Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. III, Part 56

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 56

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ical monograph, "The Legal Status of Slaves in Mississippi before the War," appearing in Vol. IV. of the publications of the Mississippi Historical Society. In the State senate he is a member of the judi- ciary committee and also of that on banks and banking, having been chairman of the last named. On May 29, 1888, Senator Magruder was united in marriage to Miss Clemmie A. Henry, daughter of James O. and Mary (Brooks) Henry, of Starkville, and they have three children : William Wailes, Jr., Robert Henry, and Augustin Freeland.

Magee, George Wood, a representative member of the bar of Law- rence county, is engaged in the practice of his profession in Monti- cello, and is also a member of the State senate, from the Eighth dis- trict, which comprises Lincoln and Lawrence counties. He was born near Brookhaven, Lincoln county, July 5, 1870, and is a son of George Washington Magee and Elizabeth (Atwood) Magee, the paternal ancestors having come to Mississippi in an early day, from Georgia and North Carolina, while the maternal ancestors came from Virginia and Kentucky. John Atwood, great-grandfather of Senator Magee in the maternal line, was a valiant soldier in the Continental line during the War of the Revolution and came to Mississippi before its transfer to the United States, locating on Black creek, in Covington county. Senator Magee received excellent educational advantages in a preliminary way, having had the best of instructors while attending the schools of Lawrence county, while in 1888 he was matriculated in Mississippi college, where he remained two years as a student. For five years he was a successful and popu- - lar teacher in the schools of Lawrence and Holmes counties, and in the meanwhile he prosecuted a careful study of the law, making such progress in technical learning that he was admitted to the bar, at Monticello, in January, 1896, passing a very successful exami- nation before Chancellor H. C. Conn. Shortly afterward he began the practice of his profession in Wesson, Copiah county, where he remained until 1898, when he took up his residence in Monticello, where he has since been engaged in a successful general practice, having a representative clientage. He is a stanch adherent of the Democratic party and has been a loyal and effective worker in the party ranks. Recognizing his unmistakable eligibility, the party placed him in nomination for the State senate to represent the Eighth district, and he was elected Nov. 3, 1903, being chosen as his own successor in November, 1905. He and his wife are members of the Baptist church and he is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Woodmen of the World. Senator Magee's wife, whose maiden name was Julia Augusta Fair- man, is a daughter of Augustus C. and Belle (Nairne) Fairman, of Monticello. Senator and Mrs. Magee have two children, George Nairne and Lizzie Belle.

Maher, Fred J., is one of the successful business men and popular citizens of Natchez and has been city treasurer since 1889. Mr. Maher was born in the city of London, England, May 5, 1856, and is a son of John P. and Mary (Barry) Maher, both of whom were born in Ireland. In 1860 they located in Natchez, Miss., where

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both died shortly afterward. The subject of this sketch was left an orphan when but five years of age and he was reared to ma- turity in Natchez, where he received his early educational training in a Catholic parochial school. When fourteen years of age he became an employe of the firm of Perrault Company, cotton brokers, and he continued to be identified with this concern until 1892, when he became associated with V. L. Perrault in business, as cotton factors and general merchants. He is still a member of the firm of Perrault & Maher and they conduct a most prosperous enterprise in the lines noted. In 1889 Mr. Maher was elected treasurer of the city of Natchez and has remained continuously incumbent of this office to the present time. He was president of the Natchez Cotton Exchange in 1902-3. He is chairman of the committee on member- ship in the Natchez Promotion league and is one of the progressive and public-spirited citizens of this thriving city. His political allegi- ance is given to the Democratic party and his religious faith is that of the Catholic church, of which he is a communicant. In 1880 Mr. Maher was united in marriage to Miss Emily Lyle, of Natchez, and she died in 1883. By this marriage Mr. Maher became the father of two children, Anna who married B. P. Ferriday and Emily who married D. F. Miller. In 1899 he married Miss Frances Lyle, a sister of his first wife. She is a daughter of William J. Lyle, who was for many years a prominent newspaper man in Natchez.

