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 77

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 77

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BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL

and state campaigns, he has made a number of public literary addresses before different societies, schools and colleges in Mississippi. He joined while at college in 1868 the dem- ocratic party, and has voted with, and acted with that party ever since in both state and national matters. The first vote he ever polled was against the constitution of 1868, with its proscriptive clauses framed by aliens and by negroes who had been recently set free, and which was attempted to be forced upon the people of Mississippi at the point of the bayo- net. In the many political, as well as social troubles through which the South has passed since the war Mr. Nash has always borne his part; some of them were fraught with great risk, peril and danger. When Mr. Nash started out in life, Starkville was quite a small inland town of some five hundred, or seven hundred inhabitants, with no lines of public transportation. It is now an important point in Mississippi with a population of two thou- sand, and has good railroad facilities with the Mississippi Agricultural and Mechanical college, a state institution located near the corporate limits. These improvements were secured mainly, some entirely, through the efforts of the public-spirited citizens of the town and county. This gentleman has been closely connected with, and has taken an active part in, every enterprise looking to the improvement of the town of Starkville, or of the county of Oktibbeha. He has given liberally of both his time and his means ; he has labored hard whenever and wherever the interest and the prosperity of his town or county were concerned. Mr. Nash is now in the prime of life, is a lawyer in active practice and a close student, resid- ing still in Starkville, Miss., where he was raised, where he first settled, and living among the same people to whom, he says, he owes most of his success in life. His present partner in the practice is Hon. H. L. Muldrow, a prominent lawyer, and one of the leading public men of Mississippi. Mr. Nash is regarded as a safe and successful practitioner, and an able advocate of any cause he espouses. As a speaker, he is convincing and forceful, at times brilliant. As a citizen, he has the good will of all who know him, and in politics, he is respected by his opponents.

Yalobusha county, Miss., is the home of many enterprising and prosperous agricultur- ists, and the history of the leading men of the state would not be complete without a sketch of some of the more prominent. James L. Nations was born in Yalobusha county, Miss., in 1856, and is the son of Calvin and Anna (Higgs) Nations, also natives of Mississippi. Joseph Nations, the father of Calvin, was a native of Tennessee, where he lived to man's estate; he then removed to Alabama and lived there until 1835, then coming to Yalobusha county, Miss., and engaging in farming. He continued this business until his death, which occurred when he was eighty-two years of age. He devoted the greater part of his time to the raising of livestock, and was very successful in this. He married Lucretia Brown, a native of Tennessee. She lived to be three-score and ten years old, the age allotted to man. She was a member of the Baptist church. Of this union there were born several children, three sons and three daughters of whom lived to maturity, and one of whom is living yet- James C. Nations, of Calhoun county, Miss. Calvin Nations was one of the younger mem- bers of the family. He died in Yalobusha county in the spring of 1858 at the age of twenty- six years, leaving a wife and one child. A second child was born after his death, Samuel C. Nations, who resides in this county and is a farmer by occupation. James L. Nations, our subject, is the other child. The mother died in 1865. She was married, a second time, to David Murphree, of this county, by whom she had two sons: David W. and Rolland, both residents of this county.

James L. Nations spent the greater part of his youth in his native county and received his education there. At the age of fourteen years he began to attend the free schools, and

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finished his schooling at the Banner academy. When he was twenty-two years of age he began teaching school in Calhoun county, and has followed the profession more or less ever since. Mr. Nations was united in marriage December 23, 1880, to Miss Josephine Gore, of Calhoun county, a daughter of Caleb Gore, a prominent pioneer of the county. Six children have been born to her parents, and she is the fifth and youngest daughter; born June 23, 1860. She was educated in the common schools of her native county. One child, Zelma, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Nations, October 5, 1882. They are among the most prominent families of the community, aiding in every movement that has for its object the advancement of the public, and thoroughly worthy of the respect in which they are held. In 1885 Mr. Nations settled on his present place, and has been actively engaged in tilling the soil and developing his farm. He has cleared considerable land until he has reached six hundred acres. Two hundred and sixty acres are under good cultivation. The plantation is one of the finest in the Pine Valley settlement, and few better are found in the county.

