USA > Mississippi > Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. I > Part 72
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109
Featherston, Winfield Scott, was born in Rutherford county, Tenn., Aug. 8, 1820, the youngest son of parents who came to Tennessee from Virginia in 1815, and reared seven children at their farm home. He was given an academic education. While at school in Columbus, Ga., in 1836, there was trouble with the Creeks and he volunteered as a soldier. Returning to Rutherford county in 1837, he studied under Samuel P. Black, a noted teacher. For a few months he was in business with his brother at Memphis and finding the vocation distasteful, took up the study of law and, in three months, gained admission to the bar at Houston, Miss., in 1840. "Houston was for years," writes Reuben Davis, "the residence of three of the most prominent men of the State,-Win- field Scott Featherston, Cyrus B. Baldwin and J. A. Orr." While a resident of Houston he was the Democratic nominee for congress in that district, in 1847, and was opposed by the Whigs with Col. A. K. McClung, who had just returned with glory from the Mexi- can war. Featherston was elected, and in the opinion of Reuben Davis, "Mississippi has never sent a more worthy representative."
701
MISSISSIPPI
In 1849 he was opposed by William L. Harris, Whig, and was re- elected. In 1851 he was defeated by John A. Wilcox, candidate of Whigs and Union Democrats. He was an elector on the Pierce ticket in 1852, and declined a renomination to congress in 1853. In 1857 he removed from Houston to Holly Springs. In December, 1860, he was sent by the governor as commissioner to Kentucky in the organization of the secession movement, this being the most important of these missions, next to Virginia. Though 41 years old, Featherston became captain of a volunteer company at Holly Springs, which he took to Corinth in May, at the call of the governor. At the organization there of the 17th regiment he was elected colonel. The regiment was called to Virginia, where Feath- erston was distinguished. He served in the first Manassas battle, and fought with particular distinction at Leesburg, for which he was commissioned brigadier-general, March 4, 1862. He was wounded in the Seven Days before Richmond, but was again on duty in command of a brigade of Mississippians, at Second Manas- sas, Sharpsburg and Fredericksburg. In the latter part of 1862 his brigade petitioned the president for orders to return to Missis- sippi and take part in the campaigns against Grant. This was re- fused, but as Gen. Johnston had asked for a skilled brigadier, Feath- erston was transferred. He took command of a brigade of Lor- ing's division, served with effectiveness in the Yazoo delta, went through the Vicksburg campaign of 1863 (q. v.), and the siege and evacuation of Jackson. Throughout the Atlanta and Nash- ville campaigns he served with distinction, often in command of Loring's division. He led the remnant of his brigade in the Caro- lina campaign and was paroled with Johnston's army, April 26, 1865. Returning to Holly Springs he resumed the practice of law. He was elected to the legislature of 1876 and 1877, and again in 1880, when he was chairman of the judicial committee. In 1887 he was made judge of the Second circuit. In 1889 he was sup- ported by many for the Democratic nomination for governor. He was a very prominent member of the constitutional convention of 1890. His comrades honored him with the office of grand com- mander of the Confederate Veterans of the State, and the rank in that order of major-general, which he yet enjoyed at the time of his death, at Holly Springs, May 28, 1891. He was a man of courtly presence, and incorruptible integrity.
Federation of Women's Clubs. This organization was effected at Kosciusko, May 25, 1898, at a meeting of the representatives of the Women's Clubs of the State. The first officers were Mrs. D. N. Hebron, Vicksburg, president; Mrs. R. J. Harding, Jackson, vice-president ; Mrs. Josie Frazee Cappleman, Okolona, correspon- ding secretary ; Mrs. W. P. Mills, Kosciusko, recording secretary ; Mrs. Alice Brown, Sallis, treasurer. Since then annual meetings have been held at the prominent cities of the State, and the Federa- tion has been represented in the national federation. A history of the organization, by Mrs. Cappleman, has been published in various official club organs.
702
MISSISSIPPI
Felder, a postoffice of Pike county.
Felix, a postoffice of Lamar county, 14 miles north of Purvis, the county seat. Population in 1900, 23.
Fellowship, a postoffice in the southern part of Jones county, located on Tallahalla creek, 15 miles south of Laurel, the county seat.
Fenton, a post-hamlet in the southeastern part of Hancock county, on Bogue Laterre, 8 miles north of Bay St. Louis, the county seat. Population in 1900, 50.
