The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-07-17

East Mississippi, and among theI
was the good old county of Perry
RccOllectiOns of earlier and bette
f days were revived, when She ha
= within her limits, men who hel
high and responsible positions in thi
State and also men who figured i
other States
When Perry county was formed on
of Hancock by the act of the Lcgislat
ture in February 1875, Gov. Jacob J d. II
Morris, lbettcr known as cocoon Nor
ris, y made a donation of land on Lea
river, for the county site, which wa
called Augusta, and which has con
Iinucd to be the seat of government
Monroe was once a flOuri9hlng vii
lage, III the northwestern part of tn,
county, and located in the fork o
Bowie and Leaf river. In that vicin
ity lived Col Morris, who was DisIric
Attorney for many years, and aIsc
Hon. John Black, who was Circuit
Judge and afterwards United STATE,
Senator from Mississippi.
In those days homicldes were un.
common, and when one occurred if
was the subject of conversation all
over the country, and the universal
sentiment was to punish the guilty.
In this connection it is not improper
to state that in the early settlement
OF Monroe, one man killed another
under such circumstances as in these
latter days he could scarcely be
arrested or indicted; but he was
arrested and tried, and but for the
clearest evidence establishing the fact
that he was compelled to do what he
did, or forfeit his life, he would have
been convicted of murder and have
eXpiated the crime on the galIows I,
1t is proper to say that the result of
this sentiment has made that peace
able and law-abiding county.
The Taylors, Neelys and GourIcys
Of Rankin the McDonalds of Noxu-
bee; the Deases, Carriers, McCollums,
HarltieIds, jIlmers, WiIeys, Traviscs
and many others of Jasper; the
Howzcs of Clarke; the Duncans of
Kinds and California; the Alsburrys
Of Texas; Col. Gains, the fathcr-in-
law of the late George S. Gaines and
also of the late Abner i. LIpscomb, of
Mobile, and many others whose names
cannot be recalled at this moment,
resided in Perry. In those days the
country was fresh, the lands ON the
rivers productive, the range good and
the people thrifty, contentrd and
happy. Their market was Mobile,
which they reached by wagons.
Augusta became a place of special
interest when the land office was
located there, being the most central
location in that land district. ON
many occasions the place was literally
Jhronged, with people who came to see
about their lands. Thousands and |
of thousands Of dollars were |
received there which had to be trans
ported over the dirt road to Mobile, |
he place of deposit, distance of some
Eighty miles, through a lonely and
lreary country. 1t is Il fact, alike
to the vigilance and honesty
If the officials that during the many
years the Office was there, and the
vast amount Of money received by
hem, not one cent was lost by robbery
II other cause, nor was there the least
uspiciOn of any detalcation, but every
ent was accounted for and paid over
The contemplated railroad from
to New Orleans will pass
trough the northwestern part of the ,
ounty, crossing the old Monticello ,
nd Augusta road about twenty-five ,
liles below Williamsburg, near
ieorge EdmonsOn's. When COM
leted, it will open up the finest
mber region in the South. Large !
uantities of the very best pine tim
cred lands are vacant, which can be -,
ought at one dollar and twenty-five
ants per acre. There are a. many
aautiiul streams afiording an ahund-
lt supply of the purest water Tor any
anufacturing purpose as can be :,
proverbially healthy. The princi-
Al industries are the raising of sheep
Id cattle, and also the cutting Of logs
+ the saw mills on the coast, which n
e tiOated down the streams. When n
pplied with railroads, the pine
DOds will he the most desirable part l.
the State 10 reside in.
As was natural, the business of
ugusta was seriously injured 10y the L
moval of the Land Office. But little D
siness is now done there. There \,
e lawyers and doctors on hand to
eet the demands ON their professions Il
he present worthy representative, ol
on. John Lewis, resides there, en-
Stu Ill IhtIttlillilt pursuits, anu till I.
rnish the weary traveller as good II
re and as nice a bed as heart could ol
sh. q,
EnOn is i'm the northwestern part Of Il,
e county, and was selected as a site
a high school, which flourished e.
ere for many years. There are some bl
siness houses there and i'm the vicin- Ii
=. Men desirous of educating their ,,
ildren at home, settled around there.
is near Leaf river, i'm an excellent
and one Of the best loca- d,
ms for a permanent school i'm all the -,
ntry. Hon. Wyatt j. Draughn
.ides there, enjoying the comforts Of ia
happy home, and with no political tl
)iratiOns. He has time and again ei
IN elected To Office i'm that county,
4 always acquitted himself well in IL
cry position he was placed in. Ia
Hon. J. p. Carter, the talented a
natOr from the sea shore district.
ides near Enon. He had devoted
ends i'm the coast counties who n
ieted him to nun for Congress, but n,
had no desire 10 do 50. He has
engaged in the sheep \
siness aud his average annual fleece tl
ibout 5000 pounds. He also has a
ge stock Of cattle. He has a good
Y library and uracfigQa in Perry and IN