USA > Mississippi > Newton County > History of Newton County, Mississippi from 1834 to 1894 > Part 19
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30
DFE
20 0:0
ب .
.0
276
.
HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY.
them prove to be among the most efficient in the schools.
The great international movement to prepare uniform lessons to be studied by millions of Sunday-school children each Sabbath in the year, is a wonderful im- provement. These lessons are gotten up on certain por- tions of the Scriptures, and there are sufficient helps in the notes connected with the Quarterlies to explain the most difficult passages without infringing upon the peculiar doctrines of any denomination. These inter- national lessons apply to any school, but are more particularly applicable to schools where the children would be supposed to advocate different beliefs as to doctrine. Each denomination of Protestant Christians in the land may take the same lessons and may pre- pare notes on the subject to suit their peculiar tenets · in relation to religious doctrines. This is where schools are denominational. The international literature and certain other societies who send out these Sabbath- school helps, make no comment on doctrinal matters. The principal thing in all Sabbath-schools is to teach Godliness, and to get all young people interested in the understanding of the truth.
The Sabbath-school at no time should claim as a prerogative the right over the church, but should always consider itself as subsidiary and auxiliary to it; to teach and advise morality, to direct the children in the right way, to encourage early piety, to get them interested in the study of of the Bible and to investi- gate for themselves ; to urge upon them the necessity of prayer and the great importance of conversion ; to store the youthful mind with knowledge of God ; to warn against the great danger of sin and the necessity of a change of heart. The schools that have other ends in view and only use them as a pastime and social
:
٢٠
16
277
HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY.
Sabbath morning reunion of teachers and scholars are doing great injustice to those who attend them; the teacher who fails to impress upon the mind of his class the great cardinal principles of religion and the neces- sity of the observance of the commands of the Bible, and to love and fear God, and to shun evil, has failed of his mission.
The Sunday-schools in Newton county are well attended, having some of the best men and women en- gaged in the work. As a general thing it is well sup- ported, having plenty of literature and good and attentive teachers. Most of the schools in the county continue all the year. Quite an interesting feature of the Sabbath-schools of the county is the annual meeting of all the schools in the county at some given place during the summer in a "County Convention." There is the place where general information is given as to the work going on in the county and State. All the schools are expected to send delegates to this conven- . tion, showing their numbers and the state of prosper- ity which they are in; to give a general statistical statement and all the particulars of advancement and evidences of the good work in their schools. It is here that various subjects are discused; interesting and important papers are read ; speeches made on any topic connected with the progress of the schools. Here it is that many of the young people are invited to address the meeting, deliver committed composi- tion, or write and read what may be pertinent to the Sabbath School interest.
It is always expected that the orator of the day will deliver a general address for the good of schools, and any new ideas on the Sabbath School system, and other moral and religious subjects. Many impromptu suggestions are made by various friends who feel in-
278
HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY.
clined to talk. Many important conferences and discus- sions are held, in which all who wish are allowed to take part, in short speeches, thereby bringing out much that will interest and improve the school. One of the attractive features is the music, vocal and instrumen- tal, by various persons who have gone prepared to sing on this occasion. Aside from the interesting pro- gram is a sumptuous dinner spread on a common table, where all are welcome, and a general good feel- ing prevails. People from various parts of the coun- ty attend these conventions, and also of all denomi- nations, and go home with better impressions and gen- eral good feeling for the Sunday School.
It is probable that there was not an organized Sab- bath School in the county of Newton before the war. There may have been some little catechism and bible lessons taught, but no well defined Sabbath Schools. A great step forward in this direction has been made, and the county now has about thirty white schools. The number of teachers is put down at about 250. There are about 2000 white Sunday School scholars who go to the Sunday Schools in the county. Proba- bly one half of these will represent the Baptist denom- ination, and the other half the other other denomina- tions in the county. About 800 belong to the colored schools.
. Whenever a church can establish a school of its own children, it should be established, as then more free- dom is expressed in reference to doctrine and more attention given towards keeping it up. But when they cannot, which is frequently so in the country, a union school is always expedient and useful. . These schools should be encouraged by all denominations until all the young, and as many old people as possible, shall be brought into them.
