Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. III, Part 65

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 65

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suits until he entered official service. He is a stalwart adherent of the Democratic party and for many years has been active in the political affairs of his county. In 1879 he was elected county assessor ; in 1882-3 he was a member of the board of county supervisors, and in the latter year he was elected sheriff of the county, in which office he served twelve years,-a fact that stands as voucher of effective administration and popular appreciation. In 1898 he filled the unexpired term of Walter McLaurin as warden of the State peniten- tiary. In the autumn of 1899 he was elected chancery clerk of his county, of which office he has since remained incumbent. He is affiliated with the Masonic order, the American Guild, the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and the Woodmen of the World. On Oct. 29, 1869, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. McNair to Miss Emma Pierce, who was born and reared in Mississippi, being a daughter of Levi Pierce. They have three daughters and one son, Addie, who is the wife of Jas. L. Woodward; Kate, who is the wife of J. Brooks Hardy; Stephen B., and Mary F., who remain at the parental home. Mr. McNair and wife are members of the Presby- terian church, Mr. McNair being one of the ruling elders.

McRaney, Duncan Campbell, one of the best known business men and influential citizens of Covington county, now retains his residence in Collins, being a member of the firm of Holloway & McRaney, general merchants, while to him is the distinction of having been a valiant sol- dier of the Confederacy during the climac- teric epoch of the Civil war. Mr. Mc- Raney is a representative of one of the old and prominent families of Covington county, where he was born Jan. 28, 1842, being a son of John and Eliza (Graves) - McRaney, the former of whom was born in South Carolina and the latter in Missis- sippi. Duncan C. received his educational discipline in private schools, and was not yet twenty years of age at the outbreak of the Civil war. He tendered his services to the Confederacy without reservation, since, in 1861, he became third lieutenant in a company of which J. T. Fairley was captain. The company reported at Bay St. Louis and was there assigned to the Seventh Mississippi infantry, commanded by Col. E. J. Goode, and this regiment became a part of the Army of the Tennessee, Gen. J. R. Chalmers' brigade, Hind- man's division, joining the same in Corinth and thus coming under the general command of Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston. Mr. Mc- Raney was an active participant in the engagements at Shiloh, Pittsburg Landing, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge, besides many minor conflicts, and from Dec. 1, 1863, until the reorganization of the army, in 1865, he served as acting quarter- master. He was then promoted to first lieutenant of Company A, Ninth Mississippi infantry, commanded by Col. W. C. Richards

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and with this command surrendered in May, 1865, at High Point, N. C. He was wounded in the left arm in the battle of Chickamauga, but otherwise escaped severe injury. After the close of the war Mr. McRaney made ready to adjust himself to the new conditions, and in 1866 he became associated with the late John F. Holloway in the general merchandise business at Mount Carmel, under the firm name of Holloway & McRaney. This partnership continued unbroken for more than a score of years and had its dissolution in 1887, by reason of the death of the senior member of the firm. There- after Mr. McRaney individually continued the enterprise until 1892, when he admitted to partnership William R. Holloway, son of his deceased and honored partner. At this time the firm name of D. C. McRaney & Company was adopted. In 1900 the firm opened the first store in the village of Collins, having erected a commodious building for the purpose, and at this time Neil H. McRaney, a son of Duncan C., was likewise admitted to partnership, and the old- time title of Holloway & McRaney was again adopted. The firm has a finely equipped store and controls a large and prosperous busi- ness, while Mr. McRaney's long and honorable identification with the business and social affairs of the county has not failed to gain him a tenacious hold upon popular confidence and esteem. He is a Democrat of the most pronounced type, is a Royal Arch Mason, and a valued member of the Presbyterian church. His wife was a member of the Baptist church and died a true Christian on May 18, 1905. On Feb. 28, 1868, Mr. McRaney was united in marriage to Miss Demaris A. Griffith, daughter of Hiram W. and Celia Ann (Carter) Griffith, of Lawrence county, and they had three children, Neil Homer, Mary Augusta and Oliver Clifton.

