Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. I, Part 108

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 108

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

The Kempers were natives of Fauquier county, Virginia, fron- tiersmen of the type that made the Indian fighters and territory conquerors of America. Two of them lived near Pinckneyville, a frontier settlement of the Natchez district, where a volunteer military company was organized and offered to Gov. Claiborne at a time when the rest of the district was very tardy and lukewarm in its militia organization. The house of Samuel was known as the Kemper tavern, and Nathan lived in the vicinity. They appear simply as outlaws in the Spanish reports.

The occurrences cannot be understood except in view of the facts that a considerable number of former residents of Natchez district, who preferred Spanish to American government, or for other reasons, had removed below the line after the Spanish evacu- ation, that some of the same party were left in the Natchez district, as well as a few that would have welcomed a restoration of British government, and that, to all such, men of the Kemper stamp were deadly enemies. There were also, below the Spanish line, men of American sympathy, who were ready to make a revolution to destroy the Spanish domination over a country almost entirely American. Likewise, the Spanish, in 1804 and 1805, were captur- ing American ships in the gulf. On land, they had not evacuated New Orleans until the spring of 1804, they were reinforcing Pensa- cola, and establishing posts along the unsettled frontier in the west, and in the summer of 1805 it was talked in New Orleans, and hardly denied by Casa Calvo, that Spain would take back Lou- isiana province. At the same time the United States was laying claim to Baton Rouge district and all east, including Mobile, as part of the cession of Louisiana, and some of the people in Mis-

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sissippi territory really believed that region should have passed with New Orleans, which was not strange, as Talleyrand himself professed to be in doubt about the rights of the matter. All cir- cumstances were breeding war, and the Kempers were the sort of people to bring complications to a focus. This affair was part of the general condition marked by the proposed Caller raid on Mobile, the Sabine expedition, and the great filibuster project of Aaron Burr, and finally culminated in the annexation of the Baton Rouge, Biloxi and Mobile country.

It seems that the trouble in 1804 was quieted. Grand Pré, after the raid of 1804, maintained patrols along the line, near Pinck- neyville, and the people who had suffered waited for their oppor- tunity for revenge, which came in September, 1805, when Reuben Kemper was with his brothers near Pinckneyville. On the night of the 3rd, a party of armed men, (Reuben Kemper said at least 19), some negroes and some white men in disguise, visited the two Kemper homes, seized the three brothers in their beds, and after beating them with clubs, bound them and carried them across the line, where the raiders met a patrol, under Capt. Solomon Alston, and silently vanished, leaving the prisoners in the hands of the Spanish militia, which, it is to be understood, was American under the Spanish flag. The raiders included, according to the testimony heard by Judge Thomas Rodney, residents both above and below the line. Among them were Doctor Bonner, Henry Flower and McDermot. Reuben Kemper testified that he recognized Louis Ritchie, Minor Butler, Abraham Horton, and James Horton and two others, of the Mississippi territory, and several of Abraham Horton's slaves, and Marcus Carr, James Say, Philip Say, and others, living below the line. The Kempers were taken by Alston to Tunica landing and embarked in a boat, under guard of William Barker, Charles Stuart, John Morris, John Ratliff, George Rowe and Adam Bingaman, to be taken to Baton Rouge, but as they passed Pointe Coupee, the prisoners found means to declare their situation to Doctor Powles; and Lieutenant Wilson, commanding the United States garrison, immediately manned his boat, boarded the pirogue, and took the whole party into custody. Gov. Williams was notified, and a few days later the prisoners were taken to Fort Adams and turned over to Captain Sparks, and by him later to the civil authorities. After an investigation by Judge Rodney, the Spanish patrol was discharged, the Kempers released on recogni- zance to keep the peace, especially toward the subjects of the king of Spain, and the Mississippi citizens alleged to be guilty were bound over to court. To prevent any further disturbance, Gov. Williams ordered Col. Ellis, commanding the Fifth militia regiment, to put on duty at Pinckneyville two companies. Gov. Williams and Gov. Grand Pré corresponded on the subject, and the Spanish officer declared he was about to take efficacious measures to stop the trouble, "which had risen to its full height on the territory of this government-disorder, confusion, violations, outrages, plunder, insult to the magistrate, dragging him by a rope about his

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neck, attempts on the flag of the king my master, and now the violations committed with the Kempers, authors of all the above, on the government of your excellency." (Amer. State Papers, For. Aff. II, 683-89.) In consequence of this affair John Ran- dolph reported a bill in congress for the raising of an army to repel and punish Spanish aggressions. But the administration was op- posed to such a step.

