Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. I, Part 103

Author: Rowland, Dunbar, 1864-1937, ed
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Atlanta, Southern Historical Publishing Association
Number of Pages: 1030

USA > Mississippi > Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. I > Part 103

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the monument. He was received with great enthusiasm at Nat- chez and Vicksburg, and at the State capital on the 20th.

In January, 1846, Gov. Brown transmitted to the legislature the resolutions of the Texas congress tendering Jackson the gratitude of that North American State. "It was not given to the venerable patriot to receive this tribute. He died at the hermitage, June 8, 1845, full of years and full of honors. The perusal of these resolutions awaken in our minds the liveliest recollections of a man who has left the impress of his mighty intellect on all the interests and institutions of his country. He was ever the ' fast and unchanging friend of Mississippi." (Also see Poindexter, George.)

Jackson County is located in the extreme southeastern corner of the State and is one of the three Gulf coast counties of Mississippi. It was established at the same time as Hancock county, December 14, 1812, and a brief sketch of the early days of this region will be found in the history of that county. The original act defined its boundaries as follows: "South of the 31st degree of north lati- tude, and west of the dividing ridge between the Mobile and Pascagoula, and east of a line running due north from the middle of the Bay of Biloxi to the 31st degree of north latitude, shall compose a county, which shall be called Jackson." In 1821 and 1823 the northern tier of townships south of the 31st parallel were annexed to Greene county (q. v.), and in 1841 the western part of Jackson was taken to assist in forming the county of Harrison (q. v.). As early as the year 1699, the French, under d'Iberville, built a fort on the east side of the Back Bay of Biloxi, and called it Fort Maurepas, the site of which is now in the town of Ocean Springs. A little later, in 1701, under orders from home, the colony was removed to Dauphine Island, Mobile Bay, and in 1720, the colony was again removed to the site of the present city of Biloxi. Among the very earliest white settlements in the State, are those of the French on the Pascagoula river, while the region about its mouth and along its banks show traces of very ancient settle- ments prior to the coming of the whites. The old French settlers on Pascagoula Bay recount many fanciful Indian legends of early days, notably the origin of the "mysterious music," a strange wild musical sound often heard here along the Pascagoula river and bay, and no section of the State is more fascinating to the student of American antiquities. The county did its full share in shaping the early history of the State and was well represented in the Con- stitutional Convention of 1817, by John McLeod and Thomas Bilbo. The many French and Spanish names, which prevail throughout this region, tell the story of the varied allegiance its people have owned. The county was named for President Andrew Jackson, is about 45 by 36 miles in dimensions and has a land surface of 1,073 square miles. It is bounded on the north by Greene county, on the south by the Gulf of Mexico, on the east by the State of Alabama and on the west by Harrison county. The quiet waters of Missis- sippi Sound wash its coast and afford excellent protection to ship-

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ping, while a splendid harbor, with 23 feet of water at low tide, adapted to vessels of the largest tonnage, is found under Horn Island, 8 miles off the mouth of Pascagoula river. The United States government is now engaged in dredging a ship channel from the Gulf into the Pascagoula river, 18 feet deep, and at a cost of a million dollars. Its largest town and county seat is Pascagoula, formerly Scranton, a place of 4,000 people, located on the Pas- cagoula Bay and river. It ranks as an important manufacturing point with Columbus, Corinth, Meridian and Biloxi, a prominence due to the immense investment in lumber mills at this point and its big oyster and fish canneries. Other important coast towns are Ocean Springs and Moss Point, containing respectively 1,255 and 3,000 inhabitants. Both of these towns attract many tourists from the north in the winter and from the south in the summer. Pas- cagoula and Ocean Springs are situated on the line of the Louis- ville & Nashville R. R., and are easily reached. Moss Point, a few miles north on the Pascagoula river, is a town of 3,000 people and owes its growth and prosperity to the extensive lumber industry of the section. The Pascagoula river, the largest stream in the eastern part of the State, flows from the north through the center of the county and empties into Pascagoula Bay. The Escatawpa river enters the county at its northeastern corner, flows along its eastern border and finally empties into Pascagoula river near its mouth. These two streams and their numerous tributaries, afford the region excellent water privileges, which are largely used in floating and marketing its timber, turpentine and resin products. The timber growth consists principally of long leaf or yellow pine and exists in large quantities, is very accessible and is the ranking industry of the county. A hardwood belt of thousands of acres skirts the river on either side its full length. The lumber trade to European, Central and South American ports and the West Indies, has grown very large and lucrative. The southern coast of the county is traversed by the line of the Louisville & Nashville R. R., connecting New Orleans and Mobile, and the Mobile, Jackson & Kansas City R. R. crosses its northeast corner.

