logo

Kemper County MS GenWeb

Part of the USGenWeb

Newspaper Articles

Below are newspaper articles that were submitted to the Kemper site.

Kemper, Mississippi Massacre

Submitted to the site by Larry E. Caver, Jr.(Dekalb, Mississippi, April 30, 1877) On the evening of the 26th instant, Mr. John W. GULLY was assassinated on the road near his home. Mr. GULLY had been in town and was returning home- about twilight, when within half a mile of his house, was shot by an assassin on the roadside; the shot took effect in the neck killing him instantly. The report of the gun was heard at his house, and he not coming immediately caused his son and a friend who happened to be at the house, to walk up the road in the direction of town, when they found the body of Mr. GULLY lifeless in the road. The assassin had taken his hat, boots and pocket book; no clue could be had as to his or their whereabouts. Mr. GULLY's body was on Saturday, the 28th, buried at the family burying ground near New Hope Church

On Sunday morning a warrant was issued for the arrest of several parties suspected of complicity in the murder. The Sheriff arrested W. W. CHISOLMS, H.A. HOPPER, and held them under guard. About 11 o'clock a large number of excited and infuriated citizens assembled in town. The prisoners were conveyed to the jail for safety. CHISOLM's family would go with him to the jail in spite of the remonstrances of the officers and others. About 2 o'clock p.m. J. P. GILMER and C. ROSENBAUM, for whom the Sheriff held a warrant, were reported near the town, and ready to surrender to the officers. The Sheriff dispatched some prudent, good citizens to bring them to the jail, which was being done, and when about 75 yards from the jail, and on the way thereto, J. P. GILMER was fired upon and killed- three shots were fired. The excitement was intense, and there was no controlling it at all. Soon after this, Mr. A. McLELLAND, who had made some very indiscreet remarks came out of the jail, when he was fired upon and also killed. The excitement was abating when a report was circulated that an armed body of men were near by to rescue CHISOLM. A rush was made for the jail, the sheriff, who had stood manfully up to this time between the crowd and the prisoners was overpowered and the posse forced away and an entrance made into the prison, when a number of shots were fired- the number and exact effect can not be told. One man in the crowd, Dr. D.W. ROSSER, was killed, and a son of CHISOLM, a boy about 13 years of age killed- Johnnie CHISOLM. CHISOLM's daughter, Miss Cornelia, also received a severe wound in the wrist, and probably some other slight wounds. About the time, H.A. HOPPER and N. W. HOPPER were brought out of the jail and carried away unhurt, as it is said the parties were satisfied of their innocence and also of that of C. ROSENBAUM. After a short time the firing was again renewed, when W. W. CHISOLM was shot a number of times; his
body was taken by some of the citizens and carried to his home, where he had been under care of physicians. He is reported to be in a dying condition and no hope is entertained of his recovery The excited and infuriated people seemed determined to avenge the murder of Mr. John W. GULLY, who was one of the leading citizens of the county, a man of influence and whose position was very prominent before the people. An attempt was made on the 19th of December last, 1876, to assassinate him on the roadside, which failed; he then received a severe wound.

Birmingham Iron Age, May 9, 1877

Miss Annie Hammer and Mr. Louis Latham of Kemper county were married Sunday at the residence of the bride's brother, Mr. F. M. Hammer in Lauderdale.

Mrs. A. V. Clark and daughter, little Miss Sadie, are in Kemper county visiting with her parents and the parents of Mr. Clark, and are expected
home soon.

Laurel Chronicle, The (Laurel, Mississippi) 24 June 1910

Mrs. A. V. Clark and little Sadie returned Monday from a visit with relatives in Kemper county.

Laurel Chronicle, The (Laurel, Mississippi) 1 July 1910

Mrs. J. B. Jarvis was a Tuesday home comer after two weeks pleasantly spent with relatives and friends in Kemper county.

Marion Weekly Star (Marion, Ohio) 30 October 1909

New Orleans, La. Oct 28 - Four negroes were lynched in Kemper county, Mississippi this morning after they had murdered an Assyrian peddler, named Kahn.

Sikeston Herald (Sikeston, Missouri) 22 September 1949

Hunter E. George has been approved by the Missouri College of Agriculture and the Scoot County Farm Bureau, sponsors of Extension work in Scott County for training as an assistant county Extension agent in Missouri. Mr. George assumed his duties September 3 at the county Extension office in Benton. Mr. and Mrs. George are living in Fornfelt. He is a graduate of the Mississippi State College School of Agriculture, State College, Mississippi, receiving his degree in Agronomy (crops) in August. He is 28 years of age.

Mr. George spent three years in the 85th Division of the U.S. Army 338th Infantry Regiment, two years of which were served overseas in Italy. Previous to his graduation from Mississippi State, he worked for several months with a large department store in Mississippi. He was reared on a farm in Kemper county, Mississippi. Mr. George will devote much time to the 4-H program in Scott county while in training as well as other Extension work.

