USA > Mississippi > Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. III > Part 30
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has since given a most able administration of the shrievalty, for the duties of which his prior experience especially well fitted him. He is a loyal and progressive citizen and is a stanch supporter of the principles and policies for which the Democratic party stands sponsor. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Presbyterian church. On Jan. 10, 1900, Mr. Farr was united in marriage to Miss Ora Leigh Mann, daughter of William Mann, of Hinds county, and the only child of this union, Leigh Elmo, died at the age of two years.
Fletcher, Robert V., assistant attorney- general of the State of Mississippi, is a citizen of Pontotoc county. Mr. Fletcher was born in Grant county, Ky., Sept. 27, 1869, and is a son of John M. Fletcher, who was born at Moscow, Tenn. The original representatives of the family in America settled in Virginia at an early day. Mr. Fletcher was reared and edu- cated in Kentucky, whence he came to Mississippi in 1893. For a period of about five years he was a successful teacher in the schools of Pontotoc county, and he withdrew from the work of this field to prepare himself for the active practice of law. He was admitted to the bar in 1899 and since that time until Jan. 1, 1906, was engaged in practice in Pontotoc. His professional services were much in demand in that and adjoining counties and he has gained unmistakable prestige in his chosen profession. He is a stalwart supporter of the principles and policies of which the Democratic party stands exponent. In the latter part of 1905 he was appointed by Attorney-General Williams to the office of assistant attorney-general, a position which he now holds at this writing (1907). He is a candidate for attorney-general and will likely be unopposed for the position to which he aspires. Mr. Fletcher is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Knights of Pythias. He is past master of the Masonic lodge of Pontotoc, has served as district deputy grand master of the Odd Fellows, and past chancellor of the local lodge of Knights of Pythias. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, South. In 1893 Mr. Fletcher was united in marriage to Miss Etta Childers, and they have two children-Ernest and Louise.
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Ford, Thomas Swift. The annals of the State of Mississippi have never chronicled the events in the life of a more worthy, able and honored citizen than the late Gen. Thomas S. Ford, whose name is prominently and indissolubly linked with the history of this com- monwealth. He was born in Marion county, Miss., March 3, 1847, and was a son of Ebenezer and Julia A. (Swift) Ford. His father was a native of South Carolina and was twice married; his first union was with a widow, Mrs. Mary A. (Pope) Morgan, and they
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became the parents of two sons and six daughters. In early man- hood Ebenezer Ford came to Mississippi and settled in Marion county, where he became an extensive planter and large slave owner and where he served ten years as judge of probate. After the death of his first wife he married Miss Julia A. Swift, of Man- chester, Vt. Their marriage was celebrated in Monticello, Miss., where the bride was visiting at the time .. The children of this union were: Thomas Swift, Theodore Bulkley, Serenus Sedgwick, and Emma Juliet. Judge Ford died in 1858, and his widow survived him by about twenty years; both were laid to rest in the Ford family cemetery, twenty miles south of Columbia, Miss. Judge Ford was a Whig in politics and was a citizen of prominence and influence in his community. Gen. Thomas S. Ford, the honored subject of this memoir, received his preliminary education in Manchester, Vt., the original home of his mother, and thereafter he was matricu- lated in Middlebury college, that State, in which institution he was graduated in 1866. He then returned to Mississippi and took up his residence in Holmesville, Pike county, where he began the study of law under the preceptorship of John T. Lamkin. He thoroughly fortified himself in the science of jurisprudence and was duly ad- mitted to the bar of his native State. He initiated the practice of his profession at Columbia, Miss., where he continued his labors in his chosen vocation for twenty-seven years and where he rose to precedence as one of the eminent members of the bar of the State. Within the period noted, without personal solicitation, he was called upon to serve in various public offices of trust. In 1885 he was appointed by Gov. Robert Lowry to the dignified and respon- sible office of attorney-general of the State to serve the unexpired term of Gen. Thomas C. Catchings, who had been elected a member of congress. Upon the expiration of his appointive term General Ford refused to become a candidate for the office as his own suc- cessor, though his election was assured had he consented to accept the nomination. For eight years he served as district attorney of the Sixth judicial district. He was a delegate from the State at large to the constitutional convention of 1890, and in politics he was inflexible in his allegiance to the principles and policies of the Democratic party. He commanded uniform confidence and esteem wherever known and the man himself was far greater than his history. His death caused a feeling of deep personal bereavement throughout southern Mississippi, which then lost one of its greatest and most useful citizens. His career was rich in all that makes for noble manhood and he was true and faithful in all the relations of life and his strength was as the number of his days. He and his wife were devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and their Christian faith was exemplified in their daily walk. The general was ever a warm supporter of the cause of popular education, and to him was due in large measure the establishing and equipping of the excellent high school in Columbia. He was not only a great lawyer but was also a natural leader and a director of public opinion. He gave abundantly of his influence and means
