Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. III, Part 84

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 84

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the cause of independence. John Lowe Robinson well upheld the mar- tial honors of the name having served in the home guards at the time of the war between the States and having been for a time in the service of the Confederate government in the State of Louisiana. After availing himself of the privileges of the schools of his native county he continued his studies at Somerville institute, in Lauder- dale county, where he rounded out a good practical education. For the past thirty years he has been identified with the planting industry in Madison county and his interests in this line are of impor- tant and extensive order. He is a stanch supporter of the principles and policies of the Democratic party and the high esteem in which he is held in his native county is shown by the offices of trust which have been conferred upon him. He rendered effective service as deputy chancery clerk of the county and he has been the able and progressive mayor of Flora giving a most satisfactory and discrim- inating administration of the municipal government. He is a com- municant of the Protestant Episcopal church, as was also his wife, whose death occurred April 2, 1889. On June 3, 1879, Mr. Robin- son was united in marriage to Miss Annie S. Hinton, daughter of Eugene J. Hinton, who was a well known citizen of Madison county. Mrs. Robinson is survived by four children-Annie, Sarah, John and Pauline.

Rodgers, John T., the able and popular circuit clerk of Pontotoc county, is a native of Mississippi and has here passed his entire life. He was born in Pontotoc county, March 7, 1871, and is a son of William A. and Nannie (Byrum) Rodgers. His father was born in South Carolina, whence he came to Mississippi when young, and he served throughout the war between the States as a gallant soldier of the Confederacy, having been a member of Bradford's battery. The subject of this review received good educational advantages in his youth, including a course in an academy at Springhill. After leaving school he was for a number of years successfully engaged in teaching in the schools of Pontotoc county, and he gained a high reputation in this profession. In 1904 he was elected circuit clerk of this county, and in this office he has given most efficient service and gained unqualified commendation. He is a stalwart supporter of the cause of the Democratic party, is a member of the Baptist church, and is affiliated with various fraternal organizations. In 1901 Mr. Rodgers was united in marriage to Miss Clara Hodges, daughter of Geo. W. and Emma C. Hodges of Pontotoc, and they have two children, William Earl and George Thomas. Mr. Rodgers has maintained his home in the city of Pontotoc since his election to his present office.

Rowan, Elias Alford, M. D., of Wesson, Copiah county, was born near Crystal Springs, this county, Dec. 31, 1837, and is a son of Sam- uel and Jeanette (Alford) Rowan. After completing his academic education he began his work of preparing for the medical profession, and he was a student in the medical department of the University of Louisiana during the session of 1860-61. When the South was called upon to defend its institutions and rights against the implaca-

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ble domination of the North, Dr. Rowan forthwith laid aside his studies to go forth in defense of the cause of the Confederacy. He enlisted in Peters' Relief, a company of the Twelfth Mississippi infan- try. but was discharged, at Corinth, Miss., on account of extreme illness, before his command left for Virginia. After his recupera- tion he re-enlisted, becoming a member of Company G, Sixth Mis- sissippi infantry, which was first commanded by Col. John J. Thorn- ton and later by Col. Robert Lowry. This regiment was a portion of the army collected in Kentucky under Gen. Albert Sidney John- ston, and after the fall of Fort Donelson the command took part in the battle of Shiloh. Subsequently it was on duty near Port Hudson, during the naval sieges of the summer of 1863 and in the campaign against General Grant in the spring and summer of the same year, the Sixth Mississippi during this latter period having been in Adams' brigade of Loring's division which had not gone into Vicksburg. Dr. Rowan was always found at the post of duty, and upon the reorganization of the army he was promoted and com- missioned first lieutenant. Upon the death of Captain Willis of his company, the doctor was elected and commissioned captain, prov- ing a most able and popular commanding officer and sharing the service of his regiment throughout the war, save for the last few months, during which he was held in captivity. He took part in the battles of Port Gibson and Baker's Creek, in 1863, and in the latter engagement Dr. Robert Bonner, assistant surgeon of the regiment was captured, whereupon Dr. Rowan was detailed as assist- ant surgeon, acting in that capacity about two years, with the rank of captain, still filling his office of lieutenant until his final election to the captaincy of his company, as noted. In 1864, with the same veteran brigade, under Gen. John Adams, he took part in the At- lanta campaign, including the battles of Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, those about Atlanta, and those of Franklin and Nashville, in Hood's Tennessee campaign. In the disaster at Nashville Captain Rowan was captured, being taken to Johnson's island, in Lake Erie, where he was held a prisoner until after the close of the war, having been released June 16, 1865, after an incarceration of six months. While there he acted as surgeon for Block 5, comprising about 500 prison- ers, doing much to mitigate their sufferings. During his long term of active and gallant service he received only one wound of more than nominal order, having been slightly wounded during the de- fense of the city of Jackson against Sherman's forces. After the close of the war Dr. Rowan returned to Mississippi and, as soon after- ward as possible, resumed his medical studies at the University of Louisiana, from which he received his degree of Doctor of Medicine in March, 1866. He has been successfully engaged in the practice of his profession in Copiah and adjoining counties for the past forty years, and it is needless to say that he maintains the strongest hold upon the respect and affectionate regard of the community in which he has so long labored in his beneficent and exacting vocation. In addition to having served with distinction as a soldier of the Con- federacy and having gained high prestige in his profession, he has

