Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. III, Part 96

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 96

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known residents of Simpson county, and of the eight children of this union all are living except the eldest, Ida, who died in 1896, at the age of twenty-five years. The names of the other children are here entered in order of birth: Isaac P., Robert B., Una Mae, Alex- ander G., Stacey L., Nolan and Sudie.

Truly, Jeff, is one of the leading legists and jurists of Mississippi and is now associate justice of the supreme court of the State. He was born July 21, 1861, at Fayette, Jefferson county, Miss., being a son of Richard Harrison Truly and Mary (Key) Truly, the paternal ancestors having come to Mississippi from Virginia and the maternal from South Carolina, and both families having been early founded in America. The judge is a direct descendant of James Truly, who came from Virginia to the Natchez district of Mississippi in 1773. Judge Truly's paternal grandfather was a soldier in the War of 1812, having been with General Jackson at New Orleans and having served as sergeant in the Jefferson troop, commanded by Col. Thomas Hinds. The maternal grandfather likewise took part in the War of 1812, serving in Captain Key's company of South Carolina militia. Richard H. Truly was a valiant soldier of the Confederacy and was a well known and influential citizen of Jefferson county. Judge Truly was afforded the advantages of a well ordered private school in the city of New Orleans, attending the same two years, and in 1875 he attended Campbell's school, in Natchez. In 1877-8 he read law in the office of J. J. Whitney, of Fayette, Miss., and in the follow- ing year had as his preceptors the firm of Steele & Garrett, of St. Joseph, La. He then entered the law department of Tulane uni- versity, in New Orleans, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1880. In November, 1883, he engaged in the practice of law in Fayette, his native town, and he represented Jefferson county in the State legislature during the session of 1886. He soon attained to reputation and success in his chosen profession, building up an excellent practice, and in December, 1898, Governor McLaurin conferred upon him the appointment of circuit judge of the Sixth judicial district, a position to which he was reappointed by Governor Longino in February, 1902. He continued to serve on the circuit bench until Aug. 15, 1903, when Governor Longino appointed him to the distinguished office of associate justice of the supreme court of the State, his term expiring May 10, 1906, and his reappointment being made by Governor Vardaman. He has established on the supreme bench a reputation for clear, accurate and learned opin- ions, and he has handed down a number of very important decisions, also having had the distinction of delivering the first opinion made by the supreme court in the new capitol. Judge Truly has ever given an unwavering allegiance to the Democratic party, in whose councils he has been influential and active in his State, having been a valued member of its State executive and campaign committees. He is a Knight Templar Mason, a member of the Mystic Shrine and also of the Knights of Pythias, and both he and his wife hold mem- bership in the Presbyterian church. At Fayette, this State, Oct. 23, 1889, Judge Truly was united in marriage to Miss Mattie Whit-

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ney, daughter of Dr. Prosper King and Helen Sophia (McCaleb) Whitney. She is a descendant of James Rex Whitney, who served with Commodore John Paul Jones on the "Bon Homme Richard." Her grandfather, Judge John Merrick Whitney, was judge of pro- bate in Jefferson county in the early days of its history. Judge and Mrs. Truly have four children, namely: Everette Geoffrey, Richard Marion, Marjorie and Thelma.

