Encyclopedia of Mississippi History Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions and Persons, Vol. II, Part 21

Author: Dunbar Rowland
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Madison, Wis. : S.A. Brant
Number of Pages: 1020

USA > Mississippi > Encyclopedia of Mississippi History Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions and Persons, Vol. II > Part 21

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In his message of January 26 Governor Matthews declared that his conviction was that "the State is bound by every consideration of good faith, justice and honor, to pay" the Planters' bank bonds, which it was proposed to repudiate. He discussed and refuted the argument that the bonds were illegal because the legislature vio- lated its contract with the old Bank of Mississippi, in chartering the Planters' bank. He said that a refusal of the State, now, to pay these bonds "would consign the character of the State to in- famy and indelible disgrace." As a means of payment he proposed "that we immediately bring into market the 500,000 acres of land granted by the general government to the State; and that we shall receive in payment for the land, gold, silver, auditor's warrants and bonds of the State issued to take stock in the Planters bank and the coupons for interest on the same." The amount for which the bonds would sell would of course be placed to the debit of the State and to the credit of the internal improvement fund, bearing interest or not, as the people might choose.

Without increasing our taxes one dollar, we would have the splen- did sum of $175,000 annually at our disposal to improve our rivers, make railroads, and all such other improvements as the people might require." Such a law was passed. (See Banking and In- ternal Improvement.) But of its workings the Governor said in 1850: "The very short crops of our great staple. for the last two years; the extremely low price of the same; the unprecedented overflow of the Mississippi river, and the prevalence of the cholera, with the inducements to emigration presented by our immense territories westward." had conspired to limit the sales of public lands.

The years 1847-50 were a period of great prosperity in Missis- sippi, caused by the jubilant spirit that followed the successful war with Mexico, carried forward and reinforced by the discovery of gold in California. "All the prairie and bottom lands of Missis- sippi rose at once to $75 and $80 an acre." The crops were im- mense, great quantities of cattle and horses were raised, and there was no pauper in the land. (Reuben Davis.)

. Gov. Matthews said in his message of January, 1850. "With the exception of cholera, which has merely touched the western margin of our State, an unusual degree of health has been enjoyed.

Although less propitious seasons than usual and low prices for

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our staple have diminished the pecuniary rewards of our industry, yet no extensive embarrassment exists. Our citizens are mostly free from debt; our storehouses abound with plenty; and, under the benign influence of our institutions and the guidance of a beneficent providence, our march is onward and upward towards prosperity and happiness."

His summary of finances showed that the assessments were a little over $500,000, of which $100,000 was assessed against the United States bank of Pennsylvania, the Commercial and Rail- road bank of Vicksburg and the Bank of Vicksburg. This $100,- 000 was the subject of litigation and yet uncollected. The receipts from ordinary sources of revenue in 1849 were $358,617, the ordi- nary current expense $139,957. The balance in the treasury Jan- uary 1, 1849, was $438,667; but $183,850 of this was due the Two and Three per cent. funds, the Seminary and the Sinking funds.

The State officers elected for November, 1848 to November, 1850, were, Samuel Stamps, secretary of state; Richard Griffith, treasurer ; George T. Swann, auditor. John D. Freeman was at- torney-general.

Notable events of the administration were the adoption of the Hutchinson Code or revision of statutes; the building of the Jack- son and Brandon railroad ; the advent of the telegraph; the found- ing of the institute for the blind; the law for leasing the Chicka- saw school lands; the law for sale of internal improvement lands to pay the Planters bank bonds; the election of Jefferson Davis to the United States senate; the Jackson convention of 1849.

A large part of Governor Matthews last message was devoted to the same subject as his first State paper, with this difference; that the State of California had been organized by its inhabitant's, and a constitution adopted prohibiting slavery. The governor said :

"In the event of the adoption of the Wilmot proviso, by Con- gress, or the admission of California into the Union by virtue of her late pretended constitution, the abolition of slavery in the Dis- trict of Columbia, or the prohibition of the commerce in slaves between the States, I recommend that the Governor be authorized to order an election of delegates from all the counties in the State, to a convention to take into consideration the mode and measures of redress, and to adopt such measures for our future security as the crisis may demand." (See Convention of 1849.)

At the election of 1849 Gen. John A. Quitman was the Demo- cratic candidate for governor, representing the extreme doctrine that there was no effective right anywhere to restrict slavery. He received 33,117 votes to 22,996 for the Whig candidate, Luke Lea.

Mattie, a hamlet of Covington county, 10 miles northeast of Wil- liamsburg, the county seat. The postoffice here has been discon- tinued, and mail now goes to Norfleet.

