USA > Mississippi > Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. I > Part 85
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tributaries, yield it ample water facilities. The county is situated in the yellow loam region and possesses a soil of good fertility. It produces cotton, corn, oats, wheat, rye, millet, the various grasses and an abundance of fruits and vegetables. Considerable fruit and vegetables are now being shipped to markets without the State and the railroads are doing much to encourage this industry. The timber of the county consists of all kinds of oaks, pine, hickory, poplar, gum and cypress, the wooded areas being extensive and valuable. Every township is provided with schools, both private and public, and numerous churches of all denominations are to be found.
Like most of the counties of Mississippi, the chief sources of wealth are embodied in the farms and forests, but manufactures have attained to considerable importance as shown by the census figures for 1900. The 1900 U. S. census shows that there were 1,948 farms, with an acreage of 216,224, of which 87,175 were improved. The value of the land exclusive of the buildings was $1,025,670, value of the buildings $303,140, value of the live stock $403,188 and the total value of the products $764,995. There were in the same year 47 manufacturing establishments, capitalized at $263,788, pay- ing wages $36,756, using materials valued at $138,772 and turning out products to the total value of $255,202. The total assessed val- uation of real and personal property in the county in 1905 was $2,418,256, and in 1906 it was $2,723,498, which shows an increase of $305,242 during the year. The population in 1900 consisted of 3,828 whites, 10,284 colored, a total of 14,112, which is a loss of 862 since 1890. The total population in 1906 is estimated at 17,000. Within the last five years there has been a great development of all interests throughout the county.
Among the early pioneers of the county were: Curtis H. Guy, A. S. Brown, James Sims, Jonathan Carle, J. Devany, Col. Nat. Howard, John and Julius Gibbs, John and Isaac Melton, Dr. and Samuel Hankins, Boss Smith, Joseph D. Persons, Adley Cohea who is now living, 1906, at over 90 years of age, Dr. E. Cahn still living at the age of 90, Levin Lake still living at the age of 90, also Wm. and Geo. Lake.
Grenada Hurricane. On May 7, 1846, Grenada was visited by a terrible hurricane that left death and destruction in its wake. The clouds began to gather in the morning and at 2:30 p. m. the heavens became densely dark. At 3 o'clock a cloud of smoke and dust, and the rending of timber betokened the approach of the storm. It grew almost as dark as midnight as it struck the town, exploding houses and scattering their contents over the country. The Baptist church, the Male Academy and a number of residences were destroyed, and great losses were sustained in the surrounding country. Sixteen white people and a number of negroes were killed, and many people were injured. Among those killed was Mrs. Franklin E. Plummer, widow of the noted politician. She was teaching school and perished with several of her students. Among the residences destroyed was that of Gen. T. N. Waul.
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Gretna, a postoffice of Wayne county, situated on Buckatunna creek, 12 miles northeast of Waynesboro, the county seat, and the nearest railroad and banking town.
Gridley, a postoffice of Jasper county, situated on Altahomak creek, 7 miles northwest of Paulding, the county seat.
Grierson's Raid. General Grierson, one of the most daring cav- alry commanders in the United States army, started out from Memphis April 17, 1863, with 1,700 troopers, on a raid through Mississippi to divert attention from Grant's efforts to land below Vicksburg, and also, if possible, join Grant. Demonstra- tions were made from Memphis to Corinth to confuse the Confed- erate pickets and conceal his destination. He moved by way of New Albany, where he captured a Confederate post, and Pontotoc, whence he sent a detachment to raid the railroad at West Point. The detachment was defeated at Palo Alto and Camp Creek by Barteau. Grierson with the remainder of his column proceeded to Starkville, Louisville, Philadelphia and Decatur, Garlandville, Hazlehurst and Gallatin, but his effort to join Grant was foiled by Wirt Adams, in the battle of Union Church. Grierson then fell back through Brookhaven, and continued south, followed by Adams as far as Greensburg, La. In seventeen days he marched 800 miles, destroyed 200 cars and some locomotives, as well as depots and bridges, tore up about 50 miles of railroad, captured 1,000 pris- oners, 1,200 horses, 3,000 stands of arms, and in all inflicted damage that he estimated at $4,000,000. For his second raid see War of 1861-65.