1 :
::
0
:{公司
1
279
HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY.
The colored people love the Sunday Schools, and will travel miles to attend them. There is no doubt but they give more attention to them than their more fortunate white neighbors. The colored Baptists of Newton county have the county organized, and hold yearly county conventions. They report at last year's meeting, fourteen schools, from the counties of New- ton, Smith, Jasper, Scott and Neshoba; about 600 scholars, of which Newton has 300, and sixteen teachers. The Methodists have less ; they, however, make very good reports from the four churches, which are re- ported as follows : Sunday schools, 7; teachers, 54; scholars, 394.
1
CHAPTER XXIX.
LAW AND ORDER IN NEWTON COUNTY-THE WHITE CAPS-WHAT IS THOUGHT OF THEM.
NEWTON county, as a law-abiding, peaceable and orderly one, cannot be excelled in the State. With two-thirds white population and nine-tenths, if not .more, of the people engaged in agricultural pursuits, go very largely towards making it a county where the behavior of the people far excel most of its neigh- bors.
There being no spirituous liquors sold publically, and but very little clandestinely, is one of the most import- antitems towards good order and peace among the peo- ple, as it is seldom a difficulty occurs except some of the parties are under the influence of liquor. When it is taken into consideration that there are seventy- two churches in the county, about 5,000 church members, about forty five sabbath-schools, 3,800 persons who weekly attend them, and about eighty day schools where 4,574 children and youth go to school, then it may be seen where the morals emin- ate from, and the causes which produce them.
The people also, of Newton county, as a general thing, are a proud, high-minded people, with a dispo- sition to improve.
It is something worthy of observation that thous. ands of men go to the markets of the county, carry their products of all kinds made upon the farms in
to que des #02
١٠
...
281
HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY.
payment of their debts, and exchange them for goods and cash, and very seldom it is ever seen, a drunken man in town, or on the roads. Very little profane swearing, comparatively speaking, among the young men of the county, as where liquor is sold and used. by them. A gathering of even one or two thousand may take place, as is often the case, at pic-nics or schools, or Sabbath-school gatherings, or a Grange gathering, or Patron's Union, and not a drunken or disorderly man will be seen.
The women of the county mingle freely with these gatherings, without any fear of being disturbed or in- sulted. Good order and good humor prevail, and all have a pleasant time. This is all traceable to the ab- sence of liquor. The people are being so educated as to do without it. They do not need it and have no place for it. They know better now ; they know it to be a great enemy to them and their sons, and they will not receive it again.
There is no better place to judge of the sobriety and good order of any county, than in the business of the circuit court. When liquor was sold in all parts of the county, the criminal docket was always crowded. Disorder prevailed in all parts of the county, and much expense and litigation were always on hand, and many grave punishments inflicted by the officers of the law. At the last spring term of the circuit court in Newton county, in a population of over sixteen thousand, only four true bills were found by the grand jury, and those of a trivial nature.
The whites and negroes agree remarkably well. It is rarely the case that there is a difficulty between them. There is no disposition on the part of the negro for social equality. He knows his place, and he conducts himself well, and the white people respect
1
M
282
HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY.
him. The white people largely educate the negroes, assist them to build all their churches, and when they are unfortunate and have their houses burned, or otherwise in ill-luck, their white neighbors assist them and treat them kindly.
The negro is not cheated out of his wages in New- ton county. He is given a fair price for his work and is expected to give reasonable labor in return and then he is settled with. If he have a farm of his own, his white neighbors will treat him kindly if he behave himself and use only his own things. In this way the white and colored people get on well and there is very little trouble with the colored man appropriating any- thing to his own use that does not belong to him.
