USA > Mississippi > Encyclopedia of Mississippi History Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions and Persons, Vol. II > Part 43
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Oloh, a postoffice in the northwestern part of Lamar county, about 15 miles from Purvis, the county seat. There are 2 churches a good school and a turpentine plant located here.
O'Neil, a postoffice of Amite county, about 12 miles northwest of Liberty, the county seat.
Ophelia, a post-hamlet of Rankin county, about 22 miles north- east of Brandon, the county seat. Population in 1900, 23.
Ora, a post-hamlet in the central part of Covington county, on the Gulf & Ship Island R. R., 3 miles northeast of Williamsburg, the county seat. Collins is the nearest banking town. It has a money order postoffice. Population in 1900, 68. There is a large saw mill located here and the population of Ora in 1906 was esti- mated at 300.
Orange, a post-hamlet in the western part of Clarke county, on Souenlovie creek, about 15 miles northwest of Quitman, the county seat. Population in 1900, 26.
Orangegrove, a station on the Louisville & Nashville R. R., in the southeastern part of Jackson county, 8 miles northeast of Pas- cagoula, the county seat, and nearest banking town. It received its name from the groves of orange trees about it. It has a church, a money order postoffice, a steam saw mill and extensive trucking interests. Population in 1900, 30.
Orangeville, a postoffice in the northern part of Hinds county, about 20 miles northwest of Jackson.
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Order of '76. This secret political society was organized in 1870, according to popular impression, at Somerville, Noxubee county, by Thomas S. Gathright, founder and proprietor of Somer- ville institute. Its purpose was to counteract the Loyal League. At the election in 1869 the Democrats, including nearly all the whites, tried to secure part of the negro vote, which was largely in the majority, partly owing to the disfranchisement of those white men, generally of high position, who were not included in the amnesty. "Neither force, fraud nor intimidation were resorted to." But it was found that the secret methods of the Loyal League made the negroes practically solid in opposition to the Democrats. Even the most ignorant negroes were enabled to select their Re- publican tickets by the flag printed in colors on the back. Hence the Order of '76, the name being suggested by the old grievance of the fathers-taxation without representation. The purposes of the club were: "To secure concert of action among the white voters of the State in overthrowing the Republican party in the State; to shield, protect and defend each other by money, or by force if necessary, from wrong and oppression, and likewise to protect and defend our mothers, sisters, wives and daughters from insult and injury ; to punish lawless negroes and their white allies who were protected by the military authorities; to ostracise every native white man and his family who allied himself with the negroes; and to attend every election and vote only for true and tried men, and use every lawful means to defeat the 'black and tan' ticket, and to re-establish white supremacy in the State." The lodges were known among the members as "Robinson clubs," and the challenge was "Do you know Robinson?" to which the initiated answered "What Robinson?" to which the reply was "Squire Rob- inson." There were clubs in all the eastern counties. The trial of L. D. Belk, of Meridian, in 1872, was thought by members of the order to be a "fishing expedition" to obtain information about the order. T. M. Scanlan, of Newton, was called as a witness, and on his refusal to answer questions he was sent to jail for contempt and held two months, until yellow fever broke out, and he was released by order of Judge Hill. No witnesses could be found to reveal the secrets of the order. (W. H. Hardy, in Miss. Hist. Publ. VII, 208).
