USA > Mississippi > Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. I > Part 92
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Hill, Wilson Shedric, of Winona, elected to Congress in 1902 from the Fourth district of Mississippi, was born in Choc- taw county, Miss., on January 19, 1863. He received a pre- liminary education in the common schools of his native county and then matriculated at the University of Mississippi. A legal training was secured at Cumberland university of Lebanon, Tenn., and the practice of law was started by Mr. Hill in Winona in 1884, where he has since resided. Politically he is a Democrat and his first election to office as a candidate of that party was in 1887, when he was sent to the lower house of the state legislature from Mont- gomery county, serving one term. In 1891 he was elected district
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attorney for the Fifth Judicial district and was re-elected without opposition in 1895 and 1899. In 1902 he received the Democratic nomination for Congress and on November 3 of that year was elected without opposition. In religious matters Mr. Hill is a prom- inent member of the Winona congregation of the Methodist Episco- pal church and fraternally is identified with the Free and Accepted Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Woodmen of the World and the Knights of Honor. For a number of years Mr. Hill has been a faithful and efficient public servant.
Hillhouse, a post-hamlet of Coahoma county, on the Riverside Division of the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley R. R., 15 miles south- west of Clarksdale, the county seat, and the nearest banking town. Population in 1900, 36 ; population in 1906 is estimated at 50.
Hillman College. The historic little town of Clinton has always been famous as a center of learning and is especially associated with its two famous institutions of learning, Mississippi College, and Central Female Institute. The name of the latter institution was changed in 1891 to that of Hillman College "in honor of those who have done so much for it, Dr. Walter Hillman and Mrs. Ade- lia M. Hillman, his wife." Founded in 1853 by the Central Baptist Association, this pioneer female college in Mississippi has main- tained an uninterrupted career, and is today in a most flourishing condition. It remained for 16 years under the direct control of the Central Baptist Association, and its two first principals were Wil- liam Duncan, 1853-54 and Rev. Peter Crawford, 1854-56. In 1856, the man who has contributed most largely to the upbuilding and success of the institution, Dr. Walter Hillman, a graduate of Brown University, was called to the presidency. During the 38 years that Dr. Hillman was associated with the college, its useful- ness and scope were much enlarged. Throughout all these years Mrs. Adelia M. Hillman was the able and zealous helpmate of her husband in his chosen work.
A curious sidelight is thrown on the early life of the institution, revealing the change in discipline since the middle of the last cen- tury, by the following rules and regulations, taken from the Cata- logue of 1854 :
"The Boarders are allowed to spend no more than fifty cents per month for pocket money."
"Any young lady Dipping Snuff or bringing Snuff into the In- stitute, is liable to instant expulsion."
"To promote habits of economy and simplicity, a Uniform Dress is prescribed. For winter it is a Dark Green Worsted. Of this fabric each young lady should have three Dresses, with three sacks of the Same-one of the Sacks to be large and wadded. For Sum- mer, each Pupil should have two Pink Calico, two Pink Gingham or Muslin, and two Common White Dresses with one plain Swiss Muslin. Bonnets-One of Straw; in winter, trimmed with Dark Green Lustring ribbon, plain and Solid Color; in summer, trimmed with Pink Lustring plain Solid Color only with Cape and Strings -may be lined with Pink only-no flowers or tabs."
