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 26
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As yet, Greenville depends for its commerce almost wholly upon the cotton, of which staple it receives some one hundred thousand bales per annum, and the receipts are rapidly and very largely increasing each season, as new railroads are built and new plantations opened. An active cotton exchange aids very materially in making of this so important a
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cotton market and a Liverpool rate of sixty-five cents per hundred pounds has been secured.
There is naturally a limit to the growth of any town or city wholly supported by its sur- rounding agricultural country, and knowing this, the people of Greenville believe in foster- ing and encouraging industrial enterprises, and local capitalists will cheerfully and liberally cooperate with the outside men of means and practical knowledge of manufacturing, and invite their attention to their city. Its present industries comprise two large cotton com- presses, costing $165,000, two oilmills, costing $325,000, one of which is the largest and finest plant in the South, its cost having been $250,000. The electric light plant represents an investment of $65,000. There are two large saw and one planingmill, a sash, door and blind factory, an ice factory, one foundry, two cistern or tank factories, and a steam bottling works. One large brick works, conducted by a strong stock company, produces millions of first-class bricks for local use as well as export. Besides these, there are a number of smaller establishments of various kinds, every one being prosperous and busy, all of which shows plainly that manufacturing pays well in Greenville, if practically prosecuted. By means of Greenville's splendid railway system, every important market and consuming center in the Union is made readily accessible by routes and at rates as low as are enjoyed by any other Southern city. The attention of practical manufacturers is therefore specially directed to Greenville as being in all respects a most favorable location for industries. A large cotton and woolen mill could not be located elsewhere to better advantage, this being King Cotton's capital realm, the product of which is eagerly sought and well paid for in every cotton manu- facturing center in the United States and Europe.
The press is creditably represented in Greenville by three first-class weekly newpapers, one of which runs its presses by an electric motor, having been the first and for some time the only office thus equipped in the state, or, as far as is known, in the South. The Demo- crat now in its thirteenth volume, is an eight-page paper, all home print, well edited, and the advertising columns are an index to the character of its constituents. Enterprise and prosperity are plainly visible on every page.
The Times was established as the Washington County Times in 1868, is ably edited and well supported by all classes throughout the city and country. In politics it is demo- cratic. John W. Ward, its former publisher, sold the paper to J. S. McNeily, who gave it its present title.
The Spirit is a successful candidate for public favor, and was established February 18, 1889, by John W. Ward. It is a four-page folio, and its circulation is growing rapidly.
All these journals may be taken with profit by anyone intending to locate in the Delta, as they are full of information concerning that desirable country.
The Greenville Republican, H. T. Florey, proprietor, was published by John W. Ward during the administration of Governor Alcorn.
In 1880, James E. Negus and Henry T. Iries opened a private bankinghouse. After some time Mr. Iries withdrew and Mr. Negus continued the business some time under the name of the Merchants' bank. In 1887 it was merged into the First national bank. This institution has a capital of $100,000, and a surplus of $30,000. James E. Negus is its pres- ident, and Thomas Mount, cashier.
The Bank of Greenville was organized in 1869 by W. A. Pollock, and in 1887 was incor- porated under the state laws. This, the first bank in the Delta, was a private bank operated by Mr. Pollock at first. At the time of incorporation the concern was capitalized at $250,- 000, with Mr. Pollock as president and A. S. Olin as cashier. This bank is the pioneer in this part of Mississippi.
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September 15, 1888, the Merchants and Planters' bank was organized by James Rob. ertshaw with a capital of $100,000. J. S. Walker was president, W. E. Hunt vice presi- dent and J. Robertshaw cashier. The present officers are J. S. Walker, president; W. E. Hunt, vice president; S. C. Lane, cashier, and George Wheatley, assistant cashier.
The Citizens' bank of Greenville was organized December 1, 1888, with $50,000 capi- tal. Its president was A. P. Keesecker and J. S. McDonald was cashier. Its present offi- cers are J. A. Deaton, president; W. S. Hamilton, cashier. The capital is now $85,000.
