USA > Mississippi > Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. III > Part 93
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interest in public affairs, particularly those of local order, and he is at the present time a valued member of the board of aldermen of Seminary. He holds membership in the Baptist church, and in a fraternal relation is affiliated with the Masonic order, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Woodmen of the World and Knights and Ladies of Honor. Dr. Temple has been thrice married. On April 29, 1891, he wedded Miss Lulu Campbell, daughter of William G. and Delina (Hughes) Campbell, of Attala county, Miss., and she died Oct. 9, 1894, being survived by her one child, Lulu, who was born Oct. 2, 1894. On Feb. 26, 1896, Dr. Temple married Miss Anna Williams, daughter of James M. and Josephine (Daniel) Williams, of Chita, Attala county. She was summoned into eternal rest March 30, 1903, being survived by a daughter and a son Willie, born July 12, 1897, and Walter, born April 24, 1899. Dr. Temple's third marriage occurred May 3, 1905, to Miss Lutie Thornton, daughter of Thomas B. and Mary E. (Barrett) Thornton, of Eckels, Tate county, Miss., where Mrs. Temple was born and reared.
Temple, Oscar F., general merchant of Meridian, has recently identified himself with the business interests of this city and is known as a reliable and progressive business man. He was born in Chat- ham, province of Ontario, Canada, July 6, 1862, and is a son of John W. and Mary (Brown) Temple, the former of whom was born in Dor- chester, province of Quebec, and the latter in Blenheim, province of Ontario, while the genealogy of each is of stanch English deriva- tion. Both are now deceased, the mother having died June 30, 1900, and the father Oct. 1, 1906. The father was a contractor and builder by vocation during the greater portion of his active career. Oscar F. Temple secured good educational advantages, having attended the public schools of his native province and supplemented this by a course in the State normal school of Michigan, at Ypsilanti. After leaving the normal school he was successfully engaged in teaching in the public schools of Michigan and Canada for a period of about six years, after which he became a traveling salesman for the Melton Hardware Company, of Meridian, remaining with this concern for a decade and then accepting a similar position with Stauffer, Eshle- man & Company, of New Orleans, retaining the incumbency two years. At the expiration of this time, in 1904, he located in Merid- ian and engaged in the mercantile business, being associated with C. W. Cochran, under the firm name of C. W. Cochran & Company, but he shortly afterward disposed of his interest in this enterprise, and March 1, 1905, purchased the general-merchandise business of McArthur & Stanton, and assumed charge of the well equipped establishment, which is located on the Philadelphia road, near the insane hospital, and here he not only holds the excellent trade already controlled but is expanding the functions of the enterprise and gaining a generously increasing patronage. On Aug. 1, 1906, he also engaged in the livery business at 2612-2616 5th street under the firm name of Eclipse Stables, doing a general livery feed and sale business. Mr. Temple is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Woodmen of the World, and Travelers' Protective association
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and the United Commercial Travelers. On Oct. 18, 1897, Mr. Temple married Miss Jennie B. Semmes, daughter of John H. Semmes, of Meridian, Miss., and they have four children-Fred Davis, Ruby Gladys, Oscar Felix and Joseph Ellis.
Thames, James F., who is now serving his third term as chancery clerk of Simp- son county, maintains his home in Men- denhall and is one of the popular young men of this county, of which he is a native son. He was born in the village of Magee, Simpson county, Miss., Jan. 3, 1874, and is a son of Richard and Mary (Tullos) Thames, both of whom were likewise born and reared in this county, where the respective families were founded in the pioneer epoch. Richard Thames was a loyal soldier in the Confederate line during the Civil war, having been a mem- ber of a Mississippi regiment whose record was one which reflected credit and honor upon its personnel and upon the State which sent it forth to do battle for the Southern cause. James F. Thames was afforded excellent educational advantages, having been a student in the high school at Sylvarena, Smith county, and having thereafter taken a course in Harperville collegiate insti- tute, at Harperville, Scott county. In 1895, at the age of twenty- one years, just after leaving the school last mentioned, Mr. Thames accepted the nomination and was elected chancery clerk of Simpson county, and at the expiration of his first term he was re-elected without opposition, while in 1903 he was elected for a third term of four years. He is one of the zealous workers in the ranks of the Democratic party and has served as delegate to State conventions of the same, as well as the county and congressional conventions. His religious faith is that of the Baptist church, and he is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity and the Woodmen of the World. He is a director of the Mendenhall bank and also of that at Magee. On April 24, 1901, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Thames to Miss Mary Bishop, daughter of James I. and Mary J. (Ragland) Bishop, of Westville, Simpson county, where Mrs. Thames was born and reared. To this union one son was born on Oct. 30, 1905.