Laurel Chronicle, The (Laurel, Mississippi) 15 July 1910

Miss Calvine Clark left Tuesday for Kemper county to spend some days with relatives and friends.

Laurel Chronicle, The (Laurel, Mississippi) 29 July 1910

Mr. Dan Clark is expected home Monday after an enjoyable outing spent in Kemper county.

Laurel Chronicle, The (Laurel, Mississippi) 5 August 1910

Miss Calvine Clark is at home after a pleasant visit with friends and
relatives in Kemper county.

Chronicle Telegram (Elyria, Ohio) 17 August 1929

Use For Broken Dishes - Scooba, Miss. - After 25 years of construction, Mrs. Pamelia Lofton of Wahalak has completed a fence of broken glass and crockery. Neighbors of Mrs. Lofton have sent her their broken dishes during the past quarter of a century.

Elyria Democrat (Elyria, Ohio) 27 December 1888

The Hunt for the Negro Outlaws in Mississippi Proves Unavailing
New Orleans, Dec 21: - A special to the Picayune from Wahalak, Miss says:
Runners came in about noon Thursday from Whitehouse, bringing a report from the band of searchers. They rode hard all day, but failed to find any of the negroes for whom they were hunting. A negro woman who was in the house where the shooting occurred on Sunday was seen yesterday and told what she knew of the affair. Her statement confirms the accounts previously sent out and no new facts were learned.The guards who had charge of the prisoners report that they escaped Wednesday night, but do not think it worth while to attempt to find them, and have asked that their names be scratched from the list of the "spotted".

A note was received here yesterday stating that several of the negroes who were in Maury's house during the shooting Sunday night were making their way through the country to Meridian, where they intended on taking a train. The railroads are being carefully watched, however, and the negroes will certainly be captured if they board any of the trains. The searching party has been disbanded, but every one will keep a look out for the "spotted", who will be summarily dealt with if found in the section of the country.W. C. Nicholson's condition is very critical with the chances against his recovery. The condition of John Dewis in unchanged. William Vaughan and Frank Maury are as well as they were Wednesday, both having lost a great deal of blood.

Ames Daily Tribune (Ames, Iowa), 18 August 1954

Mrs. Margie Aust, of Scooba, Miss, a grammar school teacher for 39 years, figures she has pulled exactly 1533 second grader's teeth.

Atchison Daily Globe (Atchison, Kansas) 3 July 1886

Killed The Pair

Meridian, Miss, July 2 - A terrible tragedy occurred five miles south of Scooba, Kemper County, Miss., yesterday. The families of George M. Gullett and Barlow lived in the same house. The men were partners in farming. While resting at noon Gullett fell asleep. An altercation occurred between Barlow and his wife and Mrs. Gullett, which aroused Gullett. He went into the road and asked what the matter was. Barlow began cursing him, saying he had wanted to kill him for some time and would do it right then and there, seizing a gun at the same time. Gullett spring to a bureau drawer for his pistol and shot Barlow in the neck. While he was in the act of firing Barlow dropped the gun and ran to a fence. Gullett picked up the gun and shot him dead. Turning, he discovered Barlow's wife in the act of killing his wife with an ax, whereupon he fired the remaining charge at Mrs. Barlow, killing her instantly. Gullett has surrendered to the authorities.

Chester Times (Chester, Pennsylvania) 28 November 1882

Leon Stewart, of Scooba, Kemper county, Miss., in a fit of despondency
Sunday evening committed suicide at Atlanta, Ga., by taking morphine.

Daily Constitution (Atlanta, Georgia) 17 September 1880

Not Guilty

DeKalb, Miss, September 15 - Arguments in the case against Virgil and Houston Gully for killing Gilmer began at nine o'clock this morning. The argument for the state was opened by Hon. H. R. Ware of Jackson, Miss, who made as fair and forcible representation of the prosecution's case as was possible to be done. He said the proof against Houston was not overwhelming as that against Virgil and in presenting the case against the latter he argued that the witnesses for the defense ought not to be believed. S. M. Meek and Thomas H. Woods argued the case in behalf of the defense with power and eloquence. District Attorney Thomas S. Ford closed the case for the state by a resume of the latter's arguments. The trial has progressed quietly, the only thing of fresh interest to those attending being a letter received by Henry J. Gully, postmarked and dated Goshen, N.Y., threatening death to him unless he leaves Kemper county, and pledging the honor and bravery of the young men of the north to avenge the death of Chisholm by wiping out the entire Gully crowd. At 1 o'clock p.m. the jury returned with a verdict of not guilty.

