Encyclopedia of Mississippi History Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions and Persons, Vol. II, Part 52

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 52

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

"The Mississippi cotton planter had a genius for hospitality ; his home was constantly crowded with guests, and they were made to feel that their coming was a pleasure and their departure a sor- row. The coming of Christmas was the most important

event in a Mississippi plantation home. . Large house parties were always features of the holiday season. For weeks the lordly and hospitable planters would keep open house.

A grand ball room was a common feature of the Missis- sippi home. Card playing was indulged in by all, and a game of whist was always called for in the evening after supper."

J. H. Ingraham, in describing a ride out from Natchez, about 1825, wrote: "A huge colonnaded structure, crowning an abrupt eminence near the road, struck our eyes with an imposing effect. It was the abode of one of the wealthiest planters of this State; who, like the majority of those whose families now roll in their splendid equipages, has been the maker of his fortune. The grounds about this edifice were neglected; horses were grazing around the piazzas, over which were strewed saddles, whips, horseblankets. and the motley paraphernalia with which planters love to lumber their galleries. On nearly every piazza in Mississippi may be found a washstand, bowl, pitcher, towel and water bucket, for general accomodation. But the southern gallery is not constructed, like · those at the north, for ornament or ostentation, but for use. Here they wash, lounge, often sleep and take their meals." Calling at the home of another wealthy planter, he was found "sitting upon the gallery, divested of coat, vest and shoes, with his feet on the railing, playing in high glee with a little dark-eyed boy and two young negroes, who were chasing each other under the bridge formed by his extended limbs. Three or four noble dogs, which his voice and the presence of his servant, who accompanied me to the house, kept submisive, were crouching like leopards around his chair. A hammock contained a youth of fourteen, fast locked in the embrace of Morpheus, whose aide-de-camp, in the shape of a strapping negress, stood by the hammock, waving over the sleeper a long plume of gorgeous feathers of the pea- fowl. . There are many private residences, in the vicinity of Natchez, whose elegant interiors, contrasted with the neglected grounds about them, suggest the idea of a handsome city residence accidentally dropped into the midst of a partially cleared forest." Usually the tract about the residence was used as a pasture lot for horses.

The most magnificent homes in the vicinity of Natchez were

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built in what was called in 1835 the "great cotton era." "Perhaps no State, not even Virginia herself, which Mississippi claims as her mother country, could present a more hospitable, chivalrous, and highminded class of men, or more cultivated females than this, during the first few years subsequent to its accession to the Union."

The planter, wrote Mr. Ingraham, works on his plantation a cer- tain number of slaves, say thirty. Each slave ought to average from seven to eight bales of cotton during the season, especially on the new lands. An acre will generally average from one to two bales. Each bale averages four hundred pounds, at from twelve to fifteen cents a pound. This may not be an exact estimate, but is not far from the true one. Deducting $2,500 for the expenses of the plantation, there will remain a net income of $11,000. Now suppose this plantation and slaves to have been purchased on a credit, paying at the rate of $600 a piece for his negroes, the planter would be able to pay for nearly two-thirds of them the first year.

In the way above alluded to, numerous plantations in this State have been commenced, and thus the wealth of a great num- ber of the opulent planters of this region has originated. Incomes of $20,000 are common here. Several individuals possess incomes from $40,000 to $50,000 and live in a style commensurate with their wealth. To sell cotton in order to buy more negroes-to make more cotton to buy more negroes, ad infinitum, is the aim and direct tendency of all the operations of the thorough-going cotton planter ; his whole soul is wrapped up in the pursuit. There are some who work three or four hundred negroes; though the average number is from 30 to 100. . Many of the planters are northerners. When they have conquered their prejudices, they are thorough-driving planters, generally giving themselves up to the pursuit more devotedly than the regular planter. Their treatment of their slaves is also far more rigid. Northerners are entirely unaccustomed to their habits, which are perfectly under- stood and appreciated by southerners, who have been familiar with Africans from childhood; whom they have had for their nurses, playfellows and 'bearers,' and between whom and themselves a reciprocal and very natural attachment exists, which, on the gen- tleman's part, involuntarily extends to the whole dingy race, cx- hibited in a kindly feeling and condescending familiarity, for which he receives gratitude in return. On the part of the slave, this at- tachment is manifested by an affection and faithfulness which only ceases with life. Of this state of feeling which a southern life and education can only give, the northerner knows nothing. In- experience leads him to hold the reins over his novel subjects with an unsparing severity, which the native ruler of these domestic colonies finds wholly unnecessary."

