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 36
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Senatobia, the seat of justice of Tate county, is located on the Illinois Central railroad a little south of the center of the county, and has a population of one thousand one hundred
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and twenty-five. This town is one of the most enterprising of the smaller important towns of the state, is handsomely located and well sustained in its every interest, business, profes- sional, religious, educational and social. It is a cotton-shipping point of prominence and has a large general trade. Other towns in this county are Coldwater Depot, Arkabutla, Independence, Looxahoma, Tyro and Strayhorn.
Houston, the seat of justice of Chickasaw county, is an attractive town of six hundred and fifty population, located near Chico creek, west of the center of the county. It was incorporated in May, 1837.
Okolona, the metropolis of Chickasaw county, on the Mobile & Ohio railroad, has a pop- ulation of nineteen hundred and fifty, and is a good business point. The town is forty odd years old, and the post office was formerly Rose Hill, about one mile west of where the town now is. It has Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist and Catholic churches. There is a fine brick public school building erected in 1890, at a cost of about $18,000.
Prof. H. B. Abernethy, founder of the Mississippi Normal college, Houston, is a native of Mississippi, born near Troy, Pontotoc county, in 1854. His father, J. T., and his mother, Emmaline (Porter) Abernethy, were natives of Alabama and South Carolina, respectively. They reared a family of eight children, of whom Professor Abernethy is the eldest. The father, who was a farmer, and was for a number of years bailiff of the county, died in 1875; the mother is yet living. No educational advantages, other than those afforded by public schools, were given our subject up to the time he was grown; such school he attended not less than four months in the year. At eighteen years of age he began teaching, and followed that occupation four years, and during the vacations in which there were no schools he con- ducted a farm. He married, in 1876, Miss Sallie L. Gossett, a native of Pontotoc county, a graduate of the Baptist Female college, and at the time of her marriage a teacher. Four years later they attended the National Normal university at Lebanon, Ohio, where they remained two years, graduating in 1882, Mr. Abernethy with the degree of B. S., Mrs. A. with the degree of A. B. Immediately upon their return they opened a school at Troy. At its start, in 1882, that now noted school, the Mississippi Normal college, the first of its class in Missis- sippi, was located at Troy, Pontotoc county. It was opened with four teachers: Prof. H. B. Abernethy, the founder, was principal; Mrs. S. G. Abernethy, assistant; J. U. Abernethy, in charge of the preparatory class; Miss Dora Abernethy, teacher of music. The school was the private enterprise of Professor Abernethy. The buildings used were Professor Abernethy's one building, 30x60, two stories high, with six recitation rooms and a large hall. There was a separate boardinghouse, with a capacity for forty boarders. This was for ladies only; gentlemen boarded at private houses. The first year the school had one hundred and seventeen pupils, principally local, only about twenty-five being boarders. The succeeding five years, during which the school was located at Troy, were marked by steady growth, until the last year three hundred and twenty pupils were enrolled, twelve teachers were employed, and the institution had primary, preparatory, teachers,' commercial, scientific, classical, music (instrumental and vocal) and art departments. Mr. and Mrs. Abernethy have a son named Jene, born in 1878.
Okalona, the seat of the second judicial district, where the circuit and chancery courts are held, is a town of about two thousand inhabitants on the Mobile & Ohio railroad near the eastern border of Chickasaw county. It is surrounded by a fertile prairie and has consider- able commercial importance and the best of educational and religious advantages.
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Palo Alto, Buena Vista and Sparta are flourishing interior villages having good local trade.
The founders of the Buena Vista Norinal college, appreciating the great need of an institution where a liberal education could be obtained at a minimum cost, organized that institution in 1885, and the state legislature chartered it in 1886. The great advantages offered by this institution have been recognized from the beginning. Its magic growth rests on the fact that it offers superior advantages and facilities for obtaining an educa. tion at less cost than any school of equal merit in the South. Neither money nor labor has been spared in maintaining the elevated position of the Buena Vista Normal college. Young men and young women who want an education, and are willing to study and work for it, can find here all the advantages and aids wanted. The charges for board and tuition have been placed at the smallest figures that can be afforded. Board, $7 to $10; tuition, $2 to $4; music and use of piano, $4; art, $2 to $4 per month. Prof. W. S. Burkes, the president of this institution, is an active, energetic, industrious and thoroughly equipped educator. The college is under the supervision of the following board of directors: Dr. J. T. Murdock, J. T. Parker, M. D., Capt. J. L. Pulliam, Dr. U. S. Williams, Maj. L. C. Sugg, G. T. Stillman, A. J. Aycock, A. A. Thompson, J. Y. Ball, J. C. Williams.