During this raid the main body of the mounted men of Missis- sippi, under VanDorn, were in Tennessee, with Bragg, by order of the Richmond government. To obtain cavalry, Gov. Pettus called for volunteers and under his orders 619 horses and a smaller number of saddles and bridles were impressed, of the estimated value of $225,000. He had an understanding with President Davis that this cavalry force should be turned over to the Confederate States. The principal damage done to the State had been by raid- ing parties of cavalry, and the governor was "well satisfied that Mississippi can be protected only by mounted men."
Griffin, or Inez Station, a station in the southwestern part of Perry county, on the Gulf & Ship Island R. R., about 27 miles south of Hattiesburg. The postoffice was discontinued in 1905, and mail now goes to Maxie.
Griffin, Thomas, pioneer Methodist preacher of Mississippi, was born in Cumberland county, Virginia, Sept. 24, 1787. He was of Welch descent on his father's side, while his mother was English. The family moved to Georgia and settled among the Indians when Thomas Griffin was a small child, and he grew up amid the hard- ships and dangers of pioneer life. He had few educational advan- tages, and lamented all his life the limitations of his youth. He had, however, the advantages of a Christian home, and early in life joined the Methodist church and was given license to preach. The conference sent him to North Carolina, where he went on horseback
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carrying a bundle of clothes, a Bible, hymn book and a discipline. He read all the books that he could get and soon developed a mar- velous power of discrimination and illustration. He did effective work in North and South Carolina for two years, and became dis- tinguished for his ability, zeal and devotion to duty. He was then sent by the conference to the Natchez country, whither he came on horseback through the wilderness, accompanied by three other preachers-Richmond Nolley, Lewis Hobbs and Drury Powell. He crossed the Mississippi River, and by the aid of an Indian guide found the Ouichita circuit, to which he had been assigned. Mr. Griffin found moral conditions in his new field very shocking. The Sabbath was profanely disregarded and religious worship rarely observed, but he went to work and soon there was a great refor- mation in the community. During this year he had a long illness, and though wasted to a skeleton and reduced to poverty, homeless, and far from his friends, he would not give up. For his year's work he received one dollar and a half from the people and eight dollars from the conference. In 1813 Mr. Griffin rode the Red . River circuit, traveling long distances and preaching at private houses in the scattered settlements. He came near losing his life in the high waters several times, was often lost in the forest, and suffered much from malaria. The next year he was placed on the Natchez circuit, and is said to be the first man who ever preached under the hill at Natchez. By this time Mr. Griffin began to at- tract wide attention as a preacher, for, although uneducated, he had developed into one of the ablest pulpit orators who ever preached in the Southwest. He was presiding elder of the Louisiana district in 1815, and was a delegate to the general conference in 1820, rid- ing horseback to Baltimore in order to attend. This conference was excited by the slavery question, and Mr. Griffin's speech was published and commented on by the press throughout the nation, creating a profound impression. (See Methodist Church.)
In 1820 Mr. Griffin was married to Mrs. Ann Ervin, a daughter of Rev. John Ford. He engaged in farming and spent the last years of his life on his plantation in Madison county. He continued to preach and rose to prominence in church and State. He accumu- lated property, raised a worthy family and died at a good old age.
Griffith, William B., a notable lawyer in the first decade of the State, was a son of Judge Griffith, of New Jersey. He and his brothers came to Natchez some years before 1820, at which time a visit from their mother led to the coming of John A. Quitman in 1821. Quitman wrote of him then that he was "a man of first rate talents-a Princeton scholar-a few years older than myself, and has every quality to command respect. In the midst of the tempta- tions which pleasure and dissipation hold out here, and with the means to enjoy them, and the temperament too, he pursues a steady and undeviating course in the true road to professional eminence. Politics he disdains. Even the florid eloquence that tickles the multitude he holds in contempt. Hard application and severe logic, thorough preparation of his cases, and astonishing energy of will
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are his characteristics. . He is a noble fellow, and, as an orator and lawyer, is at the head of the Mississippi bar." Griffith was appointed United States district attorney in 1822. He was elected a judge of the supreme court February 5, 1827, to succeed Judge Hampton, receiving 19 votes to 16 for George Winchester, but declined the honor. October 28 of the same year, he died at Natchez of bilious fever. He was at the time of his decease, says Henry S. Foote, "by far the most polished and fascinating speaker that a Mississippi audience had ever then heard. His face was full of benignity ; his gesticulation was most graceful; and his voice was melody itself." An oration by Judge Griffith, delivered July 4, 1819, is printed in Lynch's Bench and Bar of Mississippi, pp. 113-26.
