1902 The Calhoun Monitor January - June

Submitted by Rose Diamond

[not dated but after March 25th] Slate Springs

Misses Jessie and William Bailey who have been attending school at Grenada college, are now at home.

Dr. Johnnie Denton, who recently graduated at Memphis Medical College and later successfully passed the examination by the state medical board, has located in our town and will give prompt attention in ministration to any who honor him in his professional work.

Mr. Willie Vance, who formerly worked for Mallory Bros. was a visitor in the home of our postmaster yesterday.

Misses Carrie and Lura Trussell of Sabougla visited our town last week and spent the day pleasantly at the home of Mr. and Mrs. A. N. Criss.

Mr. Walter Buchanan and little son of Eupora visited the home of Mr. J. E. Gaston last week.

Several new McCormick reapers have been brought into the country, which proves that cotton will not be the crop in the future. Signed: Nan Tuckett

Reagan

Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Weeks, of Bias, were the guests of Mr. Henry Weeks and family Sunday.

Since our last writing a miniature cyclone has passed through our neighborhood, blowing down much timber and doing considerable other damage. So far as we can learn, Mr. J. D. Nabors sustained the most severe loss; his was seventeen trees down on a half acre of cotton.

Mr. Press Doolittle, in company with this brother Sam and little son Algin were in this section last Saturday, outing bent. Mr. Doolittle says though the ranks of the mosquitoes are somewhat thinner, their appetite has been increased.

For the first time the wolves have broke the silence and caused much excitement by their appearance in our little village. The family of Rev. R. C. White were very suddenly aroused last Wednesday night by the loathsome howl by one of those carnivorous canines, after rambling the lot premises in search, probably of his favorite meal, a few sheep, but fortunately his efforts were unrewarded, and he took his departure for the dense forest near their home. It seems hard to attribute any pertinent cause that prompts the dusky wolves to again spread much fear by taking up their adobe in our swamps and fields. But they are here and just so long as we allow them to remain they will prove a menace to the sheep raising industry. A pack of these brisky brown-backs can in a single night, completely destroy the finest flocks of sheep. Many sheep have already been destroyed. Let some one set a good plan for the extermination of this troublesome enemy.

It is with the deepest of regret that we note the death of Mrs. Annie Strong of Cleveland, who formerly resided at this place. She leaves a heart-broken husband and three little children and a host of friends to mourn her loss. We extend our heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved.

Hon. H. Y. Putman, of Putman, of Putmantown, [sic] was in this locality Sunday.

Mr. J. G. Barton is confined to his bed with, it is thought to be, bilious fever. We hope that he may be up again soon. Signed: Napoleon

Sisson & Adams, Attorneys - At - Law  Pittsboro, Mississippi 
To assist in Civil Matters in Circuit and Supreme Courts. W. S. Hill will practice in all the courts of Calhoun county, the federal court at Oxford and Supreme court at Jackson.  Prompt attention given to all business entrusted to them. Office east side Court House.G. T. Mitchell, R. V. Fletcher - Pontotoc                               

A. T. Smith - Pittsboro  Mitchell, Fletcher & SmithAttorneys - At - Law,  Pittsboro, MississippiPrompt attention to clients.  G. T. Mitchell will attend the courts of Calhoun county.May 29 1902 

Sarepta We had another nice shower Monday morning. We have not suffered for lack of rain this spring and crop prospects were never better at this season of the year.

Capt. Wash Price of Water Valley spent a night with relatives here last week. The Capt. Is very much “struck” on Texas.

Deputy tax assessor Eli Powell is working these parts now.

Luther Lee, of Water Valley accompanied his sister, Mrs. W. H. Reid home last Wednesday. Luke is now in the employ of Jennings & Co.

Mrs. G. H. Glenn has typhoid fever, but we learn she is improving.

Mrs. Wilkins, of whom we spoke last week, died last Thursday night.

We can’t but we want somebody who can to come along and beat Tom Zinn playing checkers. He is the champion. Signed: Patrick

Hopewell

How is this for warm weather?

Some sickness in our community.

Mr. G. W. Kimbrell, with his father and mother, returned from Tex., where they have been visiting relatives since the reunion the 16th of this month. Mr. Kimbrell Jr. brought back a centipede in a glass jar. Mother Kimbrell was very sick while out there, thus marring the pleasure of her visit.

Mr. G. D. McNair has been on the sick list for several days but is better at this writing.

Mr. Charles Kimbrell and family of Hohenlinden were visiting relatives in this community last Sat. and Sun.

