Encyclopedia of Mississippi History Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions and Persons, Vol. II, Part 68

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 68

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lands claimed by the Chickasaw nation; and the same shall be and continue forever a highway for the citizens of the United States and the Choctaws.

In November, 1801, Gen. Wilkinson asked the Assembly, through Gov. Claiborne, to immediately appoint commissioners to mark a route for a permanent highway from Grindstone Fork by way of Fort Adams to the line of demarcation, whereupon he would build the road, as it was needed "for free communication to the sea for succor, or retreat in case of exigency."

The road from the national boundary to Natchez was laid out in 1802. The governor's journal shows that Hugh Davis and John Collins were two of the commissioners and James Patton a marker. South of Natchez, this road ran close to the river to a station called Tomlinson's, 16 miles distant, thence via Homochitto Ferry, 4 miles, Buffalo bridge 10 miles, Fort Adams 16 miles and Pinckney- ville 11 miles.

April 21, 1806, Congress appropriated the sum of $6,000 for the purpose of opening the road through the Indian country in con- formity to the above treaties.

In 1815, a committee of Congress, appointed to enquire into the expediency of repairing and keeping in repair, the road from Nat- chez to Nashville, reported in favor of an appropriation for that purpose, stating that the subject was then unusually interesting "from the efforts of the enemy to seize upon the emporium of an immense country, as well as other positions in the same quarter, of less, though great importance to the United States. So long as the war continues, New Orleans and other adjacent parts will be liable to invasion, and will, of course, require no inconsiderable force for their defense. During such a state of things, it is highly desirable, indeed necessary, that good roads should facilitate the transmission of intelligence, as well as the march of troops and transportation of supplies, when a passage by water may be too tardy, or wholly impracticable." An appropriation bill was passed in accordance with the recommendations of the committee.

The Natchez Trace crossed the Tennessee river a few miles be- low the Mussel Shoals, at "Colbert's Ferry," and thence pursued a southwesterly course through the country of the Chickasaw's and Choctaw's, to the "Grindstone Ford," on the Bayou Pierre ; thence ran south and west to Natchez; South of Natchez, we have already seen that it followed the general trend of the river to the line of demarcation ; it eventually connected with the various roads lead- ing to New Orleans.

At Nashville, Tenn., this old road connected with the public highway, which ran east to Pittsburg, Penn., via Lexington, Chil- licothe and Zanesville. Under the treaties, the Indians expressly reserved the right to establish public houses of entertainment along this route, as well as the control of the numerous ferries. The stations which sprang up along the road between Natchez and Nashville. and the distances (miles) separating each station from the other, were as follows: Washington, 6; Selsertown, 5;

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Union Town, 8; Huntley (later Old Greenville), 8; Port Gibson, 25; Grindstone Ford, 8; McRavens, Indian line, 18; Brashear's, 40; Norton's, 12; Chotas, 30; Leffloes, 34; Folsom's, Pigeon Roost, 30; Choctaw Line, 43; Indian Agents, 10; James Colbert's, 10; Old Factor's, 26; James Brown's, 17; Bear Creek, 33; Levi Col- bert's, Buzzard Roost, 5; Geo. Colbert's, Tenn. River, 7; Tos- comby's, 16; Factor's Sons, 16; Indian Line, 20; Dobbin's, 5; Stanfield's, Keg Spring, 10; Duck River, 8; Smith's, 8; Boon's, 16; Franklin, 8; McDonald's, 6; Nashville, 12. The total distance to Nashville was 501 miles, and the distance to Pittsburg was 1,013 miles.

Undoubtedly, the road through the Indian country in Missis- sippi was once the old Indian trail leading southwest to the Mis- sissippi river. Down it passed a steady stream of travelers, often men of wealth, journeying to the South in search of land and other profitable investments; up it passed traders, supercargoes and boatmen, from New Orleans, who would make the long return journey overland to their homes 1,000 miles away. They traveled a-foot and on horseback, in small companies for mutual protec- tion, and frequently carried with them rich treasures of specie- the proceeds of their cargoes-packed on mules and horses. Many stories are told of the Mason and the Murel gangs of bandits, who infested this lonesome trail for years.

