USA > Mississippi > Newton County > History of Newton County, Mississippi from 1834 to 1894 > Part 3
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HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY.
said he had no Indian name, which is very uncommon. He is a fine looking man, younger than Ne-nac-intu- Cubby, though not so intelligent. He came from one of the adjoining counties. The speaker was born in Newton county. Baker wore good clothes, which fit him well, wore a watch, one of those "gold watches" "warranted" and cost about five dollars. He took it out of his pocket to learn the hour, then he put it to his ear to learn if it were still alive. He wore a nice cravat and Derby hat.
Old Jack was the third preacher; he appeared to be about 60 years old. Jack has a young wife. He looks sad and dejected ; has a poor voice and looks to have very poor health. Jack has seen the Choctaw Indian in all his wild, untutored state. He grew up as a devotee to all their wild ideas and shrank from all civilization. He engaged in all their time-honored customs, games and dances, believed in all their super- stitions and participated in everything the Indian called pleasure and dissipation. In his more than - mature manhood he became a convert to the Christian religion and a preacher of righteousness to his fallen race. He was the first preacher among them, and no doubt he has done good and is trying to live a Chris- tian life and persuade others to do so. Yet his speech is slow, his frame is bowing. his noble manhood is gone and he now looks forward to the reward of here- after. He is reverenced and respected by his people and will be missed when he is gone.
The text on this funeral occasion was from 1st Corinthians, 15th chapter, verses 51-52: " Behold, I shew you a mystery : we shall not all sleep but we shall be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye at the last trump, for the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be
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changed." In a very feeling way did he allude to the death of the child whose funeral he preached. He then presented his subject to his hearers ; at first he appeared slow, making no gestures, and in rather con- versational style ; but after a short time he warmed up with his subject. He became more fluent ; commenced to use his hands and arms, first in one way and then in another; now at full length, now brought close to his body. Then his head and his whole frame became in constant motion. His voice expanded and at no time lacked for expression of apparently the most ap- propriate phrases. He tenderly wept while he warned and persuaded his audience. He brought many of his hearers to tears. He came down from the platform from which he preached, talking all the while, walked to the middle of the house, addressing himself in the most earnest and emphatic language to his hearers. He preached about three quarters of an hour, his audi- ence giving marked attention. White persons who heard him were favorably disappointed. Something was said that no white man in the county ever expected to hear-a Christian Indian preaching in his own lan- guage, and one brought up in a wild and unlettered state until he was twenty-five years old.
After the sermon Thompson Baker exhorted the people and presented to them Christ and baptism by immersion. He asked those desiring the prayers of the church to give their hands, and many of them, the older men and women, signified their desire to be prayed for. The elements of the Lord's Supper being present, the two younger ministers proceeded to the work of administering it. Thompson Baker read a portion of the eleventh chapter of 1st Corinthians, com- mencing, " That the Lord Jesus in the same night in which he was betrayed," etc., and proceeded to talk
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on the subject. Then the element representing the body of Christ was distributed. Ne-nac-intu-Cubby read another portion of the same chapter and proceeded to talk upon it ; the deacons then handed the wine. The preacher impressed upon his hearers that long ago the Indian was much given to strong drink, but this was very different, representing as this did the blood of Christ, and that they must drink a very small portion of it. They offered an opportunity for membership, and one weeping woman came forward, was examined by the elder and admitted into the church. This was all done with as much order and decorum as it is in any of our white churches in the county.
One is amazed and encouraged at the progress these people have made in Christianity, contrasting the sit- uation of the Indians now and when they were first discovered in America, the progress being made by them and the wise and munificent provisions by the Government for them. They are becoming civilized, educated, and in many instances Christianized. One is reminded of the speech made by a New England orator, probably seventy-five years ago, that believed that the white man would drive away the Indian and probably annihilate him from the face of the earth. Mr. Sprague said :
"Not many generations ago, where you now sit, sur- rounded by all that elevates and embellishes civilized life, there lived and loved another race of beings. Be. neath the same sun that rolls over your head the Indian hunter pursued the panting deer ; gazing on the same moon that shines for you the Indian lover woed his dusky mate. Now they paddled their light canoe along your rocky shores ; now they dip their noble limbs in your sedgy lakes; here they warred and here they fought, and when the tiger strife was over, here curled the smoke of peace.