Many parts of the State have heretofore been troubled with a class known as "white caps," and this county has not been altogether an exception. But at present there appears to be but little or none of it left in the county. Some very good people may, in an evil moment, have been drawn into participating with this lawless order and some others might have wished it success, but it is not so now. People all over the country find that such lawless proceedings are wrong and will not be tolerated by law or accepted by good citizens. The result is the order of "white caps" ap- pears to be in the things of the past, with a hope that it will not be revived again. With a few exceptions, as before stated, the "white cap" order has had but little recognition in Newton county. No arrests were ever made and but little trouble was experienced in the county in reference to it. The general behavior of the people of the county will compare well with the best in the State. No man need have any fears of going anywhere in this county on any business he may have, and the officers can execute any warrant they.
1 71
DET 1TC
1
283
HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY.
may have at any time without fear of being molested.
There is very little disposition to try to engage illicitly in the sale or manufacture of liquors. Very few stills have ever been found in the county. There appears to be a feeling against it, and the temperance . cause has so many friends that there is little proba- bility of any violations of law becoming flagrant.
CHAPTER XXX.
LANDS OF NEWTON COUNTY-LANDS IN CULTIVATION AND THEIR VALUE -NUMBER OF ACRES ORIGINALLY IN THE COUNTY-NUMBER OF ACRES OF PUBLIC LAND NOW SUBJECT TO ENTRY IN THE COUNTY- TREES, GRASSES, ETC .- LARGE CREEKS AND STREAMS -VARIOUS PRODUCTIONS-FRUITS, BERRIES, ETC.
THE importance of any county is always, if an agri- cultural county, as to the value of its lands, their durability and freedom from overflow, the amount of natural drainage and not of too rolling and broken a surface. Newton county, at no time making preten- tions of being one of the rich counties, yet it has some very fine lands, has many natural advantages with tim- ber and water, climate, and a diversity of soil, with never failing seasons, and one of the healthiest por- tions of the State. With all these combined, and the intelligent, sober and industrious population, would make it one of the most desirable counties in the State. With excellent facilities for marketing the crop, hav- ing 26 miles of railroad, with towns situated near the central part of the county that are considered among the best in the State as cotton markets and where goods from large stores are sold at as cheap prices as any towns in the State at retail.
According to the census of 1890 Newton county had 90,868 acres of improved land, and the 'assessment as given to the assessor of the county in the year 1890,
91
285
HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY.
averaged $6.11 per acre, which would make $555,203.48 as the value of the improved lands in the county. The number of acres of land originally in the connty was 368,640 ; of this amount only 6,080 acres was left un- entered and as public land of the county; this was, as per report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893. The grant to the railroad was 34,240 acres, leaving the balance entered by the citizens of Newton county and some others outside of this State. Newton county has much of what would be termed oak and hickory ridge . land. This land usually lies on branches and small creeks, and sometimes occupies high, broken and hilly country, with some table and valley land and some bottom land. Most of the timber on these ridge lands is undergrowth and some younger trees, though of con- siderable size.
When the county was settled in 1833, this land was covered with grass and large trees scattered thinly over the surface. Most of this original grass now gone. After the land was trodden down by the hoofs of the cattle and horses introduced, after the settlement and a general traveling over the county, these original grasses gave way, as the Texas grasses do after the sod is broken. After many years of burning and feeding of stock on the grass there came up an undergrowth. On these ridges grew very large oaks, hickory, chest- nut, black gum, short-leaf pine, and a few others. Now all this land that is uncleared is covered with thick undergrowth of most of the growths named above. There is quite an amount of long-leaf pine timber in many parts of the county, some of it very large, mak- ing the best of lumber. Quite an amount of this fine timber has been used up by the steam mills, and yet there are large areas on which good milling timber is . left.
How Jada to deum
021 1990
286
HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY.
The creeks originally had much swamp timber, such as white oak, beech, water oak, sweet gum, black gum, ash, elm, some walnut, hickory, magnolia and some others, and occasionally a large short-straw pine. There was no undergrowth in the swamps ex- cept cane, and that was in great abundance; this has given way and a small undergrowth, mostly of the same character of the large trees, has come up and forms valuable timber. In many places a multitude of vines of various kinds have come up in the places where cane grew, and in this event the swamps are very thick.