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been a member of both houses of the State legislature and has al- ways exemplified the true chivalry and courtesy of the Southern gentleman of the old regime. He has stood exemplar of the most loyal citizenship and has been an influential factor in public affairs, being an uncompromising advocate of the principles and policies for which the Democratic party has ever stood sponsor. He was chosen to represent Copiah county in the lower house of the State legislature in 1875, 1884 and 1886. During his first term the dom- ination of the "carpet-baggers," including the governor, and the rule of the negroes were effectually overthrown by the loyal legis- lature and citizens in general. In 1895 he was elected to the State senate, from the Eleventh district, here also proving a zealous pro- tector of the interests of his constituency and of the people of the State at large, his admirable record in the senate leading to his elec- tion as his own successor, in 1899. He was the leading factor in bringing about the enactment of the State local-option law, in 1886, and has been otherwise active and zealous in upholding the temper- ance cause. He is affiliated with the United Confederate Veterans and takes a deep and abiding interest in his old comrades in arms, being at the present time (1906) a member of the staff of Gen. Robert Lowry, commander of the order in Mississippi, and being also physi- cian and surgeon of the organization of the Confederate Army and Navy. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows. In December, 1867, Dr. Rowan was united in marriage to Miss Augusta Mobley, daughter of Thomas and Jane Mobley, of Monticello, and she died May 1, 1869, leaving no children. In December, 1874, was solemnized his marriage to Miss Julia F. Lamb, daughter of Isham and Martha Lamb, of Copiah county, and they have seven children, namely: Jeanette Alford; Martha H., wife of Dr. Thomas B. Wright, of Hattiesburg; Samuel Lamb; Elias Alford; Lillie Belle; Julia F., and John Hause.

Ruffin, James, M. D., of Sardis, Panola county, has been engaged in the practice of his profession for nearly three decades and has honored the same through his able and faithful ministrations. He was born in Hardeman county, Tenn., July 28, 1837, and is a son of James D. and Rossie Ruffin, the former having been for many years engaged in farming and in mercantile pursuits in Tennessee, whence he came to Mississippi, passing the closing years of his life in Panola county, where his wife also died. The father acquired a compe- tency, but the greater part of his wealth was swept away in the rav- ages wrought by the Civil war. He died in 1886, at a venerable age, Dr. Ruffin was a youth at the time of his parents' removal to Mississippi, and his common school education was here supplemented by a course in the literary department of the State university, at Oxford, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1857. He then attended lectures for one term in the medical department of the University of Virginia, at Charlottesville, and thereafter con- tinued his technical study and work in the leading medical colleges of Memphis, Tenn., and New Orleans, La., thus thoroughly qualify- ing him for the exacting duties of the profession to which he has

