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 92

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 92

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MEMOIRS OF MISSISSIPPI.

Lanehart, of this county. He began life as a planter, and followed that occupation exclu- sively until 1884, when he moved to Woodville and opened a livery stable, where he also deals in stock. He erected his own establishment, which is a good and substantial one, and has also one at Centerville, both of which are well conducted and equipped with vehicles of all kinds and excellent horses. He owns a pleasant and comfortable home in Woodville, besides still owning his plantation, which comprises about four hundred and fifty acres of land, of which about one hundred acres are under cultivation, a tract of forty acres near Woodville, which has been recently purchased, and two residences in Centerville. Mr. Petty and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is a very agree- able and social gentleman, although very unassuming. He is a wideawake and progressive man of business, and has become possessed of a comfortable competency.

Dr. Alonzo J. Phelps is retired from the active life of a medical practitioner, and is devoting his attention to planting, being the owner of Nitta Yuma plantation, at Nitta Yuma, Miss. He was born in Pike county, Ohio, in the year 1835, a son of Dr. Orlando J. and Nancy (Watkins) Phelps, the former of whom was born in Meigs county, Ohio, and the latter in Greenbrier county, Va. (now West Virginia). They were married in Virginia, but after- ward took up their residence in Pike county, Ohio, where they resided for many years. Dr. Phelps, Sr., was a man of fine mental endowments and his thorough knowledge of his pro- fession won him a large practice, which he commanded up to the time of his demise. He graduated from a medical college of his native state in his early manhood, and throughout his well-spent life he showed himself to be a man of noble attributes, and a medical practi- tioner of more than ordinary ability. He and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church, and he was a member of the A. F. & A. M. His paternal grandfather, James E. Phelps, was born in Hartford, Conn., and shortly before the birth of Dr. Orlando J., he removed to Meigs county, Ohio, where he spent the rest of his life on his farm near Pomeroy. He was an associate judge of his district, and his home was the favorite resort of the mem- bers of the bar at that early day. The first of the Phelps family to come to America were three brothers, who became residents of America about the year 1630. The maternal grand- father, Francis Watkins, was born in Euniskillen, Ireland. He and two brothers came to America prior to the Revolutionary war, and the two latter were killed at the battle of Cow- pens. Mr. Watkins first located in Greenbrier county, Va. (now West Virginia), of which he was one of the very earliest settlers. He afterward moved to Mason county, where he died, having at one time been high sheriff of his district. Dr. Alonzo J. Phelps, the subject of this sketch, is the eldest of seven children, and he and a brother, Judge William G. Phelps, a prominent attorney of Greenville, Miss., are the only members of the family now living. He received a fine classical education in the University of Ohio, after which he studied medi- cine with his father, and in 1852 graduated from the Starling Medical college at Columbus, Ohio, taking a diploma two years later from the New York Medical college. He then practiced his profession in partnership with his father until the opening of the war of the states, when he was made surgeon of the Thirty-third Ohio volunteers, and soon afterward was ordered before the regular medical army board for examination, and was commissioned as staff sur- geon or surgeon of volunteers. He was then made medical director of the fourth division of the army commanded by General Wood, which position he held until the army was divided into corps, and was then made successively medical director of the Twenty-first and Fourth army corps, and when General Grant was placed in command in Virginia, Dr. Phelps was ordered to the army of the Potomac, and was made general director and inspector and placed in charge of the general field hospitals, in the forward movement of that army, which posi-