In 1868 the Greenville Compress company was established with a capital of $100,000; W. A. Pollock, president; T. J. Irwine, secretary and treasurer.
The Planters' Compress company was incorporated in 1887 with $50,000 capital; James E. Negus, president; Joseph Uhl, secretary and treasurer.
The Greenville oil works is a branch of the great oil interest. The investment in its plant and realty is $150,000. Jos. Allison, of Memphis, is president, and King Dowarth, secre- tary and treasurer.
The Planters' cottonseed crushing association has a home capital of $100,000. C. H. Smith is president, George Alexander superintendent.
Nearly all religious denominations are represented in Greenville, among them the Pres- byterian, Baptist, Methodist Episcopal, Protestant Episcopal, Catholic and Jewish. They all have substantial frame edifices and most of them have good membership and are in a prosperous condition.
The Young Men's Christian association has its own building, a fine brick structure, erected in 1890, which with the lot and fixtures cost $12,000. It is well supported and is doing much good. It was organized in 1878, after the yellow fever epidemic, and incorpor- ated a few years later.
The Greenville cemetery association was incorporated in 1887.
Greenville lodge No. 94, I. O. O. F .; Mississippi Valley lodge Knights of Honor No. 723, C. P. Huntington council No. 973 Legion of Honor, the Benevolent Protective order of Elks No. 50 and Hebrew union are among the societies that have good membership here.
Delta Commandery No. 16, Hillyer Royal Arch Chapter, No. 113 and Greenville lodge No. 206, represent the Masonic order at Greenville, and are all in a flourishing condition and have a good membership.
The Knights of Pythias have two strong lodges at Greenville-Stonewall Jackson lodge No. 7, and W. A. Percy lodge No. 57. There are a number of social clubs in Greenville, having elegantly furnished rooms, equal to many found in large cities. The citizens are generally speaking, social in their habits, and take special delight in entertaining strangers. The Greenville Rifles is a splendid militia company, handsomely uniformed, well accoutered and perfect in the manual of arms.
Greenville's leading industries and notable features may be thus summarized: two oil mills, two cotton compresses, a land and improvement company, an ice factory, an electric power and light company, the Greenville street railway company, the Greenville brick and improvement company, the Delta land and improvement company, thirteen miles of electric wire, and about seven miles of street railway.
Leland is situated east from Greenville about ten miles, on the banks of Deer creek, and has a population of six hundred. The main line of the Louisville, New Orleans & Texas railway passes through Leland, which is also the diverging point for the Greenville, Arkansas City, Lake Washington and Bolivar Loop branches of that road, while the Georgia K
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Pacific railway crosses the main line one half mile from the town. Leland is surrounded by a well-settled and rich cotton and corn growing section. Within the past few years some twenty thousand acres have been put into cultivation near Leland. Leland is sub- stantially built of brick and presents a fine appearance. The merchants carry large stocks and are doing a prosperous business, while not less than ten thousand bales of cotton are handled. The annual business of the town will aggregate fully $1,000,000. The Louis- ville, New Orleans & Texas railway company has erected there one of the finest hotel build- ings in the state, having accommodations for over one hundred guests, which station at Clarksdale, conceded to be one of the finest, was opened by Mr. Blake in 1887.
A large sawmill, a large stove factory and two gins are in operation at Leland, and not less than thirty two business houses, representing every line of trade. There are two hand- some, well equipped schoolhouses, affording excellent educational facilities for both races. Three good church buildings have been erected, while several secret societies are represented by flourishing lodges and well appointed halls.
The streets are wide, graded, and good sidewalks have been put down and improve- ments of a substantial character are visible on every hand.
Leland is the end of two divisions of the Louisville, New Orleans & Texas railway, and that company has large workshops and lumber yards there, employing a large force of men. Capt. J. A. V. Feltus, the father of Leland, founded the town in 1884, having ever fostered its interests to the extent of his by no means limited ability.
