USA > Mississippi > Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. III > Part 33
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
19-III
290
MISSISSIPPI
Mr. Gunn was transferred to the command of General Forrest, under whom he continued to serve until the close of the war. He received a number of slight wounds in the various battles in which he participated, but met with no serious injury. He rose to the rank of lieutenant and was always found ready to perform every duty devolving upon him, while his fidelity and valor are indicated in the following letter, written by Brig .- Gen. Benjamin G. Humphreys and addressed to Jefferson Davis, the honored president of the Confederacy, under date of July 15, 1864: "Lieutenant Gunn is a gentleman of high standing in Mississippi; is one of the most faith- ful officers of the brigade, having exhibited his zeal, courage and valor on all battlefields in which he has been engaged. I take great pleasure in recommending him to the favorable consideration of any general who needs and desires his services. No better appoint- ment could be made." The following is a copy of a letter written by W. D. Holder, member of Confederate congress, Second district, Mississippi: "Maj .- Gen. N. B. Forrest. Sir :- This will be handed you by my friend Lieut. L. R. Gunn, who has resigned his com- mission in the Seventeenth regiment, Mississippi volunteer infantry with permission to report to you for duty. Lieutenant Gunn is well known to me, having served in the above named regiment (which I had the honor to command until elected to my present position) from June, '61, to the date of his resignation, and knowing him thus well I feel warranted in saying, without being invidious, that as a soldier, in my estimation, he has no superior in the Confederate or any other army. He is bold, prompt and indefatigable-never shrinking from either responsibility or danger however great the one or appalling the other. I do not hesitate to indorse him as a soldier freely, fully and on all the ground and in every essential particular. I only ask, in order to verify my assertions as to Lieu- tenant Gunn, that you try him and thereby test his merits and at the same time confer a favor upon, your obedient servant, W. D. Holder, M. C. Second district, Mississippi. I endorse the above .- J. A. Orr." These are only examples of a number of such com- mendatory letters which were given Mr. Gunn by prominent and influential men of the day. After the close of the war, Mr. Gunn returned to his home in Chickasaw county, where he became asso- ciated with his father in the management of the home place, the two being numbered among the largest planters in that section of the State. Mr. Gunn there continued to reside until the winter of 1874-5, when he removed to Wayne county and located in Buca- tunna, where he engaged in the general mercantile and naval stores business, to which he gave his attention for the ensuing fifteen years, at the expiration of which he closed out his interests in 1888 and accepted the position of land agent for the Mobile & Ohio rail- road, of which he has since remained incumbent, while he has handled a large amount of important business for the company. In 1898 he removed to Waynesboro, where he has since maintained his home and business headquarters. In politics Mr. Gunn is a stanch supporter of the Democracy and in a fraternal way is iden-
291
BIOGRAPHICAL
tified with the United Confederate Veterans. He is a member of the Primitive Baptist church. On Oct. 17, 1865, Mr. Gunn was married to Miss Bettie Brandon, daughter of Logan and Sarah (Haughton) Brandon, the former of whom was born in Tennessee, whence he came to Mississippi about 1847, settling in Monroe county, where he became an extensive planter, being also a repre- sentative member of the bar of the section. His father, Rev. Josiah Brandon, was a clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal church ; Mrs. Gunn's mother was born in North Carolina. Mr. and Mrs. Gunn have nine children, concerning whom the following brief record is given : Radfird Brandon is engaged in the milling business in Mis- sissippi; Mary is the wife of Edgar L. Gaines, of Birmingham, a traveling commercial salesman; Sallie is the wife of Daniel W. Swetman, a conductor on the Mobile & Ohio railroad; Ida May is the wife of Henry Gillespie, a merchant at Chicora, Miss .; Julia is the wife of McDuff Green, of Meridian, Miss. ; William R. was land agent for the Mobile & Ohio railroad, his death occurring April 30, 1905; Bessie is the wife of Edward Wetherbee, of Meridian; Lundiena is the wife of John Wetherbee, of Waynesboro; and Mad- ison is a bookkeeper in the Bank of Waynesboro.
