USA > Mississippi > Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. II > Part 42
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Following is the succession of grand masters, and year of elec- tion :
M. Ruffner, 1838; Wm. Doyle, 1839; Benj. Walker, 1840; E. P. Pollard, 1841; S. Halsey, 1841; Geo. Dicks, 1842; Richard Grif- fith, 1842; S. B. Newman, 1844; J. R. Stockman, 1845; W. H. Brown, 1846; Thomas Reed, 1847; D. N. Barrows, 1848; C. H. Stone, 1849; W. Cruther, 1850; A. M. Foute, 1851; N. G. Bryson, 1852; J. K. Connelly, 1852; W. A. Strong, 1853; A. H. Arthur, 1854; L. K. Barber, 1855; John L. Milton, 1856; H. L. Bailey, 1857; Wm. Wyman, 1858; A. E. Love, 1859; J. P. Hawks, 1860; R. B. Mayes, D. G. M., 1861; C. Parish, 1865; N. T. Keeler, 1866; L. K. Barber, 1867; S. C. Cochran, 1868; George Torrey, 1869; G. K. Birchett, 1870; Ira J. Carter, 1871; Isaac T. Hart, 1872; J. S. Cain, 1873; H. S. Van Eaton, 1874; D. P. Black, 1875; R. L. Saunders, 1876; A. B. Wagner, 1877; J. H. Mckenzie, 1878; Joseph Hirsh, 1879 ; T. J. Hanes, 1880; W. J. Bradshaw, 1881; J. L. Power, 1882; G. W. Trimble, 1883; I. D. Blumenthal, 1884; H. C. Roberts, 1885; James C. Lamkin, 1886; Wm. Strickland, 1887; Amos Burnett, 1888; R. C. Patty, 1889 ; Wiley N. Nash, 1890; Emile Bonelli, 1892; Monroe McClurg, 1893; Ellis T. Hart, 1894; C. L. Lincoln, 1895; Simon Fried, 1896; L. F. Chiles, 1897; J. W. Stewart, 1898; O. L. Kimbrough, 1899; O. L. McKay, 1900; Wm. Hemingway, 1901; John L. Buckley, 1902; James McClure, 1903; W. O. Menger, 1904; J. J. Coman, 1905.
Odile, a postoffice of Marion county.
Ofahoma, a post-village of Leake county, situated on the Yoka- hockany river, 10 miles west of Carthage, the county seat, and 24 miles east of Canton, the nearest railroad and banking town. It has a church and a money order postoffice. Population in 1900, 106.
Ofogoulas, see Indians.
O. K., a post-hamlet and landing of Tunica county, on the Mis- sissippi river, 6 miles from Tunica, the county seat, and nearest railroad and banking town, and 70 miles below Memphis. Much cotton is shipped from here. Population in 1900, 65.
Okolona, an incorporated post-town of Chickasaw county, and one of the two seats of justice for the county. It is an important
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station on the Mobile & Ohio R. R., and is also connected with Houston by a spur line of the Southern Railway. It is 68 miles south of Corinth, and about 45 miles northwest of Columbus. The name Okolona is an Indian word meaning "much bent." It has telegraph, express and banking facilities, and lies in a cotton, corn and hay producing district. It is a shipping point of importance and the market town for a large area of country. The Okolona Banking Company was established here in 1888, present capital $60,000; the Merchants & Farmers Bank was established in 1897, capital $25,000. It supports two weekly newspapers; the Messen- ger, an Independent paper founded in 1872, and the Sun, a Demo- cratic paper published in 1892; Race Pride (colored) is a semi- monthly Republican paper. There are a number of manufacturing enterprises here, among which are a large cotton-seed oil mill, a cotton compress, an ice factory, bottling works, and a handle factory. The Mobile & Ohio round house and machine shops are maintained here. The town owns and operates electric lighting and water works systems, and is rapidly improving its streets and side walks. A male academy, a female institute, and the principal relig- ious denominations are represented by churches. Population in 1900, 2,177; in 1906 it was estimated at 2,500.