Ordinance of 1784. This act of the congress of the Confederation was the first attempt to provide a plan of government for the country at that time in the hands of the Indians. It was reported in congress, in March, 1784, by a committee, consisting of Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, Chase of Maryland, and Howell of Rhode Island. The original draft of the ordinance, in the handwriting of Jefferson, provides for the laying off of States from the 31° parallel . northward, and for the prohibition of slavery in all the region after the year 1800. On April 19. the report was taken up for consider- ation, and Mr. Spaight, of North Carolina, moved to strike out the clause relating to slavery. On the question, "Shall the words stand?" six States voted yes, seven being required to adopt any
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proposition. "South Carolina, Maryland and Virginia voted against it," wrote Mr. Jefferson, "North Carolina was divided, as would have been Virginia, had not one of its delegates been sick in bed." If one of the New Jersey delegates had not been absent, the clause would have been adopted by the vote of seven States. Georgia was not present. Another very important change made was that the laying off of States should begin on the 45th parallel and proceed southward. As adopted, the ordinance provided : That, when authorized by congress, the free males in any one of the territorial divisions to be laid off should meet to establish a temporary government, "to adopt the constitution and laws of any one of the original States," subject to alteration by their legisla- ture, and to establish counties and districts for the election of a legislature. When there should be 20,000 free inhabitants, upon proof of the same to congress, a convention should be held to establish a permanent constitution and government for them- selves." Both the temporary and permanent governments were to be "established on these principles as their basis:" "That they shall forever remain a part of this confederacy of the United States of America ;" that they should be subject to the articles of confed- eration and the acts of congress, in the same measure as the older States were, also to the payment of the Federal debts contracted and to be contracted ; that they should in no case interfere with the primary disposal and control of the soil by the United States in congress assembled, or impose taxes on the land of the United States; "That their respective governments shall be republican ;" that there should be no discrimination in taxation against non-res- ident proprietors. These States, thus formed, could have a dele- gate in congress, with privilege of speaking but not voting, but for a long time they would not be advanced to that condition that. since this ordinance, has been called "admission to the Union." Whenever any one "of the said States shall have of free inhab- itants as many as shall then be in any one of the least numerous of the thirteen original States, such State shall be admitted by its delegates into the congress of the United States, on an equal footing with the original States," provided the requisite number of the original States should consent, and thereupon it should be proposed to the legislatures of the States, the original parties to the articles of confederation, to require the assent of two-thirds of the United States in congress assembled to adapt the articles of confederation to the increased number of States.
Ordinance of 1787. This ordinance for the government of the territory of the United States northwest of the river Ohio, adopted July 13. 1787, taking the place of the ordinance of 1784, was made the fundamental ordinance of Mississippi territory. and conse- quently of the State, by act of Congress providing for a govern- ment of this Territory. in 1798. The Ordinance, in the first place. provides for the abolition of primogeniture and the establishment of such a system of inheritance and transfer of property as now pre- vails in the United States. In regard to the government of the
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territory, there is an adaptation to two stages of population. Con- gress was to appoint a governor, to serve three years, a secretary to serve four years, and a court of three judges, of common law jurisdiction. During the first stage of the territory, when the pop- ulation was less than "five thousand free male inhabitants of full age." "the governor and judges, or a majority of them, shall adopt and publish in the district such laws of the original States, criminal and civil, as may be necessary and best suited to the circumstances of the district, and report them to Congress from time to time;" the governor also should appoint all magistrates and civil officers at his pleasure, and lay out counties and townships in the country freed from Indian title. The governor, as commander-in-chief of the militia, was empowered to commission all officers under the rank of general officers, which appointment Congress reserved.
When the voting population named had been attained and proof of the same submitted to the governor, his proclamation should issue for an election of representatives; the apportionment to be one representative for every 500 free male inhabitants, the term to be two years. A freehold of fifty acres of land was required as a qualification for a voter and of 200 acres for membership in the assembly. These representatives would form the popular repre- sentation in the General Assembly, to be composed of the gover- nor, legislative council and house of representatives. As soon as the house should meet, it should nominate ten residents, each pos- sessed of a freehold in 500 acres of land, and return these names to Congress, out of which list Congress should select five to consti- tute the council, vacancies to be filled in like manner.
The general assembly, thus constituted, had "authority to make laws in all cases for the good government of the district, not re- pugnant to the principles and articles in this ordinance established and declared." But the governor had the power of absolute veto, could convene, prorogue and dissolve the assembly whenever in his opinion it was expedient, and it was the duty of the secretary to report acts of the legislature and all proceedings of the govern- ment to Congress every six months.
There was no representation in Congress until the general as- sembly was organized, whereupon the council and house assembled in one room shall have authority by joint ballot to elect a delegate to Congress, with a right of debating but not of voting.
