USA > Mississippi > Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. III > Part 35
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dren ; John E., who married Maylie Wyett and who has one son; Walter P., who married Mary T. Wolfe and who has two chil- dren ; and William W. and Mary S., who remain at the parental home. Mr. Gwin's influence is always on the side of progress and he is esteemed as one of the substantial and worthy citizens of the county which has ever been his home.
Hall, Guion Q., of Meridian, who re- tired from the bench of the Tenth judicial circuit of the State in August, 1904, is one of the distinguished jurists and legists of the State and has here been engaged in the work of his profession for the past thirty years. He has retained in his clientage some of the most important corporate and individual interests of the State and is a lawyer of fine ability, a citizen of loyalty and public spirit and a man who commands respect because he deserves it. From a previously published sketch the following interesting data are secured: "Judge Hall is a descendant of a distinguished Ten- nessee family. His grandfather, John Hall, of Lebanon, founded the law department of Cumberland University and was for many years the head of this department, was a lawyer of great learning, in whose office and under whose guidance the distinguished Mississippi jurist, William L. Sharkey, read law and laid the foundation for the emi- nence subsequently attained by him as a lawyer and jurist. Gen. William Hall, great-uncle of the judge, was prominent in the legis- lative and political affairs of Tennessee and was elevated to the gubernatorial chair. The father of Judge Hall removed to Mississippi in the thirties and founded the town of Hopahka, in Leake county, which was the favorite rendezvous of such celebrities as Guion, Pren- tiss, Hicks, Forester and others. He was associated with Colonel Fores- ter in removing the Choctaws to the Indian Territory." Guion Q. Hall was born in Leake county, Miss., Jan. 23, 1851, and is a son of Maj. William M. Hall and Sarah Hall. At the age of thirteen years he was entrusted with the care of the home plantation, while his father and elder brother went forth to do yeoman service as soldiers in the Con- federate ranks, the former having been captain of Company C, Sixth Mississippi infantry, while the latter became captain in a cavalry company. In 1869 Judge Hall entered the freshman class of New Middleton college, at New Middleton, Tenn., where he completed the: prescribed four years' course in thirty-six months, being graduated as valedictorian of his class. After his return home he devoted his. attention to farming and teaching, while he gave every leisure moment. to the study of the law, being admitted to the bar in 1875. He located in Carthage, Leake county, where he became very successful in the work of his profession, while for seven years he served consecu- tively as superintendent of public education in his county, having been appointed to the office in 1876. With one exception he was. chairman of every convention and of every executive committee of
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the Democracy of Leake county from 1875 until his removal to Merid- ian, in October, 1884. He came to this city at the solicitation of Hon. Joel P. Walker, and they were associated in a large and repre- sentative professional business until 1898, when Judge Hall retired from the firm in order to offer proper advantages in his office for his son, William M., who was then preparing to come to the bar. In August, 1900, he was elevated to the bench of the Tenth circuit, being appointed by Governor Longino, and he made an admirable record and gained the best professional and popular endorsement in the judicial office, from which he retired in 1904, since which time he has again been engaged in the general practice of his profession. For a number of years he was a member of the board of trustees of the Meridian public schools, and his attitude is essentially public-spirited at all times. He is vice-president of the Meridian National bank, own- er of the popular health resort known as Arundel Lithia Springs, near Meridian, and has other important capitalistic and real estate inter- ests. In October, 1875, Judge Hall was united in marriage to Miss Kate Montgomery, of Madison county, a member of one of the old and distinguished families of Mississippi, and the following is a brief record concerning their children : The older son, William M., is a partner of his father; the other, E. B., though prepared for the bar, is now with the New Orleans & North Eastern railroad. The only sister of Judge Hall, Alice, married Joseph A. Campbell, the son of ex-Governor Campbell and now owner of Old Camp Bell, the governor's old home.
