The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1919-12-14


(lS1s), Cincinnatus Cooper (1Sls)
grandfather to J. w. Cooper, circui
clerk; Conrad Hackleman (1sl8)
Jesse Williams, Martin Franks an
William Ellis.
On the north, Benjamin Hewsol
(1817). B. G. Hendricks, Sr., fathe
to Mrs. Keller and grandfather Il
Mrs. Flood; Thomas Sampson, Rodd.
Smith, Vaughan, Morris, Duncan
Smith, Mayfield and Murphy. A larg,
portion of the Caledonia country was
not settled until after 1910.
This record would be incomplete
without another list of names, com.
ing in the thirties, sixty or seventy
years ago, who with those already
mentioned made old Lowndes famous
for its hospitable homes, good poll.
tics, pure religion and unimpeaehablt
integrity, the writer recalls the
names of Cox, Littleton, Gordon
Shields, Randolph, Meade, Nelson
Botters, Minter, Feemster, Rowan
Kidd, Thomas, Wood, Belk, Buck
Flood, Tunnel, Eubanks, Shirley
Enell, Barksdale, Payne, Jordan, Seal
Lauderdale, Crigler, Golding, Ellis
Adams, Acker, and Laws.
Among the general facts of histori-
cal interest it may be proper to men,
ton that although the county on the
east side of the Tombigbee River
belonged to the Chickasaw Indians,
there was an almost entire absence
Of evidence of Indian settlements,
such as Indian relics, remains of
Indian villages or farms, there being
only one notable exception to the
statement. Fifteen miles below Col
umbus, opposite Union Bluff, near the
Tombigbee River, there is a large
mound situated in the midst of an
Indian field, the field being covered
with pine trees apparently one or two
centuries old. This mound appears
to have been erected as a place of
defense against other tribes or a place
of safety for their stock in high wa
ter.
This portion of the country extend
ing northward to Beaver and Bear
Creeks was probably the hunting
grounds of the Chickasaws as it
abounded in deer, turkeys, bear,
beaver, otter, wolves, and wild cats.
Another noticeable feature of this
section was its complete isolation,
being separated from all other parts
of the State, on the south, west, and
north by the territories of the Choc-
taw and Chickasaw Indians, one
hundred and twenty or more miles
in width, on which white settlers
were not permitted to locate and
through which nothing but Indian
trails, not wagon roads, were allow
ed to run. 1t had to depend for its
population and comforts of civiliz-
ed life upon the State of Alabama,
itself sparely settled wilderness.
For a verifcation of this feagre
and rapid history of Lowndes county
we are indebted to pages of facts, in
cidents and dates, collected by Hon.
L. D. Landrum, Esq, who purposed, t
at one time, to write a history of
Lowndes county. Notably, in his
chapters, are the statement of Bon
amin Hewson,( ninety years of age,
aiken down by his daughter in 1898,
and Davie Craven (colored), taken
Town in his own language, both
Known to the writer and which we
relieve very nearly authentic. We
lope Mr.. Landrum will not permit
lis material for a history of Lowndes
ounty to be lost or go unpublished.
Notwithstanding it's isolation this
erritory in five years was sufficient
y populated to be organized into
1onroe county. Of even date with
he organization of Monroe counyt,
n 1921, the town of Columbus, with
and commendable energy
nd with an intuition and wisdom,
hat looked like foresight, promptly
vailed itself of the very best assist
nee its new governmental relations
Ould afford. The same legislature c
nat organized Monroe county passed
bill directing the survey and lease of !
ne sixteenth section on which Col Q
mbus was situated and the estab-
shment of the Franklin Academy. ]
his bill being the most important a
nd oldest public document in the p
STORY Of Columbus, we hereby ap- n
end it in full. t,
For this copy of the bill we are f
debted to Col. W. D. HUMPHREYS, ex- e
ayor of the City, who obtained it Il
49,. ,,o,s;c4o,.4 oero,.t &c.. IL - 4,