Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1920-02-13

Macon. Mrsssanningham lived on what
was later5s own as the Rhett place,
but at tn. ~ me was owned by Mr.. j.
IB. Borders Y, Oxford, Ala, father in
law yQf Nj. cunningham. At church,
t.,z 4 lGlgresition was led in singing
Iby Mr.. .Crtg, ngham, who soon became
Known far ata wide as the sweet singer
in Israeli tsr. I. j, Denpree, though
then but al malE boy, distinctly re-
members sweHtly Mr. Cunningham
Gould ssifg 5aiga sAsthe 40's and
Mas pulioG IL Deeforc,-.As lEtis far3'lvs
returned to Alabama, but later came
back to Mississippi, and his descen-
dants are now among the best cltlzens
of Noxubee county.
Colonel Tyree Spann and younger
brother also settled in the Deerbrook
neighborhood The colonel built spa
cious and imposing mansion OF two
stories, with broad halls running
through, one from east to west and the
other from north to south, on the Sc
cond floor as we'll as on the first. The
intersections of these halls were the
coolest spots in Mississippi during the
heated term After the war, General
Stephen D. Lee bought this home and
was living there when called to the
presidency of the A. & M. College.
Another resident of Deerbrook
should be mentioned here: Mr.. George
Tharp, who lived near the line sepa-
rating Lowndes and Noxubee. He and
his wife were noted for their generous
hospitality. He was very fond OF
children and his large, old-fashioned
carriage was often filled with boys
and girls, whom he carried to his
country home to eat watermelons or
peaches. Ever bright and cheerful,
he was so liberal in his gifts to church
and Sunday School, tht it was said
that "his pocket book was converted
when he joined the church" He and
his good wife have been in their
heavenly home for many years. His
only surviving child, Mr., William
Tharp, now resides with his charming
wife in a beautiful home on North
State street, in Jackson, Mississippi.
Some years later Mr.. M. M. Brooks
and his brother, Mr.. Matthew Brooks,
settled mile or more west Of Daniel
Deupree, their father, Mr.. MicaJah
Brooks, having previously built a home
built home still further
west. Dr.. J. M. Cunningham and Dr.
w. S. Baird were the leading physl-
clans of the Derbrook community IN
its early days.
The Deuprees, te Blewetts and the
Cunninghams were Baptists, and with
some others they organized Sharon
Baptist church ,and built their meet
ing-house two miles west OF the Meth,
odist house of worship, which mad
been built By Colonel Billups the Bald
wyns, Squire Mathew Nelson, and 9th
ers Among the Baptist should De
mentioned the family of Mr.. Leroy
Madison. whose voices added much to
the congregational singing at Sharon.
They were greatly missed when they
moved their membership to BROOKS
Vile, especially Mr., James Madison
whose deep bass was well-nigh equal
to any organ. Besides being an eX-
celent vocalist, he was in all respects
A very intelligent and useful citizen,
and for several sessions most credlta-
bly, represented Noxube county in the
State Legislature. After Col. Billups,
the Sherrods and the Baldwyns had
moved to Columbus and other Meth
odists had transferred their member
shin to Brooksville the Method S
church was practically disbanded,
Sharon Baptist church was thenmoved
east two miles to Deerbrook: III
would unduly prolong this sketch to
give detailed account of the many
noted clergymen that at various times
filled the Sharon pulpit. We shall
fTeo4;o,od ~, na uo aiuht \