The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1891-05-29
An OLD LANDMARK.
The First Residence OF Brick Built In
Mississippi.


landmarks of the great State OF
Mississippi is the present home
of Mr.. +. +. McCardle, the young
est representative Of an old and
honored Mississippi family.
Noticing the old lime magnifi.
cence and solidity of the ancient
| pile, | casually asked when and by
whom the old house was built.
This house," said my genial
hostess, SIS entitled TO place in
Mississippi history. /, is not gen.
orally known, but it is neverihe-
less a fact, that this place enjoys
the distinction of beng the first
brick residence in Mississippi. As
early as 1773 one of my ancestors,
Thomas Green, of Virginia. mi
grated TO Mississippi and settled
in this portion of Jefferson coun-
ty. Soon after his arrival here, and
being in comparatively aifluent
circumstances, he conceived the
idea of building the house, and
building it OF brick. A brick kiln
was started and in a short while
the house, even as you now see it,
over hundred years old, was COM
pleted."
Mrs. McOardle, in her own inim-
liable way, told The story of he
building as il has been handed
down from generation to genera
lion of her family.
The house is a large two-story
structure, with wide veranda sup.
ported by immense brick columns
of Tuscan design. 1t stands on
slight elevation, surrounded by a
forest of grand oaks. len years
was consumed In its construction.
Every plank used in its construc-
ton was labori0usly shaped by the
slow process of the whlpsaw, and
every nail was wrought in the
blacksmith shop OF Mr.. Green.
The floors are all oak and ash, cut
from native forests, the doors are
of the same material, are massive
and heavy, supported by immense
iron hinges, made In The black
smith shop of the ancient Green,
which appear TO this day as If they
could supply support to their doors
for yet another century.
Springfield was the home OF
Marsion Green, Mississippi's first
representative in the colonial Con-
gress, and his remains are buried
in the old family burying ground
attached 10 the place. He was a
noted man in his day, and, while |
an officer of the colonial govern
ment, enjoyed the distinction of
performing The marriage ceremo-
ny of General Andrew jackson
and Mrs. Robards, the ceremony
taking place III The parlor.
Rachel Donelson was the daugh-
ter of Col. John Donelson, a VIr-
ginian surveyor of good circum-
stances She was born in North
Carolina, and in ITO her father
migrated to the neighborhood of
Nashville, Tenn, in a very re-
boat journey of 1000
miles. Blooming Rachel was
wooed and won by Captain Louis
Robards. She was esteemed to
be The best horse woman and best
dancer in the country. Her hus-
band seems 10 have been a young
man of tyrannical and unreason-
,bly jealous disposition and made
against his wife, these
were unreasonable and
but The affair ended in
RobardS sending her home to her
mother in Tennessee. THIS was in
I7SS. Her mother found il desir-
lble TO keep boarders, and to her
louse came Andrew Jackson ON
lis arrival in Nashville.
Throughout his life Jackson was
loted for spotless purity and for a
omantic and chivalrous respect ,
or The female sex. In the pres [
ence of wcmen his manner was
llways distinguished for grave and [
'ourily polteness. This involun.
ary homage 10 women was one Of /;
he finest and most winscne fea- s
.ures in his character. AS un- {
rendered to Mrs. Ro- {
,ards il was enough TO revive the ,
demon of jealousy in
Ter husband, who had in the mean
line returned to her. According
o Judge Overton's testimony,
General Jackson's conduct was ir-
but there were high
words between him and Robards,
md, not wishing 10 make further
.ronble, he changed his place OF
abode.
After some months Captain Ro.
Dards again left hls wife and went
q Kentucky, threatening by-and-
Jy 10 return and haunt her and
make her miserable. In The au-
umn of 1870 rumors of hls return
frightened Mrs. Robards aud de-
ermined her 10 visit some friends
It distant Natchez. In pursuance
Df this plan, with which the whole
seems 10 have con-
,urred, she went down the river
n company with the venerable
Col. Stark and his family. As the
Indians we're then on the warpath.
Jackson accompanied the psrty
With an armed escort. returning 10
Nashville as soon as he had seen
,ta friande safely 1apoxilad in