USA > Mississippi > School history of Mississippi; for use in public and private schools > Part 26
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The salubrious climate and the fertile soil of Mississippi have attracted the attention of farmers from other parts of the Union. Hundred of them are making their homes in the State and are adding their thrift and industry to the efforts of the native citizens to reclaim its waste places and to open its undeveloped lands.
Since the year 1900 several hundred farmers' institutes have been held in all parts of the State, under the auspices of the Agricultural and Mechanical College. These insti- tutes have reached thousands of farmers, giving them the benefits of the many valuable facts pertaining to agriculture that have been discovered in the various experiment stations and agricultural colleges of the country.
The banking institutions of Mississippi are among the most prosperous commercial organizations in the State. Old banks have increased their capital stock and many new ones have been organized, not only in the larger towns but in the smaller villages. The banks of Mississippi have over $30,000,000 on deposit, and are said to be furnishing money during certain parts of the year to the banks of Chicago and St. Louis at a low rate of interest.
The panic of 1908 did not affect Mississippi as seriously as many other States. The steady progress of the bell- weevil, however, has delayed recuperation, particularly in the southern part of the State.
460. Educational Progress .- Fortunately for the educa- tional interests of Mississippi, H. L. Whitfield and J. N. Powers, State superintendents of education since 1898, have devoted their best energies to the development of the country schools. With the help of prominent educators and other public spirited citizens they have carried on a systematic campaign of education in every part of the State. The number of counties which have extended their
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free school terms by local taxation has been greatly in- creased, and separate school districts have been established in every important town and in many of the country com- munities of the State.
The legislative appropriations for the common schools of Mississippi during the period have increased with the development of wealth and population.
Agricultural high schools are being established through- out the State, the law establishing the system having been perfected by the legislature in 1910. Under the direction of Miss Susie V. Powell, the school improvement work of the State has made great progress. The "corn club" movement, introduced into Mississippi by Superintendent W. H. Smith, of Holmes county, has developed much interest in farming among the boys of the State.
The denominational schools and colleges have also re- ceived liberal support from their respective churches.
The higher educational institutions,-the University, the Agricultural and Mechanical College, and the Indus- trial Institute and College-have kept abreast with the educational development of the State. The new State Normal College will greatly strengthen the educational system (see $456).
The patriotic citizens of Mississippi are cheerfully meet- ing these heavy expenses in order that every boy and girl in the State may be well prepared for the duties and responsibilities of life.
Summary
1. In Governor Longino's Administration (1900-1904) (1) Judge Calhoon and Judge Truly became members of the Supreme Bench; (2) the representation of the State in the lower House of Congress was increased to eight members; (3) the elective judiciary amendment was declared void; (4) a boundary dispute arose between Mississippi and Louisiana; (5) ample provisions were made for the employment of all State convicts: (6) the State departments of Archives and History and of Insurance were created: (7) the primary election law was passed: (8) the Vicksburg harbor was restored; (9) the Mississippi Choctaws
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were removed to the Indian Territory; (10) the levee system withstood the high water of 1903; (11) the new statehouse was built and occupied.
2. Ex-Governor Stone, Colonel Power, Colonel Muldrow, General Lee, Bishop Galloway, Judge Calhoon and Senator Mc- Laurin died in the period between 1900 and 1910.
3. In Governor Vardaman's administration (1904-1908) (1) Lamar, Jefferson Davis and Forrest counties were created; (2) a new code of laws was prepared; (3) a uniform system of text-books for the State was adopted; (4) the first eargo from a foreign country was received at Gulfport; (5) Mississippi took a creditable part in the Louisiana Purchase Exposition; (G) Beauvoir was purchased and equipped for a Confederate soldiers' home.
4. In Governor Noel's administration (1908 -- ) (1) a State- wide prohibition law was passed; (2) agricultural high schools were established; (3) the office of county attorney was created; (4) provision was made for a State Normal College; (5) George county was created and Walthall county authorized.
