USA > Mississippi > Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. II > Part 68
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Robinson Springs, a post-hamlet in the southern part of Madison county, situated on Limekiln creek, about 15 miles southwest of Canton, the county seat. Population in 1900, 25.
Robinsonville, a village in the northern part of Tunica county, on the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley R. R., 10 miles by rail north of Tunica, the county seat and nearest banking town. It has a money order postoffice. Population in 1900, 300.
Roche a Davion. In July 1699, Fathers Davion and Martigny and 18 men arrived at Fort Maurepas in two canoes. Says Claiborne "Father Davion had originally settled at Natchez for a year, but making no converts he went to the Tunicas, and erected a cross on the highest bluffs, where he said mass every morning. It was called Roche a Davion until 1764, when it became known as Loftus Heights, and afterwards and ever since as Fort Adams."
Rockport, a post-hamlet in the southeastern part of Copiah coun- ty, on the Pearl river, about 16 miles southeast of Hazlehurst, the county seat. Population in 1900, 52.
Rockwall, a hamlet of Union county, 12 miles east of New Albany, the county seat, and nearest railroad and banking town. It has rural free delivery from Bethany, Lee county.
Rocky Point, once extinct, but later rebuilt, is a post-town in Attala county, about 14 miles northwest of Kosciusko. Armstrong and Black erected a tanyard here in 1842 and started the place. It is related that at that time "twenty-one head of cattle were ex- empt from taxation, hence the farmers always had a number of beeves to butcher. The hides were tanned on shares or exchanged for leather. Very many of the farmers knew as well how to make a shoe as to run a plow. They had a last for each member of the family. These lasts were known as 'Mary's,' 'John's,' 'Mar- tha's,' etc. The tanyard was sold in 1843 to Benj. F. Rowe, who built a residence and store. The store was afterwards run by a Jew of the name of Marks, then by Bartain Evens, and was finally sold to Williamson McAdory in 1847. The village was the muster ground for the county for a number of years. It has an excellent school. (See Riley's Extinct Towns and Villages).
Rocky Springs, a post-hamlet of Claiborne county, 25 miles south by east of Vicksburg, and about 14 miles northeast of Port Gibson, the county seat. Utica station, 12 miles east, is the nearest banking
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town. It has two churches, and a money order postoffice. Popu- lation in 1900, 58.
Rodney. The old town of Rodney is situated in the extreme northwestern part of Jefferson county, about one and one-half miles from the Mississippi river. The town was first settled and laid out about the year 1826, and was incorporated by act of the Legislature in 1828. Subsequent acts, relating to its charter were passed in 1829, 1841, 1844 and 1848. It was named in honor of Judge Thomas Rodney, one of the most popular of the Territorial judges. The locality was known as far back as 1765, as "Little Gulf" and later as "Petit Gulf." The region about the town is known as "Petit Gulf Hills," and the cotton raised in the neigh- borhood, technically called "Petit Gulf Cotton," in former years, commanded the best price for lint and seed in the cotton market.
Among the earliest settlers in Petit Gulf were Pierce Nolan, Dr. Nutt, Dr. Eli Harden, John Tullis, Andrew Montgomery, and the Harrison, Griffin and Gibson families. Its earliest merchants were John Ducker, Levi Harris, John Watt, J. G. James, followed at a later period by the Warners, Kirkers, Yoes, Drakes, Evans, Broughtons and Becks. Until the year 1864, the current of the Mississippi river ran in front of the town, and it was an important shipping point. Since the above year, a bar has formed near the town, cutting it off from the river by a distance of a mile and a half.
The town has suffered two disastrous fires, almost entirely con- suming it, one in 1852 and one in 1869. Said an eye-witness of the latter conflagration, aboard the steamer Richmond, which was passing down the river, "The whole village was wrapped in a mantle of flame, and as at two o'clock in the morning, our boat glided swiftly down along the other shore, the scene was grand beyond description ; lit up as it was by the lurid lights from burn- ing buildings, mingled with the moon's pale beams."
The county fairs held at Rodney during the falls of 1858, 1859 and 1860, were highly successful events. Says Mr. J. A. Limerick, a citizen of Rodney: "No finer display of blooded stock was ever presented at any fair, in this State, than that shown at the Rodney fair; and no finer premiums were ever offered in this State; they being solid silver cups, vases, etc. A number of Mississippi raised horses taking premiums over blue ribbon horses that had been brought from other States and from other fairs. The visitors at these fairs were largely from New Orleans, Vicksburg, Natchez, Port Gibson, and neighboring Louisiana Parishes."
