Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. III, Part 46

Author: Rowland, Dunbar, 1864-1937, ed
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Atlanta, Southern Historical Publishing Association
Number of Pages: 938

USA > Mississippi > Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. III > Part 46

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).

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in 1900 he admitted to professional partnership Dr. Harris A. Gant, who has proven a most able coadjutor. Dr. Hunter is a valued member of the State board of health, of which he has served as secre- tary and executive officer since 1896, and he is one of the most popu- lar and valued members of the Mississippi State medical association, of which he has been treasurer since 1888; he became a member of this association in 1883, and he holds membership in the Am rican medical association. He is surgeon for the Alabama & Vicksburg railway and the Gulf & Ship Island railway. He is also examining referee and physician for various life insurance companies and ra- ternal insurance organizations. His political allegiance is accorded to the Democratic party and his religious faith is that in which he was reared; he is a prominent member of the church of which his honored father was pastor for so many years. He is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, Knights of Honor and other fraternal and social organizations. To him is accorded unqualified confidence and esteem both as a physician and as a citizen. On Feb. 13, 1883, was solemnized the marriage of Dr. Hunter to Miss Perlie Prestidge, of Memphis, Tenn., a daughter of James S. and Mollie B. Prestidge, both of whom were born in Mississippi.

Hurst, George Gibson, associate principal of the University Train- ing school, at Oxford Miss., is a native of Mississippi, having been born in Newton county, Dec. 1, 1874, a son of Philip Asbury Hurst and Sarah (Gibson) Hurst, the former of whom was born in Clarke county, Miss., and the latter in Greene county, Ala. Professor Hurst secured his preliminary education in the public schools and then entered Harperville Collegiate institute, at Harperville, Scott county, where he prepared himself for matriculation in the Univer- sity of Mississippi, in which he was a member of the class of 1901. He began teaching in the public schools of the State when seventeen years of age and his success in the educational field has been pro- nounced. In 1896 he became assistant principal in the Steens Creek high school, at Florence, and here he succeeded to the principalship upon the resignation of Prof. Henry L. Whitfield, who was appointed State superintendent of public instruction in 1898 and who still remains incumbent of that office. As principal of the school Pro- fessor Hurst was an earnest and indefatigab e executive officer and teacher, and brought the work in all lines up to the highest of stand- ards, the curriculum being thorough and systematic and enabling students to prepare for admission into either the freshman or sopho- more classes of all Southern colleges and universities. Many of the graduates of the school have availed themselves of the higher edu- cational advantages and have gone forward in this way through the inspiration and appreciative enthusiasm gained while in the high school. While he was principal the school building was added to until it became a fine modern structure with excellent equipment, including a select library. Professor Hurst was also editor and pub- lisher of the Steens Creek Times, whose value was fully appreciated in the community. He is a vigorous advocate of the principles of popular education and takes a lively interest in the cause, having

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stumped different sections of the State in the interest of the public schools. At the present time he is a member of the State board of school examiners having been appointed to that responsible position six years ago. He and his wife are zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and he is a member of the Masonic frater- nity, Royal Arch, council and chapter; Knights of Pythias, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, the Woodmen of the World and the Phi Kappa Psi college fraternity. On June 18, 1901, Professor Hurst was united in marriage to Miss Bettie Holmes, daughter of Simeon D. and Emma (Manning) Holmes, of Scott county. They have had three children, Mabel Gibson, born Dec. 7, 1903; Garland Manning, born July 8, 1904, and Elmer Elizabeth, born Aug. 8, 1906, the latter dying Dec. 17, 1906. In September, 1906, Professor Hurst became part owner of the University Training school (for boys) at Oxford, Miss., and of Stanton Female college at Natchez, Miss. He moved to Oxford, where with his partner, Dr. J. M. Wyatt, he is rapidly building up one of the most thorough and well-organized prepara- tory schools in the State.

Hardy, John Crumpton, LL. D. Mis- sissippi has reason to be proud of the extent and character of her educational institutions and next to the university the educational scheme of the State has as a gem in its crown the Mississippi Agricultural and Mechanical college, at Starkville, of which the subject of this sketch is the honored president. Inas- much as a history of the institution ap- pears, under proper heading, in this com- pilation, it is not demanded that a recapit- ulation of the data be given in the pres- ent connection. Dr. Hardy was born in Newton, Newton county, Miss., Dec. 24, 1864, and is a son of John D. and Martha (Crumpton) Hardy, both native of Alabama, the former having been born in Uniontown, Perry county, in 1834, and the latter in Camden, Wilcox county, in 1836. The ancestry in both lines is traced back to fine old Eng- lish stock and the respective families were founded in America in the early colonial epoch. Dr. Hardy was afforded the advantages of historic old Mississippi college, at Clinton, and later took effective post-graduate work in the University of Chicago. He pursued his technical studies in the law departments of Cornell university, Ith- aca, N. Y., and Millsaps college, Jackson, Miss., from which latter he received the degree of Doctor of Laws. In order to defray the expenses of his college work he taught in the country schools, and he has ever maintained a deep and helpful interest in the public school work of his native State. After his graduation in Mississippi college he held for one year the principalship of Carrollton male acad- emy, after which he was principal of the high school in the city of Jackson, a position which he retained for one year, at the expira-

