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 30
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Grenada has had some rough experiences. The town is older than the railroad. In 1847 it was devastated by a cyclone. In 1855 it was partially burnt. Early in 1884 the sudden failure of a bank sadly demoralized the business of the town. On the 16th of August, in the same year, a disastrous fire laid one side of Grenada in ruins, doing damage to the extent of more than $250,000. To crown all these misfortunes the remaining bank closed its doors before the end of the year. The stores were rebuilt more substantially than ever; money was forthcoming; a sound financial system replaced the erratic methods of the broken institutions, and Grenada is to-day in every way, stronger, healthier and more prosperous than at any period of its existence. All the buildings on the public square are now of brick, with metal roofs. Property is increasing in value, and many new enterprises are in contemplation.
Grenada lies in the mineral district of which Duck hill is the most prominent expo- nent. It is notable, also, that Grenada capitalists are largely interested in Duck hill's min- eral land company.
The town is located on the land which John Donly, a mailcarrier for the Choctaw Indians, obtained by the Dancing Rabbit treaty. On this land, which lies on the left bank of Yalobusha river near the center of what is now Grenada county, sprang up the thriving vil- lage of Pittsburg, and on an adjoining tract of land and only a short distance away grew up the village of Tullahoma. They were rivals for some years, neither surrendering its name to the other, and they finally compromised on the name of Grenada, under which it was incorporated in 1836.
In 1882 Grenada Female college was transferred to the north Mississippi conference, and has since been known as Grenada Collegiate institute, with Rev. Thomas J. Newell, a gradu- ate from Emory and Henry college, Virginia, as president. There are five instructors besides the president, and the school has a dormitory for about eighty boarding pupils, and a chapel with a seating capacity of about three hundred. The Methodist is probably the oldest church society in Grenada county, it having had an organization in Grenada as early as 1836. It erected a building about 1837, and in 1852 built its present house of worship. The Presbyterians organized about 1837 and built a house soon after. The Baptists came next, and built about 1845, but their house was destroyed in 1846 by a tornado. They at once built another struct- ure and occupied it till 1891; they have just completed a handsome brick building. The old Baptist church is now owned by the Cumberland Presbyterians, who organized a society in 1891.
In 1851 the Baptists founded Yalobusha female institute at Grenada, and began the erection of a large four-story brick building, which was completed about 1857 at a cost of $47,000. Some time afterward the name was changed to Mercer institute, owing to a liberal endowment by a Mrs. Mercer. During the war the building was used as a hospital for the Confederate soldiers, and sometime after the war the institution fell into the hands of private individuals, and later into the possession of a Mr. Radsdale, who expended about $10,000 in improving the building, etc.
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Grenada lodge No. 31, A. F. & A. M., was incorporated in 1838.
The Graysport lodge No. 289, A. F. & A. M., was organized a few years after the war, and was in existence some ten years, when it surrendered its charter.
Grenada lodge No. 6, I. O. O. F., was chartered about 1840, with Mr. Tyler as noble grand; has a membership of about fifty, and owns a fine brick hall, and is in a flourishing condition. L. P. Doty is noble grand. Grenada lodge, K. of H., No. 983, was organized in 1878 with A. V. B. Thomas as dictator. The membership is about sixty. J. Ash is the dictator.
Grenada lodge No. 158, K. & L. of H., was organized in 1879. The membership is about forty-five.
Ivanhoe lodge No. 8, K. of P., was organized in March, 1876, and has about fifty mem- bers. W. P. Ferguson is chancellor commander.
Calumet encampment, I. O. O. F., No. 16, first organized about 1853, and surrendered its charter about 1880. It was chartered in 1890, and has aboat fifteen members. Julius Ash is chief patriarch.
Protection lodge No. 2, A. O. U. W., chartered about 1877, in 1878 paid out about $40,000 as a result of the yellow fever. It has about twelve members, and Rias Carl is mas- ter workman.
The Grenada Bulletin was doubtless the first newspaper published in what is now Grenada county, having been issued as early as 1836, by William McClellan. Other papers that were published from time to time were the South Rural Gentleman, by Jerry Davis, followed by the Whig, the Grenada Republican, the Locomotive, the Grenada Gazette, after- ward the New Era, and the Grenada New South. The Grenada Sentinel succeeded the Locomotive in 1855, and is now the only paper in the county. Volume XXXVI is the cur- rent volume. J. W. Buchanan is the editor and proprietor. Other towns in this county are Elliott, Graysport and Hardy.
