Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. II, Part 25

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 25

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).

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ordered in October. The commander of each militia regiment was ordered to form a mounted company to be ready to move at a moment's notice. This was by the organization of a battalion under Maj. Claiborne, which marched to Natchitoches and back in October. (See Sabine expedition.) The result was great indig- nation against Gen. Wilkinson, though that wonderful man con- tinued to hold the loyalty of many friends. After this Wilkinson and his confidants were engaged in working up a tremendous ex- citement regarding the advent of Aaron Burr, in which Mead was effectively employed, though he professed enmity to the general. He had written to the secretary of war September 7: "The people of this Territory are impressed with a conviction in their own minds that General Wilkinson is a Spanish officer. The old inhabitants all know some facts which lead to this opinion and seem astonished when ignorance of his extreme intimacy with several Spanish gov- ernors is acknowledged. I do not hesitate to express my

fears of the result of a warfare waged by the United States against Spain, and General Wilkinson the commandant. Think not sir, that I am the humble follower of John Randolph. No, I believe the one as much a Julius Caesar as the other a Cataline." When he had sent the battalion into Louisiana for the Sabine campaign, partly unarmed, because Wilkinson gave strict orders that no arms should be issued from Fort Adams, Mead vowed the people would never go into a war with Spain under the command of Wilkinson. In November Mead was asked by Wilkinson to send a battalion of 300 men to New Orleans, which he refused to do.

December 2, 1806, Secretary Mead addressed the legislature, at its regular session, and beginning with the words, "Called by for- tuitous circumstances to the performance of the executive func- tions of the Territory," he bestowed upon them such an oratorical effusion as no general assembly of the Mississippi Territory had yet been permitted to enjoy. At the same time in a confidential message he asked assistance in thwarting a plot for the separation of Mississippi from the United States. This was his first official recognition of the Burr expedition, which agitated the Territory for several months afterward, and during December kept the mili- tia in expectancy of a call to arms against the filibusters from the North. Mead adjourned the legislature from December 12 to the 19, and gave all his attention to hostile preparations. In his mes- sage he said: "I now, gentlemen, bid adieu to my civil character. Tomorrow I assume the military prerogatives of my office and shall leave you at this time with the fullest assurance of your patriotism, and in my revolutions through the Territory I shall expect to find you at your respective posts performing the duties which you may be required to execute in the general defence of our country." Col. Burr was in the hands of the court and re- leased on bail when Governor Williams returned, late in January, 1807, and resumed the duties of his office.

Meadville, the county seat of Franklin county, is situated at the geographical center of the county on Morgan's Fork, an affluent

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of the Homochitto river, and 10 miles east of Roxie, the nearest railroad station. Gloster is the nearest banking town. The town became the seat of justice about 1820, the original county seat hav- ing been located at Franklin, about 212 miles to the west. It was named for Cowles Mead, second Secretary of the Territory. It ships cotton and molasses. The Franklin Advocate, a Demo- cratic weekly, was established here in 1891, and is edited and pub- lished by Butler & Co. Population in 1900, 250.

Mechanicsburg, a post-hamlet of Yazoo county, 15 miles south of Yazoo City. Population in 1900, 35; population in 1906 is estimated at 75. It has several general stores.

Meehan Junction, a postoffice of Lauderdale county. It is at the junction of the Alabama & Vicksburg R. R., and the Tallahatta Railway, running north to Battlefield, in Newton county.

Melba, a postoffice of Covington county.

Melbourne, a postoffice of Panola county, on Long creek, 10 miles southeast of Batesville. The station of Pope, on the Illinois Central R. R., lies 3 miles to the west.

Melis, a post-hamlet in the eastern part of Pike county, about 24 miles distant from Magnolia, the county seat. Population in 1900, 75.

Melrose, a postoffice of Panola county, 8 miles northwest of Sardis, the nearest railroad and banking town.

Meltonville, a postoffice of Madison county, 7 miles south of Canton, the county seat.