Malone, S. N., of Jackson, Miss., was born on a farm near Cherokee, Ala., on Nov. 4, 1869, was reared on this farm and attended the State normal college at Florence, Ala., and at the age of seven- teen went to Mobile, Ala., in the employ- ment of the American Cotton Oil Com- pany, with which company he remained until the entire plant was destroyed by fire in 1890. He was then transferred to another branch of the same company at Clarksdale, Miss., and subsequently to Natchez, Miss., to fill the position of bookkeeper and cashier and was later appointed manager of the concern. Still later he was transferred back to Clarksdale as the general manager for his company, and after a long period of service he connected him- self with the Buckeye Cotton Oil Company of Cincinnati, Ohio, as the manager of their large crude oil mill at Jackson, Miss. One year later he was promoted to be the district manager of the same company, which position he now holds, having charge of all the company's mills in the State of Mississippi and having acquired a thorough knowledge of the manufacture of cotton-seed oil. He is a member of the Elks Club of Jackson, Miss., is a Democrat in poli- tics and in the fall of 1906 was elected alderman from the fourth ward of the city of Jackson. He was married Nov. 27, 1901, to Miss

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Effie Dean of Cherokee, Ala. Mr. and Mrs. Malone have three chil- dren, Ellen Dean, Alice Nelson and Stephen Nelson, Jr.

Marders, Robert K., stands prominent- ly forward as one of the representa- tive citizens and successful business men of Yalobusha county, being one of the interested principals in the Marders-New- burger Company, of Oakland, where they conduct an extensive and successful gen- eral merchandise business. Mr. Marders was the founder of the enterprise, which has achieved a large measure of its success through the application of his fine busi- ness talents and through his singleness and integrity of purpose. Mr. Marders was born in Fairfax county, Va., about fifteen miles south of the city of Wash- ington, D. C., Oct. 2, 1853, and is a son of James and Rebecca (Kirby) Marders, both of whom were likewise native of the patrician Old Dominion State, where the respective families were early founded. James Marder was a planter by vocation and both he and his wife continued resident of Virginia until the time of their death; he served with utmost loyalty as a soldier of the Confederacy in the war between the States. The subject of this review passed his boyhood and youth in his native commonwealth, to whose schools he is indebted for his early educational training. In 1873, at the age of twenty years, he came to Mississippi and located in Oakland, later taking up his residence in Leflore county but soon afterward returning to Oakland, where he has since maintained his home and where he has advanced from small beginnings to a place of promi- nence and influence as a citizen and as a reliable and enterprising business man. The concern with which he is identified is now the largest mercantile house in Oakland, and its extensive trade is based on fair dealing, progressive ideas, select and comprehensive stock and unqualified personal popularity on the part of those interested in the business, all being men of the utmost probity and of energy and distinctive business acumen, commanding the confidence and esteem of all. Those associated with Mr. Marders in the business are Silvan Newburger, A. F. Burtt, W. S. Sayle and Sayle Allen. Mr. Marders is identified with the Masonic fraternity and the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a stanch advocate of the cause of the Democracy and in civic affairs of a local order is liberal and loyal. He is a communicant of the Protestant Episcopal church, while Mrs. Marders is a Presbyterian. On May 24, 1882, was sol- emnized the marriage of Mr. Marders to Miss Ida Lovejoy, who was born in Yalobusha county, Miss., and who completed her educational training in the Woman's College at Oxford, this State. Mr. and Mrs. Marders have three children-Eugene L. Mary R., and James A. L.