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to charity, to church and to public enterprises, and his gracious personality and kindliness endeared him to all who came within the sphere of his influence. In 1896 he removed with his family to Scranton, Jackson county, where he succumbed to an attack of yellow fever in the following year, his death occurring Nov. 1, 1897. His cherished and devoted wife preceded him to the life eternal by three and one-half years, and the remains of both rest in the cemetery at Columbia. On Dec. 19, 1877, General Ford was united in marriage to Miss Clarissa Rawls, daughter of James B. and Sarah (Barnes) Rawls, and of this union nine children were born, namely: Theodore Sedgwick, Nellie, May E., Juliet A., Ebenezer J., Iris E., Joseph S., and Harry and Harriet, twins. Nellie is now the wife of George C. Maxwell; May E. is the wife of V. L. Terrell; Ebenezer J. is a student in Oxford university, England, having been the first in Mississippi to win the Cecil Rhodes scholarship in that historic institution.
French, James C., M. D., of Natchez, is one of the able exponents of the benefi- cent system of Homœpathy in the State of Mississippi and he has been engaged in the practice of his profession in Natchez since 1884. Dr. French was born at Madison, Jefferson county, Ind., Aug. 3, 1855, and is a son of Robert B. and Mary (Richardson) French, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania and the latter in Ohio. The father was engaged in school teaching in Madison, Ind., for a number of years and then removed to Keokuk, Ia., where he became a manu- facturer of candles, the only lights Keokuk had at that time. He had charge of the arsenal in that place during the Civil war. In 1865 he removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he became a member of the firm of DeVow & Company, wholesale milliners. He remained a resident of Cincinnati until a few years prior to his death, when he removed to Chicago, where he lived retired until his demise, which occurred in the autumn of 1902. His wife still lives in Chicago, hale and hearty. Dr. French was afforded the advantages of the public schools of the city of Cincinnati, where he later attended Miami medical college for a time. He finally entered Pulte medical college, in that city, and in this well known Homeopathic institution he was graduated as a member of the class of 1875, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. At the time of his graduation he received the first clinical prize- $100 worth of medical books-which constituted his first technical library. He began the practice of his profession at Greensburg, Ind., where he remained nearly a decade and where he served as county health officer for a number of years. In November, 1884, Dr. French took up his residence in Natchez, where he has since been engaged in the successful practice of his profession and where
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he has gained distinctive prestige. He served many years as city health officer and retired from this position in 1902, after having made an admirable record in the office; was re-elected city health officer in 1906 and is now serving in that position. He is a mem- ber of the American medical association and the American Insti- tute of Homoeopathy. He was one of the organizers of the Southern Homoeopathic medical association and is a member of the Adams county medical society. He is identified with the Natchez Mardi Gras association and has been honored and selected by the association as king of the carnival-Rex VII, He is a mem- ber of the Prentiss club, and was the organizer of the local lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of which he was the first exalted ruler and of which he is now an honorary life member. He has been a delegate to the national grand lodge of the order on several occasions and in the same has served on important com- mittees. He has completed the circle of York Rite Masonry,- and is past grand commander of the grand commandery of Knight Templars in Mississippi. He is also identified with the Mystic Shrine, Woodmen of the World, Knights of Honor, Knights and Ladies of Honor, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Im- proved Order of Red Men. He is United States pension examiner at Natchez. He and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, South. In April, 1877, Dr. French was united in marriage to Miss Sue A. Runyon, of Covington, Ky. She is a representative of one of the old and honored families of that State. Dr. and Mrs. French have three children: Robert C., who is prac- ticing his specialty-eye, ear, nose and throat-in Natchez, being a graduate of the medical department of Tulane university, in New Orleans; Edna M., who is the wife of Andrew H. Patterson of Natchez; and Carlotta S., who remains at the parental home.
