Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. I, Part 45

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 45

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He called upon county officers to execute the laws and restore order. "Let all citizens fearlessly adhere to the fortunes of the State, assist the returning soldiers to obtain civil employment, contemn all twelfth-hour vaporers, and meet facts with fortitude and common sense." The governor, observes Garner, evidently proceeded upon the belief that the business of reconstruction would be left to the existing State authorities.

The situation was fearfully complicated by the assassination of President Lincoln, immediately after the surrender of Gen. Robert E. Lee in April. This insane deed well-nigh doubled the unhappy brood of evils that afflicted the American Republic.

A week after the publication of Governor Clark's proclamation, the military commandant at Natchez proclaimed warning that all good citizens of that district should pay no attention to the "so- called Governor Clark." It was proclaimed that martial law still existed over the State, and steps would be rapidly taken to pro- tect life and property and preserve order. The only convention that would be recognized was that called at Vicksburg, June 11, as the result of an appeal by Judge Burwell that the State should be reorganized to re-enter the United States. Some Mississippians preparatory to this had joined in a meeting at Memphis May 1, with Tennesseeans and Arkansans.

The legislature convened under the call of Governor Clark at Jackson, May 20, and heard a message from Governor Clark, in which he asserted his view of the situation, and expressed deep re-

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gret for the death of Mr. Lincoln. "For this act of atrocity, so repugnant to the instincts of our hearts, you feel, I am sure, in com- mon with the whole people, the profoundest sentiments of detes- tation."

On convening, the members of the legislature were permitted by General Osband, commanding the brigade of negro troops then posted at Jackson, to learn that orders had been received for their arrest if they attempted to act as a legislature. The session was continued just long enough to read and adopt a few elaborate resolutions, drawn up in advance. These included (says J. L. Power, Miss. Hist. Publ. III, 74) a joint resolution empowering the governor to send commissioners to Washington "to consult with" President Johnson as to a plan for restoring the State of Mississippi to harmonious relations with the Federal government, on such a basis as will tend to perpetuate the liberty and prosperity of the American people;" another deploring the assassination of President Lincoln and attempt upon Secretary Seward and repudi- ating the idea of Jefferson Davis or Jacob Thompson being impli- cated in the same; and another (Garner's Reconstruction, 60) making provision for a constitutional convention to meet July 3.

General Osband's orders were, that by the direction of the presi- dent he should recognize no officer of the Confederate or State government, should prevent any meeting of the legislature and ar- rest and imprison any member who insisted on exercising the ' functions of a legislator. Civil officers were advised that they were not included in the capitulation of the military, and were ad- vised to return to their homes, protect the archives and public records, and await the action of the United States government.

Immediately after the adjournment of the legislature General Osband notified the governor that he "could not recognize the civil government of Mississippi, and having placed the offices of the heads of the State departments under guard, demanded the custody of public books, papers and property, and the executive mansion, appointing Monday 22d, inst. for their delivery. At 9 a.in., Governor Clark delivered to me all public property of the State under protest, but without asking to have force employed." (Osband's report.)

It was impossible that Governor Clark should realize that any- thing had happened to justify disregard of the "sovereignty" of Mississippi, as embodied in him as chief executive, and he was quite honest in his views and brave in maintaining them.

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It is related that he straightened himself upon his crutches, and said: "General Osband, I denounce before high heaven and the civilized world this unparalleled act of tyranny and usurpation. I am the duly and constitutionally elected governor of the State of Mississippi, and would resist, if in my power, to the last extremity, the enforcement of your order. I only yield obedience, as I have no power to resist." (T. J. Wharton). A few days later he was arrested as a prisoner of State, and for a few weeks he was confined at Fort Pulaski, near Savannah, Ga.

There followed an interregnum in which the State was without even that form of civil government that had continued through the war. "This was a period of anxious uncertainty. Many expected wholesale confiscation, proscription, and the reign of the scaffold. People were thrown into more or less terror." (Garner). Governor Clark had selected William L. Sharkey, William Yerger and Thomas J. Wharton (who was unable to go) to visit Washington and consult the president, and they were accompanied by Jones S. Hamilton, as secretary, who bore the expenses of the journey. They were received with great kindness and immediately referred to the proclamation regarding the reconstruction of North Carolina, issued May 29, which revealed the plan of President Johnson. They believed this would meet with the approval of the State, and were informed by the president that they must amend their constitution so as to conform to the facts of the situation. The people of Mississippi must recognize and abide by the new order of things resulting from the war, including the abolition of slavery. The interregnum closed June 13, with the appointment of Judge Sharkey by the president as provisional governor.