Jackson City was established November 28, 1821, and named in honor of Andrew Jack- son, the hero of New Orleans. A road from Vicksburg to that point was completed about the same time, and this faint gleam of civilization was first shed on that section of the Pearl river wilderness. It was the same road over which Jackson was carried in triumph in 1840 to a capital of a state whose people aided him a quarter of a century before in opposing British occupation. Jackson lies on the western bank of the Pearl river, a beautiful stream flowing into the gulf of Mexico, navigable for small hoats above and below the city for eight months in the year, and furnishing at all times a never failing and abundant supply of the purest water. Being situated about the geographical center of the state it was naturally made the capital city. It is also one of the county sites of Hinds county, one of the most fertile and productive counties in the state, being second only to the best delta landsin cotton production. The advantages of Jackson are not factitious; they are natural, real and per- manent, and are unaided by any adventitious circumstances, anguring it a prominence and prosperity which can not be forced down. Jackson has never been boomed as some towns are; it has never been pushed forward by any aggregated or concerted efforts of its citizens; such things, so far, are unknown to it. Its growth and development are but the nominal results of the natural course of events, and it may be truthfully said that in spite of itself nature has made it what it is; a prosperous and growing city of over six thousand inhabi- tants, with a brilliant and promising future of illimitable possibilities. The advantages of the place cannot be overestimated; and in considering what it is to-day it must be remem- bered that Jackson is a city which was practically destroyed by and rebuilt since the war. The Jackson of to-day is to all intents and purposes a city dating from the surrender, and it bas attained its present importance in spite of certain obstacles, now removed, which would have forever prostrated any less favored locality. No town in the state suffered by the war as Jackson did. It was subjected to the ravages of a friendly as well as hostile army. And ยท during the tedious years of reconstruction which followed, the city, more than any in the
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state, felt the depressing blight of unsettled political affairs. All this is now happily a thing of the past. A new era has been entered upon; nature has again asserted itself, and Jack- son is marching to the front steadily and surely.
The population in 1870, was four thousand two hundred and thirty-four; in 1880, five thousand two hundred and four; and in 1890, six thousand and forty-one. The editor of the Clarion-Ledger, speaking of her progress under date May 11, 1891, says: "It is usually admitted that no town of its size in Mississippi equals it in its industrial life or the general hospitality of its citizens. Far and wide it is noted for its push, and the late census shows a marked progress in every branch of industry, as well as a large increase in population. In 1880 the census gave the population of the town at five thousand, while she to-day boasts of nine thousand." Under date October 21, 1891, the same paper says: "The census of 1890 may be a true and correct estimate of the population of Jackson, but the Clarion-Ledger does not believe it, and the people do not believe it. And, another thing, Jackson has a pop- ulous suburb that is, in point of fact, a part and parcel of the city. Mercerville and West End are as much a portion of Jackson as if they were located within the sacred precincts of the corporation line. Several of the leading and most substantial business men of the city have hand- some residences and valuable lots in that suburb, and by right should be included not only in the census of Jackson, but on the city assessment rolls, and pay their quota of the expenses. The board of trade could not turn its attention to a more important matter than the annexation of that part of Jackson known as West End or Mercerville. The corporation line should be extended one mile on the other side of the depot. At present it is not a quarter beyond the railroad, and thus some of the most valuable properties of the city escape city taxes and at the same time enjoy the many privileges and conveniences of city life. It is only a matter of time when the annexation will be made, and why not now? The board of trade should move in the matter. Let it be one of the subjects for discussion at the next meeting, and a committee appointed to properly lay the subject before the legislature in January next. Jackson has now a population of ten thousand or more, and is increasing at the rate of five hun- dred per annum. The fact of the business is, Jackson is a prosperous and growing city in point of size, business and numbers."