Holly Springs, the beautiful and attractive seat of justice of Marshall county, dates back as far as the year 1836. Long before the war it was a prosperous town. Unfortunately, in the course of events Holly Springs suffered terribly. It was almost entirely destroyed during the war, and has never yet thoroughly recovered its status. Holly Springs is famous historically as the scene of Van Dorn's raid on the Federal stores. Many interesting incidents of the raid are told by the old residents. The old courthouse was burnt by Grant and most of the rest of the city by Van Dorn. Soon after the war the present courthouse was erected. It is a large two-story brick building, surrounded by an unusually well-kept grass lawn, at whose edge shade trees in great and rare variety give an additionally charming effect. Holly Springs is the market town of a varied and productive district. Cotton is the chief item of trade. A prominent druggist of Holly Springs has a very complete creamery near at hand, with fifteen Jersey cows and fifteen graded. He ships milk and cream to Memphis, besides supplying a portion of the home demand. Holly Springs also boasts of the only Holstein registry in the state. This is under the direction of Capt. Buchanan, and is doing excellent service. Trotting horses are being raised to quite an extent. There are some superb Kentucky stallions here. The farmers are devoting much attention to the breeding of horses and mules. Holly Springs is an important station on the Illinois Central railroad. The railroad company have established here an excellent hotel. The Memphis & Birmingham branch of the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Gulf road also runs through here. This road connects the West with the Ala- bama mineral district. The public schools of Holly Springs are of a high grade of
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excellence, and this is the site of the State Normal Colored school, the Maury Institute for girls, the Franklin Female college and the Bethlehem academy.
Holly Springs has a population of two thousand two hundred and thirty-two. It is built on the west side of the ridge that divides the state on a north and south line, and Memphis is only fifty miles away. The soil round about, very much like the famous Mississippi swamp lands, is fertile in the extreme, and the surface of the county is beauti- ful. From the beginning there it was patent that the town would become one of importance, and it soon left other towns in the territory far behind in the race for commercial and muni- cipal supremacy. The stream of immigration was then flowing southward and it bore to Holly Springs many well known planters, eminent lawyers and talented and scholarly physicians, who at once identified themselves with its interests, and were instrumental in placing it upon a solid foundation conducive to future growth and prosperity. With the early history of Holly Springs such names as Roger Barton, Hon. Joe Chalmers, Gen. Alexander Bradford and John W. Watson are inseparably connected. From an early day the average population of the county was refined and educated, and down to the present time no community has stood higher than that of Holly Springs. Its business men as a class have been noted for the most rigid commercial integrity. Its banks have been strong and reliable. Its professional men have stood high at the bar of the county and state and upon the roll of those who elevate their lives to the alleviation of the suffering of their fellow-men. Its churches have been strong numerically and of farreaching spiritual influence, its preachers, some of them, among the most noted divines of the South. Its educational institutions, including its excellent public schools, have been thorough, efficient and popular, some of the men and women having oversight of them distinguished in literature and art. Holly Springs is a pushing, enterprising, advancing city, full of enterprise and ambition, and in the highest degree typical of the progressive spirit of the new South.
Byhalia, Redbank, Victoria and Potts' Camp on the Kansas City, Memphis & Birming- ham railroad, and Waterford and Hudsonville on the Illinois Central railroad, are small railroad towns of growing importance. The following villages and trading points in the county have no railroad facilities: Early Grove, Mount Pleasant, Bainesville, Oak Grove, Cornersville, Bethlehem, Chulahoma Watson and Wall Hill.
The city of Canton is situated almost in the center of Madison county, upon the main line of the Illinois Central railroad, at an altitude of three hundred and twenty feet above the Gulf. The site is a very desirable one, and Canton does not without good cause claim to be the prettiest city in the state.
The streets are wide, and well graded and guttered, aggregating some twenty miles. The principal business center is the public square, around whose four sides the merchants have erected their establishments, many of which are large, ornamental and costly brick structures, while the immense stocks carried indicate that a very large and flourishing trade is enjoyed in every line. In the residence portion are found many large and ornate homes, indicative of wealth and a cultivated taste, while an air of solidity is everywhere observable that is both refreshing and confidence-inspiring to the stranger. One of the pleasing features of Canton is the large numbers of noble trees by which its streets and private grounds are shaded.