Gambrell, Robert, is one of the prominent planters and honored citizens of Lee county, having a fine plantation near Guntown ; he is a veteran of the Confederate military service, and is an ex- member of the State legislature. He was born at Eutaw, Greene county, Ala., in 1846, being a son of Larkin and Susanna (Douthit) Gambrell, who came to what is now Lee county, Miss., in 1849, locating on a farm near Guntown, where they passed the remainder of their lives. Larkin Gambrell was a man of ability and became an influential citizen of this section of the State, taking an active and intelligent interest in public affairs and contributing materially to the development of his section. He was a son of James Gam- brell, who came from the north of Ireland to America in an early day, taking up his residence at Andersonville, S. C. The maternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch came from Wales and he also located in South Carolina, where he passed the residue of his life, having lived in one house for seventy-five years. Robert Gambrell was three years of age at the time of his parents' re- moval from Alabama to Pontotoc county, Miss., of which Lee county was then a part. He was reared on the home plantation and was afforded the advantages of the local schools. His youthful patriotism and loyalty found patent exemplification when the war between the States was inaugurated and he went valiantly forth as a defender of the Confederate cause when but sixteen years of age. In 1861 he enlisted in Company K, Nineteenth Mississippi infantry, with which he proceeded to the front. He was wounded at the battle of Chancellorsville, May 3, 1864, but he was able to again enter active field duty in the following month, continuing in service until the close of the war and having been a non-commis- sioned officer. He is a valued and. appreciative member of the United Confederate Veterans and through the same maintains vital
292
MISSISSIPPI
interest in his old comrades. Three of his brothers were likewise soldiers of the Confederacy and two sacrificed their lives in the war. Joseph R. was killed in the battle at Williamsburg, May 5, 1862 ; Samuel D. met his death at Atlanta, July 22, 1864; and John C. was wounded at Sharpsburg, the injury resulting in his death in 1870, at Fort Worth, Tex. After the close of the war Mr. Gambrell returned to his present homestead plantation, to whose management he has since given his attention, developing the same into one of the valuable landed estates of Lee county. He has ever been known as a liberal, progressive and public-spirited citizen and has been a zealous worker in the local ranks of the Democratic party. In 1900 he was elected to represent his county in the State legislature, and he made an admirable record, proving faithful to his constituency and giving his support to wise legislation. He has been identified with the Masonic fraternity for thirty-five years, and both he and his wife are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, South. Mr. Gambrell married Miss Mary E. Bryson, daughter of Samuel Bryson, who came from Spartanburg district, S. C., in 1851, and who died in 1904, at the patriarchal age of ninety-four years. Mr. and Mrs. Gambrell have seven children: Samuel J. is a successful farmer of Lee county ; Margaret is the wife of Dr. Charles A. Foote, of Cheneyville, La .; Larkin K. is a member of the firm of Cox & Gambrell, general merchants in Guntown; Willie is the wife of William J. Houston, a merchant in the city of Tupelo; Rye is the wife of William M. Cox, who is associated with her brother Larkin in the mercantile business; Roger is a student in the Guntown schools.