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"Slowly and sadly they climb the distant mountains and read their doom in the setting sun. They shall soon hear the roar of the last wave that shall settle over them forever."
That language sounds like the cruel pale-face would exterminate the red man from the face of the earth. The prediction of this eloquent orator, though no doubt - sincere in his ideas of the true condition of the Indians, is very far from being realized. On the contrary, the Government has assumed, a fatherly care and guardianship over the Indians, and has furnished them with millions of dollars and substantial support and protection. The result is, they live upon their lands, holding lifetime rights, with no power to spend or waste them. They have splendid schools in the Na- tion, and elegant training schools in the States. They have good church privileges. Some of the tribes have an annual income from the Government. Some have fine fortunes, and some have princely sums in the hands of the Government. In several instances the United States Government has had to punish some of these restless and warlike tribes. Yet they find the " Great Father " and his people are their best friends- that " the hand of justice has been tempered with mercy," and if they will obey they will be rewarded and blessed.
The singing at the Indian church was also a sur- prise. The Indian songs that had been most popular among them were not as many as the whites have, but they had a song of rejoicing, a song of victory, and a song of sadness. They had no hymns or poeti- cal songs. They would announce in their songs the loss by death of a child thus : Pus-cus Conneya Sally Hoga! The loss of a gun: Ta-napo Conneya Sally Hoga ! If they should leave their blanket as security
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for a quart of whisky, after they had drunk it they would sing : Shuckabo boly Sally Hoga ! They would express their grief or sorrow with the same chorus as their rejoicing. They had a song to be used at their cries, and one at their dances. These songs were fa- miliar to every one who had listened to them, and it was strange they had no new songs. The one used on various occasions appeared to be as old as the race. The first song sung by the congregation the day they were visited was, " How tedious and tasteless the hours," etc. They sang in Choctaw, but the old tune, so familiar to these words, as is sung by the whites. The beautiful words of this hymn, " Christian Experi- ence," by Dr. Newton, could not well be sung to any other tune than the one used by us. The next was a plain, old, common measure tune, suggesting the fa- miliar and sublime words by Samuel Stinnet, " Majes- tic sweetness sits enthroned," etc. When they admin- istered the sacrament they used, " Pass me not, Oh, . Gentle Savior." They were deficient in vocal music, but not more so than some white congregations. They need teaching in vocal music by competent instructors, yet they do well even in this part of their worship.
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CHAPTER IV.
NUMBER OF . WHITE SETTLERS IN NEWTON COUNTY WHEN IT WAS ORGANIZED-FACE OF THE COUNTRY AT THE TIME OF SETTLEMENT-AMOUNT AND KIND OF GAME IN THE COUNTY AT THIS TIME-STYLE OF SOCIETY-USE OF ARDENT SPIRITS -- MORALS OF THE PEOPLE, ETC.
THE number of white citizens at the time of the or- ganization of the county was necessarily small. An old citizen remarked that less than one hundred votes elected the sheriff. Say that it took one hundred votes to elect an officer at that time, it may be inferred that his opponent received nearly as many but was slightly in the minority. It may have been that there were nearly two hundred votes ; probably quite that num. ber, as it is not usual that all go to the elections. To multiply that number by four would give eight hun- dred white population, and it must be remembered that there were quite a number of negroes, probably one-third as many as whites. This would have given about one thousand persons, exclusive of the Indians, who were then more numerous than the whites.
The first census ever made in the county, in 1840, gave the population of Newton 2,527. This included the negroes as well as white people. It will be seen from this statement that Newton county had more than doubled the population from 1836 to 1840. If the first figures be correct, that there was 1,000 or a little
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over when the first officers were elected, this would be a very rapid increase in population in four years, and we must either admit that it is true or claim that the county had more inhabitants at its settlement than 1,000.
