USA > Mississippi > Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. III > Part 31
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107
Gibson, James A., secretary, treasurer and second vice-president of the Meridian Electric Light and Railway Company, is one of the well known and popular busi- ness men of the city of Meridian, where he has resided since 1900. He is a native of Mississippi, having been born in Oktib- beha county, Sept. 5, 1864, and being a son of William W. and Mary K. (Rogers) Gibson, the former of whom was born in Vermont and the latter in Alabama. William W. Gibson came to Mississippi at a very early day and for a time was engaged in teaching school, while he was a prosperous merchant prior to the Civil war as well as after its close, being thus engaged at the time of his death, which occurred in 1876, in the city of Philadelphia, Pa., where he was visiting the Centennial exposition. He was in active service as a Confederate soldier in the Civil war, having enlisted in a Mis- sissippi regiment when the call was made for volunteers among those who were above the age limit, and one of his sons, O. A., also served during the war, in a Mississippi regiment. James A. Gibson secured his early educational discipline in the schools of Clay county, Miss., and in West Point, that county, he learned the art of telegraphy in the local railway station, becoming an expert operator and having later been in the employ of the Western Union Telegraph Company in many of the large cities of the Union. In
273
BIOGRAPHICAL
1888 he was located in Meridian as agent for the Baltimore & Ohio Express Company, while later he was agent for the Kansas City, Memphis & Birmingham railroad at Tupelo, Miss., for two years, after which he was for a time engaged in the mercantile business at Pheba, Clay county. He then became train dispatcher for the Illinois Central railroad at Durant, Miss., was later agent for the Mobile & Ohio railroad at Tupelo, finally being appointed chief clerk to the superintendent of transportation of this system, with headquarters at Mobile, Ala. In 1900 he came to Meridian and assumed his present office as secretary, treasurer and general man- ager of the Meridian Light and Railway Company, whose affairs he is handling with marked ability, being a stockholder in the com- pany and a member of its directorate, as is he also in the Union Bank and Trust Company. He is a director in the local Railroad Young Men's Christian Association, and both he and his wife are members of the First Baptist church. In political affairs he is aligned with the Democracy, and while resident of West Point he lacked only fifteen votes of being elected chancery clerk, with four competitors in the field. He is a Royal Arch Mason and affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. On Feb. 5, 1891, Mr. Gibson married Miss Minnie C. Bridges, daughter of A. L. and Julia (Quinn) Bridges, of Oktib- beha county, Miss.
Gildart, William K., the efficient and popular circuit clerk of Washington county, is a scion of one of the sterling pioneer families of Mississippi, the name having been prominently identified with the history of the State for nearly a century. Mr. Gildart was born in Wood- ville, Wilkinson county, Miss., Feb. 15, 1846, and is a son of Isaac D. and Caro- line S. (Collins) Gildart, the former of whom was born in Woodville, in 1820, while the latter was born in Washington, Adams county. Thomas W. Gildart, grandfather of William K., was one of the pioneer lawyers of the State, having been specially renowned as a criminal lawyer, and he represented Wilkinson county in the State legislature from 1817 to 1819, in- clusive. Isaac D. Gildart likewise became a prominent and influ- ential member of the bar of Mississippi, and was called upon to serve in the State legislature. William K. Gildart was reared and educated in his native town of Woodville, and was a youth of fifteen years at the time of the inception of the Civil war. His loyalty to the Confederacy was forthwith made manifest since, on March 23, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company E, Twenty-first Missis- sippi infantry, with which he served until the close of the war, so that the history of his command stands as the essential record of his military career. Mr. Gildart has been a resident of Greenville,
19-III
274
MISSISSIPPI
Washington county, since 1878, and has there been prominent in political and civic affairs. He was city marshal of Greenville for a period of thirteen years, and has been clerk of the circuit court for that county since May, 1890. He is one of the leaders in the local ranks of the Democracy, and in a fraternal way is identified with the Knights of Pythias, Knights of Honor, Woodmen of the World, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In 1870 Mr. Gildart married Miss Mary E. Netterville, daughter of J. T. and Susan (Brown) Netterville, of Woodville, Miss., and she died in 1880, being survived by one son, Robert S. In 1882 Mr. Gildart wedded Miss Della Mont- gomery, daughter of Livingston Montgomery, a representative citi- zen and extensive planter of Yazoo county, Miss. Of that union have been born three children: Willie, Dixie Lee and Benjamin Humphrey.
