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 170

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 170

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The history of the bank since its organization has been the history of Meridian, which it has certainly done more to develop than other similar agency. A critical investigation of the financial standing of the list of stockholders will show it to be the most responsible bank in the Southern states, without exception. Backed by ample capital and unlimited resources, both eastern and local, with an officiate and direct- torate comprising the best business elements of Meridian, and others with national reputa- tion, the city is certainly to be congratulated upon the possession of such an able and enter- prising institution. The bank occupies its own building, at 2313 Fourth street, one of the most imposing in the city. The interior of the bank itself is magnificent, the furniture being of the most modern style, well fitted for a metropolitan concern. In its enterprise and its influence on Meridian and its indomitable spirit we find a revelation of the genius and the impress of the personality of Mr. Wright.

O. P. Wright (deceased) was born near Lawrence, S. C., in 1810, the eldest of twelve children born to Gen. Thomas Wright, a native of the Palmetto state. The latter was mar- ried to Miss Simpson, of South Carolina, an aunt of Chief Justice William Simpson. O. P. Wright came to Mississippi at the age of twenty-one years and settled in Hinds county, where he was engaged with his aunt as manager of her planting interests for about ten years. In 1852 he married and moved to a plantation two miles west of Jackson, and to himself and wife, who was formerly Miss Kate Barrett, a native of Hinds county, and the adopted daughter of Richard Cordell, seven children were born, the following of whom are living: T. C., Mary W. (Mrs. Winslow), Katie B. (Mrs. Holland), Sallie C. (Mrs. Ballew, of South Carolina), Daisy L. (Mrs. Dorsey). Mr. Wright, by honest toil, became quite wealthy before the war, but during that time he lost everything but his land, but afterward managed to retrieve his losses to some extent. He was not a participant in the Civil war. He died in August, 1876. His widow is the owner of four hundred acres of land, has one hundred and fifty acres under cultivation and two hundred acres in meadow land, on the former of which she raises both cotton and corn. She is interested to some extent in the raising of Jersey and Ayrshire cattle for dairy purposes, her meadow land thus proving quite profitable. Mrs. Wright is a devoted mother and endeavored to give her children the advan- tages of a good education. All of her daughters have attended Central Female college of Clinton, are accomplished and intelligent young ladies, and are now engaged in teaching school. T. C., the son, is in the government service in the United States marshal's office in Salt Lake City, Utah,

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Dr. William Wright, physician, Sardis, Miss., the fifth in order of birth of seven chil- dren born to Dr. John and Sarah (Dunn) Wright, was originally from Greensboro, Ala., his birth occurring on the 25th of March, 1833. The parents were both natives of the Old North state, the father born on the 21st of December, 1801, and both were reared in their native state. The father received his education there but graduated in medicine at New York city in 1822. He then practiced in North Carolina until about twenty-five years of age, when he married and removed to Greensboro, Ala., where he practiced several years. In 1835, having previously bought land at the Choctaw land sales, he removed with his family and effects to Grenada, Miss., aud in connection with a large and successful practice, was engaged in farm- ing, accumulating considerable property before his death, in 1848, when in the prime of life. He was a charter member of the Masonic lodge, No. 31, at Grenada, Miss., one of the oldest in the state, having been organized in 1836. The paternal grandparents, David and Sarah (Hill) Wright, were natives of Maryland and removed to North Carolina in 1786. He was a merchant and planter. His father came from England about 1750 and located in Maryland. The maternal grandfather, James Dunn, was a native of Maryland and of Scotch descent. Dr. William Wright attained his growth in Yalobusha county, Miss., and received his edu- cation in the high schools of the same. He subsequently graduated in medicine from Louis- ville, Ky., (in 1857) and in 1858, after having made a trip. to Texas and North Carolina prospecting, he located in Grenada, Miss., where he remained one year. He afterward came to Panola county and there he has since made his home. In 1861 he entered the Confederate army as surgeon of the Fifteenth Mississippi regiment, in which capacity he remained until cessation of hostilities. After cessation of hostilities he returned to his farm and resumed a large and lucrative practice. In 1870, having built a handsome residence in Sardis, he removed to that town and there has since made his home. He first engaged in the drug busi- ness, which he conducted until 1880 under the firm name of Kinchloe & Wright, and was very successful in this venture. After the death of his partner in 1879, he closed out part of his business and has devoted his time wholly to his profession. He was married in 1858 to Miss Mary B. Walton, a native of Tennessee and a daughter of Benbury Walton, who was born in North Carolina. She was a graduate of the Wesleyan Female college, Macon, Ga., one of the oldest female institutions in the United States. Two children were born to this marriage: Ellen (deceased), and Dr. Edwin Wright. The latter received his literary train- ing in Virginia Medical institute of Lexington, Va., graduating in 1884, and his medical edu- cation in Tulane university, New Orleans, La., from which he received his diploma. He is now practicing in partnership with his father. Dr. Wright is the owner of four hun- dred acres of land, has two hundred acres under cultivation, also owns his office and ten acres of valuable lots within the corporation limits of Sardis. Dr. and Mrs. Wright are members of the Methodist church, and he is a Knight Templar in the Masonic lodge, is a member of the I. O. O. F., the Knights of Honor and Knights and Ladies of Honor. He is a member of the state board of health. The Doctor is an excellent physician and is well posted on all points of his profession.