The land is low and level along the coast and gently undulating as it slopes north. The soil is a sandy loam and while not very fertile naturally, fertilizers are cheap, and with a moderate use, good crops of fruits and vegetables are raised for home consump- tion and market at good profit. Jackson county produces in great quantities the famous paper shell pecans, which bring such fancy prices on the market. Most of the noted varieties have originated in this county, and extensive groves have already been set and others are being rapidly planted, both by the older settlers, and by capitalists from the North and West. Some good wines are made from the vineyards of this section, particularly from the Scupper- nong grape. A thriving industry is conducted in fish and oysters, obtained in great abundance, and numerous canning establish- ments exist. The twelfth U. S. Census, 1900, gives the following statistics for the county: Number of farms 544, acreage in farms

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126,370, acres improved 8,239, value of lands exclusive of buildings $352,130, value of buildings $185,450, value of live stock $221,653, total value of products not fed $192,249. The number of manufac- turing establishments was 78, capital invested $2,383,413, wages paid $424,513, cost of materials $943,967, and total value of products $1,937,702. The total assessed valuation of real and personal prop- erty in the county in 1905 was $3,001,860 and in 1906 it was $5,285,712, which shows an increase of $2,283,852 during the year. The population in 1900 consisted of 10,697 whites, 5,816 colored, a total of 16,513, and an increase of 5,262 over the year 1890. Esti- mated population in 1906 shows 21,000 inhabitants.

Jackson, siege of, see War of 1861-65.

Jacobs, a postoffice of Jefferson county.

Jago, a postoffice of De Soto county, located on Horn Lake creek, 8 miles north of Hernando, the county seat and nearest bank- ing town.

James, a postoffice in the western part of Washington county, on the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley R. R., 15 miles south of Green- ville, the county seat.

Janet, a postoffice of Greene county, 16 miles northwest of Leakesville, the county seat.

Janice, a postoffice of Perry county, 14 miles due south of New Augusta, the county seat.

Jasper County was created December 13, 1833, and was named for Sergeant Jasper, of Fort Moultrie fame. It was carved from territory just north of the old Mt. Dexter Treaty line, acquired from the Choctaws in 1830, and was originally occupied by the Six Town tribe of that nation. The following were its limits as defined in the original act: "Beginning at the point at which the line between ranges 13 and 14 crosses the line between townships 4 and 5, to the line between ranges 9 and 10 east; from thence south, with said line, between ranges 9 and 10 east, to the southern boundary of the Choctaw nation ; from thence an eastern direction with said southern boundary line, to the point at which the line between ranges 13 and 14 east would strike said boundary line, if extended south to the same; and from thence north, with said line between ranges 13 and 14 east, to the place of beginning."

Soon after the removal of the Choctaws from the region, it was rapidly settled by a wealthy and thriving class of emigrants from the older States, and the other parts of Mississippi. The old town of Garlandville, below mentioned, is said to be the oldest town in Jasper county. It was settled early in 1833, and about this time John H. Ward opened a tavern in a small house owned by John Garland, a half-breed Indian. He presented the house to the land- lord's wife, who reciprocated by naming the town in his honor. Many wealthy planters were in the neighborhood, who did their business in the town. . Among the early settlers were the families of Watts, Brown, Hodge, Williams, Dellahay, Beard, Cowan, Lay- erly, Hamlet, and Harris. The town raised two companies- Capt. Chatfield's of the 20th Miss., and Capt. Lopo's of the 37th