The acts relating to the incorporation of Jackson are those of December 25, 1833, Feb- ruary 14, 1839, and February 22, 1840. On March 5, 1846, the act authorizing a bridge over Pearl river was approved; in 1846 acts relating to schools; in 1846, also, one providing for the forfeiture of vote in the case of the non-payment of street tax, and in 1848 one extending the limits and one regulating bridge affairs. The city records, prior to 1854, could not be found, but from unofficial documents it is learned that Jobn P. Oldham was mayor for nine years prior to that date and that Joseph Spengler served as a member of the old council.
The mayors of the city since 1854 are named as follows: Richard Fletcher*, 1854; William H. Taylor, 1855-7; James H. Boyd*, 1858; W. A. Purdon,* 1859; R. C. Kerr, 1860-1; C. H. Manship, 1862-3; D. N. Barrows, 1864 to May, 1868, (removed by military authorities); Thomas H. Norton, from May 8, 1868, to July 9, 1868, (removed by military authorities); James Biddle, from July 9, to July 31, 1868, (removed by military authorities); James P. Sessions*, from July 31, 1868, to January 12, 1869, (removed by military authori- ties); Rhesa Hatcher*, from January 12, 1869, to April 2, 1869, (removed by military authorities); Joseph G. Crane*, from April 2, 1869, to June 8, 1869, (killed); F. A. Field, from June 16, to July 16, 1869, (removed by military authorities); A. W. Kelly, from July
*Deceased.
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16 to November 5, 1869, (removed by military authorities); E. W. Cabaniss*, from Novem- ber 9, 1869, to June 22, 1870, when Governor Alcorn appointed Oliver Clifton. The latter resigned October 17, 1871, and ten days later Rhesa Hatcher* was appointed and served until January 3, 1872, when the days of appointments passed away and Marion Smith was elected mayor; John McGill was elected January 5, 1874, and served until January, 1888, when the present mayor, William Henry, was elected.
The aldermen in 1854 were C. R. Dickson*, C. A. Moore*, Stephen P. Bailey*, R. M. Hobson*, W. D. Bibb* and J. W. Shaw *. Bailey* was reelected in 1855-6 and 7; E. M. Avery*, 1855-6; W. H. Donnell*, 1855-7 and 1862; Rhesa Hatcher*, 1855-6 and 1870-1; W. W. Langley*, 1855-6; James T. Rucks*, 1855-6 and 1858; O. Barrett*, 1857; L. V. Dixon*, 1857; Thomas Green*, 1857-67; Hiram Hilzheim*, 1857 and 1871; Jo. Bell*, 1858-60-2; C. H. Manship, 1858-9-60; D. N. Barrows, 1858-9-62-3; W. M. Estelle*, 1858-9-60; T. W. Caskey, 1858; L. Julienne*, 1859-60; C. A. Moore*, 1859-60; H. Speng- ler, 1859 and 1876-84; J. H. Bowman, 1860; M. W. Boyd*, 1861; W. M. Patton*, 1861; C. S. Knapp*, 1861; J. O. Stevens, 1861-6; M. C. Russell*, 1861; John H. Echols*, 1861; G. H. Sutherland*, 1862-3; J. H. Boyd*, 1862-7; R. M. Hobson*, 1862-3, R. O. Edwards*, 1863; W. W. Hardy, 1863; J. W. K. Lucy*, 1864, (killed by Deputy United States Marshal Winders); A. Virden, 1864-9; Samuel French, 1864; M. Mclaughlin*, 1864-73; Ned Farish, 1864; James Tapley*, 1865-9; John Nelson*, 1865-7 and 72; Angelo Miazza*, 1867-70 and 1872-3; Marcus Hilzheim*, 1867-9; Rufus Arnold, 1867-9 (appointed by military authorities to fill vacancy, October 8, 1867); Thomas Green*, and John Nelson*, (resigned October 4, 1867); John Burns*, 1869-70; E. Bloom, 1869; Charles Williams, 1869-70; Thomas Palmer, 1869-70; James Lynch*, 1869-71. The five last named were appointed May 15, 1869, by the military authorities vice Virden, Tapley, Mclaughlin, Arnold and Hilzheim, removed, and served until March 28, 1870, when Samuel Lemly*, Henry Musgrove*, E. A. Peyton*, James