William M. Wroten, a physician and surgeon of Magnolia, Pike county, Miss., was born near Magnolia, May 15, 1847, a son of Hon. V. J. Wroten, M. D., who was born in Copiah county, Miss. He chose the medical profession for his life work, and, after receiving his education, began the practice of his profession, in which he continued with great success for more than half a century. He is still an active man, but has retired from the practice of medicine. He represented Pike county in the legislature in 1872. He is a men- ber of the Masouic order and of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was married in this

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county to Elizabeth Quinn, who was born here, a daughter of Colonel H. Quinn, formerly of South Carolina. William M. Wroten, M. D., was reared and educated in this county. He read medicine with his father, and after two courses of lectures graduated from the medical college at Louisville, in 1872. For several years, until the retirement of his father, he was his professional partner. He has a large and lucrative practice, and enjoys the reputation of being one of the most successful physicians and surgeons in this part of the state. For a number of years he was a proprietor of a drug store which did a very large trade, but his professional duties were so numerous that he had to relinquish that business. He is a member of the board of health, and has acted as surgeon for a railroad company. He is also a member of the board of aldermen of Magnolia. In August, 1862, he enlisted in com- pany I, of the Fourth Mississippi regiment, as a private, and served until the close of the war, participating in the engagements at Springfield Landing, La., at Harrisburg and in Forrest's campaign. He was married in Liberty, Amite county, Miss., November 21, 1872, to Miss Eleanor Lea, a daughter of Robert Lea, of St. Helena parish, La. Mr. and Mrs. Wroten have three children: V. J., Lillian and Hugh. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and the Doctor is an Odd Fellow, Knight of Pythias and Knight of Honor. He is the medical examiner for his lodge of the Knights of Honor, and is noble grand of his Odd Fellows' lodge, having served the last named order as district deputy. The business and professional standing of the Doctor is deservedly high, aud his family move in the best social circles.

F. A. Wyatt, farmer, Tchula, Miss., is in every way worthy of being classed among the prosperous planters of Holmes county, Miss. He is the owner of five hundred acres of excel- lent land near Tchula lake, and he also owns residence property in Lexington, where he makes his home. He is a native Mississippian, born in Yalobusha county on the 14th of April, 1841, and is a son of J. R. Wyatt (see sketch of Capt. T. J. Wyatt). F. A. Wyatt came to Holmes with his parents, passed his youthful days in assisting his father on the farm, and received a good practical education in this county. During the late unpleasant- ness between the North and South, his sympathies were with the Confederate States, and in 1861 he joined company A, Twenty-eighth Mississippi cavalry, and served until the final surrender. He participated in a number of engagements and skirmishes-those around Vicks- burg, fighting the gunboats on the Mississippi river during the entire summer of 1862, the raid at Grenada that drove General Grant back from that place, and the charge at Franklin, Tenn., in 1863. Mr. Wyatt was then ordered back to Mississippi to reinforce Johnston, who was back of Vicksburg. Mr. Wyatt received a gunshot wound in the knee at Barr creek, July 3, 1863, was disabled from further duty, and was obliged to use crutches for several years after the war. Returning home to Holmes county, he engaged in planting in connec- tion with his brother, Capt. T. J. Wyatt, and he has followed that pursuit in the county ever since. He is a thriving, industrious citizen, and is considered one of the substantial men of the county. He was married, in Holmes county, on the 12th of December, 1867, to Miss Lydia Ann Walton, who was born, reared and educated in Holmes county, and who was the daughter of Jesse Walton. Her death occurred on the 17th of February, 1882, and was a great blow to her afflicted family. She was a noble woman, and her virtues were many. She left three daughters and a son. On the 1st of February, 1889, Mr. Wyatt was married to Miss Georgia Cole, a sister of his former wife. Mr. Wyatt is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity, Tchula lodge. He was elected a member of the board of supervisors of Holmes county in 1889, and is a member of that body at the present time. Mrs. Wyatt is a member of the Presbyterian church.

