USA > Mississippi > Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. II > Part 53
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His latter years were spent in the practice of law at Jackson. He died there, September 5, 1855, and his grave is there, marked by a modest but peculiarly beautiful monument. When governor his home was the plantation, "Ashwood," near Woodville.
Poindexter was a man of about six feet in height, of slender frame and strongly marked features, his eyes keen and penetrat- ing. "He was with the people in a log cabin, with nothing but whisky-grog to drink, and cornbread and bacon to eat, the same as he was in a decorated parlor, with Madeira wine and plum pud- ding," said Cook, editor of "The Natchez." His temper was thought by many to be severe and intolerant; others regarded him as mild and courteous; he was, in fact, moody and variable, a characteristic greatly intensified by domestic trouble and illness. In 1804 he married Lydia, daughter of Maj. Jesse Carter, of Adams county, but they parted after a son was born, for whom he provided an education, but apparently without affection. In 1816 he married Agathea B. Chinn, whose death has been men- tioned. Early in his career he fought a duel which became widely notorious, that in which he killed Abijah Hunt. Once he refused to accept a challenge, on the ground that he was governor of the State. Life during his time was impulsive, touch and go. We dare not say it was bad. But it was different from the present. His early life in the Territory was wild, his quarrels many, but his disputes were generally settled peaceably. Like many others of his time he enjoyed intoxication, the race track and gaming table, and the facilities at Natchez for this sort of entertainment were unsurpassed. Such were his frailties. They were promi- nent enough to suggest a comparison with Mirabeau, and in all respects the simile is not strained.
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J. F. H. Claiborne, a bitter critic, called him "the ablest man who ever lived in the State." James D. Lynch wrote of him: "Above all, was his lofty spirit of patriotism. He was proud of his country, and loved his adopted State with an ardor that aroused his genius and kindled the fires of his soul." (Biographical Sketch, Washington, D. C., 1835; a campaign document. Clai- borne's Mississippi, 361-414, a very remarkable invective. Lynch's Bench and Bar, valuable mainly because it contains his great speech of 1819. Public Documents and newspaper files. Rowland in Political and Parliamentary Orators and Oratory in Vol. V, Pub. M. H. S.)
Poindexter's Administration. In his inaugural address before the general assembly, January 5, 1820, Governor Poindexter spoke with eloquence and impressiveness upon the usual topics of judi- cial system, education and militia. His sympathy with Henry Clay was manifested by a recommendation of "internal improve- ments," advising the legislature to petition congress for the im- provement of the navigable streams, in the hope that some of the public lands might be granted for that purpose. He expressed hope that the Chocktaws might soon be persuaded to move west of the river. In closing, he urged toleration and forbearance. "Let us act for the whole people whose best interests are con- fided to us, as one family, having equal claims to a participation in the benefits, and bound to bear an equal portion of the burden, resulting from the administration of the government."
Later in the month the governor sent in a special message, rec- ommending "a general revision and consolidation of the statutes," by a commission of three of the most learned and distinguished citizens, also the establishment of a high court of chancery, as the judges of the supreme court at this time requested.
The legislature unanimously reelected Daniel Williams secre- tary of state, and Peter P. Schuyler treasurer. For auditor, Rob- ert L. Throckmorton received 16 votes and John Richards 21.
The great events of 1820 were the Choctaw treaty at Doak's stand (q. v.), the survey of the Alabama line and the United States census, which showed that the population had increased in ten years, in round numbers, from 30,000 to 75,000.
In his message of January, 1821, the governor said, "The finger of want points not to the door of the humblest cottage in our country. The miserable mendicant who implores a scanty sub- sistance from the hand of charity is seldom seen among us, and if at all he is the itinerant stranger who seeks the aid of our mu- nificance and hospitality." He made a vigorous appeal for some provision for public education, declaring that the almost total absence of schools and colleges was calculated to mortify the pride of Mississippi. The exciting political theme of the day was shown by his reference to the struggle over the admission of Mis- souri, in which it was proposed to forbid the admission of slavery. He said, "The advocates of this novel and dangerous interpola- tion on the constitution want but the aid of precedent to proceed
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on their march to more alarming extremities." The sensational part of his message, however, was the attack on the Bank of Missis- sippi (see Banking). Noting the completion of the survey of the Ala- bama line, he said: "It appears that a considerable population on the waters of the Tombigby, formerly attached to Alabama, fall within the limits of this State. They are at present unrepre- sented in our legislature, and have no officers, civil or military, appointed among them. Their remote situation from the settled parts of the State, renders it necessary that, after forming of them a new county, a special judge of the superior court should be appointed, to reside in the county." Accordingly the legisla- ture created the county of Monroe. (q. v.)