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tion of which he was chosen superintendent of the public schools of the capital city, an incumbency which he retained for nine con- secutive years, within which he gained high prestige in the educa- tional circles of the State. Within his regime as superintendent of the Jackson schools the attendance increased from less than 500 to nearly 2,000, and this was largely due to his energy, determina- tion and effective administration. In April, 1900, Dr. Hardy was elected president of the Mississippi Agricultural and Mechanical college, to succeed ex-Gov. John M. Stone, and his administration has been most admirable, redounding to the advancement of the splendid institution in all departments and all functions. Since he assumed the presidency the student enrollment of the college has been increased from 300 to 950 (in 1907), and the value of the col- lege property has appreciated from $270,000 to $750,000. Dr. Hardy gives himself heart and soul to the upbuilding and proper maintenance of the noble institution of which he is the head, and his course has been such as to fully justify the wisdom of the choice which led to his being called to the presidency. In addition to his duties as president of the largest agricultural and mechanical col- lege in the entire South, Dr. Hardy keeps in close touch with the public-school work in the State, as already stated, and he gives a month to institute work in this field each summer. Governor Lon- gino appointed him a member of the State capitol commission, which had charge of the erection of the magnificent new capitol building, provided for by the legislature of 1900, but he resigned soon after- ward to accept his present office as president of the college. In 1895 he was a candidate for State superintendent of education, being defeated in the convention by only a few votes. The doctor is a stanch Democrat in his political allegiance and he and his wife are zealous members of the Baptist church. He is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, Knights of Pythias, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Kappa Alpha college fraternity. He holds membership in the Mississippi State teachers' association, the Na- tional Educational association, and the American Association of Agricultural Colleges and Experiment Stations. On July 11, 1900, was solemnized the marriage of Dr. Hardy to Miss Kate C. Whitfield, youngest daughter of Hon. Albert H. Whitfield, chief justice of the supreme court of Mississippi, and the two children of this union are: Dodie Buffalo, born Sept. 4, 1903, and Martha Crumpton, born Oct. 23,1905.

Hyde, Milton W., is the owner of a finely equipped drug store in Ellisville, Jones county, and controls a large and representative trade throughout the territory normally tributary to the town. He is a native of Clarke county, Miss., where he was born April 10, 1866, and is a son of James J. and Mary M. (Warren) Hyde, the former of whom was born in Paulding and the latter in Columbus, this State, The father served as a member of a Mississippi regiment during the Civil war and endured the hardships and manifold vicissitudes of those who struggled so nobly in defense of the cause of the Confed- federacy. Milton W. Hyde duly availed himself of the advantages

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of the public schools, after which he completed a course of study in a business college in Meridian, Miss. In that city he then secured a position in a leading drug establishment, and in due time he became an expert pharmacist, having been a close and appreciative student and having gained also most practical experience. In 1901 he came to Ellisville and established his present business, opening a drug store of metropolitan appointments and equipments, the same being the most attractive in the town, and here he has built up a very satis- factory business, which shows a gratifying increase each successive year. He has compounded and placed on the market a special or proprietary remedy, which is meeting with a large demand wherever introduced, being specially potent in the treatment of colds, coughs, lagrippe, croup, etc. Mr. Hyde is a stanch Democrat in his political proclivities, and in local affairs he takes a deep interest, ever standing ready to lend his support to all measures advanced for the general welfare of the community. On Jan. 5, 1901, Mr. Hyde was united in marriage to Mrs. Mary Tillman, daughter of Joseph Kelly, a well known citizen of Conehatta, Newton county, Miss.

