Sufronia and L.C.

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ufronia Wilson and L.C. Taylor, my grandparents from Holmes County Mississippi

 Holmes County is located in the west central part of Mississippi. It was created February 19, 1833 out of the land originally ceded by the Choctaw Indians in the Treaty of Doak's Stand, October 18, 1820 and known as the "New Purchase." Out of the original large county of Hinds was formed Yazoo County, and Holmes was formed from Yazoo in 1833. A portion of western Holmes County was contributed to the formation of Humphreys County in 1918. Holmes County was named for Governor David Holmes, fourth Territorial governor, first Mississippi state governor, and later U.S. Senator. 

Between 1820 and 1830, nearly 30,000 people moved into the lands opened up by the Doak's Stand Cession. The population of Mississippi increased 175 percent during that decade. Between 1833 and 1837, prices "rose like smoke," and Mississippi land offices sold over seven million acres of land on a seemingly limitless supply of credit. Towns sprang up overnight, and the charlatans, gamblers and speculators swarmed into Mississippi, ready to make their fortunes. The land boom created an atmosphere much like California would experience in 1849. The bubble burst in 1837, when Andrew Jackson ordered federal land offices to accept nothing but hard cash for land, and land prices plummeted. There was a mass movement westward, often to Texas, as speculators went broke and moved on to a new start.

Not all immigrants were speculators or charlatans, however. Great numbers of small farmers moved into these lands from the soil-weary seaboard states, attracted to the virgin soil. Census schedules often reflect the migration patterns of these families, as often the birthplace of the parents was Virginia, North Carolina or South Carolina, that of their older children Tennessee or Alabama and the younger children and grandchildren, Mississippi. Very few settlers in these counties were foreign-born.

Holmes County attracted many of these immigrants, drawn to its rich soil. All crops grew well, but the area was especially suitable for farming grain and fruit. Timber was abundant, and there were numerous rivers and lakes. The Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Railroad connected Durant and Tchula with the county seat, Lexington, and this farming region shipped large quantities of produce to northern markets through the connection in Durant with the Illinois Central Railroad.

Four of the oldest settlements in Holmes County are now extinct: Rankin, Montgomery, Vernon and Georgeville. Rankin was located about five miles from Tchula. Montgomery was on the west bank of Big Black River at Pickens Ferry. Vernon was about 12 miles north of Lexington, and was once a thriving town.  (http://msgw.org/holmes/history/history.htm)

My grandparent Sufronia and L.C. Taylor, were born in Rankin County and Pickens, Mississippi, respectively.  They lived all their lives in Mississippi.  Grandmother Sufronia died in Homles County at the young age of 49; she was buried in Marigold, Mississippi where her mother was buried.  Grandfather L.C. gradually migrated to Bolivar County where he died.

The area from Tchula to Pickens, Lexington and Durant might seem like a short distance, but it was often walked or traveled by horse and wagon.  I have driven these roads and they are still pretty rural.

As sharecroppers, the only work for my grandparents was farming, raising cotton.  Granddaddy raised sugar cane and made cane syrup, selling some and keep some for his family.  And you can bet he made some pretty good "white lightning."  My grandfather loved the drink!

This depot in Durant, MS remained active until well into the 1990s!  I road the train from Durant to Chicago a number of times during the summer.  Grandmother Sufronia's sisters all migrated to Chicago; and we got to visit during the summer.

As sharecroppers, the only work for my grandparents was farming, raising cotton.  Granddaddy raised sugar cane and made cane syrup, selling some and keep some for his family.  And you can bet he made some pretty good "white lightning."  My grandfather loved the drink!

This depot in Durant, MS remained active until well into the 1990s!  I road the train from Durant to Chicago a number of times during the summer.  Grandmother Sufronia's sisters all migrated to Chicago; and we got to visit during the summer.