Geisenberger, Abraham H., of Natchez, is a representative member of the Missis- sippi bar and has been concerned in much important litigation in the State and Federal courts. He was born at Port Gibson, this State, Nov. 9, 1862, and is a son of Wolff and Fannie (Netter) Geisen- berger, both of whom were born in the province of Alsace, France, now a part of the German empire. The father came to Mississippi in 1852 and the mother in 1856, and their marriage was solemnized at Port Gibson in 1857. They took up their residence in Natchez, April 28, 1864, and here the father was engaged in mer- cantile pursuits during the remainder of his active business career. Both he and his wife died in that city. They are survived by five sons and one daughter-Benjamin C. is a merchant in Natchez; Samuel is in the wholesale trade there; Albert J. and Leon L. are wholesale and retail druggists, and Florence is the wife of Abraham
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Beekman, now of Dallas, Tex. With the exception of the last named, all of the children are residents of Natchez and the family is one of distinctive prominence and popularity in the community. The subject of this review was afforded the advantages of public and private schools in Natchez, where, among others, he attended the school conducted by Prof. A. D. Campbell, who was a prominent educator of his day. After leaving school Mr. Geisenberger studied law under the preceptorship and in the office of the firm of Martin & Lanneau, and he was admitted to the bar of his native State June 24, 1887, since which time he has been engaged in the active practice of his profession in Natchez, where he has built up a large and important law business and has a representative clientage. He is an able advocate of the principles of the Democratic party, is a member of the official board of the B'nai Israel Congregation, and is president and past-president of Ezra Lodge, No. 134, Inde- pendent Order of B'nai B'rith. He is identified with the Benev- olent and Protective Order of Elks and the Standard Club, and is a member of the directorate of the People's savings bank. On Oct. 28, 1891, Mr. Geisenberger was united in marriage to Miss Johanna Schlenker, who was born at Trinity, La., and they have four children : Wilfred A., Carlotta S., Abraham H., Jr., and Isaac F.
George, A. Hunter, is a progressive and enterprising citizen to whom the city of Meridian is much indebted for the fruitful results of his initiative ability and public spirit, his interests here being of wide scope and importance. He is a son of that honored citizen, the late Capt. William Walker George, a brief sketch of whose life appears in this volume. Mr. George was born in Versailles, Wood- ford county, Ky., Aug. 11, 1865, and his early education was secured in the schools of his native town and those of Meridian, Miss., to which place his parents removed in 1873. As a young man he found employment in the First National bank of Meridian, of which his father was president at the time of his death. He remained with this institution about five years and was thereafter identified with the Mississippi Cotton Oil Company for four years, at the expira- tion of which he became individually concerned in dealing in cotton-seed products, founding the firm of A. H. George & Com- pany. This firm continued operation under said title until 1903, when the interested principals bought the plant and business of the Planters Oil Company, which they reorganized and incorporated as the Southern Oil and Fertilizer Company. The company is capital- ized for $75,000 and Mr. George has been its president and general manager from the start. The enterprise is one of extensive order, its functions being the manufacturing of fertilizers and cotton-seed products of the best order and fifty tons of cotton seed being de- manded as the daily supply for the plant, which is one of the best equipped in the State and which represents one of the most im- portant industries of Meridian. Mr. George is a member of the directorate of the Meridian Board of Trade and Cotton Exchange and of that of the Union Bank and Trust Company, is president of the Miazza-Woods Construction Company. His political alleg-
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iance is given without reservation to the Democratic party and he served as a member of the city council during the period when Meridian made so generous advancements in the matter of munici- pal improvements. He and his wife are members of the First Pres- byterian church, in which he is a deacon. On Oct. 10, 1885, Mr. George was united in marriage to Miss Lula V. Sandusky, a daugh- ter of John E. and Hannah Sandusky, of Bourbon county, the Sandusky family being one of the oldest and most honored in that commonwealth. Mr. and Mrs. George have five children: Ernest Thornton, William Walker, Bessie Sandusky, Rogers Elmore and Inez Abner. The family is prominent in the social life of the city and the attractive home is a center of gracious hospitality.