Starting in life with nothing, George Washington Neel, planter, Sardis, Miss., has made all his property by his own indomitable will and excellent management, and is not only one of the substantial men of the county, but is honored and respected as a representative citizen. He was born in Knoxville, Tenn., on the 2d of October, 1832, and was the fifth of seven children born to Joseph and Elizabeth (Mathes) Neel, natives of Kentucky and Tennessee respectively. The father was of Irish and the mother of Dutch-Welsh descent. Joseph Neel went to Tennessee when a young man and soon after his marriage removed to Alabama (Mor- gan county), where he remained only a few years and then came to Tishomingo county, locat- ing in Panola county, where he made his home for twenty-four years. He moved to Arkansas in 1866, located on the Arkansas river about twelve miles above Arkansas Post, and there his life terminated in 1867. He had followed planting all his life in a modest way and to a limited extent. George W. Neel passed the principal part of his boyhood days in Panola county and his advantages for an education were quite limited. Being endowed with much natural ability, however, he has improved all his spare moments and is to-day a well informed man. He has also been quite successful in other respects and is considered one of the best business men in the county. During the struggle between the North and South (or in 1861) Mr. Neel enlisted in the Confederate army, company C, Twenty-ninth Mississippi regiment and participated in the battles of Chickamauga, Corinth and Missionary ridge, where he was captured and carried to Rock Island. There he remained for sixteen months and was then exchanged at the mouth of James river, reaching home just a few days before peace was declared. He immediately began to work on his badly wrecked farm, and to rebuild, for his house had been burned, and although the outlook was discouraging he never faltered but went resolutely to work and is to-day endowed with plenty. He is the owner of one thousand acres of land in Quitman and Panola counties and has one hundred and seventy-five acres under cultivation He has sold most of his real estate and invested the proceeds, with the exception of $40,000 stock in a mine in Park county, Colo., in good notes. His nuptials with Miss Fannie Rouzee, a native of Mississippi and the only child of James and Pauline E. (Neel) Rouzee, were celebrated in 1860. Mr. and Mrs. Rouzee were natives respectively of Georgia and Tennessee, and Mr. Rouzee's paternal grandfather was a Frenchman who came to America at an early period. Mrs. Neel is an Episcopalian, and Mr. Neel, though not a communicant, is a strong believer in and supporter of that church.

James E. Negus, president of the First National bank of Greenville, was originally from the Keystone state, his birth occurring in 1842. He was the third child of James E. and Isa- bella (Van Syckel) Negus, natives of Pennsylvania and New Jersey respectively. Both were

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representatives of old and prominent families. James E. Negus, Jr., remained in his native state until twelve years of age, after which he went to Europe and attended school in Ger- many for five years, and then spent two years more in France, Italy and other countries. Returning to his own country after the Civil war began, he entered the Federal army at the age of nineteen, in the Fifteenth Pennsylvania cavalry, and served until the close of the war, participating in many campaigns and in the battles of Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Chattanooga and other engagements. After the war he went to New York city, in the employ of Hoyt, Spragues & Co. for about two years, but in 1867 he went to St. Louis and engaged in mercantile pursuits. From there he went south to Vicksburg, and thence in 1870 to Greenville, Miss., where he has since made his home. For about ten years he owned and managed most successfully the immense wharfboat business on the Mississippi river, which, prior to the railroads, was the most important interest to Greenville. After this he was one of the chief promotors in the building of the first railroad in the delta country, now the Georgia Pacific railroad. Still later he embarked in the banking business and was made president of the Merchants' bank. In 1887 this was organized into the First National bank, and Mr. Negus continued as president, and is the largest stockholder. This bank has a capi- tal of $100,000 and a surplus of $30,000, and it is to-day one of the foremost banks in the state. In 1887 Mr. Negus was active in organizing the Planters' Compress and Warehouse company, with a capital of $100,000, and was elected president of this also. He is the owner of much valuable property in the city, including the substantial bank building, the large Temple building, his fine residence and others. In 1876 he married Miss Louisa Mosby McAllister, who was born here and was the daughter of Gen. A. W. McAllister, a native of Georgia, and one of the pioneers of this section of Mississippi. Four children were born to this marriage: Wade Hampton, Carrie Belle, William Engle and Susie Engle, all members of the Presbyterian church with their parents. Mr. Negus is to-day one of Greenville's most substantial and conservative citizens, and no one is held in higher esteem or has a more honored name in her commercial, social or religious circles.