The governor renewed his recommendation for a codification of the laws, and the legislature responded by an act authorizing him to do the work. This blending of the duties of executive and law- maker did not pass without objection. A "solemn protest" was spread on the records of the senate, signed by Charles B. Green, Cowles Mead, David Dickson and Thomas Torrence.
The legislature of January, 1821, took up the question of loca- tion of the seat of government away from Natchez. In the sen- ate, Charles B. Green proposed that the people be permitted to vote on three places, Natchez, Columbia and Monticello, but it was not agreed to. Holmesville was also proposed. Green, Cowles Mead and Joseph Sessions stood for Natchez, and the vote of Lieut .- Gov. Patton was required to make the selection of Co- lumbia as the capital. (Act of February 7, 1821.) In the same session an act was passed appointing a commission to select a site for the seat of government, near the center of the State, within the recent Choctaw purchase. (See Jackson.)
At the election in August, 1821, Walter Leake received 4,730 votes, Charles B. Green 1,269, for governor; for lieutenant-gover- nor, the vote was, David Dickson 2,984, Daniel Burnet 1,559, H. W. Runnels 794, Joseph Johnson 476, Gerard Brandon 483, Ben- jamin Lee 5.
The governor's message to the next session of the legislature, which met at Columbia in November, 1821, was largely on the subject of the code he was preparing. He said, "the work has occupied my undivided attention since it was commenced; it has progressed to a considerable extent, but it is not yet fully com- pleted. The numerous statutes, enacted at different periods, hav- ing relation to the same subject and detached in single sections, throughout several volumes, often mingled with provisions totally discordant in their nature and object; the entire absence of ar- rangement in existing laws and their imperfect phraseology, have all contributed to increase the difficulties which I had to encoun- ter in the execution of the revision, with the accuracy necessary to render it of permanent utility." He added that it would be waste of time to go further until the legislature acted on his rec- ommendation of a court of chancery and a "literary" or school fund. "The unavailing efforts which I have made, since I was
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called to the executive chair, to impress on successive legislatures the high obligation of affording to literary institutions within the State the means by which they may be cherished and become the depositories of literature and science, impel me again to invite your particular attention to this important duty." The legislature responded by enacting laws evidently written by the governor. (See Education and Judiciary.) He particularly urged the adop- tion of a better road law, and a new militia law on the only basis that has been found of practical value, the organization of volun- teer companies. The financial condition of the State was as fol- lows: On hand January 1, 1821, $14,241; receipts since that time, $35,491; total credits, $49,733, of which there had been expended $38,010. Of the loan from the bank only $5,000 had been repaid, leaving $15,000 at six per cent. interest.
He had taken no action to organize a new county in the recent Choctaw session, because the white population was inconsider- able, but the survey of the region by the United States authority was rapidly progressing, and it was expected that the sales of land would be begun in a few months.
The general assembly, at the close of the session, expressed their "lively sense of the dignity, impartiality and great ability" with which Mr. Poindexter filled the office of chief magistrate, and his response may be taken to indicate the subjects he es- teemed as most important: "With you, I have been associated in the arduous task of providing for the people whose interests we represent, a code of statute law, comprehending all that is es- sential to the protection and preservation of civil, political and religious liberty ; with you, I have acted in giving the first impulse to the spirit of our republican constitution, and in affording the means by which the offspring of the poor may learn to estimate the blessings of freedom and the sacred duties and obligations of the Christian religion."
His term as governor expired January 7, 1822.
Point, a post-hamlet in the western part of Lauderdale county, on Chunkey creek, and a station on the Alabama & Vicksburg R. R .. 15 miles by rail west of Meridian. Population in 1900, 27.