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Capt. Thomas J. Wyatt, farmer, Tchula, Miss. Among the early families to settle in Holmes county, Miss., was that of James Wyatt, who moved to this state about 1820, settled in what is now Holmes county and opened up a plantation near Tchula lake. There his death occurred, near old Fort Rankin. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and lost a leg in the service of his country. His son, J. R. Wyatt (father of subject), was born in Tennessee in 1816, and when but a child came to Mississippi with his parents. The state was at that time almost a wilderness, wild animals abounded and the Indian children were his playmates. He was married in Yalobusha county, Miss., to Miss Phebe Nations, a native of that county and the daughter of Capt. James Nations, one of the pioneers of Yalobusha

county. After his marriage Mr. Wyatt removed to the Lone Star state, accumulated much wealth and was one of the prominent men of that state. He died in 1856, in the prime of life, and two years later Mrs. Wyatt followed him to the grave. This uniou was blessed by the birth of five children, all sons, who grew to mature years: The eldest brother, W. W., joined the Confederate army, became lieutenant of company A, Twenty-eighth Mississippi regiment, and was killed in the battle at Pulaski, Tenn., on the 25th of December, 1864. The second son, F. A., was also a soldier (see sketch). Robert N. served in the same company and regiment and was badly wounded in the same engagement in which his brother was killed (his death occurred in 1872); the next in order of birth was Capt. Thomas J. (sub- ject), and the youngest, W. R., grew to manhood and died in 1873. Capt. Thomas J. Wyatt attained his growth in Holmes county and received a good education at the Kentucky Military institute, completing his studies there in 1870. He then returned to Holmes county, engaged in planting in partnership with his brother until 1881, when the partnership was dissolved and he bought the plantation where he now resides. He has a fine place and everything about it indicates the enterprise and thrift which have ever characterized his efforts. He cul- tivates about eight hundred acres of land and for the last two years has worked state and county convicts, from thirty-five to forty annually. He has good houses, which are kept in a clean and healthy condition for the convicts, the food is good and wholesome and every precaution is taken in regard to their sanitary condition. Captain Wyatt is a democrat in politics, and was elected sheriff and collector of Holmes county in 1885. So efficiently did he fill that position and so prompt was he in the discharge of the duties of that office, that he was re-elected and made a model officer. He was faithful, honest and fearless in the discharge of his duties, and his many friends speak very highly of his official record. After serving four years in that capacity Mr. Wyatt retired from public life and returned to his plantation. He is a Royal Arch Mason and a prominent member of Tchula lodge No. 122.

Prof. Lewis A. Wyatt, the efficient founder of the Capital Commercial college, of Jack- son, Miss., was born in Grayson county, N. C., March 5, 1850, the fourth of eight children born to Solomon and Caroline (Maxwell) Wyatt, both of whom were also born in the Old North state. Solomon Wyatt was reared in the state of his birth, and about 1851 removed to Jackson county, Mo., where he is now residing at the advanced age of eighty-two years. He has had a prosperous career as a farmer and is now in the enjoyment of a hale and hearty old age. He is a son of William Wyatt, a North Carolinian of Irish descent. Caro- line Maxwell was descended from Scottish ancestors, her grandfather, Alexander McMillan, having been born in the land of thistles and oatmeal. He represented North Carolina in the United States senate before the late war, being elected by whigs. In the state of Missouri Prof. Lewis A. Wyatt was reared, but his education has been acquired by his own efforts and since he was grown. He obtained his commercial training at Spalding's English and Commercial college of Kansas City, completing his course in 1870, from which time until

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1880 he was engaged in teaching in literary and business schools in Missouri. In 1880 he removed to the Lone Star state, where he was employed in expert accounting in Dallas and Fort Worth for three years, after which he came to Jackson and established the college of which he is now senior principal, Prof. J. M. Sharp, formerly of Mississippi college, being associated with him at present. This is one of the best colleges of the kind in the South, and under Professor Wyatt's able management has prospered from the beginning. Professor Wyatt is purely selfmade and certainly deserves great credit for what he has accomplished, and the pluck and energy he has manifested in building up an institution that is not only prosperous and a great credit to the city, but has afforded opportunity for Mississippians to educate their sons and daughters in the business branches without having to go out of the state. The institution was opened to the public and to the reception of students November 3, 1884, and from a small beginning it, in time, passed the experimental stage, and becoming established in the confidence of the people, it was incorporated in 1886 under the laws of the state of Mississippi to award diplomas and confer degrees. Since then it has increased in efficiency, and consequently in patronage, and is now in a very prosperous condition. The aim of the management is to furnish a course of study directly adapted to the exigencies of the times and the necessities of its patrons, complete in all its appointments, and having advantages and facilities unexcelled for practical and substantial training for business and in carrying out this purpose, Professors Wyatt and Sharp recently revised and improved the course of study and increased their facilities for educating the young and middle-aged of both sexes for a successful start in business life. Besides the regular business course shorthand, typewriting and telegraphy are also taught by efficient and competent instructors. Professor Wyatt is attentive to his business and is always found at his post of duty, hence his success. He was married in 1888 to Miss Lelia Burch, a daugh- ter of S. D. and Frances (Jones) Burch. The Professor and his wife have one child, John C. Professor Wyatt and his wife are worthy Christians, but the former is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and the latter of the Christian church.