"We regarded slavery in a patriarchal sense," wrote Mrs. V. V. Clayton. "We were all one family, and as master and mistress. heads of this family, we were responsible to the God we worshipped

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for these creatures to a great extent, and we felt our responsibility and cared for their souls and bodies."

"The prevailing type of the Mississippi planter in those days was proud, big-hearted, broad, liberal and brave. The men of that time enjoyed the good things of life, their lives were worth living, and good cheer, brightness and good humor came with their com- ing. . . The Mississippi planter was magnificent in every

thing; great in his strength, great in his weakness. There was nothing small, cowardly, or weak about him. When he joined in the morning prayers of his church, it was with a reverential, devout and penitent spirit. He looked upon every true woman of his acquaintance as a God-sent ministering angel, and no one was allowed in his presence to even intimate that a woman was not everything that was true, pure and lovely. He was the ablest ex- pounder of a constitutional democracy, and yet he belonged to an aristocracy the most exclusive that America has ever seen. Was he a bundle of contradictions? His character was well rounded and consistent throughout. First of all he loved his wife and children and ancestors. His home and friends had the next place in his heart. He loved his State with an eastern devotion. That he loved his country is attested by the blood that he shed in the land of the Montezumas in defense of its flag. In con- ducting the details of business he was not a success. He took a small part in the actual management of his farming operations. He was generally lord of all he surveyed as he stood and gazed on his beautiful cotton fields whitening in the morning light. He lived near to nature and his soul was in harmony with the peaceful rest and joy of a God-favored land. He associated labor and slavery together ; hence he looked upon physical toil as a degrada- tion and beneath the dignity of a gentleman. He modeled his life after that of the Virginia planter of the old school, and religiously followed the teachings of the old feudal aristocracy of England. He had a passionate fondness for statecraft oratory and politics. He knew the letters of Madison and Hamilton in the Fed- eralist as few men have since known them. He delighted in the orations of Demosthenes, Cicero, Pitt, Burke, Henry and Hayne. He took his opinions of public policy from Jefferson, Jackson, Clay or Calhoun. He was much given to political discus- sion; he was always right, sir, and his adversary was always wrong. What was his was the best the world afforded : what be- longed to others was theirs without envy on his part. He was high strung, passionate and quick to take offense. He was a man of superb courage, unwavering integrity and unsullied honor." (Rowland.)

Plantersville, an incorporated post-town in Lee county, on the St. Louis and San Francisco R. R., three miles southeast of Tupelo the county seat and the nearest banking town. The town lies in an artesian basin, and there are a number of wells here, affording a supply of soft, pure water, obtained at a depth of from 300 to 400 feet. It has a money order postoffice, an express office, 3 stores, a

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saw mill, a cotton gin, a church and a school. The population in 1900 was 187.

Plattsburg, a village in the southwestern part of Winston county, about 15 miles from Louisville, the county seat, and about 25 miles southeast of Kosciusko. Noxapater is the nearest banking town. It has a money order postoffice, several stores, 2 churches, a good school and a cotton gin and grist-mill. The population in 1900 was 151 and has not materially increased since then.

Pleasant, a postoffice of Attala county, on the Aberdeen branch of the Illinois Central. R. R., 4 miles southwest of Kosciusko, the county seat.

Pleasantgrove, a post-hamlet of Panola county, 8 miles west of Sardis, one of the county seats and the nearest railroad and bank- ing town. It has 2 churches and several stores. Population in 1900, 62.

Pleasanthill, an incorporated post-town in the northern part of De Soto county, on Camp creek, an affluent of Coldwater river, 24 miles southeast of Memphis. Miller, on the K. C. M. & B. R. R. is the nearest railroad station, and Hernando, on the I. C. R. R. is the nearest banking town. It has several stores, two churches and a Masonic Institute. Population in 1900, 230; the population in 1906 was estimated at 300.