Point Leflore. An extinct village in what is now Leflore county, which was built during the 30's by Col. Greenwood Leflore, two and one-half miles above the present city of Greenwood. We are told that he expended not less than $75,000 all told in the construc- tion of a turnpike and some twelve or fourteen bridges, in order to make the town readily accessible. Flatboats and barges came through the Yazoo Pass and aided materially in maintaining the business life of the place. Besides the large steam sawmill built by Col. Leflore, it had a church, a hotel and a number of other buildings. Leflore & Godfrey, Milton & Company, and S. P. La- cock were merchants at Leflore during its prosperous days. After Col. Leflore built his beautiful home, Malmaison, in the hills, just before the Civil War, his interest in his town largely ceased, and the village rapidly decayed. He willed it to some of his heirs, and
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it was finally allowed to be sold for taxes. A cotton field now cov- ers the old site.
Pokal, a post-hamlet in the southwestern part of Simpson county, one mile from the Pearl river, and about 18 miles southwest of Mendenhall. Newhebron is the nearest banking town. Popuation in 1900, 54.
Political Parties. See Administrations for discussion of politi- cal events of that date, also Know Nothing party and Agricultural Organizations.
Polkville, a post-hamlet in the northwestern part of Smith county, 15 miles from Raleigh, the county seat. Population in 1900, 45.
Pollock, Oliver, was attached to a great mercantile house at Havana in 1763, mastered the Spanish language and became ac- quainted with General O'Reilly. Afterward he lived at New Orleans, establishing his family there, but made trading voyages. In 1769, after O'Reilly had taken possession of New Orleans, Pollock arrived there in the brig Royal Charlotte, with a cargo of flour, the colony being so destitute of that food that it sold at $30 a barrel. Pollock asked only $15 a barrel of the governor, and O'Reilly thereupon promised that he should have free trade in the port as long as he lived.
Before Galvez became governor, Unzaga gave Pollock powder privately to deliver to Colonel Gibson.
Galvez declared that if Spain took sides against England, Pol- lock was the one American he could confide in. He accompanied Galvez in his expedition against Manchac and Baton Rouge in 1779. During the Revolution he received $74,000 from the Span- ish treasury, "as very secret service money; it was for the use of the United States; I received it as their agent, but chiefly on my own credit, and I received it generally at night, and generally at the hands of John Morales, Don Galvez's private secretary." (Evidence in Wilkinson court martial.) When he heard in 1787 that Wilkinson had been granted a monopoly of the Kentucky tobacco trade, Pollock, "wishing to have that exclusive privilege myself," inquired of Governor Miro, and was assured that the con- cession had been made to pacify the Kentuckians and prevent a rupture between Spain and America.
Polygamous Teaching, Law Against. Missionary efforts in the State by representatives of the Mormon church caused much ex- citement and induced the legislature in 1886 to pass an act "to define and punish the crime of teaching polygamous doctrines and principles, and of persuading persons to adopt or embrace the same." The activity of these missionaries was the subject of criti- cism by Governor McLaurin in his message of 1890.
Pond, a post-hamlet of Wilkinson county, 4 miles east of Fort Adams, and 12 miles west of Woodville, the county seat, and near- est railroad and banking town. Population in 1900, 36.
Ponta, a hamlet of Lauderdale county, about 14 miles north of Meridian. It has rural free delivery from Lauderdale, 6 miles east on the M. & O. R. R. Population in 1900, 36.
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Pontotoc, the county seat of Pontotoc county, is located near the center of the county on the Mobile, Jackson & Kansas City R. R., 50 miles southeast of Holly Springs, and 18 miles south of New Albany. It was incorporated in 1837, and the United States land office was located here for a number of years, as was also the Chickasaw Land Bank; and the United States District Court sat here for some years. A few miles to the east of Pontotoc were lo- cated the principal settlements of the Chickasaws. Pontotoc was named for a Chickasaw Indian chief, the word meaning "weed prairie." It has telegraph, express and banking facilities, a female seminary, (The Chickasaw Female College) five churches and two newspapers. The Bank of Pontotoc was established in 1889 and now has a capital of $40,000; the Merchants & Farmers Bank was established in 1900 with a capital of $25,100 which has since been increased to $30,000. The Sentinel is a Democratic weekly established in 1893, and owned and edited by A. F. Herman ; the Advance is an Independent weekly paper established in 1900, E. T. Winston being the editor and publisher. Pontotoc lies in a good agricultural region and is a trading center of importance. Popula- tion in 1900, 1,010, an increase of nearly 100% in the preceeding ten years; while in 1906 the population was estimated at 1,600. The following religious denominations have churches here-Meth- odist, Presbyterian and Baptist ; and the following fraternities have lodges-Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, The Woodmen of the World and the Knights and Ladies of Honor. The town has a large cotton seed oil mill and ginnery; also a grist-mill, a large brick mf'g. plant, a planing mill, an electric light plant, 3 hotels, a livery and sales barn, and a splendid graded high school.