Prairie lodge No. 87, A. F. & A. M., was chartered in 1848, with Isaac Mullen as worship- ful master. Okolona chapter No. 27 is a flourishing institution, with W. J. Lacy as high priest. Ivanhoe commandry No. 10 was chartered about 1872, with P. M. Lavery as com- mander. W. A. Bodemhimer is the present commander. Okolona lodge No. 37, I. O. O. F., and Eva Clara lodge No. 5, Knights of Pythias, have large lists of members. Chickasaw lodge No. 720, Knights of Honor, was chartered in 1877, with J. S. Dugger as dictator. Victor lodge No. 199, Knights of the Golden Rule, was established in 1888. Atlanta lodge No. 362, A. F. & A. M., at Atlanta, is a popular institution of that place.
Tunica, the seat of justice of Tunica county, is a town of four hundred and fifty inhab- itants, on the Louisville, New Orleans & Texas railroad, which is a shipping point for much cotton and has a large general trade. Its churches and schools are adequate to its needs, and its inhabitants are intelligent and well educated as a class. It has numerous stores and other business enterprises. Other towns in the county are Austin, Hollywood. Evansville and Robinsonville.
Chester, the seat of justice of Choctaw county, has a population of two hundred. It is an interior trading point which is gaining in importance. French Camp has two hundred and seventy-five inhabitants and a good local trade.
One of the best schools in the state is at French Camps, Choctaw county, under the man- agement of the Central Mississippi presbytery, and is in two divisions: first, the Central Mississippi institute for females, established in 1886, Rev. A. H. Macklin being president of the faculty; second, the French Camps academy for males, established in 1887, of which J. A. Macklin is president. Each has commodions buildings and boardinghouses, and a beautiful campus, about $15,000 having been expended on these improvements. These insti- tutions have a high course of study, including the languages, arts and sciences, fitting students in some branches to enter the state university.
Among the societies of Choctaw county may be mentioned: Snowsville lodge No. 119, A. F. & A. M., which met for some time at Bankston, then at different places, and afterward for a time at Chester, now meets at Ackerman; Bankston lodge No. 296, A. F. & A. M., which was organized and for some years met at Bankston, and at Chester since 1889; La Grange
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lodge No. 263, A. F. & A. M., at La Grange; Ackerman lodge No. 1290, K. & L. of H., which was established in 1888 with E. R. Seward as protector; French Camp lodge No. 1312, K. & L. of H., at French Camp, and lodge of K. of H., which was recently organized at Ackerman.
Hartford, the original seat of justice of Calhoun county, is now extinct. It was origi- nally an old Indian settlement. In its prime it had several stores and other business and small manufacturing interests. Hartford lodge, A. F. & A. M., No. 155, was organized there in 1850, and in 1853 was removed to Pittsborough, where it became known as Pittsborough lodge No. 155. Early in the settlement there a Methodist church was organized and a house of worship was erected, and a large membership secured. The religious and all other interests here later clustered around Pittsborough.
Pittsborough was first settled in 1850. The Methodist Episcopal church was organized there in 1852, and the house of worship was erected in 1853. The Baptists erected their church in 1860. Thomas Odom put up the first building in the place for a grocery; Mr. Johnson the first hotel. Judge D. N. Bessy was the oldest settler. The town now has a population of three hundred and twenty- five.
Benela, originally an old Indian settlement, was settled by whites about 1840 by James McCright, and Richard Griffin came soon after. Capt. T. T. Enochs was the first merchant there. Benela lodge No. 140, A. F. & A. M., was organized in 1840; had at one time six hundred members, and is the oldest lodge in the county. The Methodist Episcopal church was organized soon after 1850 and has a large two-story building, which was built in 1886 at a cost of $1,000. Bentley was settled in 1844 by the Bentley family. The postoffice was established in 1878, and the first store was opened in 1879 by Patterson & St. Clair. Bethlehem Methodist Episcopal Church South was organized by the first settlers, and had at one time about eighty members. A good building was erected in 1880. There is here a good graded school conducted in a fine two-story building. Slate Spring was settled about 1857. The first house was built by Joseph Fox. This is the seat of one of the best graded schools in the county, with three hundred pupils, under the principalship of Prof. J. J. Higgins. Bethany church was organized in 1857 and has a membership of one hundred and fifty. The Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1887. Slate Spring has a population of two hundred and fifty.
