Category: Stone Countians

Stone County People

Fun Fact: G.A. McHenry in Cuba

Captain George A McHenry in Cuba
Captain George A McHenry in Cuba

Dr. George Austin McHenry, who homesteaded in the area of South Stone County that now bears his name beginning in 1889, joined the United States Volunteers in 1898, as a contract surgeon with the rank of Captain. He served in the Spanish American War in Cuba, the Philippine insurrection, and in China.  During his time in Cuba, Dr. McHenry directed the yellow fever hospital there. Since he was immune to the disease, he was able to help many others.

While serving in the Spanish American War, McHenry developed a close relationship with Leonard Wood, who later became Chief of Staff of the United States Army and was tasked with establishing military training sites throughout the United States. Because of this relationship, Dr. McHenry was instrumental in proposing the establishment of one of these training sites to be located south of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, because of the mild climate, available rail facilities, and geography. The site was selected, and in 1917 it became Camp Shelby, the largest state owned military training facility in the United States.

Fun Fact: Cicero E. Cunningham

We are the collective histories of our families. David Cunningham provided these photos of a business card that his Grandfather, Cicero E. Cunningham, made for his shoe store. that was located at the bottom of Pine Hill. Cicero Cunningham also wrote the poem on the back of the card.

The other photo is of his shoe collection. It has nicknacks of shoes, and baby shoes of different family members and of Ms. Belle Ingersoll, who played piano as background for silent movies.  The case with the shoes was always in the store and in his cobbler shop that was across from the store, next to the theater. Many of you will remember this, from going into the Cunningham Shoe Store during your childhood.

Fun Fact: Bond-Harvinson Memorial Park

Bond-Harvinson Memorial Park, located on McGregor Road in Wiggins, is a peaceful place of a number of settlers of the area. Most lived when the area now known as Stone County was a part of first Jackson County and then Harrison County. Col. John Bond was a Revolutionary War hero. His sons, Lt. Col. John Bond, Jr. and Lt William Bond, served in the Mississippi Militia during the War of 1812. John Bond, Jr. represented the area in the Mississippi Legislature at one point and settled in the McHenry area (and is buried in Saucier).  The Bonds, like the McHenrys, Batsons, Prices, Dales, and many others lives are tied together as the first families of this area.

It is noted in several records reviewed that the Cenotaph of Lt. William Bond that is in the Memorial Park contains a number of errors regarding his children.  Other records reviewed show the same picture for John Bond Sr. and John Bond Jr. Regardless both were key to the development of the area.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Fun Fact: Pickle Festival

Pickle Festival 1940
Pickle Festival 1940

Stone County celebrated the first Pickle Festival on June 16-17, 1937. This collage is of the court and former queens from 1940.

Fun Fact: Lake Toc-o-Leen

Ever wonder how places get named? Over sixty-five years ago, Lake Toc-O-Leen’s name was originated by O’Connor Davis, who called Clark O. Batson “Toc” and his wife Walline, “Leen”. Carlos Rabby, husband of Marge Batson Rabby Roberts, built the lake on land purchased by Billy Batson.  Lake Toc-O-Leen honors Clark, Leen, Billy, Marge and Carlos whose love and foresight made possible the lake, cabins, campground and restaurant enjoyed by so many today.

Lake Toc-o-Leen
Lake Toc-o-Leen

Fun Fact: Reverend Thomas Price Memorial Cemetery

The Reverend Thomas Price Memorial Cemetery is located west of Wiggins off of old Highway 26 on Thomas Price Cemetery Road. Approximately 1/4 mile away is Dale Cemetery. Both are the final resting places of many prominent settlers in what became Stone County.

Surrounded by beautiful pasture land with Red Creek running through it, this land, settled in 1818-1819 by John Dale, Maria Dale Price’s father, has been continually occupied by the family.  Thomas Price’s father, Jonathan, migrated with his family, including your Thomas in 1820. Thomas and Maria had nine children. Once of those, Theodocia, married James Batson. These descendents continue to live on and work this land.

