USA > Mississippi > Encyclopedia of Mississippi History Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions and Persons, Vol. II > Part 114
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Washington Monument. "By an act of the legislature, passed on February 19, 1850, the governor was authorized and required to purchase a block of stone, of apt and suitable dimensions, for the Washington National Monument, to be suitably inscribed, and pre- sented in the name of the State to the National monument society. This duty has been promptly and cheerfully performed by my predecessors (Quitman and Guion). The stone has been prepared and forwarded in the name of the State to the president of the
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society, with the following engraved upon it, in deep Roman let- ters: "The State of Mississippi to the Father of his Country, A. D. 1851," and also the coat of arms and great seal of the State. Thus has the State of Mississippi, beside her sister States of the Confederacy, contributed to rear a monument to the memory of George Washington." (Message of Governor Whitfield, 1852.) The State geological society, of which Governor Matthews was then president, first procured a fine specimen of white siliceous sandstone from Tippah county, but the stone cutters were unable to work it. A block of the Vicksburg limestone, from a quarry on the Yazoo river, was substituted.
Waterford. A little west of the present station of Waterford, in Marshall county, was located the old village of that name, now extinct. The Legislature gave it a charter in 1838, and it was selected as the place of muster for the militia brigade, commanded by Brigadier General Guy, where the troops were annually re- viewed. Dr. Thomas J. Malone, Shaderick Wooten, Robert H. Malone, Alfred Brooks, Mr. Sherman, Samuel Cole, John Killough, John W. Mooring, Dr. Jones, and James Cherry were citizens and planters of importance in the neighborhood. Two grist mills, Sumpkin's and Ford's, were once located here on Spring creek.
The present town of Waterford is a small station with 128 in- habitants, situated in the southern part of Marshall county, on the Illinois Central railroad. Its first settler was Dr. Thos. J. Malone, who came here prior to the organization of the county in 1836. Among the other pioneers of the town are James Mooring, Wilcox Jones, John and Elijah Bordneau, Jack Peace, John and George Sherman, Harris O. Allen and James Greer. It has two churches, a Methodist and Presbyterian, and a money order postoffice. The town was named on account of the volume of water contained in Spring Creek.
Waterhole, a post-hamlet in the eastern part of Pike county, 26 miles east of Magnolia, the county seat. Population in 1900, 30.
Water Valley is a thriving city of Yalobusha county, and an important station on the Illinois Central R.R., 17 miles south of Oxford, and 29 miles northeast of Grenada. It is one of the two seats of justice for the county, and is surrounded by a rich coun- try devoted to cotton growing and truck farming. It has telegraph, express and banking facilities, has several manufacturing estab- lishments, and does a large shipping business. The Bank of Water Valley was established here in 1882, and the Mechanics Savings Bank in 1892. The machine shops and car-works of the railroad company are located here, and the town has manufactures of ploughs, sash, doors, twine, iron, ice, soda water, cotton, engine and boiler works, foundry, etc .; it has an excellent system of schools, a college, three newspapers, and a large number of pros- perous mercantile establishments. The North Mississippi Herald, and the Progress are both Democratic weeklies; the former was es- tablished in 1888 and is now owned and edited by J. D. Peacock ; the latter was established in 1882, and is edited and published by S. B.
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Brown; the City Itemizer is issued as a local Democratic weekly; it was established in 1894; H. A. Lee is the editor, publisher and proprietor. There are three good hotels; the city debt is $70,000; assessed valuation of property, $7,000,000; tax rate 15 mills ; popu- lation about 5,000. The city owns the electric light plant, water works and sewerage system. There are eleven churches, embrac- ing nearly every denomination, a fine system of public schools accommodating more than 600 pupils.
The country adjacent to Water Valley is well adapted to all kinds of farming and fruit growing. About 9,500 bales of cotton are annually shipped from this station. Large bodies of hardwood timber are found contiguous to the town, which renders it an ex- cellent point for the establishment of wood working industries. There is also a large amount of a superior quality of clay, adapted to the manufacture of earthenware, tile and fire-brick. An arti- ficial stone factory is located here for the manufacture of sand and cement building blocks. Among the pioneer settlers of Water Valley were Josiah Shipp, who owned the land on which the south- ern part of the city was built and a Mr. Fortner, who owned the land on which the northern portion of the town was built. Both of these pioneers secured title to their land from the government ; also W. A. Oats, W. A. Carr, and Rasha Robison. The first Mer- chant and postmaster was Pinckney Woods. W. E. Robison owned the first retail grocery. W. A. Carr owned the stage stand. A Dr. Woods was the first physician. It is said that the Presby- terians were the first religious denomination to erect a church and that the first minister was Rev. Angus Johnson.