It will be recollected Newton county offered very flattering prospects to the new settler. The county had been a portion of Neshoba, and for three years, or nearly so, there had been officers of the county with a representation in the Legislature, so it was not as if the county had no organization before 1836.
As early as 1834 quite a number of persons had moved and made permanent settlements in this county. A few came even before the county of Neshoba was admitted in 1833. The lands were surveyed in 1832, and with that came a few adventurers and traders, who settled among and traded with the Indians. They could not enter lands, but they could for a time live in the Purchase. In the year 1833 there was a very large emigration of the Indians from this part of the country, which gave room for settlers and their families and immediately following it was that many came from the counties of Wayne, Simpson, Hinds and Copiah. In connection with these early settlements, from 1834 to 1837, came settlers from most of the States east of Mississippi. Quite a number of land specula- tors, merchants and general tradesmen came to the new county hoping to make favorable investments, and many for permanent settlement. The county con- tinued to grow in wealth and importance, and when the second census of 1850 was taken, the population amounted to 4,467, nearly doubling itself in this de- cade.
FACE OF THE COUNTRY.
. What the face of the country was when the white
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man came to Newton county, can only be learned from the few old men who are left in the county, who came as early settlers. This number is very small- will probably not reach more than a dozen. All agree that the county was a beautiful one, very inviting to the new comer. The Indians were in considerable numbers, but they did not wantonly destroy the coun- try or kill the game in waste. They used what they needed and allowed the balance to remain for the future. They only cultivated small patches of ground · and had only paths to go through the country. There were no large trees that had ever been cut. The large timbers were confined to the swamp and the long leaf pine forests. The swamp at that time had no under- growth except cane, which grew in great abundance, not so large as on the rivers and creeks in the western part of the State, but sufficiently thick and high as to completely cover the swamps in many places-making secure hiding place for wild animals, and affording a wonderful winter pasture for cattle and hogs. The latter used the acorns that fell from the massive oaks that in many places grew thick in the swamp.
In these swamps not only grew the oak, but gum, ash, poplar, beech, magnolia, bay, elm, hickory, and in some places a few walnuts, and occasionally a few cypress, frequently very large, short strawed pine. The long leaf pine forests were covered as an under- growth, only, with grass, that grew up in some in- stances as high as a horse's back. This grass was killed to some extent every winter, and in the spring it came out fresh and looked beautiful.
Occasionally the forests were burned off. Some- times these fires were very dangerous and very hard to stop. That part of the country known as the "flat woods," and ridges and hill lands of the county not
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growing the long leaf pine, were very open, only oc- · casionally showing a few trees. This part of the county was beautiful to observe, and offered a place of great sport for the hunter. The same kind of grass did not grow in all respects on the flat lands as in the pine woods. A most luxuriant growth of ferns, wild roses, small flowering vines, besides the grass, all mingled in solid mass so as to almost obstruct a pas- sage through it; also a wild pea grew in the pine and flat woods that served as fine food for stock, especially the deer.
A gentleman relating his recollections of the beauty of the "flat woods " section in the north-western part of his county, says the ferns grew in a mass two feet high; that a small flowering vine climbed upon and showed its blossoms in profusion over the ferns. The wild roses entwined themselves among the foliage, and all together, vines, ferns and roses presented a solid body, looking like one grand bouquet covering the ground. When the hunter came with gun and dogs and the deer are "jumped, " the race commences. The yielding mass of ferns and flowers are so inter- woven that when it is disturbed by deer, dogs and hunters it resembles the waves of the sea.
In the southwestern part of the county were open prairies, covered with a growth of very rich grass and a very parterre of flowers. These bald places were occasionally relieved by a clump of trees, forming an oasis as in a desert, and sometimes a stream of water was there which served to allay the thirst of man and beast.