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Marett, Elias Jackson, successful attor- ney, civil engineer and teacher of Corners- ville, Miss., was born in Anderson county, S. C., in 1834, a son of Benj. W. and Lucinda (Hodges) Marett. On the pater- nal side he is of French descent, his fore- parents having been early immigrants to North Carolina and their descendants subsequently settling in South Carolina. In 1853, while still a young man, Mr. Marett removed to Marshall county, Miss., and engaged in teaching. This furnished him a livelihood until 1861, when he en- listed in the service of the Confederacy as lieutenant in Company F, Third Missis -. sippi battalion of infantry (Hardcastle's). He was with this battalion in the battle of Shiloh or "Pittsburg Landing," which was on that memorable occasion on outpost duty, it having acquired a reputation in the skirmish drill and was engaged in action for thirty minutes before the general engagement set in. The little command was deployed as skirmishers at a distance of five paces when the fight commenced and suffered heavily in killed and wounded before re- inforcements arrived. On the second day of the battle of Murfrees- boro or "Stone River," Jan. 1, 1863, Mr. Marett was severely and seriously wounded and captured by the Federal troops; he had before this been promoted to the captaincy of his company. When he was but partially recovered from his wound he was sent to the military prison for Confederate officers on Johnson's Island in Lake Erie, Ohio. The exchange of prisoners having been suspended he remained there until near the close of the war and until the exchange of prisoners was resumed when he was passed through the lines on exchange furlough, before the expiration of which, the war had closed. Had he been able to rejoin his regiment before the close of the war a colonel's commission was awaiting him at the Confederate war department. At the cessation of hostilities he returned to Marshall county, Miss., and resumed teaching, studying law at his odd mo- ments and doing some surveying during school vacations. Later he was admitted to the bar, and has been a constant practitioner since. Some years ago he purchased a large farm and has since been the active manager of it. Mr. Marett has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Kate Fowler, who died in 1869, after the birth of a daughter, who is the wife of Benj. Beck, a relative of Gen. N. B. Forrest, the great cavalry leader. His last wife was the widow America (Jones) Massey, whose husband was a nephew of the late E. F. Potts, a wealthy farmer of Marshall county in antibellum days and after whom Potts Camp was called. She was a daughter of Abner and Anna (Bobbitt) Jones. Mr. Jones was an early settler of Marshall county and helped to build the first (a log) house put up. in Holly Springs. By his last union Mr. Marett has three children : Samuel Dale and Kent Kane are merchants in Cornersville; Dorcas,

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his daughter, is a teacher. The father is well known over the county and State. His educational training was received at Milledgeville, Ga. In politics he is a Democrat and he has done much to help in the success of his party. He was chosen to represent his county in the lower house of the legislature in the year 1880, the year of the adoption of the code of Mississippi. In the year 1890 he was one of its delegates in the constitutional convention. In the year 1893 he made the largest survey in Marshall and Tate counties that had been made since the government survey on the removal of the Chick- asaw nation of Indians. During the Civil war a brother, Fred S. Marett, was on the staff of Gen. N. B. Forrest and was with him when he made his raid into Memphis, Tenn., and came near capturing the commanding general. Fred S. died in Memphis where he was in business, in 1874, while another brother, Wesley J., succumbed to the yellow fever in Holly Springs, where he was in business, in 1878. The subject of this memoir is recognized as a man of busi- ness ability and integrity, of culture and refinement. Since 1855 he has been a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and for thirty years of that time secretary of his lodge.

Martin, Van B., M. D., one of the leading physicians of Meridian, was born in Lin- coln county, Oct. 2, 1867. He is a son of Albert J. and Sarah A. (Gwinn) Martin, both natives of Mississippi. The subject of this sketch received due preliminary scholastic training in the schools of Bogue Chitto and Lincoln county and then first entered Tulane university in 1891. A year later he was admitted to practice medicine after having passed the State medical examination at Jackson and for three years was engaged in his profession in Kentwood, La. He then returned to Bogue Chitto and in 1898 was granted the degree of Doctor of Medicine by Tulane university. He con- tinued his Lincoln county practice until the fall of 1899, when he accepted a very good position as chief surgeon for the Moreton & Helms Lumber Company at Cold Springs, Miss. The doctor con- tinued his residence and his work in Cold Springs, with the exception of a short time he was taking advanced work in the New York Post- Graduate medical college, until May, 1905. Since that time he has been engaged in the general practice of his profession in Meridian with eminent success. His patronage includes a larger part of the wealthier class of citizens of Meridian, and the other physicians often call him in consultation. In his political affiliations the doctor is a stanch Democrat. As such he was a member of the board of aldermen of Bogue Chitto and mayor of Cold Springs. He is a mem- ber of the Lauderdale county, the Mississippi State and the American medical, associations and is otherwise identified with the Free and Accepted Masons, the Knights of Pythias, the Woodmen of the

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World and the Fraternity of American Citizens. On March 20, 1889, Dr. Martin was united in marriage to Miss Carrie M. Rodwell, of Lincoln county, Va., a daughter of Dr. W. A. and Sarah E. (Mar- tin) Rodwell. Dr. Martin is recognized as one of the most expert and skilled men in his profession, and is a man of fine carriage and genial, pleasing manner.

