Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. II, Part 12

Author: Rowland, Dunbar, 1864-1937, ed
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Atlanta, Southern Historical Publishing Association
Number of Pages: 1032

USA > Mississippi > Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. II > Part 12

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).

Linn, a postoffice of Sunflower county, situated on Jones Bayou, 15 miles north of Indianola, the county seat.

Linton, a postoffice of Clarke county, 9 miles east of Quitman, the county seat and nearest railroad and banking town.

Lintot, William, was a native of Connecticut, where he married Grace Mansfield. They were among the early American settlers of Natchez district. One of his daughters married James Surget, born at Baton Rouge in 1785. Bernard Lintot was one of the prom- inent early settlers of Natchez district. One of his daughters married Stephen Minor, and another married Philip Nolan.

Liquor Laws. There was some regulation of the sale of intoxi- cating liquor from the earliest days of the territory, by the re- quirement of license. The Poindexter code of 1823 limited license to the keepers of inns and taverns, and the recommendation of six respectable freeholders or householders was required, and a bond in the sum of $500. The first temperance society in the State was organized at Natchez in 1828, the movement being suggested by similar organizations in Massachusetts. James Burke travelled from Natchez, organizing these societies throughout the inhabited part of the State. The Mississippi Christian Herald, Natchez, 1837, edited by Rev. J. N. Maffott, mentions a large temperance meeting at Natchez. A temperance convention was called at Natchez in April of that year, to be representative of the South- west. (Handbook of Prohibition, C. B. Galloway.) In 1839, Henry S. Foote, having been elected to the State legislature, secured the passage of the famous "Gallon law," entitled, "An act for the sup- pression of tippling houses and to discourage and prevent the odious vice of drunkenness." It prohibited the sale in less quanti- ties than one gallon, prohibited under penalty of fine and impris- onment the retailing of intoxicants to be drunk on the spot, the

108

MISSISSIPPI

treating of voters by candidates, and other excesses that had long worked to the great injury of society. He was hung in effigy in Jackson, but the law was in force for a year or two, after which it was repealed (1842) as "a gross infraction of popular rights." Foote commented: "In a country like ours, where the successful solution of the problem of self-government is confessedly depen- dent upon the intellect and virtue of the people themselves, the strange theory of human rights which has been alluded to is cer- tainly one of a very incomprehensible character."

The literature of the early period of the State contains abundant evidence of the prevalence of intoxication. The references to a few public men, governors, senators and the like, as subject to in- toxication, must be understood as signifying merely a lack of self- restraint in an almost universal habit. "There was nothing more noticeable in the period 1830-40," says Henry S. Foote, "than the immense quantities of intoxicating drinks consumed by those who dwelt in this much-favored section of the United States. Drunken- ness had, indeed, become a common vice, owing to which, and the deplorable fact that nearly all classes of the population went habit- ually armed, the number of scenes marked with personal violence which occurred it is really astounding to contemplate, even in rec- ollection."

The revised code of 1857 required the applicant for license to present a petition signed by a majority of the legal voters in the municipality or supervisor's district. The legislature of 1864, as a "war measure," made it unlawful for any person to distil spir- itous liquor, or to establish or erect a distillery, and all laws per- mitting the sale of spiritous liquor was prohibited during the con- tinuance of the war, except as permitted in this law. The State government was authorized to establish two distilleries, for medi- cinal purposes, to be dispensed by two agents in each county upon the prescription of physicians and not otherwise. This was the first "dispensary" law in Mississippi, and under it one State distillery was established. This was sold out in 1866.

Gov. Alcorn reported in 1871 that in 13 counties from which he had statistics, there were 86 dram shops in 1865, and 219 in 1870, figures which showed "that those particular agencies for the waste of the means of the people have increased upwards of 150 per cent." The reconstruction legislature of 1870 had adopted a license law, but it had yet hardly gone into effect. The revised code of 1871 provided for counter petitions to the petition contemplated in the code of 1857, and a counter-petition with a majority of voters' names would carry prohibition for one year. The legislature of 1871 prohibited the sale of intoxicants at various places, including Clinton, Starkville and Hernando, and local prohibition by special acts continued to be the rule during the Powers and Ames ad- ministrations.

