The Lexington advertiser. [volume] (Lexington, Miss.) 1904-1985, 1948-02-19
History Of lexington
(Continued From Page One)


by the legislature in 1886, incorporat-
ed Lexington in Holmes county. Sew
eral years later in 1841, this act was
repealed, only to be passed agar
in January of the year 1848, with the
corporation limits of the town to be
one mile square with the court house
in the center.
The next important building was
the Bank of Holmes County, estab-
lished in 1887.
When automobiles first came to
Lexington they created such a
fright to man and animal that the
| Holmes County Board of Supervis-
ors passed an order July 1906, pro-
hibiting through penalty of $4,000
fine, their use on the roads unless
| some one ran in front at a distance
| of 100 yards with a red flag, to warn
| people of its approach, and further
that it could not drive at a speed In
excess of 6 miles per hour and when
ever they met any person Or vehicle
it had to come to a dead stop until
the other passed, (See-Record-Boar
| of Supervisors Minute Book 2, Page
531, Holmes County, Mississippi.
On January Z, 1885, a charter was
| granted to a number of men in Lex
ington to practice and promulgate
| the principles of Masonry in the CO.
unity and the surrounding territory.
| Some years later a dispensation was
granted to a number of MasonS to
organize a Lodge at Richland, twelve
miles south of Lexington. This Lodge
was chartered as the Eureka Lodge.
The building in which the meetings
of this Lodge were held has become
n of the most unmarked, historl-
cal spots in Mississippi, for it was in
this little school house during the
years l349-50 that the original ritual
of the Order of the Eastern Star was
written.
There was in the beginning, much
discussion as to what place would
become the county seat. Georgetown,
Franklin and Lexington were the
three that held the interest of the
public. 1t was finally decided that
Lexington would be the site because
of its location nearest the center OF
the county.
Holmes county was named for
David Holmes, the fourth and last
Territorial Governor and first State
Governor of Mississippi.
Lexington is known as the trade
center of Holmes county. 1t is also
the center of one of the richest agri-
cultural counties in Mississippi. 1t
might as well boast of the first oil
mill in the county, used for pounding
cotton seed into pulp. 1t was founded
by Mr.. j. E. Gwin.
Lexington was well on its way to
becoming a very prosperous town
when, on April IL, 1861, the first shot
of the Civil War was fired upon Fort
Sumter. One southern state after
another seeded from the Union. Mis-
sissippi men were among the first to
join the ranks of the grey clad sol
diers.
Two companies were sent from
Holmes county to help fight this dis
asterous war between the states.
Once again the Little School
House" near Lexington appears to
help play an important part in our
history. 1t was in this building that
Company "C", 18th Mississippi In
fantry was organized. There are
marks today on that building from
shots that were fired during the war.
Even though small, a Secessional
Ball vas held here. 1t
was a big affair and almost
everyone attended. The air was fill
ed with laughter and the shouting
voices of celebrating people. Can
mons were being used through Mis-
sissippi, but Lexington was unfor-
tunate enough not to have one. A
device put together by a blacksmith
served the purpose of one
Lexington was rather small, there
fore the blows resulting from the
war weren't as tragic as they were
In other parts Of Mississippi. The soil
remained fertile and the buildings
stood in good condition.
Lexington had thought little about
reconstruction. It wasn't until the
Carpet-Bagger and the negroes be-
gan to seize a strong hold that the
people began arising.
Two men that long will be re-
membered in Mississippi history r
two of Lexington's native sons. They
are Edmond Favor Noel and Sydney
Smith.
Edmond Noel was born on a farm
near Lexington, March 4, 1856. He
was elected Governor of Mississip-
pi in 1907 and is responsible for the
drafting of the original constitutional
amendments for an elective judiciary
and for making all county and dis
trict offices elective for terms of
four years.
Sidney Smith was born April 8,
1869, in Lexington. He was appoint
ed associate justice of the Supreme
Court of Mississippi by Governor
Noel. He became Chief Justice in
1912, and held that position for six