Oshkosh Daily Northwestern (Oshkosh, Wisconsin) 24 March 1881

The Mississippi Plan - Burning of the Kemper County Court House

Washington, March 22 - The county courthouse at DeKalb, Kemper county, Mississippi was burned to the ground with its contents, on the night of Feb. 24, incendiarism. Information received at Washington tends to show that the crime was committed by some one of the mob who murdered Judge Chisholm and four other persons in that county in 1877, the object being to destroy any indictment or any other inconvenient records relating to the guilty persons, which the building might have contained. The court house was burned only ten days before the time set for the beginning of the term of court and at the term it was expected further steps against the Chisholm murderers would be taken. It is said an effort will be made to try for the killing of Judge Chisholm the persons who had been acquitted of the murder of Gilmer and Cornelia Chisholm. One of the grand jurors said that the grand jury will not investigate the burning of the court house.

Atlanta Constitution, 15 December 1892

Meridian, Miss, December 14 (Special) Hardly had Kemper county settled down from the excitement of the Tolbert tragedies before it is aroused by another chapter in its bloody history.New has just reached here of a dastardly assassination Monday night committed by Tolbert's sympathizers. William Beckham, a peaceable farmer, living near Fort Stephens, was shot down Monday night while seated at his own fireside surrounded by his family and friends. Beckham was holding his baby on his knees when the assassins crept up to the window and sent a volley crashing through his skull. Beckham handed the child to his wife, with the remark, "Take the baby, I am shot", and immediately expired.
Beckham was accused by Tolbert's friends with having revealed the hiding place and caused the capture of Tom and Walter Tolbert and threats of vengeance had been made. No other cause can be assigned for the deed as Beckham was well liked by his neighbors. Vigilant efforts are being made to detect the guilty parties and in which event summary justice will be meted out.

Elyria Democrat (Elyria, Ohio) 23 December 1915

A tornado that swept through Lauderdale and Kemper counties, Mississippi, destroyed the town of Cullen, and killed at least 15 persons and injured 50.

Atlanta Constitution, 5 August 1891

Shuqualak, Miss, August 4 - Following the advice of The Constitution, Lewis and Gray Floore of Kemper county plowed up two acres of cotton, on account of a bad stand, and planted the land in corn. Some of their neighbors, experienced farmers, have examined it lately and think it will make fifty bushels to the acre, and but for a severe wind and rain storm some time ago they thought it might have made a good deal more. In view of the present price of cotton, what a pity that hundreds of others had not done like those industrious and wide-awake young farmers of Kemper.

Atlanta Constitution, 22 September 1894

Meridian, Miss. September 21 (Special) - One of the most romantic weddings that has occurred in this vicinity for a long time was that of Mr. J. F. Hudson, of Shreveport, La., and Miss Ollie Spinks of Fort Stephens, Kemper county. Both have wealthy parents.
Two years ago Miss Spinks placed an advertisement in The Atlanta Constitution proclaiming that she had a choice variety of watermelon seeds for sale. The advertisement caught the eye of Mr. Hudson, who wrote to the lady for several packages of the variety. This letter opened up a general correspondence between the two. This was kept up for two years. In the meantime, photographs of each other were exchanged and the couple became engaged. A day in last June was appointed for the wedding. Arrangements were made, but on the day the groom failed to appear. He also failed to notify the bride-elect of the cause of his absence and the matter ran until yesterday, when the tardy groom, for the first time appeared and to the parents of the lady gave an account of his delay. In a few hours the couple were wedded. They passed through this city this morning, en route to Shreveport, their future home. Both attribute their happiness to the advertisement in The Atlanta Constitution.

Atlanta Constitution, 21 June 1895

Birmingham, Ala, June 20 - A special from Meridian, Miss. to The Age-Herald says: "Kemper county is the scene of another sensation. News of an outrage committed on a young lady and the subsequent pursuit and shooting of the scoundrel by a brother of the young lady has just reached this city. Miss Sallie Hammack, daughter of W. L. Hammack, who lives six miles northeast of DeKalb, while drawing water at the well was seized and gagged, it is said by a young man named W. F. Hoy and carried some distance from the house and criminally assaulted. The mother of the young lady came upon the scene and Hoy promised to marry her daughter if the matter was kept quiet. As soon as the male members of the family, however, heard of what had occurred, they armed themselves and went in pursuit of Hoy. The latter secreted himself in a neighbor's house and when the pursuing party appeared he seized a gun and attempted to escape. He was overtaken and shot down by Cliff Hammack as he was passing through a field, several buckshot lodging in his back. Hoy was conveyed to DeKalb, where he lies in critical condition. The young lady has made an affidavit against him, charging him with criminal assault. The parties are all prominent and well-to-do citizens of Kemper county.

Atlanta Constitution, 19 January 1898

Meridian, Miss, January 18 (Special) The McAllum hotel at DeKalb, the county site of Kemper county, was totally destroyed by fire last night, entailing a loss of about $3000, with insurance to the amount of $2500.

