USA > Mississippi > Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. III > Part 14
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six children, namely : Eleanor E., Walter P., John E., Della P., Edward A., and Martha M. Eleanor E. is now the wife of Drennan Hughes, of Kosciusko.
Calhoon, Solomon Saladin, of Jackson, associate justice of the supreme court of Mississippi, is one of the distinguished lawyers and jurists of the State, was an officer in the Confederate service during the Civil war, has been prominent in pub- lic life in Mississippi for many years and is a man of fine intellectual attainments and professional power. Judge Calhoon is native of the State of Kentucky, having been born at Brandenburg, Meade county, Jan. 2, 1838, and being a son of George and Louise (Brandenburg) Calhoon, the former being of Scotch-Irish extraction in the agnatic line and the latter of German lineage. The founders of the Calhoon family in America located in Virginia early in the eighteenth century, and in the latter part of the same century representatives of the name removed thence to Kentucky. George Calhoon, father of the judge, was a prominent member of the bar of that State and served as a member of the Kentucky legislature in 1836. In 1838 he removed with his family to Mississippi and located in Madison county, both he and his wife passing the remainder of their lives in this State, where the father wielded no slight influence in professional and political affairs. The American progenitors of the Brandenburg family emigrated from Berlin, Germany, to Virginia about 1750, and the founders of the line in Kentucky located in that State about 1790, the town of Brandenburg having been named in honor of the family. After leaving the common schools of Canton, Miss., Judge Calhoon entered Cumberland university, at Lebanon, Tenn., where he re- mained as a student for ten months, in 1854-5. He became a suc- cessful teacher in the common schools and while thus engaged ' he began reading law, having been licensed to practice in 1856, by Judge Cotesworth Pinckney Smith, associate justice of the supreme court of Mississippi, and securing this distinction before he had attained to the age of eighteen years. In 1857 he was private sec- retary to Governor McWillie, and in the following year was secre- tary of the State senate. In 1858-9 he was editor of the Yazoo Democrat, and in 1859-60 was editor of the States Rights Democrat, published at Helena, Ark., this paper ably advocating the cause of secession in the climacteric period which culminated in the Civil war. Before the outbreak of the war Judge Calhoon returned to Mississippi and located in Canton, where he engaged in the prac- tice of his profession. On March 23, 1861, he entered the Confederate service, in which he continued until the close of the war, having served in the Ninth and later in the Tenth Mississippi infantry and having risen to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. After the war he
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returned to Canton and resumed the work of his profession, having served as district attorney from 1865 to 1868. He was then chosen circuit judge, presiding on the bench from 1876 to 1882, in which latter year he removed to Jackson, having since made the capital city his home. Here he built up a very large and lucrative prac- tice, in which he continued actively engaged until his elevation to the bench of the supreme court, in 1900, his term expiring May 10, 1909. Judge Calhoon is a stalwart in the camp of the Demo- cratic party and has been prominent and influential in party affairs, serving as a member of the county and State executive committees and as a delegate to the Democratic national convention in St. Louis, which nominated Cleveland for the presidency. Judge Cal- hoon was president of the State constitutional convention of 1890. An official publication of Mississippi has spoken of Judge Calhoon's service on the supreme bench in the following pertinent words: "The opinions handed down by Judge Calhoon have been numerous and important, involving large interests and deciding great ques- tions." His is essentially of judicial mind and his fine knowledge of the law makes him specially well fortified for the grave and im- portant duties which devolve upon him in his present high office. He and his wife are communicants of St. Andrew's church, Protes- tant Episcopal, and he is a member of its vestry. He is identified with the Masonic fraternity and with the United Confederate Vet- erans. On Dec. 21, 1865, at Kirkwood, Madison county, Miss., was solemnized the marriage of Judge Calhoon to Miss Margaret Mc- Willie, daughter of the late Gov. William McWillie, of whom due individual mention is made in this publication. Judge and Mrs. Calhoon have no living children.