Thomas, Emmet Nicholson, a representative member of the bar of Washington county, a prominent member of the State legislature and a citizen held in unqualified esteem, is engaged in the practice of his profession in the city of Greenville and has the distinction of being speaker of the State house of representatives at the time of this writing. Mr. Thomas is a native of the Lone Star State, having been born in Gonzales. Tex., June 10, 1855, and being a son of William and Ann (Rogers) Thomas, both of stanch Scotch ancestry and mem- bers of families early founded in America. William Thomas was a man of prominence and influence in Texas and there held the office of judge of probate during the progress of the Civil war. Emmet
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N. Thomas secured his early educational training in the public schools, after which he entered Mississippi college, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1876, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He then took up the study of law under able preceptors and was admitted to the bar of Mississippi in 1880. He began the practice of his profession in Washington county, where he has attained to marked precedence as an able and discriminating trial lawyer and safe and well fortified counsellor. In 1889 he was elected to repre- sent Washington county in the lower house of the State legislature, and he was re-elected in 1895, 1899 and 1903, while on Jan. 5, 1904, he was signally honored by his legislative confreres in being elected speaker of the house, proving a most able and popular presiding officer. He has accorded an unwavering support to the stanch old Democratic party and has been a zealous worker in its ranks. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, as is also Mrs. Thomas, and is a prominent member of the Masonic order, having been grand master of the grand lodge of the State in 1903 and as such having officiated at the laying of the corner stone of the beautiful new State capitol; he is affiliated also with the chapter, council and command- ery of the Masonic fraternity. Mr. Thomas was married in 1884, to Miss Martha H. Shackleford, daughter of John and Ann (Hick- man) Shackleford, of Paris, Ky. The three children of this union are Mary D., Ann and Samuel B.
Thomason, W. B., a physician of Jack- son, Miss., was born in Harrisburg, near Tupelo, Miss., June 10, 1852, and is the son of George C. Thomason and Elizabeth (Henderson) Thomason, both of whom were natives of Alabama. His parents came to Mississippi in its early settlement and located at Richmond, Miss., his father being one of its pioneer merchants. Later he removed to Harrisburg, where he was also one of its first merchants, and he re- mained there until about 1857 when he purchased the land upon which Tupelo is built, where he again engaged in merchan- dising and farming. He was very success- ful in his business affairs and in 1881 he gave up merchandising and removed to his farm about three miles west of Tupelo where he died in December, 1881. The mother of Dr. Thomason died at Tupelo in 1858. George C. Thomason served with rank of captain in the Confederate army and was in the battle of Chicka- mauga. Dr. Thomason lived on a farm until fifteen years of age, and attended the common schools. He attended the academy at Tupelo and was for a time assistant teacher in that institution. He entered the University of Virginia and remained three years. In 1878 he was graduated in medicine at the University of Louisville, Ky., after which he located in Birmingham, Miss. In 1881 he re- moved to Yazoo City and from thence to Silver City, remaining until
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1903 when he came to Jackson, Miss. He was health officer of Yazoo county from 1881 to 1884, having been appointed by Gov. Lowry. In 1903 he graduated in electro-therapeutics at Lima, Ohio, and now does a general practice in his office only, and makes a specialty of electro-therapeutics. He is a member of the State medical asso- ciation, Hinds county medical society and the American medical association; is a member of the Baptist church and of the fraternal order of Knights of Pythias. Dr. Thomason was married on Nov. 26, 1882, to Mattie E. Slaughter, a native of Mississippi. Dr. and Mrs. Thomason have six children: Clara A., Cornelia, William B., Jr., Charles C., Howard E. and Mattie Belle.