Atlanta Constitution, 11 March 1898

Meridian, Miss, March 10 - Guy Jack, the Kemper county poisoner, will again be placed on trial next Tuesday at DeKalb. Judge Huddleston this morning appointed Drs. Pearson, McKinley, Rush, Stennis, Cole, Mohler, and Kellis to make an examination of Dr. W. H. Lipscomb's physical condition and all except the latter two agreed he was able to undergo trial.
The prosecution was taken by surprise but announced ready for trial. Tuesday next was set and a special venue(?) of fifty men summoned.
It is thought the jury getting will be a slow and laborious task, owing the widespread notoriety of the case.

Atlanta Constitution, 4 July 1898

[in article called "Junior Correspondence, with letters from readers from all over]

Ella Jenkins, Mr. Nebo, Miss - Dear Junior: I have read with much pleasure the letters of The Junior for some time and think them very interesting. I live two miles from Mt. Nebo, twenty-eight from Meridian, and nine from DeKalb, which is the county seat of Kemper. There are four churches close enough to attend regularly.

Atlanta Constitution, 22 December 1899

Meridian, Miss - December 21 - Word has reached this city of a fight between whites and blacks on the Kemper county overland road, about six miles north. One white man, Oscar Ford, was mortally wounded and two others were more or less seriously injured. It appears that the whites were without arms, while each of the nine negroes were armed with a revolver. The two parties met on the highway and a dispute over which was entitled to the right of way precipitated the difficulty. A posse, consisting of the sheriff and twenty-five deputies, is being organized to go in search of the murderous blacks. There is much excitement.

Atlanta Constitution, 20 November 1901

A petition has been prepared for presentation to Governor Longino asking a pardon for Sam Nave, a Kemper county convict, now serving a life sentence in the penitentiary for murder. The petition claims that the killing was in self-defense and that Nave believed his own life was in imminent danger when he struck the fatal blow. It is also charged that witnesses for the state in the trial committed perjury.

Atlanta Constitution 21 January 1902

Hanging Is The Only Remedy. "Murders are too frequent in Mississippi .... Another notable criminal case affirmed was that of Willis Love, convicted of murder in Kemper county, and sent to the penitentiary for life...."

Atlanta Constitution, 9 December 1904

Meridian, Miss., December 8 - The people of Kemper county are terribly aroused over a jail delivery and murder which occurred in this county yesterday afternoon, the former at DeKalb, the county seat, and the latter about 3 miles from Scooba, a town on the Mobile and Ohio.
The dead body of Jim Abercrombie was discovered in the road 3 miles from Scooba, by a negro.
Abercrombie had been convicted of illicit retailing of liquor and sentenced to serve ninety days in jail and to pay a fine of $500. He was released from jail yesterday afternoon a few hours before the jail delivery, in which Harwell Willrock and two companions, all serving terms for running blind tigers, made their escape, almost wrecking the jail, in which Willrok is believed to have been the ringleader. No arrests have been made, either in the murder case, or the jail delivery. Suspicion for the murder of Abercrombie attaches to a witness who testified against him in court. Judge Cochrane, who is holding court in Meridian, and at a recent term of court there made an effort to break up lawlessness in Kemper, has been summoned to come to DeKalb immediately. He was too sick to go, but sent a court representative.

Further bloodshed is feared.

Atlanta Constitution, 19 January 1905

Cured Free In One Day (advertisement by Rogers Drug and Chemical Company, Cincinnati, Ohio)

[list of names.... W. H. Hill, Spinks, Kemper county, Miss......]

Atlanta Constitution, 27 August 1905

Meridian, Miss, August 26 - At a picnic at Union Springs, Kemper county, Frank and Manson Chisolm, first cousins engaged in a difficulty, both being fatally wounded. During a personal altercation in the presence of a crowd of ladies, Manson Chisolm advances on his cousin with a knife, stabbing on either side of the neck, inflicting mortal wounds, and attempting the third cut, but Frank Chisolm, while falling pulled out his pistol and shot twice, both bullets taking effect in the breast and stomach. Manson Chisolm died almost instantly and Frank is reported dying.

Atlanta Constitution, 19 December 1905

Meridian, Miss., December 18 - A telephone message received here tonight tells of a tragedy in Kemper county 3 miles from DeKalb, in which Andrew Young shot and killed Bill Fulton. Further than the killing, which took place at the home of Mr. Hichman during a marriage ceremony, no particulars can be learned tonight. All the parties are prominent citizens of Kemper county.

Atlanta Constitution, 4 February 1906

Meridian, Miss., February 3 - Information was received in Meridian this afternoon of the killing of a negro mail carrier in Kemper county. The matter for some reason appears to have been kept very quiet. The negro, who was less than twenty years old, carried the mail on a star route between DeKalb and a small county office about 15 miles distant called Peton. The boy left the latter office with the mail bound for DeKalb, so it is said, and a short time later after his departure, the horse came back riderless. A search was instituted and the dead body was soon located. It is said three shots from a shotgun had penetrated his body. The mail pouch was unharmed.