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The following sketch of the work of Dr. and Mrs. Hillman is from the pen of Dr. Charles Hillman Brough, their nephew: "During the first year of their administration (1856-57) there were 109 students, 73 of whom were boarders and 7 seniors, the first graduating class in its history. So great was the increase in pa- tronage that an effort was made by the agents of the association, Revs. C. S. McLeod, H. Nabring, and J. S. Antley, to raise a. 'Building Fund' for a new Institute building. About $18,000 was subscribed for this purpose before the outbreak of the war in notes due 'when the roof was put on.' The entire foundation had been laid and the walls of the first story nearly completed when the war put a stop to all further efforts in this direction. So the notes by their terms never became due. Yet, in spite of the presence of contending armies, epidemics and pecuniary embarrassment the Institute kept open doors during the war, enrolled an average of more than one hundred pupils each session and boasted of gradu- ating classes ranging from nine in 1860 to two in 1865. It is said to be the only educational institution in the South whose exercises were not interrupted for a single day by the war between the States, a striking tribute to the prudence and diplomacy of Dr. and Mrs. Hillman. But the ravages of the four years' war prac- tically ruined the Institute financially. Want of funds suspended operations on the new building; money subscribed could not be collected; debts accrued; and the Association was compelled to borrow money of Dr. Hillman to liquidate these debts. Dr. Hill- man was secured by a deed of sale to him of the Institute property and although he voluntarily proposed to give the Association three years to redeem the property, the Board of Trustees reported to the Association, on October 7, 1869, that all efforts to redeem the prop- erty having proved futile the titles are now vested entirely in him. While the Institute thus became the absolute property of Dr. Hill- man and the pecuniary responsibility of the Central Association ceased, the relation of cooperation and influence between the As- sociation and the Institute continued and the name 'Central In- stitute' still attached. The Lesbian Society, organized by the young ladies in 1857, from an insignificant nucleus accumu- lated a library of nearly three thousand volumes. The Alumnae Association, organized on Commencement Day, 1875, enrolled a membership of 250 during the administration of Dr. Hillman as president. The Institute possessed a museum containing at one time the largest and best selected collection of specimens in geol- ogy, mineralogy and natural history in Mississippi. 'Adelia Hall,' named in honor of Mrs. Hillman, completed at a cost approxi- mating $13,000 and dedicated in 1891, was filled with boarding pupils the very first year of its opening without canvassing."
After the change of name in 1891, the institution enjoyed the services of Dr. Hillman for three years longer. Upon his death, which took place April 9, 1894, the work of the college was contin- ued by his wife for a period of two years, when Dr. Franklin L. Riley assumed the active management for a short period of time.
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In the year 1879, Mrs. Hillman sold all her property rights to Rev. George Wharton, Dr. Riley having resigned the presidency to ac- cept the chair of History in the University of Mississippi. The work of President Wharton was highly successful and resulted in a large increase of attendance, many new scholars being attracted by an exceptionally good music course under the charge of Miss Joy Bond. The present head of the institution, Dr. John L. John- son, who also owns the property rights, assumed control Jan. 28, 1901. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia, and occu- pied the chair of English at the University of Mississippi for 15 years. He ranks high among the scholars of the South, and the college, under his wise and scholarly administration, continues to grow in prestige and usefulness. Pupils are attracted, not only from Mississippi, but also from Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, and a few from some of the other States. A total of more than 5,000 young women have received their collegiate training here since the founding of the college. More than 300 have taken the full course and received its degree.
Hillsboro, a post-hamlet of Scott county, 8 miles north of Forest, the county seat, and the nearest railroad and banking town. It has two churches, and four stores. Population in 1900, 112.
Hillsdale, a post-hamlet of Pearl River county, on the New Orleans & North Eastern R. R., 7 miles northeast of Poplarville, the county seat, and 6 miles from Lumberton. It has a money order postoffice. Population in 1900, 30; the population in 1906 was estimated at 200. Two turpentine stills are located here.
Hillside, a hamlet in the southern part of Tishomingo county. The postoffice here was discontinued in 1905, and mail now goes to Hunt.
Hilton, a post-hamlet of Yazoo county, 6 miles east of Yazoo City. Population in 1900, 27 ; population in 1906 is about 40.
Hinchcliff, a postoffice of Quitman county, 5 miles east of Belen, the county seat, and a station on the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley R. R.
Hindman, Thomas C., was born in Tennessee in 1818, and after preparing himself for the practice of law, moved to Mississippi, where he followed his profession for a number of years. In 1847- 8, in the war with Mexico, he was second lieutenant of Co. E, Second Mississippi regiment. After his return to the State he continued in the practice until his removal to Arkansas, where he was elected to congress in 1857, and served until 1861, when he became colonel of the 2d Arkansas regiment in the Confederate service, and was promoted to brigadier-general in September. He commanded a brigade in Kentucky, at Corinth, Miss., and in the battle of Shiloh, where he was wounded. His promotion to major- general soon followed, and he was transferred in May, 1862, to Little Rock, in command of the trans-Mississippi district. He was a man of extraordinary administrative ability. He rapidly organized an army in that country, and was practically dictator of the coun- try. Jealousies were aroused, that led to his being succeeded in
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department command by T. H. Holmes. He fought the battle of Prairie Grove, near the close of 1862 ; in 1863 he was assigned to a division of the Army of Tennessee, which he commanded at Shiloh, and throughout the Atlanta campaign, and was then on duty in north Mississippi. He was assassinated at Helena, Ark., in 1868.