Master Miller Hays of Walthall is spending a few days with his aunt, Mrs. Alice Hardin of this place.

Mrs. Jordan Mathis and son visited the family of Mr. T. J. Marshall last Sat. and Sun.

Horror of horrors! The volcanic eruption at St. Pierre. Signed: Madge

Vanrish

The rain that fell the morning of the 19th vanished almost as quickly as it came, anyway the farmers said they never saw everything dry off so quickly after a rain, but the same blessing was showered down upon us again this morning and there are good prospects for more rain. Already we imagine some are saying: “If it rains much I will lose part of my crop.” Did you ever notice that those who clamor most for a change in the weather are very nearly always frightened when they receive what they ask for lest they receive more than needed? If it rains they fear a “wet spell,” if it is dry they fear a drought. But we do not believe in borrowing trouble for if the evil we dread…

News of Local Interest Rain is needed.

Supervisors court next Monday.

Mrs. Belle Harrelson has been very sick and is still confined to her bed.

Miss Pearl Armstrong, who has been visiting relatives at Atlanta, returned home Sunday.

Mr. E. B. Shearer and family have moved to Pittsboro and occupy the Joe Reid place north.

Come to the meeting next Monday (torn off) for or against the proposed (torn) century celebration.

Any kind of Chill Tonic you want for 25 cents at Frank Ross’.

And Hon. A. F. Fox went off and married a Georgia woman. Fuller couldn’t fool ‘em in this country.

Mr. C. M. Lee is said to be quite feeble. The warm weather of the past few days disagrees with him.

(torn) charming Miss Nellie Wood-? of Bentley, visited our city this week to have some dental work done.

Mr. D. F. Watson is kept quite busy visiting different sections of the county and noting mineral indications.

By mutual consent the law firm of Mitchell, Fletcher & Smith is this day dissolved. Mitchell, Fletcher & Smith.

Simple rules in selling saves you many pennies. W. H. Bailey & Bro.

Children’s day service at Tabernacle church the 3rd Sunday in June at 3 p.m. Address by Hon. J. J. Adams of Pittsboro.

The Democratic executive committee of this county is without a chairman, Mr. H. H. Creekmore having moved away.

Dr. B. N. Webb has been to Tula, Miss., returning last Tuesday. He says the railroad hadn’t go there when he left.

Children’s day service at Big Creek the 1st Sunday in June at 11 a.m. Address by Prof. James W. Rogers of Pittsboro.

If you paid us for The Memphis Weekly News and failed to get a copy this week please notify us by postal card.

The law firm of Ford & Haman has moved into the office formerly occupied by Arnold & Creekmore just south of this office.

We are needing a rain in these parts. Gardens are almost too far gone to be redeemed now and the ? crop is suffering greatly.

Mrs. Dye says they had a nice time at the Antioch quarterly conference last Saturday, a large audience good preaching and plenty of dinner.

Loosa Scoona has nearly reached the low water mark and the mosquitoes hold high carnival when a boy approaches rod and line in hand.

Prof. Beasley made a trip to Chickasaw county last week and returned with his family who has been visiting relatives at Buena Vista and Houston.

Miss Annie Martin has been doing a splendid millinery business in the store of Mr. D. W. Johnson. If you want an up to date hat, see Miss Annie.

Mrs. N. L. Carter, mother in law of deputy sheriff H. S. McComic and little daughter of the latter, visited our sanctum last Tuesday eve. Glad to have them come.

And now Mr. E. J. Cook pats his foot and rejoiceteh [sic]. A fine girl baby at his house, will eventually help to keep house, while “Judd” and the three boys make corn.

Mr. W. T. Cole, Ransom Perkins and several other parties were in town last Saturday eve and exhibited some finely formed and well developed mule colts. If Mr. L. Pate takes the “cake” he will have to hustle.

We’re after the fleeting dollar and give value that never fails. W. H. Bailey & Bro.

It is believed that plenty of corn is extant for Calhoun to supply all local demands and probably some to spare but it is not in every neighborhood. Corn is selling at 90 cents at the crib. The oat crop is spotted as recent rains have not been general in the county.

Airy things for torrid days. Everything for summer wear at W. H. Bailey & Bros.