Atlanta Constitution, 8 April 1908

Meridian, Miss. April 7 - Harry Mosely, colored, was brought to Meridian for safe keeping. He is charged with having cut the throat of Bill Isebelle, colored, near Scooba, Kemper county. According to the story told, a crowd of negroes, attending a circus performance at Scooba, were returning through the country in wagons. Mosely and Isebelle had ad a quarrel, the latter getting into Mosely's wagon and assaulting him. Mosely then drew his knife and cut Isabelle's throat, almost severing the head from the body. Mosely is dazed and talks but little. Both men were long-time friends previous to their difficulty.

Atlanta Constitution, 11 May 1906

Meridian, Miss. May 10 - During an alleged crap game, while celebrating emancipation day, which had been postponed, and the closing of the Rock Mount school, 3 miles from Porterville, Kemper county, a negro named Monroe and a 10-year-old negro girl are reported to have been killed yesterday. Monroe is said to have been shot by Sandy McCullom at the foot of the hill on which the school house stood. Elmer McCullom, as soon as Monroe died, is alleged to have drawn his revolver and shot twice at a white named Ray. The bullets missed and entered the brain of McCullom's 10-year-old niece, death resulting instantly. McCullom is said to have surrendered, claiming h e merely shot his pistol in the air. J. C. Hill, a negro lawyer of this city, was the orator of the day and alleges that he witnessed the tragedy.

Atlanta Constitution, 26 June 1906

Meridian, Miss, June 25 - Information received here today says an unknown negro was quickly lynched by an unknown mob at DeKalb, Kemper county for what was believed to have been an attempt to criminally assault Mrs. James Young, proprietor of a store. The negro darted behind the counter and rushed toward Mrs. Young, when she drew a pistol. The negro escaped but was captured by the mob during the night and lynched.

Atlanta Constitution, 18 December 1915

Meridian, Miss, December 17 - At least four persons were killed and two score more or less seriously injured early today as the result of a tornado which swept through several east Mississippi counties and passed into Alabama northwest of here. Two negro women and two negro children were killed in Giles, Kemper county, when the structures they were occupying were demolished, a score of persons were injured and nearly one hundred buildings, for the most part occupied by negroes were destroyed in the town.... Jumping from Clark to Lauderdale county, north of here, the cyclone struck Obadiah and Cullum and sweeping on through Kemper county passed into Alabama near Scooba. Numerous personal injuries and considerable damage were reported at Obadiah and Cullum and advices from Scooba stated that in Geiger, Ala. seven miles northwest of the place, several persons were injured and the railroad station and other structures were destroyed... Giles is a small settlement east of Scooba and near the Alabama state line. The population largely is composed of negro farm hands and naval stores workers. Obadiah is a country town 12 miles north of Meridian and Monasco and Brewer are hamlets southeast of Quitman.

Wichita Daily Times (Wichita Falls, Texas) 12 August 1910

Seymour, Tex, Aug 5 - S. Edwards, a prominent grain dealer of Seymour, died at his home at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday August 4, 1910 from nervous prostration. He was talking over the telephone when he fell to the floor and was removed to the bed and died within three hours, never regaining consciousness after he fell.

Mr. S. (Pink) Edwards was born in Kemper county, Mississippi, June 8, 1855; was married to Miss Judith L. Rush of the same county, at the age of 21. He moved to Texas in 1876 and settled at Mesquite, Dallas county, where he lived for two years, removing to Baylor county in 1878, then an unorganized county. He helped organize this county and was its first tax assessor for all the territory west to Mexico. He had been engaged in farming and in the grain business for the past twenty years until his death. Mr. Edwards was an untiring worker and he was well rewarded for his labors, having accumulated quite a nice little fortune.

A wife, two sons, and three daughters survive him: Dan R. Edwards of 71 Paso county, S. I Edwards of Sweetwater, Mrs. J.O. Pittman of Chelsea, Okla., Mrs. O. Pedigo of Memphis, Texas, and Miss Jennie Edwards of Seymour.Mr. Edwards was a member of the Methodist church, a member of the Woodmen of the World, as was a Thirty-second Degree Mason.In The death of Mr. Edwards, Seymour has lost a valuable citizen. He was a whole-souled fellow, always lending help to any enterprise for the town.

Madison County Courier (Edwardsville, Illinois), 8 February 1866

The Jackson (Miss.) Clarion of the 20th ult. Announces that Gov. Humphreys had ordered five companies of state militia to Kemper county to look after troubles there arising from the following occurrence: One Orange, a freedman, who formerly belonged to a Mr. Gully, living near DeKalb, in Kemper county, contracted in Lauderdale county with a gentleman for labor, which contract included his whole family. Returning to Mr. Gully's he was refused permission to take his family. Upon affidavit of Orange at Meridian, a sergeant and nine men were sent with Orange to Mr. Gully's to obtain possession of his family. They were met with an armed force, who took Orange from the guard, tied and beat him, and sent the guard back to their quarters. The sergeant made his affidavit, upon which the above force of five companies was sent to Kemper county.