Watson, a postoffice in the western part of Marshall county, 15 miles from Holly Springs, the county seat and nearest banking town.
Watson, John W. C., was born in Albemarle county, Va., Febru- ary 27, 1808, was graduated in law at the University of Virginia, and soon after his admission to the bar was married in 1831, to the sister of his law instructor, Prof. J. A. G. Davis. He practiced at Abingdon, Va., from 1833 to 1845, and was a Whig candidate for congress against John B. Floyd. He removed to Holly Springs in the latter year and won high standing among the lawyers of the State. He was one of the most prominent members of the consti- tutional convention of 1851; opposed secession then and again in 1860, canvassing the State in the latter year. After the secession ordinance was adopted he obeyed the popular will with such loyalty that he was elected to the senate of the Confederate States, where he served in 1863-65. Two of his sons fell in battle. In 1865 and 1868 he was a member of the reconstruction constitutional conventions, but resigned from the latter one when the proscriptive qualifications were adopted, and canvassed the northern part of the State against the constitution, which was rejected. After that he appeared be- fore the congressional committee and endeavored to present to that body the wishes of the State. He supported the revolution of 1875, and in May, 1876 was appointed to the circuit bench, where he
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served for six years. When the Railroad Commission law was enacted in 1884, and its constitutionality was assailed in the courts, he was chosen by Governor Lowry to represent the State. He argued the case before the supreme court in October, 1885, and finally won a complete vistory in the opinion, pronounced by Chief Justice Waite, sustaining the law in all respects. Judge Watson was a zealous temperance worker. It was through his invitation that Miss Willard first visited Mississippi and was given a hear- ing by the legislature. He died at Holly Springs, September 24, 1900.
Waugh, a postoffice in the southwestern part of Attala county, on Seneasha creek, a tributary of the Big Black river, 15 miles from Kosciusko, the county seat.
Wautubbee, a post-hamlet in the northwestern part of Clarke county, on the New Orleans & North Eastern R. R., 10 miles from Quitman, the county seat. Enterprise is the nearest banking town. Population in 1900, 40.
Waveland, an incorporated post-town and station of Hancock county, on the Louisville & Nashville R. R., and on Mississippi Sound, 48 miles from New Orleans, and 4 miles from Bay St. Louis, the county seat and nearest banking town. This is a pleas- ant little watering place with a good hotel, fine sea bathing, and several stores. Population in 1900, 520.
Waverly, a hamlet in the southeastern part of Clay county, on the Tombigbee river, and a station on the Southern Railway, about 6 miles northwest of Columbus, and 10 miles east of Westpoint, the county seat. It has a church, a saw mill and a grist mill. Population in 1900, 82. It has rural free delivery service from Westpoint.
Way, a hamlet of Madison county, on the Big Black river, and a station on the Illinois Central R. R., 7 miles north of Canton, the county seat. It has a money order postoffice. Population in 1900, 36.
Wayne County, as originally established December 21, 1809, by act of the General Assembly of the Mississippi Territory, embraced the western, or Mississippi portion, of the old county of Washing- ton, created in 1800 by proclamation of Governor Sargent, and perpetuated in the present county of that name in Alabama. The county has a land surface of 788 square miles. The act creating Wayne recites that Washington shall be divided as follows :- "beginning on the line of demarcation, where the trading road leading from the Choctaw nation to Mobile crosses the same, thence along said trading road to the present Choctaw boundary line, thence along said boundary line to Pearl river, thence down the same to the line of demarcation, and with the same to the place of beginning"; all to be called the county of Wayne. Out of this vast region have been subsequently carved the counties of Greene, Covington, Jones, Perry, Lamar, and those portions of Lawrence and Marion lying east of the Pearl river. Finally, the act of December 23, 1833, which divided the Choctaw cession of
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1830 into counties, declared that "all the territory south of Clarke county, known as the Higoowanne reserve, be, and the same is attached to, and shall constitute a part of Wayne county." The present county of Wayne thus lies on the southeastern border of the State, with the old Choctaw boundary of 1805, for its northern line, dividing it from the county of Clarke, the State of Alabama on the east, Greene and Perry counties on the south and Jones county on the west, and embraces an area of about twenty-one townships. The county received its name in honor of the revolu- tionary hero. General Anthony Wayne, as did its county seat Waynesboro. The following is a list of pioneer residents and county officers during the years 1818-1827: James Patton, Josiah Watts, Clinch Gray, William Houze, Obadiah Hand, David Will- iams, Justices