Fentress, a postoffice of Choctaw county, on the Aberdeen branch of the Illinois Central R. R., 3 miles west of Ackerman, the nearest banking town.
Ferguson, a postoffice of Perry county, 3 miles northwest of New Augusta, the county seat.
Ferguson, W. S., born at Charleston, S. C., November 3, 1834. He graduated at West Point in 1857, and was an officer of United States dragoons until his resignation, March 1, 1861; was aide to Gen. Beauregard at the capture of Fort Sumter, also at Manassas, Shiloh and during the siege of Corinth. As lieutenant-colonel of the 28th cavalry he gained great notoriety by attacks on Federal shipping transports along the river in July and August, 1862, and in February to May, 1863 ; he was in command of a large part of the delta, and fought the Federal expeditions during 1863 in that region. Subsequently he organized cavalry in north Mississippi, and was commissioned brigadier-general. With S. D. Lee he opposed Sherman's march to Chattanooga, and in 1864 he took part in the Atlanta campaign. At the last he escorted President Davis from Virginia to Abbeville, S. C., and moved thence to Washington, Ga., where his brigade disbanded. After the war he made his home at Greenville, Miss., where he has been a member of the State levee commissioners and of the United States river commission.
Fernwood, a post-hamlet of Pike county, at the junction of the Fernwood & Gulf, and the Illinois Central R. Rs., 2 miles north of Magnolia, the county seat. A money order postoffice is maintained here. Lumbering is the chief industry. Population in 1900, 65.
Fertilizers. The use of the imported mineral fertilizers is de- creasing under the pressure of the Southern Cotton association and Agricultural college toward the use of farm manure and home fertilizers. Prof. W. F. Hand, the State chemist of the college, says: "The fertilizer law has had the very desirable effect of placing the business in our State upon a logical basis ; goods are bought and sold most largely upon analysis, and the opportunities for turning to profit popular ignorance are rapidly disappearing." Bulletins are issued monthly during the fertilizer season, and mailed to a list of 12,500 names, showing the public the composition of fertilizers for that season. The State chemist reports full co- operation by the fertilizer manufacturers, and as a result of this in- spection it is safe to say that the farmers find it practically impos- sible to buy fraudulent fertilizers. During the season of 1904-05 the sales of fertilizers were 114,260 tons. The fertilizers native to
703
MISSISSIPPI
Mississippi were described in Geologist Hilgard's report, 1860. He said the sand exposed in the railroad cut at Vaiden, Carroll county, contains a large ingredient of green sand grains, of the size of small bird shot but flattened, which are rich in potash and soluble silica, an excellent fertilizer for oats, wheat or corn, and beneficial for any crop. It is not suited to be mixed with farmyard manure, because of its large ingredient of peroxide of iron. The green sand grains and impressions of sea shells serve to distinguish this sand from the common red sand and brown sandstone of the hill tops. It is found also in Attala and along the Big Black. There are also green sand marls in a belt across the central part of the State, embracing Quitman and Canton; also between the ledges of limestone at Vicksburg. The blue limestone at Vicksburg would also, when burnt, form a valuable manure. At Cook's Ferry on the Pearl, is a marl resembling that at Vicksburg, though not so rich in green sand grains, but easily accessible. The clays in the vicinity of Canton, called soapstone, containing whitish specks of carbonate, or sulphate of lime, have the qualities of fertilizers. In the vicin- ity of Jackson and Canton there are marls that contain potash and phosphoric acid. Along the Chickasawhay are beds of sand and marl rich in the green sand grains.
Field, a postoffice of Tunica county, on the Mississippi river, about 12 miles southwest of Tunica, the county seat.
Finances, State. For the period 1817-60 see the Administrations, Holmes to Pettus, also Banking, Money, Internal Improvements, Levees, and Railroads.
In 1830-40 the various States of the Union sold bonds for bank- ing and canal and railroad building to the amount of $150,000,000, and if the credit issues of Florida and New York city were added, the total would amount to $160,000,000. The bank of the United States floated its issues in Europe to the amount of about $20,- 000,000 besides, and an unknown volume of debts was contracted by cities. The United States was paying interest to Europe (in specie) on about $200,000,000. During the same period the imports ex- ceeded the exports about $200,000,000, including over 5,000,000 bushels of wheat, imported for food. The share of Mississippi in the great debt that was accumulated was figured in the official tables at $12,000,000, practically none of which was ever paid.