Pontotoc Battle, 1541. De Soto went into winter quarters 1540-1 at the town of Chicaca, a village of the Chickasaws. Here says the narrative of Elvas, "The country was very well peopled, and the houses scattered like those of Mavilla, fat and plentiful of maize, and the most part of it was fielding." The Spaniards were able to secure plentiful supplies of food and remained here from December to the following March. According to one ac- count, Chicaca was a small town of 20 houses, while another reports it to be a town of 200 fires, situated on a hill leading north and south, which was watered by many little brooks. Competent authorities have located Chicaca about one mile northwest of Red- land, in Pontotoc county. De Soto having decided to continue his march in search of some wealthy province, he demanded porters and guides of the cacique Miculasa ('Mingo lusa', Black chief) by March 4th, but, the crafty chief put him off with prom- ises for several days, and then suddenly attacked and surprised the town at a very early hour in the morning. They attacked from four sides, dashing into the place and setting fire to the houses. The Spaniards were unable to arm themselves or mount their horses, by reason of the surprise, and the Indians not only killed and wounded many of them, but completely destroyed the town and escaped with the loss of only one of their number, said to
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have been killed by the lance of Soto himself. Says Elvas: "There died in this hurly burly eleven Christians, and fifty horses; and there remained a hundred hogs, and four hundred were burned. If any perchance had saved any clothes from the fire of Mavilla, here they were burned, and many were clad in skins, for they had no leisure to take their coats. The Christians were so spoiled, and in such want of saddles and weapons which were burned, that if the Indians had come the second night, they had overcome them with little labor."
Pontotoc County was established February 9, 1836, and is one of the twelve large counties created at this time out of the Chicka- saw cession of 1832. The county has a land surface of 496 square miles. It originally embraced parts of the present counties of Lee and Union. The act creating the county defined its limits as fol- lows :- "The territory within the townships, seven, eight, nine, ten, and eleven, of ranges one, two, three, four, and five, east of the basis meridian." Oct. 26, 1866, it contributed from its eastern ter- ritory townships eleven, ten, nine, and eight and part of seven, in range five, to assist in forming the county of Lee; and July 7, 1870, it was shorn of township seven and the upper half plus 6 sections of township eight, in ranges one, two, three, four, together with fractional parts of townships seven and eight, in range five, to assist in the formation of Union county. Its present area is about fourteen townships. The name Pontotoc is an Indian word, signifying "weed prairie" and was the name of a Chickasaw chief. The county is located in the northeastern part of the State and is bounded on the north by Union county, on the east by Lee county, on the south by Chickasaw and Calhoun counties and on the west by Calhoun and Lafayette counties. It was in the southeastern part of this county, near the little creek Chowappa, that the treaty of Pontotoc was concluded, whereby the Chickasaws relinquished all their remaining lands in the State. In the year 1834, T. C. Mc- Mackin, the celebrated hotel keeper, who had kept a hotel at the original location of the Pontotoc land office, came into possession of the present site of Pontotoc town. He laid off the town and was of sufficient influence to move the old town of Pontotoc to the present site. Emigrants from Tennessee, north Alabama and Geor- gia, as well as from the older parts of Mississippi, rapidly poured into the region, attracted by the cheap and fertile lands of the new cession. Pontotoc is the county seat and was incorporated in 1837. It had in 1900 1,010 inhabitants, an increase of 475 in one decade. The U. S. land office "was located here and the town obtained a prosperous start. It is on the Mobile, Jackson & Kansas City R. R. running from Mobile to Middleton, Tenn. and is the center of a thriving trade from the rich country about it. Other settlements of importance are Ecru, Sherman, Algoma, Troy, Toccopola, Ran- dolph and Thaxton. The region has few manufactures of impor- tance, but has many natural resources and is a good farming coun- try. Two-thirds of its area is well timbered with different kinds of oak, hickory, elm, beech, walnut, poplar, ash, gum and pine.