So far the ordinance was worked out, modifying Jefferson's ordi- nance to meet what Carrington, of Virginia, considered the need of strict control of these "districts," until they should be populous enough to be recognized as States, having self government. What follows is the joint product of Virginia and Massachusetts states- manship in providing for the wider future:
"And, for extending the fundamental principles of civil and re- ligious liberty, which form the basis whereon these republics, their laws and constitutions are erected ; to fix and establish those prin- ciples as the basis of all laws, constitutions and governments, which forever hereafter shall be formed in the said territory ; to
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provide also for the establishment of States and permanent govern- ment therein, and for their admission to a share in the federal councils on an equal footing with the original States, at as early periods as may be consistent with the general interest ;
"It is hereby ordained and declared by the authority aforesaid, That the following articles shall be considered as articles of com- pact between the original States and the people and States in the said territory, and forever remain unalterable, unless by common consent, to wit :
Art. 1st. No person, demeaning himself in a peaceable and orderly manner, shall ever be molested on account of his mode of worship or religious sentiments, in the said territory.
Art. 2d. The inhabitants of the said territory shall always be entitled to the benefits of the writ of habeas corpus, and of the trial by jury ; of a proportionate representation of the people in the legislature; and of judicial proceedings according to the course of the common law. All persons shall be bailable, unless for cap- ital offences, where the proof shall be evident or the presumption great. All fines shall be moderate; and no cruel or unusual pun- ishments shall be inflicted. No man shall be deprived of his liberty or property, but by the judgment of his peers or the law of the land; and, should the public exigencies make it necessary, for the common preservation, to take any person's property, or to demand his particular services, full compensation shall be made for the same. And, in the just preservation of rights and property, it is understood and declared, that no law ought ever to be made, or have force in the said territory that shall, in any manner whatever interfere with or effect private contracts or engagements, bona fide, and without fraud, previously formed.
Art. 3d. Religion, morality and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged. The utmost good faith shall be observed toward the Indians; their lands and property shall never be taken from them without their consent; and in their property, rights and liberty, they shall never be in- vaded or disturbed, unless in just and lawful wars authorized by Congress; but laws founded in justice and humanity shall, from time to time, be made for preventing wrongs being done them, and for preserving peace and friendship with them.
Art. 4th. The said territory, and the States which may be formed therein, shall forever remain a part of this confederacy of the United States of America, subject to the articles of Confedera- tion, and to such alterations therein as shall be constitutionally made; and to all the acts and ordinances of the United States in Congress assembled and conformable thereto. (The remainder of this article related to taxation and public lands.)
Art. 5th. (Provided for division of Northwest territory into States, each to be admitted on an equal footing with the original States when it had 60,000 free inhabitants, and to "be at liberty to form a permanent constitution and State government," these
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restrictions being modified by proviso so that the only requirement regarding population was the "general interest of the confederacy.")
To the above was added the following :
Art. 6. There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servi- tude in the said territory, otherwise than in the punishment of crimes, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted ; Provided always, That any person escaping into the same, from whom labor or service is lawfully claimed in any one of the original States, such fugitive may be lawfully reclaimed and conveyed to the per- son claiming his or her labor or services.
The motive power behind the adoption of the ordinance was an association of New England Revolutionary soldiers, who wanted to buy land and start a colony on the Ohio. They desired the pro- hibition of slavery, and it was acceded to, apparently as part of a general compromise under the original proposition of Thomas Jefferson. (See Ordinance of 1784.) This ordinance was amended after the constitution was adopted, so that the powers reposed in congress were exercised by the president with the consent of the senate. The ordinance was extended to the "territory South of and River Ohio" [Tennessee], and to "the Mississippi territory," with the exception in each case of the prohibition of slavery, to which the representatives of Georgia and the Carolinas objected, the question being a matter of serious discussion in congress. But the importation of slaves into Mississippi territory from foreign lands was prohibited.
It is said of the Ordinance by Edward Mayes (Goodspeed's Memoirs) "It contained a summary of many of the propositions which subsequently found their way into the bill of rights of the State constitution and into the fundamental conditions. Such was the short and simple code of laws under which the infant common- wealth was inaugurated. Whether the Spanish occupation had in fact displaced the common law, as asserted by our supreme court ; or not, as maintained by Robert J. Walker and Judge Clayton ; certain it is that, on the organization of the Territorial government, that admirable system, by the very terms of the two acts just re- cited (the Territorial act and the Ordinance) became the basis of all the jurisprudence of Mississippi. Not so unconditionally, however, as to defeat the highest end of all law-the welfare and happiness of the people. In numerous cases our Supreme court has decided that the common law of England is the law of this State only so far as it is adapted to our institutions and the circum- stances of our people; that it may be repealed by statutes, or varied bv usages which by long custom have superseded it."