During the Confederate States period, the State finances were on a credit basis and enormous liabilities were incurred. The legis- lature authorized the issue of $1,000,000 treasury notes in 1861, and $5,000,000 in cotton notes (q. v.) ; the tax levy was largely increased from time to time, and bonds were issued to pay Confed- erate taxes. "Early in 1862 another issue of treasury notes to the amount of $2,500,000 was made. In 1864 another issue of $2,000,- 000 followed. This was accompanied by an issue of $2,000,000 in bonds." (Garner's Reconstruction, 44). According to Attorney- General Harris' testimony before a congressional committee, the disbursements of credit money in 1861 were $1,824,161; in 1862, $6,819,894 ; in 1863, $2,210,794 ; in 1864, $5,446,732. Total $16,301,-
704
MISSISSIPPI
581. "Most of this indebtedness was incurred in 'aid of the rebel- lion' and was repudiated. The actual debt on Oct. 25, 1865, was stated to be $4,979,324. Of this, $3,796,564 were unredeemed cot- ton notes, which were declared to be unconstitutional in 1869. The real indebtedness, therefore, was but little more than $1,000,000." (Garner, p. 44). The railroads were allowed to issue paper money, and were also allowed to pay their debts to the trust fund in Con- federate money, and the public lands, to which the State assumed title, were offered for sale at a sacrifice.
Said James H. Maury in the constitutional convention of 1865, "What is now the indebtedness of the State of Mississippi? Who can conjecture? Can any one mention it? Has the debt of the Planters' bank been paid-that was borrowed by virtue of a provis- ion passed by a convention of the State? Has the debt incurred by the people of Mississippi for the purpose of establishing the Union bank, been paid? This money was to be used to develop the hidden resources of the country. What has become of it? Where has it gone?" He objected to any measure for borrowing money for improvements, "until we redeem our credit."
The period 1865 to 1870 was practically an interregnum, the State more or less under military government, and the receipts and expenditures did not represent the necessities of administra- tion. (See Sharkey's and Humphreys' Adms.)
Alcorn's administration, in 1870, found the State indebtedness. on the books, $1,178,175, consisting of the Chickasaw school fund (q. v.) and interest ($966,439), and outstanding warrants. The Seminary fund debt (q. v.) was practically ignored. There was nearly $800,000 uncurrent funds (of the Confederate period) in the treasury. The new administration, without resources, provided for the issue of $500,000 in certificates of indebtedness (see Alcorn Adm.), and bonds in five series, A, B, C, D, E, of $100,000 each, to retire the certificates. By this issue there was an indebtedness of $418,000 created in 1870. Warrants were issued to the amount of $1,061,249. Certain receipts were assigned to the Common School fund, then created. The statement of the public debt Jan- uary 1, 1871, was: Chickasaw school fund and interest, $927,883; Common School fund, $210,610; outstanding warrants, $239,730; total $1,796,230.
A characteristic of the period was higher taxation of land, in comparison with taxation of business. The burdens thus thrown upon holders of large plantations, or vacant lands, was great. There had been large areas forfeited for non-payment of taxes before 1870, and this was increased to one-fifth of the taxable area by 1875, and withdrawn from the property that yielded revenue. The rate of State taxation grew to 14 mills on the dollar and then was reduced to 914 ; the system of "privilege" taxation was to some extent restored, by 1875, and railroad taxation was begun. (See Alcorn, Powers and Ames Adm. for details).
In 1875, in round numbers, 19,600,000 acres were assessed to owners, at $82,000,000, and 3,700,000 acres were held for non-pay-
705
MISSISSIPPI
ment of taxes, and assessed at $12,000,000; total land valuation, $94,000,000. The State taxes levied on the owners was $595,000, in all, $680,000. Personal property was assessed $34,500,000, on which the State tax was $250,000. The privilege taxes, the greater part on railroads, were $240,000. There was a change of govern- ment in 1876, and the State board of equalization was abolished. Five years later the total land valuation was $76,000,000, and the tax thereon $266,000. This was a tremendous change. County taxes, of course, were imposed on the same valuation.
The public debt statement of 1874 was $3,558,629, including the Chickasaw school fund, $814,743; Common School fund, $615,000; certificates of indebtedness, $294,000, bonds, $670,000; auditor's warrants, $1,083,000. This indebtedness was somewhat reduced before the end of the Ames administration although another debt was incurred by investing the Agricultural college donation from Congress in State funds. Ames said in January, 1876, that the debt statement included $1,530,620 due the two school funds, and that the other debt, over and above the funds on hand, was but $500,000.