Grimsley, a postoffice of Marion county.
Guion, Isaac, was a native of Westchester county, New York, of Huguenot descent. At an early age, Aug. 1, 1775, he entered the colonial service, and was an ensign with Montgomery's troops at the assault on Quebec Dec. 31, 1775. Afterward he was a second lieutenant in Nicholson's New York regiment and in the Second Continental artillery, regimental paymaster and captain-lieutenant, until the army was disbanded, Nov. 23, 1783. He reenlisted March 1, 1792, for the army in the Northwest, was made captain March 5, and assigned first to the Third sublegion and then to the Third infantry in November, 1796. He commanded a company in Wayne's famous victory on the Maumee river. His selection by Gen. Wilkinson to take possession of the Spanish posts east of the Mississippi river in 1797, and his journey down the river, in com- mand of two companies, his building of Fort Pickering, and occu- pation of Natchez, are described in other articles. (Occupation, Permanent Committee, etc.) Captain Guion was brigade inspec- tor in the United States army, November, 1799, to October 25. 1801, was promoted to major February 15, 1801, and honorably discharged June 1, 1802. In August, 1805, he was appointed brigade inspector of the militia of Mississippi territory, by Gov. Williams, to succeed Col. Wm. Scott, deceased. When he arrived in Missis- sippi territory he was suffering from an intensely painful disease of the head that may have imparted considerable emphasis at times to his communications. A remonstrance against his conduct was prepared at New Orleans, but was suppressed through the efforts of Col. Constant Freeman and Joseph Vidal. Upon his arrival he built a fortification at the spot where Ellicott had first displayed the flag, without regard to the remonstrances of Com- mandant Minor, and his invitations to the Spanish to depart were frequent and forcibly expressed.
J. F. H. Claiborne wrote that "he was a singularly handsome man, with a military port and manner, very fascinating in conver- sation, familiar with ancient and modern languages, and with the literature of the age." As a citizen of Mississippi territory he had his home near Halfway hill, between Natchez and Washington, in the neighborhood of Benajah Osmun, who was also with Mont-
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gomery at Quebec. When he was the only survivor he was invited to New York and Quebec, with the commission that found the general's remains and transferred them to Trinity church yard.
Major Guion died Sept. 17, 1823.
Guion, John Isaac, son of Maj. Isaac Guion, was born in Adams county, Nov. 18, 1802, and was educated in Tennessee, studying law at the Lebanon school. There he met William L. Sharkey, whose life-long friend he was, as well as his law partner at Vicks- burg, until Sharkey's appointment to the bench in 1833. In the following year he and young Seargent S. Prentiss became partners, and he was ever afterward the devoted friend of that brilliant genius, as he was of the sturdy Sharkey. In 1836 the legislature established a criminal court for the river counties then settled, and Guion was appointed the first judge. He resigned the office, however, after a brief experience. After Prentiss was elected to congress, Guion took as his law partner William C. Smedes. In politics he was a Whig. He was a prominent member of the Jack- son convention of 1849 (q. v.) In 1848-50 he was senator of the city of Jackson in the legislature. The senate of 1850 elected as presi- dent Dabney Lipscomb, Democrat. He was taken sick in the mid- dle of the session, and Judge Guion was elected president pro tem- pore, an honor he held when the senate adjourned. Lipscomb must have died subsequently, as on Feb. 3, 1851, when Gov. Quitman resigned on account of his Cuban filibustering complications, Guion became acting governor. He served in this capacity until his term as senator expired, with the elections, November 3-4, of the same year. No legislature meeting in that time, he had no occasion to prepare any State papers. Subsequently he was elected a judge of the circuit court, which position he held at the time of his death, June 26, 1855. "Judge Guion was one of those characters whose lustre glows with a serene and steady light, and which was never shadowed by the brilliancy of his eminent professional associates. He was a great favorite with his brothers of the bar and popular with all classes of the people," says Lynch. Reuben Davis wrote that "His mind was drilled to accurate and powerful debate, full of information, deliberate and cool, and always ready for attack or defense." In the great political campaign of 1844, Henry S. Foote, Davis relates, met with "but one disaster, that of his en- counter with Guion." Guion, defending the protective tariff, pinned his brilliant antagonist down by the Socratic method of asking plain questions and forcing an answer. "Everybody liked and ad- mired Guion, whose intellect entitled him to the highest rank as a lawyer, and who had a noble and generous heart." When the home of Mrs. Dickerson, a sort of hotel for lawyers and legislators burned, he immediately opened with $500 a subscription list to make up the loss. "He was a gentleman whose memory will always be dear to the people of Mississippi," wrote Henry S. Foote. "He was decidedly a man of ability and possessed many endearing traits of character. Nature had lavished upon him some of her choicest gifts. He possessed a most symmetrical person, a face of much
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regularity and beauty, and a genial expression of countenance which invited confidence and sympathy."