Cameron, Maj. Gen. William D., circuit clerk of Lauderdale county, is one of the best known and most honored citizens of Meridian and his personality and influ- ence have gained to him high recognition and wide acquaintanceship throughout his native State. Of him it has been said, pertinently and consistently: "He is a type of the men who have restored the old South to her former prestige, wealth and beauty ; and the South will continue to honor this kind." It has been deemed fitting in this connection to quote, with such slight changes as seem appropriate, from an appreciative sketch of the life of General Cameron recently published : "Gen. William D. Cameron, the best known man in this section and one of the foremost citizens of Mississippi, was born near Alamucha, Lauderdale county, April 5, 1846. He attended the neighborhood schools until the beginning of the war between the States, when, although but a boy in years, he put on the uniform of the Confederate soldier, and he remained on the firing line until the end of hostilities, in 1865, having been a
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member of Company E, 49th Alabama infantry, in which he served as a private. Returning home after the surrender, he engaged in farming until 1871, when he came to Meridian to act as deputy chancery clerk. He was elected circuit clerk in 1875, and by suc- cessive re-elections he has ever since remained incumbent of this office, an honor significant of the esteem in which he is held by those amongst whom he was born and has always lived. During the midnight of 'reconstruction' he was in the front rank of those who struggled against fearful odds to rescue their land, their civili- zation and social order from the withering grasp of the venal carpet- bagger and ignorant negro, and who, when this task was completed, turned to assist in the restoration of civil order and material pros- perity, and during the long intervening years he has done his duty well and manfully in public life and private relation. Twice has he been chosen by his old comrades in arms as major-general com- manding the Mississippi division of the United Confederate Vet- erans. He is a colonel of the uniform rank, Knights of Pythias, past grand chancellor of the same order and twice chosen as supreme representative. He is also affiliated with the Masonic fra- ternity, being a Knight Templar and a Noble of the Mystic Shrine, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Woodmen of the World, Ancient Order of United Workmen, Improved Order of Red Men, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and Columbian Wood- men, and he has filled in each of these orders posts of the first honor and trust. Always a loyal and steadfast Democrat, General Cameron was chosen a delegate at large to the national convention of his party, in Kansas City, in 1900, and also as a delegate to the convention of 1904. He has exerted considerable influence in State politics, his counsels largely influencing the attitude of his party at critical periods in its history. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church, and he is president of the board of deacons in his church. Of General Cameron it may be said that his career typified the best in our southern public spirit and politics. He has stood erect and never cringed or fawned for favor ; he has always had convictions and the courage to contend for them ; he has been in the front of the battle and never made a compromise of prin- ciple to secure a vote ; in private life he is clean, upright, gentle and brave. He is the most generous of men, a good citizen and a Christian gentleman." General Cameron has been twice married. In 1884 he wedded Miss Margaret Mays, of Holmes county, who died in 1896, being survived by three children, Charles B., who is now taking a final course in law, at Cumberland university, at Leb- anon, Tenn., Elleine Margaret, and Willie Rosa. In 1897 he was united in marriage to Miss Rosa Lipsay, of Holmes county, who presides most graciously over their attractive home, which is a center of refined hospitality.
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Carter, Thomas C., is recognized as one of the most progressive and public- spirited business men of the city of Meridian, to whose industrial and civic advancement he has contributed in large measure, and he enjoys the most un- equivocal popularity in the community. He is a representative of one of the honored pioneer families of Mississippi, the Carter family being of stanch English lineage and having been founded in Vir- ginia in the colonial days. Members of the family were found enrolled as loyal soldiers in the Continental line during the War of the Revolution. Mr. Carter was born in Perry county, Miss., April 16, 1845, and is a son of Daniel McDonald and Mary (Granbury) Carter, both of whom were like- wise native of Perry county. Daniel M. Carter became a successful planter in Perry county, where he also served a number of years as judge of probate, having been a citizen of prominence and in- fluence. His father, Daniel Carter, was born in South Carolina and was a son of Thomas Carter, who was one of the first settlers of Perry county, Miss., as was also his brother Isaac, both having taken up their residence in said county about 1814. The parents of the subject of this review continued to reside in Perry county until their death, secure in the esteem of all who knew them. Thomas C. Carter was reared on the homestead plantation and secured his educational discipline in the schools of Perry county. At the age of eighteen years, in 1863, he tendered his aid in defense of the Confederate cause, enlisting in the Twenty-seventh Mississippi regi- ment and serving in Walthall's brigade, with which he took part in the battles of Perryville, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga and all other engagements in the historic campaign through to Jonesboro, including