The first store at Sabougla was built by Stevens & Holden. The postoffice was estab- lished in 1878. The Cumberland Presbyterian church is the oldest organization in the place and was organized in 1884. It was a fine church building that cost $1,500. The Baptists have a church of small membership.
Big Creek was settled by Henry and James Bounds and D. A. Covington. J. J. Ramsey built the first store in 1846 and was succeeded as merchant here by J. R. M. Du Barry. The present village site was settled by the Boland family, and M. M. Boland began merchan- dising there in 1871. Chapel Hill lodge No. 227 was organized in 1857. The Methodist Episcopal Church South erected its house of worship in 1856 and has a membership of one hundred and fifty. Cole's Creek was settled by Samuel F. Provine in 1838. R. N. Provine established the first store in 1868. The postoffice was established in 1870. Shiloh Baptist church was organized in 1870, but a Baptist organization had existed here since 1840. There is a membership of one hundred. The school known as Cole's Creek academy was founded by R. N. Provine.
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At Banner, William Redwine started a cooper shop, the first enterprise on the ground Brower & McCord were the first merchants. Banner lodge, A. F. & A. M., No. 329 was organized in 1870.
The Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1858, and has a membership of fifty. The Banner academy was founded in 1886 by C. P. Gilmore. A. M. Arnold is its oldest settler now living in the place. Spring Creek Missionary Baptist church was organized by some of the first settlers, and has a membership of one hundred and fifty. Turkey Creek Missionary Baptist church was organized in 1840, and has a membership of one hundred and twenty-five. Sarepta was settled early. Theodosia lodge, A. F. & A. M., No. 182, once flourished here, but is now extinct. The Baptist church here has a membership of forty. The Methodists organized soon after 1830. Mr. A. McDonald is the oldest merhant and settler now living in the place.
The seat of justice of Union county is New Albany, which is located at the intersection of the Gulf & Chicago and Kansas City, Memphis & Birmingham railways, and has a popula- tion of eleven hundred and twenty-five. It is the center of a growing local trade, and a shipping point of importance. Its schools and churches are numerous, and its business and professional men and citizens generally are of a class unusually intelligent, well educated and refined. Wallerville, Ellistown, Blue Springs, Keownville, Baker, Ingomar, Rocky Ford and Myrtle are the other towns and trading points in Union county.
Poplarville, the seat of justice of the newly created Pearl River county, is located near the center of the county on the New Orleans & Northeastern railway, and has a population of about two hundred. Derby and Hillsdale are railway trading and shipping villages.
Rosedale, the seat of justice of Bolivar county, was incorporated in 1882. Ten years after it became the county seat, whichin 1872 was removed from Beulah, six miles southwest, this point affording many advantages over the latter. Outside of the new addi- tions recently laid out, the corporation contains fifty-two acres, the site being particu- larly well chosen and thoroughly protected from the encroachments of the river by the splen- did levees of the lower levee district.
The river does not flow directly up to the city, but about three fourths of a mile distant, a great advantage in itself, while Rosedale is at the same time the only river point touched by the Louisville, New Orleans & Texas railway (Bolivar loop) between Friar's Point and Greenville, a fortunate circumstance, as it is thus made a competitive point between river and rail transportation lines, and insures favorable rates to eastern and European markets.
Until the completion of the Bolivar loop line from Greenville, in December, 1888, Rosedale did not show any signs of ever becoming anything beyond a river town of one or two hundred inhabitants, and made little if any progress after the excitement attendant upon the county seat removal had died out; so that whatever of improvements one sees at present dates from that time. These improvements are many, and of a very creditable and substantial character indeed, and new buildings, public and private, representing an outlay of over $75,000, have been erected since the railroad entered the corporation limits, among them the new county courthouse, a beautiful and imposing structure of pressed brick, trimmed with white stone, which occupies the square in the center of the city. This is one of the handsomest courthouses in the state, and was erected at a cost of more than $30,000. In its rear has been built a handsome brick jail, which cost $16,000. The building occupied by the Bank of Rosedale also attracts much attention. The business of Rosedale is represented by four general stores, one drug store, one hotel, a number of liquor stores, restaurants, liv-
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ery stable, two blacksmiths, a public ginnery, an ice house, one butcher, barbers, two news- papers and one bank, which has a paid-up capital of $100,000. There are also eleven attor- neys, one insurance agent, three physicians and two real estate agents.