Gill, John L., of Rosedale, is the efficient deputy clerk of the circuit court of Bolivar county, and his record as a soldier of the Confederacy during the Civil war is one of marked fidelity and gal- lantry. He was born in the city of New Orleans, La., May 28, 1841, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Dasilva) Gill, the former of whom was born in the State of New York and the latter in Philadelphia, Pa. The father was identified with the artillery arm of the military service in New Orleans in the Mexican war, and he became a successful contractor and builder of the Crescent city, where he died in 1848, his wife also passing the closing years of her life in New Orleans. The subject of this review was reared to maturity in his native city, where he received fair educational advantages. On April 11, 1861, he enlisted as corporal in Company A, New Orleans cadets, under command of Capt. Charles D. Drux. That was the first company that left New Orleans for the seat of war. He first saw service, under General Bragg, at Pensacola, Fla. His command thence went to Virginia, serving under General Magruder, in the Peninsular campaign. He received an honorable discharge in May, 1862, and immediately afterward re-enlisted, at Jackson, Miss., as sergeant in Fenner's Louisiana battery, which was thence ordered to Port Hudson, La. He took part in the Georgia and Tennessee campaigns. After joining Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's army in front of Dalton, Ga., he was in every engage- ment which marked the progress of the campaign. He was with Hood in the Tennessee campaign, being detached from his com- mand at Nashville and sent to General Forrest, under whom he surrendered, at Meridian, Miss., May 15, 1865. He was twice slightly wounded. Few soldiers of the Civil war saw longer or more active service than did Mr. Gill, and while he is'modest re- garding his military career he has just reason to feel proud of the same. After the war he located in Mississippi, and he has been a resident of Rosedale for many years, having there followed various vocations and having for a time been engaged in the general mer- cantile business there. For the past sixteen years he has served continuously either as clerk or deputy clerk of the circuit court,
.
275
BIOGRAPHICAL
being incumbent of the latter office at the present time and being held in uniform confidence and esteem by the people of the town and county. He was county assessor four years and he had also served as deputy chancery clerk and as deputy sheriff. He is a communicant of the Protestant Episcopal church, as is also Mrs. Gill, and he is a member of the vestry of the local parish at the present time. In politics he is unwavering in his support of the principles of the Democratic party, in whose local councils he has been an influential figure for many years. He is secretary of Rose- dale Lodge, No. 463, Free and Accepted Masons; is keeper of records and seal in Rosedale Lodge, No. 29, Knights of Pythias, being also secretary of section 465 of the endowment rank of that order ; is financial reporter of Montgomery Lodge, No. 2243, Knights of Honor ; and is adjutant of Montgomery Camp, No. 52, United Confederate Veterans, Mrs. Gill also having the distinction of being president of Montgomery Chapter of the Daughters of the Con- federacy. On Oct. 26, 1870, Mr. Gill was united in marriage to Miss Emma Wheaton, daughter of William H. and Anna (Church) Wheaton, of New Orleans, La., and she was summoned into the life eternal July 5, 1901, having been a devoted communicant of the Protestant Episcopal church. She is survived by three children : Dr. Ellis W. is a successful physician and surgeon, engaged in practice at Gueydan, La .; Eliza W. is the wife of Frederick S. Nave, associate justice of Arizona, residing at Solomonsville; and Dr. John L., Jr., who is engaged in the practice of medicine at Round Lake, Miss. On Feb. 5, 1903, Mr. Gill was united in mar- riage to Miss Eliza Wheaton, a sister of his first wife.