Thompson, Allen, a lawyer of Jackson, Miss., was born Jan. 25, 1880, at Duffau, Texas, and is the son of Thomas Jefferson Thompson and Nicy (Tignor) Thompson, both of whom were natives of Mississippi. Mr. Thompson received his early educa- tion in the private schools of Kentwood, La., and Crystal Springs, Miss. He en- tered Millsaps college in 1898 and was graduated in 1902 with B. A. degree. He represented the Millsaps college in the inter-collegiate contest at the Mississippi chautauqua in 1901. In 1900 he won debater's medal in the college and the senior medal in 1902. He studied law at home and was admitted to practice in 1903 and located in Jackson, Miss., forming a partnership with C. D. Potter. In 1904 he was ap- pointed a member of the board of trustees of the Institution for the Blind, by Governor Vardaman, of which board he was made secre- tary. On Jan. 4, 1905, he was elected prosecuting attorney for the city of Jackson by the mayor and board of aldermen and on Aug. 9, 1906, he was elected police justice for the city of Jackson for the term beginning Jan. 1, 1907, by a majority of 111 votes, carrying three of the four wards in the city. Mr. Thompson is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and of the fraternal order of Knights of Pythias and of the college fraternity of Kappa Alpha. He was married to Mattie Bell Cavett, daughter of John Conner Cavett, on Nov. 5, 1903. Mrs. Thompson's maternal grandmother was a sister of Gen. James Longstreet.
Thompson, John S., a leading merchant of Quitman and one of the extensive landholders of Clarke county, may properly be desig- nated as one of the pioneer citizens of this section, where he has passed the greater portion of his life. He was born in Sumter county, Ala., Feb. 4, 1838, and that State was also the native place of his parents, William H. and Alice (Rosser) Thompson, the former of whom was born in Washington county, in 1808. In 1845 he came with his family to Clarke county, Miss., where he became the owner of a large plantation, continuing to be identified with agricultural pursuits until his death, in 1871. His wife was born in Sumter
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county, Ala., in 1817, and her death occurred in 1879, both she and her husband having passed the closing years of their lives in Newton county, whither they removed in 1867. Both were devoted mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics Mr. Thomp- son was a stanch Democrat, being a man of much public spirit and one who wielded a wide influence in his community. Of the five children in the family the subject of this review was the second in order of birth. John S. Thompson was a lad of seven years at the time of his parents' removal to Mississippi, and he was reared to manhood in Clarke county, securing his educational training in the schools of Quitman. In 1861, at the outbreak of the Civil war, he tendered his services to the Confederacy, enlisting in Company D, Fourteenth Mississippi infantry. in which he rose to the rank of orderly sergeant. He participated in the battle of Fort Donelson, under General Buckner, and was there captured, being taken to Camp Douglas, Chicago, Ill., where he was held captive until his exchange was effected, seven months later, in September, 1862. He then rejoined his regiment, taking part in the engagement at Cold- water, Miss., besides several of minor importance, as well as the battle of Jackson, the campaign from Dalton to Atlanta, Ga., then in the Tennessee campaign, including the battles of Franklin and Nash- ville and having the final engagement at Kingston, N. C., where he was again taken prisoner, with the rest of his command, and was taken to Point Lookout, Md., where he was held prisoner until August, 1865, when he was released on parole, a veteran defender of the "lost cause" of the Confederacy. After the close of the war Mr. Thomp- son returned to Clarke county and gave his attention to farming for the ensuing two years, and he then established himself in the general merchandise business in Quitman, since which time he has successfully carried forward both lines of enterprise, being the owner of about 2,000 acres of land in Clarke county. His store was de- stroyed by fire in March, 1905, since which time he has not been in the mercantile business although he has been a pioneer merchant of Quitman and finds his popularity based on long years of honor- able business dealings. A stanch supporter of the cause of the Democracy from the time of attaining his majority, Mr. Thompson has never sought public office, though he was elected mayor of Quit- man in 1881, serving one term and in 1896 was elected a member of the board of supervisors, and was for four years the chairman of the same. He and his wife are prominent and zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Quitman, in which he has served as steward for the past twenty years. In 1865 Mr. Thomp- son was united in marriage to Miss Mary McDonald, daughter of William McDonald, who was a representative business man of Quit- man, and she died in February, 1870. She is survived by one son, William A., who is a prominent merchant of Quitman. In October, 1870, Mr. Thompson was married to Miss Willie Bowen, daughter of'Rev. Philip Bowen, a clergyman of the Baptist church, and they have six children, namely; Nora, wife of Sam A. Carr, of Quitman; Charles B., employed in Meridian, Miss .; Henry C., associated with
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his father in business; and John S., Sallie and Melley, who remain at the parental home.