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Miss .- at the outbreak of the War between the States. The war was disastrous to the surrounding slave owners, and most of the business of the flourishing old town has moved to the railroad, so that little is left to remind one of its former glory. The county has a land surface of 647 square miles and the county seat is the little town of Paulding, named for John Paulding, who assisted in the capture of Major Andre during the war of the Revolution. In the early days, it was an inland town of some note, but it has not grown in size and is now a town of only 229 inhabitants. There are no large settlements within the borders of the county, the little railroad towns of Heidelberg, Vosburg, Stringer, and Montrose ; and Garlandville and Vernon off the railroads, are among the more important ones. The Eastern Clarion, one of the oldest news- papers in the State and now published in Jackson under the name of the Clarion-Ledger, was issued as a weekly at Paulding in the early thirties. The principal water courses of the county are Talla- homa and Nuakfuppa creeks and their tributaries, and the numerous small streams in the eastern part of the county which empty into the Chickasawhay river. The New Orleans & North Eastern R. R. cuts across the southeastern corner of the county and the new line of the Mobile, Jackson & Kansas City R. R. traverses its western border from north to south. It is a land of beautiful prairies, located in the central prairie belt of the State, and its interests are almost exclusively agricultural. The surface of the land is level in the valleys, undulating or hilly elsewhere. The timber consists of oaks, long leaf pine, hickory, beech, elm, and gum; extensive beds of marl are found in various parts of the county. The soil is generally light and sandy with a clay subsoil, fertile on the bottoms, and produces good crops of cotton, corn, oats, sugar cane, rice, sweet potatoes and sorghum, and all the garden vegetables and fruits adapted to the latitude. Excellent pasturage, winter and summer, is to be found, and much of the wealth of the region is in its live stock. The climate is very health- ful and mild ; numerous schools, and churches of all denominations, are scattered over the county.

The twelfth census of the United States for the year 1900 shows the following statistics for the county: Number of farms 2,254, acreage in farms 294,657, acres improved 82,259, value of land exclusive of buildings $775,660, value of the buildings, $360,790, value of live stock $469,234, total value of products not fed to stock $864,435. The number of manufacturing establishments was 32, capital $44,024, wages paid $4,541, cost of materials $15,295 and total value of products $35,044. The total assessed valuation of real and personal property in the county in 1905 was $1,782,076 and in 1906 it was $3,152,157, which shows an increase for the year of $1,370,081. The population of the county in 1900 was, whites 7,729, colored 7,665, a total of 15,394, and 609 more than in 1890. The population in 1906 was about 17,000.

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Java, a hamlet in the southeastern part of Neshoba county, 15 miles southeast of Philadelphia, the county seat. It has a money order postoffice.

Jaynesville, a post-hamlet in the southeastern part of Simpson county, 13 miles south of Mendenhall. The station of Saratoga, 5 miles east, on the Gulf & Ship Island R. R., is the nearest rail- road point. Population in 1900, 48.

Jeannette, a post-hamlet of Adams county, situated on Second creek, about 12 miles east of Natchez. Population in 1900, 27.

Jefferson, a post-hamlet of Carroll county, 9 miles due north of Carrollton, the county seat, and nearest railroad and banking town. Population in 1900, 25.

Jefferson College. Jefferson College was incorporated by an act of the legislature of the Mississippi Territory, May 13, 1802. It was the first institution of learning established under the author- ity of the State, and is today the oldest endowed college in the southwest. Under its charter the institution had no endowment, but was to be supported by voluntary contributions, for which purpose the Trustees were authorized to receive donations from the citizens of the Territory and elsewhere, also "to raise for the benefit of the College, by lottery, a sum not exceeding ten thou- sand dollars." It was named "in honor of Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States, and President of the American Philosophical Society." The Trustees were empowered to select a site for the college, contract for suitable buildings, engage in- structors and other necessary officers and to confer degrees of Bachelor and Master of Arts. The institution was to be free from all denominational control. Instructors and students were to be exempt from all militia duty, while members of the College; "ex- cept in a general invasion of the Territory." Finally, the property of the College was made exempt from all taxation. Pursuant to the charter, the Trustees met Jan. 3, 1803, at the town of Wash- ington and organized by the election of William C. C. Claiborne, governor of the Territory, President; William Dunbar, Vice Pres- ident, Felix Huges, Secretary, and Cato West, Treasurer. As the last named officer declined to serve, Alexander Montgomery was chosen in his place on June 6, following. At this first meeting were present the following named gentlemen: Wm. C. C. Clai- borne, John Ellis, Wm. Dunbar, Anthony Hutchins, David Latti- more, Sutton Banks, Alexander Montgomery, Daniel Burnet, David Kerr, D. W. Breazeale, Abner Green, Cato West, Thos. Calvit, and Felix Hughes. In the effort to secure funds, two sep- arate addresses were moved and adopted. To Congress they stated, "in this first attempt to institute a place of general edu- cation for the youth of the Territory," which, by a law of the Legislature, had devolved upon them, an attempt attended with peculiar impediments, in a community but "lately emerged from the lethargic influence of an arbitrary government, averse from principle to general information, our citizens have hardly as yet become sensible of the necessity, and usefulness of Education;

