Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1837-11-25
IOWNDFs COUNTY.

man, Robt Bruce Witter ESD, We lay before our
readers with uneigned qualification. The sketch
will be given entire in Bsssncon's Annual Register,
work which every citizen of our state ought IN
purchase. Some Of the ahest writers IN the state
have lent the aid Of ;heir talents 10 this book, and
from the specimen given below, We hesitate not 10
say that it will equal in utility and interest, any pub
ication which has issued from the press for many
dOy.l-EDs.
LowSDEs CoUSrY, Mississippi, Is bounded north
by Monroe county, east by the state of Alabama,
south BY Noxubee and west by okubbeha. Its ex-
tent from east to west is thirty miles; from north to
south nearly the same distance. The Tombigbee
river flows through it fom northwest to southeast,
dividing it about equally. The western half is prin-
cipaly prairie country, well adapted to the cult
va.ion ofcoton. The fertility Of its soil; the little
labor requisite to open plantations its contiguity to
\ naviDabe stream. as well as TO the aourishing
city of Columbus, the county seat, and the salubri-
ty and mildness of its cline, haze induced many
wealthy planters to leave their homes in other states,
and remove TO this pleasant region. Many gentle
men, who reside in town for the advantages OF soci-
ETY. and the education of their children, own fine
estates upon the river The eastern half of the
county was settled first, and is the most populous.
1t is well watercd the surface rolling; soil near TIE
streams very good, and in general above medlocriiy
The staple production is cotton. Corn, oats, TO-
bacco, rice, the culinary vegetables and melons OF
every name grow luxuranty. Apple, peach, pear,
ounce cherry, and plum trees yield their fruits in
abundance. The grape and all the various berries
are not surpassed. Among its forest trees are the
pine, oak, ash, hickory, black walnut sycamore,
birch, elm, beech, willow, black gum, locust, box,
saSsairas, cedar, and Gloria Mund.
The towns are Columbus in the centre Caedo-
MIA IN the east; Plymouth and Colbert on the west
side of the Tombigbee above. and Nashville on the
east side OF the river below Columbus, and West
port opposite. The election precincts are Brooks,
Caledonia, Colbert, Collins, Columbus, Councils,
Lowndsville and Nashville.
The rombigbee is the principal river of the coun-
ty, passing through it enthusiastically into Aaba-
ma 1t is navigable for steamboats,, several months
in the year, one hundred miles above Columbus. The
largest tributaries in Lowndes on the east side are
the Buttahatchie and Luxapelila, both rising in Al
ALBANIA, and flowing southwestern course about Sc
twenty-five miles. The former for several miles the
northern boundary of the county, is beautiful
stream. The Luxapellia reaches the Tombgbee
about three miles south OF Columbus. The Oktib-
beha, Of nearly the same size, flows into the Tom
bgbee from the west. The two last mentioned
rivers may easily be rendered navigable consider
bio distance in time Of high water All these streams
abound in fish. They have many tributary creeks,
afording numerous sites for grist and saw mills.
Ia consequence Of the sale Of the Choctaw and
Chickasaw lands in this county, it has increased
rapidly in population and wealth within few years.
The " Military" in connection with the "Robin-
son Road" is the great highway through it from
northeast to southwest. At certain seasons it is
thronged with emigrants and travellers But little
has as yet been done in the way ofinterna improve
ment, i; we except the beautiful bridge thrown over
the LpxapeiIa by COL Blcwett, at an expense Of
six or eight thousand dollars A company has been
chartered to construct bridge over the Tombigpee
at Columbus, and TO connect Vicksburg with Colum
bus by rail road-tllus layingthe "iather of wa
ters" under contribution to the pleasures and enolu-
ment of the inhabitants of Lowndes.
Some struggling settlements were made in Lowndes
as early as 1877 The first court was held in Co
| lumbus in 1880. The country between the Tombg.
bee and the Black Warrior was "Neutral Ground
between the Choctaws and Greeks. Few traces re.
main Of its former posscssors, except certain mounds
in the southern part of the county, BY whom, AMI
for what purpose they were thrown up, is unknown
Probably by people who inhabited the country be
frc the present race Of Indians. The Choctaw
have tradition that their Fathers emigratcd west
wards till they came TO the goodiest land that the
had ever seen; that being determined to possess i
they waged desperate war with the occupant tribe
and at last in dreadful battle, defeated and extcl
minated them, Cutting their tomahawks with slaugt
ter. The Oktbbeha or " Fighting River" was til
boundary between the Choctaws and Chickasaw
and its banks were often the scene Of fierce al
deadly conflicts. Indeed, every hill-every dale
every stream has story Of thrilling interest; b.
alas we read it not All the wild and wondcrl
history of this region is shrouded by the pail Of age
In vain does imagination on airy wing explore Il
gloom profound. For nearly six thousand years Il
sun has risen and set upon this land here flowe
have boomed and faded; forests lowered and "a
len; summer and winter, spring and autumn rcignt
in all their loneliness and sublimty. Six ;housar
years these beautiful streams have wandered am
flowers and foliage, by lofty upland, by winding va
: and by prairie Wild unseen perhaps by mortal ey,
d perhaps the residence Of powerful nations, "
It scan but little part of the mighty past. We kno
i indeed. that for many year, through these grove
{ The stole Of the woods--the man without tear
pursued the deer from morn till evening ;-on the
y streams propelled the light canoe; here common
5 rated the exploits Of the chase or, returning fro
successful war, celebrated the feast, the song, d
3. dance; here suspended the scalps Of slaughter