An exciting incident took place at Rodney during the summer of 1863. The U. S. S. Rattler was then lying off Rodney. Sept. 12, being Sunday, Acting Master E. A. Fentriss, Acting Ensign S. Strunk and about twenty seamen from the vessel went ashore to attend divine services at the Rodney Presbyterian Church. During the services, the church was surrounded by a small band of Confed- erates, under the command of Lieut. Allen, a Confederate scout. After a struggle in which many shots were fired in and around the
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church, the Federals surrendered. Fortunately, despite the crowded condition of the church, only one seaman was slightly wounded in the melee. Speaking of this incident, Mr. Limerick says: "Before the congregation had time to disperse the steamer Rattler began shelling the town, one shell striking the Presbyterian church. After the Confederates had retired to a place of safety with their prisoners, the Federals came ashore and made an attempt to burn the town. The citizens notified Lieut. Allen of the fact and he sent word to the Federal commander, that if any house or property was destroyed, he would hang every prisoner in his charge. This message had the proper effect and upon receipt of the same they returned to their boat and in a short time left for Natchez, to make a report to the commander of the Naval Fleet of this District."
The old Presbyterian institution of learning, known as Oakland College, was established near Rodney in 1832, and prospered greatly down to the time of the War between the States. Its first president was Rev. Jeremiah Chamberlain, and its first graduate was Judge James M. Smyly, who received his A. B. degree in 1833, and is believed to be the first native of Mississippi to receive a degree in his own State. Oakland College was sold by the Synod to the State in 1871, for the establishment of a school for the higher education of negroes, known as Alcorn University, now changed to Alcorn Agricultural and Mechanical College.
Oakland College during its long career, exercised a highly refin- ing influence on the rural neighborhood, and Rodney was the seat of an unusually high degree of culture.
Rodney, Thomas, Territorial judge, was born in Sussex county, Del., June 4, 1744. He was a brother of Cæsar Rodney, of Dela- ware, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, member of the Continental congress and general of Delaware militia. They were descended from William Rodney, native of England, who was a member of Penn's council. Thomas was a lawyer and politician from early manhood. He served as justice of the peace in 1770, was a member of the assembly to elect delegates to the first Con- tinental congress in 1774, member of the council of safety in 1775, colonel of militia during the War of the Revolution. In 1778 he was chief justice of the Kent county court, in 1779 register of bills, in 1781-83 and 1785-87 member of the Congress of the Confedera- tion. In 1787 he was speaker of the Delaware assembly. July 12, 1803, he and Robert Williams were appointed land commissioners for the territory west of Pearl river, and at the same time he was appointed Territorial judge to succeed Seth Lewis. This office he held until his death at his plantation home in Jefferson county, January 2, 1811. When Rodney was about to make a visit to Rich- mond in August, 1807, having concluded the land commission work, he was given a banquet at the home of Abram de France, at which, after he had retired, the toast was offered: "Col. Thomas Rodney, a hero of '76." His name is commemorated by the town of Rodney, and Rodney landing on the Mississippi river. Notable
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events in his career were his investigation of the Kemper raiders, the hearing of Aaron Burr, and his conflict of authority with his former associate on the commission, Governor Williams. Judge Rodney's son, Cæsar Augustus Rodney, born in Delaware, 1772, was attorney-general of the United States under Jefferson, prose- cuted the impeachment of Judge Chase and the indictment of Aaron Burr, visited the South American republics for Madison, was repre- sentative and senator in congress, and died when minister to Buenos Ayres.
Rogers, Francis M., was a lawyer at Athens, a noble, large- hearted and generous man. He was a Whig in a Democratic district, but as a rule the judges were Whigs, and he was elected judge of the northeastern circuit in 1844. In 1853 he was nomi- nated for governor, by his party, but was defeated by the Demo- cratic nominee, John J. McRae.