Gassaway, S. A., M. D., of New Albany, is one of the leading physicians and surgeons of Union county, where he controls a large practice. He was born in that portion of Tippah county which is now included in Union county, the year of his nativity having been 1838. He is a son of Daniel and Margaret (Hallum) Gassaway, both of whom were born and reared in Pendleton district, S. C., whence they removed to Tippah county, Miss., in 1837, the father becoming one of the successful planters of this section of the State, where both he and his wife passed the remainder of their lives. Daniel Gassaway was born in 1796, and was a son of James Gassa- way, who died in 1800, at the age of sixty-six years. The latter's father came from England to America and settled on the Potomac river. Dr. Gassaway secured his educational training in the schools of his native county, and was there identified with the plantation industry up to the time of the Civil war, at whose outbreak he was twenty-two years of age. Early in 1861 he entered the Confederate military service, enlisting in the Twenty-third Mississippi infantry, in which he was made sergeant-major. In 1862 he was promoted adjutant, in which office he continued to serve until the close of the war. His command became a part of the Army of Mississippi, with which it took part in the various engagements in which that army was involved, later being assigned to the Army of Tennessee, with which it participated in many notable battles. Dr. Gassaway was twice taken prisoner-first at Fort Donelson and later near Nashville. He has an abiding interest in his old comrades in arms and is commander of the New Albany camp of the United Confed- erate Veterans. After the close of the war Dr. Gassaway took up the study of medicine in the medical department of the University of Louisville, Ky., and in 1873 began the practice of his profession. He established himself in practice in Union county, and continued to reside on his fine plantation until 1894, when he took up his residence in New Albany, from which thriving little city he has since attended to his extensive professional business, which ex- tends throughout the county. He is health officer of the county and has been a member of the board of aldermen of New Albany for the past six years. He is a stalwart supporter of the cause of the Democratic party, and served many years as chairman of its execu- tive committee for Union county. He takes a deep interest in the
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party work but has never sought official preferment. In 1866 Dr. Gassaway was married to Miss Amanda Collins, daughter of Elijah and Eliza (Miller) Collins, honored residents of Union county, whither the former came from Alabama when young, his father having been a pioneer of this section of Mississippi. To Dr. and Mrs. Gassaway have been born seven children: Ella, who died in 1904, was the wife of J. E. Coltharp, a merchant of Myrtle; Lean- nora is the wife of S. C. McBride, who is a successful planter of Union county ; H. A. is engaged in the practice of law in New Albany ; Cora is deceased; Dr. T. B. is engaged in the practice of medicine, near Covington, Tenn., and Margaret and Mary remain at the parental home. Dr. Gassaway's wife died in 1899.
George, William Walker. A strong, useful and noble manhood was that represented in the life and career of the late and honored Capt. William W. George, who left a definite and beneficent im- press upon the industrial and civic history of the city of Meridian, in whose business affairs he was long a prominent factor. He was born in Versailles, Woodford county, Ky., where the family was long one of prominence and influence, his father having served for a number of years as judge of the probate court of Woodford county and having been incumbent of this office at the time of his death, in 1884. After careful preliminary study in the Versailles seminary, Captain George completed a course in a business college in Louis- ville, Ky., in which he was graduated in 1861. His business career was initiated by his securing employment in a bank in his native town, and here he laid the foundation for that broad and practical knowledge of the banking business which so greatly conserved his success in later years. In later years he became a member of the firm of George & Wilson, private bankers. The firm built up a successful business, with which he continued to be identified for several years, finally disposing of his interests and establishing a bank at Bardstown, Ky., under title of W. W. George & Company. In 1873 he sold his interest in the prosperous enterprise which he had thus inaugurated and he then came to Meridian, where he be- came cashier of the People's bank, in which he became a large stockholder. He held this executive office until Frederick Wolfe was elected president of the bank, at which time Mr. George be- came vice-president of the institution. When the People's bank was merged into the First National bank he became one of the in- corporators and leading stockholders of the latter, being its first vice-president and later being elected president, an office of which he remained in tenure until his death, which occurred in 1902. He was identified with banking interests for more than half a century and his character and methods were such as to give solidity and popularity to every undertaking of the sort with which he became concerned, no bank with which he was connected having ever failed. Guided at all times by a spirit of lofty integrity, he won the confi- dence which was his just due and his popularity was of the most unequivocal sort. He did not hedge in his life with mere personal concern, but his broad judgment and initiative powers were exer-
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cised in behalf of the public. He was a citizen loyal in all respects and thus was ever ready to lend his aid in the furtherance of worthy enterprises and projects making for the general good- social and industrial. He was at one time president of the Meridian Water Works Company, was a director in the Mississippi Land and Mining Company, and had other important capitalistic interests. He was a radical Democrat but was never ambitious for public office, and he was a zealous member of the Presbyterian church, contributing liberally to its support. In 1862 was solemnized the marriage of Captain George to Miss Agnes Thornton, who like- wise was born and reared in Versailles, Ky., and she survives him, as do also four of their children.