Clark, Daniel, an Irishman who had commanded a Pennsylva- nia regiment in the royal service. (Claiborne.) At Pensacola he was at one time clerk of the council of West Florida. He was one of the first to obtain grants of land in West Florida, receiving January 15, 1768, patents to 1,000 acres near the Natchez fort, which James McIntosh owned later, and another tract of 2,000, that went to James Dallas, also 500 acres near Fort Bute, and 1,000 on Lake Maurepas. During the Revolution he was a staunch friend of the United States, and was associated with Pollock in various enterprises, including encouragement of the Spanish con- quest of Natchez district. After that he was granted 565 acres on Second Creek in 1787, 1,020 on the Mississippi in 1787, 1,000 in what was afterward Wilkinson county in 1789, 600 on the Mis-

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sissippi in 1793, 5,800 on Bayou Sara in 1794. He bought and sold lands by the thousands of acres in various parts of the district. His home on the river was north of the line surveyed in 1798, and at this place, called Clarksville, Carondelet first proposed the boundary commission should meet.

He was an alcalde under the Spanish government and a member of the Permanent Committee in the transition period, and received from Governor Sargent the offices of commander of the militia of Adams county, the southern half of the territory, and senior justice of the courts of quarter sessions and common pleas. Just before his death he wrote an able letter defending the integrity of the governor, who had depended upon him greatly in the organiza- tion of the territory. He died of fever, July 16, 1800.

In his charge to the grand jury at the next court of quarter sessions of Adams county, Justice William Dunbar, his successor, said that "of all those gentlemen who have been honored with seats upon this bench, the late Colonel Clark was perhaps the only per- son who possessed from the experience of his earlier years, treas- ured up in a mind replete with native energy, a sufficient fund of knowledge to entitle him to preside over this court with conscious dignity. Long will this community have cause to lament the de- parture of this able magistrate." (Annals of Sixth Congress, p. 1390).

In his last illness Colonel Clark was attended by his nephew Daniel Clark, Jr., who, in his own words, "arrived from Europe at New Orleans, in December, 1786, having been invited to the coun- try by an uncle of considerable wealth and influence, who had been long resident in that city. Shortly after my arrival I was em- ployed in the office of the secretary of the government." The younger Clark was recommended for appointment as consul at New Orleans by Andrew Ellicott and Governor Sargent. In the fall and winter of 1802-03 he was in Europe and vice-consul Hulings had charge of affairs. On his return he was at Natchez in March, 1803. After the cession of Louisiana he again became prominent through association with the affairs of Aaron Burr and Gen. James Wilkinson. To the latter he was a dangerous enemy, because of his knowledge of Spanish intrigue. The daughter of the junior Clark, Mrs. Myra Gaines, was the claimant of certain lands in New Orleans, of great value, her claim giving rise to protracted litiga- tion and frequent discussions before Congress.

Clark, Joshua G., first chancellor of Mississippi, 1821-28, was born, reared and educated in Pennsylvania. He had resided in the

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Mississippi territory some years, and had repute as a lawyer before his election as a delegate of Claiborne county to the constitutional convention of 1817. He was elected one of the judges of the supreme court of the State in the fall of 1818, to succeed Wm. B. Shields, and on November 27, 1821, the legislature by unani- mous vote chose him for the first chancellor of the State. "Not a brilliant, but a solid, painstaking and well-read lawyer," says J. F. H. Claiborne. His career as chancellor was cut short by his death at Port Gibson July 23, 1828.

