An Early History

   Jefferson County, Mississippi

by Robert Lowery and William H. McCardle

EARLY HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI

taken from
A History of Mississippi
by Robert Lowery and William H. McCardle,
R. H. Henry & Co., 1891, pgs. 502-507.

Submitted by Sue B. Moore sbmoore@swbell.net

JEFFERSON COUNTY, named for Thomas Jefferson, was established January 11th, 1802, and participated in the territorial legislation up to the formation of the Constitution in 1817. In the Convention for forming a Constitution and State government in the year mentioned, Cowles Mead, Cato West, Hezekiah J. Balch and Joseph E. Davis were the delegates representing Jefferson county.

The early settlers of the county were from North and South Carolina, Virginia and Maryland. The earliest settlement made in what is now the western portion of Jefferson county was in1780, during the Spanish occupancy of the county. The first American emigrants located on and contiguous to Coles Creek.

The most prominent of these pioneers were the families of Thomas, Abner and Everard Green. Ancestors of the families of these names, and many others, (descendants of the fourth generation,) now living in this community, came from Virginia. Contemporaneously with these there came from North Carolina, Mr. Moss, (the father of the late venerable Mrs. Martha W. Cox,) and also came Robert Cox, who subsequently became the husband of the lady mentioned, and later to the same neighborhood Rev. Abram Cloud, a deacon in the Protestant Episcopal Church.

Near the same period, while Governor Gayoso was exercising authority and jurisdiction over the Spanish dominion, which embraced what is now Jefferson county, came Roger Dixon from Virginia. Mr. Dixon was an active, energetic man and exerted himself in behalf of the new comers in endeavoring to restrain the oppressive policy of Spanish rulers. He accomplished much good and enjoyed the respect and confidence of those among whom he lived.

Another of the prominent settlers was Thomas Calvit, of Calviton, father-in-law of the late David Hunt, Sr. It was to his house in the early part of the present century, that Aaron Burr, after his surrender, was conducted. David Hunt, though not among the first, was an early settler on Coles Creek. He became the most successful and wealthiest planter in the county. He was a native of New Jersey, and when a youth came west in the capacity of a clerk and assistant to his uncle, Abijah Hunt, who received the appointment of sutler in Wayne's army which was sent to chastise the turbulent tribes on the western frontier. Abijah Hunt realized a considerable fortune from the appointment, and when hostilities ceased he came to the "Natchez country" to invest his capital. He engaged in large mercantile operations, established a number of stores, one in Greenville, the then county site of Jefferson, which was in charge of his nephew, David. Abijah Hunt fell in a duel with Governor George Poindexter. He was a bachelor and left a considerable estate, upon which David was administrator. David Hunt was a superior business man, and accumulated during his long and successful life extensive and valuable possessions. He was a liberal patron of public education and the principal founder of Oakland College. He gave freely to all public enterprises that were meritorious.

At a later period George Dent settled on lower Cole's Creek, also Jas. Cowden. On upper Cole's Creek were the Harrison brothers; they were nephews of Phillip B. Barbor, the eminent statesman and jurist of Virginia. The elder brother, Phillip B. Harrison, served as sheriff of the county. Some years later a settlement was made in the vicinity of the present Church Hill; this was called the Maryland settlement, as the most prominent settlers came from the State of Maryland. Most of them brought their families, slaves and household effects ; this was soon after the Spanish evacuation of the country, and its attendant transfer of territory. Among them were Col. James G. Wood, (in future years,) the patriarch of the tribe, Alexander Young, Richard Skinner, Captain Magruder, a retired sea captain, Leonard A. Magruder, Aaron Noble, John Steele, the Dunbars, Benoits and Shields. A lady, known in history as the patroness of S. S. Prentiss, was a member of the last named family. Joseph Dunbar filled several important public positions, at one time Surveyor-General of the State, sheriff of the county, and served several terms in the State Legislature. He invented the iron cotton tie as a substitute for the rope. James Payne was for a long time an extensive merchant and planter of Church Hill and at his death left numerous descendants, all of whom occupy high social positions.