the battles of Franklin and Nashville. He enlisted as a private and was made aid-de-camp to General Walthall. He was wounded at the battle of Chickamauga but was not long in- capacitated for duty. After the war he located in the city of Mobile, Ala., where he found employment as a clerk in mercantile establishments for a number of years, assisting in the support of the family, as his father had become an invalid and had also suf- fered great pecuniary losses during the war. He remained a resi- dent of Mobile until 1882, when he removed to Meridian, Miss., where he has since maintained his home and where he has attained to distinctive success along normal lines of business enterprise. He engaged in the buying and shipping of cotton, building up a large and prosperous business, in which he continued actively engaged until 1903, when he turned the enterprise over to his sons, and since which time he has been established in a successful stock, bond and timber-land business. Captain Carter served two terms as presi- dent of the Meridian Board of Trade and Cotton Exchange, and
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within his executive regime he was the prime factor in securing, through the representative in congress from this district, the ap- propriation for the erection of the fine new government building in Meridian, also securing the establishment of a government weather bureau in this city. He enlisted eastern capital in the organizing and incorporating of the Meridian National bank, which was event- ually reorganized as the Union Banking and Trust Company. It was also largely due to his efforts while president of the Board of Trade and Cotton Exchange that the various railroad companies whose lines enter Meridian were prevailed upon to build the fine union passenger station in this city. Within his second term as president the Board of Trade and Cotton Exchange purchased its present substantial and attractive building. He is one of those who promoted the organization of the company which is soon to build the Memphis & Gulf railroad from Grenada, Miss., through Meridian to Pensacola, Fla., and he is at the present time a direc- tor of the company. In all that pertains to the welfare of his home city Captain Carter takes a deep and helpful interest and to him the city owes much for his attitude and services as a public-spirited and loyal citizen. He is a supporter of the cause of the Democratic party, is a deacon and trustee in the First Baptist church, is a Knight Templar Mason and is affiliated with the United Confed- erate Veterans. He is aid-de-camp on the staff of Gen. S. D. Lee and Gen. Clement A. Evans. On April 6, 1869, Captain Carter was united in marriage to Miss Azalene Lott, daughter of Capt. Elisha B. Lott, who was at that time a prominent business man of the city of Mobile, Ala. In conclusion is entered brief record concerning the children of this union : Ernest L. is cashier of the Laurel National bank, at Laurel, Miss .; Eugene H. is manager and member of the firm of Longshore & Company, of Meridian ; Edward G. is manager of the cotton department of the firm of Wolf & Bros., of Chickasha, I. T .; and Mamie E., Hattie H., Elodie, Irma, Minnie, and Thomas C., Jr., remain at the parental home.
Carroll, Thomas B., 'senior member of the stanch and well known law firm of Carroll & Magruder, of Starkville, Oktib- beha county, where they control a large and important legal business, is a native of the vicinity in which he maintains his home, having been born near Starkville, March 18, 1860, and being a son of Dr. John G. and Narcissa E. (Williams) Car- roll, both of whom were born in Alabama. The father moved to Oktibbeha county in 1857, and until within ten years of his death, which occurred June 24, 1905, he practiced his profession at Agency. After moving to Starkville, in 1894, he gave up his practice. For nearly forty years he was engaged in the prac- tice of medicine in Oktibbeha county. During the Civil war he
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served the Confederacy well, having been surgeon in the Thirty- fifth Mississippi infantry. His widow is living, and resides at Stark- ville, being one of the honored citizens of the county. Thomas B. Carroll duly availed himself of the advantages of the common schools, and thereafter continued his studies in Gathright college, at Summerville, the Southwestern Baptist university, in Jackson, Tenn., where he remained two years, and he then passed one year in the law department of the University of Mississippi, at Oxford, where he was graduated in June, 1879, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He forthwith engaged in practice in Starkville, and his native town did not fail to do him honor during his well directed labors in this initiative period. He continued an individual practice until 1882, when he entered into partnership with M. R. Butler, with whom he was associated until 1890, after which he again prac- ticed alone until 1896, when he entered into his present professional alliance with William W. Magruder, of whom specific mention is made on another page of this work. Mr. Carroll is one of the stal- warts in the camp of the Mississippi Democracy and has done effective service in the party cause. In 1885 he was elected to repre- sent his county in the State legislature, in which he served one term, since which time he has not been a candidate for public office, preferring to devote his undivided attention to his large and exact- ing professional work. He is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Carroll has invested in local real estate and has been vice-president of the Security State bank since 1898. On Oct. 14, 1885, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Carroll to Miss Gertrude Perkins, daughter of Dr. J. B. Perkins and Mary (Washington) Perkins, of Starkville, and they have four children : Stanley, Eva May, Gertrude and Miriam.