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tion he retained until about October, 1864, when he was relieved of field duty, at his own request, having been constantly in front field duty from the beginning of the war. He was then ordered to Columbus, Ohio, and was placed on light duty, superintending the examina- tion of recruits, where he spent the winter of 1864-5, at the end of which time he was ordered to Louisville, Ky., and was made medical director of the department of Kentucky, on the staff of Maj. Gen. John M. Palmer, now Senator Palmer, with the rank and pay of colonel. While there he met Miss Mary Vick, a native of Vicksburg, Miss., whom he married on October 18, 1865. Afterward, resigning his position in the army, January 4, 1866, he practiced his profession in Louisville for some time, but as his attention became too much engrossed in other interests and planting in Mississippi, where his wife owned the fine Nitta Yuma estate, to permit of his giving proper attention to his practice, he retired from the profession, and since that time has made his home alternately at Louisville, Ky., and at Nitta Yuma, Miss. The Nitta Yuma plantation, lying on Deer creek, is one of the finest in the South. The Louisville, New Orleans & Texas railroad passes through it, and near his residence is located the station and postoffice of Nitta Yuma, taking its name from the plan- tation. The public spirit and enterprise of Dr. Phelps were manifested recently by his appropriating a town site for Nitta Yuma. The site of this place is one unexcelled in beauty by any other along the Louisville, New Orleans & Texas railroad, between Memphis and New Orleans. Although it has been a principal station, with considerable improvements since the building of this road, and has done a very large business, the ground has been held from public purchase until the spring of 1891, when, in consideration of the rapid increase of the surrounding population and the demand for facilities adequate to meet the growth of business, the Doctor determined to open a town site to the public for purchase. Deer creek, on the southern boundary, courses to the left, with a constant running stream between sloping banks rising twenty-five feet above the bottom of the channel, and is spanned by a roadbridge two hundred and fifty feet long, besides a railroad bridge. The Mississippi Valley road, from Memphis to New Orleans, runs north and south along the eastern border, with ample yard facilities and a fine passenger and freight depot and conveniences of telegraph and express. The soil is sandy and the drainage complete. There is no section in the bottom safer from overflow. It is distant twenty miles from the Mississippi river, on the Deer creek ridge, where it has never been overflowed. Its healthfulness is remarkable, and unexcelled by the upland districts of the state. A broad, open country surrounds it, unmarred by slashes or stagnant pools. Lots are donated for church and school purposes by the proprietor, and the community is assured against the presence of saloons by terms of sale, so that families can here find a place where they will have all the conditions of peaceful rest and orderly society, and opportunities for education and religious privileges. Dr. Phelps and his wife have four children, named: Nannie W., Henry Vick, Mary P. and Ellen B. His family are Episcopalians, and he is a member of the A. F. &. A. M. In politics the Doctor was nur- tured a whig, but he has never engaged in political strife. By the unanimous wish of his district he became a member of the Mississippi Levee board, and is now serving his second term of four years. As a business man he possesses much practical ability and foresight. His wife is a daughter and only surviving child of Col. Henry W. Vick, a native of South Carolina, and a son of Maj. Burwell Vick, who came to this state at an early day and was one of the original settlers and founders of Vicksburg, Miss., from whom the town derived its name. Col. Henry Vick was married to Miss Sarah Pearce, of Louisville, Ky., in 1861. Miss Pearce was a member of one of the oldest families of Kentucky. Her grandfather, Maj. Gen. Jonathan Clarke, served as such with great distinction in the Revolutionary war, and his brother, Gen,

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MEMOIRS OF MISSISSIPPI.

George Rogers Clarke, of whom it has been said by Senators Sherman and Daniels and other senators on the floor of the senate of the United States, that to him more than to any one else is our country indebted for the conquest and redemption of the territory of the great Northwest. His military possession of it at the close of the Revolution was the controlling fact that compelled Great Britain to yield anything west or north of the Ohio river, and south of the lakes, in final settlement of the war. Another younger brother, William Clarke, was the Rocky mountain explorer, and led the first expedition beyond the Mississippi, known as the Lewis and Clarke expedition.

W. G. Phelps, lawyer, Greenville, Miss., the second of seven children born to Orlando John and Nancy (Watkins) Phelps, was originally from the state of Ohio. His birth occurred in 1837. All of his brothers and sisters have died except Dr. A. J. Phelps, who resides in Sharkey county, Miss. His father was also a native of the state of Ohio, and resided there all his life, and the greater part of the time in Pike county. He was a physician by profes- sion. The paternal grandfather, James E. Phelps, was originally from Connecticut, but in the year 1802 emigrated with his family to Meigs county, Ohio. He followed the occupation of a farmer. The mother of W. G. Phelps died in 1874. She was a native of Virginia. Her father, Francis Watkins, came from Ireland, and settled in the western part of the Old Dominion, at Charleston, now West Virginia. Her mother, Nancy Watkins, was the daugh- ter of Colonel Donnelly, who owned a fort on the frontier of Virginia in the time of Daniel Boone. W. G. Phelps was educated in Ohio, began the study of law in 1858, attended Har- vard law school in 1859, and was admitted to the bar in 1860 in Columbus, Ohio. In 1865 he came to Washington county, Miss., and engaged iu planting, and in 1874 began the prac- tice of law in Greenville. In 1878 he. was appointed chancellor of the fourth judicial dis- trict of the state, held that office nearly nine years, and then resigned to resume his practice. His marriage to Miss Virginia Thompson, of Louisville, Ky., who belonged to one of the old- est families in Kentucky whose ancestors served with great distinction in the Revolutionary war, was consummated in January, 1879. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Knights of Pythias. Judge Phelps owns a plantation in Sunflower county, Miss., and has considerable city property. He is an able lawyer and one of the county's best citizens.