Lynch* (colored) and G. Richards* were appointed by Governor Alcorn. Musgrove, Peyton and Lynch served in the council in 1871, with R. Hatcher and M. Mclaughlin, the latter being appointed vice Lemly. On July 6, 1871, the six last named councilmen were removed, when A. N. Kimball*, James Peachey, E. D. Fisher (later postmaster), James R. Yerger and T. Anderson were appointed. In 1872 George H. Clint succeeded Mclaughlin and I. Strauss succeeded Clint in June, 1872. John McGill (who took J. J. Rorbbacher's place in February, 1873), P. O. Leary, Jacob Kansler (who took A. Miazza's place in June, 1872) and Harris Barksdale*, all were mem- bers of the aldermanic board. In 1874 C. B. Smith (killed by accident), Thomas Ander- son (colored), Charles Williams, D. Ward, W. Q. Lowd and M. Stamps (colored) were mem- bers. Messrs. Anderson, Lowd, Ward and Williams were reelected in 1876 and H. Speng- ler and L. Kavanaugh* elected. In 1878 Spengler, Williams, Lowd and Anderson, with J. S. Hamilton and J. W. Harrington*, were aldermen. In 1880 S. E. Virden replaced Hamilton, and J. W. Clingan took the place of Harrington, the other members being reelected. The elections of 1882 resulted in the choice of H. Spengler, J. S. Ham- ilton, F. B. Hull, W. Q. Lowd, W. H. Taylor and Ben Jones. The two last named were reelected in 1884, with E. Watkins, W. H. Gibbs, J. Braun and H. K. Hardy. In 1886 W. S. Lemly took the place of Gibbs and the other members were reelected. E. Wat- kins, W. S. Lemly and W. H. Taylor, with L. F. Chiles, H. M. Taylor and George Lemon, were elected in 1888, and in 1890 Messrs. Chiles, Lemon and H. M. Taylor, with B. W. Griffith, E. Von Seutter, L. Manship and James Ewing, formed the board of aldermen.
* Deceased.
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So early as February 20, 1819, congress donated one thousand two hundred and eighty acres to the state, to be selected by the legislature, and made the site of the state capital. Two years after, the legislature named Thomas Hinds, James Patton and William Lattimore commissioners to locate such capital town within twenty miles of the geographical center of Mississippi. For some reason, William Lattimore did not take part in the final action of the commissioners, for on November 28, 1821, the first and last named, with Peter A. Van Dorn, were directed expressly by the legislature to locate the capital land grant on the east half of sections three and ten, and the west half of sections two and eleven, in town five north, and range one, east of the Choctaw meridian, to name the land so selected Jack - son, and to have a temporary building for legislative sessions erected thereon before Decem- ber, 1822. The sale of lots in the new town was authorized June 30, 1822, and the terms of sale placed at ten per cent. cash, and the balance in three years. The particulars are given in page ninety-nine, Hutchinson's Mississippi code. On February 26, 1833, the act for the erection of the capitol and executive mansion was approved and $105,000 appropriated. Three years later, William Nichols was appointed state architect (office abolished in 1842), and Richard Davidson, Perry Cohea, and Henry K. Moss commissioners of public buildings. In February, 1836, the act to establish a penitentiary was approved; in 1848, that establish- ing the institute for the blind; in 1853 the state lunatic asylum was authorized, and in 1854 the institute for the deaf and dumb. Work on the statehouse was commenced in 1833, the contract for woodwork being entered into by E. S. Farish.