Some parts of the county have fine bodies of prairie land, an undergrowth on the timbered portion of these lands and makes them very difficult to clear and put in- to a state of cultivation. The shell prairies, heretofore bare of timber, are now producing haw, crab-apple, and some other growths, which cause them to be harder to clear. The sloughs which were too wet to produce timber, have filled up and are producing some of the best young oak, ash and hickory ; of the latter is made the hoop-pole, spokes, etc .; the timbers that grow · in these rich prairie sloughs are of the best the county affords. There is now very little open land ; except where the lands are cleared very heavy undergrowth hides all the view, and prevents much fine grass from growing where it once grew.
As soon as a sandy land field is abandoned it comes up in a growth of short-leaf pine, whether they origi- nally grew there or not. When a long leaf forest is denuded of its growth of large pines, used for mill purposes, a growth of oak and hickory springs up im- mediately. The long-leaf pine forest is never repro- duced. Timber, except in the long-leaf district, is far more plentiful than when the county was settled.
I triedor
Siod Rodill
287
HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY.
This county has some very fine grasses that grow well without cultivation. The Bermuda, which is not a native, but was introduced a little over fifty years ago, grows well, produces good hay, is a fine grazing grass, but wants good soil, and is hard to get rid of if a person should wish to cultivate the ground it grows on. The carpet grass, as it is called, is a native of our country ; grows well on bottom land, and also on medium upland. It is excellent for stock-quite as much so as Bermuda-will come as early, grow as late, and when the farmer wishes to change it is very easily gotten rid of. This grass, being indigenous, comes up on land after it gets a little worn ; is excellent to pre- vent land from washing and to cover any embank- ment, and in all respects is more valuable than Ber- muda. The Lespidesa, or Japanese Clover, grows in most parts of the county. This is a very small leaf clover, having very little root. It takes hold almost anywhere without cultivation, and forms very good grazing for stock. When it is on good land and not grazed too closely, it makes good hay. To make it a success as a hay crop, the land should be well pre- pared, the seed distributed as evenly as possible and pastured but little. It will then come to perfection in short time, and can be cut with mower. It cures very quickly in the sun, and makes a good and wholesome food for stock. This clover was supposed to have been brought from South Carolina during the war by the cavalry horses. It was brought to Charleston, S. C., probably seventy five years ago. It is not a hardy plant ; will stand very little cold ; easily killed in the spring, and easily checked by drought. It is Hot a safe grass to depend on for general grazing pur- poses.
The Crab grass is in all the fields after cultivation.
288
HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY.
The farmers rather it would not flourish as well as it does. It makes a fine summer grazing for all kinds of stock, including hogs. It makes a good hay if mowed in time and baled. It grows with great rapidity, and when well set and rooted in a field is difficult to get rid of. There is a water grass, which grows on all'low, swampy land, which is excellent for grazing when tender, and makes good hay if cut at the right time and cured properly. The old time sedge grass is uni- versal in our county ; grows to some extent on wood- land, but not to any perfection. It is in its best state to allow it to come up on land lying out and but re- cently cultivated. It is fine summer pasture and good milk producer. It is seldom used for hay.
There are a great number of noxious weeds indige- nous to our soil, that come up in all soils when the ground is manured. These are the Jamestown, the night shade, the ground cherry, the Polk, prickly and smooth carless, and many others that are smaller. The Johnson grass is something new in our county. It was discovered probably in Alabama. It is doubtless a species of the sorghum; is a very heavy, rough grass ; makes fine hay if mowed young. It comes early and grows very rapidly. If allowed to spread on land, it will take complete possession-nothing can be cultivated with it. It has very heavy roots that have joints something like the cane. It is not so hard to get rid of as was once supposed. If it is not plowed up and cultivated to some extent, it will die out in a few years. It appears to need cultivation. The hay is not so valuable a feed as the Bermuda grass.
The cocoa, or nut grass, is much to be feared, as it is considered one of the worst enemies to all kinds of crops when it is once well set. It is in many parts of the State west of us. It is in some gardens in Newton
-
٢٨٤٠.