But the Kempers were fully able to make war for themselves. They inspired the Baton Rouge revolution (q. v.) a few years later, and of their part in this is written by the historian Pickett, (Ala- bama, II, 236).

"The Kempers, apart from mercenary motives for engaging in this rebellion, desired to gratify a feeling of revenge. Reuben and Samuel captured Kneeland, one of the kidnappers, and inflicted upon his bare back one hundred lashes, then one hundred more for their brother Nathan, who was absent, cut off his ears with a dull knife, and permitted him to retire. These trophies of resent- ment were long preserved in spirits of wine, and hung up in one of the Kemper's parlor. Reuben caught another of these wretches named Horton, and chastised him as long as the latter could receive it and live. Barker, seized by the Kempers at the courthouse at Fort Adams, under the nose of the judge, was dragged forth and flayed until they were content. Captain Alston, who received the Kempers at the line, with a Spanish guard, died of the dropsy, contracted in lying in an open boat, at anchor, every night, to avoid the attacks of the injured brothers."

Kemper County was erected December 23, 1833, and received its name from Reuben Kemper, an American soldier in the Florida and Mexican wars. It is situated near the center of the eastern line of the State on the Alabama border. It was one of the sixteen counties formed in that year from the territory acquired from the Choctaws, by the treaty of Dancing Rabbit, and the act defined its boundaries as follows: "The territory within townships nine, ten, eleven and twelve, of ranges fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, and nineteen." It is bounded on the north by Winston and Noxubee counties, on the east by Alabama, on the south by Lauderdale county, and on the west by Neshoba county, and has an area of 704 square miles. The following is a list of its county officers for the year 1838, taken from Besancon's Annual Register : Lawrence W. Pennington, Sheriff; Lewis Stovall, Clerk of the Circuit Court ; Benjamin C. Oppelt, Judge of Probate; William G. Gill, Clerk of Probate Court; C. R. Mckaskill, Assessor and Col- lector ; Silas Manor, Ranger; Mathew Newton, Coroner; William B. Jay, County Treasurer ; David Henderson, Surveyor ; Board of Police, John Rhodes, Mathew Jackson, John F. Aulds, Washington McDaniel, Solomon Lanham; Justices of the Peace, James W. Jones, Rivers, Daniel Ship, Presley Floyd, Alsa Pace, Spears, Benjamin C. Oppelt, Washington A. Cook; Constables, Andrew Jester, Hezekiah Chepman, William Killin. The interests of the county are almost exclusively agricultural, and while it possesses

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a considerable population, 29,492, there are no towns of any size within its borders. The county site is Dekalb, a place of 240 people, near the center of the county and off the railroad. Numer- ous other small towns are scattered over its area, among which are Sucarnoochee, Porterville, Scooba, Enondale, and Wahalak on the railroad. The county has grown very rapidly in wealth and population since 1890, and the productive lands of the region are attracting more settlers every year, the Mobile & Ohio R. R. aiding materially in the work. The principal market for the region is Meridian, a few miles to the south. The streams that water the county are tributaries of the Tombigbee river for the most part and flow to the southeast into Alabama. The more important ones are Sucarnoochee, Scooba, Blackwater, Bodea and Pawticfaw creeks. The Mobile & Ohio R. R. runs through the eastern part of the county from north to south and gives it access to the market of Meridian. Much of the county is timbered with long and short leaf pine, oaks, walnut, chestnut and gum. In the eastern part the lands are prairie, in the middle and western parts the soil is a sandy loam with clay soil, easily worked and productive. Good crops of cot- ton, corn, oats, wheat, sugar-cane, sorghum, field peas, potatoes, fruits and vegetables are raised. Pasturage of native grasses, switch cane and Japan clover is excellent and considerable atten- tion is paid to stock raising and dairying.