. 5. In the period from 1900 to 1910 great progress was made in the manufacture of lumber and turpentine; the building of rail- roads, cotton factories and oil mills; and the cultivation of cotton and vegetables and fruits. Immigration from other States greatly increased. Farmers' institutes were held and a large number of banks established.
6. In the period between 1900 and 1910 the country schools were greatly improved by local taxation, and increased legislative appropriations were made for educational purposes.
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APPENDIX
-
THE NAME "MISSISSIPPI"
This is an Ojibbeway word which the first discoverers of that stream heard pronounced in the mission stations on Lake Superior. Its meaning according to some is "the Great Water." Others say it means "rivers" or "waters from all sides." Du Pratz, an early historian of Louisiana, says Mechasepi is a con- traction of "Meact Chassipi." which literally denotes "the ancient Father of Rivers." Father Marquette (1672) was the first to introduce this name into geography. Charlevoix, the great traveler, who descended that stream in 1721-1722 and pub- lished an account of his travels in 1744, called it the "Misisipi" or "Micissipi." The early geographers and explorers spelled it in many different ways. Marquette (1673) wrote it "Mitchisipi," Hennepin (1698) "Mechasipi" or "Mechacebe." The English historian Coxe corrupted it into "Merchacebe." In this cor- rupted spelling the name was first introduced to English readers. He also called it after other Indian names-"Chucagua," "Sas- sagoula," and "Mala Banchia." The French writers generally spelled it "Missisipi," and the Spanish "Misisipi." It is not known when the present spelling of the word ("Mississippi") was first used.
ORIGIN OF NAME, LOCATION OF COUNTY SEAT, AND DATE OF ORGANIZATION OF EACH COUNTY
ADAMS-Organized in 1799. Named in honor of John Adams, who was then President of the United States. It was the first county organized in Mississippi. County seat, Natchez.
ALCORN-Organized in 1870. Named for Governor James L. Alcorn. County seat, Corinth.
AMITE-Organized in 1809. Called "Amite" after a river which had been named by the French in commemoration of the friendly manner in which they had been received by the Indians. County seat, Liberty.
ATTALA-Organized in 1833. Named for the Indian heroine of Chauteaubriand's romance entitled "Atala." We are told that it is not an Indian name and has no meaning. The county seat, Kosciusko, near the geographical center of the State, was named for a Polish hero.
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BENTON-Organized in 1870. It was formed out of portions of Marshall and Tippah counties, and was named in honor of Col- onel Samuel Benton, who was killed in the War between the States. County seat, Ashland, named after the home of Henry Clay, the great statesman.
BOLIVAR-Organized in 1836. Named for General Simon Bolivar, the Washington of South America. County seats, Rose- dale and Cleveland.
CALHOUN-Organized in 1852. Named in honor of John C. Cal- houn, the great "nullifier." County seat, Pittsboro.
CARROLL-Organized in 1833. Named for Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. County seats, Carrollton and Vaiden.
. CHICKASAW-Organized in 1836. Named for the Chickasaw Indians, the most cruel and warlike tribe that ever lived within the boundaries of the State. Chickasaw, in the Indian language, means "rebellion." County seats, Houston and Okolona.
CHOCTAW-Organized in 1833. Named for the Choctaw Indians. The supposed meaning of the word "Choctaw" is "separation." County seat, first Greensboro, second La Grange, and then Chester and Ackerman.
CLAIBORNE-Organized in 1802. Named for Governor William C. C. Claiborne. County seat, Port Gibson, which was built on the plantation of David Gibson; hence the name.
CLARKE-Organized in 1833. Named in honor of Judge Joshua G. Clarke, the first chancellor of the State. Its county seat was first located in the geographical center of the county, but was later removed to Quitman, which was named for John A. Quit- man, the second chancellor of the State.