Ivy, T. G., M. D., of West Point, Clay county, is a successful and popular member of his profession and a member of one of the honored families of that section of the State. He was born near Houston, on Pontotoc Ridge, Chickasaw county, Miss., on Feb. 20, 1849, and is a son of S. G. and Isabella (Gates) Ivy, native respectively of Alabama and South Carolina, and for many years resident of Chickasaw county, Miss. At one time the father was a planter by vocation, while he served as a Confederate soldier during the Civil war. He is still living, and makes his home with his son, Dr. Ivy, at West Point. The mother died in 1853 in Clay county. Laying the proper foundation for his education by due attendance in the common schools, Dr. Ivy then entered the University of Virginia, where he remained as a student for one year. He was thereafter matriculated in the Louisville medical college, at Louisville, Ky., where he was graduated as a member of the class of 1871, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, while later he took a post-graduate course in the medical department of Tulane university, in New Orleans. In 1872 he en- tered upon the active practice of his profession in Palo Alto, where he remained until 1889, when he removed to West Point, which has since continued to be the headquarters of his very successful labors as a skilled physician and surgeon. Dr. Ivy is identified with the medical association of Clay and Oktibbeha counties, with the State medical association, with the American medical association, and with the American association of railway surgeons, the last mentioned affilia- tion being based on his retention in the office of local surgeon for the Illinois Central, the Mobile & Ohio, and the Southern railroads. He is

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a Democrat in his political adherency and is affiliated with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. In April, 1874, Dr. Ivy was married to Miss Catherine D. Price, daughter of Richard and Sarah (Moore) Price of Louisiana, and the children of this union are: Gates T., a representa- tive young attorney of West Point; Dr. F. Price Ivy, engaged in the practice of medicine at Muldon, Monroe county; and W. S., who is attending school. Mrs. Ivy died on March 15, 1899, mourned by a wide circle of devoted friends. On Dec. 27, 1904, Dr. Ivy wedded Miss Celestia Strong, daughter of Dr. Elisha and Rebecca (Harris) Strong, of Clay county.

Jackson, George C., postmaster at Bel- zoni, was born on a plantation near Pon- totoc, Miss., Oct. 23, 1867. He is a son of James H. and Margaret (Thomason) Jackson, the former a native of Georgia and the latter of Mississippi. James H. Jackson served in the Confederate army during the Civil war and the rest of his life was a planter. He died near Pontotoc on Aug. 27, 1901, aged sixty-six years and five months. He and his wife were both members of the Baptist church. George C. Jackson was educated in the public schools of his native county and at Sher- man college, Sherman, Miss. In 1898 he came to Belzoni, where he was first employed as bookkeeper and clerk. In July, 1902, he was first appointed postmaster at Belzoni, and in January, 1906, was re-appointed, the office in the meantime having attained the rank of a third class office. In politics he is a Democrat. His appointment as postmaster was not, therefore, a reward for political services to his party, but was made because of his fitness for the position. He is a member of the Baptist church. On July 7, 1897, he was united in marriage to Miss Bessie, daughter of Louis and Sarah (Mason) Lancaster, of Livingston, Ala. This union has been blessed with three children, James Louis, Ethel M. and Myra Louise. The mother of G. C. Jackson died Sept. 26, 1904. She was born Dec. 18, 1843.

Jackson, John R., M. D., is located in Hattiesburg, Perry county, and is one of the well known and especially skilled physicians of the State, his services as a surgeon and in connection with his specialty -- the treatment of the diseases of the eye and ear-being demanded far outside the confines of his residence county, while he is frequently called in consultation in cases of important order. The doctor is a native of the State of Alabama, having been born in Choctaw county, Aug. 5, 1858, and being a son of John R. and Annie (Blakney) Jackson, the former of whom was born in North Carolina, and the latter in Sumter county, Ala. The father was one of the valiant and loyal defenders of the cause of the Confederacy during the cli- macteric epoch of the Civil war. Dr. Jackson was a child at the time of his parents' removal to Mississippi, in whose public schools

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he secured his more rudimentary educational training. He began his preparation for the medical profession by entering the medical department of the University of Tennessee, after which he was ma- triculated in the medical department of the University of Alabama, in Mobile, where he was graduated as a member of the class of 1890. In 1900 Dr. Jackson took a special course in orificial surgery in the New Orleans Polyclinic, and in 1903, he took special post-graduate work in the New York Polyclinic and also the New York Eye and Ear infirmary. He began the active work of his profession in Choc- taw county, Ala., and later was engaged in practice in Clarke county, Miss., whence he removed to Laurel, Jones county, in 1892. There he followed the work of his profession most successfully until 1900, when he took up his residence in Hattiesburg, which has since been the headquarters of his very extensive and important practice. He is a member of the American medical association, and also of the medical societies of his State and county. The Democratic party has his unreserved support, but the demands of his profes- sion are so exigeant and so pronounced his disinclination to enter official service that he has never permitted his name to be used in connection with public office of a political significance. On Jan. 21, 1881, Dr. Jackson was united in marriage to Miss Willery Gunn, daughter of H. S. and Margaret D. (Griffin) Gunn, of Clarke county, Miss. They have no children.