Memorial Day. In the spring of 1867 one of the first, if not the first, decoration day service was held at Columbus, Miss. Some of the women of the town who desired to scatter flowers on the graves of their kindred, who had died in the Confederate service, pro- posed that the people go in a body and decorate the graves of the soldiers. Some of the men objected to this, through fear of the in- terference of the United States soldiers stationed at the town. Dr. G. F. Stainback, who had been the chaplain of Gen. N. B. Forrest, told the people that they need not fear, that he would head the procession to the cemetery. They met in the streets, formed a procession with Dr. Stainback in front, followed by the women, while the men, most of them old or maimed, brought up the rear. On account of the demonstration, a detachment of soldiers was sent to the cemetery, where they formed in line inside the gate, but made no interference. When the people were gathered at the graves of the dead Dr. Stainback offered prayer, and instantly every soldiers' head was bared. He made a talk, appropriate to the occasion, and then the women scattered flowers on the graves of their dead. It was a time of sectional hate, when hearts were inflamed with passion, or filled with sorrow, but the women strewed flowers alike on the graves of the Confederate and Federal dead. When Judge Francis M. Finch, of New York, read of this in the Tribune he was so touched that he wrote his immortal poem, "The Blue and the Gray."

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Memorial of 1792. This memorial of the planters of Natchez district to Governor Gayoso, dated December 21, 1792, is inter- esting as a description of the condition of the settlements at that time. It appears that the merchants had laid their accounts before his excellency, whom the planters humbly approached in the way of explanation of their "distressed condition." "The king caused a proclamation to be issued that, for a limited time, he would re- ceive all the tobacco they could produce at ten silver dollars per hundred. In going into this culture, we had to provide the nec- essary implements, and the charges thereon were enormnous. Wrought iron implements were charged at the rate of six reals a pound. Salt, fifteen dollars, often eighteen and twenty dollars a barrel. Osnaburgs, needful in shaping our tobacco into carrots, were charged at six reals but more generally at one dollar a yard, And so with all articles indispensable to the planters. Most of our lands were uncleared. Few of us possessed much stock. When our crops fell short many of us had no other resources. The few that had open and well-stocked farms had this advantage, that when their tobacco failed they could sell their corn at one dollar a bushel, pork at ten dollars per hundred, and beef at six dollars and a quarter. When the king declined taking any more tobacco, the merchants combined against us, and by agreeing upon a tariff of low prices, have so reduced the value of all descriptions of pro- duce, that it now takes, exclusive or interest, one hundred per cent. more of the same produce to pay the same debts that it did four years ago. The merchants last year gave notice that they would take corn at half a dollar per bushel, beef at four dollars per hundred and cotton at twenty-five dollars per hundred, in pay- ment of debts. The first of these articles the government bought from them at the same price in cash. The army contractors took the beef and paid cash; and cotton served as a remittance to Eu- rope and left them a profit of fifteen to twenty-five per cent. On those who paid them in indigo, they made still greater profits. We are now informed that while they will not abate their charges for merchandise, they expect to have their debts paid in silver dollars. They encourage us to go into the culture of indigo, cotton, tobacco and corn, and after all the expense of preparation, they decline to take our produce unless they regulate the price." In closing, this petition, which Mr. Claiborne says was written by Col. Hutchins, intimates that equitable prices would revive industry; otherwise "matters will drift from bad to worse, and the time is not very far distant when the planter must destroy the merchant, or the merchant must destroy the farmer."

Memorial of 1800. This petition to Congress was designed to suspend the extension to the territory of Mississippi of the privi- lege of a general assembly and delegate in congress, but its pur- pose did not commend it to the majority in Congress. It set out the apprehensions of the people regarding the Georgia land claims, attacked the sufficiency of the Committee of 1799, represented that

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the people were in straightened financial condition, and that the population was not generally qualified for self-government.

"To avert from this infant country impending evils of so serious an aspect, your memorialists now address the sovereign interpos- ing authority of the United States in full confidence that the prayer of a majority of the citizens of this territory will be received with condescension and parental indulgence. Therefore your memorialists earnestly pray that the honourable Congress will suspend the operation of the supplemental act establishing a 'sec- ond grade of Territorial government in the Mississippi Territory ; and also enact a law, by which this Territory may enjoy the same privileges which, your memorialists are informed, have been con- ceded to the Indian territory, viz: That the second grade of gov- ernment should not take effect till it appeared to be the wish of a majority of the taxable citizens to have it applied." This was followed by an appeal that the holders of lands should not be com- pelled to seek justice outside the territory, in contesting the claims of speculators, which may have been the most popular sentiment in the memorial. The petition was dated December 6, 1800.