In 1874, during the Ames administration, an amendment to the law of 1871 required the applicant to have a majority of the female citizens as well as male. "This provision sent dismay into the

109

MISSISSIPPI

ranks of the whiskey men and they stoutly resisted it. A test case was agreed upon-Rohrbacker vs. City of Jackson-and carried up to the supreme court for a decision upon the constitutionality of the law. The opinion of the court, delivered by Justice Simrall, sustained the validity of the amendment and reaffirmed the doc- trine of legislative power to prohibit the sale altogether." (Gal- loway.)

The legislature of 1876 repealed the amendment of 1874. In 1880 another amendment to the law of 1871 required the publi- cation of names of petitioners for license. In the same year the notorious "Pint law," was enacted, which was repealed in 1882. At this time a license fee of $200 to $1,000 was required.

After 1876 the legislature continued to enact prohibition by spec- ial laws. It was declared in 8 towns in 1878; in one county, 12 towns and in the neighborhood of nine churches, in 1880; in 49 towns, etc., in 1882 ; and in 8 counties, besides 34 towns, 10 districts and about 18 churches and schools, in 1884. Meanwhile there was an active prohibition movement (q. v.) and a demand for a general local option law. Such a law was enacted, and approved March 12, 1886. This law provides that upon petition of one-tenth of the qualified voters in any county, a county election shall be held to determine the question of sale or no sale, the decision to be effec- tive for two years. If the majority is against sale, it works abso- lute prohibition in the county. If the majority is favorable, the applicant for license is under strict requirements and regulations, with heavy penalties.

Under this law elections have been held in nearly all the coun- ties of the State. In most of them the contests were very warm and exciting, but the prohibition element has gradually gained ground and now there are only five counties, Warren, Adams, Harrison, Madison and Washington, in which saloons are per- mitted.

By the laws of 1902 the sale of whiskey is generally forbidden, except in cities and towns of 500 inhabitants or more, having police protection day and night.

Lissa, a postoffice in the northwestern part of Jackson county, near the west bank of the Pascagoula river, and about 35 miles northwest of Pascagoula, the county seat ...

Literary Fund. See School System.

Little, a hamlet of Amite county, situated on the east fork of the Amite river, 8 miles southeast of Liberty, the county seat and nearest railroad and banking town. The postoffice is now discon- tinued and mail goes to Liberty. Population in 1900, 23.

Little Leader, a noted Choctaw military chief, or captain, known to his people as Hopeiya Isketina, was tried at the May term of circuit court, 1837, in Kemper county, on the charge of murder in having killed a fellow Choctaw. The case is described by Reuben Davis, in his "Recollections," (pp. 59-62.), but the name of the captain is given, mistakenly, as "Pushmattahaw." Davis says the captain "had in some way incurred the hatred of the land com-