The twelfth census of the United States for the year 1900 shows that there were in the county 3,314 farms, 312,641 acres in farms, 132,562 acres improved, the value of the land exclusive of build- ings was $1,205,500, value of the buildings $531,520, value of the live stock $621,930, and the total value of the products not fed to stock was $1,247,194. The number of manufacturing establish- ments was 47, capital invested $81,475, wages paid $14,683, cost of materials $36,157, and the total value of products $86,007. The population in 1900 consisted of 17,669 whites, 11,823 colored, a total of 29,492, and an increase of 11,531 over the census returns for 1890. The total assessed valuation of real and personal property in the county in 1905 was $2,226,990 and in 1906 it was $2,934,945.50, showing an increase during the year of $707,955.50. Owing to the great number of negroes who have left the county for the lumber- ing districts of the State the total population has not materially increased since the last census. Artesian water is found in the east central part of the county. The schools of the county are in a flourishing condition.

Kemper, Reuben, of Louisiana, brother of Nathan and Samuel Kemper, whose homes were near Pinckneyville, died while at Natchez on business, Jan. 28, 1826. He was a native of Fauquier county, Va., and had been conspicuous in the movement to annex West Florida to the United States, as well as the early revolution in Texas. Col. Gilbert C. Russell, of the Third U. S. infantry, re- quested the clergy of Natchez to attend his remains to the grave and perform the ceremonies of the church. He said: The de- ceased was an extraordinary man, possessing a vigorous mind,

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with a large stock of information, and an irresistible resolution and firmness of purpose, which carried him straight ahead to his ob- ject, in the attainment of which he always believed himself right. He was as sincere in his attachments as he was implaca- ble in his resentments, when he felt that he had been injured or betrayed. In everything he did, he always exercised the utmost candor. . Moreover he was warmly attached to our govern- ment and country and in every sense a true patriot."

Kemper Springs, a hamlet in the southern part of Kemper county 12 miles south of Dekalb, the county seat. The postoffice at this place was discontinued in 1905, and it now receives rural free delivery from Lauderdale.

Kendrick, a post-hamlet in the northeastern part of Alcorn county, located on Seven Mile creek, 8 miles east of Corinth, the county seat, and the nearest railroad and banking town. It has a money order postoffice. Population in 1900, 90.

Kennolia, a post-hamlet of Franklin county, about 16 miles northeast of Meadville, the county seat. Population in 1900, 25.

Keno, a postoffice of Marion county, on Upper Little creek, 7 miles due east of Columbia, the county seat, and nearest railroad and banking town.

Kentarkey, a hamlet of Neshoba county. The postoffice here has been discontinued and mail now goes to Engine.

Kenwood, or Magenta Station, a postoffice of Washington county on the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley R. R., 7 miles east of Greenville. Keownville, a post-village of Union county, 9 miles northeast of New Albany, the county seat and nearest railroad and banking town. It has two churches, a seminary and a plough factory. Population in 1900, 82.

Ker, David, territorial judge, was a native of Down Patrick, North Ireland, of one of the Scotch families that sought that count- ry for religious freedom. The family connections in Scotland were historic, and included the Duke of Roxburgh and Marquis of Lothain. David was graduated at Trinity college, Dublin, and migrated, with his wife Mary, to North Carolina, before the Rev- olution; founded the university at Chapel Hill, and was the first head of its faculty, says Wheeler's North Carolina. "In 1789 his name appears as a member of Orange presbytery, North Carolina. In 1790 he was residing in Fayetteville as a minister, and in charge of a classical academy. In 1794 he was elected professor of human- ities in the University of North Carolina, and placed in charge of the institution. Resigning in 1796, he removed to Lumberton, where he became a merchant and studied law. He moved in 1800 with Gen. Willis, of Lumberton, to Mississippi." (Mays' History of Education.) Ker was, in fact, the one professor of the univer- sity, and began his work there in February, 1795, according to Wheeler's History. At Natchez, in 1801, he established the first school for girls in the Mississippi territory. In the same year he was appointed sheriff of Adams county, and in the fall of 1802, upon the removal of Peter Walker, he was made clerk of the court