Clarke County is situated in the eastern part of the State on the Alabama border and was established December 23, 1833. The county has a land surface of 664 square miles. It was named in honor of Judge Joshua G. Clarke, the first Chancellor of the State. The original act defined its limits as follows :- "Beginning on the state line of Alabama, at the point at which the line between townships four and five strikes said state line, and running from thence west, with said line between townships four and five, to the line between ranges thirteen and fourteen east; and from thence south, with said line between ranges thirteen and fourteen east to the southern boundary line of the Choctaw nation; from thence east with said boundary line, to the northwest corner of the Higoowanne reserve; from thence to the northeast corner of the same; thence east along said boundary line, to the point at which the southern boundary of township number one strikes the same ; and from thence directly east to the State of Alabama, and from thence north with said state line to the place of beginning." The total area is 664 square miles. The following is a list of the first officers of the county: David B. Thompson, Sheriff ; George Evans, Treasurer ; Henry Hailes, Probate Judge; William Cov- ington, Clerk of the Circuit and Probate Courts; Norman Martin, Samuel K. Lewis, George Knight, Stephen Grice, Calvin M. Lud- low, members of the Board of Police. It is bounded on the north by Lauderdale county, on the east by Alabama, on the south by Wayne county and on the west by Jasper county. The old Choc- taw boundary forms its southern line and divides it from Wayne county. The county seat is Quitman, located at the center of the county on the line of the Mobile & Ohio railway. The site was owned and laid off into lots by Gen. John Watts, afterwards Cir- cuit Judge. It is a place of 1,000 inhabitants and was named for General John A. Quitman, second Chancellor of the State, after- wards Governor and a prominent officer in the Mexican war. Two more of the important towns in the county are Stonewall, (popu-

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lation 1,000 in 1900,) and Enterprise, in the northern part of the county on the line of the Mobile & Ohio, containing 1,000 inhabi- tants. The Stonewall cotton factory is a flourishing industry. Some of the other towns are Shubuta, Pachuta, DeSoto. The Chickasawhay river flows through the center of the county, and, with its numerous tributaries, provides ample water facilities. All the waters of the county flow southward, and join the Pasca- goula river in Greene county. The Mobile & Ohio railway runs through the center of the county, and the New Orleans & North- eastern railway through the western part, giving it excellent rail- road communication north and south. The general surface of the county is level and it is well timbered with long-leaf or yellow pine; in the bottom lands with oak, hickory, magnolia, beech, pecan, etc. The soil is a light sandy loam with a clay subsoil which is very rich on the bottoms. It produces cotton, corn, oats, peas, peanuts, sugar cane and rice, as well as all kinds of fruits and vegetables. Pasture for stock is extensive and the industry of stock raising and sheep husbandry will eventually attain to large proportions. Manufactures to exploit the wealth of raw ma- terial in this region are rapidly developing, and products of the value of nearly three quarters of a million dollars are now being turned out.

The United States census for 1900 gives the following data for the manufacturing industries of the county :- Total number of establishments 60, total capital invested $977,535, total wages paid $118,217, total cost of materials used $381,235 and total value of products $692,882. Farm statistics, taken from the same source, are as follows :- Total number of farms in the county 2,308, total acreage in farms 232,888, acres under cultivation 73,488, value of the land and improvements, exclusive of buildings $775,850, value of the buildings $421,720, value of the live stock $412,059 and total of products $820,542. The total assessed valuation of real and personal property in the county in 1905 was $2,221,947.71 and in 1906 it was $3,113,145.16, which shows an increase for the year of $891,197.45. The population in 1900 was composed of 9,245 whites, 8,496 colored, a total of 17,741 and an increase over 1890 of 1,915. The total population in 1906 was estimated at 20,000. Artesian water has been found at Quitman, Enterprise and Shubuta.

Clarksburg, a post-hamlet in the eastern part of Rankin county, on the Alabama & Vicksburg R. R., 16 miles east of Brandon, the

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county seat. Pelahatchie is its nearest banking town. Population in 1900, 60.

