The Brookhaven leader., 1886-01-21
Additional Notes on Lawrence
County by wayfarer.
For The Brookhaven Leader

] " uaN NaiiNd tu1 NNtthtlth w Nit'tN
in my last communication. stand cor
rccted, but cannot plead Ignorance as
Justification, but rather inadvertancc re-
Sulting from hasty composition. In
cmumcrating the many beautiful streams
cmptying into Pearl River | included
Topisaw, when l we'll knew it made its
way To the ocean through the channel of
the Bugue Chttu uniting its waters with
that river near the old town of Holmes
willie in Pike county. | have crossed it
on horseback times without number, on
the public highway leading from the
latter place to Monticello, aud often stop
ped my horse tn admire its clear rapid
current. 1t is one of the finest of the
pine hill streams, and might almost he
claimed 10y Lawrence, as it ran through
her territory formerly and now drains a
considerable area in the southwest por-
ton of that county. Many of our best citi
zcns and most thriving farmers live on
this creek and the smaller streams that
find their winding way into it.
find it impossible to give any good
reason for the omission of Coopers Creek.
1t certainly was not Intentional. If there
is any stream i'll the county with which
am familiar it is that. During nearly forty
years have crossed and recrosScd il con
stantiy by bridge and ford and never fail
ed 10 be impressed more and more with
its beauty. Its waters are entirely madc
up of pure springs. Rising in the clean
green hills that tower several hundred
feet above the valley of the Pearl, it
flows northward almost parallel with
that river for several miles, between dry
messy banks, adorned with the magnolia
and other evergreens, then turning all
ruptly eastward it PUSHES rapidly down
the pine-clad declivites and after turn
ing MaNwell's splendid mills passes on n
few hundred yards and enters the river
abont three miles below Monticello. The
creek derived its name from William
Cooper, one of the early settlers who
built the first mill Oh its banks, some
seventy years ago. He belonged TO a
large and noted family. He was an uncle
of the brilliant editor, i. T. Cooper, and
also of Chief Justice +. f. Cooper. Some
forty years ago Capt. w. {. Maxwell
became :he owner OF the mill site and adj
joining plantation, and erected a new
grist, saw, rice mill, and gin which he
carried on with great success for many
Years. He is a tirSt-caSS millman and
understands the building and running OF
machinery of that kind perfectly. Two
wears ago new mill and gin were cree
ted and his entrrprisiug son, 4. w. Max
well, is now the proprietor of the proper
~. This is one of the best mills and gins
III the county. There is Il suPcrahuu-
dance of water at all seasons. and six
bales of cotton per day can he easily
ginned and baled. Mr.. MaNwell's com
Portable residence stands just across the
creek, opposite the mill, where II most
kindly welcome is always extended to
their friends by him and his good wife.
We recently, by invitation, spent II day
and night III this pleasant abode, and have
none but the most agreeable rccollcctions
of the visit
This nrighbor hood is one OF the best in
the county, and is so thicklN settled as al
most to constitute continuous village.
They have Il neat school house, and on
the high hills, west of the river, in
lovely grove, stands and has stood for
more than one generation. the old Bap-
fist meeting house. usually called cur
low Church. Large and intelligent CON
grrgationS assembled here and a flourish
ing Sabbath School is carried on. of which
that useful citizen, John j. Thormhll, is
Superintendent. We recently attended
the exercises of this school ON pleasant
sabbat Ii morning, and were charmed by
the proficiency of the children and the
superior vocal music. There must
necessarily be good music when Thorn
hill leads and Miss Cynthia supports him.
Through the liberality of the people
large new church is now being erected
and is nearly completed. When finished
and painted it will he the handsomest
country church in the county. 1t has
heavy ornamcntCd cornices and is proper
toned to suit the eye of an architect. The
building was planned 10y Mr.. Brnmtield, of
Pike county, aided by suggestions from
the artistic Judgment of Captain NJ. On
u tributary of the main stream is the resi-
dence, mill and gin of Sam Maxwell. On
the east side of the creek lives Mr.. Tom
Andrews, for many years Justice of the
Peace and near him the venerable Thomas
X. Maxwell ard his energetic son-in-law
lack Walker. Near him resides Mrs.
Jones widow of A. V. Jones, who died
during the war, leaving large family of
small children, whom the mother by
indomitable industry has raised and edu
Gated. Her son Aaron and his excellent
wife, live with the old lady. He is
capital young farmer and is very prosper
Ons. Mrs. Jones is n sister of the Hon.
Sam Hickman one of the b. It men of
Lawrence, and the mother of Il. i. Jones
formerly President of the Board of Super
Nm h, OF e = ho "a
tho pleasant home of w. G. Maxwell, Jr.
VIM. is one of the leading yonng men of
the county, and is highly esteemed for his
many admirable qualities of head and
heart. His intelligent and accomplished
wife lends an attractive charm to the
happy household. She is II daughter of
Capt. John ID. Cooper, who was killed in
battle during the war, and II grand
daughter of the former well known
wealthy farmer of White Sand, John
Tyrone. A few hundred yards south,
elevated above the valley stands the
large homestead of the venerable w. G.
Maxwell, well known all over the county
for its commodiOusncss and comfort and
the generous hospitality that is therein
con stantly dispersed. 1t is very large
old fas hiOned house, with wide front
gallery about one hundred feet in length.
From the gallery the panorama presented
to the eye is one of tn most att ractiye on
! Pearl River. Well cultivated fields
spread ont in front to the river, and far
away to the right and left, presenting
to the observer Il most pleasing picture.
MIR. Maxwell is very successful farmer
and has an efficient aid in his young son
! Tom. lie always has overlooking corn
cribs, and plenty of every thing else that
eau be produced from the soil i'll this