Okolona, battle. Gen. Wm. Sooy Smith, of the Union army, left Memphis in February, with 6,500 cavalry, to attempt to join General Sherman at Meridian (see War of 1861-65). At New Al- bany he crossed the Tallahatchie, behind which river Gen. Forrest lay with his cavalry, and advanced toward Pontotoc and Houston. At the latter place and in the Houlka swamp he was given battle by Gen. S. J. Gholson, commanding State troops, and Smith turned toward Okolona, and sent detachments toward Columbus and West Point. Forrest moved rapidly in pursuit, reaching Stark- ville February 18, and disposed his brigades to guard the threat- ened towns. West Point seemed most in danger and there was a concentration of both Smith's and Forrest's troops on the road there; but Forrest was waiting for reinforcements, and fell back to a position on Sakatonchee creek, three miles south of West Point. Disposing his other troops to guard other ways of ap- proach and support him, he awaited Smith with Chalmers' division, behind a breastwork of rails and logs, fighting his men as infantry. Smith was repulsed after a two hours' fight, February 21, and the retreat was so hotly pursued that the Federals became demoral- ized. At Okolona, on the 22d, Bell's brigade charged and captured a battery of five guns. Five miles beyond Okolona there was a fierce engagement, in which Col. Jefferson E. Forrest, brother of the general, and Col. James A. Barksdale, of the 5th Miss. cav- alry, were killed. Five miles further in the retreat, there was another stubborn fight, with which the pursuit ceased. The Con- federate loss was 97 killed, besides the wounded, among whom were Colonels McCullock and Barteau. The Federals had 47 killed and 152 wounded. Forrest had probably about half as many men in battle as his opponents.
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Oktibbeha, a postoffice of Kemper county, 14 miles southwest of Dekalb, the county seat.
Oktibbeha County was established December 23rd, 1833. It was one of the numerous counties formed at this time from Choctaw territory ceded by the treaty of Dancing Rabbit in 1830, and is situated in the northeastern part of the State. "Oktibbeha" is an Indian word meaning "ice there in creek," or, according to another authority "bloody water," because of the battles fought here be- tween the Chickasaws and Choctaws in an early day. The orig- inal act defined its boundaries as follows: "Beginning at the point at which the line between ranges 15 and 16 east, leaves the line be- tween townships 16 and 17, and running from thence north with said line, between ranges 15 and 16 east, to a point directly west of the junction of the Buttahatchy river, with the Tombigbee river; from thence west to the line between ranges 11 and 12 east; from thence south, with said line between ranges 11 and 12 east, to the line between townships 16 and 17, and from thence east, with said line between townships 16 and 17, to the place of beginning." A part of its northern area was taken in 1871 to assist in forming the new county of Clay, (q. v.) Clay county lies to the north, Lowndes county on the east, Winston and Noxubee counties on the south and Choctaw county on the west. The old "Robinson Road" ran through the southern part of the county and in the southeastern part was the old Choctaw Indian agency. Numerous mounds and the many Indian names of streams and towns are constant re- minders of the old Choctaw occupancy. The county has a land surface of 435 square miles.
A list of the civil officials of the county for 1838, soon after its organization, is as follows: David Ames, Judge of the Probate court; Joseph Yates, Clerk of the Circuit court; Charles Debrells, Clerk of the Probate court ; John Moore, Sheriff ; Richard S. Graves, Surveyor; John Wiseman, Assessor and Collector; Thomas A. Forbut, Treasurer; Richard Drummond, Coroner; John R. Todd, Ranger ; James Copeland, S. Clark, Samuel Harper, John Quin, Nicholas H. Simmons, members of the Board of Police.
The first Probate Judge was David Reese; the first Sheriff was J. W. Eastland, the first county Treasurer was Robert Bell, the first Clerks of the Circuit and Probate Courts were Yates and De- brell above mentioned. R. A. Lampkin was the first postmaster and Horatio Bardwell, a Presbyterian divine, was probably the first minister to hold services in the county, about 1835. The "Stark- ville Whig," established in 1847 by Dr. J. T. Freeman, was the first paper published. This became the "Broad Ax" a little later and continued under that name down to the time of the War.
