Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1920-02-13
Early History of DeerbrOOk
BY MRS. J. " sDUEPREE

Early in the decade beginning wit
1880, A, D., colony of Georgian
oglethorpe county, settleos in tn
tneighborhood, building theirS~ ses 0
hewn logs, since they had no sawzmill
and fencing their virgin plantation
from the hardwood forests bordering
the extensive prairies. To prepar
the soil for the plow, they had only t
burn off the luxuriant growth of gras
Among the settlers there was prom
inent group of relatives: Col. T. C. Bill
lups and wife with six children; Judg,
Moore and wife, the father and moth
er of Mrs. Billups, with their son, Mr.
Ned Moore; Major Moore, brother 0.
the judge and father of Maj. Dude!
Moore, and his sisters; two Baldwyl
brothers, John and William, nephews
of Col Billups. In this family grouI
Colonel Billups was richest in lands
and slaves. His home was in Noxubet
county, but his plantation extended
far into Lowndes, which bounded Nox
ubee on the north. In 1910, ten miles
north of Macon, and twenty miles
south of Columbus, Col. Billups built
the first frame residence, for many
years the finest in Noxubee county, il
not in the State of Mississippi. Years
afterwards, Col. Billups had moved tC
Columbus and this became the home
Of Dr. Matt Clay and his wife, ne.
Miss Minnie Harrison, and later il
passed into the hands of Mr.. Dale Bel
and his interesting family. The two
sons, Dale Bell Jr, and John C. Bell
after doing their full duty in the world
war, have recently returned from
France. Some years ago this stately
mansion was burned, but it has since
been replaced by"a beautiful modern
structure.
South Of Col. Billups settled Mr.
John Baldwin and Mr.. William Bald
wyn. On the east were the homes Of
Maj. Tom Moore, Mr.. Charles Moore
and Mr. Alexander Jeffreys. North
were the Sherrods and Mr. Tom Tharp.
About two miles to the northwest had
settled Maj. T. G. Blewett, who had
doubtless won his title by distinguish
ed service in the war with Mexico.
He was man of note, Of sterling
character, very wealthy, owning more
land and slaves than Col. Billups.
His eldest son. Col Allen BleWett. af7
ter liifs' father moved to Columbus, oc-
cupied the Blewett home and was an
honored and useful citizen of NoXubee
until he moved to Meridian.
Colonel Billup was the leader in
building the first house of worship, and
in organizing the first Methodist con-
gregation at Deerbrook, and was su-
perintendent of the first Sunday
School. Mr.. William Baldwin was a
most efficient teacher in the Sunday
School, in whose class was 7. j. Deu-
pree (died since this was written) now
more than four score years Of age, and
yet wildly and gratefully remem-
bering the good lessons Of Mr. William
Baldwin, which he heard seventy-five
years ago. T. J. Deupree won the
rank of Captain in the war between
the States; afterwards he became a
physician; gave up a lucra-
tive practice and moved to- Jackson,
Tenn, educate his children. There he
accepted the chair of Natural Science
in Union University, which he held
for thirty years, and
since resigning he has been living with
his children and grandchildren around
him in Texarkana, Arkansas. Two OF
his grand children, Edward Deupree,
and Thomas Wayne Deupree, sons OF
I. J. Denpree, the second. have but re-
Gently returned from France after
more than year of distinguished ser
vice in the World War.
Rev. William Murrah often filled
the pulpit of the Methodist church at
Deerbrook to the profit and delight of
the congregation. He was an excellent
preacher, and his pulpitpower has
been transmitted unimpaired, If not
augmented, to his eminent son, Bishop
w. B. Murrah Of the M. f. Church,
South.
Besides the Billups group, other
Georgians should be mentioned: DR..
Eli ,ah Deupree and wife (nec Miss
ETA Massey whose sons, Villain
Daniel Deupree, Thomas Jefferson
Deupree, Joseph baltimore De1pree,
James Wayne Deupree and Charles
Barnett Deupree were all natives OF
William Winfrey and wife,
step-father and mother of Mrs. Deu-
pree; two brothers, Charles and Matt
Barnett, and their widowed sister, Mrs
Johnson; and last, but by no means
least, Mai. Alex Stevens.
For years, Col. Billups made every
possible effort to get postofi1ce es-
tablished at Deerbrook or inthe enelgn-
porhood. Early one morning he rode
,ver TO the home of Mr.. William Bald
wvn and before dismounting shouted.
'We shall soon have the postoffice!"
This was joyful news, and Col. Billups
asked Mrs. Baldwin to suggest a
1retty name and she quickly replica;
Il have it here now in this interesting
novel | am reading. Let it be called
Deerbrook." All agreed that the name
vas beautiful and appropriate, as deer
hen abounded in the neighborhood.
The name was sent to the Department
At WASHINGTON, and it was approved
md adopted. Maj. Aleck Stevens was
he first postmaster, and the office was
n his log-home seven miles north OF
Macon. Instead Of boxes cracks be-
.ween the logs were utilized. Each
'amily had its own crack, and knew
where the family mail would be found,
whether the postmaster was at home
" awav on a hunt. Boards nailed on
he inside prevented letters or papers