Thompson, Robert P., a lawyer of Jackson, Miss., was born in Brookhaven, Miss., Feb. 2, 1880, and is the son of Robert H. Thomp- son and Frances (Patterson) Thompson, natives of Mississippi. (For sketch of father, see Robert Harvey Thompson in this publication.) Mr. Thompson was educated at Bell Buckle, Tenn., and the Univer- sity of Mississippi and was graduated from the latter institution in 1899. In 1900, he was graduated from Millsaps college, with degree of LL. B. and located in Jackson for the practice of law, forming a partnership with V. J. Stricker. He is a member of the Presbyterian church and of the college fraternity, Delta Psi. He was married, Oct. 15, 1902, to Irene Daisy Smith, daughter of Robert Smith of Canton, Miss., and grand-niece of Jefferson Davis.
Thompson, Robert Wily, M. D., is successfully established in the practice of his chosen profession in the town of Lumberton, Lamar county, and is one of the able and popular physicians and surgeons of this section. He was born in Lawrence county, Miss., Nov. 26, 1867, and is a son of Robert K. and Margaret M. (Meeks) Thompson, the former of whom was born in Georgia and the latter in Alabama, the father being a planter by vocation. Dr. Thompson completed the curriculum of the public schools of his native State and early manifested a distinctive appreciation of the value of education and made the best use of the advantages afforded him. while as a youth he was for a time successfully engaged in teaching in the common schools, thus putting his acquirements to practical test and utiliza- tion, while he largely depended upon his own exertions in securing the funds which enabled him to complete his technical education. In 1891, having taken a preparatory course in the medical depart- ment of Tulane university, he passed an examination before the State board of medical examiners and was admitted to practice, initiating the active work of his profession by locating in Everett, Simpson county, where he was successful in his efforts. In order to further fortify himself for the exacting work and responsibilities of his profession he entered the medical department of Vanderbilt - university, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1895, receiving the degree of Doctor of Medicine from this well known institution. In the spring of 1896 Dr. Thompson took up his resi- dence in Lumberton, where he has since been actively engaged in practice, retaining a large and representative support and being intimately identified with professional, civic and business interests. He is president of the Lumberton Drug Company, which was incor- porated in 1899, with a capital stock of $3,000, and the company has a finely equipped establishment, controlling an excellent busi- ness. Dr. Thompson is local surgeon for the New Orleans & North Eastern railroad and also the Gulf & Ship Island railroad, while he is an appreciative member of the American medical associ- ation, the Mississippi State medical society and the Lamar county medical society. He is also examining physician for most of the large insurance companies which operate in that section of the State.
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He is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, and has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church since he was thirteen years of age, his wife likewise being a devoted member of this church. On April 14, 1897, was solemnized the marriage of Dr. Thompson to Miss Olivia Johnston, daughter of George W. and Susie (Eaton) Johnston, of Hooker, this State, her father being an ex-member of the Mis- sissippi legislature. Of the three children of Dr. and Mrs. Thompson we record that Marietta, who was born Feb. 25, 1898, died on June 23, following; Robert Wily, Jr., was born Jan. 15, 1900; and George Walton was born July 6, 1903.
Tippin, Philip H. M., president of the Bank of Commerce at Gulfport, Harrison county, is one of the public-spirited and influential citizens of the thriving little city, to whose upbuilding he contributed in a most liberal way, being identified with numerous local enterprises and giving his support to all worthy measures tend- ing to make for advancement along ma- terial and civic lines. Mr. Tippin was born in Brewton, Escambia county, Ala., May 30, 1862, being a son of Augustus C. and Bethena (Castleberry) Tippin, the former of whom was born in Brewton, in 1838, being a representative of one of the old and prominent families of that section of Alabama, while the latter was born in Castleberry, that State, in 1839, being a repre- sentative of the family in whose honor the town was named. The parents removed to Florida when Philip was a small child, and there passed the remainder of their lives, the father having been engaged in the lumber business. Augustus, C. Tippin was a member of the First Florida infantry during the Civil war and was first lieu- tenant of his company. The regiment was assigned to the Army of Tennessee, under General Bragg, and Lieutenant Tippin took part in all the engagements in which his command participated, having been seven times wounded, while he was twice captured by the enemy. He continued in the service until the close of the war and his name merits a high place on the roll of the gallant defenders of the "lost cause." Philip H. M. Tippin, whose name initiates this paragraph, received his early educational training in the schools of Florida, where he also initiated his practical business career. He was engaged in the lumbering business at Pensacola, Fla., for twenty- four years, 1. aving signally prospered in his efforts, and in 1899 he came to Gulfport, being essentially one of the pioneers of the town in its renascence as one of the new and thriving industrial places of the State, and here he engaged in the same line of enterprise which had engrossed his attention for nearly a quarter of a century in Florida. He is still most prominently concerned with the great lumbering industry of that section, and also has many other local interests of a capitalistic and industrial nature. He was one of