Mattox, a postoffice of Kemper county, 10 miles southwest of Dekalb, the county seat.

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Mattson, a hamlet in the southeastern part of Coahoma county, at the junction of two branches of the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley R. R. It is 10 miles by rail from Clarksdale, and has a money order postoffice.

Maud, a postoffice of Tunica county, on the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley R. R., 10 miles by rail south of Tunica, the county seat.

Maxie, a post-hamlet in the southwestern part of Perry county, at the junction of the main line of the Gulf & Ship Island R. R. with its Columbia branch; it is 18 miles southwest of New Augusta, the county seat, and has a money order postoffice and an express office.

Maxime, a post-hamlet in the southern part of Bolivar county, on the Riverside division of the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley R. R., 12 miles north of Greenville, and 22 miles by rail south of Rosedale, the county seat. Population in 1900, 42.

Maxwell, a post-hamlet of Benton county. 5 miles northwest of Ashland, the county seat. Population in 1900, 49.

May, a postoffice of Smith county.

Maybell, a postoffice in the western part of Jones county, situated on Leaf river, 12 miles from Ellisville, the county seat and nearest railroad and banking town.

Mayersville, the capital of Issaquena county, is an incorporated post-town located on the Mississippi river, about 70 miles north of Vicksburg. The nearest railroad and banking point is Rolling Fork. The town was named for David Mayer, an extensive land owner in the region about Mayersville. This section was originally settled in the early forties by Ambrose Gipson, who bought a large body of land on the river in the northern portion of the county. Mayers- ville is an important shipping point, and the region about it pro- duces an enormous quantity of cotton annually. It has three churches, a courthouse, and one newspaper, the Spectator, a Demo- cratic weekly established in 1887, edited by George Robinson. Pop- ulation in 1900, 250.

Mayes, Daniel, was born February 12, 1792, in Didwiddie county, Va .; son of Robert Chappell Mayes and Agnes (Locke) Mayes: His mother was a daughter of Richard Locke of Prince George county, Va. Robert C. Mayes was a son of Matthew Mayes, who married Martha Chappell of Prince George county. Matthew Mayes, a Revolutionary soldier, was a descendant of Rev. William Mayes, who immigrated to Virginia in 1611. The latter preached at Kequoghton, near Hampton, and died at Jamestown about 1665. Robert C. Mayes moved with his family to Fayette county, Ky., in 1794, and from that place moved to Christian county, where he died. Daniel Mayes was educated in private schools, after which he read law and began the practice in Christian county. From that place he moved to Lexington, Ky., and continued the practice of law; removed to Mississippi and engaged in the practice at Jackson, 1838-50; New Orleans, 1850-52, and at Jackson again in 1852-61. He was a member of the Kentucky legislature in 1826. His opportunity for political advancement in Mississippi was

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small, owing to the fact that he was a Whig, a minority party in Mississippi. In 1845 he was a candidate for attorney-general but was defeated with the party. He was a close, personal friend of Henry Clay and his ardent supporter. His church connection was with the Christian Church, and during the latter part of his life he preached lay sermons. As a lawyer he ranked with the ablest who have honored the State. He died at Jackson, February 6, 1861.

Mayes, Edward, was born in Hinds county, Miss., December 15, 1846. He is the youngest son, by a second marriage, of Daniel and Elizabeth (Rigg) Mayes. (For ancestry see preceding sketch). Edward Mayes, at the outbreak of the Civil War, was a student at Bethany College, Virginia (now West Virginia). He returned to Jackson in 1861 and engaged in business until 1864, when he volunteered as a private in Co. H, Fourth Mississippi Cavalry, C. S. A., and served until the close of the war. In October, 1865, he entered the Freshman class of the State University, and was graduated with the B. A. degree in 1868. He received the de- gree of B. L. from the same institution in 1869. In 1869 he married Frances Eliza. eldest daughter of Justice L. Q. C. Lamar, and granddaughter of Dr. A. B. Longstreet. After serving as tutor in English at the State University, for a while, he located at Coffee- ville, Miss., for the practice of law. In 1812 he returned to Oxford. and. in 1877, was elected Professor of Law at the University, which position he filled until 1891. About 1886 Mississippi College con- ferred upon him the degree of LL. D. He was elected chairman of the University faculty in 188 ;. and in 1889 was made Chancellor. Dr. Mayes was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1890, and was one of the most influential members of that body. In 1891 he voluntarily retired from the Chancellorship of the University of Mississippi, and located in Jackson for the practice of his profession. Upon the establishment of the Millsaps College law school, in 1895, Dr. Mayes was elected dean of the law faculty. In 1900 he was chosen a presidential elector on the Democratic ticket. He was the first president of the Mississippi Historical Society upon its re- organization in 1890. Dr. Mayes possesses marked ability as an historical writer and has made the following valuable contributions to Mississippi history: "A Glance at the Fountains of Our Land Titles." ( Minutes, Mississippi Bar Association, 1887) ; "The Ad- ministration of Estates in Mississippi" (Ibid. 1891) ; "Life, Times and Speeches of L. Q. C. Lamar" (large 8 vo. 1896). "History of Education in Mississippi" (8 vo., published by the United States government, 1899). Dr. Mayes is one of the ablest lawyers in the South, and is held in highest esteem by the Mississippi bar for his great culture and learning.

