USA > Mississippi > Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. III > Part 5
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Barner, William George, is numbered among the progressive planters of Sunflower county and also conducts a prosperous gen- eral merchandise business in the village of Ruleville. He was born in Brandon, Rankin county, Miss., July 1, 1873, and is a son of James Henry Barner and Hattie (Howell) Barner, both native of Rankin county, where the former was born in 1850 and the latter in 1855. The father has been a planter during his entire business career and he and his wife now reside near Belle Prairie, Yazoo county, this State, where he has valuable landed interests. The subject of this sketch was reared on the home plantation and he was afforded the advantages of the academy at Acona, Holmes county, and also the college at Lexington, the capital of that county. After leaving college Mr. Barner found employment as salesman in a mercantile establishment at Sidon, later holding similar posi- tions at Greenwood and Shell Mound and being thus engaged from 1889 to 1893, in which latter year he located in Indianola and en- gaged in the general mercantile trade on his own responsibility. One year later he removed to Lehrton, where he continued in the same line of business for the ensuing three years. In 1898 he lo- cated in the thriving village of Ruleville, where he has built up a large trade as a general merchant, having a well equipped estab- lishment and catering to a discriminating patronage. He also has large plantation interests in Sunflower county and is known as one of the sterling citizens and substantial business men of this section of the State. Mr. Barner is a.stockholder in the Bank of Ruleville, the Planters' Drug Company, the Planters' Gin Company, and the
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Ruleville Light, Ice and Coal Company, of which last he was one of the organizers, having been president of the company from the time of its inception to the present. He is progressive as a citizen and takes deep interest in all that concerns his home town and county. His political allegiance is given to the Democratic party and he is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, Knights of Pythias, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and Knights of Honor. In 1895, Mr. Barner was united in marriage to Miss Ida Beatrice Bartlett, who was born and reared in Sunflower county, being a daughter of Jefferson D. and Sallie A. (Marshall) Bartlett, both of whom were likewise born in Mississippi, the latter's father, Berry Marshall, having been one of the first settlers of Sunflower county. Mr. and Mrs. Barner have four children: William George, Jr., Leroy, Almer Lewis, and Sarah Louise.
Baskin, William Edward, was born in Chickasaw county, Miss., and is a son of Dr. James H. Baskin and Mary Elizabeth Baskin, nee Mary Elizabeth Featherston, both of whom are now deceased, the father having sacrificed his life as a soldier of the Confederacy during the Civil war. His paternal grandfather, William Candor Baskin, was a South Carolinian, and removed from that State to Mississippi and located in Chickasaw county. His maternal grandfather, Ed- ward Featherston, a native of Tennes- see, removed to Mississippi, locating in Monroe county. His parents were mar- ried in Mississippi, and the subject of this review was reared in the county of his nativity, but was denied the care and guidance of his father. He received while a resident of Chickasaw county, before arriving at manhood, the best educational advantages afforded by the common schools of the community in which he was brought up. When at the proper age he was sent to Summerville institute, the school in Noxubee county once noted for its thorough "education of boys, where he enjoyed superior educational ad- vantages under the tutelage of that distinguished educator, Prof. Thomas S. Gathright. Here he received, as did many another Mis- sissippi boy, not only a splendid education, but that thorough dis- ciplining in the habits of study and in that effective application that so characterized the educational work of that institution, which he, in his profession and in all the work he has undertaken, has turned to the very best advantage.