Glover, James Alcorn, of Clarksdale, is an able and successful member of the bar of Coahoma county, where he also has valuable plantation interests, being one of the representative citizens of this section and an ex-member of both houses of the State legislature. Mr. Glover was born at Rosemount, Greene county, Ala., Nov. 10, 1866, and is a son of Walton N. and Mary Catherine (Alcorn) Glover, the former of whom was likewise born in Rosemount, Sept. 2, 1840, while the lat- ter was born in Smithland, Livingston county, Ky., May 2, 1840. Gen. John Glover, great-great-great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was an officer with the Massachusetts troops during the War of the Revolution, and he is mentioned with words of high commendation in various historical publications, in- cluding those relative to the life and times of General Washington. General McElwaine, maternal great-great-great-grandfather, served in Sumter's command in the great struggle of the colonies for in- dependence. The maternal great-grandfather, Capt. James Alcorn, served under General Jackson, at New Orleans, in the War of 1812.
276
MISSISSIPPI
Walton N. Glover maintained the military prestige of the family through faithful and gallant service in the Confederate ranks during the Civil war, having been with his command from the first battle of Manassas to that of Appomattox Court House, the greater part of the time in the corps commanded by "Stonewall" Jackson, and having thus served during the entire course of the war. Hon. James L. Alcorn, grandfather of James A. Glover, was governor of Mississippi from 1869 to 1870, inclusive, and was a representative of the State in the United States senate from 1871 to 1877. He was a member of the secession convention, in 1861, and also of the con- stitutional conventions of 1869 and 1890, and was elected to the United States senate in 1865, but was refused his seat in that body, as were all other Southern representatives. He was one of the State's most distinguished citizens and the record of his life and services is properly given on other pages of this work. James A. Glover passed his boyhood days in Alabama and later removed with his parents to Mississippi. He was afforded exceptional educational advantages, having been a student in the University of Alabama and having thereafter attended the University of Mississippi, while he was in the law department of the latter institution. He has been engaged in the practice of his profession in Clarksdale, and has gained precedence as one of the leading members of his profession in this part of the State, being exceptionally strong as a trial lawyer. Either on the political stump or before a jury he is accredited of being one of the most forceful and cogent debaters in the State. His keen sense of humor, his ready wit, his keen appreciation of the springs of human thought and action, and his facility in using pertinent and timely anecdote, all conspire to make him one of the most formidable of adversaries on the hustings or in the courts. He is one of the leaders in the councils of the Mississippi Democ- racy, and his total period of service in the State legislature covers a period of fourteen years, within which he was a member of both house and senate, while he was mayor of Clarksdale in 1892. He is affiliated with the Sigma Chi college fraternity, with the Masonic order and with the Knights of Pythias, and both he and his wife are communicants of the Protestant Episcopal church. At the time of the Spanish-American war, Mr. Glover enlisted as a member of Company M, Second Mississippi volunteer infantry, his enlistment taking place May 4, while he was mustered out, as captain of his company, Dec. 20 following, at Columbia, Tenn., the command not having been called into actual service. On Nov. 27, 1891, Mr. Glover was united in marriage to Miss Shallie Yerger Plummer, daughter of P. B. and Shallie (Yerger) Plummer, of Somerville, Tenn. They have no children. Mr. and Mrs. Glover are well known in the leading social circles of the State, and their attractive home is a center of gracious hospitality.
-
277
BIOGRAPHICAL
Goldstein, Nathan, one of the prom- inent and influential business men of Greenville, Washington county, where he has made his home for more than thirty years, honorably identified with the civic and industrial interests of the community, was born in Germany, Dec. 26, 1849, being a son of Ezekiel and Jennie Gold- stein, who removed to England when he was but eight years of age, where the father died about one year later. Nathan thus received his early education in his native land and in England. When he was nine years of age he came to America, locating in New Orleans, where he com- pleted his education and eventually engaged in business for him- self. In 1869 he came to Greenville and four years later he there entered into partnership with Morris Weiss, under the firm name of Weiss & Goldstein, and they built up one of the most extensive general merchandise enterprises in that section of the State, doing both a wholesale and retail trade and having a very large business in the handling of plantation supplies. Mr. Goldstein individually carried on the business for a number of years after the death of his honored partner, finally retiring from active association with the