Natchez to Fort Stoddert. There were three important roads, or horse-paths, which traversed the vast expanse of the Mississippi Territory, during the first few years after its organization. First, the road from the Cumberland settlements through the Chickasaw and Choctaw nations to the Natchez District, and known as the Natchez Trace, (Vide ut Supra) ; second, the road from Knox- ville through the Cherokee and Creek nations, by way of the Tom- bigbee, to Natchez ; third, the road from the Oconee settlements of Georgia, by way of Fort Stoddert, to Natchez and New Orleans. While the first of these roads was the most frequented, the third is important because it first bridged the eastern and western parts of the Territory. In the summer of 1807, "agreeably to an act of the legislature, approved February 4th, 1807, Harry Toulmin, James Caller, and Lemuel Henry had completed the duty assigned them as 'commisioners to view, mark, and open a good road on the nearest route from the city of Natchez to Fort Stoddert so as to interesect the new Creek road (the second road above men- tioned) on the line of demarkation east of Pearl river.' This was the first road from Natchez to St. Stephen's. . On the 7th of December following, public notice was given that 'the ferry is now complete over the Alabama river, above Little river, and on the Tombigbee, just above Fort St. Stephen. The way is now completely opened and marked with causeways across all boggy guts and branches, so that strangers can travel the road with safety, by observing the three notches, or three-chopped way, which cuts off a great distance in traveling from Natchez to Georgia.' This was the first road opened from the western to the

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eastern part of the Territory." (Monette, II, p., 380.) It ran east from Natchez by way of the following stations: Washington, 6 miles; Hoggat's, 12 miles; Head of Homochitto river, 40 miles; Bogue Chitto, 58 miles; Monticello, 90 miles; Winchester on the Chickasawhay river, 195 miles; Eastern branch of Pascagoula, 206 miles ; Sintabogue river ; Fort St. Stephens, 239 miles; Fort Clai- borne, 264 miles ; Hurricane Spring, 307 miles; Fort Decatur, 363 miles; Point Comfort, 374 miles; Chattahoochee river, 405 miles. The total distance to Milledgeville, on the Oconee river was 545 miles.

Natchez to New Orleans. Early in the 19th century two pub- lic roads were opened up, which ran south from Natchez to New Orleans. One ran by way of Madisonville, La., to the head of Lake Ponchartrain and thence across the lake by water to New Orleans, a total distance of 156 miles; the other followed the river south by way of Baton Rouge and the levee. Marschalk's Al- manac for 1819 gives the stations on the Madisonville road, to- gether with the distance of each from Natchez as follows: St. Catharine Creek 4 miles; Second creek 14 miles; Homochitto river 20 miles; the 31st degree N. Latitude 55 miles; crossing at Amite river 59 miles ; Spillers 73 miles; Court house, St. Helena bridge over the Tickfoha river 88 miles; Springfield on Notalbany creek 98 miles; Ponchatoola creek 103 miles; Tangipao river 112 miles ; Madisonville 127 miles; Mouth of Chifuncte 130 miles; over Lake Ponchartrain, to Ft. St. John, mouth of Bayou St. John 150 miles ; St. John's Suburb (Fauxburg) 154 miles ; New Orleans 156 miles. The stations and distances on the Baton Rouge and Levee road were as follows: St. Catharine creek 3 miles; White Apple Village 12 miles; Homochitto river 18 miles; Ferry over Buffalo river 29 miles; Woodville 37 miles; Sligo 46 miles; Bayou Sara creek 53 miles; St. Francisville in New Feliciana, La., 68 miles ; Buller's Plains 79 miles; Baton Rouge 95 miles; New Or- leans 219 miles.

Gaines' Trace. This old road ran from "Colbert's Ferry," a few miles below the Mussel Shoals on the Tennessee river, to St. Stephens on the lower Tombigbee. The Federal Government had established a large trading house at St. Stephens, to encourage trade with the Choctaws and other Indians, and as an offset to the Spanish and French trading posts at Mobile and Pensacola, which maintained close trade relations and intercourse with the Choc- taws and Creeks. George Strother Gaines, brother of Gen. E. P. Gaines, held the posts of U. S. assistant factor and factor at St. Stephens, from 1805-1825. It appears that he experienced con- stant trouble with the revenue authorities at Mobile, who exacted duties and delayed his vessels, so that the Federal authorities re- solved to send supplies down the Ohio and up the Tennessee river to Colbert's Ferry. Major Gaines, in his Reminiscences of Early Times in the Mississippi Territory, written for the Mobile Regis- ter, says: "In October, 1810, I received instructions from the Sec- retary of War to proceed to the Chickasaw Nation and endeavor

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to obtain permission of the Indians to open a wagon road from Col- bert's Ferry to Cotton Gin Port, on the Tombigbee, and make ar- rangements to transport the goods thence to St. Stephens. I set out immediately, in obedience to my instructions, had an interview with the leading chiefs of the Chickasaws, who objected to opening the wagon road, but promised me facilities and safety for the trans- portation of goods for the Choctaw trading house, on pack-horses, at a very moderate expense. Lieut. Gaines, by order of the War Department, had six or seven years before this time, surveyed and marked out the road I was instructed to open." After pur- chasing his supplies, Mr. Gaines says: "I then returned on horse- back to Colbert's Ferry, on the Tenn., made arrangements for re- ceiving and 'packing' the goods to Maj. Pitchlyn, at the mouth of the Octibbeha, below Cotton Gin Port. I proceeded to Major Pitchlyn's and with his aid, arranged for transporting the goods down the Tombigbee to St. Stephens."