The county courthouse occupies the center of the public square, and is a beautiful and imposing brick, stone and iron structure, which was erected in 1852, but is in a splendid state of preservation. It stands in the center of a four-acre plat, surrounded by stately trees,
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and the ground is covered with a thick carpet of grass. Both the brick and stone of which this building was constructed are products of Madison county.
The Illinois Central railroad runs through the corporation in the western portion, and Canton is conceded to be one of the greatest cotton and live stock shipping stations between Durant and New Orleans. Near the depot are seen a large cotton seed oilmill, several large cotton warehouses, icehouses, etc., which give the place an air of activity. The local man- ufacturing establishments are the oilmill, two steam gristmills and gins, two carriage and wagon shops, a planingmill and a number of minor shops, including a fruit and vegetable box factory. A large cotton factory was in operation some time ago.
Canton, being situated on an altitude of three hundred and twenty feet above the Gulf, on a rolling, well-drained site, which guarantees immunity against epidemics and infectious diseases generally, besides having a rich, well settled tributary country, which insures cheap living for employes, is certainly well adapted for the location of large factories, from these material and important standpoints. Being also located on a great trunk line railroad, its transportation facilities for reaching all the important markets and consuming centers of the country are most excellent, while the near future will doubtless witness the building of one or more competing lines, notably one from Canton to Vicksburg, to connect with the Missis- sippi river and the railroad systems centering at that point. Several miles of this road have already been graded, and there is no doubt of its ultimate completion.
Socially, Canton is a delightful place, and its people are widely known for culture, intel- ligence and their many accomplishments. This is made apparent by the city's educational facilities, both public and private, which are of the very highest order, placing the benefits of a thorough and practical education within the reach of all. Six church buildings, repre- senting the leading denominations, are found, while the colored portion of the population worship in not less than five separate edifices. The civic societies, as Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, and others, are represented by strong and flourishing lodges. A large and well arranged hall serves for the reception of dramatic companies, who frequently con- tribute to the social pleasure of the citizens. The city government is vested in a mayor and six aldermen, city clerk, treasurer, marshal and taxcollector. These offices are held by citizens of probity and integrity, who manage the city's affairs wisely and well.
Real estate values have an upward tendency, although nothing resembling a boom has ever occurred to inflate them, the increase and advance being rather of a steady and sub- stantial kind, which, after all, is the safest and best in the end. There are two substantial and amply capitalized bankinghouses in Canton, which, as yet, are all that its commerce demands. Some little jobbing business is transacted in a few lines, but the retail trade forms the principal industries among the merchants, who, as a general thing, are strong, solvent and rated high in commercial circles.
The press is well represented by one daily and two weekly publications, which evince more than the ordinary editorial ability of journals published in towns of this size. Out- side of Vicksburg, Natchez and Meridian, this city is the only one in the state that supports a daily paper, which speaks well for the enterprise and liberality of its citizens. The Picket, daily and weekly, is a progressive, live journal, ably conducted by a gentleman widely and favorably known among, as well as outside, of the profession, Capt. Emmett L. Ross. This journal, as well as the Citizen, may be taken with profit to themselves by Northern peo- ple who contemplate immigrating to Mississippi, as they always contain many items of interest concerning the city, county and state.
Canton's population does not exceed twenty-five hundred souls, resident therein, but it
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is a nucleus around which will gradually gather new and fresh elements, which will eventually result in the upbuilding of a large, prosperous and wealthy commercial and industrial city, a distinction to which its geographical position, rich tributary country, excellent transporta- tion facilities and the enterprise of its citizens clearly entitle it to aspire.
The Canton cotton warehouse was built during 1888 by a company organized for that purpose. Over $6,200 have been invested in a fine brick and iron building, 62x120 feet, fitted up with sliding doors, and all the features which go to make up a standard warehouse according to insurance rules. Its capacity is fifteen hundred bales. Platforms and office buildings have also been erected, and a large business has been developed.
A new bridge across Pearl river was built a few years ago at a cost of $4,000 by the county and private subscriptions combined. This serves to largely increase Canton's trade territory from the counties lying east, whose people have heretofore gone to other markets.
