Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1915-10-01
Some Extracts from, the
Diary of Dr.M.W. Phillips

l. Inc uiary OF Dr. PhlllipS, fr0r
which only below quoted, was be
gun January 1st, 1S4O, and close,
in 1868, when he was living upol
his plantation, Log Hall, situate,
in Kinds county, Mississippi, ant
about twelve to fourteen miles, a
the crow flies, from the Mississip
pi river.
1t was said to be Gan ideal plan
tation." DR.. Phillips took great
pride in its establishment, max
ling 1t one of the most attractiy,
places in the State at that time
Between seventy and eighty acre.
were devoted to his orchards, gar
dens and groves. An apple and
peach orchard embraced about fif
teen acres; a peach orchard TWEEN,
ty'two acres; pear and peach
orchard, twenty five acres; flower
and vegetable gardens, four acres;
and groves about ten or fifteen
acres.
1t is further said, he had ''as
many as sixty varieties of pear
trees" and that Gin his peach
and apple orchards were to be
found the most desirable varieties
of these species of fruit"
He also had a great variety of
chickens, ducks, pigeons and 9th,
er domestic species of fowls. zone
of his most valuable flocks was q
large number of quails which DIR.
Phillips had domesticated, but
which strayed too far away, and
ever unfortunately captured in a
net by one of his neighbors, who
thought. that they were wild
BIRDS"
He had a magnificent library for
a country gentleman in those ear.
ly times whose home was in a sort
of pioneer region--and Of him it'll
was said that che was a friend of
every good cause and was so little
concerned about himself that he
could always find time and ways
of helping Others"
He prefaces his diary January
1st, 1910, in part as follows:
9Th commencing new year, we
have resolved to strive to econo-
mize time and money. and by
just use of both strive to make
ourselves useful and honest.
"I shall strive to get into some
kind of employment until times
change for the better. Mississippi
is now paying penance for her past
extravaganza and the worst has
not come"
He announces too that his crop
will be pitched about this way:
"Will work about 13 hands, includ.
ing men, women and children;
will plant about 100 acres in cot,
ton, 80 in oats, between 45 and so
in corn, and about 4 in potatoes
and grapes, and thinks he ought
to make 75 bales of cotton, 1900
bushels of corn, 1900 bushels of 1
pats, with vegetables and bacon. +" 6
JANUARY 1S4O." s
l. We have now gathered the whole ,
,rop, although not done pressing but
will tomorrow.
Threshed out 21 bushels Of peas and .
iauled in great number Of punkins. Q
80. Received lot of Durham cattle, I
8 head, from C. J. Blackburn Of Ken q
ucky. 7,
81. Finished baling; cold, ugly wealth q
r. a
"FEBRUARY, 1S4O.": .
/. Snow. I
10-11 Cutting-up logs in our oat field
nd working in old burn. a.,
II. Rain last night; first lamb last !
light. 3
26. Flowing in oat field; Flora, fine !.
ull calf: 6 lambs, one stray and 1 dead. n
"MARCH, 1840." =
l. Sunday; morning pleasant, rain in q 4
he evening; spayed and cut pigs; spay- !,
d heifer calf. =
2. Planted peas in garden this day. :"
8. Hauling cotton seed for manuring =
orn; gardening this day; planted peas, =
MONS, radishes, spinach, leek, lettace 7,
nd pepper grass; garden not in fine - :.
too busy at other things; ID =
Imbs very small and poor; cattle look - :,
adly; hogs look well. =, =,
s. A Durham calf this, 7-15 Durham '. y.
ON S-4 Durham COW, Emma Har- &
.den. Not finished planting in garden, ~
,Wed heeta today