The trace is thus referred to in the treaty of Chickasaw Council- House, Sep't. 20, 1816: The Chickasaws relinquish their claim and title to the lands "east of a line commencing at the mouth of Caney creek, running up said creek to its source, thence a due south course to the ridge path, or commonly called Gaines' road, along said road southwestwardly to a point on the Tombigbee river, well known by the name of Cotton Gin Port, and down the west bank of the Tombigbee to the Choctaw boundary." The Hunts- ville survey, a short time after, adopted the western boundary of the above Chickasaw cession, and the road can be readily identified today.

George J. Leftwich, in writing of this old road, says: "It will be observed that this trace road leaves the Tombigbee river on an elevated plateau and follows the 'divide' through to the Tennessee, thus avoiding water courses. From Cotton Gin Port this road ran nearly due west about ten miles to a kind of tavern kept by Major Levi Colbert, a Chickasaw chief. There the road forked, one branch leading northeast (northwest?) to Pontotoc, whence it intercepted the Natchez Trace running to Natchez and New Or- leans. The other branch turned southeast through the prairie, running not far from Muldon and West Point to Waverly, in Clay county. There is a strong probability that DeSoto in 1540 fol- lowed this same path through the prairie. Gaines' Trace is still a public road and we are told that Col. J. B. Prewett, of Monroe county, traveled over it in 1824, with his father."

Old Military Road. In accordance with an act of Congress passed April 27th, 1816, a thoroughfare known as 'Jackson's Mil- itary Road was built through Mississippi. It extended from Madi- sonville, Louisiana to a point twenty-one miles north of the Mus- sel Shoals. The work, which was done under the direction of the War Department occupied a period of over two years, June 1817, to Tanuary, 1820." (Riley's History of Mississippi.)

Special Acts. By act of the General Assembly, December 5, 1809, "John Hanes, Benjamin S. Smoot and James Caller be, and

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they are hereby appointed commissioners to employ a fit person to open a road from Pearl river, where the present Choctaw boun- dary line across the same, the nearest and best way to the Chic- asawhay river, so as to intersect the same at, or near the lower end of the Higawana Reserve, and they are hereby empowered to con- tract with said person, for the payment of such sum as may appear reasonable, for the performance of said work, to be paid out of the Territorial treasury, after the fulfillment of said contract: Pro- vided, nevertheless, That the sum to be expended for making and opening said road, shall not exceed three hundred dollars."

By act of Dec. 18, 1811, sec. 31, "The old road leading by or near St. Albans to the Walnut Hills, as laid out by the Spanish govern- ment, be and the same is hereby declared a public road, and shall be used and worked upon accordingly, until altered by order of court, or as hereinafter directed."

By act of Dec. 12, 1812, sec. 1, the following rates and tolls for ferriages across the river Homochitto, where any public road may cross the same were established: "For every wheel carriage twelve and one-half cents per wheel; for every man and horse, twelve and one-half cents; for every foot passenger, six and one- quarter cents; for each and every head of horses or horned cattle, more than one, four cents, if but one, six and one-quarter cents; and for each and every head of hogs, sheep, etc. the sum of two cents.

By act of January 6, 1814, Harry Toulmin, Burrel Pitman, Eu- gena Chastang, James Taylor. Lewis Blackman, William Patton, George Evans, and William Powe shall be, and they are hereby appointed commissioners to lay out and establish a road from the town of Mobile to M'Cray's ferry on the Buckatanny."

In November. 1816, Micajah Davis, Daniel M'Gahay, Daniel Williams, Jr., Nathan Swazey and Janathan Thompson were ap- pointed commissioners to lay out, open, and keep in repair, a road thirty feet wide, from the city of Natchez to the Louisiana line, following the general direction of a line from Natchez to the river Amite, just below the mouth of Beaver creek.