Madison and Flora are prosperous railroad towns in Madison county of large and increas- ing business.
Bay St. Louis, the seat of justice of Hancock county, is located in the southeastern part of the county, on the Louisville & Nashville railway, and on the shore of Mississippi sound. It has a population of twenty-two hundred, and is a prosperous and pleasant little city, popular among health and pleasure seekers of the South.
Pearlington, on Pearl river, was intended by its founders to become a place of much commercial importance, and they dedicated a large area of land for the purpose of build- ing up a city. That was in the old territorial days, and Pearlington for a time had a small boom. Its population is now eight hundred and fifty.
Gainesville, farther up the Pearl river, has a population of two hundred and twenty- seven.
The town of Macon, the seat of justice of Noxubee county, was laid out by Charles W. Allen in April, 1834. It was called Macon in honor of Nathaniel Macon, one of the first settlers of the place. It is located on the line of the Mobile & Ohio railroad, and has a population of twenty-two hundred. Early in the forties a two-story brick courthouse was built there. Just before the war the present courthouse was built, at an expense of $60,000. The town has five churches where white people worship: Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist, Episcopal and Catholic; and two for colored people: Methodist Episcopal and Baptist.
Stockman lodge No. 19, I. O. O. F., is one of the oldest lodges in the state. Its charter and records were destroyed by fire in 1878, and the lodge was granted a new charter July 22, 1879.
Macon lodge No. 40, A. F. & A. M., was instituted February 7, 1840. The first officers were: F. C. Ellis, master; R. D. Barker, S. W .; Samuel Moore, J. W. The present officers are: C. C. Sessions, master; J. L. Ford, S. W .; W. S. Farmer, J. W .; W. T. Hodges, treasurer; W. P. Minor, secretary; J. W. Halbrook, Sr. D. and P. M .; F. W. Bransby, J. D .; Jacob Faser, S. and T. This lodge has a total membership of sixty-eight, owns its hall and has money at interest. It meets on the second Friday night of each month.
Macon chapter No. 11, R. A. M., was organized in 1849, with F. G. Ferguson as high priest. Its membership is now thirty-nine, and it meets on the third Friday night of each month.
Mauldin lodge No. 2937, K. of H., was instituted April 6, 1883, with twenty-six char- ter members. The first officers were: George D. Dillard, P. D .; Jacob Holberg, D .; J. S. Scott, V. D .; J. J. Callaway, A. D .; R. R. Jeffries, reporter; W. G. Sellick, F. R .; J. W.
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Patty, Jr., treasurer; W. M. Jones, guide; Thomas Foote, sentinel; trustees, A. Klaus, W. B. Barker, R. K. Wooten. The present officers are: J. W. Patty, D .; M. L. Wells, V. D .; A. Klaus, A. D .; J. S. Scott, reporter; W. M. Jones, F. R .; Jacob Holberg, treasurer; T. J. O'Neill, guide; T. T. Patty, guard; Lewis Luclis, sentinel; trustees: C. M. Carter, J. L. Griggs, G. D. Dillard. The lodge meets on the second and fourth Tuesday nights of each month. The membership is twenty-eight.
Noxubee lodge No. 63, K. of P., was instituted June 19, 1890, with twenty-six charter members. The first officers were: H. F. Van Kohn, P. C. C .; T. J. O'Neill, C. C .; W. S. Farmer, V. C .; J. L. Patty, prelate; W. T. Hodges, M. E .; L. M. Scales, M. F. and K. R. S .; J. W. Holt, M. A .; G. A. Freeman, I. G .; L. Ludi, O. G. The present officers are: T. J. O'Neill, P. C. C .; C. C .; F. W. Bransby, V. C. C .; S. J. Feibeman, K. R. S. and M. F .; George A. Freeman, prelate; W. L. Hodges, M. E .; J. W. Holt, M. A .; Luther Freeman, I. G .; L. Ludi, O. G. The membership is forty-four. The lodge meets on the first and third Tuesday nights of each month.
Besides Macon the towns in Noxubee county are Brookville, Shuqualak, Summerville and Cooksville.