Mendenhall is located at the junction of the Columbia branch with the Gulf & Ship Island R. R., 31 miles southeast of Jackson. It became the county seat after the building of the railroad, and remained such until November, 1905, when it was removed to Westville, the original seat of justice, by an order of the Supreme Court of Mississippi. Considerable lumber is manufactured at this point, there being a saw mill and one of the best planing mills between Jackson and Gulfport. There is one newspaper published here, the Simpson County News, established in 1872, and issued as a Democratic weekly by H. A. Geiger, the editor and publisher. The town was named for T. L. Mendenhall, a pioneer of Simpson county and a prominent attorney of Westville. The town is pros- pering and has several stores, two churches, a good school and a bank. The Mendenhall Bank was established in 1904 with a paid up capital of $10,000. The surrounding country is covered with yellow pine and the various hardwoods, and the soil, with a little fertilizing, will produce fruits, vegetables, grains and cotton lux- uriantly. Population in 1900, 150; the population in 1906 was estimated at 600 and is rapidly increasing. Under an act of the leg- islature in its session of 1906, a vote was ordered to decide on the location of a county seat, and at a special election held on July 12, 1906, Mendenhall was selected as the permanent seat of justice of Simpson county. The town will soon have an electric light system.

Mentorum, a postoffice in the northeastern part of Harrison county, situated between Bluff and Black creeks, about 35 miles north of Gulfport, the county seat.

Meridian, the capital of Lauderdale county, is situated 140 miles east of the Mississippi river, from Vicksburg, and 15 miles west of the State of Alabama ; being on the Mobile & Ohio Railroad, 135 miles above Mobile. It claims a population of 25,000 and is growing rapidly. The Alabama Great Southern, New Orleans & North-

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eastern and Alabama & Vicksburg railroads have their terminals at this point. Its location, about 1854, was the result of the pro- posed crossing of the Mobile & Ohio by the Alabama & Vicksburg, then known as the Vicksburg & Montgomery railroad. Cotton and corn fields occupied its present site, surrounded by oak and pine forests over clay hills and bottom lands of the head waters of the Chickasawhay. Richard McLamose possessed most of the lands and his plantation home was the only notable residence in the vicinity. So little did the M. & O. regard the point for a while, that it was with difficulty persuaded to put in even a switch for a flag station ; and when it did, called the place "Sowashee Station," from a creek hard by. L. A. Ragsdale, meanwhile, had bought out R. Mc- Lamose, and John T. Ball had purchased a tract of 80 acres, and both parties immediately began to lay off town lots. They were the pioneers. Mr. Ragsdale's plat was for "Ragsdale City ;" Mr. Ball's for "Meridian," he having first secured a postoffice by that name. The postoffice name was adopted for the charter, secured by L. S. O. G. Greer from the legislature, January 10, 1860, when the city of Meridian became a legal corporation. It was several years be- fore the Vicksburg road, then known as the "Southern," made its junction, being delayed by having to tunnel the Tallahata ridge. Meanwhile, part of what is now the A. G. S. was finished to York, Ala., 27 miles. This road made connection with the Selma branch soon after the declaration of the war, as a military neces- sity. A weekly paper was published by W. L. Spinks. When the war broke out between the States, 1861, Meridian was a mere vil- lage with three or four stores, two or three hotels and a shingle machine. There were two churches, Baptist and Methodist, with a union Sunday school. Near where the Insane Asylum now stands, a good sized academy had been built, and the school was in full operation. But things changed. The city became a military camp and in due time was division headquarters of the Confederate army. Early in the year 1864, Gen. W. T. Sherman, of the Federal army, made his raid to Meridian. Gen. Leonidas Polk, who had been the Episcopal bishop of Louisiana, was in command. Having too small a force to meet the invaders, he fell back to Demopolis, leaving the territory around the city to the mercy of the enemy. Railroads were torn up for miles in every direction and many houses were burned. All the grist mills were destroyed, and after the Federal troops departed, women and children were without food for some days; but no direct personal injury was inflicted. The collapse of the Confederacy came in April, 1865, and Meridian be- came a main point for issuing paroles. Everything was done quietly, but in sadness. No complaints were made until the days of reconstruction. Notwithstanding the troubles of that period, however, the city began to grow. Mercantile establishments were multiplied, a bank was started, and factories began to be built. But friction came, resulting in the riot of 1871, and the reorganiza- tion of the municipal government. Soon after the riot a census was taken of the city proper by the board. The population proved to

