Calhoun County MSGenweb

Calhoun County MS Courthouse History

 

Calhoun County Courier

Bruce, Miss.

_________

Vol 1    No. 23     March 6, 1930

 

Ex-Circuit Clerks of Calhoun County

 

Since I have been assigned the position of Historian of the Courier staff, and these balmy spring days are lengthening out to where one has more time to do his work and spare a little for imagination, I am coming back with my budge of county official history. Ex-Circuit Clerks of the county being the subject of my sketch, according to promise last week.

 

Well, we have not had so many of them, because some of them have apparently been such popular men that they held for long terms. The first Circuit Clerk of the county within the writer’s recollection was John T. McComic. Just when his tenure of office began dates back further than we can recollect, but we believe in 1880. He served from 1880 to 1884.  Uncle John was a notable character. He was a typical pioneer. When quite a small “shaver” I can recollect him with a white sock on one foot and going on one crutch. What attracted my attention most as a boy was the Mr. McComic used his crutch on the side that his well foot was. I thought the crutch should be on the side of the crippled foot.

 

In 1884, T. M. Murphree became Circuit Clerk and served his first term ending in 1888. At that time the “Farmers Alliance” ticket was playing a sweeping part in elections. T. M. Murphree ran for a second term as the Democratic nominee, and John T. McComic was his opponent on the alliance ticket. Although the Alliance elected most of its ticket that year, T. M. Murphree was re-elected clerk for a second term by the narrow margin of 9 votes, if we remember correctly. Mr. Murphree served his second term from 1888 to 1892. He died in 1905 after having served two terms in the state legislature and about five years as editor of the Calhoun Monitor.

 

W. R. Creekmore assumed the office of Circuit clerk in 1892 and served one term until 1896. He died soon after the expiration of his term of office.

 

In 1896, James H. Ramsey became clerk and succeeded to the office for three consecutive terms or until 1908. Mr. Ramsey is the first living Circuit Clerk that we come to. He now resides in Union county, and we learn is engaged in farming and teaching. The county never had a stronger man, politically, in his day than Jas. H. Ramsey.

 

In 1908, Will H. Blaylock became clerk and served until 1912 for one term only and never sought reelection again. He died at Calhoun City only a few years ago.  Sam H. Smith, the present sheriff of the county became Circuit Clerk in 1912 and held the position two terms until 1920, when he was succeeded by B. F. Bennett, who served from 1920 to 1924. Sam C. Cooner was next, from 1924 to 1928, when he was succeeded by the present incumbent, Mr. Earnest Lane.

 

Of the total number our county has only four living Ex-Circuit Clerks. These are Ramsey, Smith, Bennett  and Cooner. So that brings us down to the stepping off place. In our write up last week for the Ex-sheriffs we failed to include in the list of Sheriffs, Mr. Lon Shoemake. He was elected and filled out one year of the term of W. T. Williams who had been removed.

 

Well, we will get on to some of the other former officials in our next.

 

So bid you adieu for this time.  J. B. Going

 

 

March 13, 1930

Letter From Ex-Clerk Ramsey

 

Editors Courier: ---

I am just in receipt of the following interesting letter from my old fried, Mr. Jas. H. Ramsey, which I am sending you for publication in the Courier this week. The letter will no doubt be read with interest by a number of his friends in this county, and it touches a little on the matter of the official history that ye scribe has been writing you about for the past few weeks.   J. B. G.

 

363 Garfield St.

New Albany, Miss.

Mar. 10, 1930

 

Hon. J. B. Going,

Calhoun City, Miss.

 

Dear John,

 

I received a copy a few days since of the Calhoun County Courier published at Bruce, Miss. And in it a “write-up” by you of all the ex-circuit clerks of the county, and I hasten to thank you sincerely for the “write up” you gave me as I am one of the Exs.

 

I want to congratulate you “boys” for the newspaper you are giving the people, and trust your efforts will be crowned with success. I see no reason why Calhoun county people can not subport [sic] two live papers.

 

I was deputy Circuit Clerk under Hon. T. M. Murphree during the noted campaign when the Farmers Relief nominated a ticket in opposition to the Democratic ticket.

 

When all precincts had been heard from except Bently, [sic] J. T. McComic was leading 23 votes but when Jim Lewis Croley [sic] was seen coming, in near where the P. L. Dye Hotel was later, quite a large number of us met him there, J. T. and Henry McComic in the crowd. I asked Mr. Crowley how the vote stood for Circuit Clerk, and he took out a ticket which showed Mr. Murphree was 31 votes in the lead at Bentley thus going in by eight votes majority.

 

I am thinking about visiting old Calhoun when Circuit Court starts and if I do I shall be glad to call on you.

 

I have quit teaching now. I am selling coal to the trade and also locally here and at Pontotoc.

 

With best wishes for your continued success and happiness, I am,   Your friend,   Jas H. Ramsey