Carter, Nat G., M. D., is established in practice as one of the representative phy- sicians and surgeons of the city of · Meridian and is a native son of Missis- sippi. He was born at Ripley, Tippah county, Dec. 31, 1850, and is a son of Dr. William D. and Fanny (Green) Car- ter. The father was born in Wilson county, Tenn., about 1818, and was reared on a farm, securing his early edu- cation in the country schools. He came to Mississippi about 1840, locating at' Ripley, where he began teaching school, at the same time studying medicine. He finally entered the medical department of the University of Kentucky, at Louisville, in which he was grad- uated, at once initiating the practice of his profession in Tippah county, Mississippi, and eventually becoming one of the leading physicians of that section of the State, where he continued to reside until his death, which occurred May 24, 1888, his wife surviv- ing him by several years. The subject of this sketch was reared
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to maturity in his native town, of the advantages of whose schools he properly availed himself .. He began the study of medicine under the able preceptorship of his honored father and continued his technical studies in Louisville medical college, Kentucky, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1872, duly receiving his degree of Doctor of Medicine. He began the practice of his profession at Ripley, Miss., where he also engaged in the drug business, and there he built up both a large practice and a success- ful mercantile business in the line noted. In 1901 he removed to Meridian, where he has met with unequivocal appreciation and suc- cess in the work of his profession and where he is held in high esteem as a physician and as a loyal and progressive citizen. He is a member of the State and county medical associations and in poli- tics gives his support to the Democratic party. Doctor Carter is a Knight of Pythias and a Woodman. In 1874 Doctor Carter was united in marriage to Miss Willie Falkner, daughter of the late Col. William C. Falkner, of Tippah county. They have had four children : William C. Falkner Carter, died in infancy; Fanny, died in infancy ; Miriam N. Carter, wife of P. A. Broch ; Carolin Carter, wife of C. P. Witt, of Tampa, Fla.
Carver, Daniel, of Nicholson, Hancock county, is vice-president of the Nicholson Lumber and Cooperage Company, is also one of the leading merchants of the town and has other important capitalistic inter- ests in the county, which has been his home from the time of his birth. He was born in the village of Bay Saint Louis, this county, March 3, 1853, and is a son of Peter and Nazile M. (Bourgeois) Carver, who were likewise born and reared in the same town, being repre- sentatives of old and honored families of that section of the State. In the schools of his native town Daniel Carver secured his early educational discipline, and as a youth he became identified in a practical way with the mercantile business, becoming a sales- man in the general store of Capt. W. J. Poitevent, of Gainesville, with whom he remained in this capacity for a period of four years, at the expiration of which the captain admitted him to partnership in the general store then established at Gainesville, this county, the new enterprise being launched under the firm name of Poitevent & Carver. In 1874 Mr. Carver purchased the interest of his partner and became the sole proprietor of the business, which he thereafter continued successfully for eighteen years. In 1892 he removed to Nicholson and purchased the well equipped general store of J. J. Willis. He has added materially to the scope and facilities of the enterprise, which he still conducts, receiving a large and appre- ciative support from the people of the town and vicinity, while the store is now under the active management of his elder son, William
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P. In July, 1904, Mr. Carver opened a branch store at Pickayune, this county, and the same is conducted under the supervision of his younger son, David M., and he was also one of the organizers and is a stockholder of the Bank of Pickayune, which inaugurated busi- ness in June, 1904, and he is a stockholder also of the Bank of Bay Springs, Jasper county, this State. He is a stalwart advocate of the principles of the Democracy, and while never a seeker of official preferment, he shows a lively interest in public affairs and is liberal in his support of enterprises and measures tending to conserve the general good of the community. In a fraternal connection we find him identified with the Masonic order and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. On Sept. 23, 1874, Mr. Carver was united in mar- riage to Miss Georgia W. Ross, daughter of George W. and Louisa (Russ) Ross, of New Orleans, La., and the names of the four children of this union are as follows: Lulu N., William P., David M. and Flora.