Plummer, Franklin E., was a native of Massachusetts. He worked his way to New Orleans before he was twenty-one years old, became a school teacher in Copiah county, Miss .; began the practice of law at Westville a year or two later, without any prep- aration, and with a library consisting of Poindexter's Revised Code, a copy of the acts of the last session of the legislature and a vol- ume of Blackstone; was remarkably successful; went to the legis- lature as often as he chose, and became a power in that body. In 1829 he announced himself for congress, which was regarded as a piece of impertinence by the older politicians, but he was elected, defeating Wm. L. Sharkey and others; was reelected as often as he presented himself, beating the most popular men in the State. His platform was: "Plummer for the people, and the people for Plummer." He and Gov. Runnels were bitter enemies. Each was a founder of a town within the present limits of Grenada. Plummer's town was Pittsburg, Runnel's was Tulla- homa, and the rivalry between the two towns was similar to that between their founders.

In 1835 Plummer was invited to Natchez by the men who had been his political opponents. The banks were thrown open to him, and he made out his political slate with his name at the head for United States Senator. In a stylish barouche, with a servant in livery, he started on his canvass. He was then in the height of his popularity and power, but his alliance with capitalists was fatal. He was no longer one of the people, but had formed "aristocratic habits" and was defeated. This caused him to lose courage. He neglected or abandoned his profession, became a sot, lurking in

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mean places with low associates. He died at Jackson in an obscure cabin in 1847.

Plumpoint, a post-hamlet in the northern part of De Soto county, near the northern boundary line of the State, 12 miles distant from Hernando, the county seat. Population in 1900, 23.

Pluto, a post-hamlet in the southwestern part of Holmes county, on the Yazoo River, 15 miles north of Yazoo City, the nearest banking town. Population in 1900, 25.

Plymouth, an extinct town of Lowndes county situated seven miles above Columbus on the Tombigbee river, at the mouth of Tibbee creek. County tradition claims that DeSoto camped here on his journey of exploration to the Mississippi. Other local tra- dition recites that Bienville erected fortifications at this point and made it his base while campaigning against the Chickasaws, and not Cotton Gin Port, as commonly stated in the books. Still others assert that the remains of the old cedar fort, which was taken down by the present owners of the site of old Plymouth, the Canfields, were the remains of a fort built by General Jackson while operating against the Creeks. Says Dr. Lipscomb, in his History of Colum- bus and Lowndes County: "After the settlement of the Choctaw lands began Old Plymouth became a site of considerable importance on account of its facilities for crossing the river at a shallow ford nearby, and as a place for the storage and shipment of cotton. It was also considered a beautiful spot, with its prodigious growth of large cedars, for the location of the homes of the neighboring set- tlers. James Prowell, Sr., Orlando Canfield, Sr., John Morgan, Sr., and John Cox, Sr., built residences there. The Irbys, Billing- tons and Mullens erected warehouses and stores. Richard Evans, Esq., and his brother, Dr. Evans, and Mr. L. N. Hatch, also settled there, and in 1836, the town was incorporated, and laid off into squares, and streets, and was the prospective rival of West Port just below, and of Columbus, across the river. It became a trading point of importance ; a great number of bales of cotton were shipped from there, but the place proved so unhealthy and the death rate so great that it was abandoned. The planters moved to their plan- tations and the merchants and lawyers to Columbus."

Plymouth, a postoffice of Pontotoc county, situated on Pontotoc creek, 7 miles southeast of Pontotoc, the county seat. It has a cotton gin.

Pocahontas, a village in the northern part of Hinds county. on the Illinois Central R. R., 12 miles northwest of Jackson. It has a money order postoffice. Population in 1900, 100.

Poindexter, George, was born in the county of Louisa, Va., in 1779. His ancestors were French Protestants, who left France for England to avoid the persecutions of Louis XIV, and emigrated soon afterward to Virginia. His parents were possessed of con- siderable wealth before the Revolution, but suffered great losses thereby, and when George Poindexter was left an orphan at an early age, he had only a small patrimony with which to procure an education. This gave out before he had carried as far as he wished