O'Reilly, a postoffice in the southeastern part of Bolivar county, on the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley R. R., 5 miles south of Cleve- land, one of the seats of justice. and the nearest banking town.
Orion, an extinct village in Scott county, located in the south- western part of the county, not far from the present railroad town of Morton. We are told that a lively business was carried on at
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the place in the early days, but it was abandoned before the War 1861-1865.
Orion, a post-hamlet of Marshall county, 12 miles southwest of Holly Springs, the county seat. Population in 1900, 20.
Orizaba, a hamlet of Tippah county, 7 miles south of Ripley, the county seat. It has rural free delivery from Blue Mountain, the nearest railroad station, 4 miles northwest. It has 2 churches and 3 stores. Population in 1900, 79.
Orizaba, Old, an extinct town in Tippah county situated seven miles south of Ripley, the county seat. See Tippah county. The old settlement grew up around a Cumberland presbyterian church which was established at that place in 1837. A wealthy and pros- perous body of people occupied the surrounding region. The town attained a growth of about one hundred and fifty inhabitants by the middle of the last century. Says Mr. Joel A. Hearne, of Rip- ley, Miss., "the last business that was done there was to burn all its stores and outbuildings in 1882."
Orphan's Home. Governor Humphreys, in his message of Oc- tober, 1866, recommended to the care of the legislature "the Or- phan's Home for the children of the State, many of whom are children of deceased Confederate soldiers, established at Lauder- dale Springs," and acknowledged the receipt of $9,000 from "the noble ladies of Baltimore through the hands of their treasurer, Mrs. Charlotte Latrobe, a loved daughter of Mississippi," a fund which had been increased from the same source to $18,000.
Orvilla, a postoffice of Wilkinson county, situated on Buffalo Bayou, 7 miles east of Woodville, the county seat.
Orvisburg, an incorporated post-town of Pearl River county, on the New Orleans & North Eastern R. R., about four miles north of Poplarville, the county seat, and the nearest banking town. The chief industry is lumber. Population in 1900, 435.
Orwood, a post-hamlet of Lafayette county, 12 miles southwest of Oxford, the county seat and the nearest banking town. Taylor, 8 miles east, is the nearest railroad station. Orwood Academy is located here, J. D. Stormant, principal. Population in 1900, 106.
Osborn, a post-hamlet of Oktibbeha county, on the Aberdeen branch of the Illinois Central R. R., 7 miles by rail northeast of Starkville, the county seat and nearest banking town. Population in 1900, 100.
Osmun, Benajah. A veteran officer of the American revolution, who came to Natchez district in 1790, accompanying the Forman party. He had previously been overseer of the plantation of Gen- eral Forman in New Jersey. In the Revolution he enlisted as a private, which was his condition when captured at the battle of Long Island. He was again a prisoner of war in 1780, was made a lieutenant in 1781, and retired at the close of the war with the brevet rank of captain. He was one of the first militia officers under Gov. Sargent, and, December 1, 1800, was commissioned lieutenant-colonel commanding the militia of Adams county, until he resigned December, 1806. He continued in the same command,
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and contributed materially to the success of the organization, then a matter of great anxiety. Claiborne wrote of him, in September, 1802, that "from his military experience and great zeal for the good of the service, I have already received from him much assistance in organizing the militia." He reported that the territorial brigade was under Osmun's command, and he recommended to the secre- tary of war, General Dearborn, that Osmun be commissioned as brigadier-general.
"Colonel Osmun settled a plantation at the foot of Halfway hill, near Natchez, became wealthy, and there died, a bachelor, at a good old age." (Forman's Narrative.) His nearest neighbor and intimate friend, at Halfway hill, was Major Guion, and a memorable event of their lives was the entertainment of their old comrade, Aaron Burr, in 1807. Osmun was one of his two bondsmen when the former vice president was arrested. Colonel Osmun's death was in 1816.