He studied law in the office of his uncle, Gen. W. S. Featherston, in Holly Springs, Miss., and commenced the practice of law in Okolona, Chickasaw county, Miss., in 1881, where he built up an excellent professional business, success in his chosen profession leading him to seek wider opportunities afforded in the city of Meridian, where he took up his residence in 1888, his law partner
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in Meridian being Charles Carroll Miller, their professional busi- ness being conducted under the firm name of Miller & Baskin. Mr. Baskin holds an enviable place in the ranks of his profession. He is conceded to be one of the best lawyers at the Meridian bar, which places him amongst the best lawyers of the State. A systematic and close student, an industrious worker, a successful practitioner, enjoying deservedly the confidence of clients, of all who know him or are about him, he commands a lucrative and constantly increasing practice. He cares little, if any, for public life. He has not sought public place; on the contrary, his disposition has been to shrink from it; he has preferred to give- himself to the study and to the exacting duties of his profession ; he has nevertheless at times assumed duties somewhat of a public nature, the character of which serves to show in some measure the confidence in which he is held. He was city attorney of the city of Meridian for four years, and during said term of office he gave to Meridian the best of his strong attributes and powers of intellect, heart, brain and conscience, conducting one of the most arduous and uncompromising battles for the people as against a water works monopoly which was located in that city. Said water works cause was litigated both in the State and the Federal courts, the record in the cause being one of the largest that was ever filed in the supreme court of the State. Through his efforts the city won a signal victory in that cause. At the conclusion of the suit he resigned the office of city attorney.
He was also at one time the chairman of the Democratic executive committee of Lauderdale county, where he labored for unity and harmony in the party council. He has been for a number of years a trustee of the University of Mississippi, having been appointed in 1899 by Gov. A. J. McLaurin, and re-appointed in 1900 by Gov. Jas. K. Vardaman. He is devoted to the interest of the university and takes a live and active interest in its welfare. He is now, and has been for many years, the president of the board of trustees of the city public schools of Meridian.
Immediately after obtaining his license to practice law he married in Holly Springs, Miss., Miss Kate Mason, the youngest child of Hon. William F. Mason, who was at one time a State senator of Mississippi, and afterwards and for a long number of years, treas- urer of the Mississippi Central railroad. Mrs. Baskin's mother was Miss Matilda Cantrell of Nashville, Tenn. Mr. Baskin's family now consists of himself, his wife and three children, Edward Win- field, George Lucius and Mary Featherston Baskin. He is an elder in the Presbyterian church, a Knight of Pythias, a Mason, a Knight Templar and a member of the Shrine, and is a man of scholarly attainments, christian character and sterling worth.
Bassler, Henry Chain, V. M. D., is one of the able veterinary surgeons of the State, being successfully established in practice at Greenville, Washington county, where he also has a finely equipped sanitarium for all domestic animals. Dr. Bassler claims the fair old city of Philadelphia as the place of his nativity, and is a scion
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of stanch old families of the Keystone State. He was born Jan. 25, 1866, and is a son of Henry and Mary (Chain) Bassler, the former of whom was born in Westmoreland county and the latter in Fayette county, Pa. Dr. Bassler was reared to manhood in his native State, and completed the curriculum of the public schools, after which he was variously employed prior to preparing himself for his present profession. During the Boer war he was in the service of the British government, in America, in charge of the Mallein test for glanders. He was graduated from the veterinary department of the University of Pennsylvania, as a member of the class of 1901. In October, 1902, Dr. Bassler located in Greenville, Miss., and there he has built up a large practice and gained a high reputation in his profession. In 1904 he erected, on an eligible site, his veterinary sanitarium, for the treatment of all diseases of domestic animals. The building is 150x50 feet in dimensions, and has a capacity for the accommodation of 100 head of horses, while an average of fifteen horses has been there retained for treatment or training each day since the sanitarium was opened. The Doctor is a stanch Democrat, and in a fraternal way is identified with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. On Dec. 1, 1901, he was married to Miss Marie Thompson, daughter of Fayette and Eliza Thompson, of Milan, Tenn., and Mrs. Bassler is a communi- cant of the Protestant Episcopal church.