Hafter, Charles, has been identified with the business interests of the city of Greenville for nearly a score of years, starting in a modest way and now being at the head of one of the largest retail dry goods establishments in the opulent Yazoo river delta district. He has pursued a straighforward course in all his business transactions and is one of the popular and representative citizens of Greenville. Mr. Hafter was born in the city of Mobile, Ala., on July 19, 1864, and is a son of Jacob and Hanna Hafter, both of whom were born and reared in Germany, the former being the son of Professor Hafter, who was a member of the faculty of one of the leading colleges in Germany. Jacob Hafter located in Mobile about the year 1858, remaining there until 1868, when he removed to Livingston, that state, whence he came to Meridian, Miss., in 1879, passing the remainder of his life in that city, where his wife also died. Charles Hafter secured his early educational training in Pine Ridge academy at Livingston, Ala., and after coming to Mississippi with his parents he continued his studies. In 1879 he became a salesman in the general store of his brother-in-law, S. Kips, at Meridian, retaining that position until 1886, when he came to Greenville and initiated his independent busi- ness career. He began operation on a very modest scale, but his good management and correct methods soon gained to him a liberal sup- porting patronage, and he has, as before initimated, built up one of the most extensive and prosperous mercantile concerns of that section of the state, while he is held in uniform confidence and esteem in the community. He is a stanch advocate of the principles of the Demo- cratic party, and is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, the Benevo-
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lent and Protective Order of Elks and the Independent Order of B'nai B'rith, while he and his family are members of the Hebrew con- gregation of their home city, contributing liberally to its support. He is a stockholder in the Citizens' bank, while he is in all things loyal to the city in which he has been so successful. On April 26, 1893, Mr. Hafter was united in marriage to Miss Juliet Hilbron, daughter of Sigmond and Pauline Hilbron, of Fayette, Miss., and the three children of that union are Jerome, Charles, Jr., and Herbert.
Hall, James Lafayette, figures as one of the representative business men of Gulfport, which city has attracted so many investors and attained so noteworthy a growth and development within the past few years, its attractions as a resort being unexcelled by those of any point along the entire gulf shore, while the business status of the city is high and firm. Mr. Hall was born in Simpson county, this state, Sept. 22, 1866, and in the same county were born and reared his parents, Roland W. and Mary (Spell) Hall. . The public schools of Simpson county afforded Mr. Hall the advantages which enabled him to lay the foundation for a good practical education, and the training there received was effectively supplemented by a course in Missis- sippi college, at Clinton, and Soule college, in New Orleans, in which latter he was graduated as a member of the class of 1897. After leaving school he held positions as bookkeeper and salesman in mer- cantile establishments, and finally established himself in the general merchandise business at Silver Creek, Lawrence county, where he continued operations until 1901, when he disposed of his interests there and removed to Gulfport, where he has since been successfully engaged. He is now engaged in merchandising and his stock includes three complete departments, viz .: office fixtures, stationary and musical instruments, occupying three excellently furnished rooms in the Hardy building. He is energetic, careful and reliable in his business methods, shows marked discrimination in his operations and has thus built up an excellent business, which is constantly increasing in scope and importance. He is a Democrat in his political ad- herency, is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and both he and his wife hold membership in the Baptist church. Aug. 12, 1897, stands as the date of Mr. Hall's marriage to Miss Emma O. Douglass, who was born in Lincoln, county, Miss., being a daughter of Rev. Elijah P. and Eliza (Davis) Douglass, who are now resident of Wesson, Copiah county, Miss., her father being a clergyman of the Baptist church. Mr. and Mrs. Hall have three children-Douglass, Burmah and Garland.
Hall, Robert P., one of the most popular passenger conductors of the Alabama & Vicksburg railroad, with his home in Meridian, was born at Eutaw, Greene county, Ala., Nov. 19, 1869. He is a son of the late Hon. Winter P. and Mattie (Davis) Hall, the former a native of Eutaw, Miss., and the latter of the State of Missouri. The father was a prominent planter and at the time of his death was the incumbent of the office of sheriff of Greene county. He served throughout the Civil war as a member of the Confederate army; he entered as a private
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and when discharged had risen to the rank of lieutenant. Robert P. Hall received all his educational advantages in the Eutaw public schools. All his life he has been engaged in railroading, first with the Missouri Pacific road in Texas as a freight brakeman. He remained there about a year and then returned to Eutaw and was employed by the Alabama Great Southern line in the same capacity for another year. In 1887 he came to Meridian, and entered the employ of what is now the Alabama & Vicksburg as a brakeman. After a few months he was promoted to the position of freight and work train conductor. As such he served until 1897, when he attained his present position of passenger conductor. In politics Mr. Hall is a Democrat, but has never held nor sought office. Fraternally he is a Shriner of the Free and Accepted Masons, a member of the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks and of the Brotherhood of Railway Conductors. On Sept. 20, 1892, Mr. Hall was united in marriage to Miss Sallie. E. McCain, daughter of the late J. J. and Sallie E. (Walker) McCain, of Lawrence. The father was born in South Carolina and the mother in Alabama. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Hall are three in number- Robert P., Jr., Lillian and Mattie Elizabeth.