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those instrumental in the organization of the Bank of Commerce, in 1902, the institution having an authorized capital of $100,000, and being duly incorporated under the laws of the State. He was elected cashier at the time of organization, and two months later was made president of the bank, an executive incumbency which he has since retained. Capt. M. G. May is vice-president, and S. A. Tomlinson, cashier. The average deposits of the bank, as shown by its reports, aggregate about $350,000, while $35,000 has been directed into the surplus fund, in addition to the payment of satisfactory dividends to the stockholders. The figures given indicate that the bank con- trols a large and important business, and in the prosecution of the business is enlisted ample capital, utmost reliability and ample ex- perience on the part of the executive corps, so that the institution justly appeals to public support. A general banking business is carried on and a specialty is made of collections. Mr. Tippin is a stalwart supporter of the principles of the Democracy, but has none of the proclivities of the office-seeker. He and his wife are valued and zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and he is identified with the Masonic fraternity, thirty-second degree, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. On Sept. 10, 1884, occurred the marriage of Mr. Tippin to Miss Bessie D. Hailes, daughter of W. W. and Catherine (Cary) Hailes, of Powelton, Fla., and they have two children, Hubert H. and William H. Torbert, Charles Alexander, manager of the Bank of Ackerman, Choctaw county, where he also conducts a successful gen- eral merchandise business, was born at French Camp, that county, Sept. 5, 1862, being a son of Thomas Addison Torbert and Sarah (Mckinnon) Torbert, the for- mer of whom was born in Virginia and the latter in North Carolina. The father became a successful planter and merchant of Choctaw county, and the family name is one which is highly honored in that part of the State. Charles A. Torbert is indebted to the public schools of Choctaw county for his early educational disci- pline, and after leaving school he was identified with agricultural pursuits and merchandising for a number of years before initiating his independent business career. He has been engaged in the general merchandise trade in Weir since 1896, and has built up a profitable business, while he has been the executive head of the Ackerman bank since 1902, being one of the stockholders of the same. Mr. Torbert is a reliable and public-spirited citizen and is held in high regard in the community. He gives an unqualified allegiance to the Demo- cratic party, and is identified with the Masonic fraternity, the Knights of Pythias and the Knights and Ladies of Honor. In 1889 was cele- brated his marriage to Miss Minnie Lee Lucas, daughter of John
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and Maggie (Carter) Lucas. of French Camp, that county. Mr. and Mrs. Torbert have no children.
Torrey, J. Edgar, is engaged in the practice of law at Fayette and is also incumbent of the office of superintendent of education for Jefferson county. He was born in the village of Union Church, this county, Dec. 23, 1871, and is a son of Robert and Mary (Patterson) Torrey, the former of whom was born in Missis- sippi and the latter in Alabama. The father was a valiant soldier of the Con- federacy during the war between the States, having been a member of a Mis- sissippi regiment and having been a lieu- tenant in his company. After completing a course in the high school of his native town Mr. Torrey continued his studies in the academic department of the University of Mississippi, later entering the law department, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1898, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He forthwith took up his residence in Fayette, where he has since been established in the successful practice of his profession. He is an uncompromising adherent of the Democratic party. and in November. 1903, he was elected county superintendent of education, of which office he has since remained in tenure, giving a most satisfactory and discriminating administra- tion and having accomplished much in systematizing and perfecting the work of the schools in his jurisdiction. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Knights of Pythias and the Delta Psi college fraternity, and his religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church. Trotter, Walter, president of the Bank of Winona and a representative member of the bar of Montgomery county, was born in this county, which was then a portion of Choctaw county, on Nov. 28, 1849, being a son of Capt. Isham P. and Elizabeth F. (Peebles) Trotter, the former of whom was born in Alabama and the latter in North Carolina, while they were numbered among the pioneers of Mississippi, where the father took up his residence in the thirties. He is still living, at the venerable age of eighty- three years (1905) and resides in Webster county. He served with marked gal- lantry as a Confederate soldier during the Civil war, having enlisted as a lieutenant and having finally become captain of Company B, Fifth Mississippi cavalry. His wife died in 1876. Walter Trotter secured due educational training of a practical order during his vouthful years and in formulating his plans for a future career he
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