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be only 3,881, which was not made public. Meanwhile, the first cotton mill was established; but just as it began to pay, it was accidentally destroyed by fire, which was a real calamity. Failure of the A. & C. railroad and the burning of its shops had already cast a gloom on business, but the sash and blind factory and other industries soon filled up the gaps. In 1875, the burning of the Phoenix hotel, the most imposing building in the city at the time, was a most unfortunate affair. A period of depression was fol- lowed by the fever epidemic of 1878, which almost depopulated the town; but the following year was noted for a general advance in prosperity. The most encouraging feature was the proposed road to New Orleans, in course of construction, and completed in 1883, the shops being located in the city. Great credit is due Capt. W. H. Hardy, then of this city, for the building of the N. O. & N. E. railroad, and for the introduction of a second National Bank. He and Mr. C. W. Robinson were prominent in the work of establishing industries and improving the city. A little to the northwest the East Mississippi Insane Asylum was built, now surrounded by beautiful grounds. In educational matters Meridian has always taken a lively interest, which has steadily increased. Immediately after the surrender, a Baptist college for girls was established, and later a Methodist college, the former closing out some years ago and the latter changing its control and location. The successful institution of the present public school system was the prime cause of changes. There are now in the city seven excellent public school buildings-one of them for the colored people-and some costly structures, with two to be added this year, all brick except two. The high school at its last commencement gave out 41 diplomas to tenth grade graduates. Besides these, there are two denomina- tional colleges for girls-Methodist Episcopal and Roman Catholic, and one Independent; also a boy's school under Roman Catholic control and a commercial college. In the matter of churches, Meridian is particularly blessed, having seven white, and seven colored, Baptist; five Methodist, white, and four colored; three Presbyterian, including the Cumberland, white, and one Congrega- tional, colored ; two Episcopal, both white ; one Disciples, and a very artistic Jewish synagogue in course of construction. These various denominations all have houses of worship, many elegant, expensive, and convenient, and ornaments to the city. Meridian is a city with- out saloons and has been for thirteen years, and though Lauderdale is legally a "wet county," it has been impossible to secure enough petitioners to get a saloon in the county. A very destructive fire occurred in 1882, which swept away quite a number of blocks and residences, and the Presbyterian house of worship. Two corner buildings escaped, the old "Jones hotel," and the Masonic hall. A Masonic lodge was organized in the town in 1865, and another later. Other secret and benevolent societies followed; the Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Knights and Ladies of Honor, Elks, and some private clubs. A very successful Railroad Young Men's Christian As- sociation has been in operation several years ; its hall was demolished

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by the cyclone of March 3, 1906. The cyclone also destroyed the fertilizer factory, two or three blocks of stores, many residences, two white and three colored churches, and killed and injured about 50 persons. One of the first advances of Meridian to city life was the introduction of mule street cars, and then gas lights. In due time these were merged into electric lines and electric lights and power. But the most notable improvements were made during the administration of Mayor E. H. Dial. These were the adoption and installation of a fine system of sewerage, the paving of streets and the laying of sidewalks. He also prepared and secured the adoption of a number of excellent ordinances. Meridian now has ten miles of electric street railway, and many miles of gas pipes, water pipes, sewerage, paved streets and paved sidewalks.