Hon. Eli Phillips, ex-probate judge of Itawamba county, was born in Moore county, N. C., in 1825. He is a son of John and Mary (Dowd) Phillips, natives of North Carolina, but of Scotch-Irish descent. His father, a son of Mark Phillips, was born in 1793, and was a planter, and served his country in the War of 1812 as a soldier. The father and mother of our subject were members of the Baptist church. The former died in 1855, and the latter in 1886. Judge Phillips began at an early age to assist his father in his work on the planta- tion, and received a good, practical education. He took up life's battle for himself as over- seer of a large plantation. Later he was a clerk in an establishment devoted solely to general merchandise. He removed to this state in 1844, and settled in the southwest part of the county, and there he married Miss Irene Collins, in 1853. She was a daughter of John and Mary (Wortham) Collins, and was born in Maury county, Tenn., in 1835. She has borne . her husband sen children, named as follows: Mary I., now Mrs. A. C. Betts; Travis, Laura, Martha and Dickinson all died when young; Sula, wife of M. C. Betts, died in 1889, and Sumter is now living in Washington, D. C. In the period before the war Judge Phillips was an old-line whig in his political ideas, and with might and main he opposed the secession of Mississippi from the Union, but since the war, believing that the best interests of the white population of the South were dependent to a great extent upon the democratic party for their perpetuation, he affiliated with that body. He has held numerous offices by election

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and appointment. He was postmaster at Fulton for sixteen years, and, upon making a final settlement to the government, owed only the small sum of $2.02. His first county office was that of probate clerk, which he held for five terms. He was later elected probate judge and served as such a year and a half. He was appointed United States commissioner for this district, and served with credit to himself and with satisfaction to all concerned. In 1870-71 he represented Itawamba county in the state legislature. He has lived in this state for forty- seven years, and has been a resident of Fulton for thirty-two years. He is one of the old, reliable and honored residents of Itawamba county, to all of whose varied interests he has always lent his advocacy and practical aid. He has been for many years a Royal Arch Mason, and has been long identified with the Baptist church.