Of the pioneers of the city very few remain. David Shelton settled here in 1836; Herbert Spengler came abont 1837, and in October, 1838, laid the foundation of the busi- nesses, which he has built up within the last fifty-five years; William J. Brown, who was a printer here in 1836; Charles H. Manship, a settler of 1836, and Alexander Virden, who also came in 1836, George Langley, Edward Virden, Thomas Helm, Jacob Kausler, and John Clinghen are still residents of the city. In 1844, D. N. Barrows established an insurance office; in 1850, Isadore Strauss came; in 1850 or 1851, E. Von Seutter; in 1853, E. D. Patton; in 1855, H. M. Taylor, and in 1858, L. Fraggiacoma. They are to-day among the most enterprising men of the commercial circle. Many children of the pioneers of the county and state reside at Jackson, and are found in all branches of trade and in the professions. Many of the old settlers, men and women who were here before the war, and passed through the trials of the city's occupation by opposing armies, are now witnessing the extraordinary pro- gress of a new city under a new idea of civilization. Some landmarks of the original town have survived time, as well as the large public buildings completed within the decade ending in 1860, and a few of the principal residences of antebellum days, but the hand of the modernizer is more manifest and architectural styles and conveniences undreamed of even twenty years ago exist on every side. The last decade, which did so much for civilization in the Northern states, has not overlooked the Southern country, and in the advance Jackson city has been foremost.
The old frame house known as the Eagle hotel, forty rooms, stood where the Brown resi- dence now is. The brick hotel of one hundred rooms erected on this site in 1854, and known as the Bowman house, was burned during the war. George Langley, now a resident of the city, was a prime mover in urging the erection of a large hotel, and suggested the purchase and donation of the ground.
Jackson is the railroad center of the state, and one of the most important in the South. The great Illinois Central railroad, from Chicago to New Orleans, divides the state north and south, and at Jackson intersects the Vicksburg & Meridian, running east and west
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from Vicksburg on the Mississippi and forming a link in the chain of roads connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Jackson is the present terminus of the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley railroad, a line operated by the Illinois Central and extending northwest from Jack- son through the world-renowned Yazoo and Mississippi delta, the most fertile and productive body of land in the world, to a point on the Mississippi river opposite Helena, Ark., where it connects with the Great Western and Northwestern systems of railroads. The Natchez, Jackson & Columbus railroad, with its present termini at Jackson and Natchez on the Mississippi river, runs southwest from Jackson, and will be completed beyond Jackson northeast, to the coal fields of Alabama. The Gulf & Chicago railroad, now rapidly approaching completion, will give Jackson as direct and quick connection with the Gulf of Mexico as it has now with New Orleans. A branch of the Queen & Crescent railroad from a point near the Pearl river bridge to Pearl street, in the rear of State street, was completed October 22, 1891. Jackson has now within its corporate limits between seven thousand and nine thousand inhabitants, including a large and rapidly increasing suburban population. The streets are all named and houses numbered, and a free postal delivery system is in operation. At least five hundred buildings have been completed in the last five years, and more are constantly going up. It has one of the largest cotton compresses in the world, being the same which was awarded the first premium at the World's exposition in New Orleans. It has gas and street railways, two prosperous banks, an ice factory with a daily capacity of fifteen tons, three steam foundries and small factories of agricultural implements running to their full capacity; two large brick factories, two fertilizer factories, one furniture factory, one broom factory, ten churches, six newspapers (five weeklies and one daily), and three large hotels. Being the capital of the state, nearly all the important state insti- tutions and buildings are located here. The State library in the capital building is the third largest state law library in the Union. The miscellaneous library, being also large and well selected, is free to the public. At Jackson are held the state supreme, chancery, and circuit courts; also the circuit and district courts of the United States. At Jackson also assemble the legislature and all the important conventions. In 1887 the Illinois Cen- tral company built at Jackson a passenger depot unsurpassed by any in the South, and early in 1891 designed a grander building for this important railroad center.
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