Osyka, an incorporated post-town in the southern part of Pike county, near the Louisiana border. It is an important station on the Illinois Central R. R., and ships a considerable amount of cot- ton. The Big Tangipahoa river flows through the town. It has four or five churches and a good school. The Bank of Osyka was established here in 1902 with a capital of $23,000. It has large lumbering interests and three large brick yards. Its population in 1906 was 900.
Otoe, a postoffice of Jasper county, situated on Rahomo creek, an affluent of Leaf river, about 18 miles southwest of Paulding, the county seat.
Otto, a postoffice of Washington county, situated on the right bank of the Sunflower river, about 22 miles southeast of Green- ville.
Ouda, a post-hamlet of Smith county, about 12 miles southeast of Raleigh, the county seat. Population in 1900, 46.
Overbey, a postoffice of Simpson county, 10 miles northeast of Mendenhall.
Overpark, a hamlet in the extreme northeastern part of De Soto county, about 18 miles from Hernando, the county seat. The postoffice at this place was discontinued in 1905, and it now has rural free delivery from Olive Branch, the nearest railroad sta- tion.
Overton, a postoffice in the northwestern part of Alcorn county, near the west bank of the Hatchie river, 16 miles west of Corinth.
Ovett, a money order post-town, in the southeastern part of Jones county, on the Big Bogue Homo, about 15 miles southeast of Ellisville, the county seat. It is on the Mobile, Jackson & Kan- sas City R. R., and is a prosperous town.
Owens, a post-hamlet of Holmes county, on the Yazoo & Mis- sissippi Valley R. R., 6 miles east of Lexington, the county seat and nearest banking town, and 7 miles west of Durant. Popula- tion in 1900, 48; population in 1906 estimated at 75. There is a
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very popular mineral well located in the town and the place is quite a resort during the summer season.
Oxberry, a post-hamlet of Grenada county, about 13 miles west of Grenada, the county seat. Halcomb is its nearest banking town. Population in 1900, 45. It has a saw mill and a fine cotton gin.
Oxford. The little city of Oxford, the county seat of Lafayette county is located on a beautiful ridge of land, and is a wide-awake prosperous town. It is the seat of the University of Mississippi, the State's highest institution of learning. It was also the seat of the Union Female College, an institution which maintained a contin- uous existence since its first incorporation in 1838, under the name of the Oxford Female Academy until 1904. In 1854, the Academy was placed under denominational control, that of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and reincorporated by the name of "The Union Female Colleges." The institution has been recently made a training school for boys and an important feeder for the State University. This fine old academy was the second institution of learning to be established in the Chickasaw cession of 1832, the Hernando Academy being the first.
The main line of the Illinois Central railroad runs through Ox- ford and gives it ready communication with the outside world. The first settler on the present site of Oxford was Dr. Thomas D. Isom, an honored resident of the town up to the time of his death a few years ago, who rose to eminence in his profession and was afterwards a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1890. He built a log cabin here and opened a store and soon a small settlement grew up at this point, which was incorporated by the Legislature in 1837. Besancon writing of the town in 1838 tells us that it was "located near the center, (of the county) on sections twenty-one and twenty-eight, range three, township eight. It is only one year and a half since Oxford was laid out into town lots, and yet it now numbers four hundred inhabitants. It is healthy, finely watered, and one of the most pleasant towns in all that region. Its public buildings are a courthouse, erected, by do- nation, and tax on the proprietors of the soil, at an expense of twenty-three thousand four hundred dollars-a jail at the expense of three thousand nine hundred dollars, raised in the same manner -both of brick. There are as yet no churches, but arrangements are made for the erection of two. Oxford has two hotels, six stores, and two seminaries of education, one conducted by Zadock Cottrell and lady, the other by W. W. McMahon." The competition over the selection of a site for the State University was a spirited one, and Oxford was selected by the Legislature in joint session on the sixth ballot, thereby defeating the other contestants, Mississippi City, Brandon, Monroe Missionary Station, Louisville, Kosciusko and Middleton. The choice was made on the 26th day of January, 1841, and in conformity to a previous act of the Legislature, a fine section of land, adjoining the town, had been bought and condition- ally donated to the university by the citizens of Oxford and Lafay- ette county. The institution was finally chartered in February,
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