How Dedw
专员:
5in
289
HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY.
county. It is probably brought in the roots of fruit trees or clinging to strawberry plants. The root is a small black nut having bitter taste and pungent smell. The top resembles very much the chufa. It is to be dreaded as a plague. Every tree, plant or flower bulb sent to us, should be well examined before putting them out. When once well set with cocoa, or nut grass, requires the family to remove from the place to get rid of it.
CREEKS AND STREAMS OF THE COUNTY.
Newton county has no very large streams, nothing more than what would be called creeks, except Chunkey, a small river rising in the northern part of the county, near the town of Union, and running southeast and forming a junction with Ocotibbaha, in Clarke county, just above Enterprise, forming the Chickasahay river. Chunkey is the largest stream in the county and has some fine lands and. timber of the quality of swamp growth heretofore mentioned. Tallahatta, another stream in the eastern part of the county ; Talasha is also in the eastern part of the county ; Pottoxchitto, Tallahala, Cedar Creek and Warrior, in the south and western part ; Tuscala- meta, a large creek in the western part, running north to Pearl river .. Tarlow, Bogue Philemma in the south- ern part; Turkey creek in the central part; Conne- hatta and Sipsey in the northeastern part. Many of these streams have fine timber of the swamp variety. The lands of most of them are of strong character, but often overflow and much ditching is required. Many of these streams require long bridges which are built at the expense of the county.
PRODUCTIONS OF THE COUNTY.
Newton county produces corn, cotton, oats, wheat, 19
2.4
290
HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY.
.
-
rye, tobacco, rice, sweet and Irish potatoes, goobers, cow peas, scrghum cane, large Louisiana cane; all these products may be grown abundantly and profit- ably with proper care and cultivation. Fruits grow well in this county. Peaches, when well cared for, come to great perfection ; grapes and apples of cer- tain varieties grow well; plums of almost all kinds do well here ; pears sometimes do well, but as a gen- · eral thing do not thrive ; most of the trees now being grown, blight and die early. The latitude in which we are situated invites late frosts, after most of our peach and some other fruit trees have bloomed, and in the months of March and April they are often killed. If the peach orchards bear one good crop in three years, the owners are fortunate. All kinds of small berries do well in this county.
The strawberry, with proper care and cultivation, is a success. Raspberries come to great perfection. The wild and cultivated blackberry do well here. The large cherries do not succeed well. This county is well adapted to the growth of all kinds of vegeta- bles ; properly planted, and fertilized, they come to great perfection. Along this line of railroad vegeta- bles and fruits might be grown for market with hreat profit to the producer if it could be disposed of prop- erly in markets needing our products.
Newton county has received very large shipments of fruit trees almost every year for the last twenty. Thousands of dollars have been spent in this way. Something strange that there is no better results in the raising of better fruits, and more of them. Much depends upon the care taken of fruit trees, the careful cul ivation and intelligent fertilizing. Sometimes a man buying a lot of trees tries to do too much for them, and may over-fertilize them, or he may not put
... .
10
291
HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY.
the proper kind around them. He may allow a deadly enemy, the worms, to destroy them. He may allow all kinds of stock to run at large in his orchard, and they destroy his trees. He may plant all kinds of grain crops in his orchard, which is very destructive to his fruit trees. He may be ignorant of the way to trim and cultivate. Sometimes trees are cultivated too close and deep; all these things should be care- fully studied and enquiries made of the best authori- ties on those subjects.
It requires careful study and intelligent labor to suc- ceed in making good fruit. Much depends upon the kind of soil in which trees are set. the drainage they get and the kind of trees selected. Buyers may be the victims of some unscrupulous dealer, who does not care as to the kind of trees sold.
If a farmer and fruit grower would succeed, he should be sure in the first place to get good selections, suitable to his section, and from a place as congenial with his own as possible. He should study well the kind of soil adapted to such fruit. He should then enrich his trees with just such material as they need. Work them properly and never plant a crop on the orchard ground, that "would be detrimental to their life and growth. A grain crop upon the orchard should always be avoided; plant cotton and sow cow pea among the trees, and do not cultivate too close. Do not have the orchard too large. Have it small enough that every tree can bave attention in turn, so that the worms will do no harm.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.