CHAPTER 1

The Echo of the Black Horn

There is a broad and beautiful country that stretches for miles and miles through Smith, Jasper, Jones, and Covington counties. Beginning as a little springhead trickle up in Scott County above Smith is the River Leaf. Passing along the foot of the famous Sullivan’s Hollow, and gaining in width and depth and swiftness as it flows southward toward the “Great Water” that the Indians spoke of long before the badmen inhabited the hollow. The water shed of this little unpretentious river is the fertile uplands that are known as the hills of Sullivan’s Hollow, from which source much of the silt is washed into the stream and deposited over the valley below. On the opposite side of this valley lie the hills and hollows of Jasper and Jones counties, including “the No Man’s Land” of Captain Newton Knight.

These counties comprise approximately three thousand square miles. Of all these Covington was the first organized, the 5th day of January 1819, and named for Leonard Covington. Prior to that time all this area was known as Mississippi Territory East of Pearl River.

An old survey is recorded, 1810, 1811, which vividly describes this “District of Mississippi.” No names are given to the small streams, but they are beautifully described, as to width and depth, and the notation is made that many cannot be forded. The beauty of the trees and vegetation and the type of soil, the valuation of the land is given. Example: “Two dollar quality; three dollar quality” (per acre). The magnolia is mentioned as “a sweet flowering bay” and other flowering trees and shrubs are described. Detail is given in describing the timber, as a big hickory, a hollow beech, crooked sassafras, big white oak, tall pines, etc., throughout the account, and the springheads and campsites along the route are so beautifully described, it is not a strain upon the imagination to visualize this paradise of the pioneers. For indeed, it must have appeared so with its unlimited possibilities; to the hunter, or a man with his eye on trapping, it could not be surpassed for wild game of every kind was abundant. To the farmer, this country was waiting with a wealth of soil richness to produce his crops. The springs were flowing from hillsides, beginning streams for power, for livestock, for fish for his table, in an enviable climate with a long growing season, with just enough cold weather to kill off the insects in winter.

At one time Covington County’s line joined Perry County on the south and included a great part of Jones County and that part that is now Jefferson Davis County. Later in 1826, January 24, a slice was taken from Wayne County and added to the cast portion of Covington, and that area, containing 696 square miles became Jones County, so named for John Paul Jones.

Forrest County was made up in the same manner from a part of Perry County, and the south part of Covington, Lauderdale, Jasper, and Smith counties were organized the same year, 1833, and it was not until 1906 that Jefferson Davis County was organized, cutting the area of the original Covington down to 410 square miles.

This territory is a part of the Mount Dexter Treaty Grant, 1805, the Choctaw Cession from which resulted all of Covington, Wayne, Green, Madison, Lawrence, Pike, Perry, Jones, Lincoln, Lamar, Forrest, Jeff Davis, and Walthall counties.

After the white man came, many Indians chose to remain, and were indeed friends in need, as they assisted the early settlers in many ways. Especially were they helpful in holding off hostilities, and many things they taught their new neighbors about the simple way of life in a wilderness.

One of the choice delicacies was a concoction that the Indians taught the settlers to prepare for the children. It was parched corn, pestled to a powder in a pestle stone, and to this was added sugar and roasted nuts.

From them we learned the secret of making beautiful shades of dye from the bark of trees, the purple from the sweetgum, the soft grays from the willow, and the browns from walnut. They also taught many things about the tricks of trapping, of catching fish, and the tricks that “medicine men” could work upon the human body by the use of herbs, barks, and plants.

Many old Indian remedies are still used by the negroes in this section. May apple is still used in a spring tonic, and a mess o’ poke salad is a spring must to dispel spring fever. The alder is still used for a tea to break out the hives on young babies. Red oak “oose” which is the liquid boiled from the bark of the tree is wonderful combined with red clay for a sprained knee or ankle. Jerusalem Oak cut into beads and strung on a string and placed about a child’s neck is still a good teething remedy, so the old negroes say. The mistletoe has a use other than to shelter a Yuletide kiss. No better medicine is found than the delicate berries and tender twigs of this parasite to treat a sick cow, after the birth of a calf.

Ages back the Indians had noticed that does, after hiding their young, would wander into the bogs and nibble the mistletoe that grew low on the branches of black gum. Swamp cattle feed very much like deer, and their natural instincts prompt them to seek out and eat that which was by nature provided for them.

The Choctaw Nation was divided into many tribes and there were many important chieftains among them, some so distinguished that they have become historical figures, while others remain obscure traditions. One of these seldom mentioned in the accounts of the early settlement were the Mingoes, a tribe of friendly Indians that inhabited the region in Jones County along Leaf River. From these people are descended our friends Abba-ha-ha-hubbee and East-tubbee. It was among these Indians that the first white settlement east of Pearl River in the Mississippi Territory was established.

The first four families to locate here following the first of the ten Choctaw treaties, which treaty provided only for unmolested wagon train passage into the territory, were Knight, Welch, Robertson, and Ducksworth. Soon after them came the families of Wade, Foxworth, Reddoch, Rogers, Speed, Graves, Pickering, Brumfield, Hatten, Pemberly, Magee, and others of the old aristocracy, bringing in slaves and finery from an older civilization. And, as has always been the custom, new developments bring in a flood of people. The notoriety of this beautiful new country brought in a rush of newcomers. Many other pioneers were poor, without lands or money, and others were simply adventurers and vagabonds.