Petersburg Index, The (Petersburg, Virginia, 5 March 1868

Mrs. Mary E. Carter, of Kemper county, Mississippi, died on the 17th ult. Her husband, Col. James W. Carter, fell July 2, 1865, in leading a charge at Gettysburg.

Petersburg Index, The (Petersburg, Virginia), 18 March 1872

A telegram from Jackson, Miss says in reference to the Kuklux trials in
progress at that place:

"On Monday the jury in the case of L. D. Belk came into court with a verdict of guilty. Every one who was familiar with the testimony was struck with consternation at the verdict. On Saturday, when the case was submitted to the jury, Belk suggested to the counsel that it be not argued, saying: "if they will convict on the testimony without argument all the logic of the legal profession would be thrown away in argument, for they would surely convict in the face of it.The counsel for the defense immediately asked for a new trial, which Judge Hill takes under advisement until the next term. In the meantime, Belk is released on bond.That they jury was prejudiced entirely is the opinion of every correct thinking man, for it was nowhere shown in the evidence that Belk was at any time present where riotous proceedings were being conducted, except as a peace officer, he being a deputy sheriff, and not even a harsh expression is proven to have escaped his lips. One of the jurymen who found this extraordinary verdict is one Gilmer, who stands indicted in Kemper county for the murder of Hal Dawson, a most estimable young man. Gilmer should have been at home to stand his trial last Monday, but was kept here on the United States jury."

Atchison Globe, The (Atchison, Kansas), 28 January 1885

New Orleans, January 28 - A special from Meridian says: A negro known by the name of Bill was hanged yesterday by a mob in Kemper county yesterday for outraging a white girl.

Daily Review (Decatur, Illinois), 10 March 1897

Meridian, Miss, March 9 - A poisoning case which promises to become famous has been brought to light in Kemper county, Miss. Dr. W. H. Lipscomb, a
prominent physician, and Guy Jack, a wealthy merchant of Scooba, have been indicted by the grand jury for the murder of C. T. Stuart for the purpose of obtaining the value of life insurance policies on Stuart's life, aggregating $25,000, held by Jack. A postmortem examination was made and enough strychnine found in Stuart's stomach to kill a herd of cattle. Dr. Lipscomb was placed on trial at DeKalb today and a jury secured. There have been more than a dozen deaths similar to Stuart's in Kemper county during the past few years. The authorities say they have positive proof showing there has been an organized gang composed of prominent business and professional men in Kemper county, which have grown rich by insuring the lives of poor people and then poisoning them for the insurance money. Several insurance companies in the east have been mulcted(?) for large sums by alleged conspirators, and the insurance companies are prosecuting the case with great vigor.

Fort Wayne News, The (Fort Wayne, Indiana), 5 September 1896

William West, Jr. living near Antioch Church, Kemper county, Miss, went home.

Fort Wayne News, The (Fort Wayne, Indiana), 12 June 1897

Meridian, Miss, June 14(?) - News has just reached here of the murder of five negroes in the extreme northwestern portion of Kemper county. A negro named Sibley, while drunk, secured a gun, and started out to kill every person he met.

The first he came across happened to be five negroes, three women and two children. The fiend shot them down and left them where they fell. He also shot at six other negroes, who narrowly escaped. As soon as the bloody work of Sibley was discovered the most intense excitement prevailed and a mob was organized to lynch the murderer.Sibley took to the woods, carrying his shotgun with him, and at last accounts the mob had surrounded him and a bloody fight was imminent. Word comes from DeKalb that the sheriff of Kemper county has gone to the scene with a large posse.

Stevens Point Daily Journal (Stevens Point, Wisconsin), 8 January 1898

Jim Watts and Sam Cole, colored men of Neshoba county, were lynched in Pea Ridge, Kemper county, Miss., a few days ago. Watts and Cole went to Pea Ridge to visit relatives and became too thick with their kinsmen's wives. The lynchers are said to be negroes.

Washington Post, The (Washington, D.C.), 2 January 1907

Jackson, Miss., Jan 1 - Gov Vardaman has offered a reward of $250 for the capture of the negro Tim Simpson, who precipitated the Kemper county troubles by killing Constable O'Brien, and offered a reward of $250 for the three white men, Dan Kern, Hal Byrd, and Ernest Bryan, with the killing of the negro Calvin Nicholson.

1837-11-18; Paper: Portsmouth Journal of Literature and Politics, published as: The Portsmouth & Great-Falls Journal of Literature & Politics

Marriages
In Kemper Co., Miss Mr. Moses HUBBARD, of Springfield, Greene Co, Alabama, formerly of this town to Miss Sarah S. DUNLAP, daughter of Mr. Robert DUNLAP, of the former place.