McCardle, William H., was a native of Kentucky. He came to Mississippi in the early days : married in Claiborne county ; was a warm friend of Col. A. K. McClung, the noted duelist ; edited papers at Vicksburg and served through the war as a Confederate. After the war he edited the Vicksburg Times. Colonel McCardle severely

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criticised the congressional plan of reconstruction, which General Ord was endeavoring to put in operation preparatory to the re- admission of Mississippi as a State of the Union. He was arrested by a squad of soldiers, Nov. 13, 1867, on the general charge of im- peding the execution of the reconstruction laws, and tried before a military court on the specific charges of denouncing General Ord as an usurper and despot, defaming the character of an agent of the Freedmen's Bureau, and advising voters to remain away from the polls. On application, a writ of habeas corpus was issued by Judge Hill of the United States court, who, upon a hearing held that the reconstruction acts were constitutional and sustained the action of the commanding general. On appealing to the supreme court of the United States, McCardle was admitted to bail and released from custody, but before a decision could be reached congress passed an act depriving the court of jurisdiction in the case. Col. McCardle was subsequently associated with Gen. Robert Lowry in the author- ship of a history of Mississippi.

McClung, Alexander Keith, was born in Fauquier county, Va. His mother was a sister of Chief Justice John Marshall. He was reared in Kentucky and educated for the navy, in which he served some time, making several voyages, and fighting several duels. When he came to Mississippi in 1832 he was an exceedingly hand- some young gentleman of twenty-three years, with aristocratic tastes, but no great financial resources, it being understood that he had run through with his patrimony. Soon after his arrival he was Foote's second in the second Foote-Prentiss duel, and out of this grew a duel of his own, in which he killed a young man called Gen- cral Allen. A subsequent duel terminated fatally to his antagonist, Menifee. "He was a lawyer by profession, and had doubtless mas- tered the legal science," says Foote, "but had never been much con- cerned in practice. He was a man of high literary culture and might be called the ablest and most polished writer among Missis- sippians." One of his peculiarities was a life-long grudge against Gov. Alcorn because the latter was once quicker than he in resent- ing an impertinence to a lady. He belonged to the aristocratic lineage of Kentucky; was an athlete, tall and symmetrical; to his friends he was kind and generous. During the Harrison campaign he supported the Whigs with a brilliant newspaper at Jackson, "The Crisis," and again in 1844 he published a campaign paper, "The True Issue," and greatly strengthened his reputation. It is said that Prentiss quoted from him in a speech without giving credit, and the result was an interview between the two men at Spengler's, in which serious results were avoided by the tact and good humor of Prentiss. He delivered the oration before the legislature upon the cieath of Henry Clay, a masterly effort. Upon the organization of the regiment of Mississippi Rifles at Vicksburg in 1846 he was elected lieutenant-colonel, and had command of the regiment until it was joined by Col. Jefferson Davis at New Orleans. (See Mexican War.) On the return of the regiment after its one year's service, he was nominated by the Whigs for con-

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gressman from the second district. The Democrats nominated W. S. Featherston, a gallant line officer in the same regiment. "They were both able stump speakers, fluent, and well-informed upon the political history of the country ; and each could point to a record of brilliant service on the battlefield. Col. McClung had been side by side with Col. Jeff Davis in the splendid charge of the First Mississippi regiment at Monterey, and had been severely wounded upon the walls of the fort. This wound had confined him to his room for six months, and he pointed to the crutches upon which he leaned as being in themselves sufficient tokens of his claims upon the popular vote, he feeling himself in no wise inferior to Featherston in honesty or intellect. It was manifest that a strong sympathy was everywhere felt for the crippled hero, but this was overcome by the paramount consideration of individual loyalty to party, and Featherston was elected. Very possibly it is from this defeat, which he took much to heart, that we may date the first symptoms of that deep melancholy which afterward clouded the noble spirit of McClung, and which culminated in the awful tragedy of his self-inflicted death." (Reuben Davis, Recollec- tions.)