Mr. Moten Shepherd of Ellard tells us that his grandparent, Mr. Isac Williams, who lives near Pine Valley in this county, visited him last week and incidentally took in the memorial service at old Concord church while there. Mr. Williams is 88 years old, but despite his four score and eight makes a good field hand. He is cultivating this year 15 acres of land and has fine prospects for a crop. Last year he made four bales of cotton. Mr. Williams came to what is now the northwest portion of Calhoun county long before the county came and has lived there continually since his settlement. He, Mr. Louis Gober and Jas. Ritch were neighbors in 1845 and they are all living yet. Mr. Ritch still in the county and Mr. Gober at Beaumont Tex. Mr. Ritch is probably the youngest of the trio. We congratulate these time honored men. They have lived blameless lives and set worthy examples they are also fair types of the early pioneers. May their days in the land be many and the last their best.

“Dr.” Braggett, a fake who has been moving about practicing medicine without license, was taken up and fined at Eupora last week. The “Doctor” has also been “doing” the people in portions of this county and was wanted by our authorities. The marshal of Eupora has started here wiht him under arrest, and while crossing a bridge across Topishaw creek he slid off his horse and made his escape into the woods, wearing a handsome pair of iron bracelets, and will doubtless be recaptured soon.

Editor Monitor – I desire to express my many thanks through your paper to the good people of the community for the kindness and friendship they have shown me during the past six months. A friend in need is a friend in deed. Very truly, W. C. Keenum

Hollis [Excerpts]

Today (Sunday) was a big day in that, the eastern portion of Calhoun county. The children’s day at Ellzey and the signing at Duncan Hill… … I’ll put J. H. Powell, Robt. Barton, Sam Hawkins and your uncle Fuller against the same number anywhere for the rabbit foot. Our singing was presided over by Bro. Jim Clements, a fine singer…

Master John Mitchell cut his foot very bad last Monday.

Mr. Jordan Wells and family visited Mr. Jackson Saturday and Sunday.

A new born girl at Mr. Cal Hollis.

Mr. I. N. Patterson was over on our side. Wonder if he is buying beef cattle.

Just keep talking R. R. Signed: Uncle Fuller

Derma

We were greatly benefited by a shower this morning. Hon. J. M. Arnold passed through here last week. He was on his way home after attending chancery court at Pittsboro.

Mrs. Theda Ellzey, of Tula visited her sister here last week.

Mr. Fred Brock of Benela was a pleasant visitor here Sunday.

Quite a crowd attended the singing at Duncan Hill Sunday, which was conducted by Mr. Jimmie Clements.

Mr. Trumon Barton and sister, Vera attended the Children’s day services at Ellzey Sunday

Mrs. Laura Powell is visiting relatives near Wardwell at this writing.

Several of our young people enjoyed a storm party at the home of Mr. and Mrs. T. L. Hollis Saturday night.

Miss Boyce Strong visited relatives in Slate Springs Saturday and Sunday. She was accompanied by Dr. Allan Hardin.

Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Jackson visited here Saturday afternoon.

The health of this community is very good at this writing. This is one great blessing which we do not appreciate as we should.

Several of our farmers made business trips to Eupora last week.

Mr. Lewis Burns of Slate Springs visited here last week. Signed: Chatterbox

Ellzey

Visitors to our town this week are too numerous to mention.

The Children’s day at the Methodist church last Sunday was a grand success in every way, good behavior, good recitations, good essays and a good dinner and plenty to feed the crowd and plenty left, a big crowd and all partook of the edibles except Charlie Thorn, and he was so bashful he couldn’t face the crowd.

Prof. J. J. Hiller and family of Houston are visiting here this week. They will start to Alabama one day next week where the Prof. goes to take up a school. Prof. Hiller taught our school here for six sessions and has many friends who hate to give him up.

Dr. Enochs was among friends here last Sunday; guess he just come to the children’s day, however, he came in his buggy, but didn’t have any sick patients.

Mrs. Sarah Richard, who has been indisposed for some time, is now able to be up some and we hope she may get well again.

A negro woman died here Sunday night of spinal meningitis – Gus Stovall’s wife. She had lingered about two weeks.

Some lady lost a satchel at the church Sunday. It contains some very nice baby clothing. The owner will find the same in the post office here. Signed: Old Rusty

Slate Springs

Children’s day exercises were observed yesterday at the Methodist Church.

Dr. Allan Hardin and Miss Boyce Strong of Derma were visitors in our town Saturday and yesterday. She to visit relatives and he to look after his social interests that are in danger of monopoly.

Mr. Gaston Byars and cousin were visitors to the home of Mr. John Vance Saturday and yesterday. Since there are two blithe and happy young ladies in the family, we are not surprised at their visit. Who can help loving the girls?

Mrs. Hiram Martin of Pittsboro visited Rev. Arthur Martin and family recently, like a good grandmother her prompting motive was to welcome and pronounce her blessing on the little granddaughter, who now renders the home doubly attractive.