CLAY-Organized in 1871. Named for Henry Clay, a distin- guished statesman of Kentucky. Formed from the counties of Lowndes and Chickasaw. County seat, West Point.
COAHOMA-Organized in 1836. Formed out of the Chickasaw lands. Received an Indian name meaning "red panther." County seat first Port Royal then Friar's Point and Clarksdale.
COPIAH-Organized in 1823. Formed from the Choctaw lands. Received an Indian name, which means "calling panther." First county seat, Gallatin, named for Albert Gallatin, secretary of the treasury during Washington's administration. Present county seat, Hazlehurst.
COVINGTON-Organized in 1S19. Formed out of parts of Law- rence and Wayne. Named in honor of General Covington, who was killed in the war of 1812. County seat, Collins.
DE SOTO-Organized in 1836. Named for Hernando De Soto, the celebrated explorer, who discovered the Mississippi River in 1541. County seat, Hernando, so called from the Christian name of De Soto.
FORREST-Organized in 1906. Formed out of the eastern part of
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HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI
Perry county. County seat, Hattiesburg. Named for Gen. N. B. Forrest, the noted cavalry leader.
FRANKLIN-Organized in 1809. Named in honor of Benjamin Franklin, the celebrated printer, diplomat, and philosopher. County seat, Meadville; named after Cowles Mead, the second secretary of the Territory.
GEORGE-Organized in 1910. Named in honor of Senator J. Z. George, lawyer, jurist and statesman. Formed out of parts of Greene and Jackson counties.
GREENE-Organized in 1811. Named for General Nathaniel Greene, a Revolutionary hero. County seat, Leakesville; named for Hon. Walter Leake, who was at one time governor of Missis- sippi and United States Senator from the same State.
GRENADA-Organized in 1870. Formed out of parts of Yalo- busha and Carroll counties. County seat, Grenada, which was formed by the consolidation of two rival towns, Pittsburg and Tullahoma, established by Governor Runnels and Franklin E. Plummer, respectively.
HANCOCK-Organized in 1841. Named for John Hancock, president of the Colonial Congress, and the first signer of the Declaration of Independence. County seat, Bay St. Louis; named in honor of Louis IX., the sainted king of France.
HARRISON-Organized in 1841. Named for William H. Harri- son, who had recently been elected President of the United States. Taken from Hancock county. County seat, Gulfport.
HINDS-Organized in 1821. Named for General Thomas Hinds, who distinguished himself at the battle of New Orleans (1815). County seats, Raymond and Jackson.
HOLMES-Organized in 1833. Named for David Holmes, the last governor of Mississippi Territory and first governor of the State. Formed out of. a portion of Yazoo county. County seat, Lexington.
ITAWAMBA-Organized in 1836. Named for an Indian chief. The name itself has no significance, as far as scholars can ascer- tain. County seat, Fulton.
ISSAQUENA-Organized in 1844. The name is of Indian origin, signifying "Deer River." County seat. Meyersville; named for David Meyer, who owned large plantations in that county.
JACKSON-Organized in 1812. Named in honor of General Andrew Jackson. County seat, Scranton.
JASPER-Organized in 1833. Named for Sergeant Jasper, of Revolutionary fame. County seat, Paulding: named in honor of John Paulding, who aided in the capture of Major Andre in the Revolutionary War.
JEFFERSON-Organized in 1802. Named for the third President of the United States. County seat, formerly Greenville; at present Fayette.
JEFFERSON DAVIS-Organized in 1906. Named for the only
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President of the Confederacy. Formed out of Lawrence and Covington counties. County seat, Prentiss.
JONES-Organized in 1826. Formed out of parts of Covington and Wayne. Named in honor of John Paul Jones, the bold sea- man of the American Revolution. County seats, Laurel and Ellisville; latter place named for Powhatan Ellis, a former mem- ber of the Supreme Court, who at that time represented Missis -- sippi in the Senate of the U. S.