Mississippi City, the seat of justice of Harrison county, is located on the Louisville & Nashville railroad near the Mississippi sound, and has a population of three hundred. This city; Biloxi, population two thousand; Pass Christian, population one thousand; Handsboro, population six hundred and ten, and Beauvoir are dotted along the coast, with ample hotel accommodations at Mississippi City, Pass Christian, Biloxi and Handsboro, which are fre- quented the year round by visitors from north, east and west as well as by thousands of Mississippians. Beauvoir is noted as having been long, and until his death, the residence of Hon. Jefferson Davis. Handsboro is the seat of Gulf Coast college. Stonewall, Long Beach and De Lisle are flourishing towns in this county.
Public schools are maintained throughout the county for a term of four and five months during each year, and in Pass Christian and Biloxi for eight months. The Catholic churches of Pass Christian and Biloxi are in the lead in Mississippi, next is the Episcopalian, next the Methodist, next the Presbyterian, and then the Baptist.
The leading industries are the planting of oysters, canning of the oysters and vegetables, milling and truck farming.
Starkville, the county town of Oktibbeha county, is located at the intersection of the Mobile & Ohio, Illinois Central and Georgia Pacific railway lines, and has a population of two thousand. It is the largest town and principal shipping point of the county.
There are in this town live congregations of the following named religious denomina- tions, all of whom own good houses of worship: Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Associate Reformed Presbyterian, Cumberland Presbyterian and Episcopalian. There are three colored churches, two Methodist and one Baptist, all with substantial buildings and large congre- gations.
The Starkville Female institute, a chartered institution opened in 1889 by Rev. T. G. Sellers, D. D., provides a complete collegiate course for young ladies. The average attendance for the past seventeen years has been nearly two hundred pupils. This school takes first rank among the seminaries of the South. Starkville high school, founded in 1880 by its present principal, Mr. W. E. Saunders, prepares its students for practical business lives or to enter college. This school has an average attendance of one hundred and fifty. There are also several private schools, besides two colored schools. The Agricultural college of Mississippi
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was opened in 1880; it is pleasantly situated just outside the city limits, and has an average attendance of three hundred and fifty students. This college is ably managed by its presi- dent, S. D. Lee, and a large faculty of the best men that can be secured in the country. It has enjoyed unusual prosperity, is popular with the people of the state, and takes first rank with the agricultural colleges in the country. $325,000 have been expended in the equip- ment and support of this college. The curriculum embraces technical training of students in agriculture, and to carry out this work a large farm has been equipped as a model farm, on which the breeding and feeding of stock, the growing of all crops adapted to the climate, fruits, vegetables, nursery stock, etc., is pursued in a skilled manner. Among other things the college carries on a creamery, from which butter and cream are shipped daily through the year to towns in this and other states. The influence of the college is felt in the sur- rounding country, and is shown by the attention being paid to stockgrowing and the improve- ment of the lands, which is carried to a greater extent than will be found in any other portion of the state.
Three papers are published in Starkville, The Southern Live-Stock Journal, devoted specially to the live-stock interests of the South, a well edited paper, and having a wide cir- culation. It is the leading stock and agricultural journal of the Southern states. The East Mississippi Times and Oktibbeha Citizen, political and general newspapers, both have a good circulation in the eastern portion of the state.
Abert lodge No. 89, A. F. &. A. M. (formerly Oktibbeha lodge), was organized under a dispensation granted in 1847 and was chartered 1848. O. L. Nash, past master; William R. Cannon, W. M .; Simeon Muldrow, S. W .; S. W. Easley, J. W .; Moses F. Westbrook, treas- urer; William G. Lampkin, secretary; John T. Freeman, S. D .: Alex Walker, J. D .; Charles Dibrell, S. and tyler. Other lodges A. F. &. A. M. in this county are Big Creek lodge No. 204, Double Springs lodge No. 251, and Whitfield lodge No. 365, the last at Sturgis. Ridgeley lodge No. 23, I. O. O. F., was organized December 23, 1846, with A. J. Maxwell as N. G. E. L. Tarry is the present N. G. Starkville lodge No. 783, K. of H., was organized October 29, 1877, with W. E. Saunders as dictator. T. M. Cummings is the present dictator. Starkville council No. 900, A. L. of H., was established April 1, 1882, with C. E. Gay as commander. The original membership was twenty-seven; the present membership is fifty- seven. Oktibbeha lodge No. 38, K. of P., was established November 23, 1883, with Simon Field as C. C., and a membership of twenty-five. The members now number twenty-six, and T. J. James is C. C.
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