Unger, Jacob William, M. D., one of the best known and most distinguished physicians and surgeons of Mississippi, is engaged in practice at West Point, Clay county, where he also owns and con- ducts the Panphysion, a well equipped institution for the treatment of disease by physiological methods. A son of James David and Julia Elizabeth (Holman) Unger, the doctor was born in Lexington county, S. C., on Aug. 8, 1851. With a common school education as a preliminary, he began the study of medicine in 1873, having as his preceptor Dr. A. S. Bramby, of Goodman, Miss. After attending two courses of lectures in Louisville medical college he was there gradu- ated in 1875, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, while in the same year the old Kentucky School of Medicine conferred upon him the ad eundem degree. During the session of 1881-2 Dr. Unger attended the Bellevue Hospital medical college, in the city of New York, and the supplemental degree of Doctor of Medicine was con- ferred upon him by that renowned institution in 1882, while he has taken post-graduate courses and been granted certificates of the same in the New Orleans Polyclinic, 1888; the New York Post-Gradu- ate medical school, 1898; Chicago Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat college, 1898; and the Cincinnati Post-Graduate School of Physiological Therapeutics, 1904. In February, 1905, the last mentioned insti- tution conferred upon him the honorary degree of Bachelor of Phy- siotherapy. Dr. Unger practiced his profession at Newport, Attala county, Miss., from 1875 to 1883; was at Sharon, Madison county, during the year 1884; and since that time has been engaged in the general practice of his profession in West Point. He was a member of the Attala and Holmes county medical society and the Medical and Surgical Society of Mississippi until they became defunct, and he is now prominently identified with the Clay and Oktibbeha county medical society, the Mississippi State medical association, the American medical association and the American Electro Thera- peutic association. The doctor is a member of the State Historical society and is identified with the Masonic fraternity, the Knights of Pythias, and the Woodmen of the World, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. In 1878 a paper from his pen, on tubercular meningitis, was pub- lished in the Southern Medical Record and was republished in the

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St. Louis Medical Brief. In 1895 he contributed a paper on porra- myoclomus multiplex to the Medical and Surgical Society of Mis- sissippi, and the same appeared on the records of that organization. Other papers written by Dr. Unger are, "Influenza," before the Clay and Oktibbeha county medical society, and one on "Light Rays," which was published in the Mississippi Medical Monthly. He has been medical examiner of the New York Mutual Life Insurance Company, the Woodmen of the World, the Knights of Pythias and the national bureau of pensions, and at the present time he is exam- iner for the New York Equitable Life Assurance Society and the Penn Mutual of Philadelphia. He has been the attending physician of the Southern Female college, at West Point, from the time of its organization, except for one year, and his practice is wide in scope and representative in character. In September, 1904, Dr. Unger purchased and equipped the Panphysion, an institution second to none in the State for the treatment of disease by physiological meth- ods, and under the able direction of the doctor the success of the enterprise has been most emphatic and unequivocal. On Jan. 25, 1877, Dr. Unger was united in marriage to Miss Maggie Crawford Neal, of Sharon, Miss., and she died April 23, 1897 no children having been born of the union. On Jan. 18, 1900, was solemnized the mar- riage of Dr. Unger to Miss Florence H. McMillan, of Louisville, Miss., and they have three children-Ansel Merton, Annie Elizabeth and Jacob W., Jr.

Vaughan, J. W., M. D., one of the leading medical practitioners of Marshall county, is established in the work of his profession at Potts Camp and is one of the popular and influential citizens of the town. Dr. Vaughan was born in Holly Springs, Marshall county, Miss., Oct. 29, 1861, and is a son of Maj. George W. and Mary M. (Pool) Vaughan. Major Vaughan came to Mississippi in 1836 and located in the old town of Salem, in Benton county. He after- . ward engaged in merchandising at Salisbury and Pocahontas, Tenn., while in 1860-61 he was engaged in the same line of enterprise in Holly Springs, Marshall county, Miss. In 1861, at the outbreak of the Civil war, he enlisted in the Ninth Mississippi cavalry, in which he rose to the rank of major, continuing in active service until the war closed and the cause of the Confederacy became lost. After the war he located in Tippah county, near Salem, and later he became the organizer in chief of the new county of Benton, which was taken from Tippah and Marshall counties. His wife named the county and also selected the title of the county seat, Ashland. Though a man of great public spirit and marked ability, Major Vaughan never sought political office, while such was his nobility of character that he gained and retained the unequivocal confidence and regard of all with whom he came in contact. He was born in Mecklenburg county, Va., and he died at his home in Benton county, Miss., June 21, 1871, aged fifty-five years. His wife passed away Aug. 25, 1890, having been a daughter of Samuel P. Pool, of Salem, Tippah county, who came to Mississippi from Newmarket, Ala. Of the children of Maj. George W. and Mary (Pool) Vaughan we enter the following