Capt. Benjamin L. Wynn, a planter of Tallahatchie county, was born near Coffeeville, Yalobusha county, in 1839. He is the son of Hon. Robert Edward and Mary (Will- iams) Wynn, born in Virginia and South Carolina, respectively. Mr. Wynn was the youngest of his family, and was left an orphan at an early age. His youth was passed on a farm, and his education was only such as was afforded him by the common schools. While yet little more than a boy he came with an elder brother, Col. William T. Wynn, to Mississippi, and when but eighteen years old was married in Yalobusha county, and located five miles south of Coffeeville on a small improvement. He lived in Grenada during the war, and afterward returned to Yalobusha county, where he died in 1866, aged about forty-five, having been successful and become a well-to-do planter. He was a man of no little ability and influence, and in 1854 was a member of the legislature, to which he was again elected in 1862. His father, Lyttleton Wynn, was a native and life-long resident of Virginia, where he died when Robert E. was a small boy. Mr. Wynn's paternal grandfather, Benjamin Will- iams, was a native of South Carolina, who, some time early in the thirties, came to Yalobusha county, where he became a planter, and died while our subject was yet in his teens. His wife died in Yalobusha county also. Captain Wynn's mother died in 1863, being for many years a member of the Methodist church. She had ten children, of whom our subject was the eldest. Robert E., a planter of Tallahatchie county, was educated at La Grange, Tenn., and fought during the Civil war in the Fifteenth Mississippi infantry under Gen. E. C. Wal- thall. William T. was a planter and superintendent of education in Yalobusha county. He

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was educated at the University of Virginia, where he was a student at the breaking out of the war. He joined the Vicksburg Southrons and served until the end of the struggle, being assigned, after the battle of Seven Pines, to the signal service, in which he was useful until the close of the war. He was with Gen. Stonewall Jackson at the time of his death, and was one of the two who carried his body from the field. John Wynn died when a young man. Kershaw, a merchant of Cass county, Tex., was educated principally at Charlotteville, Va. Watkins was also educated in Virginia, and was a resident of Yalobusha county. Mollie died young, but had, in her life, attended a female college at Columbia, Tenn. Susan, who was a sister of St. Mary's order in Memphis, Tenn., was educated by a private tutor. Katie, now Mrs. Gordon, of Phillips county, Ark., received her education at Jackson, Tenn. Maud, who resides at Coffeeville, was also educated at Jackson. Our subject attended the public schools at Coffeeville, and later was a student at the Kentucky Military school near Frankfort, but did not graduate on account of the opening of the war. As several of his brothers had done, lie also offered his services to the Confederate government, and enlisted in the Vicks- burg Southrons, fighting in the army till 1862. After the battle of Seven Pines he was transferred to the signal department, in which he served till the close of the war under Gen- eral Jackson and Gen. Jubal A. Early in the Second army corps. The only really hard engagement in which he participated was the battle of Seven Pines. He was captured in October, 1862, by General Mcclellan's body guard, and taken to the General's headquarters. He was sent to Washington, D. C., and was there kept a prisoner about two months, when he was paroled and sent to Petersburg, and then to Richmond, where he was soon after exchanged and joined his command at Fredericksburg. At the close of the war he surrendered at Petersburg and returned to Mississippi.