Among the many successful practitioners of the healing art in Holmes county, Miss., deserving special mention, is Dr. George C. Phillips, Lexington, Miss., who was born in Uniontown, Ala., October 4, 1835. His father, Hon. F. W. Phillips, was born in Dallas county, Ala., in 1809, and received his literary education in that state. He then graduated at Transylvania Medical college, Kentucky, and also at New York Medical college. He was married, in his native state, to Miss Martha Shearer, daughter of Gen. Gilbert Shearer, of Alabama. The Doctor practiced in Alabama a number of years, and in 1842 moved to Mis- sissippi, settling in the northern part of Holmes county, where he was among the pioneer physicians, practicing for a number of years. He took an active part in political matters, served several terms in the legislature, was delegate to the secession convention from Holmes county, and a member of the constitutional convention after the war. He abandoned his practice in 1860, and lived retired until his death, in 1879. His wife died in 1872. He was an old line whig and voted against secession, but after the stand was made he was a strong Confederate, standing with his state. He wrote numerous articles for the press, both before and after the war, contributed to the local papers, and was considered authority of whig ideas in the county before the war. He was well known all over the state, was a great humorist and a good speaker. His family consisted of three children, two of whom died in early youth. The remaining member, Dr. George C. Phillips, received his literary education in the University of Mississippi, graduating in the class of 1857, and after studying medicine with his father took a course of lectures at the New Orleans School of Medicine, from which he graduated in the spring of 1860. On May 29, of the same year, he was married to Miss A. R. Chew, a native of Wilkinson county, Miss., but who was reared in Carroll county of that state, receiving her education at Black Hawk, in the latter county. She was the daughter of Dr. W. S. Chew, of Carroll county, Miss. After his marriage Dr. Phillips practiced his profession and managed his father's plantation until 1861, when he enlisted in the Confeder- ate army, Black Hawk rifles, which company was formed on the county line between Holmes and Carroll counties. He entered as a private, and soon afterward joined the Twenty-second Mississippi infantry, called the First Mississippi war regiment. He was soon promoted to assistant surgeon, and in 1862 to surgeon, which position he held until the close of the war. In 1863 he was made brigade-surgeon nnder General Featherston, and was present in all the battles of his regiment with the exception of one, Bentonville, Va. Dong the latter part of the war the Doctor kept a complete record of the regiment, but gave it to Colonel Claiborne to use in his history of Mississippi. He surrendered at Greensboro, N. C., with Gen. Joseph Johnston. He was in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, first siege of Vicksburg, Fort Pemberton, Jackson, Georgia campaign, Hood's campaign in Tennessee, and was in the fights of Nashville and Franklin. After the war Dr. Phillips resumed the practice of his pro- fession at home, and in 1878 moved to Lexington, where he continued practicing until July,

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1888. He then located at Greenville, practiced there until 1890, and in March of that year returned to Lexington. He is now in partnership with Dr. G. W. Farr. He has a large practice, and is one of the leading practitioners of the county. He is a member of the State Medical association, and was county health officer for a number of years. He takes a promi- nent part in local politics, and was chairman of the executive committee for a number of years. Mrs. Phillips died in 1878, leaving three children -- a daughter and two sons: Dr. F. M., licensed by the state board of health to practice; Walter C., and Lu Gay, wife of J. P. Phillips, of Birmingham, Ala., and bookkeeper for a large mercantile house. Dr. Phillips was married again, at Lexington, May 4, 1880, to Miss L. H. Dyer, daughter of Judge James Dyer, one of the prominent old settlers. One child, a daughter, Cornelia Dyer, has been born to this union. Socially the Doctor is a Royal Arch Mason, a member of the grand lodge of Mississippi, and has served a number of times as past master and high priest. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Knights of Honor. In religion the Doctor is an Episcopalian, and Mrs. Phillips is a Presbyterian.

H. W. Phillips is a rising young merchant and planter of the Silver creek valley, and is entitled to mention in this record of Mississippi's stanch, reliable citizens. He was born in Orangeburgh county, S. C., and is a son of W. F. and A. E. (Reaheimer) Phillips, natives of South Carolina. He passed his schooldays in the county of his birth, and when he grew to man's estate he started out to face the world, and to make his own fortune. His first vent- ure was as commercial traveler for a large leather house in the East. In 1880 he decided to locate in the South, and the wisdom of this decision has been clearly demonstrated by the success with which his efforts have been rewarded. As he had but little capital to invest, he first acted as agent for one of the large plantations until he could lay up some capital to invest. He was economical in his habits and finally purchased two hundred acres of land lying in the delta of the Yazoo, which is so rapidly rising in value; the cotton raised in this section invariably commands the highest price in the market. Mr. Phillips is also doing a flourishing business in mercantile lines; he has two stores in the Yazoo delta, carries stocks valued at $5,000 and does an annual business of $30,000. He is a man of indefatigable energy, push and pluck, and has made all obstacles yield to his forceful touch. Such traits must make themselves felt in the new South.