Batson, Thomas E., of Hattiesburg, is the efficient and popular chancery clerk of Perry county, Miss., and formerly served as sheriff of that county. He has the satisfaction of designating Mississippi as the State of his nativity, having been born at Lumberton, Miss., Oct. 3, 1865, and being a son of Eli and Elizabeth (Davis) Batson, the former of whom was born in Perry county and the latter in Harrison county, Miss., which indicates that the respective families were early founded in this fine old commonwealth. Thomas E. secured a good common- school education and was reared on the homestead farm, while he continued to be actively identified with agricultural pursuits until 1884, when he took up his residence in Hattiesburg, where he has since maintained his home. In 1892 he was elected city marshal and tax collector, serving in this dual office for a period of four years, after which he was for an equal period incumbent of the office of county sheriff, making an ex- cellent record in the connection and gaining a strong hold on public confidence and esteem. In 1903 a consistent recognition of his ability and former able service was accorded in his election to his present office, that of chancery clerk, for a term of four years, while in this office he has maintained the high reputation which his previous services had brought to him. He is an active worker in
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the ranks of the Democratic party, being one of the stanch ex- ponents of party principles in Perry county. He is a Royal Arch Mason and also affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, the Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks and the Woodmen of the World, while both he and his wife are members of the Baptist church. On May 3, 1894, Mr. Batson was united in marriage to Miss Alice Denham, daughter of Capt. Joseph W. and Damaris (Carter) Den- ham, of Perry county, and they have four children, namely: Ivy, Paul, Denham and Hazel.
Beal, John W., of Raymond, where he . is the leading undertaker, being one of the representative citizens and business men of Hinds county, was born in Rogers- ville, Hawkins county, Tenn., April 14, 1838, being a son of George W. and Margaret (Bogar) Beal. George W. Beal was a son of John Beal, a native of Pennsylvania, and a loyal soldier in the War of 1812, in which he served under Gen. Andrew Jackson, taking part in the battle of New Orleans. He was a son of John Beal, who was a soldier of the Continental line in the War of the Revo- lution and who was a son of John Beal, a fife major under the great Napoleon and an active participant in the historic battle of Waterloo. The subject of this review was reared to maturity in his native State, in Rogersville and Knoxville, and was accorded excellent educational advantages. He was among the first to tender his services in defense of the cause of the Con- federacy at the outbreak of the war between the States. On April 8, 1861, he enlisted in Company D, First Battalion of Tennessee cavalry, with which he served until the close of the great internecine conflict. He took part in the first battle of Manassas and in many of the other important battles of the war. He was wounded in the battle of Mill Springs, but he did not leave his regiment on this account. He had but one furlough during the entire period of the war, and he never was absent from duty on account of illness, though he missed two months of active service during the time his wound was healing. After the close of the war he returned to Tennessee, and for a time he assisted his uncle in the management of the latter's plantation, in Maury county, that State. In 1873 he located in Raymond, Miss., where he established himself in the undertaking business, in which he has since continued during the long intervening period of a third of a century. His course as a man of business has been marked by the highest integrity and honor, and to him is accorded the unqualified confidence and esteem of the community in which he has so long maintained his home. Mr. Beal is aligned as a stanch supporter of the principles and policies of the Democratic party, and he served twenty-eight years as city marshal of Raymond, four years as deputy sheriff of Hinds county
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and eight years as constable. He has also served as coroner and ranger about eighteen years-these various preferments indicating the high esteem in which he is held in the city and county. He is affiliated with the United Confederate Veterans, the Masonic fra- ternity, the Knights of Pythias, the Knights of Honor, and the Woodmen of the World, and his wife and daughter hold member- ship in the Methodist Episcopal church, South. Mr. Beal has served twenty-three years as reporter in the local lodge of Knights of Honor, and within that period has collected its assessments and dues in a sum aggregating nearly $28,000. On July 12, 1863, Mr. Beal was united in marriage to Miss Emily A. Bonner, daughter of Wil- lis B. and Louisa (Tate) Bonner, residents of Bovina, Warren county, Miss., where Mr. Bonner was the owner of a large planta- tion. Mr. and Mrs. Beal have one child, Lillian P., who remains at the parental home.