Clarksdale, one of the two seats of justice of Coahoma county, is a prosperous and flourishing city situated at the junction of two branches of the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley R. R., 76 miles south of Memphis, and at the head of high water navigation on the Sunflower river. The city was platted in 1868, and is named for John Clark, brother-in-law of Governor Alcorn. The transportation of the region was formerly by river, but since the advent of the Louisville, New Orleans & Texas railway in 1884, which gave the first impetus to the town, navigation has been largely discontinued. Clarksdale is the important business center for the county. In 1889, the entire business portion was burned, but was promptly rebuilt with substantial brick and iron struc- tures, so that the fire was a blessing in disguise. Clarksdale is the best drained city in the Delta and is above the high water mark of the Mississippi. Near Clarksdale is situated the cele- brated rose farm of the Goode, Reese Co., which has made rose culture a success. It is the largest mule market in the state, and has many large wholesale establishments. There are 5 banks, 4 news- papers, 2 cotton compresses, 2 cottonseed oil mills, a planing mill and grist mill, 2 ice factories and bottling works combined, 2 brick and tile plants, a spoke factory, heading mill, steam laundry, a public gin, machine shop and foundry. Churches representing all the principal denominations are found here, and there is an excel- lent high school. The Banner and Challenge are Democratic weeklies, the former being established in 1888, and the latter in 1896. The Journal (colored), was established in 1899. The Clarksdale Register, established in 1902, is one of the leading Democratic papers. Many handsome residences adorn the city, evidencing the wealth and taste of the owners. An efficient Board of Health is maintained. Population increased from 781 in 1890, to 1,773 in 1900, and has grown rapidly since that date. The popu- lation in 1906 was estimated at 6,000.

Clarks Mill, a post-hamlet in the northern part of Carroll county, about 9 miles north of Carrollton, the county seat. Population in 1900, 21.

Clarkson, a post-hamlet in the eastern part of Webster county, about 6 miles north by east of Walthall, the county seat. Mathis- ton is the nearest railroad and banking town. It has a school known as the Bennett Academy. Population in 1900, 68.

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Clarysville, a post-hamlet of Tippah county, about 6 miles south of Ripley, the county seat, and the nearest railroad and banking town. Population in 1900, 24.

Clay, a post-hamlet of Itawamba county, .6 miles east of Fulton, the county seat.

Clay and Brick. Hilgard described among the clays of the Orange sand formation, deposited probably by great currents of glacial water from the north rushing into a shallow sea, the white pipe clay, of which the most considerable bed is in Tishomingo county, a white pipe clay of great purity. It lacks the feldspar of kaolin, but could be used for fine queensware and fire-proof brick. Similar white clays were mentioned by Wailes as occurring at White Cliffs and near Woodville. Tinted clays are also found. "Good potters clay is most frequently found, in the flatwoods region and the hilly country to the westward of the same. . So far as I know, however, two potteries only, up to the present time (1860) are availing themselves of these deposits, one at Holly Springs, the other in North Tippah county. Harper reported a third in Calhoun county. A fire-brick clay is found two miles from Oxford. In the southeastern counties are numerous small de- posits. A red clay is found near Iuka, that seemed to Hilgard available for the manufacture of paint.

In the more recent deposit of soil, the yellow loam, there are abundant beds of clay excellent for the manufacture of brick.

Dr. W. N. Logan, professor of geology and mining at the Agri- cultural and Mechanical college, says in his last report: "One of the most valuable natural resources of Mississippi is an inex- haustible supply of fine clays. Much of our future wealth and progress will depend upon the rapidity with which this resource is developed. At the present time we are almost wholly depend- ent upon a clay product for our building material; and yet the total value of the clay products produced in Mississippi in 1903 was only $677,000. . During the past few years a large num- ber of good brick plants have been established in the State, but, nevertheless, when the product from many of our plants is seen, the statement made by Dr. E. Hilgard nearly fifty years ago is recalled : 'Few States, perhaps, possess so great an abundance of good brick clays as does Mississippi ; in few, probably, is the aver- age quality of the article manufactured a poorer one.'"

Clay County is a very irregularly shaped district in the north- eastern part of the State, and was erected May 12, 1871, during the administration of Governor Alcorn. It marks the southern