Huntsville Road. In 1823 a road was marked from Huntsville, Ala., by way of Columbus to Doak's stand, on the Robinson road. As this terminus of the new road was thirty-five miles from Jack- son, and the nearest point on the Robinson road was the Choctaw agency house, ten miles north of the capital, Governor Leake sought to have the Columbus road changed, but it remained for some years the only line of communication between the capital and the populous and prosperous Tombigbee country in northeast Mississippi.

Roadside, a postoffice of Yazoo county, 8 miles southeast of Yazoo City.

Robbs. a post-hamlet of Pontotoc county, about 15 miles south- west of Pontotoc, the county seat. Population in 1900, 20. It has a church, a good school, and 3 stores.

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Roberts, Robert W., was a native of Delaware who migrated to Mississippi when about twenty-one years old, bringing the slaves inherited from his father. He was a circuit judge before he re- moved to northern Mississippi and located at Hillsboro. He rep- resented Scott county in the legislature, 1838-44, and was speaker of the house, in 1842 and 1844. He was elected to congress in 1843 and reelected in 1845. Nobody was his equal as a parliamentarian, during his day in Mississippi. "As a man of honor, a patriot, a good citizen, a true and conscientious and skillful party leader, we have never had his superior," says J. F. H. Claiborne, History, p. 451.

Robinson Springs, a post-hamlet in the southern part of Madison county, situated on Limekiln creek, about 15 miles southwest of Canton, the county seat. Population in 1900, 25.

Robinsonville, a village in the northern part of Tunica county, on the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley R. R., 10 miles by rail north of Tunica, the county seat and nearest banking town. It has a money order postoffice. Population in 1900, 300.

Roche a Davion. In July 1699, Fathers Davion and Martigny and 18 men arrived at Fort Maurepas in two canoes. Says Claiborne "Father Davion had originally settled at Natchez for a year, but making no converts he went to the Tunicas, and erected a cross on the highest bluffs, where he said mass every morning. It was called Roche a Davion until 1764, when it became known as Loftus Heights, and afterwards and ever since as Fort Adams."

Rockport, a post-hamlet in the southeastern part of Copiah coun- ty, on the Pearl river, about 16 miles southeast of Hazlehurst, the county seat. Population in 1900, 52.

Rockwall, a hamlet of Union county, 12 miles east of New Albany, the county seat, and nearest railroad and banking town. It has rural free delivery from Bethany, Lee county.

Rocky Point, once extinct, but later rebuilt, is a post-town in Attala county, about 14 miles northwest of Kosciusko. Armstrong and Black erected a tanyard here in 1842 and started the place. It is related that at that time "twenty-one head of cattle were ex- empt from taxation, hence the farmers always had a number of beeves to butcher. The hides were tanned on shares or exchanged for leather. Very many of the farmers knew as well how to make a shoe as to run a plow. They had a last for each member of the family. These lasts were known as 'Mary's,' 'John's,' 'Mar- tha's,' etc. The tanyard was sold in 1843 to Benj. F. Rowe, who built a residence and store. The store was afterwards run by a Jew of the name of Marks, then by Bartain Evens, and was finally sold to Williamson McAdory in 1847. The village was the muster ground for the county for a number of years. It has an excellent school. (See Riley's Extinct Towns and Villages).

Rocky Springs, a post-hamlet of Claiborne county, 25 miles south by east of Vicksburg, and about 14 miles northeast of Port Gibson, the county seat. Utica station, 12 miles east, is the nearest banking

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town. It has two churches, and a money order postoffice. Popu- lation in 1900, 58.

Rodney. The old town of Rodney is situated in the extreme northwestern part of Jefferson county, about one and one-half miles from the Mississippi river. The town was first settled and laid out about the year 1826, and was incorporated by act of the Legislature in 1828. Subsequent acts, relating to its charter were passed in 1829, 1841, 1844 and 1848. It was named in honor of Judge Thomas Rodney, one of the most popular of the Territorial judges. The locality was known as far back as 1765, as "Little Gulf" and later as "Petit Gulf." The region about the town is known as "Petit Gulf Hills," and the cotton raised in the neigh- borhood, technically called "Petit Gulf Cotton," in former years, commanded the best price for lint and seed in the cotton market.

Among the earliest settlers in Petit Gulf were Pierce Nolan, Dr. Nutt, Dr. Eli Harden, John Tullis, Andrew Montgomery, and the Harrison, Griffin and Gibson families. Its earliest merchants were John Ducker, Levi Harris, John Watt, J. G. James, followed at a later period by the Warners, Kirkers, Yoes, Drakes, Evans, Broughtons and Becks. Until the year 1864, the current of the Mississippi river ran in front of the town, and it was an important shipping point. Since the above year, a bar has formed near the town, cutting it off from the river by a distance of a mile and a half.