Martin, James S., who now conducts a meat market in the village of Shelby, Bolivar county, also has a good planta- tion there, and has been a resident of the county for the past thirty-five years, being known as a sterling citizen and enterprising business man. Mr. Martin was born at Turkeytown, Cherokee county, Ala., Jan. 9, 1856. being a son of Robert J. and Mary S. (Kennedy) Martin, the former of whom was born in New York city and the latter in Alabama. The father served four years as a soldier of the Confederacy as a member of an Ala- bama regiment. He was captured and was held a prisoner eighteen months, being confined until the close of the war, when he was released on parole. He was a tailor by trade and he passed the closing years of his life in Bolivar county, Miss., where he died Feb. 2, 1878, his wife also dying in that county. James S. Martin was afforded such educational advantages as were to be had in the common schools of Alabama. He came to Bolivar county, Miss., in 1870, at the age of fourteen years, and secured employment on a plantation. Since that time he has been almost continuously identified with agricultural pursuits, and he is now successfully engaged in farming, in connection with conducting his well equipped meat market, in Shelby. He is a stanch Democrat and is now serv- ing as justice of the peace of the second district of his county, dis- charging his official duties with marked ability. He is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Columbia Wood- men. On Jan. 30, 1895, Mr. Martin was united in marriage to Miss Louella Blackburn, daughter of William A. and Mandana (Boat- wright) Blackburn, of Bolivar county, where she was born and reared, and they have three children-Mary Thelma, Goldie and Ruth M.

Mathison, John Thompson, of Williamsburg, is chancery clerk of Covington county and was formerly its sheriff, while few men in the county are better known or held in higher popular esteem. He was born in Covington county, Miss., March 5, 1864, and this county has ever continued his home and the center of his interests, while his parents, William and Annie (Fairley) Mathison, were likewise born and reared in Mississippi, where the respective families were founded in the pioneer epoch. John T. Mathison received his edu- cational training in the public schools, having been reared on the homestead plantation, and as a young man he learned the trade ·of carpentry, to which he devoted his attention, together with farm-

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ing, for many years, his efforts ever being earnestly and indefati- gably directed along legitimate lines of endeavor, while he thus estab- lished a firm hold on public confidence and regard. An uncompro- mising advocate of the principles and policies for which the Democratic party stands sponsor, he has taken an active part in the work of the same in a local way, and in 1900 was elected to the office. of sheriff of his native county, gaining a significant victory at the polls, in that he secured a handsome majority, with four competitors in the field, and his administration was such as to amply justify the distinctive mark of this estimation given him by the voters of the county, while in 1903, over three opponents, he was elected to the office of chancery clerk, for a term of four years. In this office he brings to bear the same fidelity and ability which characterized his labors as sheriff, and he is thus making an excellent record. He and his wife are valued members of the Presbyterian church, and in a fraternal way he is a Royal Arch Mason and a member of the Knights of Pythias. On Feb. 22, 1895, Mr. Mathison was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Reid, daughter of Jesse B. and Julia (Holcomb) Reid, of Covington county, Miss., and the children of this union are four in number, namely: Henry Grady, Pauline, Rex, and Roy Neil.

Martin, Samuel B., who stands at the head of the Martin Printing Company, of Hattiesburg, has a finely equipped plant and conducts a prosperous job- printing business, while the work turned out is of the highest type of excellence as regards letterpress and general makeup. Mr. Martin was born in the city of Au- gusta, Ga., May 22, 1870, and is a son of William D. and Jennie (Russell) Martin, the former of whom was born in Balti- more, Md., and the latter in Waynesboro, Miss. Samuel B. completed his educa- tion in the Southwestern Baptist univer- sity, at Jackson, Tenn., and in 1886 initiated his apprenticeship in the printing business by securing a position in the office of the Semi-weekly Whig, published in Jackson, Tenn. He soon acquired an excellent knowledge of the practical details of the "art preservative" and has never wavered in his allegi- ance to the same, while he has been successful in his operations in an independent way. In 1889 Mr. Martin went to Kansas City, Mo., where he was employed for a time in the office of the Kansas City Times, later locating in Paducah, Ky., where he became senior member of the firm which conducted business under the title of the Billings-Martin Printing Company. In the spring of 1902 Mr. Martin came to Hattiesburg, Miss., and in the following year he here founded the Martin Printing Company, whose business has been built up to a most substantial one under his able and careful management and control. In his political proclivities Mr. Martin is a stanch advocate

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of the principles of the Democracy, while his religious faith is that of the Christian church, and fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order.