Hinds County, located in the west central part of the State, has been aptly termed the "mother of counties," and embraces a region which is rich in historic interest. It has a land surface of 847 square miles. On February 12, 1821, the Legislature of the State of Mississippi passed an act declaring that "all that tract of land ceded to the United States by the Choctaw Nation of Indians on the 18th day of October, 1820, and bounded as follows, that is to say: Beginning on the Choctaw boundary, east of Pearl river, at a point due south of the White Oak Spring on the old Indian path ; thence in a direct line to a black oak standing on the Natchez road, about forty poles eastward from Doak's Fence, marked A. J., and blazed with two large pines, and a black oak standing near thereto, and marked as pointers; thence a straight line to the head of Black Creek, or Bogue Loosa, to a small lake; thence a direct course so as to strike the Mississippi one mile below the Arkansas river; thence down the Mississippi to the mouth of the Yazoo river; thence along the line heretofore known by the name of the Indian Boundary line, to the beginning, (see Treaty of Doak's Stand elsewhere described), shall be and is hereby directed and established into a new county, which shall be called and known by the name of Hinds County." This fertile region of "wide prairies, fertile valleys, and wooded hills" became rapidly settled and it was soon thought wise to take from it some of its territory. January 21, 1823, the Legislature created Yazoo county out of Hinds, and by the same act the county of Copiah. A little later, February 4, 1828, from all that portion of Hinds county lying east of the Pearl river, the county of Rankin was erected. And on February 5, 1829, Hinds county surrendered "the fractional township seven, in ranges two and three-to be attached to Madison county." Out of these several counties many other counties have been created, so that Hinds is indeed the "mother of counties." It was named in honor of General Thomas Hinds, who, with General Jackson, were the United States Commissioners appointed to treat with the Choc- taws and obtain the above cession. The county, as it exists to-day, is somewhat irregular in shape and is bounded on the north by Yazoo and Madison counties, on the east by Rankin county, on the south by Copiah county, and on the west by Claiborne and Warren counties. It stands to-day the most populous and perhaps the richest and most prosperous county in the State. The capital of the State was located at Jackson within its borders, Nov. 28, 1821, and here are centered many of the State's largest public in- stitutions. Hinds county is covered with a network of railroads, which give an outlet in every direction to the products of its farms and factories. Many prosperous towns and cities dot its surface ;
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the Pearl river forms its eastern boundary, the Big Black river part of its western boundary, and numerous tributaries of these streams yield it ample water power. Among the earliest settlements in the county were those at Hamburg, Amsterdam, Antibank and Auburn P. O., all of which are now extinct. Hamburg was laid out in 1826, on the Big Black river, two miles north of the present A. & V. R. R. crossing. The site was too marshy and the place had a brief career of only two years. Amsterdam was laid out on the bluffs two miles above Hamburg and became a good sized village, visited every year during high water by steam and keel boats. It was even made a port of entry, by act of Congress. In 1832 or 1833, one-half its people were carried off by the cholera, and the A. & V. R. R. missed it by two miles a few years later ; the place never recovered from these blows. Antibank was first settled in 1836 by T. L. Sumrall. The farmers around received their supplies at this old landing on the Big Black river. With the coming of the railroad, it ceased to be a shipping point and is now part of a cotton farm. The county seat was at Clinton for a short time, but on February 4, 1828, the Legislature ordered the election of five commissioners to locate a site for a court house, and they were directed to put it in Clinton or within two miles of the center of the county. This center was found within two miles of Raymond and was marked by a large stone; next year, by act of the Legisla- ture, Raymond was made the county seat. Here the old records of the county are kept, though courts are also held at the capital, Jackson, the county being divided into two court districts. The principal towns in the county are Jackson, Clinton, Utica, Bolton, Edwards, Terry, Learned, Oakley and Byram. Jackson had a pop- ulation of 7,816 in 1900, and has become the most important railroad center in the State. It is the junction of the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley R. R., the Alabama & Vicksburg, the Illinois Central and its Yazoo branch running to Yazoo City, and the Gulf & Ship Island R. R's. In proportion to capital, it has the largest man- ufacturing output in the State and it is second in number of estab- lishments. It now has the best equipped fertilizer factory in the