The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-06-20
PORT GIBSON.
Its Past and Present Railroads,
Schools and FactOries-A Semi.Cen.
tennial Church Celebration.
PoGT GIBsoN, June IS, 1883.

tennial Church Celebration.
PORT GIBsoN, June Is, 1883.
DEAR CLARION; 1t was my purpose
when here at the celebration of the
Odd Fellows Anniversary in April, to
have given your readers some notes of
the same, and especially some general
items in regard to the town. But other
engagements prevented. Another occa-
sion of very special interest having
called me here, | will endeayor to "kill
two birds with one stone
Port Gibson, it is hardly necessary to
say, is the county-seat of Claiborne
county, and is one of the oldest towns
in the Southwest, its settlement dating
back 70 the early part of this century.
1t took its name from the first settler
whose name was Gibson. and was for
many years known as Gibson Port 1t
was rapidly settled by wealthy, refined
and intelligent class of people. The re-
tinement and Intelligence still remain,
and if great wealth does not still abound
the peoplo appear to be prosperous,
happy and very hopeful There are
several houses here that do a business of
one hundred thousand dollars Il year,
and who have the cash capital to buy
and pay the very highest prices for cot
ton and other products. We have some
extensive houses in Jackson, but there
are at least two here that eclipse any
establishment the State Capital can boast
of.
Port Gibson has hitherto been quite in
accessible except by river, and a railroad
eight miles from Grand Gulf. This
road has been purchased by the Louis
vile, Memphis and New Orleans Rail
road, and the rails will be taken up in
few weeks. The road named, it is
thought, will run its first locomotive into
Port Gibson on the 4th of July, and the
event is to be celebrated in an excursion
to and grand jollifcation in the Hill City
But YOU now reach Port Gibson from
Jackson in less than five hours, via Her.
manville or Martin Stations, at which
points first-class hacks meet all the trains
at the moderate cost of one dollar foI
the trip.
POPULATION AND EDUCATION.
Port Gibson has population of about
1900, which must ere long be very large
ly increased by the advantages it affords
in the way of schools and factories
The Port Gibson Female College, which
was incorporated in 1854, and is under
the auspices of the Mississippi Confer
encc of the NJ. E. Church, is an imposing
and spacious establishment, and Is wei
patronized. Rev. T. c. Bradford is thu
President Chamberlain-Hun Academy
has about one hundred boys in atten
dance, under fine corps of teachers
Prof. Leckey, who has been the Princi
pal for several years, is q superior-educa
tor, has recently resigned with view t,
assuming charge of the Huntsville Fe
male Seminary, Alabama. The trustee
have selected as his successor a gentle
man fully equal to the position. Cham
berlain-H Hunt is the successor of Oakland
College, and has moderate endowmen
derived from the assets of Oakland.
is under the fostering care of the Pres
bytery of Mississippi, and committe
of that body, consisting of Messrs
Stratton, Woodbridge, and Shaw, are nov
in attendance on the closing exercises O
the session.