STRAYED: From the farm of C. R. King, near Buena Vista, one Cream colored mare, medium size, wit roman nose, black mane and tail, star in forehead and white right hind foot.  Finder will please notify F. F. Foulks, Buena Vista, Miss. and receive reward. Fowler’s great combined show was lightly attended at Pittsboro last Tuesday, though something like 150 spectators witnessed the “high leap,” a dangerous and daring feat performed by a little boy outside the tent.

We were looking for a man to make us laugh last Tuesday evening and thereby to dispel an attack of the blues and we found him, when Judge J. C. Longstreet, in his inimitable style began to rehearse some of the droll sayings of Hon. Joe Slack, of Grenada.  The Judge is a great friend of Mr. Slack’s and has an inexhaustible supply of anecdotes and reminiscences of his friend Joe as also of other characters with whom he has mingled in the past. On his semi-annual visits to Pittsboro for the purpose of holding chancery court, the Judge seems to enjoy the outing very much, and whether he is in the stand delivering an opinion on some case, or under the shade of one of the poplars on the square, he generally has a crowd of interested listeners about him.

He was telling a score or more of ye Calhounites about one of Mr. Slack’s “get off’s” on Judge A. T. Roane. It seems that Slack rather opposed the construction of water works and electric lights for Grenada when the question was first submitted there and in a speech he said “Here is my old friend Judge Roane who now wants electric lights and water works for Grenada, he was raised up there in Calhoun where a bar of soap and a bath in Scoona was all he wanted and when he first came to Grenada, they had to blindfold his oldest son to get him across the bridge on Yelobusha [sic] river. Now, nothing but electric lights and a porcelain bath tub will satisfy him."

In another instance some one employed Judge Roane to recover damages from a rail road for killing a fine mare. Slack was opposing counsel and said: “It wasn’t no mare, nor horse either, it was little fifteen year old bucking mustang, a branded hide full of h-ll.”

Judge Longstreet told another illustrative of Capt. Slack’s idea of too much education which spoils many a good field hand and a lot of fun. If his parents had not sent him off to college he might still have been down there on his father’s old place with a good pack of foxhounds and a good pacing horse.

Some good missionaries (Slack is a primitive Baptist) went over to a cannibal island and took a young buck back to England with them to educate him so that he might return and convert his people. They gave him a good education, bought him a good suit of clothes, a fine gold watch and a tall beegum hat and sent him back to his island. When he got home, his old friends were having a feast; they had captured some of their enemies and were cooking them. No sooner did the educated cannibal catch a sniff of the roast baby than he smashed his beegum hat, tore off his store clothes, threw his watch at the moon and yelled, “by G—gimme a rib.”

Thus in a flow of humor does Captain Jack Slack often present his best arguments, but we can’t quote correctly and will desist.

June 5 

Public Mass Meeting At a mass meeting of the citizens of Calhoun county at the court house in Pittsboro on Monday, June 2, 1902, Dr. C. K. Holland was called to the Chair and J. J. Adams elected Secty.

T. M. Murphree stated the object of the meeting in a short talk.

First resolution adopted,

Resolved that we have a basket dinner at the Camp Spring on the 26th day of July A. D. 1902 in commemoration of the organization of Calhoun county. In the endorsement of said resolution short, eloquent and spicy speeches were made by J. M. Byars, Lafayette Howell, T. W. Young and others.

On motion the following resolutions were read and adopted:

Whereas some fifty years have elapsed since the organization of Calhoun county and desiring to perpetuate the history of said organization with all the relicts, archives and mementoes of the early settlers that may now be obtained, and

Whereas, only a few survivors of those stirring days in July 1852 are now left to aid in obtaining a true account of the sturdy pioneers who paved the way for our coming and

Whereas it is the custom of all countries, states and subdivisions to gather up and transmit historical data in regard to same, therefore be it

Resolved that we, the representative citizens of the county in mass meeting assembled, designate July 26, 1902 as the day for the people thereof to come together and celebrate the semi-centennial of its existence as a county, and we respectfully request and urge that the people of every portion of the same assemble at the Camp Spring near Pittsboro, which is not only the geographical center of the county, but the identical ground on which the county commissioners met and took the initiative step looking to the formation of the county fifty years agone. We respectfully request all patriotic citizens to bring dinner and pass the day in commemoration of our pioneer fathers, and to bring with them any and all mementoes of the early settlers, as old letters written by the pioneers, Indian relicts, etc.