These open spaces were called the "shell lands," and in many instances, had large accumulations of small shells in the soil, and a great number of oyster shells of large size. The oyster shells were largely
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used in the early settlement of the county in making lime. These shell lands were only productive of corn and other grain. They would not make cotton-it would "rust.". The woodland prairie made fine cot- ton and corn. When the growth was post-oak it pro- duced cotton better. These lands required good plows to break and to bed up the ground. Long ago the plow known as the Carey plow, was used. . It had a long point with wooden mould-board. This plow was drawn by two horses, or oxen, and was considered an excellent plow for the work ; and when this land was well broken, and particularly in winter, the crop was almost assured and with but little more work. In late years the steel plow, without the wooden mould-board, is used, and does good work.
Newton county had quite a number of "Reed- brakes." These were not considered desirable at first, but after trial, became the most fruitful sources of corn of any lands in the county. They were very boggy places, covered with reed. This species of cane differs from that growing in the swamps. These brakes were well ditched, which to a great extent dried them. The places occupied by the brakes are usually in val- leys, in the long leaf pine woods. These valleys at one time had pure streams of water flowing through them, from one large or several small springs. At a remote pe riod the grass began to grow along the margin of these flowing streams, and then the reed came also on the edges of its banks. This invited the black birds to roost, and after the lapse of centuries, perhaps, this stream is filled up by these bird deposits, and becomes a sluggish, dangerous quagmire, until after it is ditched; then it becomes a thing of beauty and profit. There is a considerable amount of these lands in Newton county, but in small bodies. The depth of the soil
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HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY.
is sometimes several feet. The cane of these reed- brakes is not of the same character of that grown in the swamps. The leaf of the reed-brake cane is larger and greener ; the reeds are much thinner and more easily broken. These brakes are evergreen and par- ticularly attractive are they in the cold season ; they all grow up very even and near the same height, and when everything around is nipped by the frost their symmetrical forms, waving gracefully in the breeze, presents an appearance both attractive and beautiful.
In these deep swamp jungles, high grass and reed- brakes, there must have been great quantities of game and snakes. It seems that the county was not infested to any great extent with snakes, yet in all new wooded and swampy country they abound more or less. The rattle-snake was rather numerous, and the moccasin and ground rattlesnake abounded to some extent. There were quite a number of less poisonous snakes, but most of the rattle-snakes are gone.
The amount of game in the county at the time it was settled was almost incredulous. From the statements of all the old settlers it existed in great abundance-deer, turkey, squirrels, coons, wild cats, some bear, panthers, and many wolves. These last named animals were so plentiful and destructive that by an act of the Legislature of 1837, a reward of five dollars was offered for every wolf killed in the county. Deer were so plentiful that a hunter could go out and find a herd and easily take choice as to the one he would shoot.
A very truthful man who came to the county in 1835 or '36, says that he could go out in sight of his dwell- ing house and see as many as twenty deer feeding. He states that he and his brother, besides doing the plow- ing for several hands, usually went out hunting in the 3
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afternoon, and the two killed one hundred deer from the first of January to the first of July. The Indians did not kill the game of the country as the white men ; they killed it as they needed it. The white man kills for use first, then for sport and for the hides, and in this way very soon destroys the game in the country. Quite a number carried the hams of venison to distant markets after they were dried whole, which they did vary nicely, and brought good prices. Not many years elapsed before the game became much wilder and scarcer, and much harder to secure, and for more than twenty years it is rarely the case that deer are found. There was a large number of turkeys, abundance of squirrels, considerable amount of fish, great numbers of birds, some ducks, a large number of rabbits. A variety that has almost become extinct was the large swamp rabbit-nearly as large as the jack rabbit of Texas-he is now rarely seen.
STYLE OF SOCIETY.
The style of society was rough at this time and of the most primitive character ; so were also the houses in which some persons lived. There was no building material except what was gotten out by hand ; the great haste to get a shelter for the present caused the houses to be rough and small log cabins, with dirt or puncheon floor, put up almost, if not entirely without nails, using what was called the weight poles to fasten on the boards on the roofs, not having rafters but ridge poles forming the place to lay the boards.