Lester, Simeon P., M. D., of Batesville, Panola county, is especially worthy of representation in a compilation of the province of the one at hand, for he has the distinction of being one of the oldest and most honored medical practitioners in the State and stands as the dean of his profession in Panola county, where his labors in his chosen vocation have covered a full half century,-years of "ceaseless toil and endeavor." The doctor was born in Newberry county, S. C., July 22, 1827, and is a son of Simpson and Mary (Kynard) Lester, who were likewise born and reared in that State, where the respective fam- ilies were founded prior to the Revolution. The parents of Dr. Lester came to Mississippi in 1842 and after a short residence in Noxubee county they removed to Panola county, where they passed the residue of their lives, the father having been a mechanic by trade but having devoted the major portion of his active career to agricultural pursuits, in which he was fairly successful. He lived to attain the venerable age of eighty-five years, his death occurring

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in 1895. Dr. Lester received his early education in the common schools and then entered Cumberland university, at Lebanon, Tenn., while later he attended the University of Mississippi, at Oxford, having accompanied his parents on their removal to this State. After leaving college he began reading medicine at Belmont, Panola county, and he well equipped himself for the responsible work of his profession by a thorough course of lectures in historic old Jeffer- son medical college, in the city of Philadelphia, Pa. In 1852 he located in Batesville, which was then called Panola, and here he has ever since been engaged in the practice of his profession except for an interim of about four years, during which he was established in practice at a point eight miles south of the city of Memphis. It may well be said that Dr. Lester has ministered in this community to many of the leading citizens, as well as to their children and their children's children, and his success has been as pronounced as has been his devotion to his profession, while he is held in affectionate regard in the community which has so long represented his home and the scene of his faithful and effective labors. He is the oldest physician in the county and is a valued member of the local medical association, as well as that of the State. For ten years he conducted a drug store in connection with his professional work. In politics Dr. Lester was originally a Whig, but he later identified himself with the Democratic party, whose principles have so long enlisted the support of the Southern States, and while he has been loyal in his interest in public affairs of a general and local nature he has never sought or held office, save those directly associated with his profes- sion. He was health officer of Panola county for many years, and for eight years was attending physician of the county poor house. He is affiliated with Panola lodge, No. 66, Free and Accepted Ma- sons. In the year 1855, Dr. Lester was united in marriage to Miss Emily Bowen, daughter of C. S. Bowen, M. D., who was a prominent physician of Chulahoma, Miss., and they have four children: Belle (wife of J. M. Cox), Bowen, Maude and Jessie.

Martin, Jonathan McCaleb, an attorney of Port Gibson, Miss., was born in Clai- borne county, Miss., June 2, 1846, and is the son of William Haywood and Mary (McCaleb) Martin, the father being a native of Maryland and the mother of Mississippi. Mr. Martin's ancestors, on both paternal and maternal sides, were sol- diers in the War of the Revolution, while Luther Martin, the famous lawyer of Maryland, was his great uncle. Mr. Mar- tin was educated in the common schools of Claiborne county and the University of Virginia. At the age of fifteen he en- listed in Company C, Fourth Mississippi cavalry, C. S. A. He studied law in the office of E. Howard McCaleb of New Orleans and was admitted to the bar in 1874. While a stu-

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dent in New Orleans he was a member of the White League and took part in the street battle against Republican misrule Sept. 14, 1874. After returning to Mississippi he located in Port Gibson for the prac- tice of his profession. He has represented Claiborne county in house of representatives four years and in the senate four years, and is author of the bill creating the Industrial institute and college. Mr. Martin is a member of the Methodist church, is a Knight of Pythias and an Odd Fellow. In 1885 he was married to Amanda Myles, daughter of William Myles of Port Gibson.