Bell, Percy, who is one of the repre- sentative members of the bar of Washing- ton county, being established in the practice of his profession in Greenville, and being incumbent of the office of chan- cellor of the seventh chancery district of the State, has passed the major portion of his life in Mississippi. He was born in Milburn, Carlisle county, Ky., Oct. 4, 1873, and is a son of Charles G. and Hallie (Owens) Bell, who are now residents of Greenville. After leaving the schools of lower grade, Mr. Bell entered the Univer- sity of Mississippi, from which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1892, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy. He there- after took up the study of law, and was admitted to the bar of the State on Nov. 12, 1897. He initiated his practice in the city of Greenville, where he has ever since remained in professional work. On Nov. 7, 1904, he was made county attorney of Washington county, but resigned the office five days later, when he received his appointment to the office of chancellor of the district, in which capacity he is now serving. In May, 1904, he had been appointed special chancellor, and on Nov. 12, following, he was appointed chancellor. He is a stanch and uncompromising advocate of the principles of the Democratic party, and has been active in its work. He was superintendent of education in Washington county from 1896 to 1900, and during that period the school terms were expanded from six to seven months, and the number of schools, teachers and attendance was increased. At the end of his term he turned over $10,000 as a balance which he had saved to the county. In 1904 he was chosen a representative in the State legislature, from Wash- ington county, his term to expire in 1908, but he resigned that position also upon accepting the appointment of chancellor. In the legislature he served as chairman of the committee on universities
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and colleges, and was a member of the judiciary, the levee and the penitentiary committees. In 1904 he also declined a position on the party ticket for presidential elector from the third district of the State. Mr. Bell has attended every Democratic county and State convention held in Washington county and in Mississippi since he reached his majority. In a fraternal way he is identified with the Delta Psi, of his alma mater, the University of Mississippi, and also with the Masonic order, the Knights of Pythias, the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, the Concatenated Order of Hoo Hoos, and the Elks. He remains a bachelor.
Bell, Mace H., a physician of Vicksburg, Miss., was born at Pottsville, Pope county, Ark., Oct. 25, 1879. He is a son of Ewart A. and Rebecca S. (Dickey) Bell, both of whom were natives of North Carolina. His father was a merchant for a number of years and was a soldier in the Confederate army. Dr. Bell received his early education in the public schools and later began the study of medicine and was graduated from the Medical College of Mem- phis, Tenn., in 1900. He was interne at the Memphis city hospital for eighteen months, and after taking a post-graduate course was graduated from the Chicago Ear, Eye, Nose and Throat Hospital in 1901, making a specialty of the treatment of the diseases of the organs mentioned, and was associated with Dr. E. C. Ellett, a specialist of Memphis, Tenn., for fourteen months. In 1903 he came to Vicksburg where he has since been in the active practice of his profession. He is a member of the State medical association and of the Warren county medical society. Dr. Bell was married in 1901 to Miss Ada Robinson, daughter of Rev. H. W. Robinson, who was rector of the Episcopal church at Brandon, Miss., for a number of years.
Bates, Marshall P., M. D., is engaged in the successful practice of his profession at Liberty, Amite county, and holds a position high in the esteem of the community, both as a physician and as a citizen. The Doctor was born in Marshalltown, this county, Dec. 23, 1861, and is a son of Marshall P. and Cornelia (Carroll) Bates, both of whom also were born and reared in this State, the paternal ancestors being of Scotch-Irish derivation and the Mississippi branch of the family having come hither from South Carolina. Dr. Bates secured his fundamental education in the public schools and supplemented this by a course in Mississippi college, at Clinton. He was then matriculated in the medical department of Tulane university, in the city of New Orleans, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1886, receiving his degree of Doctor of Medicine. In the same year he began the practice of his profession in Liberty, where he has since maintained his home, and his pro- fessional business has grown to be one of wide scope, extending throughout the territory tributary to, the thriving little city. In politics he is aligned as a supporter of the cause of the Democratic party and fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order, the Knights of Pythias and the Woodmen of the World. He holds membership in the Amite County medical society and enjoys the
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esteem and good will of his professional confreres. In 1887 Dr. Bates was united in marriage to Miss Edith McLean, who died, leaving no children. In 1891 he wedded Miss Mary E. Davis, daughter. of Charles E. Davis, of Amite county. They have four children : Annie C., Charles D., Marshall P. and William Lattimer. The latter's great-grandfather, Dr. William Lattimer, was a United States congressman from Mississippi territory and the first to rep- resent this territory.
Bellenger, Frank Leslie, editor of the Jackson Evening News, was born June 27, 1865 in Jackson, Miss., son of the late Capt. C. E. Bellenger and Antonia (Daily) Bellenger; his father served in the Confederate army and was captain of a company which he himself raised in New Orleans. He died in the city of Davenport, Ia., while his wife is still living, a resident of Jackson.
