The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-10-04
LETTER FROM
French CanPS-Its BH>inesS. Pop
ulatiOn and EHistOry-rresbytery
of Central Mississippi-A Discus
NiI N ON NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Sorghum, one of Ihe Principal
Corps.

FRENCH CAMPS, MISS, Sept. 8, 1876.
DEAR CLARION 1t adds much to the
pleasure Of travel to have friends by the
wayside, ''ready, willing aud waitirg'' to DO
the hospitable. On arriving at Durant,
Wednesday morning at six O'Clock, Mr.,
Luke West took myself and friend in charge,
and after II CHEEKY chat by a cheerful fire,and
a good breakfast, we took the train for
Kosclusko, here we arrived on schedule
time. There we were intercepted by our
good friend, Daniel Comfort, who supplied
US with comforts for the trip to this place.
The distance from Koscicusko to French
Camps is twen'y-one gerry long miles, north
east, in Ch ctaw county, and just over the
Alfalfa line. l was surprised to find so large
a town. There are less than nine business
houses-Messrs. S. d. Graham, S. V. Hugh
ston, W. l.. Hughston, Davis 4 Carter, j.. j.
Carter & Co, deal 10 dry goods and groce-
ries; A. j. Hemphill and T.. Love, are drug
gIs.s John Collins, coufectioner. tDrs.
uemphill, Love and j. w. George, are the
physicians, but the place is too healthy for
lucrative practice. French Camps also al
forGs a hotsl, kept by NJ. 7. Carter, and the
sign of u. L. Power, blacksmith and wa
gon maker" indicates that an important
branch of industry is here carried on, and
very successfully, too, for l have heard sew
eral farmers speak in high praise of the wa
CONS of Mr.. P's. manufacture. The Pres
byterian, Methodist and Baptist denomina-
lions have organized churches, and a flour
ishing Union Sabbath School, is superiu-
tented by John Collins, Esq. A prosper
GUS Masonic Lodge, d. Michel, No. 200, is
also one of the local institutions. The
residences, and indeed all the surroundings
of the town, indicates a peace-loving, har-
monious and thrifty community. The pop
~ulation is about two bundled and fifty.
SCHOOL ~TERPRIs
of considerable magnitude, was inaugurated
here last year. 4 handsome twO-story
building was erected aud furnished by a
stock company at a cost of about five thou
sand dollars, with a residence and boarding
department attached; and the Rev. r.. A.
Massey opened school on the 9th Sep
TENDER, 1875, with seventy-two schol-
ars the first week, of whom thirty
I V 0CAC OOdAuClo SuOOLdh ant
the surrounding counties. The school
however, grew "small by degrees and beau
tifully les" within a few months. Mr..
Massey either abandoned the school after
the first term, or the scholars abandoned
him. At any rate, what, ia his glowing
prospectus promised TO be so much, resulted
in a precipitate and u~naecountable fizzie.
A small school is now being conducted in
the main building by Prof. Ransom, re-
Gently of Summerville Institute. l know
of no better foundation upon which to
build a first-class interior Seminary than
the one at French Camps. The property
can be leased or purchased OF reasonable
terms. Mr.. J.J. Carter is the proper per
son with whom to correspond on the sub
ject.
The Rev. J. II. Alexander, OF kosciusko,
recently visited this place, and from a very
interesting letter of his in the South-Wes-
tern Presbyte rian, | copy the following:
SCRAP OF history.
Some sixty gears ago, a part of General
Jackson's army stopped and rested for sew
eral days at this place. The signs of that
army's presence are still to be seen in the
names of the soldiers written upon the
smooth-bodied beach trees which grow
near the spring at which Jackson pitched
his tents. A Frencbman. bearing the name
osLefore, and holding some craftsmanship
among the Cioctaw Indians, liyed at this
place, subsequently to the stopping of the
army. These circumstances gave to this
lietle town the name of French Camps. A
few miles distant from it. a missionary sta
ton was for a time established among the
Choctaws, at which place 3 well is pointed
out, still in use, which was dug By the alb
origines, and which, with the exception Of
a few old fields, is about the only sign OF
anything like civilization left in the coun-
try by that people. 1t is now about forty
five years since white men settled in this
region. Numerous are the signs of which.
under Christian influence. they have
stamped upon the face of the county. On
almost the same spot where the army Of
Jackson camped, stands now the P~resbyte-
rian church of French Camps, a much bet
ter to the memory of its build
ers tina that of inscribing their names
upon the bark oftrees in the forest.
And speaking of the Presbyterian church,
reminds me that the
PREsBYTERY OF CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI
Is now in session here. There are eleven
ministers, and ten churches, represented
By ruling elders, In attendance. Rev / j
Danieli is Moderator, and Rev. DR.. Atkinson.
Stated Clerk. DR.. Hunter is on hand from
Jackson. There seems to be but little bus
iness before the body. Preaching in the
morning, and at night, and occasional dis
c~ussions occupy the time Yesterday abb
~sentees from last meeting were called to ac-
! count. One brother urged financial ina