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brief record; C. P. is engaged as fuel foreman for 'Frisco railroad at Potts Camp; L. G. is in the employ of the Gulf & Ship Island rail- road, with headquarters in Gulfport, Miss., and is a prominent factor in the ranks of the Democratic party ; Betty is the wife of F. M. Tread- well, of Early Grove, Marshall county; Mary V. is the widow of L. E. Lipford, who was superintendent of education in Benton county for twelve years, and she now resides in Memphis, Tenn .; Mildred T. is the wife of Dr. W. P. Bonton, of Lebanon, Tenn .; Laura V., de- ceased, was the first wife of Judge B. T. Kimburgh, of Oxford, Miss .; and J. W. of this sketch. Dr. Vaughan completed the curriculum of the public schools, including a course in the high school at Ash- land, and his technical education was secured in the medical depart- ment of Vanderbilt university, in which he was graduated in 1884, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He has ever since been established in the practice of his profession in Marshall county, and since 1887 has maintained his home in Potts Camp. He is one of the popular and successful physicians and surgeons of this section and commands public confidence and esteem in an exceptional de- gree. He has taken an active interest in public affairs, being a stal- wart Democrat, and served several years as mayor of Potts Camp. He is a member of the Democratic State executive committee and of the executive committee of the party in Marshall county. He is a member of the American medical association and the medical societies of the State and Marshall county, while fraternally he is identified with the time-honored order of Free Masons, being at the present time worshipful master of Potts Camp Lodge, No. 406, F. & A. M., and he is also affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Woodmen of the World, of which last mentioned he is one of the State managers for Mississippi. Dr. Vaughan is local medical examiner for all the leading life insurance companies. On March 4, 1885, Dr. Vaughan was united in marriage to Miss Willa A. Ayres, daughter of Capt. William W. Ayres, of Benton county, who was circuit clerk for nine years and who also held the office of State deputy revenue inspector; he was a member of the State legislature for two terms and was one of the prominent and influential citizens and honored pioneers of Benton county. Dr. and Mrs. Vaughan have two daughters- Martha, who is the wife of Bernard G. Jones, a merchant of Potts Camp, and Fay, who remains at the parental home.

Ventress, William Pynchon Stewart, of Woodville, Wilkinson county, is one of the representative members of the bar of this section of the State, being incumbent of the office of chancellor of the Fourth chan- cery district, and being a scion of one of the old and honored families of Mississippi. Judge Ventress was born in Wilkinson county, this State, May 28, 1854, and is a son of James Alexander and Charlotte (Pynchon) Ventress, the former of whom was born in Tennessee and the latter in Massachusetts, the ancestral lines representing French, English and Scotch strains. The original progenitors of the Ventress family in Mississippi located here in t the territorial epoch of the commonwealth. James Alexander Ventress,

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specific mention of whom will be found in this work, was graduated in the University of Edinburgh, Scotland; was a lawyer by pro- fession but never practiced. He was speaker of the Mississippi house of representatives in 1841-42 and was author of the bill creat- ing the State university. Judge Ventress received his earlier educa- tional training under private tutors, later attending the Norwood school, at Norwood, Va., the University of Virginia, and having been graduated from the law department of the University of Mississippi as a member of the class of 1883, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He at once established himself in practice at Woodville, where he has since continued to make his home and where he has attained to distinction as a legist and jurist. In 1892 he was elected representative of Wilkinson county in the State legislature, remain- ing a member of the house until 1900, when he was elected to the State senate, in which body he served until he was appointed, by Governor Longino, to the office of chancellor of the Fourth chan- cery district and remained chancellor until Aug. 1, 1906. He is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Delta Psi college fraternity, and both he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, South. In 1893 was solemnized the marriage of Judge Ventress to Miss Willie Galloway, daughter of Bishop Charles B. Galloway, a distin- guished prelate of the Methodist Episcopal church, South. Judge and Mrs. Ventress have three children-Harriet E., Charles B. G. and Margaret E.

Vollor, William Joseph, merits recog- nition in this work by reason of his stand- ing as one of the representative younger members of the bar of the city of Vicks- burg. where he has resided from the time of his birth, which here occurred Feb. 22, 1870, his father being William Vollor and the maiden name of his mother having been Catherine Burke. The subject of this review was afforded the advantages of the parochial and higher Catholic schools of Vicksburg. He was here gradu- ated in St. Aloysius college and then took up the study of law, thoroughly fortifying himself in the science of jurisprudence and being duly admitted to the bar in 1893, since which time he has been engaged in the practice of his profession in Vicksburg, where he has secured a representative clientage and established a high reputation as an able trial lawyer. In politics he is an uncompro- mising adherent of the Democratic party and he has done most effective service in the party cause, as a member of the Democratic State executive committee and in other fields of practical political work. He represented his district in the lower house of the State legislature from 1900 to 1904 and made an excellent record in that connection. For six years he served as city attorney of Vicksburg.