The debt statement by Treasurer Hemingway, January 1, 1877, was, the two school funds, $1,632,000 ; warrants outstanding, $486,- 985 ; certificates of indebtedness, $26,882 ; bonds of 1872 and 1874 and Agricultural college script, $710,900; which, with items of interest due, made up a total of $3,197,036.
Governor Stone's administration, (1876-82) was characterized by the almost immediate restoration of the auditor's warrants to par on account of rigorous economy on the part of the legislature. A policy was begun of reducing the State rate to the lowest possi- ble figure. The levy of 1876 was $623,371 upon real estate and $232,686 upon personal property. The taxable valuation of real estate was $95,000,000 and of personal property nearly $36,000,000. Succeeding legislatures continued to make reductions in the rate of taxation. It was necessary to borrow money on bonds in 1877, but the State debt was materially decreased. The official statement of the indebtedness of the State January 1, 1880, was as follows: Chickasaw School fund and interest, $831,385; Common School fund, old account, $817,646; distributive, $120,000; Warrants out- standing $386,723; Certificates of indebtedness, $2,665; Bonds of 1874-78, $525,000 ; Agricultural land script bonds of 1876, $227,150; Interest on State bonds, $32,357; Bonds deposited by insurance companies, $85,000 ; and other items, making the total indebtedness of the State January 1, 1880, $3,090,155. But from this was to be deducted $885,757, current funds, leaving the total debt, $2,204,- 398. Of this permanent debt, $1,818,145 was trust funds on part of which the State paid interest to support education, leaving a debt to be met when due of $386,252.
Bonds were issued under the act of March 5, 1880, authorizing 4% bonds, to be purchased by insurance companies and deposited as a requirement before doing business. The State paid interest to the companies. Before that, State warrants had been used, under
15-I
706
MISSISSIPPI
the law of the Alcorn-Ames regime. These bonds were issued to the amount of $246,000, due January 1, 1890. At the close of Governor Stone's administration the debt was nominally $2,685,- 866, but, aside from school funds, the debt, in excess of cash in treasury, was only $322,615. But this cash in treasury was needed always for ordinary expenditures. After this date there was a period of increased appropriations, without adequate tax levies, which caused a condition that embarrassed the executive depart- ments, and greatly increased the debt of the State.
The State tax after 1882 was 21/2 mills on the dollar. The land listed for taxation (about 29,500,000 acres,) had an average valu- ation for taxation of $3 an acre. About $220,000 was levied as State tax on land, and about half that amount was collected as privilege tax from business of various kinds. $168,000 a year was being paid for saloon licenses.
In 1882, $15,000 of the bonds issued to the Agricultural & Me- chanical college, were ordered sold by the legislature. They fell due January 1, 1896. The act of March 15, 1884, provided for selling five per cent bonds to fall due January 7, 1895. The amount sold in 1887 was $153,000. An act of March 18, 1886, authorized the sale of 6% bonds for $500,000, to fall due January 1, 1907. The sale was made of practically the full amount. To create a sinking fund to pay these bonds and interest, a tax of half a mill on the dollar was levied, included in the total of 312 mills. Treasurer Hemingway said in his report for the year 1887: "Exclusive of receipts from sale of bonds, there was paid into the treasury $853,786 from all other sources. Of that amount the common schools received $259,164; the counties on account of railroad tax are entitled to $93,544; while the interest on permanent interest bearing debt was $108,640; leaving as available to meet all other expenses, in- cluding those of the judiciary, executive and legislative depart- ments, and the support of the charitable institutions, and the main support of the educational institutions, and to pay the interest on all the payable debt of the State, $392,437. A tax of one mill on the dollar yielded about $120,000; one seventh of the tax levy by the State was for the sinking fund to pay the new bonded debt."