Maybin, William H., of Gulfport, is one of the most prominent members of the bar of this section of the State and has been a leading factor in public affairs, while he is at the present time city attor- ney of Biloxi, from which point he re- moved to Gulfport, in the same county of Harrison, 1905. He is senior member of the well known law firm of Maybin & Parker, which controls a large and repre- sentative law business. Mr. Maybin was born in Yazoo county, Miss., Aug. 22, 1867, and is a son of Dr. J. W. Maybin, who was born in Natchez, Miss., and who was one of the representative physicians and sur- geons of Yazoo county. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Y. Brien, was born in Tennessee, being a daughter of A. W. Brien, who was a distinguished member of the bar of Mississippi and who served on the circuit bench of the third judicial district of the State. Dr. J. W. Maybin served as a soldier in the Mexican war and was also in active service during the Civil war, having been sur- geon of Col. Fountain E. Pitts' regiment of Tennessee infantry. He was wounded in the battle of Shiloh, but continued in the service until the close of the war. The doctor was a prominent figure in the "reconstruction" period after the war, and was one of seven men who fought a battle at night with a mob of about 300 negroes at Satartia, Yazoo county. Two of the seven men were killed and Dr. Maybin was wounded in the struggle. William H. Maybin laid the foundation of his very liberal education in the public schools of his native county, where he prepared himself for matriculation in the University of Mississippi, after which he entered the law de- partment of Tulane university, in New Orleans, being there gradu- ated, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Laws, while shortly after- ward he was admitted to the bar of Mississippi. In 1890 he located in Biloxi, this State, where he built up a large and important practice, which he still controls, and he there continued to reside until his re- moval to Gulfport, same county, in 1905. He was elected to the State legislature from Harrison county in 1904, and in the session of that year was chairman of the house committee that investigated the affairs of the Alcorn university and brought about as favorable an adjustment of the same as was possible. He is now serving his

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second term as city attorney of Biloxi. Mr. Maybin is known as a strong trial lawyer and able counsellor, while he has gained a high reputation as a public speaker, in which connection his services have been much in demand in advocating the cause of the Democratic party and in forwarding the interests of its candidates in various campaigns. Forceful and eloquent and utilizing a classical diction, he is known as one of the best speakers in the State, while his genial personality has gained to him a host of friends throughout the com- monwealth and particularly in professional and political circles. He took a very prominent part in the campaign which resulted in the election of Governor Vardaman, making a canvass of five weeks' duration in the northeastern part of the State. He is a communicant of the Protestant Episcopal church, as is also Mrs. Maybin, and fra- ternally he is an appreciative member of the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks. On Dec. 13, 1904, was witnessed the marriage of Mr. Maybin to Miss Celia Hindman, of Meridian, this State. She is a great-niece of Gen. Thomas R. Hindman, of Arkansas.

McCaskill, James Lufkin, the present chancellor of the Second chancery court dis- trict of Mississippi, is one of the distin- guished citizens of the State and one of the representative members of its bar, while he has served in various offices of high public trust, including that of United States con- sul to Dublin, Ireland. Chancellor Mc- Caskill, who maintains his home in Bran- don, Rankin county, was born in Simpson county, this State, Sept. 4, 1840, a son of Alexander and Elizabeth (Boggan) Mc- Caskill, the former born in South Carolina and the latter in North Carolina, while the respective families were early estab- lished in Mississippi. The paternal grandfather of the chancellor was a soldier in the War of 1812, and his father, Alexander, enlisted for service in the Mexican war, but the services of his regiment were not required; he became one of the influential citizens of Simpson county, which he represented in the State legislature in 1837-8, and he was afterward sheriff of his county, where he was a successful planter up to the time of his death, his wife also dying in Simpson county. The future chancellor secured liberal educational advan- tages in his youth and was graduated in the University of Mississippi as a member of the class of 1861, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. When the South made definite protest against the usurpation of its rights and the Civil war was inaugurated Mr. McCaskill became a member of the Burt Rifles, which became Company K of the Eigh- teenth Mississippi infantry, of which Captain Burt was made colonel. Among the principal engagements in which the chancellor partici- pated may be mentioned the following: Manassas, Leesburg, Lee's Mills, Seven Pines; seven days' battle at Maryland Heights; the storming of the Federal position and the final occupying of the same