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The surface is undulating, broken and level. The soil is sandy yellow loam, with considerable black prairie and hammock land. In the eastern part is the limestone formation. It produces good crops of cotton, corn, oats, wheat, sorghum, potatoes, melons, field peas and all kinds of vegetables and fruits suitable to the latitude. Pasturage, especially in the western part of the county, is good and considerable attention is being given to the live stock industry during the last few years, and the industry has proved to be profitable.
The following statistics, taken from the twelfth United States census for 1900, relate to farms, manufactures and population :- Number of farms 3,368, acreage in farms 240,326, acres improved 85,333, value of the land exclusive of the buildings $1,172,560, value of the buildings $407,530, value of live stock $573,898, total value of products not fed $1,097,450. Number of manufacturing estab- lishments 55, capital invested $69,132, wages paid $7,357, cost of materials $26,947, total value of products $62,608. The population in 1900 consisted of whites 13,477, colored 4,827, total 18,274, in- crease over 1890, 6,342; in 1906 the population was estimated at 20,000. Land values have increased in the last 5 years fully 100 per cent. Manufactures have also increased in a like ratio. The county is being rapidly settled up. The total assessed valuation of real and personal property in the county in 1905 was $1,726,- 530 and in 1906 it was $2,248,848, which shows an increase of $522,318 during the year.
Poolville, a hamlet of Union county, 6 miles west of New Albany, the county seat. Its postoffice has been recently discontinued, and it now has rural free delivery from the county seat.
Pope, an incorporated post-town in the southern part of Panola county, on the Illinois Central R. R., 66 miles south of Memphis. It received its name in honor of B. H. Pope. It has two churches, a good school, a grist mill, a saw mill and a cotton gin with the Munger system. It ships annually some 2,000 bales of cotton. Population in 1900, 172; estimated at 300 in 1906. The Bank of Pope, a branch of the Bank of Batesville, was established in 1904. The assessed valuation of town property, both personal and real, is about $50,000, and the tax rate is 3 mills. The town was estab- lished in 1858 on the land of B. H. Pope. The first merchants were Broome & Betts; the Methodists built the first church ; Dr. L. S. Gartrell was the first practicing physician; the first school was taught by Mrs. Bethel about 1866. Among the pioneers of Pope were B. H. Pope, C. F. Chapman, Thos. Pugh, Benj. Bynum, Sanford Sparks, Dr. L. S. Gartrell, Maj. D. B. Arnold, Dr. J. J. Houston, Frank Pugh, and Wm. Hawkins.
Pope's Visit. In the year 1791, John Pope of Virginia, jour- neyed down the Mississippi, and his observations of the region are published in a book entitled "A Tour Through the Southern and Western Territories of the United States of America, the Spanish Dominions, Floridas, Creek Nations and many Uninhab- ited Parts." Following are brief quotations from his work: "At
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break of day espied the Walnut Hills about ten miles below the Yasous River, which his Catholic Majesty limits as his boundary, and below which, his vicegerents say, that citizens of the United States shall not inhabit, unless, they throw themselves under the Laws, Banners, and Protection of the King of Spain. At ten o'clock espied a single roofed house, occupied by a family of New- Yorkers. Near this spot the Governor of the Natchez hath fixed upon an eminence for the erection of a Fort. The family informed, that the intended garrison were at the Natchez taking in military stores and provision."
Of the soil about Natchez he says "The soil of this District is better adapted to the growing of corn, rice and indigo, than of tobacco, the cultivation of which is gradually falling into disuse; as an admittance of it into the King's store is now positively re- fused, from some political motives, which the governor thinks himself under no obligation to communicate; though the present crop was raised under a confidence reposed in his promise, to receive and allow eight dollars per hundred for it."
Of the Spanish governor, Gayoso, he says "This gentleman has a majestic deportment, softened by manners the most engaging and polite."
Poplar Creek, a hamlet of Montgomery county, about 16 miles southeast of Winona, the county seat. Kilmichael is the nearest banking town. It has a money order postoffice. Population in 1906, 75.
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