Sometimes a man would make a neat cabin by chink- ing the cracks and filling with mud, so as to keep out the wind. For a floor he would take a small pine tree or sapling, hew it to a straight edge on two sides, then he would face it six inches wide and chop in on the opposite side to fit his sleepers, and by this means he
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HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY.
would make what resembled a six-inch plank after it was laid on the sleepers. This method, if the puncheons were dressed after they were laid down, formed an . excellent floor. Sometimes a whip-saw was used. This was a large rip-saw resempling a long cross-cut saw, by which two men sawed logs into plank-one standing on top of the log, the other in a pit in the ground under the log. It was hard work, but these pioneers were accustomed to it and enjoyed it. A good "stick and dirt" chimney was then put up, sufficiently large to warm the family and for the wife to do the cooking. Those fireplaces would sometimes be from five to six feet wide. A degree of comfort, with much hospitality and welcome to a visitor, made these rude houses of the pioneers something to be remembered. The style of society was as rough, or more so, than the houses in which the early settlers lived. These rough people would entertain a stranger, were glad to have his com- pany and would not charge a cent for entertainment.
The use of ardent spirits was very free among the early settlers, most of them using it without stint. It was not uncommon to find it in the houses of most of the people, and all who visited them were welcome to it and expected to use it. It was openly sold in any part of the county when a man wished to do so. The morals of the people in those times were necessarily bad, with some notable exceptions. Profanity, gamb- ling, horse-racing and fighting, and numerous immor- ralities were indulged in, and the people felt free and easy to, violate the Sabbath in any way that suited them, and no one questioned these violations.
There was a great scarcity of schools and churches at this time, and want of them was keenly felt. This state of society continued for a term of years, until the population, by its increase in numbers and im- provement in morality, demanded a change.
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CHAPTER V.
NAMES OF THE MEN WHO FIRST HELD OFFICE IN THE COUNTY-FIRST REPRESENTATIVE-NAMES OF THE MEN WHO FIRST SETTLED IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTY-KIND OF GRASSES THAT GREW AND THE RANGE FOR STOCK-KIND OF FRUITS THAT GREW SPONTANEOUSLY IN THE COUNTY.
THE most important county officer in a new county is expected to be the sheriff. It is said that Myer Bright was the first sheriff elected for Newton county ; that he and W. S. Thompson, a citizen for years after the war of the town of Newton, and father of Ben Thompson, of Brandon, ran for the office, and that Bright beat Thompson three votes. It is further stated that Bright would not qualify or give bond, and by that means forfeited his place as sheriff of the county. After that Hullum Redwine was elected sheriff and served two terms. As the records of Newton county are burned for about forty years, and it was impossi- ble to get the State record showing the election of offi- cers in the county, the information here recorded is from old settlers, and in some instances errors may . come in as to who among the very first were the men to hold office in the county. The sheriff is very prob- ably correct.
The probate judges whose names were given as those who early held office are Hudson, Furgerson and Shel- ton. It is not known with certainty which one held
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HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY.
the office first, but probabilities are that it is in the order in which their names appear, with Judge Hudson as the first probate judge.
George Armstrong, well known in the county for . years, was one of the first clerks of the probate court. James Armstrong, not the brother of George Arm- strong, but a man who was conspicuous in the Decatur bank, was the first circuit clerk.
It is not definitely known who was the first assessor. Thames, Graham and Armstrong are mentioned. J. O. Kelly is mentioned as the first treasurer ; Booker as first surveyor.
The first representative was James Ellis, who was the father of Mrs. Joe and Zach Gibbs, of this county. Ellis was the representative of Neshoba county before the counties were divided; was run in the interest of a division of the county, and continued to represent Newton county until the end of 1841.
Oliver C. Dease, of Jasper county, was the first Sen- ator, Newton and Jasper being in the same senatorial district.
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