In the memorable political campaign of 1851 he was conspicuous as a Unionist. Afterward, in Pierce's administration, when some frontier regiments were organized, he sought a commission, and upon being thwarted in this hope, being deeply in debt to his friends, he ended his life by suicide. (For McClung as an orator see Rowland, Vol. IV., P. M. H. S. page 376.)

McComb, a city of Pike county, on the Illinois Central R. R., and at the junction of the Liberty-White R. R., 8 miles north of Magnolia, the county seat, 105 miles distant from New Orleans, and 78 miles south of Jackson. The town was named for a former owner of the Mississippi Central, now the Illinois Central R. R. It is in the heart of the pine district, is possessed of a highly equable climate, adapted to the pro- duction of all the vegetables and fruits of this zone. It has fine educational and religious advantages, and is an important shipping, commercial and manufacturing point. Fruits and vege- tables are shipped from here in large quantities to the Chicago and other northern markets. The Illinois Central R. R. maintains here the largest and most complete railroad shops within the State, and employs a large number of men in building and repairing cars and locomotives. The town is possessed of two banking institutions, with a total invested capital of $150,000, has three hotels, an excel- lent system of water works, an electric lighting and power plant, six educational institutions and nine churches. There are three public schools, a business college, a convent and a female college ; the churches consist of an Episcopal, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Christian, two Methodist and three Baptist. Among the manufac- turing enterprises now in the city are cotton mills, a saw mill, planing mill, brick yard, ice factory, bottling works, a steam laundry, machine shops, car shops, and cotton gins. Two newspapers are

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published here, the Enterprise, a Democratic weekly established in 1889, edited by R. B. May, and the McComb City Journal, a Demo- cratic weekly edited and published by R. T. Quin and Ellis Hays.

The total city indebtedness in 1906 was $85,000; the assessed val- uation of the real property was $1,265,333; personal, $487,919; tax rate, 12 mills. The population in 1900 was recorded at 4,477; in 1890 it was 2,383. The city is growing rapidly and the estimated population in 1906 was between 6,000 and 7,000.

McCondy, a post-hamlet in the southern part of Chickasaw county, 10 miles southeast of Houston, the county seat. The nearest banking town is Houston, 13 miles to the northwest. Population in 1900, 62.

McCool, an incorporated post-town in the northeastern part of Attala county, is a thriving little station on the Aberdeen division of the Illinois Central R. R., 18 miles by rail northeast of Kos- ciusko, the county seat, and 14 miles southwest of Ackerman. The Bank of McCool, a branch of the Grenada Bank, is located here. The town was named for the Hon. James F. McCool, Chancellor of the 6th Chancery court district of Mississippi, and former speaker of the house of representatives in the Mississippi legislature. Pop- ulation in 1900, 317; the population in 1906 was estimated at 400.

McCoy, a hamlet of Pearl river county. The postoffice has been discontinued at this place, and mail now goes to Poplarville.

McCrary, a postoffice in the eastern part of Lowndes county, on the Mobile & Ohio R. R., 8 miles east of Columbus, the county seat.

McDill, a postoffice in the northeastern part of Scott county, 12 miles distant from Forest, the county seat. Lake is its nearest railroad and banking town.

McDonalds Mills, a postoffice in the northern part of Perry county, 14 miles from New Augusta, the county seat. Richton is the nearest banking town.

McGehee, Edward, was born at Oglethorpe, Ga., November 18, 1786, and reared on his father's plantation in that State. He came to Mississippi in a flatboat from Wheeling about 1808; built a log house in Wilkinson county ; went to Georgia and married Mar- garet L. Crosby in 1811, and returned to Mississippi on horseback with his bride. Mr. McGehee pushed to completion the West Feliciana railroad, which cost $35,000 per mile. It reached Wood- ville about 1837 and was the first road in the State and fifth in the United States. He became the owner of the road after the war. He was one of the founders of the Woodville Bank, and of one of the first cotton factories in the State about 1849; purchased the plant and operated it until it was burned by the Federals dur- ing the war. He founded Bethel church in 1811: founded Wood- ville Female Academy, which was burned in 1849; founded the present college for girls at Woodville : gave large sums to churches and colleges in Mississippi and Louisiana. He shunned public of- fice, but was induced to serve a few terms in the legislature. He declined to accept the position of secretary of the treasury offered him by President Zachary Taylor ; was the administrator of Pres-

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ident Taylor and filled many places of trust. He was very pros- perous as a planter; his fields stretched out as wide as a feudal estate, while his servants numbered more than a thousand. His residence, Bowling Green, built of brick with massive pillars in 1825, at great cost, was one of the most attractive in the South. It contained thousands of books, but was burned with its contents by a negro regiment after the war. He was in favor of negro colonization in Africa, and, before the war, seriously thought of planting a colony of his own servants in that country. He died October 1, 1880, aged ninety-four.