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after the surrender of Harper's Ferry; the spirited engagement at Sharpsburg, where he received a gun-shot wound in the left shoulder; Fredericksburg, where he was captured, being afterward exchanged and being engaged with his command at Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Resaca, New Hope church, Kenesaw Mountain, Lost Moun- tain, Peach Tree Creek and Atlanta, Ga. He enlisted as a private, was promoted corporal sergeant and finally was made adjutant of the staff of Gen. John R. Jackson and later that of Gen. U. P. Low- rey. At the battle of Atlanta he was captured, thereafter remain- ing a Federal prisoner until the close of the war. During the time of his captivity he was enabled to secure text-books and give his attention to the study of law, which he had decided to adopt as his vocation in life, and after his return home he continued his technical reading under able preceptors, being duly admitted to the bar of Mississippi, while he has since gained distinction and honor in the practice of his profession, to which he now gives his time and atten- tion, in connection with his official duties as chancellor of the Second chancery district of the State, comprising the counties of Clarke, Jasper, Jones, Lauderdale, Newton, Rankin, Scott, Simpson, and Smith. In politics Mr. McCaskill is known throughout the State as one of the most stalwart of Democrats, and he has done effective work in the promotion of the party cause. During the first admin- istration of President Cleveland he held the office of United States consul to Dublin, Ireland, a period of four years. From 1877 to 1885 he served as a member of the board of trustees of the University of Mississippi. In 1876 he was chosen a member of the State senate, and during his four years' term was recognized as one of the strong and active members of the upper house. The chancellor is adjutant general of the Mississippi division of the United Confederate Vet- erans, and is also affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, the Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias, and the Knights of Honor, while his religious faith is that of the Presby- terian church, of which both he and Mrs. McCaskill are zealous mem- bers. In 1869 was solemnized the marriage of Major McCaskill to Miss S. A. McLaurin, daughter of John D. and Sarah (Love) Mc- McLaurin, native of South Carolina. The names of the four chil- dren of this union are as follows: James D., Cornelius Shelby, Hugh Lufkin, and Bessie Love.

McCay, Robert Clinton, of Port Gibson, is chancery clerk of Clai- borne county, of which he is ex-sheriff. He has been a resident of this county from the time of his birth and here enjoys marked per- sonal popularity, as is indicated from the public offices which he has been called upon to fill. Mr. McCay was born at Rocky Springs, Claiborne county, Miss., June 15, 1860, and is a son of Robert Coth- ran McCay and Mary Elizabeth (Lum) McCay, both of whom were likewise born in Claiborne county. The father, who was a successful merchant of this county, was among the first to tender his aid in defense of the Confederacy when the war between the States was precipitated. He raised Company B of the Thirty-eighth Missis-

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sippi infantry, of which he was made captain and was promoted to the rank of major. In 1864, by virtue of seniority of rank, he was made colonel of his regiment, with which he served until July 14, 1864, when he was killed while gallantly leading his regiment in the engagement near Tupelo, Miss., or known as Harrisburg, leav- ing a wife and six children. The subject of this review secured his early education in the schools of his native county and early began to assist in caring for the family, in which connection he assumed practical management of the home plantation. He later was iden- tified with a large mercantile firm doing business at Milliken's Bend, La., and afterward was employed in turn as clerk on a Mississippi river steamboat. His efforts thereafter were devoted to farming and raising of live stock until 1895 in which year he was elected sheriff of Claiborne county, an office of which he remained incumbent until 1900, when he was elected to his present office, that of chancery clerk. In this election he defeated a candidate who had held the office for twenty-three years. From 1885 until 1895 he held special commission from the governor of the State as deputy sheriff of his home county. His political support is given unreservedly to the Democratic party and he is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity and other social organizations. He and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, South. On Jan. 22, 1886, Mr. McCay was united in marriage to Miss Annie Laura Brown, daugh- ter of Thomas W. Brown, of Claiborne county.