of the Quorum; Tristram Thomas, Alexander Powe, Collins L. Horne, Edmund Gray, James B. McRae, James Will- iams, James Huntley, Assessors; Edmund Gray, James B. McRae, James Williams, Sheriffs; Iridell L. Phillips, County Surveyor ; Reuben Grayson, Elijah Trim, John F. Crawford, Sam'l Fulton, Amos McCarthy, James Clark, Sam'l Grayson, Joshua Terrell, Constables ; Willis Lang, William Patton, Rangers; Thomas A. Willis, Thos. S. Sterling, County Treasurers; William Houze, James Patton, Judges of Probate; Obadiah Hand, William King, Associate Justices; William Webber, William B. Graham, Cor- oners. Among the earliest settlers of Wayne county were the McRaes, McArthurs, McDougalds, Mclaughlins, McDaniels, Mc- Donalds and McLaurins, conservative and industrious Scotchmen from Virginia and the Carolinas, who settled along Buckatunna creek not far from the place now known as the Philadelphia Pres- byterian church. Other early settlers in Wayne along this creek, the Chickasawhay river and near the larger streams in the county, were Alexander Powe and William Powe, and the Slays and Sumralls, from Chesterfield district, South Carolina, General James Patton, William Patton, Joseph Patton, William Webber, Zach- ariah Rogers, Captain George Evans and John Evans. Winches- ter, incorporated 1818, near which Patton's fort stood, was the early county site, until 1867, and a place of importance in the ter- ritorial and early statehood period. It is said at one time to have contained more than thirty business houses. It numbers among its early residents many distinguished men. Among them were John McRae, father of Gov. John J. McRae; General James Pat- ton, who had charge of the fort above mentioned at the time of the Fort Mim's massacre, and was, with Clinch Gray, a member of the constitutional convention of 1817, for Wayne county, and afterwards lieutenant governor of the State; Judge Powhatan Ellis, U. S. senator and minister to Mexico; Judge Thomas S. Sterling; John A. Grimball, secretary of state; James Mayers of Richmond, Virginia; Gen. Wm. Lang; Willis and Stephen Lang; John H. Mallory; auditor of public accounts; Thos. L. Sumrall; Samuel W. Dickson; Gen. Thomas P. Falconer; Judge John H. Rollins ; John H. Horn and Collins Horn.
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The Creek Indians, during the War of 1812, were a constant source of menace to the early settlers of Wayne, which fact led to the erection of Patton's Fort at Winchester, and Roger's Fort, about seven miles north of that place. The old ditches of Patton's Fort may still be readily traced. The old town of Winchester has quite disappeared, except for the court house building built in 1822, which was still standing a few years ago, solitary and untenanted, a sad reminder of the old glory of the town. The name survives in the town of the same name on the Mobile & Ohio R. R. near the old site. It is said that the last of adequate hotel accommoda- tions during the terms of court, led to the removal of the county seat to Waynesboro a few miles to the north on the railway. It is an interesting fact that in these earliest settlements on Buckatunna creek and at Winchester, and in the first school esablished about 1812, the Gaelic language was exclusively spoken and remained the vernacular until the early 20's, when the influx of English speaking settlers caused its disuse. Wayne county is rather sparsely settled and there are no large towns within its borders. Waynesboro, containing 800 people, and the present county site, is the largest town. Stateline (pop. 500), and Bucatunna (pop. 300), both stations on the line of the Mobile & Ohio R. R. are the next largest settlements. Hiawannee, Whistler, Henderson, Eucutta, West End, Matherville, Summit, Boyce, and Amazon, are all small villages distributed over the county. The Mobile & Ohio R. R. runs through the county from north to south, and a small branch road runs from Robinson Junction, on the M. & O., to Stevens and West End, near the southern boundary. The larg- est streams in the county are the Chickasawhay river, Bucka- tunna and Thompson's creeks, which, with their numerous tribu- taries, Eucutta, Shiloh, and many others, provide the region with splendid water power. The general surface of the county is undulating, and the soil varies from rich, dark prairie to poor pine woods and sandy soil. There were in 1900 40,266 acres of improved lands, much of the balance being covered with long- leaf or yellow pine. On the river and creek bottoms are found magnolia, hickory, water oak, beech, etc. Many rich marl beds are found scattered over its area, and fertilizers to the value of $18,426 were used on the farms in 1900. Fertilized lands produce good crops of cotton, corn, sugar-cane, potatoes and rice. The woods pasturage for sheep and cattle is especially good and con- siderable attention is being given the industry of live stock raising. and many improved breeds have been introduced. Peaches, pears, figs and all the small fruits do well and there is a large nursery of fruit trees and plants at Stateline. Many large saw mills are in operation within the county. Wayne has a mild and salubrious climate, and the school and church advantages are fairly good, par- ticularly in the farming districts.