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of the same county. Upon the departure of Judge Tilton, in the summer of 1802, Gov. Claiborne, reporting this to Mr. Madison, recommended the appointment of "David Ker, of this territory; Mr. Ker is an able lawyer and an amiable man; he unites to pure republicanism, pre-eminent talents, and would, in my estimation, fill the office of judge with dignity to himself and usefulness to his country." His commission arrived in December, when Judge Ker entered upon the duties of his office. The appointment, the gov- ernor wrote, gave "much satisfaction to a great portion of the citizens." His death, in 1805, ended his service as a judge.

His eldest son, John Ker, was an eminent physician and surgeon in the Territorial troops in the War of 1812-15. A daughter of David, another son, married Dr. Rush Nutt.

Kerr, a hamlet of Choctaw county. It has a money order post- office.

Kewanee, a post-hamlet of Lauderdale county, on the Alabama Great Southern R. R., 16 miles east of Meridian, the county seat. Population in 1900, 50. The population in 1906 was estimated at 100.

Kienstra, or Kienstra's Store, a post-hamlet in the southwestern part of Adams county, on the Mississippi river, 28 miles south of Natchez. Population in 1900, 35.

Kileton, a postoffice of De Soto county, 8 miles east of Her- nando, the county seat. Population in 1900, 15.

Kilgore, a postoffice in the northeastern part of Lafayette county, about 20 miles from Oxford, the county seat. Population in 1900, 20.

Kilmichael, an incorporated post-town of Montgomery county, on the Southern Ry., 10 miles by rail east of Winona, the county seat. It lies in the center of a fine agricultural district, with an abundance of good timber in the vicinity. A money order post- office is maintained here; the Bank of Kilmichael was established in 1904. The town maintains excellent schools and several good brick business buildings have recently been erected. The town may be said to be on a boom. Its population in 1900 was 227, which has since been materially increased.

Kiln, a post-hamlet in the southeastern part of Hancock county, on Catahoula creek, 10 miles northwest of Bay St. Louis, the county seat and nearest railroad and banking town. Population in 1900, 67, and in 1906 the population was estimated at 200. It has two saw mills and a turpentine plant.

Kincaid, a postoffice of Grenada county, 9 miles east of Grenada, the county seat.

King, a post-hamlet in the southwestern part of Rankin county, on Steen's creek, 16 miles from Brandon, the county seat. Florence, 4 miles to the northeast, on the Gulf & Ship Island R. R., is the nearest railroad town. Population in 1900, 42.

Kingston, one of the earliest settlements in Adams county. (See Adams county). Founded in 1784 by Caleb King, and located about 16 miles southeast of Natchez, and about 2 miles from the Homo-

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chitto river. Its prosperous era was 1800-1824, when it had about 150 inhabitants, three stores, a church, and a number of shops. The only remains of the old town are one dwelling, a doctor's office, and a Methodist church, which is said to be the oldest Protestant church in the State. Two stores and two steam gins are located in the neighborhood.

Kioto, a postoffice of Pike county.

Kipling, a postoffice in the south-central part of Kemper county, on Pawticfaw creek, 6 miles due south of Dekalb, the county seat.

Kirby, a postoffice of Franklin county, on Morgan's Fork, 6 miles northwest of Meadville, the county seat.