Capt. Charles A. Neilson, a planter of Tallahatchie county, Miss., was born in Lowndes county, September 14, 1826. His parents are William W. and Sarah F. (Frazier) Neilson. His father was born in Ireland, and came with his parents to America at the age of six .. He settled in Maryland and there his parents died. Mr. Neilson served as lieutenant in the United States army in the War of 1812; resigning, he was for a time in Philadelphia, where he married, soon after moving to Mississippi. At the time of his arrival there was but one log cabin where Columbus now is, and he may be recorded as having been one of the earliest pioneers in Lowndes county. He located nine miles northeast of the site of Columbus, where he cleared land, improved a good farm and passed the balance of his life as a successful farmer, dying about twelve years ago. He was the only member of his family who came to Mississippi. His wife was born in Philadelphia and died about 1836, a devout Episcopalian. Mr. Neilson was married a second time to Louisa P. Abert, a native of Culpeper county, Va., who came to Mississippi with her brother. Mr. Neilson and his family were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Capt. C. A. Neilson was the third in order of birth of seven children, three sons and four daughters, born to his parents: Anna D., who became the wife of John M. Symons, of Columbus, and is now deceased; Capt. Edward Neilson was killed at Prairieville, Ky .; he was captain of a company known as the Reyburn Rifles, and previous to the war he had served several years as midshipman in the United States navy; Capt. Charles A .; Jane C., who became the wife of Capt. R. B. Covington and died in Texas; Captain Coving- ton served through the entire period of the war, and was killed at Mobile almost immediately

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after Lee's surrender; William W. died in Lowndes county in 1863; Catharine C., the wife of Dr. James W. Hopkins, a physician and dentist at Columbus; Elizabeth B., died in infancy. By his second wife Mr. Neilson had four children: Of these the Hon. James A. Neilson, a well-known planter and lumberman, is the present state senator from Lowndes county; Sallie D. was the second born; Prof. John A. Neilson is the proctor of the Agricultural and Mechan- ical college in Columbus; Sophia married Sylvester Lewis, who is engaged in the banking business at St. Louis. Captain Neilson in his youth attended the public schools near his home, and was afterward for about eighteen months a student at La Grange college.in Ten - nessee. During the Mexican war he enlisted in the Lowndes guards of the Second Mississippi infantry, commanded by Col. Reuben Davis, with which he did valiant service. During a portion of the time he was on garrison duty at Saltillo and Monterey. Returning to Missis- sippi after the war, he was married in 1852 to Julia A., a daughter of Benjamin P. and Catharine L. Clifford, both of whom were born near Charleston, S. C., where they were reared and married. At an early day Mrs. Neilson's parents came to Lowndes county, Miss., where Mr. Clifford was killed by a horse about thirty years ago. His wife survived until a few years since, dying in Tallahatchie county. Both were members of the Baptist church. Mrs. Neil- son was born in Mississippi, and bore her husband no children. In 1861 Mr. Neilson joined the sixty-day troops, and served during the term of his enlistment, most of the time at Bowling Green, Ky. Later he enlisted in company H of the Thirty-fifth Mississippi infantry, and soon after was made commissary of that regiment, which position he filled till about the close of 1864, at which time, failing to secure a reappointment, he joined General Chalmer's cavalry, with which he served till the close of the war, surrendering at Gainesville, Ala. He was in the siege of Vicksburg and in various hard-fought engagements and skirmishes in Georgia and Mississippi. In 1867 he removed to Tallahatchie county, and lived in different places in that county until 1870, when he returned to Lowndes county; a year later, however, he went back to Tallahatchie county, locating on his present farm, ten miles west of Harrison Station. He is the owner of fourteen hundred acres of land, five hundred acres of which are under cultivation. The war left him comparatively bankrupt, but by industry and good management he has since retrieved his fortunes to a considerable extent, and is looked upon as a successful man. He has been for many years a member of the Columbus lodge No. 4, A. F. & A. M. Captain Neilson is a very pleasant gentleman to meet and a fine conversa- tionalist, while he is respected by all who know him as an honest, straightforward man.