The following statistics were taken from the twelfth United States census for 1900, and relate to farms, manufactures and pop- ulation :- Number of farms 1,790, acreage in farms 207,212, acres
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improved 40,266, value of the land and improvements, exclusive of buildings $471,900, value of the buildings $287,410, value of the live stock $322,677, total value of products not fed to stock $464,- 661. Number of manufacturing establishments 55, capital invested $287,684, wages paid $80,646, cost of materials $341,610. total value of products $484,084. The population in 1900 consisted of whites 7,481, colored 5,058, total 12,539, increase over the year 1890, 2,722. The population in 1906 was estimated at 15,000. Artesian wells are in use at Waynesboro. The total assessed valuation of real and personal property in Wayne county in 1905 was $1,754,187 and in 1906 it was $3,129,712, which shows an increase of $1,375,525 during the year.
Waynesboro, the capital of Wayne county, is an incorporated town and station of Wayne county on the Mobile & Ohio R. R., 52 miles south of Meridian. It has a money order postoffice, an ex- press office, a telegraph office, a bank, one newspaper, two turpen- tine distilleries, four churches and a good school. It has several good general stores, an excelcior factory, cotton gin and good hotels and livery stables. The town lies in a farming, grazing and lumber district, is the trade center for a large section of country, and is a shipping point of importance. Lumber and naval stores are the important products. The lands along the Chicasawhay river were settled early in the last century by a hardy class of pioneers from the Carolinas and Georgia, and the old town of Winchester, (q. v.) once a flourishing town, and long the county seat of Wayne, was located about seven miles to the south. Insufficient hotel ac- commodations during the terms of court, caused the removal of the county seat to Waynesboro on the M. & O. R. R., about forty years ago. The Bank of Waynesboro was established in 1902 with a capital of $18,000. The Waynesboro News is a Democratic weekly, established in 1898, J. J. Haynie, editor and proprietor. Population of the town in 1900 was 436. The population in 1906 was estimated at 600.
Wayside, a post-hamlet of Washington county, on the Riverside division of the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley R. R., 10 miles south of Greenville, the county seat and nearest banking town. Population in 1900, 65.
Weathersby, a post-town and station of Simpson county, on the Gulf & Ship Island R. R., three miles southeast of Mendenhall, the nearest banking town. It has a money order postoffice, tele- graph, telephone and express offices, several stores, a saw mill, a cotton gin, a good school and a church. Richard A. Whitfield of this place has a large bee apiary which has proven bee culture to be a successful industry in that locality.
Webb, an incorporated post-town in the western part of Talla- hatchie county, at the junction of a branch of the Southern Ry. with the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley R. R., 20 miles southeast of Clarksdale. The Bank of Webb was established in 1902, and has a capital and surplus of about $10,000. It has a money order post- office. Population in 1900, 128 ; present population, about 250.
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Webb, W. S., was born in LeRoy, New York, November 14, 1855, son of Benoni and Betsy (Phillips) Webb, of Welsh and Ger- man descent, and natives of Massachusetts. He graduated at Col- gate University, in 1849; taught school near Murfreesboro, Tennes- see for a brief period, and was then chosen president of a female school at Grenada, Miss., in 1851. In this school he was very suc- cessful. The attendance more than doubled, and the large brick building now occupied by the Grenada Female College was built under his direction. He was pastor of the Baptist church at West Point. In 1864 he took a prominent part in establishing the Con- federate Orphan's Home, and was corresponding secretary for the board of trustees. In 1872 he accepted a call from Clinton to be pastor of the Baptist church and deliver lectures to the theological students ; was chosen president of Mississippi college, 1873. Under his charge the institution grew and flourished, and he continued his arduous duties until 1891, when he resigned and accepted ap- pointment as emeritus professor of psychology and ethics. There are said to be but four such professorships in the world, and this was the first time such an honor had ever been bestowed by a Bap- tist institution of learning. The title of D. D. was conferred upon him in 1882 by the University at Oxford.