Carthage, the county town of Leake county, is located near the geographical center of the county and has a population of four hundred and twenty-five. It is an enterprising and progressive town and its citizens are ambitions and pushing. The former name, Leakeville, was superseded by the present name of Carthage, July 31, 1834. Other towns in this county are Ofahoma, Thomastown, Edinburgh, St. Anne, Good Hope, Lena, Grove and Madden, all small places, but each the center of a good local trade.
Augusta, the seat of justice of Perry county, is situated on the Pascagoula river north of the center of the county, and is a good local trading point. The population is one hun- dred and twenty -five.
Hattiesburgh, with a population of six hundred and fifty, is the only important town in Perry county. Perry lodge, Enon lodge and Hattiesburg lodge and chapter (at Hatties- burgh) are the Masonic bodies of Perry county. Crescent lodge No. 47, Knights of Pythias, at Hattiesburgh, is the only Pythian lodge. There was one lodge of Grangers of quite a mem- bership which formerly existed; there are several lodges of the Farmers' Alliance, and there was formerly a lodge of the K. of L. The only pretentious schools in Perry county are at Hattiesburgh, Augusta and Central. The Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian and Catholic denominations are all represented, the Baptist and Methodists having the larger memberships, the Presbyterian churches numbering two and the Catholic one.
Rolling Fork, the county seat of Sharkey county, is located west of the center of the county, and is a junction station on the Louisville, New Orleans & Texas railway. . It has four hundred inhabitants and does a good local and shipping trade. Other towns in the county are Egremont, Smedes, Anguilla, Nitta Yuma and Mckinneyville.
The Methodists were the first to hold religious services within the present limits of Sharkey county. In 1840 Rev. John Fullerton preached in a log schoolhouse on the Rolling Fork plantation, built by Thomas Y. Chaney for his private use as a schoolhouse. Here, in 1840, Mr. Fullerton founded the first Methodist society in the county, known as Union church. This society afterward held services in the Masonic hall till 1888, when it erected a frame building of its own on Race street, Rolling Fork, the first church house in the county.
Soon after the war, under the influence of Colonel Ball, the Baptists organized a society at Rolling Fork, and they held services in Masonic hall.
In 1886 J. C. Burruss organized a society of Universalists at Vickland church, which now has a membership of twenty-five.
In 1874 Bishop W. H. Green organized an Episcopal church at Rolling Fork, where services are still held. .
Decatur, the seat of justice of Newton county, was named in honor of Commodore Stephen Decatur, and has about two hundred inhabitants. Hickory, on the Alabama & Vicksburg railroad, has a population of two hundred and ninety-four; Newton, on the same line, has a population of five hundred. Lawrence is a smaller railroad station. A good local trade is done at all these points.
In Newton county Masonic lodges are established at Newton, Decatur, Conehatta, New Ireland, Pinckney, Chunkey and Hickory; Masonic Royal Arch chapters at Newton and Decatur; one lodge of K. of P. at Newton, one of K. of H. at Newton.
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There are three academies or high schools for white boys and girls at Newton, Conehatta and Hickory. The county supports eighty free schools, four months each year, forty-six white and thirty-four colored. The churches of this county are as follows: Baptist, regu- lar white churches, twenty-four; colored, twelve; primitive white, five; members white regular Baptists, one thousand six hundred; colored, one thousand two hundred; white primitive, one hundred and fifty; total, three thousand nine hundred and fifty. Methodist white churches, ten; colored, six; white members, about eight hundred; colored members, about six hundred. Presbyterian white churches, four; members, two hundred and fifty. The first Baptist church was instituted in 1836. The first Baptist members conducting the churches and living in the county at that time were Revs. James Merchant and Cuder Price. The great civilizer and missionary of east Mississippi, Rev. N. L. Clarke, of the Regular Baptist church, now in his four-score years, lives at Newton, edits the Mississippi Baptist, supplies his churches and travels to the neighboring country when called to preach the Word.