Rolling Fork, the capital of Sharkey county, is a thriving station on the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley R. R., 44 miles north of Vicks- burg. It is situated on Deer Creek, at the point where a large prong of that stream turns abruptly to the right and flows into the Sunflower river six miles to the east. It was here that Thomas Y. Chaney, the first settler in the county, located in 1828, and named the stream Rolling Fork on account of the swiftness of the current before it joined the Sunflower. Just south of the town is an important group of five Indian mounds, situated on a crescent shaped ridge half a mile long; the largest of the mounds is over 50 feet in height, and circular in shape. A postoffice was established at Rolling Fork in 1848, and Thomas Redwood, the first merchant in the county, became the first postmaster. In 1883 the Louisville, New Orleans & Texas railway (now the Yazoo & Miss. Val.) was built through the town, and the first train reached Rolling Fork in October of that year. Rolling Fork was made the county seat of Sharkey county at the time of the organization of the county in 1876. Cotton and also fruit are extensively grown in the sur- rounding region ; fine cattle are also raised in this section. A num- ber of large lumber mills are located at Rolling Fork. The Bank of Rolling Fork was established here in 1902 with a capital of $25,000. The Deer Creek Pilot, a Democratic weekly established in 1884, is published here by T. W. Campbell. Population in 1906, 1,000.
Rome, a postoffice of Sunflower county, is located in the extreme northeastern corner of the county, on the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley R. R., about 36 miles north of Indianola, the county seat. It has a church, and 2 public schools. Population in 1906 was esti- mated at 200.
Roosevelt, a postoffice in the east-central part of Harrison county, about 22 miles north of Gulfport, the county seat. It has a tur- pentine distilery and a store.
Rose, a postoffice of Coahoma county.
Rosebloom, a post-hamlet in the southeastern part of Talla- hatchie county, about 15 miles distant from Charleston, the county
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seat, and about 10 miles from Grenada the nearest banking town. Hardy Station, on the Illinois Central R. R., is 6 miles due east. Population in 1900, 50.
Rosedale, one of the two county seats of justice for Bolivar coun- ty, is an incorporated post-town on the Mississippi river, 125 miles south of Memphis. It was formerly known as Floreyville, and under that name became the county seat in 1872. The first court- house was destroyed by fire, and the present building was erected in 1890. It is one of the best county buildings in the State. It is built of pressed brick, trimmed with white stone, and cost over $30,000. A substantial brick jail was erected in 1888, costing about $13,500. It is a prosperous and well built little city, and does a thriving business. Two branches of the Yazoo & Mississippi Val- ley R. R., and the Mississippi river provide it with excellent ship- ping facilities. It lies in the fertile Mississippi Delta, and the sur- roundng region produces immense quantities of cotton and lum- ber. The town is provided with telegraph, telephone, express and banking facilities, has several churches, and many handsome busi- ness blocks and residences. The Valley Bank was established here in 1889 with a capital of $10,000. The Bolivar County Demo- crat is an influential Democratic weekly, established in 1888, owned and edited by A. D. Linnell.
Among the important industries of the town are a large cotton compress which holds the world's record for 10 hours' work-1,370 bales; The Gilt-Edge Compound Cooperage Co., established in 1906; a large cotton seed oil mill; a shingle mill and a saw mill. Rosedale has excellent schools for both white and colored, and owns and operates its electric lighting and water works systems. A chemical analysis has shown the water to be 95% pure. The population of the town in 1900 was 622; this has since increased to about 1,500.
Rosehill, a post-hamlet of Jasper county, 8 miles northeast of Paulding, the county seat. It has a money order postoffice. Pop- ulation in 1900, 32; population in 1906, 150 (estimated).
Roseneath, a post-hamlet in the northern part of Yazoo county, on the Yazoo river, 18 miles north of Yazoo City, the county seat and nearest banking town. Silver City is the nearest railroad sta- tion and banking town. Population in 1900, 50.
Rosetta, a post-hamlet in the northeastern part of Wilkinson county, on the Homochitto river, about 18 miles from Woodville the county seat. It is a prosperous station on the Yazoo & Missis- sippi Valley R. R., about 10 miles north of Gloster, the nearest banking town. Population in 1900, 100.
Rosine, a postoffice of Perry county, on the Gulf & Ship Island R. R., 18 miles by rail south of Hattiesburg. It has several stores, a large saw mill, and is a prosperous town.