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devoted so many years of his life, being one of the representative physicians and surgeons of the northern part of the State. At the outbreak of the Civil war Dr. Ruffin enlisted in the Confederate ranks, becoming a member of the Second Mississippi cavalry, in the command of Gen. Forrest, while he continued in active service until the Federal arms had triumphed over those of the prostrated South, having taken part in many of the notable engagements of the war and having proved a faithful and valiant soldier. After the war he located in Tate county, near Senatobia, where he was en- gaged in practice until 1870, when he removed to Como, Panola county, where he made his residence and professional headquarters until 1886, since which time he has resided in Sardis, the county seat. His practice in Panola county has been large and representa- tive and he holds a position of prominence in the confidence and esteem of the people of this section. He is now devoting consider- able attention to the real estate business, owning some valuable town property and including twenty acres as yet unimproved with buildings and also several business buildings in the best central sec- tion of Sardis. He is an uncompromising adherent of the Democratic party but has never sought public office of any description. In August, 1865, Dr. Ruffin was united in marriage to Miss Mary Brahm, daughter of Col. John C. Brahm.

Rule, James W., planter, miller and merchant of Ruleville, was born in Oktib- beha county, Miss., Aug. 15, 1861. His father was Jesse B. Rule, a native of Wayne county, Ky., who saw service in the Civil war with the Mississippi troops, serving as wagon master. He was a planter all his life and died in Leflore county, Miss., in 1879. His mother was Mary J. Lockhart, also a native of Wayne county, Ky. Both she and her husband were members of the Baptist church. The mother passed away in Ruleville in 1897. James W. Rule secured his education in the common schools of Mississippi. In 1890 he started a general store on his plantation; later he built a sawmill and around these have been built up the city of Ruleville. Mr. Rule owns and controls 2,000 acres of cotton land, some of the best in the State. He is vice-president of the Bank of Sunflower, located at Sunflower City and owns considerable stock in other industries in the Delta. Politically he is a Democrat and is at pres- ent one of the Ruleville aldermen. Both he and his wife are mem- bers of the Baptist church. On Feb. 14, 1901, he married Lida, daughter of Frank and Ann Word of Inverness, Miss., and to this marriage two children have been born, Ruby I. and Letta. Mr. Rule is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Knights of Pythias. Financially Mr. Rule has been exceptionally successful. His life has been one of careful honesty, of attention to detail and

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stalwart integrity, and it is one which the younger generation may well emulate.

Rowland, Robert Walter, physician and surgeon of Flora, Miss., was born in Aberdeen, Miss., July 25, 1855, and is the son of Dr. William Brewer Rowland and Mary (Bryan) Rowland. (For ancestry see sketch of Creed Walker Rowland). He was educated in the pub- lic schools of Memphis, Tenn., and was graduated from the Hos- pital medical college of Louisville, Ky. After graduation he located in Oakland, Miss., where he remained in the practice of medicine two years, afterwards practicing six years in Livingston, Miss., since which time he has practiced in Flora, Miss. Dr. Rowland is a member of the State medical association, and was appointed by Gov. A. J. McLaurin a member of the State board of health in 1896 and served four years. He is a member of the Episcopal church, and of the fraternal orders of Knights of Pythias and Woodmen of the World. On Aug. 14, 1879, he was married to Sarah Lowe Robin- son, daughter of Col. John Robinson of Madison county.

Dr. and Mrs. Rowland have six children, Creed Walker, Robert Walter, Sarah Lowe, Joseph Augustus, Thomas Bryan and Nannie Belle.

Salvo, Natale, is one of the successful and popular business men of the city of Natchez, where he is president and general manager of the Salvo & Berdon Candy Company, manufacturing confectioners. Mr. Salvo was born in the historic old fortified city of Trapani, Sicily, Feb. 17, 1854, and is a son of Paul and Pietronilla (Devingenzi) Salvo, both of whom passed the greater portion of their lives in their native land. Mr. Salvo was reared and educated in the city of his birth, where he remained until 1873, when he together with his father, mother and family came to the United States. He remained for a time in New York City, whence he removed to New Orleans, from which city he came to Natchez in 1875. From that time to the present he has been identified with the commercial interests of this city, where he has attained to prominence through his well directed efforts along normal lines of enterprise. For a number of years he was here associated with his brother in the restaurant business, and in 1883 he engaged in the manufacturing of confectionery under the title of Salvo & Berdon, in which connection he has developed one of the important commercial concerns of the city. This company was organized in 1883 and incorporated in 1891. The Salvo & Berdon Company has large and well equipped quarters, and does both a wholesale and retail business in connection with its manufacturing plant. Mr. Salvo has other capitalistic interests and is known as a substantial and progressive business man and public-spirited citizen. He has been president of the Concord Brick Company since its organization in 1902, is president of the Salvo Cigar Factory, which was organized in August, 1904, and is treasurer of the Natchez Steam Laundry, of which he was one of the original organizers. His political support is given to the Democratic party and both he and his wife are communicants of the Catholic church. He is also affiliated with the Catholic Knights of America. In 1882 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Salvo to Miss Louisa Leonora Berdon, daughter of August