Kirby, Ephraim, of Litchfield, Conn., born 1757, was a soldier at Bunker Hill, and during the course of the war of the Revolution received thirteen wounds. Afterward he worked to support him- self while studying, earned the degree of master of arts at Yale, read law, and in 1789 published the first volume of State reports of Massachusetts, probably the first in the United States. He was several times a candidate for governor of Massachusetts, but on the weaker side of the political field in that State. July 12, 1803, Pres- ident Jefferson recognized his services and merits by appointment as one of the land title commissioners for the district east of Pearl river, and he was also appointed Territorial judge, April 6, 1804. He reached his field of labor, but died at Fort Stoddert, October 2, 1804. His son was Col. Edmund Kirby, of the Mexican war ; his grandson was Edmund Kirby, who ably commanded Rickett's United States battery after First Manassas until he was killed ; his nephew was Lieut-Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith, of the Confed- erate States army.

Kirk, a postoffice in Pearl River county, 8 miles southeast of Poplarville, the county seat.

Kirklin, a postoffice of Pike county.

Kirksy, a postoffice in the northwestern part of Panola county, about 15 miles northwest of Sardis, one of the two county seats of justice.

Kirkville, a post-hamlet in the northwestern part of Itawamba county, 15 miles north, northwest of Fulton, the county seat, and 8 miles east of Baldwyn, on the M. & O. R. R., the nearest railroad and banking town. Population in 1900, 50; in 1906 its population was estimated at 100.

Kirkwood, a post-hamlet in the extreme northeastern part of Madison county, about 24 miles from Canton, the county seat. Population in 1900, 38.

Kittrell, a hamlet in the west-central part of Greene county, 18 miles from Leakesville, the county seat. Population in 1900, 42.

Klein, a postoffice of Smith county.

Knights of Pythias. Robert E. Lee lodge, No. 1, was organized at Vicksburg, Jan. 25, 1871, through the efforts of John H. Darne, member at Washington, D. C., who was elected patriarch, the other officers being J. H. King, W. M. Chamberlain, W. S. Coak- ley, J. L. Magonos, E. B. Ciscoe, Henry Gran. This lodge, insti-

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tuted March 8, 1871, has ever since maintained a foremost place in Pythian affairs in Mississippi. Jackson lodge, No. 2, was instituted in 1871, by the Vicksburg brothers, met once, and succumbed to the yellow fever. Natchez lodge, No. 3, in 1872, George Washing- ton lodge, No. 3, Vicksburg, 1872; Eva Clare lodge, No. 5, Okolo- na, 1873, are pioneers that have had an unbroken career. Hazle- hurst, No. 6, survived five years from 1873. Washington 7, Green- ville, survives as Stonewall Jackson, No. 7. These lodges joined in organizing the grand lodge of Mississippi, July 23, 1874, at Vicksburg, electing G. St. C. Hussey past grand chancellor. The grand lodge has met annually since then at various cities, with the following chancellors: William French, 1874; John S. Cain, 1875; George G. Manlove, 1876; Thomas J. Hanes, 1877, Emanuael Hirsch, 1878; William C. McLean, 1879; Edward T. Sykes, 1880; Owen Royce, 1881; B. V. White, 1882; Marye Dabney, 1883; James M. Crump, 1884 ; H. B. Lacey, 1885; Martin Marshall, 1886 ; Douglass S. Wright, 1887; Simon Fried, 1888; Thomas R. Pettway, 1889; William Cross, 1890; Lyman G. Aldrich, 1891; Harry Pey- ton, 1892 ; J. M. Buchanan, 1893; R. C. Allein, 1894; William D. Cameron, 1895; Charles G. Bell, 1896; P. B. Powell, 1897; H. M. Quin, 1898; Garnet P. McGehee, 1899; Morris Blumenthal, 1900; Marshall J. Bouldin, 1901; Louis J. Adler, 1902; Robert M. Kelly, 1903; E. S. Candler, Jr., 1904; John T. Senter, 1905.

The order made little progress in the State until 1880, and the growth then experienced was followed by a period of little ad- vancement until 1890, since when, the order has been growing steadily and increasing in prosperity and popularity.