Resolved further that the local committee has full control of all details and may appoint other committees if thought necessary.

On motion the following committee was elected.

W. T. Scott, J. H. Ramsey, Charlie Young, V. L. Davis, J. H. Ford, C. A. Beasley, Otis Mitchell, J. W. Martin, R. Cruthirds, Alvin Phillips, N. R. Lamar, J. C. Campbell, J. B. Going, G. L. Martin, J. A Harrelson, Biler Sheffield, J. J. Ellard, Bevy Bryant, H. S. McComic, J. A. Killingsworth, L. W. Harrelson, Luther Free, B. F. Harrelson, E. B. Shearer, D. W. Johnson, J. N. Bryant, R. L. Bennett, J. P. Cruthirds, J. L. Johnson, F. M. Ross, C. S. Blount, A. T. Smith, T. L. Haman, J. A Tornwall, P. V. Martin, H. H. Martin, W. J. Patterson, Allen Hardin, J. W. Rogers, Charlie Rogers, Dennis Murphree, general committee.

On motion, J. J. Adams was elected chairman of the general committee.
On motion of the five members of the board of supervisors appoint four additional committeemen from each of their respective districts.
Beat 1: M. M. Baland [Boland], J. M. Byars, Bob Barton, L. Pate
Beat 2: J. A. Brasher, G. W. Riley, J. T. Hightower, T. B. Murff
Beat 3: M. D. L. Howell, D. C. Cooner, W. J. Ligon, J. T. Baker
Beat 4: H. S. Moore, Dr. C. K. Holland, Sid Bounds, Henry Kilgore
Beat 5: W. H. Hawkins, T. W. Young, F. M. Aycock, Scott Hardin.
On motion the two papers requested to publish the proceedings of the meeting.
On motion the meeting adjourned sine die.
Dr. C. K. Holland, chairman J. J. Adams, Secty.

Vanrish Yesterday we attended services at Providence church near Benela. This church is one of the oldest landmarks of Calhoun, as it was organized before our county was and the first building was an old log house and the old people can tell of glorious meetings at old Providence in the long ago camp meetings, they were attended by preachers and “bench members” from far and near. We expected an ordination service at which several controverted points were to be settled by the presbytery, but was disappointed, as said service will be next Thursday. However our disappointment was not so great, as we heard an excellent sermon delivered by Rev. Burns and the signing was also good.

Mrs. Susan Hamilton, Sallie Ward, Margaret Rish and Melverda Winter surprised their friend Mrs. I. N. Patterson with a visit in memory of the happy days gone by. “A friendship reunion,” they called it. All spent a most enjoyable time.

Sunday night last the somber angel of death threw wide “the gates ajar” and bade another prison freed spirit enter the eternal city of its God, and this morning they told us that Mrs. Mary A. Wade died last night. Never more will she suffer the afflictions of this life; never more will she be fettered with the infirmities of old age. Therefore; let us grieve not that God hath called her home. Signed: A Fellow Citizen

A Trip Through Texas

Editors Monitor – Soon after my return from Texas in May, I wrote a hasty sketch of some of the localities I visited and of some of the people I met while absent and at the instance of a few friends have concluded to send it to you, to do with it as you chose. I spent a day or two at Dallas and it is needless to say I enjoyed the scenes there very much while I was meeting with old friends, relatives and acquaintances there. It rejoiced me to see the old soldiers meet each other some of them after a long separation. In Dallas I met Dr. Howard Hartin, formerly of Banner, Miss., who is now doing a good practice and making money. I also met Bill Edwards, John Vanhorn and Jim Hare in Dallas. In the evening of the second day I went out west to Ft. Worth by rail and from thence ten miles north by stage to J. W. Sherman’s in company with Dick Woodall and Z. L. McCurley. Mr. Sherman is a son-in-law of the former and we spent an agreeable night at his home returning to Dallas next morning, where we passed the day

At night, we (the above mentioned) took the train for southern Texas and made our first stop at Holland. This is in Belle county and several old Calhounites live here. I met Sim Lanford, Gean Stubblefield, Tom Shannon, Tom Ballenger and Melmouth Hutchinson, and after a short stay with them we went on to Early Countiss’. His sister, Mrs. Annie Canode, lives with him. After a few hours rest Early drove us over to Dick Woodall’s where we slept. The next morning went over to Prairie Dell and stayed till Monday morning with Tobe Griffin and Jeff Hogg. They are both doing well and have splendid crops. Jeff says that two hands plow 25 acres of ground in a day. I left Tobe Griffin’s under a promise to return in a week but there was a general rain about this time and everything comes to a stand still in Texas when it rains on account of sticky mud, so I did not return. While on my way with Tobe Griffin from his place to Prairie Dell I think I saw some of the finest farms I ever saw. At Prairie Dell I took the train for Houston and reached my sisters home after 9 o’clock p.m. where I remained a week excepting a little outing in the country and one day in Galveston.