KEMPER-Organized in 1833. Named in honor of Reuben Kemper, who led a company of men from the Mississippi Terri- tory against Spanish Mobile in 1811. County seat, De Kalb; named for a hero of the American Revolution.
LAFAYETTE-Organized in 1836. Named in honor of Marquis de La Fayette, a citizen of France who voluntarily aided the Americans in the Revolutionary War. County seat, Oxford, where the University of Mississippi is located.
LAMAR-Organized in 1904. Formed out of a portion of Marion and Pearl River counties. Named in honor of L. Q. C. Lamar. County seat, Purvis.
LAWRENCE-Organized in 1814. Formed out of a part of Marion. Named for Captain James Lawrence, a hero of the War of 1812 who had died the year previous. County seat, Monticello; named after the home of Thomas Jefferson.
LAUDERDALE-Organized in 1833. Named for Colonel James Lauderdale, who fell in the battle of New Orleans. County seat, first Marion, then Meridian.
LEAKE-Organized in 1833. Named for the third governor of the State. County seat, Carthage; named after a city of antiquity. LEE-Organized in 1866. Formed out of parts of Itawamba and Pontotoc. Named in honor of General Robert E. Lee, a hero of the Southern Confederacy. County seat, Tupelo.
LEFLORE-Organized in 1871. Formed out of portions of Sun- ·flower and Carroll. County seat, Greenwood, which together with the county, is named in honor of Greenwood Leflore, chief of the Choctaw Indians.
LINCOLN-Organized in 1870. Formed out of parts of Law- rence and Franklin. Named for Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States during the War between the States. County seat, Brookhaven.
LOWNDES-Organized in 1830. Formed out of the southern part of Monroe county .. Named for William Lowndes. County seat, Columbus.
MADISON-Organized in 1828. Formed out of that part of Yazoo county east of the Big Black River. Named in honor of the fourth President of the United States. Beaty's Bluff was its first, Livingstone its second, and Canton its third county seat.
MARION-Organized in 1811. Named in honor of General Francis Marion, the "swamp fox of the Revolution." County seat, Columbia.
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MARSHALL-Organized in 1836. Named for John Marshall, a celebrated chief justice of the United States. County seat, Holly Springs.
MONROE-Organized in 1821. Named for President James Monroe, the author of the "Monroe Doctrine." County seat, originally Hamilton; at present, Aberdeen.
MONTGOMERY-Organized in 1871. Named in honor of General Richard Montgomery, a Revolutionary hero. County seat, Winona.
NESHOBA-Organized in 1833. Received an Indian name which signifies "wolf." County seat, Philadelphia; named for the chief city of Pennsylvania.
NOXUBEE-Organized in 1833. Named after a river which the Indians called by a term that was formerly interpreted to mean "stinking bullet water," in commemoration of a battle fought on its banks. According to a later and more authentic interpre- tation, the name applied to this river means "stinking water," to designate the peculiar odor arising from an overflowed creek in the summer. County seat, Macon.
NEWTON-Organized in 1836. Named for Sir Isaac Newton. County seat, Decatur; named for Commodore Stephen Decatur, the hero of the war with the Barbary States.
OKTIBBAHA -- Organized in 1833. Said by some to have received a name, which in the Indian language, means "fighting or bloody water," because it was the scene of a battle between the Choctaws and the Chickasaws. This interpretation has been disputed by a competent authority on the Choctaw dialect, who asserts that the creek after which the county was called, derived its name from the following circumstances. At the end of a severe winter great quantities of ice floated down the stream. The Indians seeing this, gave it the name of Okti abcha bok, the literal interpretation being, "ice there in creek." County seat, Starkeville; named for General Starke, a hero of the Revolutionary War.
PANOLA-Organized in 1836. Received an Indian name mean- ing "cotton." County seats, Sardis and Batesville.
PEARL RIVER-Organized in 1890. Formed out of parts of Hancock and Marion. Named after the river that flows along its western border. County seat, Poplarville.