Guion's Expedition. See Occupation by U. S., 1797-98.
Guion-Whitfield Administration and Interregnum. Upon the resignation of Governor Quitman (q. v.) Feb. 3, 1851, John I. Guion, president pro tempore of the senate, became acting gover- nor, as provided by the constitution of 1832. Joseph Bell was sec- retary of state; William Clark, treasurer; Daniel R. Russell, audi- tor, John D. Freeman, attorney-general.
Gen. Quitman returned from New Orleans, upon the dismissal of the filibuster prosecutions, reaching Vicksburg May 13, and was received with a salute of 100 guns and amid public enthusiasm. He was escorted to Jackson by the military, and welcomed at the State capital with speeches of welcome, a banquet, a torchlight procession and a ball. He was back in time to mix again in the great political turmoil which he had been so active in agitating, and he asked to be vindicated by renomination for governor.
Quitman, supported by Senator Davis and the representatives in congress, had organized the Southern Rights party by the con- ventions of 1849 (q. v.) ; all were invited to join it who were op- posed to the Compromise acts of Congress, and the course of Senator Foote in supporting the same. The Whigs were general- ly in favor of accepting the compromise, though some of them went over to the new party. On the other hand, Foote's fearless appeal to the people withheld a considerable number of the Demo- crats from the new movement. "The Union party was organized on the day on which Foote's convention met; namely, Nov. 18, 1850. It was composed of old line Whigs and Union Democrats. The secession party had in its ranks a preponderance of the wealth and talent of the State, and lacked the concert of action and au- dacity of the Union party." (Garner.) The Southern Rights party met in State convention in June and assumed the name of the Democratic State Rights party. Davis and Quitman were both present and each desired to be the candidate, and the popular sen- timent was strong for Davis. But the senator was in very poor health, and finally gave way to Quitman's ambition. Senator Davis approved the nomination and gave the campaign a motto in declaring that "he for one would never rally to sustain the flag of Mississippi waved at half mast." (Natchez Free Trader.) The Union party "lost no time in nominating for governor Henry S. Foote, the best stump speaker then living. It was unfortunate for Quitman, whose style of speaking was poor and flat, that he was obliged to encounter Foote, whose gorgeous imagery and splendid diction carried everything before him. Mississippi was in a blaze from east to west and from north to south. The issue involved the exact relation of the States to the general government, and the right of secession. Public feeling was intensified by the danger of emancipation. Both parties were pervaded by a spirit of intoler- ance, and the presence of ten men at any one point involved the possibility of serious trouble. The canvass between Foote and
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Quitman began at Jackson, and Foote opened by charging the Democratic party with disunion proclivities. He assailed Quitman and his friends in the most merciless manner. His satire was so severe that Quitman, after four or five speeches, made it personal, and a blow passed between the candidates, which resulted in clos- ing the joint canvass. This would not have prejudiced the Demo- cratic party, if new appointments had been made by each, and new routes selected, but Quitman and his friends allowed Foote to take the old appointments. Quitman followed two days behind Foote who filled the original appointments, meeting large crowds of both parties and boasting that he had whipped Quitman and driven him from the field. The Democrats became disheartened, and their campaign was feeble in the last degree." (Ruben Davis, Recollec- tions, p. 317).