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his study of law at Richmond, and he was obliged to begin the practice at that city. A year or two later he came to the Missis- sippi territory, then under the governorship of Winthrop Sargent. At the age of twenty-three years he opened a law office at Natchez, and devoted himself industriously to the work of his profession, immediately attracting attention by his remarkable force of char- acter. Into the field of politics he also entered, with principles derived from the "Virginia school" of 1798-99, and an unwavering loyalty to Thomas Jefferson. When Claiborne became governor he appointed Poindexter attorney-general. In 1805 he was elected to the general assembly, and in January, 1807, delegate to congress, where he took his seat in December. He met Aaron Burr in Jan- uary, 1807, and arranged for his meeting with Mead. This epi- sode he fully appreciated. H. S. Foote, in his history of Texas and the Texans, mentions that Poindexter "on the occasion of the cap- ture at Cole's Creek, officiated as a sort of diplomatic agent be- tween Governor Mead and the great Conspirator, and was after- wards professionally connected with the trial in Washington. I have heard from the lips of Mr. Poindexter a full account of both affairs; than which nothing can be imagined more ludicrous."

Poindexter served in three Congresses as Territorial delegate.

In January, 1811, when Josiah Quincy of Massachusetts, debating the bill for the admission of Orleans territory as the State of Lou- isiana, said, "I am compelled to declare it as my deliberate opin- ion that if this bill passes, the bonds of this Union are virtually dissolved; that the States which compose it are free from their moral obligations; and that, as it will be the right of all, so it will be the duty of some, to prepare definitely for a separation- amicably if they can, violently if they must," he was called to order by Mr. Poindexter, delegate from Mississippi territory. Mr. Quincy reduced his words to writing. and Poindexter demanded that the speaker decide if such language could be permitted in debate. The speaker sustained the gentleman from Mississippi, but the House, by a vote of 56 to 53 refused to sustain the speaker. When Qunicy concluded, Poindexter replied, and in the course of his remarks said that Aaron Burr did not go the length that the gentleman from Massachusetts had gone. "Had such expressions been established by the evidence on his trial, I hazard an opinion that it would have produced a very different result. Perhaps, sir, instead of exile, he would have been consigned to a gibbet."

"He was the friend of the general course of measures adopted under the administrations of Jefferson and Madison, and frequently took a conspicuous part in debates in defence of their measures. His speech made in defence of President Madison for dismissing Francis James Jackson, minister from Great Britain, who super- seded Mr. Erskine, after Mr. Canning disavowed the act of the minister in suspending the Orders in Council, has been published and it attracted much attention at the time: this speech was con- sidered to be the best defence that was then made of that measure of Mr. Madison." As a delegate in 1812 he could not vote for war,

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but moved to insert in the journal of congress the approval of that policy and his constituents. He served one session thereafter, and then was appointed one of the Territorial judges, by President Madison.

After the British fleet arrived in Mississippi sound and troops were landed below New Orleans, Judge Poindexter went to that city, arriving December 29, 1814, and became one of the military family of Gen. Carroll, of Tennessee, performing duty day and night as a volunteer aide-de-camp, and witnessed two attempts by the British to break the American line. The last, the famous battle of January 8, 1815, was an assault delivered against the American earthworks, stretching across a neck of land between river and morass, and covered by the American gunboats. The American troops were in the trenches, and all took to cover when the British artillery fire opened in the morning. Poindexter appears to have been injured by a cannon ball that struck his quarters, and having no duty to perform, he rode out of the line of fire, but later re- turned and was in the works until attack ceased. Soon afterward it was published by Poindexter's political opponents, in Marschalk's paper, that in the moment of danger he rode back to New Or- leans. It was remarked in his defence that there was no collision of troops, no battle except of artillery, and "the poor creatures" who made up this story "might have been fully justified in certi- fying that they saw the regiment of cavalry, commanded by the gallant and intrepid Hinds, repair to the forests to be out of the range of the shot of the enemy." He was followed by the story all through his political career. Another incident of his New Or- leans experience is that he was the authority for the story that the British had a countersign, "Beauty or Booty," which many de- clared at the time, and probably with justice, to be an invention.

He remained upon the bench until October, 1817, and in this as in other positions gained the approval of a majority of the people. "As a judge he was able, prompt, impartial, unrivaled in talent, and, at the same time, unsurpassed by any lawyer in the State in legal learning." (Sparks.) He administered sternly and without favor to malefactors the punishments of the day, hanging, brand- ing, whipping and the pillory, though he considered these punish- ments barbarous and when governor, earnestly advocated the es- tablishment of a penitentiary.