Gant, Harris Allen, one of the distin- guished physicians and surgeons of Mississippi and ex-president of the State board of health, is actively engaged in the practice of his profession in the city of Jackson, as a member of the firm of Hunter & Gant. He was born in Colum- bia, Maury county, Tenn., March 28, 1852, and is the son of John I. Gant and Martha Jane Cocke. In 1854 his parents removed from Tennessee to Mississippi and located in De Soto county, and in 1859, they moved to Oxford, where he was reared to maturity and where he was for three years a student in the State university. Being unable to complete his university course, he moved with his parents to Water Valley, Yalobusha county, in 1870, and turned his at- tention to teaching. He soon formulated definite plans for his future life work, deciding to take up the profession of medicine, and for preliminary instruction took a position in a drug store at Water Valley, Miss., where he was prescription clerk for two years, in the meanwhile prosecuting his medical studies with earn-
293
BIOGRAPHICAL
estness. In 1874-5 he attended his first course of medical lectures at Vanderbilt university, Nashville, Tenn., and during the follow- ing winter at the University of Pennsylvania, in which institu- tion he was graduated with honors as a member of the class of the Centennial year, 1876, receiving the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Upon returning to Water Valley he opened an office and began the practice of his profession and soon rose to highest rank as a phy- sician and surgeon. In 1878 he rendered devoted service during the great scourge of yellow fever which swept over the South, his labors being arduous and unceasing, and after the abating of the epidemic the citizens of Water Valley presented him with a gold watch in mark of appreciation of his devoting and self-abnegating labors. In 1892 Dr. Gant was elected a member of the State board of health and in 1900 was elected president of the board, in which capacity he served during the four years of Governor Longino's administration. In 1897, as a member of the board, he was sent to investigate an outbreak of yellow fever at Ocean Springs, Miss., being associated in this work with Drs. H. H. Haralson, of Vicksburg, and S. R. Dunn, of Greenville, members of the State board of health, and these three physicians were placed in charge of the epidemic along the Mississippi coast, with head- quarters in Biloxi. On the termination of this outbreak Dr. Gant was presented with a gold-headed cane and was subsequently ap- pointed by Governor McLaurin a member of the commission charged with the duty of visiting the island of Cuba when the fever was prevalent in the island, for the purpose of studying the causes of yellow fever and investigating as to the best means of preventing the danger of infection in the United States. Return- ing to Water Valley, Dr. Gant resumed the active practice of his profession, but later received from the State board of health the appointment of sanitary inspector, the duties of which office caused him to be absent from home during the greater portion of that year, and in the autumn he was placed in charge of an outbreak of yellow fever at Orwood and Taylor, Lafayette county. In 1899 he served in a similar capacity at Mississippi City, on the gulf coast, being associated with Dr. J. J. Harry of Handsboro. Early in 1900 he was offered a partnership in the practice of medicine by Dr. John F. Hunter, of Jackson, secretary of the State board of health, and they have since been associated, holding the highest rank in their profession and controlling a large and representative practice. After having maintained his home in Water Valley for more than thirty years, Dr. Gant removed to the capital city, finding there a broader field of endeavor. From his intimate experience in pre- venting and controlling epidemics of yellow fever Dr. Gant is con- sidered one of the best authorities in this connection to be found in the entire South, and his advice and counsel are much in demand' when dangers from the fever threaten. By his prompt action in diagnosing the disease at Orwood in 1898 and by his immediately- instituting a legal quarantine, he undoubtedly prevented the spread of the disease to adjacent territory, while the adjoining States forth-
294
MISSISSIPPI
with ordered a general quarantine without waiting for further investigation. Dr. Gant has continued to be a close student of his profession and his interest in all advances made in medical and surgical sciences has been insistent and unflagging. He is one of the prominent and valued members of the Mississippi State medical society, as well as of the American medical association. In 1892 he took a post-graduate course in the New York Polyclinic, of New York city. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Knights of Honor and the Mississippi historical society, and has held mem- bership in the Methodist Episcopal church, South, since his boyhood days. In the year 1888 was solemnized the marriage of Dr. Gant to Miss Mary Loy Rainey, of Columbia, Tenn., and she presides with gracious dignity over their attractive home. They have two sons-Albert Minter and Richard Preston, aged respectively thirteen and ten years, in 1907.