Jackson, James S., M. D., a well known and successful physician of Belzoni, was born on Oct. 16, 1864, near Tupelo, Miss., and was reared on a plantation five miles north of the town of Pontotoc. His father, James H. Jackson, was a native of Georgia and was a planter all his life. except the time he served in the Confed- erate army during the war. He held the rank of lieutenant in the Second Mis- sissippi, and most of his service was in the Army of Northern Virignia under Gen. Robert E. Lee. He died near Pontotoc in 1901. The mother, whose maiden name was Margaret E. Thomason, was a native of Mississippi. Both parents were members of the Baptist church. After attending the common schools James S. Jackson entered the Memphis Hospital medical college, and received the degree of M. D. from that institution in 1893. He immediately began practice at Bell Prairie, Miss., but two years later located in Belzoni. As an evidence of his progressive ideas it is worthy of mention that he took a post-graduate course in the New York Polyclinic school of medi- cine in 1903. He has a large practice, which is well deserved, owing to his conscientious treatment of his patients, and his constant ef- forts to keep fully abreast of the profession in the matter of new dis- coveries and methods in the science of medicine. In fraternal circles Dr. Jackson is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Knights

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of Pythias, and in politics he is always loyal to the principles of the Democratic party, though he has never been an aspirant for public office. On Nov. 11, 1897, he married Miss Mamie Eckford, of Bel- zoni. Her father, Henry P. Eckford, was reared near Macon, Miss., and her grandfather, James Eckford, was the first banker in Colum- bus. Her mother was a Miss Ella Bland, of Port Gibson, Miss. Dr. Jackson and his wife are both members of the Baptist church.

Jayne, Joseph McAfee, a prominent member of the bar of Mississippi and a member of one of the old and honored families of this commonwealth, is engaged in the practice of his profession in Green- ville, Washington county. He was born in Brandon, Rankin county, Miss., Nov. 10, 1851, being a son of Joseph McAffee Jayne, Sr., and Melissa (McRee) Jayne, the former of whom was born in Coving- ton county, Miss., and the latter in the State of South Carolina. Grandfathers of the subject of this review, in both the paternal and maternal lines, were patriot soldiers in the War of the Revolution. Mr. Jayne was afforded excellent educational advantages, having been a student in the Virginia military institute, at Lexington, Va., and having been graduated in the law department of famous old Washington and Lee university since which time he has been engaged in active practice, having risen to prominence in his profession and in public affairs. He is a stanch and effective advocate of the prin- ciples of the Democratic party, in whose faith he was reared, and he has been active in the work of the same. In 1875 he was elected to represent Rankin county in the State legislature, and after his removal to Washington county he was elected to the State senate, serving two terms. He has served in the responsible capacity of president of the Mississippi levee commission, serving two terms, of four years each and doing a most creditable and progressive work in his administrative office. In a fraternal way he is identified with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Sigma Chi college fraternity. On Oct. 24, 1877, Mr. Jayne was united in mar- riage to Miss Lela Lowry, daughter of ex-Gov. Robert Lowry, of Mississippi, and they have four children, Joseph McAffee, Jr., Ella Lowry, Robert Lowry and William Bibb.

Johnson, Eugene Joseph, M. D., is one of the able and successful representatives of the medical profession in Yazoo City, where he has an excellent practice as a physician and surgeon. Dr. Johnson was born in Tchula, Holmes county, Miss., July 13, 1875, and is a son of Joseph Eugene and Pallie (Bradley) Johnson, the former of whom was likewise born in Tchula and the latter of whom was born in Clinton, Hinds county. The father was a loyal soldier of the Confederacy during the Civil war, having served in the Thirty-second Mississippi infantry. Dr. Johnson's earlier educational training was