110

MISSISSIPPI

panies organized to purchase reservations. [See Choctaw Frauds.] It was important to them that he should be got out of the way, and to this end they employed a number of able attorneys to aid me in the prosecution. To avoid censure, it was determined that there should be only one speaker." The indictment was secured, though Davis says: "If I could have controlled this matter, this chief should never have been prosecuted, nor so much as indicted. His dominion as a chief was not at an end. His tribal laws were still in force and his sovereign power unquestioned by the wild people who willingly submitted to his rule. Several tribes had gone west to take possession of their new homes and Pushmat- tahaw [Little Leader] was preparing to follow." The Choctaws had friends and the land speculators had enemies, and some of the ablest lawyers in the State were engaged to defend Little Leader .. Davis was assisted in the argument by Samuel J. Gholson. Joseph G. Baldwin was permitted to make his maiden effort also in the prosecution, and his success was one of the interesting features of the event. The jury returned a verdict of guilty. Upon hearing the sentence to be hung, the captain "rose to his full height and gave vent to a wild war-whoop, so full of rage and despair that it was terrible to hear. As there were many Indians present, there was for a time danger of attempted rescue." A petition for his pardon was sent to the governor by the citizens of Kemper and adjoining counties, but as the day set for execution approached, he was told by some one, "in cold-blooded and inhuman malice" that the petition had failed. This almost succeeded in gratifying the conspirators against him, for he broke a bottle in his cell, cut an artery and nearly bled to death before his condition was dis- covered by the sheriff. The petition, dated December, 1837, pre- served in the Mississippi department of Archives and History, sets forth the honorable record of Little Leader, a man sixty years of age, of fine natural endowments and great bravery, who had been the watchful and efficient friend of the early settlers, and one of the first to enlist with Pushmataha in the war against the Creeks. The pardon was granted by Governor Lynch.

Little Springs, a post-village in the southeastern part of Franklin county, about 12 miles from Meadville, the county seat. The station of Bogue Chitto, on the Illinois Central R. R., 18 miles due east, is the nearest railroad town. Population in 1900, 157.

· Livingston, an early settlement of importance in Madison county, is situated about 15 miles southwest of the present county seat, Canton. In its early days it was the most thriving settlement in the county, and was the second county seat. Some of the wealthy planters of the neighborhood were B. Ricks, John Johnston, Hudnell, John Lowe, N. Hinton, John Robinson and John Simmons. It was incorporated in 1836; other acts relating to its charter were passed 1837 and 1848. When the county seat was transferred to Madisonville, the old town rapidly declined, and it is now an insig- nificant settlement and postoffice. In the 50's the community surrounding Livingston was remarkable for culture and wealth.

111

MISSISSIPPI

Some of the wealthiest planters in the South lived there and dis- pensed a lavish hospitality.

Lizelia, a post-hamlet in the northern part of Lauderdale county, situated on Ponta creek, 13 miles from Meridian. Population in 1900, 57. It occupies the' site of old Daleville, now extinct.

Loakfoma, a post-hamlet in the northeastern part of Winston county, 15 miles northeast from Louisville, the county seat. Popu- lation in 1900, 48.

Lobdell, a post-hamlet in the western part of Bolivar county. It is a station on the Riverside division of the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley R. R., 10 miles south of Rosedale, one of the county seats of justice, and the nearest banking town. Population in 1900, 52.

Lobutcha, a post-hamlet in the southeastern part of Attala county, 19 miles east of Kosciusko, the county seat. Population in 1900, 30.

Lockhart, a post-village of Lauderdale county, on the Mobile & Ohio R. R., 12 miles northeast of Meridian. It has a church and a Male and Female Institute. Population in 1900, 100.

Locopolis, an important town in Tallahatchie county (q. v.) during the 30's and 40's, but which declined and was finally aban- doned before the War of 1861-1865, owing, probably, to its bad loca- tion as a shipping point, and to the frequent inundations of the Mis- sissippi. It derived its importance from the fact that it was situ- ated on the Tallahatchie river, and was the first shipping point in the county. It was about 10 miles west of Charleston. Dr. F. L. Riley tells us in his sketch of the old town that in 1837, "an appro- priation of $2,000 was made to build a turnpike from that place to Holly Grove. In 1839 a road was 'viewed out' along the township line, and the privilege was granted to establish a ferry at Loco- polis. In 1840 the Locopolis turnpike was leased to a company of gentlemen, who in return for their services in extending it were 'allowed to charge one dollar for the passage of a wagon or a double carriage, fifty cents for a cart, six and one-fourth cents for a horse- back rider, and three cents each for footmen.'"

Locum, a hamlet of Union county. The postoffice at this place was discontinued in 1905, and it now has rural free delivery from Dumas, in Tippah county.

Locust, a post-hamlet in Tate county, about 10 miles north- west of Senatobia, its nearest banking town.