McDonald, Vance Rutledge, cashier of the Lamar county bank, at Purvis, is one of the representative young business men of this newly created county, while his is the distinction of being the youngest bank cashier in the State of Mississippi. He was born in Benton county, this State, April 10, 1884, and is a son of Judge William T. and Lena (Sondheim) McDon- ald, the former of whom was born and reared in Benton county, Miss., being a member of one of the old and honored families of this commonwealth, while the latter was born in Marion, Ala. The father is a lawyer by profession and now serving on the circuit bench of the State. After leaving the public schools Vance R. McDonald entered the University of Mississippi. In 1902 he became a messenger in the Hancock county bank, at Bay St. Louis, and he gained promotion from time to time, as he became familiar with the details of the business, while his fidelity and his interest in his work were unflagging. In 1904 he located in Purvis and effected the organization of the Lamar county bank, which opened its doors for business on April 2, of that year, the same day which marked the organization of the county, in accordance with the legislative enactment creating the county. The bank was incor- porated with an authorized capital of $30,000 and the officers of

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the institution are as follows : C. V. Hathorn, president; James O'Con- nell, vice-president; and Mr. McDonald, cashier. The bank has met with gratifying success from the inception, and its business is constantly expanding along legitimate and normal lines. A ten per cent. dividend was declared for the first year, and besides this a goodly amount was diverted into the surplus fund. Mr. McDon- ald handles his executive duties with marked discrimination and judgment, and he is one of the progressive and popular young busi- ness men of Purvis, loyal to the interests of the new county and ever ready to lend his support to measures advanced for the general good of the community. In politics he renders allegiance to the Demo- cratic party, and he is a member of the Kappa Sigma college fra- ternity.

McCool, James F., of Kosciusko, is judge of the court of chancery of Attala county, and is one of the distinguished and widely known residents of Mississippi, which commonwealth he has served in various offices of distinctive public trust. Judge McCool is a native of the State of of Alabama; was born in Fayette county and is a son of LaFayette and Elender (Gray) McCool, both of whom were like- wise born in Alabama. His father died as a soldier in the Confederate army. Judge McCool secured his earlier educa- tional training in the common schools of Alabama and Mississippi, after which he continued his studies in the college at Slate Spring, Miss. This pre- paratory discipline was supplemented by a course in the university of Mississippi, and he is today recognized as a man of scholarly at- tainments and broad and accurate general information. From the University of Mississippi he received the degree of Bachelor of Laws and for some time after his graduation he gave his attention partially to the management of large plantation interests and to the practice of law, for which he had prepared himself by private reading and by study in the law department of the university. He still has extensive landed interests. He is one of the leaders of the Demo- cratic party in Mississippi and has done most splendid service in its cause. He represented Attala county in the lower house of the State legislature for five sessions, during three of which he had the distinction of being speaker of the house. He was made permanent chairman of the Democratic State convention of 1899, and in the following year he was one of Mississippi's two presidential electors at large, in which connection he led the party ticket in both the primary and general elections. For a short while he presided, with marked ability and discrimination, on the bench of the circuit court, and he has been judge of the court of chancery of Attala county since 1903, first being appointed by Governor Longino and re-ap- pointed by Governor Vardaman. He is one of the prominent repre-

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sentatives of the time-honored Masonic fraternity in his State, where he has served two terms as grand master of the grand lodge. He was selected by this body as its orator at the imposing dedication of the new State capitol June 3, 1903, and his dignified and patriotic address on that occasion received high individual and newspaper praise and was afforded further official recognition by being pub- lished in full in the Mississippi official and statistical register of the year 1904. In 1883 the town of McCool was incorporated and named in his honor by the Illinois Central railroad in recognition of his public services. Judge McCool was a valued coadjutor of Prof. F. L. Riley, compiler and editor of the "School History of Mississippi," for which he is complimented by the author. He has twice been appointed and has twice resigned as trustee of the Agricultural and Mechanical college, as his business affairs require his undivided time and he could not give the duties of trustee the attention which his- sense of duty would require. He is a zealous member of the Baptist church and is prominent in its councils in his city and State and has presided over the Baptist State convention of Mississippi. He is affiliated with the Knights of Honor and other fraternal and social organizations and is a member of the Mississippi bar association. Judge McCool has the unequivocal respect and confidence of all who know him and through his able services he has added luster to the bench and bar of the State and has proven a type of the highest citizenship. In 1881, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Niles, daughter of the late Judge Jason Niles, and they have one son, Jason Niles McCool.

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Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. III, Part 65

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