Hamilton, John M. T., of Meridian, is known as one of the leading civil engineers of Mississippi and no member of his pro- fession in the State has been identified with more important work in the line of his vocation. Mr. Hamilton was born in Hinds county, Miss., April 23, 1853, and is a son of Dr. Oscar and Sigismonda M. (Taylor) Hamilton, the former of whom was born in Kentucky and the latter in Alabama, while both families were founded in America in the colonial era of our national history. Dr. Hamilton came from Kentucky to Mississippi about the year 1845 and located in Hinds county, whence he removed to Rankin county, in 1854, while he passed the closing years of his life in Nashville, Tenn., where he died in 1861. He was an able physician and surgeon and was one of the prominent members of his profession in Mississippi during the years of his resi- dence here. His wife died in 1881, and of their three children the subject and his half-brother, Rev. H. M. Ellis, are the only ones living. John M. T. Hamilton completed his technical education in the famous old University of Nashville, Tenn., which dates its foundation back to the year 1785, and here he was graduated, with the degree of Civil Engineer, as a member of the class of 1873, at which time Gen. E. Kirby Smith and Bushrod Johnson were prominent members of the faculty of the university, as president and chancellor. Within a few weeks after his graduation Mr. Hamilton established his home and professional headquarters in Meridian, where he has ever since resided, while through his able and well directed efforts he has risen to marked distinction in his profession, the demands placed upon him being
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greater at times than he can meet. He superintended the laying out and construction of the water-works and sewerage systems of Merid- ian, and in 1905 was employed by the Meridian Terminal Association to survey the yard and locate the buildings of the new union railway station in this city, while in connection with railroad work in the line of his profession he has been identified with operations from Alabama to Texas. Mr. Hamilton made the orginal plan of Gulfport, Miss., and surveyed the town and harbor; the first stake having been driven by him on Aug. 27, 1887. For many years he served as county sur- veyor of Lauderdale county, and he has always been loyal to the city of his home and worked for its best interests in all lines of civic and material advancement. Though a stalwart Democrat in his political adherency, Mr. Hamilton has never been active in party work, his profession demanding his undivided time and attention. He is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, of which he was representative to the grand lodge of the state, and with the Woodmen of the World, while he is also a member of several fraternal insurance orders. On Jan. 27, 1876, Mr. Hamilton was united in marriage to Miss Sallie E. Collins, daughter of Rev. Jeptha S. Collins, a clergyman of the M. E. church, South, and at that time a resident of Rankin county, Miss. Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton have nine children, concerning whom brief record is here entered: Sallie is the wife of David E. Dunlap, cashier of the Bank of Melville, Melville, La., Oscar E. is in business in Mel- ville, La., John T. is a member of the class of 1909 in the A. and M. college; and the younger children are: Leila, Anne S., Albert S., Joseph D., James M. and Mary Gayle.
Hamilton, Jones Stewart, late adjutant- general of Mississippi, ex-lieutenant-colonel of cavalry in the Confederate service, and formerly a member of the senate of the State of Mississippi, was born in Wilkinson county, this State, and is a son of Col. William S. and Eliza C. (Stewart) Hamil- ton. The former was a lieutenant-colonel of the United States army and while in active service he descended with his com- mand down the Mississippi river from Fort Rock Island, Ill., in a flat boat and took part in the battle of New Orleans, at the time of the War of 1812. While returning North by an overland route he and his troops made encampment near the line between Louisiana and Mississippi, for the purpose of securing needed rest, and here he formed the acquaintance of Miss Eliza Stewart, daughter of Col. Duncan Stewart, at one time lieutenant-governor of Mississippi. After reaching the north with his command he set out as soon as possible for Mississippi, where he married Miss Stewart. He then resigned his office in the army and located in West Feliciana parish, La., where later he took up his residence. in which State both he and his wife con- tinued to reside until their death. Col. Jones Stewart Hamilton was