The town has suffered two disastrous fires, almost entirely con- suming it, one in 1852 and one in 1869. Said an eye-witness of the latter conflagration, aboard the steamer Richmond, which was passing down the river, "The whole village was wrapped in a mantle of flame, and as at two o'clock in the morning, our boat glided swiftly down along the other shore, the scene was grand beyond description ; lit up as it was by the lurid lights from burn- ing buildings, mingled with the moon's pale beams."

The county fairs held at Rodney during the falls of 1858, 1859 and 1860, were highly successful events. Says Mr. J. A. Limerick, a citizen of Rodney: "No finer display of blooded stock was ever presented at any fair, in this State, than that shown at the Rodney fair; and no finer premiums were ever offered in this State; they being solid silver cups, vases, etc. A number of Mississippi raised horses taking premiums over blue ribbon horses that had been brought from other States and from other fairs. The visitors at these fairs were largely from New Orleans, Vicksburg, Natchez, Port Gibson, and neighboring Louisiana Parishes."

An exciting incident took place at Rodney during the summer of 1863. The U. S. S. Rattler was then lying off Rodney. Sept. 12, being Sunday, Acting Master E. A. Fentriss, Acting Ensign S. Strunk and about twenty seamen from the vessel went ashore to attend divine services at the Rodney Presbyterian Church. During the services, the church was surrounded by a small band of Confed- erates, under the command of Lieut. Allen, a Confederate scout. After a struggle in which many shots were fired in and around the

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church, the Federals surrendered. Fortunately, despite the crowded condition of the church, only one seaman was slightly wounded in the mêlee. Speaking of this incident, Mr. Limerick says: "Before the congregation had time to disperse the steamer Rattler began shelling the town, one shell striking the Presbyterian church. After the Confederates had retired to a place of safety with their prisoners, the Federals came ashore and made an attempt to burn the town. The citizens notified Lieut. Allen of the fact and he sent word to the Federal commander, that if any house or property was destroyed, he would hang every prisoner in his charge. This message had the proper effect and upon receipt of the same they returned to their boat and in a short time left for Natchez, to make a report to the commander of the Naval Fleet of this District."

The old Presbyterian institution of learning, known as Oakland College, was established near Rodney in 1832, and prospered greatly down to the time of the War between the States. Its first president was Rev. Jeremiah Chamberlain, and its first graduate was Judge James M. Smyly, who received his A. B. degree in 1833, and is believed to be the first native of Mississippi to receive a degree in his own State. Oakland College was sold by the Synod to the State in 1871, for the establishment of a school for the higher education of negroes, known as Alcorn University, now changed to Alcorn Agricultural and Mechanical College.

Oakland College during its long career, exercised a highly refin- ing influence on the rural neighborhood, and Rodney was the seat of an unusually high degree of culture.

Rodney, Thomas, Territorial judge, was born in Sussex county, Del., June 4, 1744. He was a brother of Cæsar Rodney, of Dela- ware, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, member of the Continental congress and general of Delaware militia. They were descended from William Rodney, native of England, who was a member of Penn's council. Thomas was a lawyer and politician from early manhood. He served as justice of the peace in 1770, was a member of the assembly to elect delegates to the first Con- tinental congress in 1774, member of the council of safety in 1775, colonel of militia during the War of the Revolution. In 1778 he was chief justice of the Kent county court, in 1779 register of bills, in 1781-83 and 1785-87 member of the Congress of the Confedera- tion. In 1787 he was speaker of the Delaware assembly. July 12, 1803, he and Robert Williams were appointed land commissioners for the territory west of Pearl river, and at the same time he was appointed Territorial judge to succeed Seth Lewis. This office he held until his death at his plantation home in Jefferson county, January 2, 1811. When Rodney was about to make a visit to Rich- mond in August, 1807, having concluded the land commission work, he was given a banquet at the home of Abram de France, at which, after he had retired, the toast was offered : "Col. Thomas Rodney, a hero of '76." His name is commemorated by the town of Rodney, and Rodney landing on the Mississippi river. Notable

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events in his career were his investigation of the Kemper raiders, the hearing of Aaron Burr, and his conflict of authority with his former associate on the commission, Governor Williams. Judge Rodney's son, Caesar Augustus Rodney, born in Delaware, 1772, was attorney-general of the United States under Jefferson, prose- cuted the impeachment of Judge Chase and the indictment of Aaron Burr, visited the South American republics for Madison, was repre- sentative and senator in congress, and died when minister to Buenos Ayres.

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Encyclopedia of Mississippi History Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions and Persons, Vol. II, Part 68

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