It is the metropolis, and the most important railroad and .in- dustrial center of eastern Mississippi. Its rapid growth and development have taken place since the war, and chiefly during the past two decades. It is to-day a modern city in every sense of the word, with its modern improvements, excellent schools, fine church edifices, varied commercial and industrial enterprises, and its splendid transportation facilities. The city transacts an enormous wholesale business, and possesses the largest wholesale grocery house in the state, while the Meridian Fertilizer Factory claims the largest output of any similar plant in the State. Among its other important industries are the Southern Oil and Fertilizer Co., cotton, furniture, sash and blind factories, railroad repair shops, foundry, machine shops, two daily, and four weekly newspapers ; the Press is a morning daily and the Star is an evening daily. Five strong banking institutions supply the city's commercial needs. The Meridian National Bank was established in 1884; the First National Bank, in 1883; the Citizens Bank, in 1888; the Southern Bank, in 1898, and the Peoples Savings Bank, in 1902; the combined banking capital of the city being in the neighborhood of $1,000,000. In addi- tion to the many beautiful and ornate residences of the city, its streets are embellished by many fine church buildings and modern business blocks. Still other noteworthy buildings are the new Union Depot, and the stately courthouse.

The U. S. census for 1900 yields the following statistics for Meridian: Number of industries, 119; capital, $1,923,590 ; average number of wage-earners, 1,416; total wages, $555,409; cost of ma- terials used, $1,700,655; value of products, $2,980,217; population, 14,050. The census ranked it first among the manufacturing cities of the State, and next to Vicksburg in point of population. Since 1900 its growth in population has been very rapid, and it now claims the largest number of people of any city in Mississippi.

Meridian Campaign, 1864, see War of 1861-65.

Meridian Riot, 1871. The trouble had been brewing for several months, said Robert J. Mosely, the sheriff. (Testimony before legislative committee, Journal appendix, 1871, p. 1129.) Joseph Williams, a negro member of the county board of supervisors, had been called out of his house and killed, a negro road supervisor

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had been shot from ambush; Burton and Kaiser, negroes, had been shot by persons in disguise. There were charges of official misconduct against Williams. No arrests had been made. The political conditions-offices filled by negroes and Northern men who affiliated with them, and the disposition of the negro popula- tion to run the town,-bred race hostility that was dangerous. According to Judge Robert Leachman, there were some men "that may be called desperadoes," from Alabama or Mississippi, who had followed the railroads and committed outrages at Lauderdale and other places. Daniel Price was arrested under the State Ku Klux law on the charge of taking a band of colored men to the house of Adam Kennard, and abusing him. Price and Kennard were in a feud, and Kennard was charged with enticing negroes to Alabama. When Price was tried an armed party came over from Sumter county, Ala., where Kennard lived, and was said to be deputy sheriff, for his protection. This Alabama party of about 50 was headed by one Renfrau; they were boisterous, made several as- saults, and carried several colored men away, saying they had es- caped from Sumter county. The Meridian authorities permitted Price to escape, to avoid trouble. The sheriff desired to arrest their leaders, but was dissuaded by old citizens. It was doubted if the Alabamians had a requisition, to authorize their action. Out of these troubles grew a white movement to have the city marshal, William Sturgis, removed. A petition was sent to Gov- ernor Ames by the colored people to have Sturgis retained in office. Representative Aaron Moore returned to Meridian with William Dennis, who took the petition. Saturday, March 4, there was a meeting of negro men at the courthouse, addressed by Warren Tyler, a negro school teacher, William Dennis (alias Clopton), and Aaron Moore. The report was spread that they advised the negroes to arm and protect themselves. It is certain that Dennis, who was a dangerous character, advised violence on the part of the negroes. The white citizens resolved that William Sturgis, Bill Dennis and Warren Tyler must leave the town. Trouble began that night, and armed men were hunting for Dennis, the sheriff trying to collect a posse to preserve order. The store of Theodore Sturgis, brother of the mayor, was fired, and the flames did not stop among the frame buildings until two-thirds of the business houses of the town were consumed. Some negroes were also out firing guns, and Dennis was heard to urge them to prepare to fight. It was a night of terror. Moore preached in his Methodist church next day, and the sheriff notified him that the negroes must all disarm. On Monday there was a meeting of white citizens. That morning Moore and Tyler were arrested, and with Dennis, were taken before Judge Bramlette, who was a Southerner and a Re- publican. When the second witness, Brantley, was about to leave the witness stand, Tyler remarked that he would call some wit- nesses to impeach him, whereupon he seized a stick on the judge's bench, and started toward Tyler. The marshal caught Brantley, and Tyler made for the sheriff's office. Then the firing began.

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Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. II, Part 25

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