This is one of the most picturesque places I ever saw and had I the time and you would grant me space, I would like to speak of the wreckage and ruin wrought by the storm and of the energy and pluck subsequently displayed in rebuilding. Carpenters are in demand here and at Houston also, as the latter place is building up rapidly. Hands are paid from three to four dollar a day for work. Truck farming is a paying industry to those who can irrigate by artesian water. Plenty of almost all sorts of berries were being brought in and vegetables at a fair price. I left Houston on May 5 and stopped off at Bartlett, 190 miles from Houston, where I spent a very pleasant night with Dennis Murphree, formerly of Air Mount, Miss., who has many relatives and friends in this county.
I also met here Jim and Rufus Williams and their mother. It was very interesting to hear this good lady talk of the people she used to know in old Calhoun. John Powell who used to live east of Pittsboro, now lives at Bartlett, but I failed to meet with him. I went back by Holland and stopped a couple of days with the old Banner boys who now live there, viz. Lanford, Stubblefied, Shannon, Hutchinson etc. I left Holland at 4 a.m. on the 8th and arrived in Dallas at noon and left there at night via Shreveport for home.

Since I have rested up from the trip, I feel greatly improved, both physically and mentally and am glad I took this excursion.

But I am taking too much space and will close this imperfect sketch. Dr. W. F. Ellard, Ellard, Miss.

May, 1902

Recollections of an Old Citizen

The Calhoun Monitor - May 1902 

Mr. B. T. Moorman, who has lived many years in the county and is regarded by all who know him as one of the best and most worthy citizens of the same, dropped into our office the other evening and enlivened the crew by telling some of his recollections of the long ago. Good Tom Moorman, as he is often called, is now nearing the octogenarian mile post, but his life has been so pure and his consecration so great that no shadows appear to disturb the serenity of old age. Having always been a temperate man he is well preserved for his age. What a contrast is presented in men 75 to 80 years old. It makes a great difference in how they have lived.

Speaking of the proposed semi-centennial Mr. Moorman said he was married and had two children when this county was organized in 1852, and lived out west of Pittsboro about two miles.

He and Ransom Pilgreen cut and hewed the logs for the first house ever built in the town; they sawed the lumber to floor this house on a whip saw, temporarily erected just south of the road on the branch near Mr. John Mitchell’s place. The logs were placed on a sort of scaffold and while one stood on the ground to work, the other was above the log. Mr. M. worked below and his eyes would get full of saw dust while he looked up to watch the line. Thus they sawed 300 feet of lumber necessary to floor the building which they erected about where the brick jail now stands. The house was used by Tom Odom for a grocery (it was not called a bar then), and the first Circuit court ever held in this county was held in this same building.

“Yes, I was old enough to vote in the first election in this county, but I don’t know of but one man besides myself that lived between those two rivers and voted about the time of the organization that is living about here now. I think Squire Billie Andrews of Banner was here then, and it may be that Cullen Lee was. I guess there are several men and women who lived north of Scoona at the time and who are living there yet, and I think Albert Barton lived then south of Yalobusha river.

You see, a man that was old enough to vote in 1852 and is living yet could not be under 71 years old. Now, while there are several men living in the county who are more than 71 years old and have lived here many years, I don’t know whether they were here at that particular time or not, but there are several living in Texas now who were here then.
John T. McComic, I think had gone back to Alabama on a visit or some other purpose.

Yes, me and Ranse thought we were going to make lots of money building houses in Pittsboro, but after our experience with that Whip saw we quit. Soon after this house was built T. B. Reagan put up a Sash saw near Old Town, which furnished some of the lumber to build other houses here, and some old store houses were moved here from other places. The board of police entered into a contract to have a brick courthouse and wooden jail built, and times were right lively for a while. This was a good country then, flat boats had been carrying most of the cotton to Grenada and Point Leflore for ten or twelve years and keel boats were pulled up the rivers to Benela and Old Town. People didn’t live as high then as they do now, but game was plenty. Some things were a great deal higher than they are now, it cost 10 cents to get a letter out of the post office and there wasn’t so much writing and very few newspapers in circulation.”

