The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1888-04-13
FROM WAY
BACK.
(BY REV. H. ]. HARRIS.)

Hattiesburg Courier.
Some weeks ago we mentioned
the fact that we had in our midst
an octogenarian who had, as early
as 1922, driven cattle to market
along what is now the principal
street of Hattiesburg, but which
was then only an Indian trail.
The subject of this sketch, Capt.
Joseph Rodgers, was born at Saw.
annah, Georgia, in 1906. When he
was quite a child his parents NOV
ed to what is now the city of Nash
vile, Tennessee, then only a VII,
lage, whose chief Importance was
that it was a military station. In
1910 the family Immigrated to Mis-.
sissippi aud settled IN Wayne coun-
ty, locating on that alluvial point
of land where PaScagoula river di-
vides into two branches, known as
East aud West Pascagoula. Here,
Mr.. Rodgers grew mp to manhood
and here he has resided for many
years. His home is now at Moss
Point, IN Jackson county, aud from
him we get the principal items in
this chapter.
1t was in 1923 that he drove cat.
tie along where Hattiesburg now
stands, not to Mobile, as we stated
III a former issue, but in the Oppo-
site direction, from Jackson and
Wayne counties to Copiah, in quest
of a better range. He was employ
ed by the U. s. Government as one
of tue surveying party that ran the
lines and fixed the boundaries of
what we remember as the "Choc-
taw Purchase" in 1927. He was
also Il of the party that survey.
ed and established boundary lines
between Kinds, Madison and Ran
kin counties, and assisted in plan.
ming the town of Jackson, now the
capital of the State.
Capt. Rodgers cast his first vote
for Andrew jackson for his first
presidential term, and has ever
since voted the straight Democrat
ic ticket. He says: IL think | am
iu voting thus, for the Demo
cratic party, though it has made
many blnnders, is more in accord
with the sentiment of our people
and the genius of our government
when fairly and clearly tested,than
any other political organization"
Mr.. Rodgers was Que of the crew
Of the first steamboat that ascend
ID Chickasa whay river as high as
Enterprise. eve I getting close
70 the Times man nOw.) He had
aud did afterward, navi-
gate the river in baIges aud keel
boats from points above, down to
he junction of Chickasawhay and
Leaf rivers, where their cargOes
we're transferred to steamboats, for
he Mobile markets.
Capt. Rodgers had a fOndHess for
maritime life, and his great ambi.
ion was to own and run a schoOn-
n in the Mobile trade. he soon
made reputation as a skiltul navi-
aud was well known along the
cast where he sailed tor several
ears. Some parties in Mobile
purchased his schooner, !
apt. Rodgers aud two sous, one
f whom resides here, started to de- d,
iver the boat. When of the mouth
f Pascagoula river a storm over ;
ook them, driving the schooner of
course aud far out into the ,
ulf. They cast an anchor aud tri- :
d to weather the gale. The storm :
aged with such fury that some
me during the night their cable
leaving them at the mercy
the waves and winds. The YES J
in an almost siuking condition, a
rifted before the gale until sun.
Sc, when the captain saw a vessel il
the distance. Having nothing b
Sc with which to signal her, he !.
rected Que of his sons to hoist u
auket to the slump Of the main