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afforded excellent educational advantages in his youth, having been graduated from Centenary college, at Jackson, La., as a member of the class of 1854. After leaving school he was for two years assoc- iated with his father in the work and management of the home plan- tation, and he then took up his residence in Woodville, Wilkinson county. In January, 1856, Colonel Hamilton was united in mar- riage to Miss Caroline Stewart, who died in November, 1861, leaving two children, both of whom are still living-William S., who is en- gaged in the mercantile business in Jackson, Miss., while his sister lives on his place in Rankin county, Miss. In 1858 Colonel Hamilton was elected sheriff of Wilkinson county, and was chosen as his own successor two years later. Early in 1861 he resigned the shrievalty in order to go forth in defense of the cause of the Confederacy at the outbreak of the Civil war. He enlisted as a member of the first company that left Wilkinson and went to Virginia and was made first lieutenant of this company, which became Company K, a part of the Sixteenth Mississippi regiment. In 1862 he was appointed adjutant-general of the State of Mississippi and was ordered back to Jackson to report to Gov. John J. Pettus and to take charge of the organizing and mustering in of the companies for the Confederate service. In the autumn of 1863 Colonel Hamilton was elected to the State senate from the district comprising the counties of Wilkinson, Adams and Amite, and in the same autumn, upon the inauguration of Governor Clark, he resigned his office of adjutant-general and re- sumed his place in the Confederate service, being made lieutenant- colonel in the cavalry arm of said service. He was in command of a battalion of cavalry which was later attached to the regiment com- manded by Col. Frank Powers, in which regiment he remained until he was paroled, May 19, 1865. At the close of the war Colonel Hamilton returned to Jackson, and shortly afterward he was again elected a member of the State senate, representing the Hinds county district. He identified himself forthwith with the planting industry, putting forth earnest efforts during the trying period of recon- struction and meeting with fair success during the re-adjustment of the prostrate fortunes of the fair Southland. He was appointed deputy auditor and served the State acceptably for nearly five years. With this line of enterprise he has ever since been concerned, being the owner of an attractive property in Hinds and also in Rankin county, and being one of the well known and highly honored citizens of Jack- son, where he has maintained his home for many years. In 1877 the colonel consummated a second marriage, being united to Miss Fanny Buck, of Jackson, and they have four children-Robert B., Charles B. and Mary, having had the misfortune to lose their oldest boy, Jones S., by an accident in his splendid young manhood. In 1898, at the inception of the Spanish-American war, Colonel Hamilton's military experience and high standing led to the bringing of his services into requisition in behalf of his country, and he was appointed adjutant-general under Governor McLaurin, to take charge of the organization of the regiments sent forth by the State to take part in the war. He rendered most timely and efficient service, and since
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the discharge of the troops he has been engaged in collecting and pay- ing over to the men for the State the amounts due them previous to their being mustered into the United States service. The colonel is a prominent figure in the ranks of the Democracy and has been an active worker in the cause for many years past. He is a member of the Episcopal church, a Knight Templar, Mason, and Knight of Honor.
Haney, J. Rowan, of Hattiesburg, Perry county, has been identified with the lum- bering industry of the South for nearly thirty years and is a man of wide exper- ience and marked business ability, while to him also stands the honor of having rendered most effective service as a soldier of the Confederacy during the dark days of the Civil war, in which his experiences were varied and eventful. Mr. Haney was born in Monroe county, Tenn., Sept, 22, 1846, being a son of John J. and Keziah (Rowan) Haney, the former of whom was born in Polk county, Tenn., and the latter in McMinn county, that state. Josiah Rowan, maternal grandfather of Mr. Haney, was a staff officer of General Jackson at the time of the battle of New Orleans, in the War of 1812, and was afterward placed in charge of Fort Butler. Mr. Haney secured his early educational training in the schools of Rice- ville, Tenn., and was but sixteen years of age when the Civil war was precipitated upon a divided nation. His loyalty to the South was of an insistent order and he showed his youthful ardor in 1862 by enlisting in Col. John A. Rowan's cavalry regiment, the Sixty-second Tennessee, the commander being his maternal uncle. This regiment was in active service under Brigadier-General John C. Vaughan in the Virginia campaign, doing much scouting and skirmishing in eastern Tennessee and in Kentucky and taking part in a number of spirited engagements. At Morristown, Tenn., Mr. Haney was wounded, and Colonel Rowan met his death at Greenville, that state. Only a fortnight earlier Col. John H. Morgan died in the same house. After Lee's surrender but prior to the surrender of the brigade of which Mr. Haney's regiment was a part, the brigade commander, General Vaughan, asked a for volunteers to escort the president of the Confed- eracy and his cabinet southward and to assist in enabling them, if possible, to escape into Mexico. With the exception of one man every member of the brigade volunteered for this most hazardous duty, and they met Jefferson Davis, the honored president, at Dan river, Va., whence they escorted him and members of his cabinet through North and South Carolina. At Washington, Ga., they were met by the Federal corps commanded by General Wilson, and the brigade surrendered, while the president and his cabinet were shortly afterward captured. In the meanwhile the money of the Confederate treasury was divided among the rank and file of the soldiers, and Mr. Haney retains as a