Gibert, Jeremiah, M. D. Bolivar county is fortunate in having a number of skill- ful, successful physicians and in the front rank of this number stands Dr. Jeremiah Gibert, of Shaw. There is an interesting chapter in the Gibert family history which connects it with the American Revolution. Pierre Gibert, a Huguenot of France, fled from his native country when but a boy, accompanying two uncles, Jean Luis and Etienne, to Eng- land. These uncles were Huguenot min- isters upon whose heads the King of France had set a price. The boy Pierre received a good English education and in 1754 accompanied the two uncles to America, settling in South Carolina. Here the lad grew up and when the Revolutionary war broke out he joined the Continental forces. The next glimpse we have of him is when, as Capt. Pierre Gibert, he is placed in com- mand of the company at Savannah, succeeding Capt. Matthew Beraudz. Capt. Pierre Gibert was the great-grandfather of Dr. Jeremiah Gibert. Joseph Gibert, a Presbyterian minister and a native of the Abbeville district of South Carolina, married Mary A. Reese Stanley, who was born Oct. 16, 1827, in the Anderson district of the same State. Mrs. Gibert's maternal grandfather, James B. McKinley, was a soldier of the Mexican war. While the Rev. Joseph Gibert was a resident of Crawford county, Ga., his wife bore him a son on June 21, 1849, the subject of this sketch. In 1859 Joseph Gibert brought his family to Mississippi, locating first at Zion Seminary, then at Mount Olive and finally, in 1882, in Copiah county, where he died on Aug. 11, 1883.
Dr. Jeremiah Gibert received his education in the common schools of South Carolina and Mississippi, attending also for a time the Zion seminary. When he had secured a complete preparation he entered Tulane university in New Orleans and in 1872 was grad- uated from that institution with the degree of M. D. For fourteen years he practiced in different localities and in 1886 he located in Shaw, where he has since practiced his profession with eminent
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success. Besides his medical business he oversees the management of a large plantation he has recently purchased. In politics he is a Democrat and with the exception of the three years that he served the city as mayor he has been a member of the board of aldermen continuously for twenty years. All his other duties do not for a minute make him neglect his religious obligations, and he is a devout attendant and member of the Presbyterian church, and at the present time is serving as one of its elders. His wife is a member of the same church. On Feb. 14, 1878, he married Ellen, daughter of Benjamin and Eliza (Harris) Williams of Copiah county, Miss., where Mr. Williams was an extensive planter. Three children have blessed this union-John M, Vera and Susie. John M. Gibert was graduated from the West Point military academy in 1902 and assigned to duty with Company E, Tenth U. S. infantry. He saw a year of service in the Philippines, was stationed a year at San Francisco, transferred to the ordinance department at Sandy Hook, N. J., and was recently detailed to the Frankfort arsenal at Philadelphia, Pa. On Dec. 27, 1905, he married Miss Virginia Tucker of Tunica county, Miss. Dr. Gibert was a member of the Knights of Pythias until the Shaw lodge disbanded; is a member of the Six Counties medical society of Clarksdale; the Bolivar county medical society and the Mississippi State medical associa- tion.
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