In 1866 and 1867 he was in the commission business for about fifteen months and was in the firm of Edmondson & Wynn, of Memphis, Tenn., and during that time, 1867, married Fannie E., daughter of Armstead and Fanny E. Leigh, both natives of Amelia county, Va. Mrs. Wyun's parents were reared in Virginia and were there married. In 1843 they came to Yalobusha county and Mr. Leigh was engaged in the practice of law in Coffeeville until his death in 1854. He was a graduate of the University of Virginia and was a very eminent attorney. His wife died in 1858, having been for a long time a member of the Episcopalian church. She was a daughter of John Lane, a native of Buckingham county, Va., who passed all of his life in that state. Mrs. Wynn's grandfather, John Leigh, also a native of Amelia county, Va., moved to Mississippi about 1833 and died in Yalobusha county, now Grenada county, about twenty years later. He had been a prominent man in Virginia and had served for many years as a clerk in Amelia county. Mrs. Wynn was the eldest of three children- two sons and a daughter. She was born in Yalobusha county and educated at Staunton and Richmond, Va. She has four children-two sons and two daughters .. In 1868 and 1869 Captain Wynn lived on his farm, but afterward returned to Yalobusha county and resided there for some years. Then he again removed to his farm. He has about two hundred acres of land, about two-fifths of which are under cultivation. In 1875 and 1876 he represented Yalobusha county in the legislature and was a member of the committee on printing, etc. He was one of a committee of two members of the house appointed to go to Washington, D. C., and bring back the remains of Judge Sharkey. He is a member of the lodge of A. F. & A. M. at Coffeeville, of which he has been warden and secretary. Captain Wynn was for some years justice of the peace in Yalobusha county. He received his title of captain through his appointment as captain of the militia company by Governor Humph- reys during the troublesome times that are fresh in the memories of the citizens of this

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section. Mr. Wynn is of good family, and his standing as a citizen is deservedly high. His natural ability is above the average. He is exceptionally well informed. He has taken a deep interest, not only in the education of his children, but in education generally. Mrs. Wynn, who is a member of the Episcopal church, is also of a prominent family and is widely known as a lady of much culture and high literary attainments.

Capt. W. T. Wynn, Coffeeville, Miss. The subject of this sketch is the present superin- tendent of the public schools of Yalobusha county, having been once elected to the office, and twice appointed to it. He was born in this county, December 20, 1843, and is a son of Robert E. Wynn, a native of Sussex county, Va., born February 2, 1820. The latter immigrated to Mississippi in the year 1836, having been left an orphan, and for a time lived with his brother-in-law near Coffeeville; when he became of age he started out in life upon his own responsibility, settling on the place where B. R. Winters now lives; there he remained until 1856, and then went to Grenada, where he reared and educated his family. He was elected to the legislature, from Yalobusha county, in 1854, and re-elected, in 1862. He was an ardent whig, and a man of great breadth and strength of character. During the late war he was a member of the home militia, and was exempted from active duty. He was a man strictly temperate and moral in his habits, and universally honored and respected. He died in 1866. He was united in marriage, in February, 1838, to Miss Mary Williams, a native of South Carolina, and a daughter of Benjamin Williams, one of the early settlers of this county. A full sketch of Mr. Williams will be found on another page of this volume. Mrs. Mary Wynn was born in 1822, and was but sixteen years of age when she was married. She had born to her eleven children-six sons and five daughters. All but one lived to be grown, and eight are still living: Benjamin L., William T., Robert E., John (deceased), Kersha, Watkins, Mary E. (deceased), Susan A., Kate G., Maud, and Martha (deceased). William T. was educated in the common schools of Grenada and in the University of Vir- ginia. He was graduated from the latter institution in 1861, and went immediately to Richmond, Va., where he enlisted in the Vicksburg Southrons, company A, Twenty-first Mississippi regulars. He served as a private until after the siege of Richmond, when he was put on Stonewall Jackson's signal staff. His experience during that fearful conflict was not unlike that of thousands of other brave sons. He participated in many engagements, and distinguished himself by gallant service. He was recommended to a captaincy by Jack- son, but the General died before the order was issued. His brothers, Robert E. and Benja- min L. Wynn, were also in the service, and the former was wounded and they were both taken prisoners. After the surrender Captain Wynn returned to his home, and remained with his parents a year. He was then married to Miss Judith M. Jones, a Mississippian, and a daughter of William S. Jones. She was born in 1845, and died in 1872, leaving one child, William T., who was educated at Oxford and is a very bright young man. Mr. Wynn was married, a second time, to Miss Sally M. Cock, a native of Virginia, and a member of one of the most distinguished families of that state. Her father was a man highly educated and of very pol- ished manners. He was descended from the French Huguenots, and was regarded as the Chesterfield of his age. The Captain and Mrs. Wynn have had born to them three children: Juria, Roland Edward, and Helen Archer (deceased). The mother died in 1887; she was a member of the Baptist church, and was a most earnest Christian, honored and loved by all. Captain Wynn affiliates with the democratic party. As before stated, he is the present super- intendent of the public schools of the county, and he has made a most efficient officer. To him must be attributed the successful reforms inaugurated, which place the schools among the best of the state. Yalobusha county is to be congratulated upon the possession of so able

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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 170

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