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unaccustomed to act in concert, their individual efforts have never aimed at more than private schools," consequently, "our citizens may be tardy in learning the necessity of affording effectual sup- port by voluntary contributions; our local government has no lands to bestow upon us. In the Northwestern Territory, the general government acting on the ordinance of Congress has been attentive to the support of public instruction. Having a similar claim from a similitude of constitution, and such pressing inducements peculiar to ourselves, we rely with confident hope on your Honorable Body for such aid as you may judge proper."

To the public, they issued a strong appeal for support, urging the lack of public funds, the benefits to be derived from educating the youth of the Territory at a home college, the dangers attend- ant on sending their children to foreign schools to be educated, and enlarged upon the theoretical and practical advantages to be derived from the encouragement of Education. The appeal to the public was unproductive, but Congress responded by a grant of a township of land, and some lots in and adjoining the city of Natchez. A scheme for a lottery contemplated by the charter, was prepared and reported by Mr. Dunbar, the Vice President, in June, 1803, but the attempt to raise funds by this means also proved unavailing, and after two years the plan was abandoned and the funds paid for tickets were returned to the purchasers. At a meeting of the Board, held July 25, 1803, in Selsertown, a donation of lands by John and James Foster, and Randall Gibson, adjoining the town of Washington, and embracing Ellicott's Spring, was accepted. The donations were subsequently extended to embrace about 47 acres. The lots in Natchez were reported in 1804 to have been duly located, but on account of adverse claims set up by a citizen and by the city of Natchez, a long delay and many years of expensive litigation resulted before anything was realized from the sale of the same. In 1817 the claim to the lots within the city was compromised and the College received $5,000 for its interest. In 1827, 24 years after the grant was made by Congress, a compromise was effected with the city in regard to the out lot in front of the city, but the whole of the property was not finally disposed of until 1836, and a statement of the resources of the college in 1840 shows that there was still due from pur- chasers of Natchez lots the sum of $35,025.42. It was not until the 5th of June, 1812, that the township of land granted in 1803 was located. The land selected was on both sides of the Tombig- bee river, about 20 miles above St. Stephens. Nothing, however, was realized from these lands until the year 1818, when the rapid emigration to Alabama created a demand for the lands, and the sum of $8,000 was realized at a first payment on 99 year leases. Two years later there was a great depreciation in the value of these lands, and all the lessees, with one inconsiderable exception; forfeited their leases to the college, rather than complete their payments on lands that were deemed worthless, and thus destroyed any future hope of revenue from this unfortunate location. In

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1832, Congress passed an act for the relief of the College, and it was authorized to relinquish the Tombigbee lands, and to locate other lands in the State of Mississippi, under most advantageous terms. "The agent (of the college) was authorized to advertise for proposals for the purchase of the right of location under the fourth section of the act for the relief of the college, and subse- quently to sell and convey that right at the rate of six dollars and fifty cents per acre, payable in instalments. The whole quantity was sold between the first of March and the sixth of Au- gust, 1833." The last note for these lands was due in 1839, but payment was retarded by the great financial panic which occurred in 1837. The debt, however, was believed to be perfectly safe, and $50,000 of the notes were converted into bank stock, which sub- sequently proved to be absolutely worthless.