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boundary line of the old Chickasaw Indian territory, and was formed from the counties of Lowndes, Oktibbeha and Chickasaw. The county has a land surface of 399 square miles. Its boundaries were defined by the original act as follows :- "Beginning at a point where the section line running east from the northeast cor- ner of Sec. 24, T. 16, R. 7 east intersects the Tombigbee; thence running due west to the northwest corner of Sec. 19, T. 16, R. 6 east; thence due north to the northeast corner of Sec. 1, T. 15, R. 5 east; thence west to the northwest corner of Sec. 6, T. 15, R. 4 east ; thence south to the southwest corner of Sec. 19 in same Twp. and Range; thence west to the northwest corner of Sec. 30, T. 15, R. 3 east; thence south to the southwest corner of Sec. 26, T. 20, R. 14 east ; thence to the point on Tibbee creek nearest said southeast corner of Sec. 25; thence down the meanderings of said Tibbee creek, making said creek the county line, to the county line between Lowndes and Oktibbeha counties; thence south along said line to the southwest corner of Sec. 18, T. 19, R. 16 east; thence east to the southeast corner of Sec. 14, T. 19, R. 16 east, to Catalapa creek; thence down the meanderings of said creek to its junction with Tibbee creek; thence down the meanderings of Tibbee creek to its junction with the Tombigbee river; thence north, following the meanderings of said river to the point of be- ginning." It was at first named Colfax, for Schuyler Colfax, under carpet bag rule and remained Colfax until the Democrats came into power, when it was changed to Clay. Its early history is that of the counties from which it was carved. It is bounded on the north by Chickasaw and Monroe counties, on the east by Monroe and Lowndes counties, on the south by Lowndes and Oktibbeha counties and on the west by Webster and Chickasaw counties. Its county seat is West Point, a prosperous city of 5,000 inhabitants, located at the junction of three lines of railway-the Illinois Central, the Southern, and the Mobile and Ohio. Within easy distance of the Alabama coal fields and possessed of excel- lent railroad facilities, the city is growing rapidly and manufactures have attained to large proportions. It is classed by the returns of the twelfth census as one of the eleven important manufacturing centers of the State. There are no other large towns in the county, though there are a number of thriving small ones, among which may be mentioned Cedarbluff, Pheba, Montpelier, Abbott, Griffith and Siloam. The Tombigbee river washes a part of its eastern border and the Tibbee, Line, Houlka, Sun, Chewah and Chuquatonchee creeks, tributaries of the Tombigbee, afford it am-

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ple water. The three lines of railway above mentioned give the county excellent shipping facilities and many northern settlers are now coming into this region. The surface of the county is gen- erally undulating and level with considerable open timber and fertile bottom lands. The timber trees consist of all kinds of oaks, hickory, ash, gum, poplar, chestnut, walnut, beech and maple. Artesian water has been found in various parts of the county. The soil is rich, being largely of the black prairie and sandy varieties and will produce cotton, corn, oats, wheat, sorghum, field peas, and grasses in great abundance, as well as all kinds of fruits and vegetables grown in this climate. Alfalfa grown in Clay county by B. H. Strong was awarded the gold medal at the World's Fair in St. Louis. Many northern people have embarked extensively in live stock raising, especially the breeding of cattle and working horses, and have found it very profitable. F. M. Abbott, formerly of New York State, located the village of Abbott, and has made a speciality of breeding short horn cattle. In 1906 he shipped 2 cars of 3 year olds which averaged over 1,500 1bs. per head. Numerous steam mills and manufacturing plants have been established within the last few years, and the region is growing rapidly in wealth and importance. It now has 111,929 acres under cultivation and as soon as the factories are established, which are needed to utilize its wealth of raw materials, the county bids fair to be one of the most prosperous in the State.

The twelfth census of the United States shows that there were 2,815 farms in the county, embracing 198,812 acres; 111,929 of which were under cultivation; the total value of the same was $1,595,120 exclusive of buildings; the value of the buildings was given at $419,040, and the total value of farm products was $567,652. The statistics for manufactures in 1900 are especially interesting and are as follows :- Total number of establishments 70, capital invested in manufacture $268,201, wages paid $65,213, cost of ma- terials used $230,387, and total value of products $440,035. The total assessed valuation of real and personal property in the county in 1905 was $2,677,520 and in 1906 it was $2,923,135, which shows an increase during the year of $245,615. The population of the county in 1900 was whites 5,927, colored 13,636, a total of 19,563 and an increase over 1890 of 956. In 1906 the estimated population was 22,000.

Clay, Henry, visited Natchez, March 11-13, 1830, coming up from New Orleans on the Caledonia, which was covered with flags. The stars and stripes flew from every steamer at the landing, "Old

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Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. I, Part 45

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