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Berdon, a well known citizen of Natchez. Mr. and Mrs. Salvo became the parents of the following children, viz., Paul Albert, Natale Adair, Mary Eloise, Emile William, Olando Augustine, and Vivian Louise.

Saunders, Hubbard T., a representative citizen of Starkville and a veteran of the Confederate service in the Civil war, is well entitled to consideration in this work, for he has proven himself worthy of the high esteem in which he is held and has the distinction of having served sixteen years as sheriff of Oktibbeha county. He was born at Lexington, Holmes county, Miss., Jan. 11, 1846, and is a son of Will- iam R. and Ann H. (Mills) Saunders, both native of Sumner county, Tenn., where the former was born in 1811 and the latter in 1822. They became residents of Mississippi, where the father was a successful lawyer and planter. He died near Mobile, Ala., while the Civil war was in progress. His widow is still living and resides with the sub- ject of this sketch. William R. Saunders was a direct descendant, in the agnatic line, from Gen. William Russell, who was a gallant officer in the War of the Revolution, and one of his uncles sacrificed his life as a soldier in the same great war for independence. Hubbard T. Saunders secured his educational discipline in the common schools of Carroll county, Miss., and at the time of the outbreak of the Civil war he was a resident of that county. In March, 1862, at the age of six- teen years, he enlisted in the Rankin Greys, which command was mustered into the Confederate service as Company I, Sixth Missis- sippi volunteer infantry. He participated in many important en- gagements, among which were the battles of Shiloh, Port Gibson, second Corinth, the battles around Atlanta, Peach Tree Creek, Jones- boro, West Point, Hatchie River, Coffeeville, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Centerville, Randolph and Selma, Ala. At the last named place he was surrounded by the enemy but managed to effect his escape. In March, 1863, he was transferred to Company A First Mississippi cavalry, with which he served until the close of the war, having received his parole at Grenada, Miss. That his interest in his old comrades in arms is of a vital nature is signified by his member- ship in the United Confederate Veterans and he is one of the vice- presidents of the Starkville camp. In December, 1865, Mr. Saunders came to Starkville and opened a small grocery, the town at the time having a population of about three hundred. He continued in this line of enterprise until 1874, when he was elected official cotton- weigher of the county, an office of which he remained incumbent until 1879, when he was elected sheriff, holding this position consecutively for sixteen years, or until the enactment of the State law which pre- scribes the tenure of the office for but one term. After retiring from the shrievalty, in which his record of service was most admirable, he engaged in the drug business, in which he continued until 1899, when he turned the business over to his son-in-law, William H. Gunn, who has since had charge of the same. He has valuable city property and plantation interests in the county. His agricultural interests are large and the greater portion of his land is operated under lease to good tenants. Mr. Saunders is a stanch adherent of the Democratic

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party, is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Woodmen of the World, and both he and his wife hold member- ship in the Methodist Episcopal church, South. On Aug. 10, 1870, Mr. Saunders was united in marriage to Miss Ella W. Rogers, daugh- ter of the late James C. Rogers, of Starkville, and she was summoned , to the life eternal Feb. 7, 1893, having become the mother of six children, namely: James Rogers, who died at the age of two and one- half years; William, who died at the age of eighteen months; Annie, who died at the age of five years; Herbert T., who resides in Stark- ville; Elizabeth, who is the wife of William H. Gunn, who is engaged in the drug business in Starkville, as already noted; and Robert Perci- val, who married Miss Eloise Rife of Pheba, Miss. On June 4, 1895, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Saunders to Miss Mary Minor, of Macon, Miss., and they became the parents of two children, Frances Minor, who died at the age of two years, and Augustin, who is living. The family is prominent in the social life of the community and its members enjoy unreserved popularity.