1854-09-09; Paper: Texas State Gazette

Arrivals at the Metropolitan Motel
L. B. MCKEE, Kemper co, Miss.
N. W. CHRSISHOLM, do [ditto]

1857-06-26; Paper: Liberator, published as: The Liberator

Murder in Mississippi A man named Stephen RODGERS was killed near Scooba, Kemper county, Miss. On the 24th ult.. by one Beverly GREENWOOD. They had an altercation the day previous, during which Greenwood threatened to kill RODGERS the next morning. He was a good as his word. Approaching RODGERS with a double-barrel shot gun, GREENWOOD presented it, calling upon the other to draw his pistol, and immediately firing, putting whole load of turkey and buck shot through his body. RODGERS made but a single exclamation fell and died instantly. GREENWOOD was arrested and committed to jail.

1857-10-23; Paper: San Francisco Bulletin, published as: Daily Evening Bulletin

Conviction For Murder Beverly GREENWOOD, indicted for the murder of Stephen RODGERS, at Scooba Depot, Kemper county, Miss. Last spring was tried at Dekalb, found guilty, and sentenced to be hung on the 23d of October.

1858-03-05; Paper: Sun, published as: The Sun

Robert RIGBY, a young man living near DeKalb, Miss was killed on the morning of the 10th ult. by D. C. MCLAURIN.

1850-03-22; Paper: Daily Alabama Journal

The St. John We learn from the Camden (Wilcox Co) Mirror that some nineteen bodies have been discovered of those lost on the ill [illegible] that county as follows:

Mrs. MCRAIN, Dr. MCKAIN [MCRAIN?], Mrs. S. VAUGHAN, Mrs. SIZER, Camden, S. C.; Lady, name unknown, supposed to be of Irish blood; 2 ladies reported to be found at Yellow Bluff; Miss HALL, a little girl nine or ten years old, Augusta, GA; Dr. C. SMITH, Bennettsville, S.C., recently from DeKalb, Miss; Mr. CARMACK, Perry County, Ala; Hon G. F. LINDSEY, Mobile; little son of Thos. CARSON, Dallas county, Ala; a man found the wreck, name unknown; a man found at Canton, unknown.

Seven colored persons, among whom were recognized Peter UPSON, steward of the boat, and Sandy and Charley, cabin boys. The remaining three men supposed to be firemen, and a little girl.

The people of Wilcox deserve much credit for their untiring exertions, night and day, for weeks, to rescue the remains of those who have perished.

1863-10-06; Paper: Portland Daily Advertiser

Cairo, Oct 5 H. D. GULLY, of Kemper Co, Miss, has announced himself as a candidate for Representative to Congress on the reconstruction platform.

1866-11-29; Paper: Memphis Daily Avalanche, published as: The Daily Memphis Avalanche

The DeKalb, Miss. Flag announces the death of Dr. WETMORE of Scooba, a young physician of a highly cultivated mind.

1859-12-16; Paper: Daily Confederation, published as: The Daily Confederation

Alabama Methodist Conference
Appointments of the Preachers of the Alabama Conference for 1860
Macon District- Scooba A. MCBRYDE

1853-02-04; Paper: Barre Patriot, published as: The Barre Patriot

Gov Foote, of Mississippi, has offered a reward of $300 for the apprehension of John J. EDWARDS, who murdered Col James H. SIMMS recently in Kemper County.

1854-09-15; Paper: Barre Patriot, published as: The Barre Patriot

A Father Killed by His Son The Lauderdale (Miss.) Republican records another deed of blood in Kemper County. Mr. LOCKLAIR, a man who was generally respected by his neighbors while sober, was last week killed by his own son. LOCKLAIR was a habitual drunkard, and lately removed from Kemper county to the western part of the State, leaving his son behind him. After some time, Mrs. LOCKLAIR was compelled, in consequence of his brutal treatment while drunk, to leave him. She arrived at her sons after having walked nearly one hundred miles. The son dutifully bought and presented her with a piece of land, upon which she moved, and also furnished her with necessaries, and supported her afterwards by his daily labor. Some time elapsed when LOCKLAIR returned, behaved himself well for a time, but soon became intoxicated, and seizing a knife, attempted to take the life of his son. The young man tried to avoid him, but all in vain. The wretched father was upon him the deadly weapon uplifted, when the miserable son was compelled to take the life of his wretched parent in order to save his own, which he did by shooting him through the head. LOCLAIR immediately expired, a victim to intemperance, leaving his wife and son to drag their weary lives along the path of life; a fate more wretchedly miserable than that of the unfortunate, yet abandoned father.