Martin, William Conner, ex-chancellor of the Fourth chancery court district, is one of the representative members of the bar of the State and is established in the practice of his profession in the city of Natchez, as a member of the firm of Brown & Martin. He was born in Natchez, April 12, 1861, and is a son of Gen. William Thomp- son Martin and Margaret D. (Conner) Martin, the former of whom was born in Kentucky and the latter in Mississippi, in which latter State their marriage was solemnized. General Martin was one of the dashing cavalry leaders in the Confederate service during the Civil war. On Dec. 2, 1862, he was promoted and commissioned brigadier-general in the provisional army of the Confederate States and was sent to Tennessee, where he assumed command of a divi- sion. On Nov. 10, 1863, he was commissioned major-general and was placed in command of a division of Wheeler's cavalry corps. He led his division most skillfully through the memorable Atlanta campaign and toward the close of the year 1864 he was assigned to the command of the district of northwest Mississippi, in which con- nection he served until the close of the war. He was a lawyer of fine ability and after the war attained to great distinction in his profession, becoming one of the leading representatives of his pro- fession in Mississippi and is now postmaster of Natchez. Judge Martin, the immediate subject of this sketch, secured his earlier educational training in the schools of his native city and finally entered the University of Mississippi, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1881, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He then began reading law under the able preceptorship of his father, making rapid progress in the acquiring and assimila- tion of legal knowledge and being admitted to the bar in 1884, with most thorough technical equipment. Since that time he has been engaged in the active and successful practice of his profession in Natchez, and his firm controls a large and representative clientele and has been concerned in much important litigation in both the State and federal courts. In 1818 he was appointed by Governor McLaurin, chancellor of the Fourth chancery district, and continued incumbent of this office four years. He gives an uncompromising allegiance to the Democratic party and has done effective service in behalf of the party cause, though he has never been a seeker of political preferment, holding his profession worthy of his undivided allegiance and attention. He is treasurer of the Natchez hospital and a member of the board of trustees of Jefferson college. Both he and his wife are communicants of the Protestant Episcopal church, and he is junior warden of the vestry of the parish of Trinity, also being a member of the standing committee of the diocese. In 1890 was solemnized the marriage of Judge Martin to Miss Bessie Rawle, daughter of John Rawle, of Adams county, and they have two chil- dren-William T. and Huldah Stanton.

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Mashburn, A. W. The city of Merid- ian is signally favored in the personnel of those who are serving as members of the board of aldermen, and among the able and honored members of this body is found the representative citizen whose name introduces this article, and who is a member from what is now the fourth ward. Mr. Mashburn is a native of the State of Georgia and a scion of stanch old Southern stock. He was born in For- sythe county, that State, July 5, 1842, and is a son of E. J. and M. A. Mashburn, the former of whom is deceased while the mother is living with her children. His early years were passed on the homestead plantation, while his educational advantages were those afforded in the schools of the locality. He was but a boy at the time of the outbreak of the Civil war, but he was a man in loyalty of spirit and in determination to support the cause of the Confederacy. He enlisted, in 1861, as a member of Company E, Seventh Georgia infantry, and with the same followed the fortunes of the Confederacy on the sanguinary battlefields and in important campaigns until the long, fratricidal conflict was ended, leaving the South prostrate and devastated, while upon its people rested the burden of reviving the industrial and material prosperity of the land. Mr. Mashburn found ample scope for earnest and effective labor after the war, and he met with success in his business affairs, developing a marked mastery of ex- pedients and showing that mature judgment and business sagacity which ever conserve success. He was a resident of Decatur, Ga., for a number of years prior to 1890, when he came to Meridian and assumed the position of manager of the Meridian Fertilizer Company, representing one of the most extensive and important industrial enterprises of the city. He has been continuously identified with this concern, in the capacity noted, and is one of the well known and popular business men of the city. Concerning his career as a public official of Meridian the following timely words have been written: "His high character, intelligence and splendid business capacity induced his neighbors and friends to choose him as their representa- tive upon the board of aldermen, in 1900, and he has abundantly justified their choice in a record full of usefulness to the city and honor to himself. Mr. Mashburn has brought to the city's service those qualities that have made for success in his business career, and no member of either of the municipal boards exercises a larger influence than does he in the determination of any matter relative to the city's welfare, because all have perfect confidence in his pa- triotic purpose, his unselfishness and his sound judgment. As chair- man of the special water committee Mr. Mashburn's labors in behalf of the people of Meridian, in this all-important contention, will always be remembered with grateful appreciation, for this has been the

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Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. III, Part 56

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