Seawright, J. Lem., attorney at law and proprietor of the Ackerman Plaindealer, is one of the well known and representative citizens of Choctaw county and is an ex-member of the State senate. Mr. Seawright was born in Attala county, Miss., Oct. 31, 1871, and is a son of Robert M. and Mary (Townsend) Seawright, natives respectively of Mississippi and Alabama. The father was a loyal soldier of the Con- federacy during the progress of the Civil war, having been a member of the Thirty- fifth Mississippi infantry. In the fall of 1891 he was elected treasurer of Choctaw county and had served two years in that capacity at the time of his death, in 1893. He had previously served the town of French Camp as mayor for two terms. His widow now resides with her son, the subject of this review. J. Lem. Sea- wright attended the common schools of Choctaw county, taking a course in the academy at French Camp, and was graduated as a mem- ber of the class of 1890. In 1892 he became identified with newspaper work, learning the mysteries of the "art preservative of all arts," and continuing to be actively engaged in that line of work until his ad- mission to the bar, in the spring of 1902. He came to Ackerman in 1890 and became the editor and publisher of the Plaindealer, which he developed into one of the strongest and most attractive country papers in the State, while his editorial prowess was effectively employed in forwarding the interests of the Democratic party, of whose prin- ciples he has ever been a stanch advocate. He still owns the Plain- dealer, but the same has been leased to other parties. In connection with his editorial labors Mr. Seawright took up the study of the law, and upon his admission to the bar he engaged in active practice in Choctaw county, with headquarters in Ackerman, where he is asso-

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ciated in a professional partnership with S. R. Hughston, under the firm name of Hughston & Seawright. They have an excellent client- age, their practice being of general character and extending into the State and federal courts. In 1893 Mr. Seawright was appointed county treasurer to fill the unexpired term of his father, serving two years in that office, and in 1900 he was elected a member of the State senate, from the Twenty-third district, comprising Oktibbeha and Choctaw counties, while in the general election of 1904 his name was on the party ticket as presidential elector from the Fourth congressional district of Mississippi, and he was selected to carry the election re- turns to Washington. He was secretary of the Democratic executive committee of his county for four years, and also served as secretary of the executive committee of the Fourth congressional district, while he has long been regarded as one of the wheelhorses of the party in his section of the State. For six years he served as trustee of the graded schools of Ackerman, and for four years as alderman, being, by virtue of his office, treasurer of the town. He is affiliated with the Masonic order, the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Woodmen of the World, while both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church in Ackerman, in which he is a steward. He is now, and has been for the past three years, deputy grand-chancellor of the Knights of Pythias for the Fourth district of Mississippi. On Feb. 15, 1903, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Seawright to Miss Mallie Hunt, daughter of William T. and Fannie (Neal) Hunt, of Ackerman, and of this union has been born one daughter, Mildred, and one son, J. Lem, Jr.

Seward, E. R., senior member of the firm of Seward & Company, general merchants, at Ackerman, Choctaw county, is also a member of the bar of the State and an ex- member of the legislature, while he is an influential and popular citizen of his county and a member of one of the old and honored families of the State. He was born in Carroll county, Miss., March 9, 1849, and is a son of Richard A. and Sarah A. (Doyle) Seward, the former of whom was born in Virginia, in 1808, while the latter was born and reared in Alabama. Richard A. Seward was a son of Zachariah Seward, who was born in Virginia, whither his father came from England in the early colonial days. The former removed from Virginia to Tennessee, thence to Alabama, and from that State to Carroll county, Miss., while finally he located in Florida, where both he and his wife died prior to the Civil war, he having been a soldier in the War of 1812, and was a planter by vocation. In his family were six sons and four daughters. Joseph Doyle, father of Sarah A. (Doyle) Seward, came from Alabama to Mississippi about 1840, settling near Middleton, Carroll county, which, upon the division of that county, became Montgomery, where he passed the remainder

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Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. III, Part 84

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