Gardner, Frank. To no one individual does the thriving and attractive little city of Laurel, the metropolis of Jones county, owe more for its civic and material upbuilding and advancement than to Mr. Gardner, who is one of its most progressive and influential business men and most popular citizens, his real estate and capital- istic interests being large and important and representing the diametrical results of his own ability and discrimination. He may consistently be entitled one of the founders and builders of the city in which he makes his home and in whose welfare he maintains the liveliest interest. Mr. Gardner was born in Dade county, Ga., Aug. 13, 1855, and is a son of Col. Oliver H. P. and Miranda (Southall) Gardner, the former of whom was born in Georgia and the latter in Vermont. The father was a contractor and builder for a long term of years and at one time owned and operated a manufacturing plant. In 1875 he removed to Texas, where he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits and where he passed the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1880. His widow then returned to Georgia, where she died in 1882. Colonel Gardner was among the first to go forth in defense of the Confederacy after the inception of the war between the States, having served as a member of the cavalry commanded by General Forrest. He re- mained in service until the close of the war, having been much of the time on detached duty as a spy and guide. He was promoted to the rank of captain and had previously served as colonel in the Georgia State militia. The subject of this sketch received his early education in the schools of northern Alabama, whither the family removed in the latter part of the Civil war period. On March 2, 1873, at the age of fifteen years, he left the parental home and went to eastern Texas, where he began work at the carpenter's trade, which he had learned in his father's shop. He worked in various parts of the Lone Star State, where he remained two years, at the expiration of which he went to Arkansas. Two years later he re- turned to Texas, which continued to be his home until 1888, when he went to the northwest, where he passed some time, then return- ing to the South and locating in the city of New Orleans. In 1891
295
BIOGRAPHICAL
he took up his residence in Laurel, Miss., where he entered into contract work in the building of houses for the firm of Eastman, Gardner & Company, later becoming building foreman for this con- cern, having charge of all its work for two years and then trans- ferring to a similar position with the Kingston Lumber Company. While in the employ of this company he established himself also in the retail hardware business in Laurel, and the enterprise ex- panded in scope so rapidly as to finally demand his full attention, so that he resigned his position with the lumber company. Before engaging in the hardware business Mr. Gardner had made judicious investments in local realty, and as his financial resources increased he continued to add to his holdings, and began to improve his properties with buildings. When he came to Laurel it was a village of about 300 inhabitants and it now has a population of fully 10,000. He has shown great circumspection and judgment in his real estate operations and through the same he has accomplished a most admirable service to the city and its people. He is the owner of twelve substantial and modern brick business buildings, all being two stories in height except one. He is the owner of the Laurel hotel, the best in the city, and he is at present the owner of twenty-eight houses, besides having built and sold many others. He is president of the Laurel Compress Company, is a member of the directorate of the First National bank and the Hicks Mercan- tile Company, as well as the Laurel Cotton Mills, being one of the leading stockholders in each of these institutions. He has a fine farm property, thirty acres of which lie within the city limits, and he is making a specialty of raising high grade live stock. His energy and liberality have been infectious and have not only gained to him a fine estate but have also redounded to the benefit of the entire community. His popularity is of the most unequivocal type, both personally and as a business man, and his efforts have been much appreciated by the citizens of Laurel. He is constantly on the alert and every worthy enterprise for the general good or tend- ing to conserve the advancement of local interests is insured of his hearty co-operation and support. Though a strong adherent of the Democratic party, Mr. Gardner is essentially a business man and his active interest in politics is manifested only in his desire and effort to see the best men elected to office. In a fraternal way he is identified with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. On May 1, 1892, he was united in marriage to Miss Pearl Ross. They have no children.
Garratt, T. C., a well known citizen of Greenwood, Leflore county, where he has various industrial and business interests, was born in Sunflower county, Miss., Feb. 24, 1856, and is a son of T. C. and Cornelia (McCray) Garratt. The father was a prosperous planter of Sunflower county, where he died when the subject of this sketch was a child; his widow later married Captain Crippen, who served as a Confederate soldier during the Civil war, while many of his' kinfolk were represented in the ranks of the Union army. T. C. Garratt secured his early educational training in the schools of
. 296
MISSISSIPPI
Carroll county, Miss., where he was reared to maturity. He finally took up his residence in Greenwood, where he was engaged in the general merchandise business for a period of fifteen years, having met with success in his operations and having gained the unqualified confidence and regard of the people of the community. Later he was prominently identified with the drilling of artesian wells while he also became concerned in other enterprises, including that of farming, and he now owns an interest in a ginning mill in Green- wood, while he also has a well improved plantation in the county. He is a stalwart Democrat in his political proclivities and has been an effective worker in the party cause. In 1904 he was elected sheriff of Leflore county, and he is giving a most able administra- tion of the duties of this important office. In 1900 Mr. Garratt was married to Miss Jennie Parks, daughter of A. P. and Mary (Hender- son) Parks, of Claiborne county, Miss., and the four children of this. union are Mary M., Warren O., Cornelia and an infant.