Liberty. the seat of justice of Amite county, has a population of four hundred and twenty- six. It is a handsome village and has always supported and encouraged schools. Its college hall was burned by Federal soldiers during their occupancy of the town in 1863. The build- ings that were spared were later acquired by Prof. C. F. Manales, a native Amite countian and an educator of successful experience.
Other towns in the county are Gloster and Gillisburg. The educational institutions at East Fork and Ebenegon are liberally patronized.
Hernando, the seat of justice of De Soto county, on the Illinois Central railroad, has a population of six hundred and twenty. It is a busy town full of men of vigorous enterprise. and was incorporated in 1839. E. W. Caldwell was its first mayor. Joseph Payne its first marshal. It has five churches for whites and two for colored people. The Methodist Episcopal South, Baptist, Episcopal, Presbyterians and Cumberland Presbyterians have houses of worship. There is a good school for white and another for colored pupils. The town has twenty business houses and an ax-handle factory.
Ashland, the seat of justice of Benton county, was named in honor of the home of Henry Clay. It has a population of two hundred and twenty-seven, and does a good local trade. Other towns in this county are Lamar, Michigan City and Hickory Flat.
Rosedale, the seat of justice of Bolivar county, is a prosperous and attractive town of three hundred and fifty inhabitants. It has fine public buildings, and its financial and mer- cantile concerns are substantial and adequate to the demands of its trade. Benoit, Bolivar, Shaw, Huntington, Shelby, Cleveland, Alligator, Duncan, Australia, Concordia and Beulah are all business points of local importance.
Williamsburgh, the seat of justice of Covington county, had a population of one hun- dred and twenty-four in 1890. It is located about in the geographical center of the county, and though it has no railway facilities as yet, has a good local trade. Its bar is able, and its business men are enterprising and successful. Mount Carmel and Jaynesville are trading points in this county.
Leakesville, the seat of justice of Greene county, has but a small population and no railway advantages, but its school, church and other interests are well promoted and its prospects are improving. It was named in honor of Hon. Walter Leake, formerly governor of the state. State Line, in the southeast corner of the county, on the Mobile & Ohio rail- road, is a local trading point,
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Mayersville, the seat of justice of Issquena, was named in honor of David Mayer, an exten- sive cotton planter, formerly of that county, now of Vicksburg, is located on the Mississippi river and is a shipping point of importance, with good educational and religious institutions and a progressive class of business men and citizens.
Lexington, the seat of justice of Holmes county, is a town of ten hundred population, on the Illinois Central railroad, which has long been noted for the refinement and intelligence of its people and commands a fair trade.
Holmes county has churches of the Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Episcopalian and Catholic denominations, all strong and owning houses of worship. There are colored Meth- odist and Baptist churches, two of them with buildings. The Masonic order, the Knights of Pythias and the Knights of Honor are all represented in this county.
Durant is a junction town with a population a little larger than that of Lexington, in which business of all kinds is flourishing. Tchula Junction is also a town of some importance in its relations to the surrounding country.
Fulton, the seat of justice of Itawamba county, is located about the center of the county north and south, and a little west of the center east and west, and is the only town in the county, though there are stores at different points in all directions. The population was two hundred and seventy-nine in 1890. It has no railway facilities, but is in the center of a sub- stantial country trade, and has good educational and religious institutions.
Ellisville, the seat of justice of Jones county, is situated as nearly as may be in the geo- graphical center of the county, and has a good trade with the township round about. Other small towns in the county are Laurel, Sandersville, Estabutchee and Tuscaloma. All of the points above mentioned are stations on the New Orleans & Northeastern railroad.
Carthage, the seat of justice of Leake county, is situated in the geographical center of that county and has a population of four hundred and twenty-five. It is a prosperous town, the center of the local trade of near portions of the Pearl river valley, peopled with enterprising, progressive business men and farmers and their families and possessed of ample church and school facilities. Its progress has been measurably restricted by its remoteness from railways, and a line from Macon to Jackson, which is the natural order of development, will be constructed almost inevitably, would do much to advance the interests of this pretty inland county town. Other towns and trading points in this county are Ofahoma, Edinburgh, Thomastown, Good Hope, St Anne, Madden, Grove and Lena.
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