This typical old pioneer, who has outlived most of his early associates, with an apology for taking up our time, took leave of us. He yet works in the field and says he has a good crop this year. The world is made better through the lives of such men as uncle Tom Moorman. “May he live to see many returning summers and be permitted to meet many of his old associates of 50 years ago at the Camp Spring in July 1902, to celebrate the passage of the half century mile post since the organization of the county.”

We would like to have letters from any old gentlemen or ladies who were living here fifty years ago and who remembers something of the time and people of those days. We want names and incidents connected with the early history of the county.

While Mr. Moorman thinks that there are only two parties now living between the rivers today who lived here in 1852, how many are living north and south of these rivers yet, and who are they, where place of location and has anyone traditional stories concerning these people?

Like the good mariner at sea, it may be well enough to take our bearings and see “where we are at.” Surely there are sons and daughters of these early old pioneers scattered throughout the county who cherish the memory of their ancestors and who are in possession of facts pertaining to them that should be made public.

May 26, 1902

Texas Letter
Hereford, Tex., May 26, 1902 To The Calhoun Monitor, Pittsboro, Miss.

Dear Tom: --
After meeting you and others at Dallas, at the reunion I have been thinking of my promise to write a letter to my friends through your excellent paper.
I reckon it was a surprise to all of us to find ourselves growing old and with many of us, the shadows are growing ling and soon our sun will set; God grant that the sunset of all the old Confeds may be without a cloud.

Our meeting at Dallas revived old memories of other days, when we were young and it has stirred in me a desire to be with you all at the semi-centennial celebration of the organization of our county. I say our, for I yet claim an interest in old Calhoun, for I love her hills, her seclusion, her patriotism, her democracy, her noble men and women and those who have gone out to other parts to help build up and mold the character of the present, as well as the coming generations, not only in the grand old state of Miss., but her sons and daughters have made themselves felt in other states, both in church and state for her sons are filling the halls of Congress from this as well as other states.

The old state has sent out her enterprising sons to Texas where they are making the very best of citizens.

Well as to the reunion, I see you are like the rest of us, you fail to find words big enough to describe it, and so we have to let it go as one of the biggest things since the war. I met many of my old friends, but the meeting was so unsatisfactory; I wanted to get my old comrades off to one side and sit down on a log to ourselves and talk over the past and then scan the future, but alas, I would meet a dear old comrade and just about the time we would recognize each other we would be torn asunder by some surging crowd and we would never meet again.
I wonder if we will not have more room when we get to Heaven and more time also, so that we can sit down with friends of other days and talk over battles fought and victories won, to our hearts content.

I never knew when you left, but my brother Andrew and I slept together the night of April the 59 (29th) and the morning of the 30th we separated at the T. P. depot, I went west and he went east and from letters received since, I learn that he beat me home and I lost no time, this to show you the size of Texas.

I am away out here on the staked plains near the line of New Mexico, represented in the old school geographies as a barren desert, sandy and with neither water nor rain, and yet yesterday the 25 of May we had our fourth rain for this month and water in abundance both under the ground and on top of it, we have nice running streams full of nice black bass and cat fish and better we already have abundance of rain in the summer, which insures good crops to feed stuff and this is going to be a fine stock farming county.

Well as to coming to your Semi-Centennial celebration in July, I certainly would be glad to be there, but you must remember that thirty two years of my life has been put in, in the itinerant work of the M. E. Church South and while that means a great deal in one direction it means very little ready cash, wife and I had hoped in the near future to be able on our own account to pay the land of our nativity a visit, but how it will be I cannot say now, for we are like a new married couple just starting out; however if I see any way that my traveling expenses can be met, I will let you know, but mean time would like to have some dots from you with regard to the old citizens whose names appear on your court dockets, as Judge, District Atty. and clerks, grand juries and such other data, as would help me in making an address or if not present, in writing a letter.

Now I hope this letter will not find its way into the waste basket, if it should not I will promise to not write such a lengthy one next time. Yours ever in the bonds of fraternity. Signed: Ben H. Bounds.

The case of Whit Owen is probably reversed by the supreme court and so great was the fear that he might be lynched he was secretly removed to Jackson before the decision of the court was made public.  Mathis and Lester will hang at Oxford the 24th of June. It is reported that the 17 year locusts will visit us this summer.