PERRY-Organized in 1820. Named after Commodore Oliver H. Perry, the hero of the battle of Lake Erie. County seat, Augusta.
PIKE-Organized in 1815. Named in honor of General Pike, a commander in the army of the United States. County seat, first Jacksonville, second Holmesville, and third Magnolia.
PONTOTOC-Organized in 1836. It derived its name from two Indian words meaning "weed prairie." So called from a large prairie in north Mississippi, upon which grew a long, slender weed. County seat, Pontotoc, where the United States court was held for many years.
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A DECADE OF PROSPERITY
PRENTISS-Organized in 1870. Formed out of a portion of Tishomingo. Named for Mississippi's great orator, Sargent S. Prentiss. County seat, Booneville.
QUITMAN-Organized in 1877. Formed out of parts of Coa- homa, Panola and Tallahatchie. Named for John A Quitman, a governor of Mississippi. County seat, Belen.
RANKIN-Organized in 1828. Formed out of that part of Hinds east of Pearl River. Named in memory of the Hon. Christopher Rankin, a member of the constitutional convention of 1817, and a representative in Congress. County seat, Brandon; named in honor of Governor Gerard C. Brandon.
SCOTT-Organized in 1833. Named in honor of Hon. Abram H. Scott, who afterwards became governor of the State. County seat, first Hillsboro, then Forest.
SHARKEY-Organized in 1876. Formed out of parts of Issa- quena, Warren and Washington. Named for W. L. Sharkey, a distinguished chief justice of Mississippi. . County seat, Rolling Fork.
SIMPSON-Organized in 1824. Formed out of a portion of Copiah. Named in memory of Hon. Josiah Simpson, a judge of Mississippi Territory, and an influential member of the constitu- tional convention of 1817. County seat, Mendenhall; named for Colonel Cato West, a territorial delegate to Congress from Mississippi.
SMITH-Organized in 1833. Named for Major David Smith, of Hinds county. County seat, Raleigh; named for Sir Walter Raleigh.
SUNFLOWER-Organized in 1844. County seat, first McNutt, second Johnsonville; at present, Indianola.
TALLAHATCHIE-Organized in 1833. Received an Indian name which means "Rock River." County seat, Charleston.
TATE-Organized in 1873. Formed out of parts of De Soto Marshall and Tunica. County seat, Senatobia.
TIPPAH-Organized in 1836. Received an Indian name mean- ing "cut off." County seat, Ripley.
TISHOMINGO-Organized in 1836. When first organized it was the largest county in the State. Received an Indian name mean- ing "warrior chief." County seat, Iuka.
TUNICA-Organized in 1836. Derived its name from the Tunica Indians. The word Tunica in their language means "the people." County seat, Tunica.
UNION-Organized in 1870. Formed out of portions of Ponto- toc and Tippah. County seat, New Albany.
WARREN-Organized in 1809. Named for Joseph Warren, a hero of the Revolution. County seat. Vicksburg; named in memory of a family by the name of Vick, some of whose de- scendants are still living in that city.
WASHINGTON-Organized in 1827. Formed out of parts of
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HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI
Yazoo and Warren. Named in honor of the first President of the United States. Princeton was the first and Greenville the second county seat. Both of these places have been undermined by the Mississippi. The present town of Greenville, the county seat, was built near the old place of that name.
WAYNE-Organized in 1809. Named for General Anthony Wayne, a hero of the Revolution. Winchester was the first county seat; later it was Waynesboro.
WEBSTER-Organized in 1874. First named Sumner in honor of Charles Sumner, but in 1882 changed to Webster in memory of Daniel Webster, a great orator and statesman. County seat, Walthall; named in honor of General Edward Carey Walthall, late United States senator from Mississippi.
WILKINSON-Organized in 1802. Formed out of part of Adams. Named for General James Wilkinson, of the United States army. County seat, Woodville.
