlisted at Columbus, Miss., in company E, of the Second Mississippi cavalry, which was commanded by Captain McCarty, attached to Armstrong's brigade of Jackson's division. He was in battles at Iuka, Corinth, Brookhaven, Ponchatoula, La., and for meritorious service at Vicksburg during the seige he was promoted to be first sergeant. He also fought at Clinton, Baker's creek, West Point, Jackson, Rome, Atlanta, Dallas and Jonesboro, Ga., Franklin, Nashville, Murfreesboro, Spring hill and Pulaski, Tenn., and at Okalono, Macon and Tupelo, Miss. He received his discharge from the army in 1865, never having from the time of his enlistment been absent from his company for one day without leave. He is a democrat and takes a deep interest in all public questions. He served his county one term as a member of the board of supervisors. He is a Master Mason, and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is the owner of about fifteen hundred acres of land. He is also owner of a gristmill and a cottongin. The latter has a large capacity. He is an energetic, helpful and highly respected citizen, and he has the satisfac- tion of knowing that he has attained success by his own efforts.

Frederick Speed, an attorney and an active real estate owner, was born in Ithaca, N. Y., in 1841, the youngest of five sons of John J. and Anne (Morrell) Speed. The Speed

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family being of English descent, immigrated to America at an early day, and settled in Vir- ginia about 1700, but the grandfather of Frederick Speed removed in New York about the year 1812. His father was a constructing engineer, and built the first line of telegraph west of Buffalo, and many other important works in the Western states. He was a member of the state legislature, a speaker of the assembly and an active politician up to the time of the defeat of Henry Clay. Having been a Harrison elector, he was a leading man in the poli- tics of his day and time, and the town of Speedsville, N. Y., was named in his honor. He moved to Detrolt, Mich., in 1847, but in 1860 he went to Maine, and while living there he constructed the United States and Independent telegraph lines from Portland to Washington, after which he retired from active business life, and made his home in Brooklyn until his death in 1867. His widow survived him until 1877, until she, too, passed away. Federick Speed was educated in the public schools of Detroit, but in 1860 went to Portland, Me., with his parents and was there residing at the opening of the war. He raised the first com- pany for the war in that state. As he was too young to hold office he enlisted as a private soldier, but was mustered into service as sergeant major of the Fifth Maine regiment of infantry, serving in the army of the Potomac, and was soon promoted to the adjutantcy of the Thirteenth Maine regiment, Col. Neal Dow, which formed a portion of the New Orleans expedition, with General Butler. In 1862 he was made assistant adjutant general, serving on the staffs of Generals Dow, Dudley, Weitzel, Emory, Thomas W. Sherman, Dana and Canby, as they respectively succeeded to the command of the brigade, division and army corps to which he was assigned, being with the last named at the close of the war, at the headquarters of the military division of west Mississippi. He participated in the engagment at Bull run, siege of Port Hudson, and in nearly all the battles of the department of the gulf, and was at Mobile, Ala., at the termination of hostilities. In the fall of 1865 he settled at Vicksburg and the three following years were spent in sawmilling, during which time he also read law, being admitted to the bar in 1868. In 1867-8 he served as circuit and chancery clerk of Warren county by appointment, and during 1869-70 he was judge of the criminal court. From 1878 to 1885 he practiced his profession extensively in all the courts, but since that time he has given his attention principally to real estate law. In 1880 he purchased sixty-nine acres adjoining the southern part of Vicksburg, now known as "Speed's addition," and which is now one of its most beautiful suburbs, the improvements on which have been principally made by Mr. Speed's own efforts. He was married in 1871 to Miss Esther Adele Hillyer, a daughter of Col. Giles M. Hillyer, who was one of the early and successful newspaper men of Natchez. Mrs. Speed was born in Aberdeen and to them five chil- dren were born: Hillyer RoyIston, Frederic Gordon, Esther Adele, Liscomb and Annie M., who died in infancy. The family are members of the Episcopal church, in which Mr. Speed has been a vestryman for some eighteen years. He is also a member of the standing committee and one of the trustees of this diocese, and has for several years been a delegate to the gen- eral convention of the church. While his legal residence was still in Maine he became a member of the Masonic fraternity in 1866, and the following year, having taken up his domi- cile permanently at Vicksburg, Miss., he affiliated with Vicksburg lodge No. 26, of which he has been many times worshipful master. He was grand master of the grand lodge of Masons in Mississippi in 1883, and was grand high priest of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter in 1880-1. He is now past eminent commander of Magnolia commandery No. 2, and was grand commander of the grand commandery of the state in 1888-9. He is at present grand master of the grand council of royal and select masters of the state, and has been for a num- ber of years chairman of the jurisprudence committee of all the Masonic grand bodies of the