McHenry, a post-village of Harrison county, on the Gulf & Ship Island R. R., 25 miles north of Gulfport. It is situated in the long leaf yellow pine region, and lumbering and farming are the chief industries of the locality. It has several good stores and churches, a splendid school, a bank and a newspaper office. The State Bank was established here in 1902 with a capital of $15,000; the News is a local weekly, owned and edited by Oscar Grace, established in 1901. It has a large planing mill and brick yard. Population in 1900, 350; estimated in 1906 to be 1,200.

McIvor, a postoffice in the central part of Panola county, and a station on the Sardis & Delta R. R., 6 miles west of Sardis, one of the county seats of justice and the nearest banking town.

McKenna, Constantine. One of the Irish priests sent over from the college of Salamanca in 1787 to convert and hold the English in West Florida. He began to be "cura parroco" at Mobile, in December, 1789, and he "is probably the best known of the Spanish priests." (Hamilton, Colonial Mobile.) The testimony taken in proof of the death of Sainneville LeDuc from fever at the home of John Girault in October, 1788, shows that Constantine McKenna was the priest who administered the last unction. Gregory White was also connected with the religious establishment.

McLain, a hamlet on the western border of Greene county, and a station on the Mobile, Jackson & Kansas City R. R., 18 miles west of Leakesville, the county seat. It has a money order post- office.

McLain, Frank Alexander, of Gloster, the representative of the Seventh Mississippi district in the Congress of the United States, was born on a farm near Liberty in Amite county, Miss., on January 29, 1852, a son of Enoch Bateman and Nancy (Berryhill) McLain. His ancestors were originally natives of Scotland, the first family to leave that country immigrating to Robeson county in North Carolina in 1776. Subsequently, in 1803, the branch to which Congressman McLain belongs removed to Tennessee and in 1812 to Amite county, Miss. Enoch Bateman McLain was a member of Gen. Nathan B. Forrest's cavalry of the Confederate army in the Civil War, and since the close of that struggle has been engaged in planting and mercantile business. The subject of this sketch at- tended the public schools of Amite county and for a year was a student at the Woodlawn institute in the East Feliciana Parish, La., under the instruction of Rev. Mr. Relyes and Rev. Samuel H.

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Hayden. He then matriculated at the University of Mississippi and was graduated at that institution in 1874 with the degree of Bach- elor of Arts. From 1875 to 1879 he was a teacher in the public schools of the state, devoting his spare moments of those years to the study of law. In September, 1879, he was admitted to practice in the courts of the state and began the practice of his profession at Liberty. In 1885 he removed to Gloster. In politics Mr. McLain is a Democrat and as such was elected in 1881 for a term of two years as the representative of Amite county in the lower house of the state legislature, and upon the expiration of his term in that office he was elected district attorney for his judicial district and was twice re-elected, serving continuously from January, 1884, to Jan- uary, 1896. In the latter year he voluntarily resigned his office to continue private practice in Gloster. When the Constitutional con- vention of 1890 met he was one of the Floater delegates, having been elected to represent Amite and Pike counties. He was nominated by the executive committee to fill out the unexpired term in Con- gress of the late Hon. William Franklin Love and was elected with- out opposition. He has been re-elected at every successive election since that time. In religious affairs Mr. McLain is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and in a fraternal way is identified with the Knights of Pythias. On March 6, 1879, at Magnolia, Miss., he was united in marriage to Miss Fannie Ann Tyler, daughter of William G. and Lindsay (Connally) Tyler, of Tylertown. Mrs. McLain died at Washington, D. C., March 13, 1900, leaving besides her husband three children-Mary (McLain) Hines, Enoch Bate- man and William Tyler.

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Encyclopedia of Mississippi History Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions and Persons, Vol. II, Part 21

Author: Dunbar Rowland Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Madison, Wis. : S.A. Brant Number of Pages: 1020

Author: Dunbar Rowland
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Madison, Wis. : S.A. Brant
Number of Pages: 1020