Starkville has been the county seat from the first and is a place of 2,100 people, at the junction of the Illinois Central and Mobile & Ohio railroads. The country adjoining is an excellent stock country and the city has a thriving local and shipping trade, has several factories, and possesses exceptional social and educational advantages. The State Agricultural and Mechanical College and
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U. S. Experiment Station are situated one mile east of Starkville on the railroad. This institution is doing a splendid work for the industrial education of the youth of the State and is constantly widening its field of usefulness. Other towns in the county are Sturgis (pop. 350), Maben, Hickory Grove, Double Springs, Long- view, Osborn and Bradley. The eastern part of the county is for the most part rich prairie soil with a timber growth of white oak, red oak, poplar, black walnut, hickory and gum. A few miles west of Starkville is a four to ten mile strip of the Flatwoods belt, hav- ing a stiff clay soil and a timber growth of white and post oak. West of the Flatwoods are the Sandy Hills, extending to Web- ster county and having a timber growth of oak, hickory, pine, blackjack, and chestnut. The county produces cotton, corn, oats, wheat, rye, barley, sweet and Irish potatoes, all kinds of grasses, and fruits and vegetables of every description. There is no better stock country in the State, and Colonel W. B. Montgomery of Oktibbeha has gone extensively into the busi- ness of breeding fine cattle, and is recognized as an authority throughout the South. Many northerners have also embarked in the stock' business on a large scale, the fine grasses of the prairie section making the industry particularly attractive. The Illinois Central R. R. crosses the county from east to west, a branch of the Mobile & Ohio R. R. runs from Columbus to Starkville, and the Southern R. R. crosses the northwestern corner of the county. The Noxubee river runs through the south- ern part of the county, and with its tributaries, Chincahoma, Talk- ing Warrior, Sand and Wolf creeks water this section. In the east and north are Red Bull, Trim Cane, Self, Biba Wila, Line and many other creeks.
The following statistics, from the twelfth United States census for 1900, relate to farms, manufactures and population :- Number of farms 3,163, acreage in farms 207,895, acres improved 119,809, value of land exclusive of buildings $1,505,580, value of buildings $474,130, total value of products not fed $1,075,512, and total value of live stock $618,648. Number of manufacturing establishments 59, capital invested $162,025, wages paid $21,477, cost of materials $68,808, total value of products $149,677. The population in 1900 consisted of whites 6,363, colored 13,820, a total of 20,183 and an increase of 2,489 over the year 1890.
The value of real estate has advanced fully 100 per cent in the last 5 years. The public highways are being worked by contract. Great advancement has been made in the schools of the county. Owing to the emigration of the negroes the population on the whole has not increased much since the last census. The total assessed valuation of real and personal property in Oktibbeha county in 1905 was $1,819,537 and in 1906 it was $2,085,863 which shows an increase of $266,326 during the year.
Oktoc, a postoffice of Oktibbeha county, situated on Folsom creek, 10 miles south of Starkville, the county seat.
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Oldenburg, a postoffice of Franklin county, about 8 miles north- west of Meadville, the county seat. Hamburg is the nearest rail- road station, 5 miles west on the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley R. R.
Old Salem, a post-hamlet in the south-central part of Carroll county, 12 miles west of Vaiden, and 20 miles south of Carrollton, the county seat. Vaiden is the nearest railroad and banking town. It contains several stores, and has 2 churches and a good school. Population in 1900, 35.
Oldtown, a postoffice of Calhoun county, located on the Schoona river, 3 miles northeast of Pittsboro, the county seat.
Olio, a postoffice of Amite county, about 14 miles southwest of Liberty, the county seat.
Olive, a postoffice of Holmes county, 4 miles due north of Lex- ington, the county seat and nearest railroad and banking town.
Olive Branch, an incorporated village in the northeastern part of De Soto county, on the Kansas City, Memphis & Birmingham R. R., 18 miles southeast of Memphis. It has two churches, an academy, a steam mill, and several good stores. Population in 1900, 198; the population in 1906 was estimated at 300.
Oliver, a postoffice of Coahoma county, about 12 miles south of Clarksdale, the county seat.
Olney, a hamlet in the northwestern part of Neshoba county, 12 miles from Philadelphia, the county seat. It has rural free delivery from the town of Edinburg.
Oloh, a postoffice in the northwestern part of Lamar county, about 15 miles from Purvis, the county seat. There are 2 churches a good school and a turpentine plant located here.
O'Neil, a postoffice of Amite county, about 12 miles northwest of Liberty, the county seat.
Ophelia, a post-hamlet of Rankin county, about 22 miles north- east of Brandon, the county seat. Population in 1900, 23.
Ora, a post-hamlet in the central part of Covington county, on the Gulf & Ship Island R. R., 3 miles northeast of Williamsburg, the county seat. Collins is the nearest banking town. It has a money order postoffice., Population in 1900, 68. There is a large saw mill located here and the population of Ora in 1906 was esti- mated at 300.
Orange, a post-hamlet in the western part of Clarke county, on Souenlovie creek, about 15 miles northwest of Quitman, the county seat. Population in 1900, 26.