After the passage of the Harrison Land Law, 1800, the laboring class migrating southward could obtain lands by making one-fourth down payment and the balance in three more annual payments. There were other means of acquiring land without too much trouble or money as land offices were set up and homesteads were granted. There was much dispute and conflict about these lands, as treaty grants and territories were placed in the hands of land commissioners who were not always honest. Much land was illegally sold, and the proceeds pocketed by the unscrupulous commissioners.

There are records on file which show that these men were brought up for trial for misappropriating properties, and demand was made for the return of the monies received in such transactions, but there is no record of a conviction. Illegal land sales made a certain few rich, and their descendants have inherited the spoils taken from this part of Mississippi soon after it was relinquished by the Indians.

This first white settlement in Jones County was along the east side of Leaf River, all of the high ridge between the river and Mason Creek, and extending down the river below the Welch Landing. There is no record as to how part of this land was acquired from the Mingoes, but legend has it that the early Knight came first offering gifts, and it was he who made a trade with the Indians to live among them, and in exchange for a flint knife he was given a tract of land, with permission to clear fields and build houses. The other three families were likewise accepted, and there was never discord among them. The only trouble was, the chief was always on hand to receive another gift, and there was the problem of having to divide the very scarce necessities. Once the giving was begun, there was no stopping.

These early trades between white man and Indian, followed much later by the crookedness in the land offices has caused land trouble in Mississippi since, and by rights, many people do not own the land on which they pay taxes!

As these early settlers were Christian people, their first requirement was a place to worship, and since they were not all of the same faith, there being three denominations among the four families, they were faced with the problem of establishing a church satisfactory to all. So they came together, asking Divine Guidance in planning for their spiritual needs. The result of such wisdom was the establishment of the Union Church, which was a church for the worship of one God. With the formation of a union, denominationalism was cast aside, and one Christian church was built for all the people in the territory that became Jones County.

With the coming of other settlers, the church grew and became more the center of community activity. This first building also served as a Masonic Hall, and was used as such until the execution of the following deed:

JONES COUNTY, STATE OF MISSISSIPPI

This indenture made and entered into by law between Albert Knight and Mason Knight of the one part and the officers and members of the Hebron Lodge No. 200 of the other part, all of the County of Jones and the State of Mississippi, in consideration of the sum of five dollars to us in hand paid. The receipt of which is hereby acknowledged witnesseth that whereas, Albert Knight and Mason Knight of the first part hath this day given, granted, bargained, sold and conveyed, and by these presents do hereby give, grant, bargain, sell and convey and confirm unto the said institution, Hebron Lodge No. 200 all that certain parcel or tract of land lying and being in the aforesaid county and state, more particular known and described as follows, To Wit:

Commencing at a suitable distance northeast of the Masonic Hall (or Union Church) turning west 100 yards, thence south 100 yards, thence east 100 yards, thence north 100 yards to the beginning, as to place the said Masonic Hall at or near the center of the said designated tract of land to have and to hold unto the said Hebron Lodge No. 200 against the claim of ourselves, our heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, and we will further warrant and defend the claim or claims of any other person or persons whomsoever, either inlaw or equity, unto the said Hebron Lodge No. 200 its officers and members of legal representative, or assigns for ever. Given under our hands and seals this the 27th day of August A.D. 1859.

ALBERT KNIGHT (seal)
MASON KNIGHT (seal)

The Old Union Church was at the time of the conveyance of the above deed in a state of dilapidation, having been hastily and crudely built out of square hewn logs, and it was now time, with the expansion of the settlement, and the increased wealth of the community to build a nice church. Since some of the people were of Baptist belief, a church across the river in Covington County (Leaf River Church) and the people of the settlements of Big Creek and Cracker’s Neck had established the Big Creek Church and combined school, and the members of Methodist belief had established the Bethel Church down below, and across the river, the new church which was built along with the new Lodge became Methodist, and was called Mount Olive Church. This combined structure was built with the Hall occupying the upper story, and the school and church the lower floor. It was also built of hewn timber and was large enough to accommodate large congregations, including the negroes, as they too were accepted as members, and were welcomed as Christian brothers and sisters into the church.

On the old Mount Olive Church roll, which is as often spoken of as old Hebron, are the names of the colored members along with the names of the white members, although they were not social equals.

There were enough benches reserved for these members, who remembered their places and kept them, never daring, or for that matter, never thinking of such a thing as sitting beside a white member.

Segregation was the rule and always will be the rule as long as one Southerner descended from the old South lives, and as long as the teachings of the old Christian colored race are remembered by their descendants there will be no danger of a Mongrel race, as purity of race is the primary objective of segregation. Adherence to tradition is a tendency almost as strong as heredity, and environment does not create drastic change.

When Mount Olive’s meeting day called for dinner on the ground, the colored sisters helped the white sisters to “put out the dinner,” and heaped plates of food for the children and the menfolks. After this service more of the same kind of food was taken from baskets and spread for the negroes who gathered to themselves under the trees where they could eat to their full capacity. After much eating, laughing, and talking the colored sisters packed leftovers back into the baskets to carry back to the quarters for their supper. Those were the happy days never to be forgotten.

The afternoon service was opened with both races joining in the song service. The singing and praying was immensely enjoyed by the colored members, and it is their descendants who are today holding the South in unity and peace. To them goes the credit for the love and respect the two separate races have for each other, as a segregated people.