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His religious faith is that of the Catholic church, of which he is a communicant, as is also his wife. On Feb. 15, 1904, Mr. Vollor was united in marriage to Miss Mary Doyle, and they have one child, Katherine Lucille, who was born May 6, 1905.

von Seutter, Carl J., one of the leading business men of the city of Jackson and a representative of one of its old and honored families, well merits recognition in this historical compilation. His father, E. von Seutter, was the founder of what is now the oldest jewelry house in the State of Mississippi, while of the business, Carl J., of this sketch, is now the pro- prietor, having succeeded to the same upon the death of his father. The latter was the youngest son in the old and pa- trician family of Seutter von Loetzon, and was born in the Bavarian town of Lindau, situated on an island in beautiful Lake of Constance. at the foot of the Swiss Alps. He received most liberal educational advantages in the fatherland, and he came to America in 1848, when twenty-one years of age. He landed in New Orleans and soon afterward came to Vicksburg, Miss., where he joined an old school friend, Max Kuner, and thoroughly learned the jewelry business in all its details, including watchmaking and engraving. In 1851 he established himself in the jewelry business at Raymond, the county seat of Hinds county. He was successful in his efforts, and about two years afterward he returned to his old home in Germany, where he was united in marriage to Miss Julia Hoch, in 1853. He is survived by three of their eight children. Armin is a leading photographer in Jackson; Edward Raymond is engaged in the jewelry business in Meridian; and Carl J. figures as the subject of this sketch. After the Civil war, which brought to him most serious financial reverses, E. von Seutter removed with his family to Jackson, where he gradually retrieved his fortunes, building up the large and important jewelry business in which he was succeeded by his son and which stands as the leading enterprise of the sort in the capital city. He died June 17, 1900, and the city thus lost one of its most reliable and honored business men and one whose life had been one of signal nobility in all its relations. While never active in political matters, he was a zealous advocate of the principles of the Democracy and was essentially public-spirited in his attitude. Carl J. von Seutter was born in the city of Jackson, Miss., June 8, 1866, and his educational training was secured in the city schools, including a course in the high school. In 1878 he went to New York city and initiated his independent career by taking a position as packing boy in one of the largest jewelry establishments of the national metropolis. Within the same year he returned to Jackson and began working in the jewelry store of his father. He has continued to be actively associated with the business of which

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he is now sole proprietor, and for fifteen years prior to the death of his father he had been the manager of the business. In 1904 was erected the fine Seutter block, one of the most attractive business buildings in the city, and the ground floor of this building is utilized by Mr. von Seutter for the accommodation of his large and select stock of jewelry, silverware, clocks, etc. On the upper floors of the building are thirty-two finely appointed office rooms. Mr. von Seutter upholds the high reputation of his old-established jewelry house, having the highest grade of watches, diamonds, jewelry, sterling-silver and plated ware, novelties, art goods, clocks, bronzes china, cut glass, etc., while the optical department of the establish- ment is unexcelled in facilities by any in the State. On March 12, 1890, Mr. von Seutter was united in marriage to Miss Mary Holbrook, who was born and reared in Rankin county, Miss., being a daughter of James Holbrook, a representative citizen of that county. Mr. and Mrs. von Seutter have one child, Julia Mae, who was born Dec. 27, 1899.