Orangegrove, a station on the Louisville & Nashville R. R., in the southeastern part of Jackson county, 8 miles northeast of Pas- cagoula, the county seat, and nearest banking town. It received its name from the groves of orange trees about it. It has a church, a money order postoffice, a steam saw mill and extensive trucking interests. Population in 1900, 30.
Orangeville, a postoffice in the northern part of Hinds county, about 20 miles northwest of Jackson.
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Order of '76. This secret political society was organized in 1870, according to popular impression, at Somerville, Noxubee county, by Thomas S. Gathright, founder and proprietor of Somer- ville institute. Its purpose was to counteract the Loyal League. At the election in 1869 the Democrats, including nearly all the whites, tried to secure part of the negro vote, which was largely in the majority, partly owing to the disfranchisement of those white men, generally of high position, who were not included in the amnesty. "Neither force, fraud nor intimidation were resorted to." But it was found that the secret methods of the Loyal League made the negroes practically solid in opposition to the Democrats. Even the most ignorant negroes were enabled to select their Re- publican tickets by the flag printed in colors on the back. Hence the Order of '76, the name being suggested by the old grievance of the fathers-taxation without representation. The purposes of the club were: "To secure concert of action among the white voters of the State in overthrowing the Republican party in the State; to shield, protect and defend each other by money, or by force if necessary, from wrong and oppression, and likewise to protect and defend our mothers, sisters, wives and daughters from insult and injury ; to punish lawless negroes and their white allies who were protected by the military authorities; to ostracise every native white man and his family who allied himself with the negroes; and to attend every election and vote only for true and tried men, and use every lawful means to defeat the 'black and tan' ticket, and to re-establish white supremacy in the State." The lodges were known among the members as "Robinson clubs," and the challenge was "Do you know Robinson?" to which the initiated answered "What Robinson?" to which the reply was "Squire Rob- inson." There were clubs in all the eastern counties. The trial of L. D. Belk, of Meridian, in 1872, was thought by members of the order to be a "fishing expedition" to obtain information about the order. T. M. Scanlan, of Newton, was called as a witness, and on his refusal to answer questions he was sent to jail for contempt and held two months, until yellow fever broke out, and he was released by order of Judge Hill. No witnesses could be found to reveal the secrets of the order. (W. H. Hardy, in Miss. Hist. Publ. VII, 208).
Ordinance of 1784. This act of the congress of the Confederation was the first attempt to provide a plan of government for the country at that time in the hands of the Indians. It was reported in congress, in March, 1784, by a committee, consisting of Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, Chase of Maryland, and Howell of Rhode sland. The original draft of the ordinance, in the handwriting of efferson, provides for the laying off of States from the 31° parallel orthward, and for the prohibition of slavery in all the region after te year 1800. On April 19, the report was taken up for consider- aon, and Mr. Spaight, of North Carolina, moved to strike out the Cluse relating to slavery. On the question, "Shall the words sind?" six States voted yes, seven being required to adopt any
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proposition. "South Carolina, Maryland and Virginia voted against it," wrote Mr. Jefferson, "North Carolina was divided, as would have been Virginia, had not one of its delegates been sick in bed." If one of the New Jersey delegates had not been absent, the clause would have been adopted by the vote of seven States. Georgia was not present. Another very important change made was that the laying off of States should begin on the 45th parallel and proceed southward. As adopted, the ordinance provided : That, when authorized by congress, the free males in any one of the territorial divisions to be laid off should meet to establish a temporary government, "to adopt the constitution and laws of any one of the original States," subject to alteration by their legisla- ture, and to establish counties and districts for the election of a legislature. When there should be 20,000 free inhabitants, upon proof of the same to congress, a convention should be held to establish a permanent constitution and government for them- selves." Both the temporary and permanent governments were to be "established on these principles as their basis:" "That they shall forever remain a part of this confederacy of the United States of America ;" that they should be subject to the articles of confed- eration and the acts of congress, in the same measure as the older States were, also to the payment of the Federal debts contracted and to be contracted ; that they should in no case interfere with the primary disposal and control of the soil by the United States in congress assembled, or impose taxes on the land of the United States; "That their respective governments shall be republican ;" that there should be no discrimination in taxation against non-res- ident proprietors. These States, thus formed, could have a dele- gate in congress, with privilege of speaking but not voting, but for a long time they would not be advanced to that condition that, since this ordinance, has been called "admission to the Union." Whenever any one "of the said States shall have of free inhab- itants as many as shall then be in any one of the least numerous of the thirteen original States, such State shall be admitted by its delegates into the congress of the United States, on an equal footing with the original States," provided the requisite number of the original States should consent, and thereupon it should be proposed to the legislatures of the States, the original parties to the articles of confederation, to require the assent of two-thirds of the United States in congress assembled to adapt the articles of confederation to the increased number of States.