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prized relic a Mexican silver dollar which he secured on that occasion. His brigade surrendered May 8, 1865, and was paroled at Washington, Ga., whence the men started for their homes. At Knoxville, Tenn., Governor Brownlow imprisoned many of the men, including Mr. Haney, but they were released by order of President Johnson and re- turned to their homes under guard of the Second Ohio heavy artillery. It was the privilege of Mr. Haney to have heard President Davis make his farewell address to the army, at Charlotte, N. C., and from the lips of the dethroned president of the Confederacy he first learned of the assassination of President Lincoln. Mr. Davis stated that he greatly deplored the death of Lincoln, as, from his acquaintance with him in congress, he knew him to be a charitable, Christian gentleman and one who would have shown all possible consideration for the now prostrate South. A few months after the close of the war Mr. Haney went to Rome, Ga., in which vicinity he engaged in farm- ing on land belonging to Maj. W. F. Ayer, ex-chief quartermaster of the army of the Tennessee. He remained thus occupied for a period of five years, and for the past three decades has been identified with the lumbering business, in Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi, while he has maintained his home in Hattiesburg since 1898. He is a stalwart advocate of the principles and policies of the Democratic party, is affiliated with the United Confederate Veteran association and also holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. On Feb. 27, 1872, Mr. Haney was united in marriage to Miss Sarah A. Sanders, daughter of Joseph A. and Laura (Whitsel) Sanders, of Charleston, S. C., and they have nine children, namely: Lida Ayer, John Jackson, Dora, Alice, Joseph Sanders, Smiley Johnson, Laura, J. Rowan, Jr., and Corrie.
Hanson, J. Edward, engaged in the drug business at Pass Christian, is one of the representative citizens of this popular resort city of Mississippi and has here maintained his residence since 1889. He was born in the city of New Orleans, La., March 9, 1862, and is a son of Christopher and Ellen (Hanigan) Hanson, the former of whom was born in Norway and the latter in County Waterford, Ireland. Christopher Hanson was reared and educated in the fair land of his nativity and immigrated thence to America prior to the Civil war, locating in the city of New Orleans, where he was engaged as a cotton screwer for many years. He and his wife are now dead, and of their five children three are living at the time of this writing. The public schools of the Crescent City afforded J. Edward Hanson his early educational advantages, and as a youth he began learning the drug business in a thorough way, in the establishment of P. L. Cusachs, a leading druggist in New Orleans, while his training as a pharmacist, was there secured mainly under the direction of R. N. Girling, a skilled chemist employed
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in the same store. After passing a decade in the drug business in his native city Mr. Hanson removed to Biloxi, Miss., as manager of the drug store of Dr. J. J. Lemon, and in 1889 he came to Pass Christian to accept a similar position with D. B. Lemon, whom he succeeded in the ownership of the business in August of the following year. At that time the enterprise was one of modest order and was conducted in a small store of unpretentious equipment. Under the energetic and able control of Mr. Hanson the business has been brought forward to a status as one of the most important of the sort in the city, the patronage being of a representative character, while the appoint- ments of the large and attractive sales and display room are metro- politan in every way. The stock of drugs, chemicals, medicines, etc., is complete in every way, as is also the line of general sundries, while special attention is given to the handling of supplies for fishermen, Mr. Hanson himself being an enthusiastic sportsman in this line and thus taking much satisfaction in supplying the best of facilities to his trade. He is the owner of several fine boats which are utilized for fishing and recreation on the gulf, and he is especially fond of fishing for the gamy tarpon, which are to be found in the waters of the gulf at this point, his record catch in the line having been a fine specimen weighing about one hundred pounds. He is well known and held in high regard as a citizen and business man and takes deep interest and all that makes for the promotion of the progress and material prosper- ity of his home city. He is a communicant of the Catholic church, and his wife of the Lutheran, and he is identified with the Knights of Honor. April 15, 1891, stands as the date of Mr. Hanson's marriage to Mrs. Julia (Miller) Taylor, widow of William Taylor and a daughter of Charles Frederick and Dora (Brown) Miller, of New Orleans, La., where she was reared and educated. Of the children of this union we incorporate the following brief record, the respective dates of birth being given in the connection: J. Edward, Jr., Feb. 28, 1892; Herbert, Sept. 22, 1894; Thelma, July 18, 1895; C. Guy, July 18, 1897; and Ellen and Dora, twins, Sept. 5, 1903.
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