State. Here also is located the new million dollar State House, honestly built and famous throughout the country for its architec- tural beauty and perfection of detail. Here also are located the State Insane Hospital, one mile north of the city, and the Institu- tions for the Blind, and the Deaf and Dumb. It is the seat of two well known institutions of learning, Millsaps College and Belhaven College. (See title "Jackson" for more detailed sketch.) At Clin- ton, a few miles west of Jackson, on the line of the Alabama & Vicksburg R. R., are located Mississippi College and Hillman Col- lege, the latter an institution for the education of young women and formerly known as the Central Female Institute. Seven miles north of Jackson is located Tougaloo University, devoted to the education of the negroes of the State of both sexes. One mile north- west of Clinton formerly stood the beautiful home of Cowles Mead, who was prominent in the early history of the State and a brilliant
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member of the Constitutional Convention of 1817 from Jefferson county. It was called "Greenwood," but was war swept and de- stroyed by the soldiers of Grant. Just beyond the western boundary of the town is "Mt. Salus," the home of Mississippi's third gover- nor, Walter Leake. The old home was until very recently occupied by Carter J. Johnstone, Gov. Leake's great-grandson.
The general surface of Hinds county is undulating; the soil is a rich yellow loam, which produces excellent crops of corn, cot- ton, oats, grasses, Irish and sweet potatoes, sugar cane, and sor- ghum. Vegetables grow in abundance and peaches, pears, figs, plums, strawberries, etc., do very well, and large shipments are made to markets without the State. The timber in the county consists of pine, red, white and black oaks, hickory, elm, beech and cypress.
The twelfth United States census for the year 1900 yields the following statistics for Hinds county and will be found of interest as showing the strides the county has made in wealth and popu- lation. The number of farms in the county was 6,607, with an acreage of 394,046, of which 251,369 were improved. The value of the land exclusive of the buildings was $3,000,080, and the value of the build- ings was $1,069,500 ; the value of the live stock was $1,258,124, and the total value of farm products not fed to stock was $2,743,643. The number of manufacturing establishments was 186, capitalized at $1,192,758, paying wages to the amount of $310,215, using materials valued at $1,172,199, and turning out products valued at $1,960,562. The total assessed valuation of real and personal property in the county in 1905 was $10,519,904, and in 1906 it was $13,440,244.77, which shows an increase of $2,920,340.77 during the year. The population of the county in 1900 consisted of 13,037 whites, 39,540 colored, a total of 52,577 and an increase of 13,298 over the year 1890.
Hinds, Thomas, was born in 1775, came to Mississippi and made his home at Greenville, Jefferson county. In 1806 he was married to Malinda, daughter of Thomas M. Green. He was appointed justice and assessor in Jefferson county in 1805. In October, 1805, was commissioned first lieutenant of the Jefferson troop of dra- goons, under Capt. John A. Davidson, whom he succeeded in 1808, John Dougherty becoming first lieutenant. He continued as cap- tain of this famous company of horse until promoted to higher honors in the midst of war. In 1806-08 he was a member of the territorial council; in 1811 he was appointed chief justice of the orphans' court of his county. In September, 1813, he was ap- pointed major commanding the Mississippi Dragoons, (q. v.) a militia battalion for the Creek war. He was distinguished during the Pensacola and New Orleans campaigns in 1814, and was in command of the cavalry of Jackson's army at the battle of Jan. 8, 1815, his force being held in reserve to cover the retreat, if the British assault could not be repelled. In referring to the conduct of Hinds and his troopers, in this campaign, Jackson said, "They were the pride of one army and the admiration of the other."
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When Gen. F. L. Claiborne died, toward the close of the year 1815, Col. Hinds was appointed by the president brigadier-general of the Territorial militia.
The general assembly adopted a joint resolution, Dec. 18, 1815 : "That the patriotism, bravery and promptitude displayed by Briga- dier-General Thomas Hinds whilst acting as Colonel of Cavalry, in the defense of New Orleans, entitle him to our warmest ac- knowledgments and gratitude; and that a suitable Sword be pro- vided at the expense of the Territory and presented under the direction of his Excellency the Governor to the said Brigadier- General as a testimonial of the high sense which the people of this Territory entertain of his services and of his brave Companions in arms." In transmitting the vote of thanks of the Louisiana legis- lature Gov. Claiborne wrote that it "brings to my recollection the satisfaction I experienced more than twelve years ago on sign- ing the commission which ushered your military talents into light."