Foote defended the compromise and asserted that the way was open for "the admission of as many slave States as the people of Utah and New Mexico may choose to create," and that the pay- ment of $10,000,000 to Texas would help her to become in a few years, "one of the strongest slave States in the Union." (Inaugu- ral, 1852.)
The personal encounter between Quitman and Foote occurred in Panola county, July 18. At the election in September, of the delegates to the State convention, the people manifested their at- titude on the question of "constituional secession," and there was a majority of 7,000 against it, a very large majority of Union dele- gates being chosen. There was a general feeling of resentment that the election had been called without submitting to the people the question of having a convention. This result was apparent Sept. 6, when Quitman sent out an address, saying that "The ma- jority have declared that they are content with the late aggressive measures of congress, and opposed to any remedial action by the State. Although this determination of the people is at variance with my fixed opinion of the true policy of the State, heretofore expressed and still conscientiously entertained, yet, as a State Rights man and a Democrat, I bow in respectful submission to the apparent will of the people. By the election of Non-resisters to the Convention, a majority of the people have declared against the course of policy on the slavery questions which I deemed it my duty to pursue while governor, and against the principles upon which I was nominated, and upon which alone I had consented to run as a candidate." Consequently he withdrew from the candi- dacy. Senator Davis was called to take his place as the candidate of the Democratic party. He resigned from the senate, though Foote had not. But Davis did not have time to rally his party. The vote of the State was, Henry S. Foote, 29,358; Jefferson Davis, 28,359.
It may be said that Foote was elected by the river counties, (including Natchez and Vicksburg), which all gave him majorities, aggregating 1,200; Hinds county, which gave him 400, and the Tombigbee counties, which gave him about 2,000 majority. The
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Union party elected not only the State officers, but a majority of the legislature and three members of congress.
"In this contest many Democrats voted for Foote, believing that the issue involved disunion of the States, and was the first step in that direction. Time showed that they were not mistaken. The party was defeated, but strengthened by defeat. From that de- feat the party concentrated all its energies in one direction, and became despotic. Everywhere the cry was, "Obey, or quit the camp." (Reuben Davis, Recollections, p. 321.)
At the general election, Nov. 3 and 4, 1851, President Guion's term as a senator expired, also the term of John J. McRae, speaker of the house of representatives. The High court had decided (6 How. 582) that "all officers in this State are elected for limited terms, which expire at the time of the general elections for the respective offices." Agreeably to this decision, the term of office of Joseph Bell, secretary of state, had also expired. But he was the only one authorized by the constitution to act and prevent the entire failure of the executive department. There was no con- stitutional provision authorizing him to hold until his successor was qualified. The attorney-general, and others he consulted, ad- vised him that he could no longer legally act as secretary of state. There was no governor to commission the newly elected State and county officers, no secretary of state to convene the senate for the election of a president, no one authorized to receive and open election returns and ascertain who was elected. Secretary Bell subsequently reported to the legislature: "I was left to choose between two alternatives; to leave the State government to take care of itself, which certainly would have produced much confus- ion and evil; or assume the responsibility of continuing to act as secretary of State, in the absence of a governor, and after my term had expired. I did not hesitate to choose the latter, and im- mediately issued a proclamation, convening the senate for the 24th instant." He also opened the congressional returns and issued commissions accordingly. This interregnum continued for 21 days. During that time, Bell continued to perform the duties of the secretary of State, also received and answered the executive correspondence, and performed such other acts, pertaining to the public affairs, as he thought right and necessary. He was in fact, general administrator of the State. It is interesting to note also that Chief Justice Sharkey had resigned in October.
The senate convened Nov. 24. Having a large number of hold- over members, it retained a small Democratic majority. Twenty- one ballots were taken for a president. O. R. Singleton and Joseph McAfee, new members, were the leading candidates, but failed by a vote or two of winning. So the name of James Whitfield, of Lowndes, a holdover, withdrawn early in the contest, was again presented and he received a majority of one. Senator John Bell, of Pontotoc, was made president pro tem. James Whitfield, elected Nov. 25, was acting governor until the inauguration of the gov- ernor elect, Jan. 10, 1852.
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