Mississippi College had no endowment when Dr. Webb became president. Besides, the country was impoverished and at times scourged by pestilence. In meeting these conditions and overcom- ing them was shown a courage and ability of a high order. His able and efficient management not only made the school a success, but gave it a national reputation and secured an endowment of about $60,000. Dr. Webb has been married three times, and is the father of a number of children, some of whom are prominent in this and other States. He is spending his declining years at the home of his son-in-law, Dr. R. A. Venable, pastor of the First Baptist church at Meridian.
Webster, a post-hamlet of Winston county, situated in the ex- treme northeastern corner on Jones creek, 8 miles northeast of Louisville, the nearest banking town. Population in 1900, 31.
Webster County was established April 6, 1874, under the name of Sumner county. Its name was changed to Webster by act of Jan. 30, 1882. in honor of the great statesman Daniel Webster. The county has a land surface of 409 square miles. It was carved from Choctaw county, north of the Big Black river, and part of Montgomery county. The act, creating it, established its bounda- ries as follows :- "Beginning at the northwest corner of township 21, range 8 east; thence east on township line to the northeast corner of township 21, range 11 east ; thence south to the southeast corner of township 20, range 11 east ; thence west on township line to within one mile of Big Black river; thence southwest, parallel with Big Black river, to a point one mile south of where said river intersects the range line between ranges 7 and 8; thence north on said range line to the point of beginning ; provided that no territory shall be taken from Oktibbeha county."" The old boundary line
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between the Choctaw and Chickasaw cessions cuts across its north- east corner, and Calhoun and Chickasaw counties lie on the north, Clay county on the east, Choctaw county on the south and Mont- gomery and Grenada counties on the west. By the act creating the county as above, the Governor was authorized to appoint and commission five persons to act as a Board of Supervisors, who shall proceed at once to organize the new county, and was also em- powered to appoint the usual county officers. The following offi- cers were appointed by Governor Ames in compliance with the foregoing provision : Ira McDowell, President, David Nowlin, G. W. Pollan, J. W. Starnes, Aaron Smith, members of the Board of Supervisors ; J. W. Holland, Sheriff ; Dr. W. A. F. Caldwell, Clerk of the Chancery and Circuit Courts; Aaron Hutto, Treasurer; R. F. Holloway, Superintendent of Education. The act further re- cited that the county site should be determined by a vote of all the people of the new territory, which placed it at Walthall, near the geographical center. Meanwhile courts continued to be held at Greensboro, the old county seat of justice for Choctaw county until 1816. This old town was located in section 8, twp. 19, range 9, east. It once had about 250 inhabitants and some ten business houses. Its courts were attended by such men as J. Z. George, Reuben Davis, E. C. Walthall, Wiley P. Harris and Bob Hudson. Its most prominent citizens in the early days were J. V. Steen, Wiley Marshall, Frank Liddell, T. N. Davis, John Nolen, Capt. J. B. Dunn, Col. Wm. Brantley, and J. J. Campbell. It was a favorite stopping place for legislators en route to Jackson 120 miles away, via the old Natchez Trace. The old town was burned during the war, and the court house in 1871, when the place began to rapidly decay, and became a noted resort for criminals of a desper- ate character. The old log jail, built in 1839 or 1840 now stands, an interesting relic of bygone days, but all else is ruin and dilapi- dation.
Among the early representatives of the county in the Legis- lature were M. A. Metts, (1826-1878) J. E. Bridges, S. M. Roane, T. N. Davis and S. E. Parker. The county site is Walthall above mentioned, named for Gen. E. C. Walthall, and it contains a popu- lation of 170. There are no large towns in the county, Eupora, with 1,200 people being the largest settlement. Other railroad towns are Mathiston (pop. 600), Grady, Sapa and Tomnolen. In the interior are Bellefontaine, Fame, Clarkson and Lerma. Two railroads furnish the county with excellent transportation facilities : -The Southern, which traverses the southern border of the coun- ty, and the Mobile, Jackson & Kansas City R. R., which traverses the county along the eastern border from north to south. The Big Black river and its tributaries, L. Black and Sand creeks; and Sabola, Shutispear and Tupashaw creeks, tributaries of the Yalo- busha river, are the principal water courses. Webster is termed a hill county, but the land is level on the bottoms, and portions are undulating. The black-jack and pine lands are poor, the bottom soils very good, and the undulating lands of average fertility.
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