Geiger, Hugh A., one of the well known newspaper men of the State, is editor and publisher of the Simpson County News, which is published at Mendenhall, which was made the county seat in 1902, the governor of the State having conferred upon Mr. Geiger the appointment of mayor of the place at the time when the judicial center of the county was thus changed. Mr. Geiger is a native son of Mississippi and his career, representing a steady rise through his own well directed efforts, has been creditable alike- to himself and to the fair old common- wealth which gave him birth. He was born at Westville, Simpson county, Oct. 31, 1866, and is a son of Lewis and Elizabeth (Bush) Geiger, the former of whom was born in Wayne county, Ga., while the latter was born in Simpson county, Miss., where their marriage was celebrated, the father having come- to this county with his parents when he was a boy. Hugh A. Geiger received a common school education, his opportunities being limited but proving adequate to one of so distinct alertness of mentality,. since he has found the truth of the fact that education is not a matter of schools or colleges, but is a leading out which continues. throughout life, offering ample advantages to him who has the discrimination to grasp them. He was thrown on his own re- sources when young and initiated his association with the printing and newspaper work by securing a position in the office of the Brandon Republican, at Brandon, Rankin county. This was the pioneer newspaper of southern Mississippi and the able editor and publisher at that time was Col. Andrew J. Frantz. Thereafter Mr. Geiger was employed for several years in the office of the Meridian News and the Hattiesburg Democrat, and in January, 1891, he- established the Poplarville Free Press, in the county seat of Pearl
297
BIOGRAPHICAL
River county. In October of the same year he disposed of the plant and business of the Free Press and purchased the Westville News, in Westville, which was then the county seat of Simpson county. There he continued the publication most successfully for more than a decade, and when the county seat was moved to Mendenhall he transferred his plant and business to that place and changed the title of the paper to the Simpson County News. He has since continued the enterprise successfully, making the paper an able and effective exponent of local interests and gaining to it a large circulation through Simpson and adjoining counties. He is a force- ful writer and the News voices his sentiments in matters of political and general import, being a strong advocate of the principles of the Democracy. In 1902, upon the establishing of the county seat in Mendenhall, Mr. Geiger was appointed mayor of the city, by Governor Longino, and he gave a most acceptable administration of municipal affairs during the formative and initiative period. He is incumbent of the office of election commissioner for Simpson county and is a factor in all public affairs in the community. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is identified with the Woodmen of the World. On Dec. 30, 1890, Mr. Geiger was married to Miss Roberta J. Cross, daughter of John and Sarah E. (Shotwell) Cross, of Purvis, Lamar county, and they have two children-Ollie Roberta, born Sept. 11, 1891; and Hugh U., born Dec. 12, .1893.
Gibson, Thaddeus A., M. D., is a rep- resentative member of his profession in Covington county, having his residence and professional headquarters in Will- iamsburg, the attractive official center of the county. The doctor was born in Westville, Simpson county, Miss., Jan. 17, 1852, and is a son of Louis C. and Dolly (Powell) Gibson, the former of whom was born in South Carolina and the latter in Mississippi, while they passed their closing years of life in Mis- sissippi, where the father was one of the honored and influential citizens of his community. Dr. Gibson was afforded ex- cellent educational advantages in a preliminary way and secured a liberal academic training, while in 1877 he was graduated in the medical department of the University of Mississippi, at Oxford, where he amply fitted himself for the responsible duties of his chosen profession. He established himself in practice in Williams- burg in the year 1879, and has thus been engaged in professional work in this community for more than a quarter of a century, while the estimate placed upon his services, his ability and his personal character is best exemplified in the large and representative prac- tice which he controls, his clientele being largely among the lead- ing families of the county, while he has ever stood ready to heed
298
MISSISSIPPI
the call of distress and suffering, from whatever source, so that in the long years of his practice, he has gained the affectionate regard of all classes of citizens. Dr. Gibson is a stanch advocate of the principles of the Democratic party, and while he has never sought office, he served two terms of two years each as superintendent of schools of Covington county, giving a most progressive adminis- tration and doing much to systematize and solidify the work of the public schools in his jurisdiction. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and are active in its work. On Nov. 23, 1882, Dr. Gibson was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Catherine Speed, daughter of Benjamin F. and Lavinia (Pickering) Speed, of Covington county, where she was reared and educated. Dr. and Mrs. Gibson have five children : Maude, Claude, Jewell, Seth Van Wyck and William Van.
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.