Mr. Bellenger was educated in the pub- lic schools of Jackson, his mother, who is a woman of great literary attainment, having carefully supervised his education. He entered the printing office of Col. J. L. Power at an early age and remained three years. While in this position he began writing for the paper and his advancement was so rapid that he was invited to accept the position of editor of a weekly paper at Williamsburg, Covington county, with which he remained eight months. He returned to Jackson and connected himself with Col. J. L. Power in the newspaper work soon advanc- ing to the position of managing editor of the paper.
In 1893 Mr. Bellenger established the Jackson Evening News, which has since become one of the most important and successful daily papers in the State. He has always been engaged in news- paper work, having never pursued any other profession. In addition to his own paper, he is a frequent contributor to other publications. He is a writer of much force and ability and is one of the most successful newspaper men in the State, and though yet a young man, takes high rank in Mississippi journalism.
Mr. Bellenger is a member of the Presbyterian church and of the fraternal order of the Knights of Pythias. He was married to Miss Evelyn Crayton Prevost, of Anderson, S. C., in October, 1895. Mr. and Mrs. Bellenger have one child, Paul Prevost.
Bank of Ruleville. One of the substantial and popular monetary institutions of Sunflower county is the Bank of Ruleville, whose history has been one of marked and cumulative success, while in its operation are enlisted able and conservative management and ample capital. The bank was organized and incorporated in 1903, opening its doors for business on February 10, and starting its year's business on that day with deposits of $10,000. From the statement of the bank issued at the expiration of two years' business it is
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found that the deposits reached the notable aggregate of $175,000; loans and discounts, $150,000. In addition to this showing the bank paid ten per cent. dividends to the stockholders each year, met all incidental expenses and placed twenty per cent. of the net earnings in the surplus fund. The capital stock is $50,000. Wm. H. Reid was president of the bank for the first two years, when he re- moved to Memphis, Tenn., and was succeeded by the present in- cumbent, Walter P. Holland, who is cashier of the Planters' bank, at Clarksdale, Miss. Fred Grittman was vice-president from the time of organization up to January, 1906, when he was succeeded by T. H. Edmondson. Ernest P. Shofner, the cashier, has held that position from the organization of the bank with marked ability and discrimination, and has had the executive management and has well filled his position, the success of the enterprise being due largely to his well directed policy and efforts. During the first eighteen months Claude Fair was bookkeeper of the institution, and he then accepted a position with another bank, being succeeded by Albert L. Pentecost, the present bookkeeper and assistant cashier.
Benbrook, William G., mayor of Natch- ez, Miss., was born May 16, 1837, in the city of Natchez. He is the son of Dr. Daniel G. and Margaret (Boyer) Benbrook, who became residents of Natch- ez about 1820. Dr. Benbrook practiced medicine in Natchez for a number of years after which he removed to New Orleans where he died. Several of his ancestors served in the Revolutionary army. Mr. Benbrook, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the public and private schools of Natchez, and began life as a. clerk. He was elected city treasurer and later county assessor, and in 1888 was elected mayor of Natchez and has been continuously re-elected since that time. He is president of the Natchez school board of which he has been a member for twenty years, and is a member of the Masonic fraternity, past grand commander of Knight Templars of Mississippi, and also belongs to the Elks, Knights of Pythias, Knights of Honor, and Woodmen of the World. He was married, March 12, 1858, to Miss Hannah Parsons of Natchez. Mr. and Mrs. Benbrook have three children : Stella G., Mrs. Hannah (Benbrook) Tate and Effie G. They have an adopted daughter, Mary E. Carroll.
Bishop, Baron DeKalb, M. D., is one of the leading physicians and surgeons of Lawrence county and is also incumbent of the office of county superintendent of education, his home and profes- sional and official headquarters being in the thriving little city of Monticello. The Doctor was born in Westville, Simpson county, Miss., Feb. 25, 1852, and in this State also were born his parents, David and Hephzibah (Powell) Bishop, the former being of Scotch
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