enterprise in 1893, since which time he has given his attention to the management of his large and varied capitalistic interests and to the buying and shipping of cotton, being now a member of the firm of Abe Blum, one of the leading cotton factors in the Yazoo delta. One who has known him long and well has thus spoken of Mr. Goldstein: "Since his arrival in Greenville he has been most active in town development, and if he can prevent it no worthy move- ment is allowed to fail from want of support. He has been a pro- moter and officer in nearly all the commercial enterprises of Green- ville. He has been at various times president of the Cotton Ex- change, and is now one of the board of directors. He is a moving spirit in all commercial and industrial enterprises of the town, and most of them owe much to his encouragement and activity. He is a gentleman of experience, judgment and energy, is thoroughly known all over the State, and is everywhere popular." Mr. Gold- stein is a stanch advocate of Democratic principles and policies, and has been called upon to serve in offices of public trust, having been president of the board of supervisors of the county for fifteen years and a member of the city council four years, while he has also been cotton-tax collector and treasurer of the Levee board. He has been a member of the Greenville school board and for the past six years president of the board. He effected the organization of the local Hebrew congregation, of which he has been president for the past fifteen years, while he was one of the prime movers in the organization of the Hebrew benevolent society, to whose support he has ever been a liberal contributor. He is past president of the
278
MISSISSIPPI
lodge of the Independent Order of B'nai B'rith, and is president of the home lodge of the same at the time of this writing. Mr. Gold- stein has the distinction of being identified with every fraternal organization represented in the city of his home, and is a charter member of most of the lodges, while in the same he has held many official positions. He is a thirty-second degree Mason, a noble of the Mystic Shrine, and is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Honor, and other social orders. In 1876 Mr. Goldstein was united in marriage to Miss Emeline Weiss, daughter of his honored partner, the late Morris Weiss, and of the three children of that union, Edna is the wife of Rabbi Abram Brill, of Greenville; Camille is the wife of Felix Moyse, of Summit, Pike county ; and Montrose is associated with his father in his business operations.
Goss, Zeno S., M. D., commander U. C. V. Camp Hamilton Mason, Colum- bia, No. 1355, and one of the honored citizens and influential business men of Columbia, Marion county, and the only survivor in the male line, in the South, of his immediate family, was actively en- gaged in the practice of his profession for thirty-five years, and has held high pres- tige as a physician and surgeon, though now practically retired from practice. The doctor was born in Scott county, Miss., Aug. 31, 1842, and is a son of Rev. Alanson and Nancy (Parker) Goss, the former of whom was born in Vermont and the latter in Mississippi. The father was a clergyman of the Baptist church and labored long and faithfully in his noble calling, both he and his wife passing the closing years of their lives in Mis- sissippi. After completing the curriculum of the common schools Dr. Goss had scarcely more than initiated his independent career than his loyalty prompted him to tender his services in the defense of the Confederate States at the opening of the Civil war. On May 18, 1861, he enlisted as a member of the Enterprise Guards, of Clarke county, Miss. This company, which was commanded by Capt. Stewart Ware, was attached to the Fourteenth Mississippi infantry, General Baldwin's brigade in General Johnston's com- mand. Dr. Goss participated in the battle of Fort Donelson, where he was captured, being taken thence to Camp Douglas, in the city of Chicago, where he was imprisoned for ten months, at the ex- piration of which he was exchanged. After his capture he was first taken to St. Louis, where he was left by his command to be placed in the hospital, being in such a condition that the physician refused to prescribe for him, saying, "He will be dead before morning." It was in the hospital that he met Mrs. Chas. Choteau, a woman of wealth and a member of one of the distinguished old families of
279
BIOGRAPHICAL
that section, and she manifested much interest in him, sending him clothes, money and books during his incarceration in Chicago and securing him the best of treatment by personal solicitation to the Federal authorities. After his exchange, Dr. Goss rejoined his com- mand and was hurried forward to participate in the memorable en- gagement at Shiloh, but did not reach there in time to take part in that engagement. He took part in the battles of Harrisburg and Jackson, after which lie was absent for a time on invalid leave. Upon again appearing for service he was assigned to De Montague's regiment of cavalry, which thereafter operated in Mississippi and Louisiana until the close of the war, when the regiment disbanded and the doctor received his final discharge. In 1865 he turned his attention to farming and teaching school, and in the