Vardaman, William S., who is serving his third successive term as mayor of the thriving little city of Greenwood, the judicial center of Leflore county, is a representative of one of the early settled families of Mississippi and is a brother of Hon. James K. Vardaman, who was inaugurated governor of the State Jan. 19, 1904. The popu- lar mayor of Greenwood was born in Jackson county, Tex., in 1867, and is a son of William S. and Mary (Fox) Vardaman. The father was born in Copiah county, Miss., whence he went to Texas in 1856, becoming one of the pioneers of the Lone Star State. He entered the Confederate service at the outset of the Civil war as a member of a Texas regiment in the brigade commanded by General Ross, and he terminated his military career only when victory had finally crowned the Union arms. In 1868 he returned to Mississippi and located in Yalobusha county, where he became a prosperous planter and where both he and his wife passed the remainder of their lives. William S. Vardaman, subject of this brief review, was an infant at the time of his parents' return to Mississippi and he passed his boy- hood days on the homestead plantation, in Yalobusha county, while he secured good educational advantages in the schools of Water Valley, that county. He is engaged in the insurance business, in which he has built up a profitable enterprise. For five years he was in the internal-revenue service of the southern district, and for two years he held the office of marshal of Greenwood. He was elected mayor of the city, in which office he is now serving his third term, which demonstrates his hold upon popular esteem and confidence, while his administration has been signally liberal and progressive. He is a Democrat of the Jeffersonian school and has taken an active part in furthering the party interests in a local way. In 1895 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Vardaman to Miss Daisy Willings, who died, the only child of the union being also deceased. Mr. Varda- man was wedded the second time to Miss Ladell Martin, daughter of John A. Martin, who was a soldier of the Confederacy, as a member

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of a Mississippi regiment, during the Civil war. Mr. and Mrs. Varda- man have two children, Ladell and Eliza.

Varnado, Oscar Dewitt, D. D. S., is retired from the work of his profession and is now at the head of the I. N. Varnado's Sons Company, of Osyka, which conducts one of the largest general merchandise enterprises in southeastern Mississippi. He was born in Franklinton, Washington parish, La., July 6, 1873, and is a son of Isaac Newton Varnado and Martha Jane (Erwin) Varnado' the former of whom was born in Pike county, Miss., April 9, ' 1851, and the latter of whom was born in Washington parish, La., in June, 1857. The father was ten years of age at the time of his parents' removal from Mississippi to Washington parish, La., where he was reared to maturity and where he became a successful planter. He returned to his native county and located at Osyka, where he founded the mercantile busi- ness of which the subject of this sketch is now the head. He con- tinued to be actively identified with this enterprise until his death, in 1904, when he became the victim of an assassin, while in Louisiana. His widow died in the following year, in Osyka. Of their eight chil- dren the doctor is the eldest; Ella F. is the wife of Robert H. Magee; Alma W. is the wife of Samuel H. Burris; Archibald L. is a successful planter near Walker's Bridge, Pike county; Lura E. is the wife of Nathan D. Stringer, of Osyka; Frank B. is a student in Mississippi college, at Clinton; and Alton and Isaac Newton, Jr., are attending the Osyka schools. The subject of this review passed his boyhood and youth in his native parish, where he was afforded the advantages of the public schools. In preparing for the work of his profession he attended a dental college in Atlanta, Ga., for a time and then entered the New Orleans College of Dentistry, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1903 and from which he received his degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery. He began the practice of his profession at Franklinton, La., where he remained until April, 1904, when he withdrew from practice to assume the management of his father's business at Osyka. After the death of his father he incorporated the business under the title designated in the opening lines of this arti- cle, and he has since continued the executive head of the concern. By the purchase of the interests of other heirs he now has the control- ling stock and the enterprise has grown to be one of wide scope, based upon fair dealing, low prices and large and complete stock in the various departments, including those devoted to dry goods, groceries, clothing, boots and shoes, hardware, planters' sup- plies, etc. The establishment also has a well equipped undertaking department. The business is incorporated with a capital stock of $25,000 and represents one of the successful and important enterprises of this section of the State. In politics Mr. Varnado is a stanch suppor-

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ter of the principles and policies of the Democratic party, and he is essentially progressive and public-spirited in his attitude. In De- cember, 1906, he was elected a member of the board of aldermen of Osyka, for a term of one, year. He is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity and Woodmen of the World, and both he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, South. On Nov. 13, 1895, Dr. Varnado was united in marriage to Miss Kate E. Magee, who was born in Washington parish, La., May 17, 1874, a daughter of Fleet and Miama (Wood) Magee, and they have one child, Kate Grace, who was born March 17, 1902.

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Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. III, Part 96

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