In his message of 1888 Governor Lowry said that the wealth of the State was not assessed at over one-third its value. "A fair approximation of the values of the State would increase, but ulti- mately reduce taxation. But upon the present assessment, less State tax is levied than in almost any Southern, and in most of the Northern States. The payable debt of the State is less than any Southern State, save one, and perhaps less than that. The taxes, State and county combined, are less than have been paid by the people in twenty years. State 6% bonds are sold at a handsome premium. That the State debt is larger than in 1882, will be shown by the treasurer's report," and the. governor recalled his suggestion in 1884 that a deficit was threatened, and in 1886 that the most rigid economy was necessary or "the present resources would prove in- adequate." The legislature of 1882 had reduced the State tax
707
MISSISSIPPI
from 3 to 212 mills, and so it remained, reducing the revenues $50,000 a year, and at the same time $100,000 a year was added to the revenues of the common schools, which necessarily tended to make a deficit. The State institutions, charitable and education- al had been generously supported. "Under our system the audi- tor and treasurer alone handle and disburse all revenue collected for the support of the Government. Not a dollar goes out for any purpose except upon the issuance of a warrant by the auditor and its payment by the treasurer." The governor suggested that the collection of the delinquent poll tax would add $80,000 to $100,000 to the treasury annually ; the payment of the debt or reduction of interest on the Chickasaw school fund, would retain about $30,000 annually, and a reformation of county expenses in the matter of judiciary would save the tax payers from $150,000 to $200,000 a year. The assessment of land, comparing county with county, was grossly irregular and unequal. "It is not surprising," said Gov- ernor Lowry, "that there is general complaint that the present system of the revenue laws is not only unequal and unsatisfactory, but in its operation subject to great abuses and injustice."
The valuation of real estate at this time was again at about the figure of 1875-76-$90,270,000 for 29,378,000 acres; personal prop- erty, $39,617,000. Auditor Stone reported that the assessment rolls exhibited "the most glaring inequalities, in utter disregard of the present law, and under the present system practically with- out proper or adequate remedy." In 1888 he asked the legislature to investigate this subject.
A privilege tax of $25 was imposed on traveling salesmen in 1886 and declared unconstitutional. After consultation with the attorney-general the auditor did not attempt to collect a similar tax on sleeping car companies. The same revenue law imposed a tax on vendors of bed springs which practically amounted to an embargo. The disbursements at this time were about $1,000,000 annually, of which a large amount was derived from the sale of bonds.
The indebtedness of the State, January 1, 1888, over and above the $2,407,000 owed the educational funds, was $1,345,246, mak- ing the total debt $3,750,000. Of this $236,000 was 4% bonds due in 1890, $153,500 was 5% bonds due in 1895, $478,500 6% bonds due in 1907. About $150,000 had been borrowed also from the newly revived Swamp land fund. It was apparent that the State was going steadily deeper in debt, and was required to pay an in- creasing, and at that time unusually high rate of interest for pub- lic loans.
In 1888 the legislature adopted a new law regarding the assess- ment. of real estate, under which the valuation was increased. But the legislature yet refused to restore the State board of equaliza- tion. Auditor Stone reported in 1890 that such a board was neces- sary, as the law was ignored in the local assessments. "The as- sessment of property is in the hands of men grossly incompetent," which he accounted for in part by the inadequate compensation.
708
MISSISSIPPI
There was an enactment in 1888 regarding the collection of poll tax, that increased the revenues $30,000. The governor advised that the payment of poll tax should be a condition precedent to the exercise of the right of suffrage.
At the close of Governor Lowry's administration the State debt was $3,837,490, or over $1,400,000 exclusive of the educational lia- bilities. In this statement there was included in the educational liabilities the Seminary fund debt, incurred before 1860, but not in- cluded in statements of debt before 1882. This debt was set down at $544,000, on which interest is payable at 6%.
After 1886 the receipts from saloon licenses diminished, and in 1894 the governor said that as saloons were permitted in only about ten counties, little more could be expected from that source. The constitution of 1890 changed the basis of school support to a contribution from the general State tax, which should be suf- ficient in each county, added to the poll taxes in that county, to maintain 4 months school. Counties were no longer required, but permitted, to levy taxes for a more extended school term. This change required the application more than before, of the general revenues, to the school fund. Of the disbursements of 1893, $674,195 were on account of common schools, and $245,823 poll taxes were collected, making a total revenue for the 4-months schools of $920,000. The poll tax was increased from $1 to $2, and about half those liable to pay this tax paid it. The deficiency was much the greatest in the counties of large black population. Under the constitution of 1890 the State auditor and treasurer each has a term of four years and is denied reelection to succeed himself. The treasurer is required to publish annual statements, with verification by the governor, and the governor is required to make unannounced examinations of the treasury with publica- tion of the condition discovered.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.