Round Island Expedition. In his message of January, 1850, Governor Matthews said: "During the past year a company of men, about three hundred in number, assembled on our gulf coast, at a place called Round Island, within the jurisdiction of the State
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of Mississippi. What led to their assemblage or the object of that assemblage, was not known; but it was suspected by the naval officers of the United States then commanding in the gulf that they meditated an expedition against Cuba, or against some power with which the United States were at peace. Although these men were unarmed and displayed no military organization, yet Lieuten- ant Totten and Commander Randolph, acting as they alleged under instructions from the government at Washington, issued each a proclamation, in which opprobrious epithets were applied to these men and in which they were notified that they would not be al- lowed to leave the island, except to disperse, and that until such dispersion all supplies should be cut off. Several vessels on our coast, belonging to our citizens, were ordered, under peril of being fired upon, not to leave their position; and our coast was strictly blockaded for several weeks, to the great injury and annoyance of our citizens." The governor complained seriously of the "law- less acts" of the United States officers, and said that, "esteeming this an outrage upon our rights, and an insult to the sovereignty of Mississippi, but wishing to avoid any collision with the govern- ment of the United States, I addressed a respectful note to the sec- retary of the navy, enclosing copies of the proclamations of Messrs. Totten and Randolph and requesting a copy of the instructions under which they acted. To this communication I received in re- ply his note, declining a compliance with my request, and giving me no information on the subject." There is no indication that the governor had considered the propriety of acting himself, as head of a "sovereign state," to guard against breach of neutrality. In fact, there was a wide spread disposition to encourage revolu- tion in Cuba. The State government, however, gave no manner of responsible recognition to this Round Island expedition, and the outcry in the North was in no way justified. During President Polk's administration the Spanish monarch was offered $100,000,- 000 for Cuba, but the sale was declined. Filibustering movements then became popular, and Narciso Lopez, a native of Venezuela, who had been a colonel in the Spanish army and a politician on the side of Queen Isabelle against Don Carlos in Spain, came, to the United States from Cuba, and spent his fortune lavishly in organizing expeditions to encourage revolution in the island. The Round Island expedition was the most notable result in 1849.
Colonel White was the head of the expedition, which was largely collected from New Orleans. President Taylor's proclamation of August 11, 1849, and his energetic action, leading to the capture and condemnation of the ships Sea Gull and New Orleans, put a stop to the Round Island project. But Commander V. M. Ran- dolph reported to the secretary of the navy that certain newspapers continued to encourage the enterprise. "I exceedingly regret to hear such a band of would-be buccaneers eulogized as patriotic and chivalrous American citizens ; and the navy, and myself in par- ticular, denounced as having shamefully prevented so meritorious a band of heroes from participating in a great and glorious strug-
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gle for liberty and the rights of man." Judge C. P. Smith, of the supreme court, was interested in the Lopez movement, also Gov- ernor Quitman (q. v.)
Roundlake, a post-hamlet of Bolivar county, situated in the north- ern part on the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley R. R., about 15 miles northeast of Rosedale, one of the county seats of justice. Gunnison is the nearest banking town. It has a money order postoffice. Population in 1900, 95; estimated at 250 in 1906.
Rounsaville, a postoffice of Greene county.
Routh, Job, said to have been the first man of English blood to settle at Natchez, was of Danish-English descent. He made a large fortune. Receiving a grant of land on Lake St. Joseph, in Tensas parish, he and his children formed a settlement there, and at one time had about 20,000 acres under cultivation, and owned over 5,000 slaves. His wife was Madeline Miller. One of their sons, John K., was in his day called the cotton king, his crop in one year amounting to nearly nine thousand bales. (See Memoirs of Miss., II, 522.)
Rowland, Dunbar, Director of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, was born August 25, 1864, at Oakland, Miss., and is the youngest son of Dr. William Brewer Rowland and Mary (Bryan) Rowland. His mother was a direct descendant of Charles Moorman of Louisa county, Virginia, who emancipated his slaves in 1778. William Brewer Rowland was the son of Col. Creed T. Rowland and Matilda (Brewer) Rowland of Henry county, Vir- ginia. Creed T. Rowland moved to Mississippi about 1840 and settled in Lowndes county. After remaining there a few years he removed to Aberdeen, Monroe county, and lived on his plantation, "Rowland Place," near that city, dying there in 1866. He was the son of Michael Rowland and Elizabeth (Hairston) Rowland, natives of Henry county, Virginia. Michael Rowland served in the Revolutionary Army and took part in the battle of Guilford Court House. He was the son of Andrew Rowland a descendant of John Rowland of Surrey county, England, who immigrated to America in 1635, and resided in Virginia. Dunbar Rowland received his primary education in the private schools of Memphis, Tenn., and was prepared for college at Oakland Academy. In 1882 he entered the Freshman Class of the Mississippi A. & M. College and was graduated in 1886 with the degree of B. S .; was first anniversarian of the Philotechnic Society in 1885, and delivered the second Alumni oration in 1888. In 1886 he entered the Law Department of the State University and was graduated from that institution in 1888 with the degree of LL. B .; was senior debater at Commencement, June, 1888. In November, 1888, he located in Memphis, Tenn., for the practice of law and re- mained four years, his culture and scholarly attainments attracting the attention of his associates. In 1893 Mr. Rowland returned to Mississippi and opened a law office at Coffeeville, at which place in the past, Dr. Edward Mayes, L. Q. C. Lamar and Gen. E. C. Walthall had practiced, a circumstance that serves to make its