Seldon F. Phillips has lived a useful and well-spent life, and being possessed of those advanced ideas and progressive principles regarding agricultural life necessary to a suc- cessful following of that calling he is now in independent circumstances. He is a Virgin- ian, his birth occurring in Hanover county in 1849, being the second of eight children born to William and Caroline (Eacho) Phillips, they being also born in the Old Dominion, the former's birth occurring in 1822. He enlisted in company I, Fifteenth Virginia regiment of the Confederate States army in 1862 and served as a private until the close of the war, taking part in the battles of Cold Harbor, Watts Farm and Fair Oaks. He was called from life in his native state in 1883. His wife, who was a daughter of John A. Eacho, was born in 1824. The subject of this sketch was reared in Hanover county, but received his educa- tion in Lexingt While attending school at this place his studies were interrupted by the war, but, notwithstanding this fact, he is one of the most intelligent gentlemen of the county. He began life for himself in 1870 as a planter in Washington county, Miss., and has continued to follow this calling up to the present time, being now the owner of a one- half interest in one thousand six hundred and forty acres of land valued at $5 per acre, and is working one thousand three hundred acres of leased land. He also has a one-half inter- est in the very prosperous business of C. E. Livingston, at Livingston, Miss., their stock

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of goods being valued at about $20,000. He was married in 1873 to Miss Sally I. Hogan, a native of Mississippi, and a daughter of William Hogan, a planter of this state, and by her has two children: George Fall and Jennie Hogan, who are attending school in Cleve- land, Tenn., and Hiwassee, Tenn., respectively. Mr. Phillips has always been a democrat in his political views, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. His paternal grandfather, William Phillips, was a Virginian, in which state he followed the life of a planter. He served throughout the War of 1812, and passed from life in 1860. His wife, formerly a Miss Wicker, was also born in the Old Dominion. The maternal grand- father of Mr. Phillips was John A. Eacho, his wife being a Miss Dudley, of Virginia. To William and Caroline (Eacho) Phillips the following children were born: Deborah Carter is the wife of James Southall, a planter, of Virginia; Lafayette Fariss is also a planter of that state; Caroline Hall was married to a Mr. French, of Baltimore, Md., in which city he was a merchant, but she is now a widow and resides in Richmond, Va .; William is a bookkeeper of Baltimore; Mercy Carter is the wife of a Mr. Elliott, a mechanic of Richmond, Va., and Seldon F. The latter is now worth about $10,000, all which has been acquired by his own good management and industry, for he began life for himself with no means. He is a thorough and practical business man, and has had every need of being such, for his father, being left penniless at the close of the war, could give him no pecuniary aid. He, how- ever, inherited an abundant supply of grit and believed that honest labor would not go unrewarded, and has lived to see his belief fulfilled. He was manager of a plantation for quite a while, but afterward leased some land, and has been reasonably successful. He weighs about one hundred and eighty pounds, and in complexion is a brunette. His wife was the adopted daughter of Col. G. R. Fall. She is a well-educated and refined lady, an admirable housekeeper and a most faithful wife.

Among the popular hotel men of the Mississippi valley may be mentioned Vincent Piazzo, who is the kindly and courteous landlord of the Piazzo hotel, of Vicksburg, of which he is sole proprietor and manager. He was born in Italy in 1842, and at the age of sixteen years immigrated to America, for he decided that in the land of the free opportunities were offered young men that were not given them in any country of Europe. He attended sehool in his native land, and also after coming to the United States, for he discovered that a knowl- edge of the English language was very necessary for success in any business here, and in the country of his adoption he immediately began qualifying himself for useful citizenship. He first learned the trade of wood carving, and after following it for some years in New York city, he in 1865 came to Mississippi, and for seven years thereafter was engaged in mer- chandising at Crystal Springs, Miss. In 1872 he came to Vicksburg, and until 1879 was engaged in the saddlery and harness business with N. and Joseph Piazzo, but in the latter part of the same year, relinquishing that, he embarked in the hotel business in a small way, in the management of which he gave such general satisfaction that his hostelry soon became known as one of the leading establishments of the kind in this section of the state. The trade which had been built up by Mr. Piazzo by 1889 was so extensive that more room was necessary to do justice to his business, and during that year he erected : handsome brick building, consisting of one hundred and eight rooms, the structure being five stories in hight. It is fitted up with all modern improvements, such as elevators, fire escapes, etc., is elegantly and tastefully furnished throughout, has a comfortable reading and writingroom, also hand- some offices, and last, but not least, his tables are supplied with the best the market affords, well and carefully prepared. The diningroom is cool and commodious, and his guests are well served by a finely drilled corps of servants. A cordial and ready welcome is extended to

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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 92

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