Knoxville, an incorporated post-town of Franklin county, on the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley R. R., 24 miles southeast of Natchez, and 16 miles by rail north of Gloster, the nearest banking town. Population in 1900, 200. It was named by its Tennessee settlers for the town in their own State.

Know Nothing Order. During the year 1854, writes Reuben Davis, in his Recollections, "the country began to inquire into cer- tain facts which were startling, because no man could explain them. Men, who were not even candidates, were elected to office against popular candidates whose race was expected to be a walk-over. What mysterious organization was at work to produce these re- sults could not be divined by the uninitiated, but the fact of the existence of some powerful and secret society could not be doubted. Finally it was revealed that an organization existed under the name of the 'Know Nothing Order' and that it was becoming form- idable. It already included the Whig party in solid mass, and was rapidly absorbing the Democrats. The professed object of the order was to prohibit foreigners from voting until qualified by a residence of 21 years. All through the Northern States the Know Nothings carried everything before them, and controlled both State and municipal elections. They received no check until they reached Virginia." The State political campaign of 1855 was be-

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tween the Democrats and this new political organization. (See McRae's administration).

Kodol, a postoffice of Kemper county.

Kola, a postoffice of Covington county, on the Gulf & Ship Island R. R., 6 miles east of Williamsburg, the county seat. There is a large saw mill located here.

Kosciusko, the county seat of Attala county, is an incorporated post-town situated on the Aberdeen division of the Illinois Central R. R., about 74 miles northeast of Jackson, the State capital. The Yockanookany river, whose source is about 40 miles northeast, flows within one mile of Kosciusko. The town was located in 1834, and was originally named Paris. In 1839, its name was changed to Kosciusko for Tadeusz Kosciusko, the Polish patriot. By reason of its remarkably healthful location, and its situation near the geographical center of the State, it was prominently considered as an eligible site for the location of the State University, and was one of the seven contestants for that honor in 1841, receiving 12, 16 and 18 votes on the first three ballots. Among the prominent men of the State, who once made their home here, may be men- tioned ; Judge Joseph A. P. Campbell, his younger brother, Judge Charles H. Campbell, Gen. Henry Gray, Judge Robert Hudson, Judge Sam Young, Judge R. Boyd, Judge Jason Niles, George W. Cable, Bishop Charles B. Galloway, Rev. T. A. S. Adams, and C. H. Alexander. Some of the prominent men now residing in Kosciusko are : Judge Henry C. Niles, Col. C. L. Anderson, Dr. J. H. Alex- ander, Judge James F. McCool, S. L. Dodd, C. C. Kelly, Eugene Kelly, W. B. Potts, F. Z. Jackson, W. M. Noah, Wiley Sanders, C. M. Brooke, G. F. Boyd, and M. L. Dew.

Kosciusko is a thriving town, possessed of an industrious and energetic population, chiefly engaged in mercantile pursuits. It is the local trade center for a large and very fine agricultural district, embracing a large part of Attala county, and much of the counties of Leake and Neshoba. Its annual shipment of cotton aggregates about 25,000 bales. It has a private system of water works, elec- tricity, three hotels, eight churches, three banks, two newspapers, a cotton factory with 12,500 spindles and a capital stock of $175,000, principally owned by local capitalists. The output of the mill is 125,000 yards a week. Among the other manufacturing enterprises in the town are an oil mill, spoke factory, ice factory, brick factory and a fertilizer factory. The value of the annual output of the last named factory is about $200,000; the cost of material used is about $120,000 ; wages paid about $40,000. The C. C. Kelly Banking Co. was established in 1884, and has a capital of $100,000; the Merchants & Farmers Bank was established in 1890, capital $50,000; the Kos- ciusko Bank was established in 1895 with a capital of $50,000. The Star Ledger, and the Herald, are both influential Democratic weeklies. All the prominent religious denominations maintain churches here, and the city supports an excellent public school. A public school building, containing 14 rooms, was erected in 1897, and an annex was built in 1906. Prof. G. F. Boyd is the

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Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. I, Part 108

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