Hon. J. C. Neilson is a native of Lowndes county, Miss., where he was born on the 15th of April, 1838, to William W. and Louisa (Abert) Neilson, the former of whom was born in Ireland in 1792, and when about six years of age he was brought to the United States, and until he attained his eighteenth year was a resident of Baltimore. He then joined the United States army and became captain of a company in a regiment of United States regulars. After serving twelve years, during a part of which time he served in the Seminole war, he resigned at Pensacola, Fla., about 1821, and started North overland. As he passed through the coun- try he saw its natural advantages so clearly and became so infatuated with it that here he concluded to make his future abiding place. He entered a large tract of land and after- ward purchased other property during his lifetime, thus acquiring a large amount of real estate, a large part of which his son, J. C. Neilson, now owns. He found that the life suited him much better than soldiering and made this his calling until his death, which occurred in 1869. J. C. Neilson attended the common schools when young, after which he spent two years at an institution in Greene county, Ala. At the youthful age of seventeen years he began to engage earnestly in planting, which he followed with success until 1861, when he

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enlisted in a cavalry company. Possessing all the ardor of youth and of the native South- erner, he was very desirous of at once entering into active service and would not wait for his company to be ordered cut but joined an infantry company as a private (the Columbus Rifles) of the Fourteenth Mississippi, and went to Corinth for organization. He was put into Buckner's division and at the battle of Fort Donelson was captured and was sent as a prisoner of war to Camp Douglas, Chicago, where he was kept in captivity for about four months. He then succeeded in making his escape by medium of a forged pass and made the best of his way home, where he remained until his regiment was reorganized at Clinton, Miss. He then rejoined his command and went to northern Mississippi. In the latter part of 1863 his command was joined to Johnston's army, after which he participated in the bat- tles of Franklin; captured at Nashville, Tenn., sent again to Fort Douglas, but was released by exchange at the end of four months and sixteen days, he going to New Orleans, thence to the mouth of Red river for exchange. He was in the siege of Atlanta, and was promoted to second sergeant. His career as a soldier was marked by courage, faithfulness and endurance, and he was conspicuous for his strict adherence to duty. He returned to his home at the close of the war, where he at once set to work to rebuild his fallen fortunes. He was still the owner of a good sawmill, which had escaped the general destruction, and immediately succeed- ing the war this yielded him an enormous income and was the means of once more rendering him independent financially. Much of the lumber, which he sold during this period at good prices, was raised on bis own land and sawed in his mill, and was thus clear gain. He is now the owner of ten hundred and forty acres of land, of which he has four hundred acres under cultivation, sixty of which are devoted to pasture and the rest to cotton principally. In addition to successfully conducting his sawmill and plantation he operates a gristmill for grinding corn and a fine steam cottongin, which does his own as well as some of his neighbors' ginning. He was first married in 1866 to Miss Mary B. Barry, a native of Lowndes county, whose parents were South Carolinians. To their union five children were born, three of whom are living: Louisa A., Anna Barry and Catherine Simms. The mother of these children died in 1878, and Mr. Neilson's second union was consummated Decem- ber 3, 1879, to Miss Catherine Barry, by whom he has three children: J. Crawford, John Bruce and Sarah Danbridge. His children are all exceptionally refined and intelligent, and he takes much interest in their preparation for the active duties of life. Mr. Neilson has identified himself with the democratic party since the war, and in 1876 was elected by his numerous friends to the state legislature from Lowndes county, and while a member of that body he was the author of a bill for the protection of fish and for the manufacture of domestic wine. He was on the committee that framed an act for the protection of game, also the committee of registrations and elections and unfinished business, and in his encounters with members during their deliberations the admirable and lucid style in which he expressed himself, and his sound views on the subjects under discussion, placed him at once among the active and useful members of the legislature. In 1887 the distinction of state senator was conferred upon him, and owing to the faithful and able manner in which he has looked after the interests of his section he has since filled this position. He advo- cated bills for organizing the national guards, equalizing assessment of taxes, and supported the bill pensioning Confederate soldiers. He opposed the repeal of the law granting exemp- tion to corporations, and was on the committee of agriculture and chairman of the committee on military affairs.