The long years of effort on the part of the Trustees of the Col- lege to procure an adequate income for the institution from its land grants, is only part of the story of all the embarrassments met with. After the final location of the College at Washington in 1803, numerous appeals were made to the public for assistance, and the Legislature was appealed to for a loan in December, 1805; all to no avail. Between this date and April, 1810, the Trustees held no meeting, and the affairs of the College lagged. In the meantime the Washington Academy had been established by the Rev. James Smylie, and temporary frame buildings erected on the college grounds. After a conference between the Boards of the two institutions, the buildings, together with the subscriptions for its support, were transferred to the Board of Trustees of the prospective College. The buildings were prepared for the purpose and it was announced that "an Academy, under the superintend- ence of Dr. Edwin Reese, assisted by Mr. Samuel Graham, would be opened on the first day of January, 1811. "Thus, nine years after the date of its charter, it was opened as an humble Academy, and so continued with many interruptions, until December, 1829, when it was reorganized on a system similar to that pursued at West Point, with much emphasis on the military feature. In 1818, the college met with another difficulty. An assembly of the clergy of all denominations at Washington, severely denounced the in- stitution, and its principal, James McAllister, who had been en- gaged the previous year, as unorthodox. McAllister died in November, 1821. He was a native of Scotland, educated at Glas- gow and Edinburgh, and had been chief agent of the United States treasury under Gallatin. Meanwhile, two loans amounting to $10,000, had been finally made to the college by the State, and it was farther embarrassed in 1825 by a measure introduced in the Legislature to institute suit for the recovery of the money loaned ; but fortunately the measure was defeated for the time being. In January, 1826, the charter was modified, and the Legislature was given the right to fill vacancies in the Board. In 1829 the Legis- lature was considering the idea of establishing a State institution, and an effort was made to have the College surrender its charter -

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to another institution erected in its stead. This plan was found impracticable after a conference between the agents appointed by the State, and the Trustees of the College. The institution was organized as a military school in 1829, after the plan of Capt. Al- den Partridge, of the Georgetown academy, and under the presi- dency of E. B. Williston, author of "Eloquence in the United States," and an edition of Tacitus. This gave the college new life. In 1832 there were 114 pupils, and in April of that year there was a commencement day and the degree of A. B. was conferred on three. President Williston resigned in the following month, and was succeeded by Maj. John Holbrook, who died September 1. January 1, 1833, Capt. Alden Partridge took charge. A few months later the cholera was raging.

The following observations on the College in 1835, are from the pen of an observer, who subscribed himself a "Yankee," and wrote a volume of travels on the Southwest:

"The income of the college is now about eight thousand dollars, arising from a fund of more than one hundred and fifty thousand. The building is a large three story brick edifice, handsomely fin- ished, and capable of containing one hundred students. The loca- tion is highly beautiful, in a grove of majestic oaks, and at the head of a fine green parade, which lies, with a magnificent oak in its center, between it and the village. A primary department is connected with it; and a pleasant brick building, half surrounded with galleries, on the opposite side of the 'green,' is appropriated to this branch of the institution. The primary department, which includes a moiety of the students, is under the able superintend- ence of Professor Crane, a native of New-Jersey, and recently from West Point. Since its organization until very recently, it has labored under pecuniary difficulties, with which it was unable to contend ; for a great part of the time it has been without pupils or teachers; and its halls have been occasionally used for private schools."

After 1829, says this authority, the college "was more flourishing in every respect than any other in the southwest. But the new president, seized with the mania for cotton-planting, which infects all who reside here for any length of time, devoted a portion of his time to agricultural pursuits, and the patrons of the college, perhaps regarding this additional vocation as incompatible with that of in- structing, withdrew their sons, one after another, the novelty of a military education having worn off, and fell into the old mode of keeping them at home on their plantations, or sending them to Kentucky, the great academy for Mississippi youth, to complete their education. During the summer the president died and the institution again became disorganized. In 1833, Capt. Alden Par- tridge was invited by the Board of Trustees to assume the presi- dency, but after remaining a few months, returned to the North, unable to restore it to its former flourishing condition. The col- lege halls became again and for the sixth time since their founda- tion nearly deserted. In the spring of 1834, the Board invited two

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Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. I, Part 103

Author: Rowland, Dunbar, 1864-1937, ed Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Atlanta, Southern Historical Publishing Association Number of Pages: 1030

Author: Rowland, Dunbar, 1864-1937, ed
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Atlanta, Southern Historical Publishing Association
Number of Pages: 1030