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gained in the public schools of Holmes and Yazoo counties, and in preparing for the work of his chosen profession he entered the Mem- phis Hospital medical college, in Memphis, Tenn., where he com- pleted the prescribed course and was graduated, as a member of the class of 1897, duly receiving his degree of Doctor of Medicine. Hold- ing as demanded only the most extended knowledge of his profes- sion possible to attain, he later took effective post-graduate work in the celebrated Rush medical college, in the city of Chicago, and also in the medical school at Rochester, Minn. After his graduation Dr. Johnson located in Evans, Yazoo county, where he remained six months, at the expiration of which he removed to Eden, same county, where he was engaged in the practice of his profession four years, since which time he has followed his professional work in Ya- zoo City, where his ability has gained him distinctive prestige and where he has attained to marked personal popularity. He is sur- geon in chief of the Yazoo sanitarium, is examiner for several insur- ance companies and is local surgeon for the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley railroad, having also rendered effective service as health officer of the county. He is a member of the American medical association, the Mississippi State medical association and the Ameri- can railway surgeons' association. He is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, Knights of Pythias, and Woodmen of the World, having attained to the Knight Templar degree in the first named order. On April 2, 1897, Dr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Anna Yowell, daughter of Captain Yowell, a prominent citizen of Leflore county, and they have three children, Pallie, Mary J. and Eugenia. Johnston, Harrison, is one of the vener- able and honored citizens of Columbus and has been one of the most generous contributors to the upbuilding of the city and to the advancement of the civic and industrial interests of this section of the State, where his capitalistic interests have been varied and important. Mr. John- ston was born in Frederick county, Va., Jan. 7, 1815, and is a son of Atwell and Rhoda (Fry) Johnston, both of whom were likewise native of the Old Dominion State, where the former was born Jan. 8, 1788, and the latter Sept. 4, 1788. The paternal grandfather, Launcelot Johnston, was born in Fairfax county, Va., in 1756, and was a loyal soldier in the Continental line during the War of the Revolution; he also served under Gen. William Henry Harrison in the War of 1812. The orig- inal American progenitor of the Johnston family came from the north of Ireland and became a prominent and influential citizen of Vir- ginia. Atwell Johnston passed his entire life in Virginia, where he died Jan. 2, 1825; his wife passed away Sept. 10, 1818. Harrison Johnston received limited educational advantages in his youth, but through personal application and experience he has effectually

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rounded out his education and is a man of culture and broad infor- mation. As a youth he served an apprenticeship at the tailor's trade and in 1834 he left Virginia and went to Philadelphia and New York city, and later being employed at his trade in Savannah and Augusta, Ga. In December, 1835, in Augusta, he enlisted for service in the Seminole Indian war, becoming a member of the Rich- mond Huzzars, with which he served about six months, and with which he took part in many skirmishes. He is now the only known survivor of that war and in recognition of his services in the same he receives a pension from the government. On Oct. 23, 1836, Mr. Johnston took up his residence in Columbus, Miss., which was then a small and insignificant village, and here he has since main- tained his home and given liberally of his time, ability and capital to forward the advancement of the city and county. Soon after his arrival he established himself in business as a tailor and dealer in men's furnishing goods, with which line of enterprise he continued to be identified until the time of the Civil war, since which he has lived essentially retired. His attention during the long intervening years has been given to the management of his varied capitalistic and industrial interests. In 1887 he organized the Tombigbee Cotton Mill Company, of Columbus. He became president of the company, which was incorporated with a legitimate capital stock of $140,000. The earnings of the first three years were applied to the amplifica- ation of the business itself and the improvement of the plant; no dividends were declared within this period and the price of the stock was practically doubled. Owing to what he held to be unjust action in the assessment of the property by the State tax commission for ten years prior Mr. Johnston disposed of his stock in the concern in 1901. He had done more than any other man to build up this splendid enterprise, which had great influence in making the city of Columbus the thriving center it is today, and in divers other ways he has contributed materially to the progress of the city. As a young man Mr. Johnston identified himself with the Whig party and he has never wavered in his allegiance to the principles for which it stood sponsor, nor has he identified himself with any other po- litical party. He has never sought or consented to become a candi- date for public office. He is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. On Nov. 1, 1838, Mr. Johnston was united in marriage to Miss Mary Anthony Ikard, and they became the par- ents of nine children, of whom four are living: Charles Atwell is president of the Bank of Columbus; Ann Virginia died in early child- hood; Harrison is deceased; Augusta Louise, who became the wife of Charles Baskwell, died in 1904; Eloise is the widow of James B. Bell, and resides in Columbus; Toba Walter is deceased; Martha died in infancy; Eula, resides in the city of New York with her two sons; and William is deceased, having been an officer in the United States navy. Mr. Johnston has eighteen grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Though he is ninety-two years of age (1906) he is wonderfully vigorous in both a physical and mental way, being as alert and energetic as the average man of half of his age. To

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Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. III, Part 46

Author: Rowland, Dunbar, 1864-1937, ed Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Atlanta, Southern Historical Publishing Association Number of Pages: 938

Author: Rowland, Dunbar, 1864-1937, ed
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Atlanta, Southern Historical Publishing Association
Number of Pages: 938