Ordinance of 1787. This ordinance for the government of the territory of the United States northwest of the river Ohio, adopted July 13, 1787, taking the place of the ordinance of 1784, was made the fundamental ordinance of Mississippi territory, and conse quently of the State, by act of Congress providing for a goverr ment of this Territory, in 1798. The Ordinance, in the first plac, provides for the abolition of primogeniture and the establishment f such a system of inheritance and transfer of property as now pe- vails in the United States. In regard to the government of ie
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territory, there is an adaptation to two stages of population. Con- gress was to appoint a governor, to serve three years, a secretary to serve four years, and a court of three judges, of common law jurisdiction. During the first stage of the territory, when the pop- ulation was less than "five thousand free male inhabitants of full age," "the governor and judges, or a majority of them, shall adopt and publish in the district such laws of the original States, criminal and civil, as may be necessary and best suited to the circumstances of the district, and report them to Congress from time to time;" the governor also should appoint all magistrates and civil officers at his pleasure, and lay out counties and townships in the country freed from Indian title. The governor, as commander-in-chief of the militia, was empowered to commission all officers under the rank of general officers, which appointment Congress reserved.
When the voting population named had been attained and proof of the same submitted to the governor, his proclamation should issue for an election of representatives; the apportionment to be one representative for every 500 free male inhabitants, the term to be two years. A freehold of fifty acres of land was required as a qualification for a voter and of 200 acres for membership in the assembly. These representatives would form the popular repre- sentation in the General Assembly, to be composed of the gover- nor, legislative council and house of representatives. As soon as the house should meet, it should nominate ten residents, each pos- sessed of a freehold in 500 acres of land, and return these names to Congress, out of which list Congress should select five to consti- tute the council, vacancies to be filled in like manner.
The general assembly, thus constituted, had "authority to make laws in all cases for the good government of the district, not re- pugnant to the principles and articles in this ordinance established and declared." But the governor had the power of absolute veto, could convene, prorogue and dissolve the assembly whenever in his opinion it was expedient, and it was the duty of the secretary to report acts of the legislature and all proceedings of the govern- ment to Congress every six months.
There was no representation in Congress until the general as- sembly was organized, whereupon the council and house assembled in one room shall have authority by joint ballot to elect a delegate to Congress, with a right of debating but not of voting.
So far the ordinance was worked out, modifying Jefferson's ordi- nance to meet what Carrington, of Virginia, considered the need of strict control of these "districts," until they should be populous enough to be recognized as States, having self government. What follows is the joint product of Virginia and Massachusetts states- manship in providing for the wider future:
"And, for extending the fundamental principles of civil and re- ligious liberty, which form the basis whereon these republics, their laws and constitutions are erected ; to fix and establish those prin- ciples as the basis of all laws, constitutions and governments, which forever hereafter shall be formed in the said territory; to
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provide also for the establishment of States and permanent govern- ment therein, and for their admission to a share in the federal councils on an equal footing with the original States, at as early periods as may be consistent with the general interest ;
"It is hereby ordained and declared by the authority aforesaid, That the following articles shall be considered as articles of com- pact between the original States and the people and States in the said territory, and forever remain unalterable, unless by common consent, to wit :
Art. 1st. No person, demeaning himself in a peaceable and orderly manner, shall ever be molested on account of his mode of worship or religious sentiments, in the said territory.
Art. 2d. The inhabitants of the said territory shall always be entitled to the benefits of the writ of habeas corpus, and of the trial by jury ; of a proportionate representation of the people in the legislature; and of judicial proceedings according to the course of the common law. All persons shall be bailable, unless for cap- ital offences, where the proof shall be evident or the presumption great. All fines shall be moderate; and no cruel or unusual pun- ishments shall be inflicted. No man shall be deprived of his liberty or property, but by the judgment of his peers or the law of the land; and, should the public exigencies make it necessary, for the common preservation, to take any person's property, or to demand his particular services, full compensation shall be made for the same. And, in the just preservation of rights and property, it is understood and declared, that no law ought ever to be made, or have force in the said territory that shall, in any manner whatever interfere with or effect private contracts or engagements, bona fide, and without fraud, previously formed.
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