Hon. Benjamin F. Nelson, a retired planter of Copiah county, was born in Fauquier county, Va., in 1817, a son of George and Elizabeth (Porter) Nelson, who were born in Vir:

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ginia. His father devoted his entire life to agricultural interests. He served his country in the War of 1812 and 1814. He and his wife reared eight children to manhood and woman- hood, six of whom are now living: James M., of Booneville, Mo .; Louis P., of Virginia; Agnes, wife of B. B. Booth, of Virginia; Virginia, wife of Gus Ficklin of Virginia; Kate N., wife of T. Stark (deceased), of Virginia, and Benjamin F., of Copiah county, Miss. Our subject came to Copiah county in 1836, locating at Gallatin, where he served for about one year as assistant county surveyor. For three years thereafter he engaged in the mercantile business, but going out of trade he devoted his entire attention to planting. In 1841 he married Elma Graves, a daughter of James and Sarah (Holliday) Graves, of Copiah county. They had twelve children, the following of whom-five in number-are living: George B., of Hazlehurst; Dr. Thomas Y., of Copiah county; Anna, wife of Hiram B. Giant, of Hazle- hurst; Agnes V., who lives at home; Sallie F., wife of Dr. Young, of Copiah county. Mr. Nelson has twenty eight grandchildren, young and old, of whom he is justly proud. His wife died in 1889. For many years he has held the office of deputy sheriff in this county, and in 1840 he was elected a member of the legislature, in which capacity he served during one term. Mr. Nelson is one of the most respected residents as well as one of the oldest inhabitants of the county. His natural abilities are of a high order, and his business opera- tions have been so successful that he has amassed considerable wealth. Although nearly seventy-five years of age, his health is yet good and he is active and mentally bright. His busi- ness and social standing are good, and his long experience has given him a fund of reminis- cences which makes him an enjoyable and instructive companion to those who have any interest in listening to the tales of the past.

Frank C. Nelson, real estate agent of Jackson, Miss., was born in Carrollton, Carroll county, Miss., in 1858, the eldest of seven children born to James H, and Mary E. (Fendwick) Nelson, the former of whom was born in Tennessee. In 1846 the father came to Mississippi and until 1875 was engaged in merchandising in Carroll county. He was then elected to the position of deputy state treasurer, in which office he remained until his death in the fall of 1883. He was very successful as a man of business and filled the position of deputy state treasurer to the complete satisfaction of all concerned. His widow survives him and is a member of the Presbyterian church. The paternal grandfather, Richard R. Nelson, was a native of Tennessee, a lawyer by profession and came to Mississippi in 1846, locating at Carrollton, where he practiced his profession. He was a very able lawyer and was elected to the office of circuit judge, in which capacity he served for years. After retiring from the bench he for years enjoyed a large and profitable practice and was always spoken of in the highest terms. At the time of his death he was one of the most popular and prominent pol- iticians of his county, and also held high rank as a citizen. Mary E. (Fendwick) Nelson was brought to Mississippi by her parents when an infant, but they died soon after, leaving her an orphan, consequently but little is known of them, but it is supposed that they originally came from Delaware. Frank C. Nelson was educated in Carrollton but at an early age began active labor for himself in a store, which calling he continued to follow in Greenwood for eight years. In 1876 he came to Jackson and in 1882 became interested in the Yazoo and Mississippi Delta Land business, which syndicate he represents in the controlling of two hun- dred and ninety-six thousand acres, all of which is in the delta, and placed on the market at liberal terms. He is the owner of five thousand six hundred acres of land in the delta, the most of which is exceptionally fertile and a considerable portion under cultivation, the rest being heavily covered with timber. Aside from this he owns some fine residence property in the city of Jackson and four hundred and eighty acres in Carroll county, which he is rapidly

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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 77

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