Lodi, an incorporated town in the eastern part of Montgomery county, about 12 miles northwest of Winona. Kilmichael is the nearest banking town, on the Southern Ry., 6 miles to the south. Population in 1900, 29.

Loftus Expedition. "When Governor Johnstone arrived in West Florida, there came with him a Major Loftus, who had been ap- pointed to take charge of the Illinois country. Early in 1764, that officer sailed from Pensacola to New Orleans, and thence to Man- chac, where he joined his detachment, which had been some time exploring that bayou." (Pickett's Alabama, II, 4).

112

MISSISSIPPI

"Major Loftus, with 400 troops of the Twenty-second regiment, from Mobile, attempted in 1764 to ascend the Mississippi to take possession ; but on March 20th these were driven back by Tunica Indians at Davion's bluff before they had well started, with the loss of five killed and four wounded." '(Hamilton's Colonial Mo- bile.) Aubry, French commandant at New Orleans, reported at the time: "A number of officers, with three hundred and twenty soldiers, twenty women and seventeen children, left New Orleans on the 27th February, under command of an officer named Loftus, in ten boats and two pirogues. M. D'Abbadie [acting governor] had caused the Indians to be harangued in favor of the English, and had ordered the French commanders stationed at the several posts on the bank of the river, to afford aid and protection to Lof- tus and his party, and had given them Beaurand as interpreter." On March 15th, Gayarre relates, the party had reached Point Coupée without trouble, except the desertion of 80 men. At that place, the refuge of the old French Natchez settlers, one of the inhabitants recognized a negro on board as his slave, a fugitive to New Orleans, and invoked the aid of the French commandant in recovering the slave, which Loftus denied, calling his men to arms. As the party left the vicinity of Point Coupée, Beaurand left them, with a warning against the Indians. "The English had come up to Davion's bluff, when, on the 19th March, at ten o'clock in the morning, some Indians, who were in ambuscade on both sides of the river, fired at the two pirogues, which were recon- noitering ahead of the bulk of the convoy, killed six men and wounded seven. The pirogues fell back on the main body of the English, who without firing a shot slunk back to New Orleans, where they arrived on the 22d. The Indians who had attacked them did not number more than thirty men, and might easily have been repulsed. But Loftus and his party were frightened by the bugbear of French treachery, and were under the impression that whole Indian tribes had been instigated to lie in wait for them on their way to Illinois." Aubry complained afterward that Loftus accused D'Abbadie of instigating the attack, and receiving a report of the affair from the Indian chief. "He returned to Manchac, and despatched a captain, with twenty men to Mobile, through the lakes, who arrived safe at that place. Major Loftus, with the residue of his command, dropped down to the Balize, and thence went to Pensacola." (Pickett's Alabama, II, 4.) In Colonial Mobile Mr. Hamilton has collected information regarding a sec- ond expedition, under Lieut. John Ross, which was outfitted with boats and Indian goods by Logan, Terry & Co., the English trading house at New Orleans, the expenditure being in the neighborhood of 5,000 pounds. Ross must have gone up river in the spring of 1765. "Up among the Chickasaws he draws for 103 pounds in favor of the trader, John Brown, who seems to have supplied guides from there to the Illinois, and this was in addition to the compensation of Francis Underwood, who acted as guide and in- terpreter. Daniel Clark, Sr. makes presents of forty wampums

113

MISSISSIPPI

(costing over 57 pounds) on the way; and Logan, Terry & Co. supply 350 pounds of goods to pay the rowers of the bateaux em- ployed by Captain Lagauterais for the public presents to the Illi- nois. The result of this expensive expedition we do not know. But it must have been exceedingly satisfactory to the Indians at least. . The final occupation of the Illinois was in the fall of 1765, and effected by the operations of Captain Stir- ling with Highlanders, who penetrated the Ohio valley from Fort Pitt; while Major Farmer, shortly afterward, in December, took the 34th regiment up the Mississippi to join him. The French commandant, Saint Ange, then retired across the river to the vil- lage of St. Louis, and the English entered Fort Chartres. With this the British occupation of the Mississippi basin was completed," (Hamilton, and Winsor's Basin of the Mississippi, p. 457.)