Catchings, Charles E., M. D., is engaged in the practice of his profession in Woodville, Wilkinson county, and is known as one of the skilled and successful physicians and surgeons of this section of the State. He was born in Copiah county, Miss., Feb. 17, 1869, and is a son of Benjamin Franklin and Emily (Holliday) Catch- ings, both of whom were born and reared in this State, of Scotch- Irish ancestry. Dr. Catchings was afforded the advantages of the high school at Hazelhurst and the University of Mississippi-class of 1891. His technical education was secured in the medical de- partment of Tulane university, in the city of New Orleans and Memphis medical college, where he was graduated as a member of the class of 1894, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Later he took two post-graduate courses in the celebrated Rush medical col- lege, of Chicago. Shortly after his graduation he located in Wood- ville, where he has since been engaged in the general practice of his profession, having built up a large and lucrative business. He is a member of the American medical association and the Missis- sippi State medical association, and fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias and Masons. In 1895 Doctor Catchings was united in marriage to Miss Mittie Woods, daughter of Dr. Thomas O. Woods, of Wilkinson county, and they have five children, namely : Thomas, Nicholas Senn, Charles, William and Oliver.
Catchings, Oliver Whitehead, junior member of the well known and prominent law firm of Catchings & Catchings, of Vicksburg, was born in Raymond, Hinds county, Miss., Sept. 20, 1872, and is a son of Thomas C. and Florence O. (Shearer) Catchings, both of whom were likewise born in Hinds county. The father is one of the representative members of the bar of Mississippi and is senior member of the firm of Catchings & Catchings. An individual sketch of his career appears in the present connection. Oliver W. Catch- ings received most liberal educational advantages, having been graduated from the law department of the famous old University of Virginia, at Charlottesville, as a member of the class of 1893. He was for five years engaged in the practice of his profession in
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the city of Washington, D. C., his father having been a member of congress at the time, and since then the two have been associated in a representative practice in Vicksburg, being one of the leading law firms of the State. In 1905, the subject of this review was appointed judge of the Ninth judicial district of the State, compris- ing Claiborne, Issaquena, Sharkey and Warren counties, and his service on the bench has been marked by wisdom, discrimination and by manifestation of broad and comprehensive knowledge of law and precedent, his rulings being invariably fair and impartial. On April 28, 1897, Judge Catchings was united in marriage to Miss Grayson Wendling, daughter of George R. and Josephine E. (Stephenson) Wendling, of West Virginia, and they have one daughter, Josephine Elizabeth.
Catchings, Thomas Clendinen, of Vicksburg, one of the leading members of the bar of Mississippi and formerly member of congress from the Third district, was born in Hinds county, Miss., Jan. 11, 1847, being a son of Dr. Thos. J. Catchings and N. (Mc Clendinen) Catchings, both representative of pioneer families of the State. After due preliminary training he entered the University of Mis- sissippi, at Oxford, in Sept., 1859, and after partially finishing the work of the sophomore year he withdrew from this institution and was matriculated in Oakland college, in Jefferson county, Miss., where he passed into the junior class in the spring of 1861. Shortly afterward he entered the Confederate army, becoming a member of the Eighteenth Mississippi infantry, later serving with Ferguson's cavalry brigade. He took up the study of law in 1865 and was admitted to the bar of his native State in May, 1866, since which time he has been consecutively engaged in the practice of his pro- fession in the city of Vicksburg, save for the period of his resi- dence in the national capital, as a member of congress. In 1875 he was elected to the State senate, for a term of four years, but he resigned this office in 1877, upon his nomination for attorney-general of the State, to which office he was elected in November of that year, for a term of four years. He gave a most able administra- tion and was renominated by acclamation in August, 1881, being elected in November following. He resigned on Feb. 16, 1885, and was elected to represent the Third district in congress, of which, by successive re-elections, he continued a member during the forty- ninth, fiftieth, fifty-first, fifty-second, fifty-third, fifty-fourth, fifty- fifth congresses. He has been for many years one of the leaders of the Mississippi Democracy, and the State profited largely through his able and loyal services in congress, where his record was al- together admirable. On May 4, 1870, he married Miss Florence O. Shearer, of Raymond, Miss. His eldest son died in the Spanish- American war, as a captain of the staff of Gen. A. R. Burt. His second son and only other child, Hon. O. W. Catchings, is his law partner.
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