This memorial documents their history. Several other gravestones in the cemetery document, in similar fashion, their continuation of the family.

Fun Fact: Emilie Stapp

Emilie Stapp
Emilie Stapp

Emilie Blackmore Stapp, an American children’s author and philanthropist, and her sister, Marie Graham Stapp, were women with a mission. Their lives are documented in an extensive collection of lively correspondence and letters, published and unpublished manuscripts for children’s stories in books, periodicals, and newspapers; original plays, illustrations and publicity materials; and, personal items, such as photographs of friends and notables, fragile scapbooks documenting Emilie Stapp’s from 1904 through the time of her death in 1962 can be found in the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection at The University of Southern Mississippi, McCain Library & Archives.

The Stapps lived in Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, and finally in Mississippi during a significant historical period, covering two world wars and the tumultuous Jim Crow era. Emilie Blackmore Stapp probably was years ahead of her time in her work with children of all races and creeds, raising funds for two World Wars, and other philanthropic efforts.  Some of these, commencing soon after their arrival in Wiggins, include deeding the land and facility for the Women’s Club of Wiggins, donating over 4000 books to establish the first lending library in Stone County, and funding construction for a new post office.

The Stapp sisters bought a farm they named Friendship Farm out Highway 26 East.  There  they established a pecan orchard and built their homenamed The Dolls’ House. The home received its name from a rare collection of over 400 dolls of historic significance, that the Stapp sisters acquired from their world travels and prominently displayed there during their lifetimes.

You will be hearing more about Emilie Blackmore Stapp in the months ahead as The Old Firehouse Museum and The Stone County Arts Council jointly will celebrate her life and accomplishments in several very distinct ways. You will not want to miss those events so stay tuned for dates to be published!

Fun Fact: The Old Gum Springs at McHenry

From W.P.A. for Mississippi Historical Research

Project: Stone County , Aug. 3, 1937

Written by  Mrs. Charles E. Wells

 The Old Gum Springs at McHenry

“L.B. Goddard bought the old Perry Bond house about 24 years (1913) ago.  The Old Gum Springs were there then and are yet.  A little branch trickles along and the springs are under a little embankment.  It was a favorite place for the Goddard children to play.  There are also other springs in the vicinity.  When Dr. Pafford owned the place, after the Goddards, his wife had an artificial pond made, fed by these springs, with the thought of making a recreational resort at the place.  This pond can still be seen from the new U.S. 49 which is slightly east of the main town of McHenry.

The story of the Copeland gang camping at these springs, is a common tradition in McHenry.  But there is some confusion of dates.  If this house was built when they (camped there),  it is older than 75 years, for Copeland was hanged in 1857.  Only an exhaustive search of land records would reveal the exact date of the homesteading.”

Interview with Mrs. L.B. Goddard

For more information about the Copeland Gang, check out these links below:

http://www.thepastwhispers.com/Copeland_Gang.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Copeland_%28outlaw%29

Fun Fact: Local News from August 5, 1916

Another Fun Fact from the August 5, 1916 edition of Stone County Enterprise:

LOCAL NEWS

“C.H. Lindsey, representing X.A. Kromer, Architect of Magnolia, was here Tuesday for the purpose of showing plans and specifications for a new courthouse.

W.R. Smith, member of the county board from beat 5 was in town Tuesday.

Miss Roberta Simmons will return to Purvis today after a week here with Miss May Boone.  Miss Boone will return to Purvis with Miss Simmons to visit friends.for several days.

B.T. Price is nursing a bad hand caused by sticking a splinter in it a few days ago.”

Fun Fact: Darryl Tillman

Darryl Tillman, a member of the Stone High Tomcat football team from 1984085, was the on the receiving end of one of the “Best Hail Mary Passes in College Football History”. Darryl played for University of Southern Miss. with another star, Brett Favre.

Check this pass and pass reception out on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziDPsDRQJzI&feature=share

For stats on Darryl’s career with the Arena Football League: http://www.arenafan.com/players/Darryl_Tillman-1602/