Under the first militia law of the State, in 1818, he was con- tinued in the highest militia office, that of major-general, which he resigned in December, 1819. In 1820 he was joint commis- sioner, with Andrew Jackson, to make the treaty with the Choc- taws by which a large area of land was gained, after two previous failures. When notified of his appointment Jackson wrote: "There is no man I would rather be associated with than General Hinds, nor none in whom I have more confidence." The acquired ter- ritory was named Hinds county in his honor.
In 1819 he was a candidate for governor, with Daniel Burnet for lieutenant-governor, but his opponent, George Poindexter, was elected. He was a member of the legislature in 1823, was elected to congress to succeed William Haile, and reelected, serv- ing from December 8, 1828, to March 3, 1831. When Poindexter proposed to defeat the confirmation of President Jackson's nom- ination of William M. Gwin as United States marshal for Missis- sippi in 1833, the president sent in the name of Hinds for the place. Poindexter withdrew his opposition to Gwin, and the name of Hinds was withdrawn. Afterward, Gen. Hinds was proposed as candidate for United States senator in 1835, against Poindexter, but was induced to decline in favor of Robert J. Walker.
Gen. Hinds died at Greenville, Jefferson county, August 23, 1840. During his life he was the pre-eminent military hero of Mississippi. J. F. H. Claiborne described him as "a small, square-built, swarthy- complexioned, black-eyed man, moving rapidly, speaking impera- tively, beloved by his troops, and one of the most intrepid men that ever lived."
Hinson, a postoffice of Pike county, about 15 miles east of Mag- nolia, the county seat.
Hintonville, a postoffice in the eastern part of Perry county, located on Thompson's creek, one mile east of the line of the Mobile, Jackson & Kansas City R. R., and 8 miles east of New Augusta, the county seat.
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Hinze, a postoffice in the western part of Winston county, about 14 miles southwest of Louisville, the county seat.
Hiram, a hamlet in the eastern part of Wilkinson county, about 15 miles northeast of Woodville, the county seat, and 6 miles north- west of Gloster, the nearest railroad and banking town. It has rural free delivery from Gloster.
Hissop, a postoffice of Smith county, 10 miles southeast of Raleigh, the county seat.
Historical Society. The first State historical society was formed in 1858, under the direction of B. W. Sanders, State librarian, aided by J. B. Cobb, of Columbus, author of "Mississippi Scenes," and Col. J. F. H. Claiborne. The first meeting was in the repre- sentative's chamber of the capitol, Nov. 9, 1858, and was presided over by B. L. C. Wailes, with Victor W. Thompson, of Oxford, as secretary. A constitution was adopted, signed originally by 13 members; Wailes was made permanent president, and Livings- ton Mims, in later years mayor of Atlanta, secretary. Other mem- bers were William Cary Crane, an eminent preacher; William S. Barry, Isaac N. Davis, John J. Pettus, D. W. Hurst, Wirt Adams, Cotesworth P. Smith, Ethelbert Barksdale, Thomas J. Catchings, George S. Yerger and H. T. Ellett. There was a meeting at the same place in 1859, addressed by W. C. Crane. At the time of the meeting of 1860, the making of history caused the dissolution of the society. Such collections of manuscript as the society made were used by Col. Claiborne in his History of Mississippi. San- ders, Crane and Claiborne, were the great names of this old society, says Z. T. Leavell, in his sketch, Miss. Soc. Publ., VIII, 227.
In the midst of the war of 1861-65 some historical work was done under State authority, in the collection of army rolls by Col. J. L. Power. In February, 1866, Gov. Humphreys suggested to Power the organization of a State Historical society and local af- filiated societies, for the purpose of collecting material of the part taken by Mississippi in the Confederate States. In the acute stage of reconstruction this was investigated by the congressional com- mittee, and Gen. Grierson testified that one of the purposes of the organization was the collection of records of distinguished soldiers in the Confederate service. The quarrel between congress and President Johnson led to the distortion of such patriotic activ- ities into "disloyalty."
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