1867-08-02; Paper: Memphis Daily Avalanche, published as: The Daily Memphis Avalanche

The DeKalb Mississippi Flag says Captain H. B. CUNNINGHAM, a good Confederate soldier, lives near Wahalak, in Kemper county. He is the brother-in-law of John A. LOGAN, who was to have joined the Confederate cause at the same time the former did, but after helping a good many others on their way, backed out, and is now a Radical member of Congress, from Illinois.

1852-12-16; Paper: Sun, published as: The Pittsfield Sun

The DeKalb (Mississippi) Gazette announces the death, in Kemper county, of a Choctaw chief, HOPIAH SKETENA (Little Leader) over 100 years old. This veteran, says the Gazette, with his followers, was at the Battle of New Orleans, under Gen. Jackson.

1868-07-21; Paper: Philadelphia Inquirer, published as: The Philadelphia Inquirer

The body of a murdered young lady has been [found?] in the road in Kemper county, Miss.

1867-12-14; Paper: Memphis Daily Avalanche, published as: The Daily Memphis Avalanche

James W. HULL, a native of Connecticut, long resident in Kemper county, died last Thursday, aged about fifty-four years. He was recently removed from the office of Circuit Clerk by General ORD.

1853-07-09; Paper: Trenton State Gazette, published as: State Gazette

The Police Court of Kemper county, Mississippi, has raised the fee fro license drinking saloons to $1000. One of the two establishments of the kind in DeKalb has already been closed, and the other will share the same fate in August.

1867-08-31; Paper: Cincinnati Daily Gazette, published as: The Cincinnati Daily Gaz

Of the Kemper county crop, the DeKalb Flag says: on the low lands cotton is doing well, but the long continued dry weather is causing it to shed considerably on the uplands.

1870-09-06; Paper: Cincinnati Daily Gazette, published as: The Cincinnati Daily Gazette

The boll worm has made its appearance in the cotton in Kemper county, Miss.

1852-10-25; Paper: Daily Alabama Journal

To give you and idea what devastation they are making, I passed a night at a gentlemans house by the name of THURMOND, in Kemper county, Mississippi, he informed me that 100 acres of his richest land in cotton was not worth picking, having been entirely destroyed by the bowl-worm.

1868-06-23; Paper: Memphis Daily Avalanche, published as: The Daily Memphis Avalanche

Miss Martha WILLIAMS, a lovely young lady, was found hung by the neck dead in her room, last Thursday week, four miles north of DeKalb in Kemper county. Marks of violence led to an examination, when the shocking discovery was made that she had been brutally outraged. The hanging was a ruse by the fiend who murdered her to convey that the idea that she committed suicide. No clue to the author of the damnable deed.

1868-06-26; Paper: Memphis Daily Avalanche, published as: The Daily Memphis Avalanche

The Clarion of the 23d has the following election returns: Enon, Kemper county Democrats, 38, Radicals, 17.

1839-04-11; Paper: Emancipator and Republican, published as: The Emancipator

Public Sales
From the Selina, Ala. Free Press, Feb. 9, 1839. A Whig paper
Notice Will be sold at Newbern, Greene Co, Ala. Under deed of Mortgate of John FITTS, for Cash, Two Negro MEN named Harry and Ned Also will be sold under said deed of Mortgage on the 4th day of March next in the Town of DeKalb, Kemper County, Mississippi, Six Negroes, namely, Pleasant, Old Abram, Robert, Frances, Maria, and Peggy.

1866-06-30; Paper: Memphis Daily Avalanche, published as: The Memphis Daily Avalanch

The Kemper, Miss Flag says that Mr. James H. BRITTAIN, of that place, recently killed three deer with one shot while out hunting.

1858-09-17; Paper: Liberator, published as: The Liberator

Desperate Fight - The Kemper (Miss.) Democrat gives an account of the stabbing of a Mr. DOUGHTY, of that county, by a man named HERRON. It appears that HERRON drew a large bowie-knife, and rushed upon his victim, who was armed only with an ordinary pocket-knife. The Democrat says: The conflict is described as awful. They stabbed each other in the head, face, breast and side. HERRON broke of the point of his bowie-knife. It is supposed it is in DOUGHTYs body somewhere. Mr. DOUGHTY would have been killed, it is thought, had HERRONS knife not broken. The first thrust he made with it, DOUGHTY caught it by the blade, which cut his hand severely. They could not be separated until HERRON fell from his wounds, when DOUGHTY desisted. No hopes are entertained of HERRONs recovery. DOUGHTY, it is thought, will get well. Our informants all state that DOUGHTY acted purely in self-defense.

Add your text here

Add your text here

The USGenWeb Project

USGenWeb Project

MSGenWeb

MSGenWeb

Contact Us

Marsha Bryant

Jeff Kemp - State Coordinator

Denise Wells, Asst. State Coordinators

Questions or Comments?

If you have questions or problems with this site, email the County Coordinator, Marsha Bryant. Please to not ask for specfic research on your family. I am unable to do your personal research. I do not live in MS and do not have access to additional records.