June 19, 1902 Boys of the 44th at Dallas

EDITOR MONITOR --  At the late Confederate reunion at Dallas, Texas there were present twelve members of Company C, 44th Miss., Regiment, known as "The Calhoun Avengers"; commanded first by Capt. J. R. M. DuBerry of Pittsboro and later H. W. Gaston of Benela, thinking that some of your readers may feel interested in the old boys, I send you their names and places of residence as follows:
 
A. J. Spruill, San Antonio, Texas; J. D. Therrell, Horn Hill Texas; Newton Watkins, Falls county Texas; James Robinson, Comanche county Texas; Jack Bounds, Henderson Co. Texas; R. Cruthirds, Pittsboro, Miss.J. M. Byars, Pittsboro, MissT. Murphree, Pittsboro, Miss.; R. H. Conner, Wardwell, MissH. G. Anderson, Itasca Texas;Robt. Crowell, Port Oklahoma; J. T. Morgan, Pittsboro, Miss.J. H. Woodward, Wardwell, Misssigned by R. H. Conner Note by the senior editor.

We were with this brave little band only a few months; not one in twelve of them returned uninjured from the war. We were mustered in with them when a boy of 15 and discharged at New Madrid, Mo., then served through the war with Sumner, or DuBerry's company. Capt. Conner will some day write a brief history of this company and it should be done. Leonidas and his Spartan band deserved no more praise than did Capt. Gaston and his noble boys. We would be glad to publish.

June 26, 1902

From California
The following sad sweet letter is from a member of Capt. E. R. Enochs' old company, W. D. Covington, who was raised in this county.  The extracts will be read with interest by old citizens and especially by his few old comrades now living here. Redlands, Cal., June 1902
Dear Comrade: -- In looking over The Monitor the other day I found a letter from our old comrade Ben Bounds of Hereford Texas, which vividly recalled to my mind many scenes of the past, things that occurred in our boyhood days, when we wore the gray and when our dreams were bright for the Lost Cause.

I often look back to the days when we were rollicking boys together in old Co. F., it appears only a few years ago and I see many youthful faces. I can hardly realize today, that they are white headed old men, that is the few who have not crossed over the river to rest. We marched in dust, slept hungry in rain and had many things that were sad, but we were jolly and full of life.
Now in memory I see those cheerful happy faces and as time glides on they grow more sad and I seem to hear some of our old melodies floating through the air -- "Elen Baine" "Bonnie Eloise," "Nellie Gray," "Cheer boys cheer" etc., and I wonder concerning the boys that sand those songs with me, where are they? And when will we answer roll call next time?
Jim Carter and myself are all the old company I know of in California. T. T. Bates, a member of company E., and a brother of our Maj. Bates, is here.

I send you some pictures of our beautiful little city here, nestling under the grandest mountains in the world. Redlands is without doubt the most beautiful city in America and surrounded by the fines scenery in the world. I did not go to the Dallas reunion, but I should have enjoyed the handshakes and the old yell, the latter we will never forget, neither will our friends the enemy.
I visited Jim Cook last week he is as large as a mule and knows how to laugh yet. He is doing well everyway. Should you meet any of company "F," "I" or "D," particularly Capt. E. R. Enochs, give them a hearty comrades hand shake for me and say to them that there is today deep down in my heart, a warm spot for each one of them. I enjoyed the reminiscence of the old pioneers of Calhoun ,as my father Daniel A. Covington settled there about 1835.
Well, comrades the bugle's call will soon sound for us on the other side of the river. So let us be prepared to line up with our comrades who are in the vanguard under the great Captain of the mighty host.
signed: W. D. Covington

A SUGGESTION If the 26th day of July next is propitious, there will doubtless be a great many old people at the semi-centennial picnic at the Camp Spring and we submit this suggestion to the committee on arrangements, viz: Build a platform say three feet high and very near to the speakers stand, solely for the benefit of those over 65 years old, supply them with plenty of "ice cold lemonade' also appoint Mr. J. W. Martin or some other good man, to keep the crowds off this raised platform and to keep the old folks from being crowded off.  We want these old people up where we can see them and occupying a seat of honor.  There is always a few at these gatherings, who have little respect for age or condition.  This work would cost very little, if anything and it would give the old folks a chance to see and hear what is going on.  Mr. J. W. Bennett, the sawmill man, is a big hearted fellow and we believe would loan the committee lumber enough to build a 16 foot platform for the people we should delight to honor.  What say the committee? 

Not Hung Yet.

Will Mathis and Orlande Lester were respited by Gov. Longino till Sept. 10th by request of Judge Lowry and Dist. Attorney Roane, who defended...  [Note: Issues of Sept. paper missing] Big Creek Items.

Partial showers.

Mr. Wm Franklin is ready to play marbles as he has already secured a taw.

Rev. H. Y. McCaleb filled his regular appointment... [rest not copied]