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state. He has also, for some years, filled the position of deputy of the supreme council of the thirty-third degree of the Southern jurisdiction of the United States, and is the only thirty- third degree Mason in Mississippi. A man of literary tastes and inclinations, he is the owner of one of the largest and most complete Masonic libraries south of the Potomac river, and has contributed many articles of note to Masonic, secular and religious journals. He is an elegant and forcible speaker and has delivered numerous speeches and addresses. He was the first commander of Vicksburg post No. 7, G. A. R., and is the senior vice commander of the department of Louisiana and Mississippi. Leading an active and useful life, he has endeavored by the example of an honorable and upright career to impress upon the young men of his acquaintance the importance of qualifying themselves for the duties and respon- sibilities of life, and it was but natural to find him unanimously chosen as the president of the Young Men's Christian association, an organization which is exerting a beneficial influence in the community and in whose behalf he is an untiring worker. One of the most influential of the Mississippi state papers in speaking of him recently said: "Judge Frederic Speed is a good lawyer, has had experience on the bench, is in the prime of life, full of energy, fertile in resources, a sound thinker and forcible speaker, and positive, but courteous, in announcing his convictions."

Another state paper, in referring to him, adds: "Judge Speed came to this state as a Federal officer during the war, but not like most of the Federal soldiers, returned North, or else remained to indulge in the rich pillage that followed, but joined his efforts as one of the victors to aid the conquered in building up and restoring the waste places. And right well has he done this in practical work, but also in the work of reconciliation and the bringing about kindly relations between the sections. A man of legal learning as well as of large general information and culture, a Christian gentleman who has been eminent in good deeds by reason of the modesty with which they were performed, largely acquainted throughout the state, and where known respected, one loyal to his party, and yet in no instance offen- sively antagonistic to his political opponents, he has won for himself a position of honor which commands the trust and esteem of all as a lawyer, earnest member of his party and public-spirited citizen."

Hon. Samuel M. Spencer is one of the progressive and enterprising citizens of the county of Washington, Miss., and has done a great deal to build up and improve the section in which he resides. He was born in Port Gibson, Miss., on the 19th of September, 1838, being the fifth of ten children born to Horatio N. and Sarah (Marshall) Spencer, natives of Connecticut and Mississippi respectively. The father came to Claiborne county, this state, in 1829, and for about fifteen years was an able and successful lawyer of Port Gibson, having graduated from Yale college in 1821. Retiring from the practice of law, he sought a more quiet life, accordingly purchased land and began planting. In the meantime he fulfilled the duties of president of the Port Gibson bank, and also of the Port Gibson & Grand Gulf railroad. Planting proved very congenial to him, and he continued it up to the day of his death in 1876, having, prior to the war, amassed a large property, the most of which was swept away in that struggle. His parents were I. S. and Temperance Spencer, natives of Connecticut, as were also his grandparents (the great-grandparents of the subject of this sketch). The family orginally came from England, during the early history of the colonies, settling in Connecticut. The mother's father was Samnel Marshall, a native of Pennsylvania, of Scotch and Irish ancestry. Both branches of the family were in their faith Presbyterians, and the three sons now living all are ruling elders in that church. Hon Samuel M. Spencer received his education in Center college, Danville, Ky., and in that admirable institution of learning,

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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 126

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