WINSTON-Organized in 1833. County seat, Louisville, which, together with the county, was named for Louis Winston, a dis- tinguished citizen of the State.
YALOBUSHA-Organized in 1833. Received an Indian name, meaning "tad-pole place," which had been applied to a river running through its limits as originally constituted. County seats, Coffeeville (named for General John Coffee, one of the com- missioners who represented the United States in arranging the treaties with the Choctaws in 1830 and with the Chickasaws in 1832), and Water Valley.
YAZOO-Organized in 1823. Named for the Yazoo tribe of Indians, who lived near the mouth of the Yazoo River. We are told that there is some uncertainty about the interpretation of this word. Some say it means "River of Death," others contend that it probably comes from another dialect, in which the word means "leaf." County seat, first Benton, then Yazoo City (first known as Hanan's Bluff, and later as Manchester).
GOVERNORS OF MISSISSIPPI
TERRITORIAL GOVERNORS
1798-Winthrop Sargent, native of Massachusetts.
1801-John Steele, secretary of territory, acting governor from April 3d until November 23d, Sargent being absent. Wil- liam Charles Cole Claiborne, native of Virginia, succeeded Sargent, who was removed by President Jefferson.
1803-Cato West, secretary of the territory, acting governor from December 2, 1803, until October 1, 1804, when Claiborne resigned. Governor ad interim until January 26, 1805.
1805-Robert Williams, native of North Carolina.
1806-Cowles Mead, secretary of the territory, acting governor
·
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from April 21, 1806, until February 6, 1807, Williams being absent.
1809-David Holmes, native of Pennsylvania, succeeded Williams, removed by President Madison.
GOVERNORS OF THE STATE
1817-David Holmes.
1820-George Poindexter, native of Virginia.
1822-Walter Leake, native of Virginia.
1825-Lieutenant-Governor Gerard C. Brandon, native of Missis- sippi succeeded Leake, resigned.
1826-David Holmes; Lieutenant-Governor Gerard C. Brandon succeeded Holmes, resigned.
1826-Gerard C. Brandon.
1832-Abram M. Scott, native of South Carolina.
1833-Charles Lynch, native of South Carolina; president of the Senate, succeeded Scott, deceased. Hiram G. Runnels, native of North Carolina.
1835-Runnels' term expired in November. Two weeks later John A. Quitman, native of New York, was elected president of the senate, and served as governor until January fol- lowing.
1836-Charles Lynch.
1838-Alexander G. McNutt, native of Virginia.
1842-Tilghman M. Tucker, native of North Carolina.
1844-Albert Gallatin Brown, native of South Carolina.
1848-Joseph W. Matthews, native of Georgia.
1850-John I. Guion, native of Mississippi, president of the senate, succeeded Quitman, resigned; served until November 3d, when his term expired. James Whitfield was elected president of the senate November 25th, and served as governor until January following.
1852-Henry Stewart Foote, native of Virginia.
1854-John J. Pettus, native of Tennessee, president of the senate, succeeded Foote, resigned January 5th, and served until January 10th, when John J. McRae, native of Mississippi, was inaugurated.
1858-William McWillie, native of South Carolina.
1860-John J. Pettus.
1864-Charles Clarke, native of Ohio.
1865-William L. Sharkey, native of Tennessee, appointed as pro- visional governor in June to succeed Clarke, removed by Union soldiers: served until October, when he was suc- ceeded by Benjamin G. Humphreys, native of Mississippi. 1868-Adelbert Ames, native of Maine, appointed as military governor to succeed Humphreys, removed by Union soldiers.
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HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI
1870-James L. Alcorn, native of Illinois.
1871-Lieutenant-Governor R. C. Powers, native of Ohio, suc- ceeded Alcorn, resigned.
1874-Adelbert Ames.
1876-John M. Stone, native of Tennessee, president of the senate, succeeded Ames, who resigned to prevent impeachment. 1882 -- Robert Lowry, native of South Carolina.
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