meanwhile began reading medicine, finally entering the St. Louis medical col- lege, in which he completed his work of preparation for his chosen profession. In 1868 he engaged in the practice of his profession in Marion county, and here he has ever since maintained his home, while his administrations have given him an abiding place in the affections of many of the families of this section, where he labored so long and faithfully. In 1897 he took up his residence in Columbia, where he continued in practice until the close of the year 1904, when he retired from active professional work so far as possible, though still responding to calls from his old and cherished friends. In 1898 Dr. Goss engaged in the general merchandise business in Columbia, in partnership with his son-in-law, Evan A. Wilks, under the firm name of Goss & Wilks, and they have since continued operations under this title, controlling a representative trade. In 1900 they erected their present substantial business block, 60x120 feet in dimensions, where they find adequate accommodations for the display of their various lines of goods. Dr. Goss is widely known throughout this section and his friends are in number as his acquaintances. He is a representative exponent of the principles of the Democratic party, and for the past six years he has served as a member of the board of aldermen of the city of Columbia, being essentially public-spirited in his attitude at all times. He is identi- fied with the State and county medical societies and both he and his wife are zealous members of the Baptist church. In January, 1870, Dr. Goss married Miss Louisa M. Bourn, daughter of John and Margana (Wheat) Bourn of Hancock county, this State, and they have five children, Etha, Fleeda, Nannie, Forrest and Bernice. Etha, originally Ethzelda, a name given to her obtained from one of the books sent him by Mrs. Choteau while Dr. Goss was im- prisoned, married Evan A. Wilks, son of Abner Wilks, a true Confederate soldier of Lawrence county, Miss. Fleeda, married Robert Denson, son of Capt. J. J. Denson of Silver Creek, Miss., who was also a true Confederate soldier and a member of the leg- islature from Lawrence county, Miss. Nannie married Wm. Bailey of Bowling Green, Ky., a merchant of prominence. Forrest, the only son, graduated from Tulane college, La., and is now practicing medicine at Long Beach, Miss., and Bernice, unmarried, lives at
280
MISSISSIPPI
home with her father. Dr. Goss is widely known for his numerous charities in gifts of money and free attendance upon the sick of his section when they are unable to pay. He has given thousands of prescriptions free of any charge to suffering humanity, not being confined to his county, and is beloved by all, white and black alike.
An incident in Dr. Goss's soldier life was at the battle of Fort Donelson after Fort Pillar was taken and the gunboats came down the river shelling the Confederate position. Grant's men of 75,000 on the west, surrounded the entire garrison while it was also under fire from Grant's batteries, making it too terrible to describe. When Gen. M. S. Buckner, believing it possible that they might cut their way out on the extreme left, following General Forrest's cavalry, and realizing the danger was too great to command men, he asked if the Fourteenth Mississippi would volunteer to charge the Federal battery, necessary to be taken before they could retreat. The Fourteenth Mississippi, Dr. Goss's regiment, readily volunteered. After the Fourteenth made the charge, they spiked one piece but were repulsed, and as well as can be remembered by Dr. Goss, was reinforced by the Second Kentucky. Then they made a second charge and again were repulsed; they were then reinforced by the Tenth Tennessee, all Irish, and made a third charge, capturing the battery but could not hold it. During that charge, the battle was a hand-to-hand fight with bayonets, and the number of slaughtered was very great on the Confederate side when they were forced to retreat. After being driven back to their breastworks, General Buckner told the men they had done all that human bravery could accomplish, and to prevent further slaughter, General Buckner surrendered with his entire command.
Grant, Everard Meade, M. D., is one of the able physicians and surgeons of Hinds county, and is engaged in the prac- tice of his profession at Terry. His, also, is the distinction of being veteran of the Confederate service in the war between the States. The doctor was born in Copiah county, Miss., May 19, 1845, and is the son of Gen. Pryor McNeil and Elizabeth Randolph (Meade) Grant, the former of whom was born in North Caro- lina, and the latter in Virginia. The paternal great-grandfather of the doctor was a native of Scotland and was a soldier under Prince Charles Stuart, with whom he took part in the memorable battle of Culloden and shortly afterward he immigrated to America. The mother of the subject of this sketch was of English ancestry. Dr. Grant secured his pre- liminary education in the common schools of the county and there- after was a student in a military academy near Clarksville, Tenn. From this institution he withdrew in 1861 to tender his aid in de- fense of the cause of the Confederacy. He enlisted as a private in
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.