Logtown, a post-village in the southwestern part of Hancock county, situated near the east bank of the Pearl river, 3 miles north of Pearlington, the nearest banking town, and 18 miles west of Bay St. Louis, the county seat. It has a money order postoffice, an ex- press office, lumber mills, two churches and two stores. Popula- tion in 1900, 220; in 1906 the population was estimated at 500.

Longbeach, a post-village of Harrison county, situated on the Gulf of Mexico, and a station on the Louisville & Nashville R. R., 3 miles west of Gulfport, the nearest banking town. It is sur- rounded by a fine trucking country. Population in 1900, 110; estimated to be 800 in 1906.

Longino, Andrew Houston, governor of Mississippi from 1900 to 1904, now a resident of Jackson, was born in Lawrence county, on May 16, 1854. His parents were John Thomas and Annie Porter (Ramsay) Longino, who lived near Monticello. The father died in 1855 and his remains lie buried beside those of his father and mother in the family cemetery in Lawrence county. The mother's demise also occurred while the subject of this sketch was still a Small child. His early educational advantages were acquired in the country schools of his native county, under such efficient teachers as Charles Mikell, Miss Mildred Waller, Jack Wardlaw, Miss Mary Burkett, W. H. Butler and W. B. Easterling. When he had com- pleted his preparatory work he matriculated at Mississippi college at Clinton, and in 1875 was graduated at that institution. From 1876 to 1880 he was clerk of the circuit and chancery courts of Law- rence county, and in the latter year, after a special legal course in the University of Virginia, was given a degree as a graduate of the law department of that institution. In 1881 he was admitted to practice in the courts of Mississippi; the license being granted by Chancellor T. B. Graham. He pleaded his first case in the circuit court at Columbia, Marion county. In politics Mr. Longino is recognized as one of the leaders of the Democratic party in the state. From 1880 to 1884 he represented Pike, Lawrence and Lin- coln counties in the upper house of the state legislature. In 1888 President Grover Cleveland appointed him United States district attorney for the southern district of Mississippi and he served in

8-II

114

MISSISSIPPI

that capacity for a period of two years. In 1894 he became chan- cellor and for five years was the incumbent of that office, resigning in April, 1899. In November of that year he was elected to the office of chief executive of the state, and served a full term of four years. His inauguration was in January, 1900, and it was during his incumbency of the office that the new state capitol was erected. (See Longino's Administration.) Aside from his official positions he has been a delegate to almost every Democratic state convention since he attained his majority and in 1900 was the chairman of the Mississippi delegation to the national convention of the Democratic party at Kansas City which nominated William Jennings Bryan for the presidency. His religious affiliations are with the Baptist faith, and he is a deacon and Sunday school superintendent of the First church of that denomination in Jackson. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. On April 14, 1887, at Jackson, Mr. Longino married Miss Marion Buckley, a daughter of James M. and Bethany (Craft) Buckley of Jackson. The five children of this union are Mack Buckley, Sylvester Gwin, James Marion, Annie Ramsay, and Gay.

Longino's Administration. Governor Longino was inaugurated January 16, 1900. The State officers elected in 1899, to serve dur- ing his administration, were James T. Harrison, lieutenant-gover- nor; J. L. Power, secretary of state; W. Q. Cole, auditor; J. R. Stowers, treasurer; Monroe McClurg, attorney-general; H. L. Whitfield, superintendent of education; E. W. Brown, clerk of supreme court ; E. H. Nall, land commissioner ; Wirt Adams, reve- nue agent ; J. D. McInnis, A. Q. May and J. C. Kincannon, railroad commissioners.