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history unusually interesting. In 1902 the State Department of Archives and History was created by the legislature ; Mr. Rowland was elected Director and, during his incumbency, has done valu- able work in preserving and publishing the historical archives of the State. He has compiled and edited a number of valuable his- torical publications, some of the most important being the Official and Statistical Register of Mississippi, (1904) ; Mississippi Ter- ritorial Archives, Vol. I, (1906) and the Encyclopedia of Missis- sippi History, (1906). In recognition of his valuable service to the State the University of Mississippi conferred the degree of LL. D., upon him, June, 1906. In the summer of 1906 Dr. Rowland went abroad for the purpose of investigating the official archives of England, France and Spain which relate to the provincial history of Mississippi, the legislature having provided funds to secure transcripts of original records. He is deeply absorbed in historical work; is in close touch with the best historians of the present day, and his fine sense of justice, broadness of view and utter lack of all sectional prejudice have won the admiration of the people North and South. He is a member of the Episcopal Church, the American Historical Association and the Delta Kappa Epsilom fraternity, and is an honorary member of several historical socie- ties in the United States.
Dr. Rowland was married December 20, 1906, at Flora, Miss., to his cousin Mrs. Eron Opha Gregory, a descendant of the Byrd family of Virginia.
Rowsey, a postoffice of Panola county, situated in the extreme southeastern part, on the Yocona river, about 15 miles from Bates- ville, one of the county seats of justice.
Roxie, an incorporated post-town in the western part of Frank- lin county, on the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley R. R., 22 miles east of Natchez. Fayette is the nearest banking town. The town sprang into existence in 1885 shortly after the building of the rail- road. A short distance to the north of the town are located the celebrated Franklin Springs, while a few miles to the south are found beds of sandstone used as a building stone. The town has a Masonic lodge, two churches, and a good school. Population in 1900, 214.
Roy, a postoffice of Clarke county, 11 miles north of Quitman, the county seat and nearest banking town.
Royal, a postoffice of Smith county, situated on Hatchushe creek, 8 miles northeast of Raleigh, the county seat.
Ruble, a postoffice of Jackson county, situated in the north- western part on Red creek, about 35 miles distant from Pasca- goula, the county seat.
Ruby, a post-hamlet in the northeastern part of Copiah county, on Brushy creek, a tributary of the Pearl river, and about 10 miles from Hazlehurst, the county seat and nearest banking town. It has several good stores, churches, a fine school, and a cotton gin. It is surrounded by a fine farming country. Population in 1900, 75. Its estimated population in 1906 was 200.
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Ruckersville. This was an old settlement in Tippah county (q. v.), first called Finger's Cross Roads, from its location where the Ripley, Pochahontas and Salem public roads cross. Two brothers, John and Daniel Finger, settled here in 1842. In 1846, Dr. Charles Rucker, settled here and the place took his name. After the build- ing of a railroad to Ripley, in 1876, five miles away, the business of the town moved to the railroad, and nothing is now left of the old town.
Rudyard, a postoffice of Coahoma county, on the Yazoo & Mis- sissippi Valley R. R., 6 miles east of Friar's point, the county seat.
Rue, a hamlet in the northeastern part of Newton county. It has rural free delivery from Battlefield station.
Ruff, a post-hamlet of Choctaw county, 6 miles northwest of Chester, the county seat. Population in 1900, 21. It has 2 stores and a cotton gin.
Rufus, a postoffice of Rankin county, about 15 miles southeast of Brandon, the county seat and banking town.
Ruleville is an incorporated post-town and station on the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley R. R., in the north-central part of Sunflower county. It is an important cotton shipping point, and has telegraph, telephone, express and banking facilities. The Bank of Ruleville was established here in 1903 with a capital of $50,000. Population in 1900, 226; estimated in 1906 to be 500. There are three churches, two for whites and one for colored; an electric light plant and a water works system ; three public gins, and excellent public schools. The town was laid out in 1898 by J. W. Rule for whom it was named. It is growing rapidly and has an ambition to become the seat of justice for the second Judicial district. There are now (1906) about 20 business houses all in a flourishing condition. It is surrounded by a fine fertile country and timber lands, and in the year 1905, shipped about 7,000 bales of cotton.
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