The whole bar, with one exception, signed an address, when he left the bench, in which it was said: "You have introduced a sys- tem of practice into our courts, and preserved an order and decor- um in the despatch of business, the beneficial effects of which have been felt in all classes of society." In 1817 also, he was the lead- ing member of the constitutional convention, chairman of the com- mittee of Twenty-one, and the constitution "may, without injus- tice to others, be said to have been shaped almost entirely by the hand of Mr. Poindexter." The instrument is remarkable for sim- plicity, clearness, brevity, and proper scope, viz: the statement of fundamental principles and institutions, leaving details to leg-

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islation. In the same year Mr. Poindexter was elected by the peo- ple without opposition, as their first representative in congress with a vote as well as a voice. At the session of 1818-19 the ex- citing topic of discussion was the proposition to censure Gen. An- drew Jackson for his recent capture of the Spanish forts at St. Marks and Pensacola, and the execution of English traders. Poin- dexter warmly sustained his friend Jackson in a speech of great length, that was warmly applauded, and considered the authorita- tive defense of the general. Declining reelection to congress in 1819, he was elected governor of Mississippi over Gen. Hinds, by a large majority, though Hinds was the Mississippi hero of New Orleans, and his friends made the story of Poindexter's alleged flight from the field an important issue. While he was yet gover- nor, in February, 1821, he was intrusted by the legislature with the revision and amendment of the statutes of the State, which he had strongly urged should be done. His work includes a complete cod- ification of existing laws and the preparation of new ones,, the organization of the judiciary system, etc. He included and put through the legislature by sheer force of intellect, laws that he had determined upon, particularly the one creating a State school fund, called the "literary fund," in which he took more pride ap- parently, than any other. The legislature met in special session in June, 1822, to pass upon the code, and adopted it with some amendments. There was particular discussion of the propositions to make void runaway matches with girls under fourteen; to make the truth no justification of libel unless the publication was with good intent ; to punish a white man found in an assemblage of slaves with a fine of $20 or twenty lashes on the bare back, without a right of jury. The printing of the book of 745 pages was not completed by Francis Baker, at Natchez, until 1824. In this work Gov. Poindexter was assisted by his private secretary, William Burns, who was paid by the State after the governor's term expired. The governor himself was allowed $1,200, which was drawn by Burns, and the governor contended that he received no compensation. The legislature presented him with a copy of Rees' Encyclopedia, in recognition of his services. Of this code Gov. A. G. Brown said in 1847 that it was the best the State "has ever had, and equal to that of any State in the Union."

His term as governor had expired in January, 1822, and he sought and obtained election to the house of representatives that passed upon his code, that he might explain and defend it. But then misfortune laid its hand upon him. Before the session was well under way, he had news of the illness of his year-old son, who died before he could reach home. He announced himself for con- gress, but was bitterly opposed by David Dickson and others. The tavern law and libel law were argued against him; Rankin was credited with securing a postponement of payments for public land, and just before election the story was sprung that the new code prohibited slaves from attending divine worship. At the elec- tion in August he received only 2,633 votes to 4,837 for Rankin.

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September 10 his young wife, twenty-four years of age, passed away. For a time he gave no more attention to politics, but bus- ied himself with the practice of law. "While thus engaged," says his authorized biography, "he became afflicted with severe indis- position, occasioned by the unskillful administration of medicine by his family physician. He lost the use of his limbs, and for five or six years he was unable to attend to business, public or private." General Jackson recommended his appointment as United States judge to succeed Shields in 1823; he was tendered and declined appointment by the governor to the United States senate; while under medical treatment in Philadelphia was appointed chancellor in 1828, which he declined; in 1829, having returned to the State, he wrote the speaker of the house of representatives of Missis- sippi declining election to the United State senate, but received a large vote. In 1830 he left Mississippi, with little hope of recovery, but found unexpected relief while at Louisville, and the news of this in Mississippi caused the governor to tender him appointment as senator, upon the death of Robert H. Adams. After much hes- itation he accepted, and appeared in the senate chamber at Wash- ington in December, 1830, being carried to his seat in the arms of his servant. The legislature, meeting about this time, confirmed the governor's appointment by an almost unanimous election.

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Encyclopedia of Mississippi History Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions and Persons, Vol. II, Part 52

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