In his inaugural address the governor urged the building of a new State House, aid of the State Historical Society, establishment of a textile school at the Agricultural and Mechanical college, laws to prevent mobs and lynchings, employment of all convicts on the State farms, improvement of roads under a road commis- sioner in each county, a general primary election law, reform of school law to make distribution of fund depend upon actual school attendance, and he argued against the proposed policy of making a race distinction in the matter of school support. Regarding cor- poration legislation, he expressed a hope that "no more senti- mental or prejudiced opposition to railroads or other corporate enterprises will find favor with the legislature, so that capital hunting investment will have no just cause to pass Mississippi and go to other States offering legitimate inducements."

The year 1900 was memorable for financial legislation. Gover- nor Longino said, in his message of 1902: "The legislature of two years ago seems to have marked the parting of the ways between an old and a new sentiment of governmental liberality. Your honorable body at that session was liberal above all your predeces- sors, for many years at least, in the appropriation of funds for the assistance and maintenance of the State institutions and the proper objects of State aid. It has been gratifying to note also that the

115

MISSISSIPPI

spirit of progress and liberality manifested by you has been hearti- ly appreciated by the people, who have come to know of a cer- tainty that tax money, when judiciously expended for the comfort, education and general benefit of the masses, is not extravagance, but a safe and becoming investment by the State." (See Finances.) By the same legislature the building of a new State house was ordered, at a cost of $1,000,000; and the purchase of a Delta farm for the penitentiary, at a cost of $80,000. The State treasury was aided by the appropriation of over half a million dollars, the pro- ceeds of lands donated by congress to the colleges, and a portion of the million dollars back taxes collected from the railroad com- panies. (See Back Tax.) Hence the building of the new capitol was carried on without issuing $1,000,000 4-per cent. bonds, a's authorized. But in this transaction the State acquired a debt of $575,000, drawing six per cent. interest "in perpetuity." (See Fi- nances.)

An amendment to the constitution, supposed to have been adopted at the general election in 1899, was inserted in the con- stitution, making the judges of the supreme, circuit and chancery courts elective by the voters of the several districts, but the supreme court May 30, 1900, held that it was not constitutionally adopted. (See Judiciary.) At the congressional election in 1900 two amendments to the constitution were adopted, one strictly devoting the poll tax to the school funds of the counties (See Com- mon School Fund), and the other doing away with a State census. and providing a new basis of apportionment for the legislature. (q. v.) Early in 1901 the disputes among the oyster fishermen on the coast led to the appointment of a boundary commission by the governor. (See Boundaries.) August 15, 1901, Governor Longino made a sudden demand upon the State treasurer for a count of the cash on hand. When it was made, the same day, a shortage of $107,000 was discovered, which it was understood was loaned to a foreign bank, contrary to law. The money was returned to the treasury, but after a correspondence between the governor and treasurer (for which see message of 1902), the treasurer was suspended August 28, and he resigned September 6. This trans- action led to the indictment of the treasurer, F. T. Raiford, the cashier, and Phil A. Rush, a banker of Senatobia, who was tried, and after a mistrial, was acquitted. As Stowers' successor, the gov- ernor appointed G. W. Carlisle. A few days later, J. L. Power. secretary of state, died, and his son, J. W. Power, was appointed to fill the vacancy. November 5, there was a special election to fill these offices, at which J. W. Power received 12,335 votes to about 11,000 for other candidates, and Mr. Carlisle 13,107 votes to 9,770 for M. M. Evans. In the previous year a special election had been held to fill various vacancies in office, at which the vote was even less, practically amounting to a disregard of the franchise privilege. The total vote for presidential electors in 1900 was only 59,000. In concluding his message of 1902 Governor Longino said: "It gives me pleasure to say that it is manifest in the State

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.

Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. II, Part 12

Author: Rowland, Dunbar, 1864-1937, ed Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Atlanta, Southern Historical Publishing Association Number of Pages: 1032

Author: Rowland, Dunbar, 1864-1937, ed
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Atlanta, Southern Historical Publishing Association
Number of Pages: 1032