The Petit Gulf settlement, since and now called Rodney, was composed of Pierce Nolan, Dr. Nutt, Dr. Eli Harden, John Tullis, Andrew Montgomery, the Harrisons, Griffins and Gibsons. They were all prosperous people and grew rich. The leading merchants at Rodney in the early days were John Ducker, Levi Harris, John Watt, J. G. James, and later, the Warners, Kirkers, Yoes, Drakes, Evans, Eronghtons and Becks. The principal physicians in those times in western Jefferson were Drs. Bouldin, Nutt, Savage, Coleman and McPheeters.

A prominent gentleman and large planter in Jefferson, states that Cowles Mead introduced the celebrated Bermuda grass, which has proved such a boon to this country; where he procured it the gentleman is not advised.

In an early day there lived within a few miles of Fayette, the celebrated robber, Mason. The commerce on the river was carried on in flat or keel boats, and hundreds of men from the west would float these boats to New Orleans, sell their produce and return on foot the entire distance to their homes. From Natchez the generally traveled route was the old Indian trail, passing through Jefferson, thence to Jackson and on to Florence, Alabama. These persons were generally loaded down with Spanish dollars, which was then the principal currency, and could usually stop at any house for the night as welcome guests, on account of their ready cash. The grandmother of Hon. W. L. Harper, who has represented Jefferson county in the Legislature a number of times, did her share of entertaining. One of these travelers, a young Kentuckian, was taken sick at her house and detained for some weeks; his conduct and bearing was so unexceptional that she took great interest in him, and actually quilted all his $600 (six hundred dollars) in his coat and vest, partly to distribute his load, but chiefly to deceive the robbers then infesting the road. She heard no more of him but the supposition was that he was another of Mason's victims. Mason's depredations continued to increase, until Governor Claiborne offered a large reward for him dead or alive. One of Mason's gang killed an innocent man, cut off his head, carried it to the Governor and claimed the reward. The Governor sent for Mrs. Mason, who on examination swore that it was not the head of her husband, and the claimant being identified by a gentleman just arrived, as the very man who had robbed him a few days before, he, with another pal, was hung at Greenville, the county site, in a field that is called the "gallows field" to this day.

After the battle of New Orleans, and after peace had been restored, General Jackson marched his men to Nashville, some six hundred miles; on the route they camped at Greenville, in Jefferson county, where the people of the surrounding country turned
out to greet them.

The lands of this county, much of which were British and Spanish grants, are drained by the two branches of Cole's Creek, running west, which unite six miles before reaching the river. The tributaries are numerous, with broad, rich bottoms giving a fair proportion of hill and valley lands. The north fork of Homochitto river, bearing southeast, is the principal drain for the eastern section around Union Church. There are several smaller creeks, Fairchilds, Dowds and others, that are short and serve as sewers for rain water.

Rodney is the chief shipping point for the country, called in honor of Judge Rodney. Larger fortunes were, perhaps, made in Rodney merchandising than in any town of like size in the South, owing in a great measure to the wealthy and solvent condition of the planting interests on the fertile hills around it.

The Natchez, Jackson & Columbus and the Louisville, New Orleans & Texas railroads pass directly through the center of the county.

The ancient county site, Greenville, has been converted into a cotton field, but the site of the gallows can still be pointed out. Fayette, the present county site, is a handsome little town, with excellent public buildings. Harriston, at the junction of the two railroads, two miles from Fayette, is a thrifty village, and claims to be a rival of its near neighbor, the county site.

Jefferson is an excellent county with an intelligent and prosperous population. This county has 58,661 acres of cleared land ; average value per acre, as rendered to the assessor, being $10.00; total value of cleared lands, including incorporated towns, is $700,434.
The population of Jefferson county as shown by the census report
of 1890 : whites, 3,542; colored, 15,403; total, 18,945.