The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-01-03
Port Gibson-Burial Of Ex.Governo-
Humphreys.

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EDITORS CLARION: For all I have
Travelled over so much of Mississippi for
the last thirty-fve years, yesterday WAS
the first time that ever saw Port CHI
son, and right well pleased have been
with TINS my first visit to the place. Port
uloson IN ante-bellum days was the seat
OF a great deal of wealth, many of the
great planters of the Yazoo, Tallahatcbie
ana mississippi rivers having their family
residences here; it was also the seat Of
learning and of refinement; | am clad To
say that while the war deprived its people
OF much of their wealth, the learning and
refinement remained. The handsome
churches and noble educational Institu-
lions OF Fort Gibson would do credit to
9 large city, and no community in the
state boasts of more civil and moral
atmosphere.
In the way of business, Port Gibson
does an extensive trade with the sur
rounding country, and heavy stocks of
goods are kept here by the merchants.
put business in the past was much larger
than at present. The completion of the
Mississippi Valley r. r. from Vicksburo
on the North, and from New Orleans on
the South, is expected to regain to Port
Dlbson all OF its former commercial SUI
premacy and prosperity; but the wide
awake citizens Of Port Gibson, unlike
- and many other towns in
Mississippi, have not sat down, like
MlcaWber, waiting to see what was
going to turn up, but they have gone to
work and started a Cotton Seed Oil Mill.
and are rapidly pushing to completion a
three story brick Cotton Factory build
ing, lS6 feet long by 66 feet wide, extra
OF the wings; all this by Port Gibson
and Claiborne county capital; and they
have made no fuss about it either.
While Canton, Jackson, Corinth, Yazoo
City, Grenada, Kosciusko, Aberdeen.
ETC., have been talking about cotton fac
tories, Port Gibson will have her cot
ton mill in full operation by the first
OF July or sooner, and it will be CON
Quoted on business principles, by good
business men, and be made great sue
cess from all present indications. By
cooperation, as was done by these peo-
pie, half of the county towns of Mis-
sippi could raise the money to build up
factories just like Port Gibson. Ever
body in Port Gibson has made the cot
ton factory here an object of special
solicitude, and the result is to be seen in
the splendid building that is being erect
ed in this town, and ere long the whirr
of the spindle and the loom will make
fine music for the people of Port Glib
son.
But if Port Gibson is practical, her
citizens are also sentimental and patriotic,
as they evidenced yesterday by the grand
manner in which they buried their for
mer old neighbor and fellow-citizen, the
good and great Ex-Governor Benz. G.
Humphreys, whose remains were brought
to Port Gibson from the Tallahatchie
river yesterday morning and buried last
evening. The funeral cortege was very
long-first came members of the Com
mandery then the Claiborne Artillery,
under Capt Briscoe, then the Port Glib
son Lodge of |. o. 0. F., then the
Funeral Car and Pail Bearers, and the
old Confederate soldiers who had served
under Gov. Humphreys, or had done
service anywhere, then the family and
NltlICLa SCIICLdlly' IL NdS du lIHUleuSe
procession for small town.
The remains were taken to the Metho-
dist Church, where most feeling and
eloquent discourse was delivered upon
the character and life of the deceased
by Rev. d. A. Planck, Pastor of the Pres
byterian Church of Port Gibson; this
was followed by short address by Rev.
Mr.. Ballard; then the procession re-
formed and repaired to the cemetery,
where the services were continued by
prayer by Rev. Mr.. Ballard and the read
ing of the beautiful burial service of
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows,
by Mai, J. S. Mason, and thus was put
away all that was mortal of the noble
hero, the soldier and christian patriot,
the man who never failed when duty
called
Gov. Humphreys was great favorito
at Port Gibson, and it is said that upon
his last visit there, last spring, he ex-
pressed desire to be buried in Port
Gibson when he died, and gave directions
about his Funeral which were fully OBJ
served. In the death Of Gov Humph-
reys, Mississippi has lost one of her most
beloved sons. Peace to his ashes.
Yours truly, G. ID. B.