Preserving Old History...Making New History

2006 Events

African American History Month

A special African American History exhibit was displayed in the historic courthouse’s multi-purpose room during April 2006. New books available for African American research were also displayed in the John Marshall Research Library.

Volunteer Appreciation Month

The Tishomingo County Historical & Genealogical Society celebrated Volunteer Appreciation Month during April 2006. In recognition of the contributions that volunteers make in the operation of a historical and genealogical society, a free 8x10 watercolor depicting the historic courthouse was offered with the purchase of the new edition of Fan Cochran’s Old Tishomingo County, Mississippi Territory. Painted by Chris Hoover, the watercolor is one of five that is available at the courthouse museum.

Ageless Hero Award

Society Member, Martha Dobbins (left), was pictured with guest speaker, Ed McMahon, at the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi 2006 Mississippi Ageless Heroes Awards Luncheon. On March 28, 2006, Dobbins and her family traveled to Hattiesburg to receive her award. Dobbins was among 300 nominations for this year's award and was nominated by the Tishomingo County Historical & Genealogical Society for her countless contributions to making Tishomingo County a great place to live, visit, and work. Her friends at the Tishomingo Historical & Genealogical Society and the Chief Tishomingo Chapter D.A.R. were extremely proud of her!

2nd Annual Wedding Reunion

The Second Annual Wedding Reunion was held at the historic courthouse on April 15, 2006. The mass renewal of vows began at 1 p.m.

International Museum Month

On May 18, 2006, visitors to the museum received a 10% discount while shopping in the Gift Shop. In addition, the 100^th visitor to the museum during the month of May received a 3-piece luggage set. International Museum Day has been celebrated all over the world since 1977. The event provides the opportunity for museum professionals to meet the public and alert them to the challenges that museums face.

Memorial Day

Local volunteers of the Tishomingo County Historical & Genealogical Society (TCHGS) and the Chief Tishomingo Chapter Daughters of The American Revolution kickoff Memorial Day Celebrations.

TCHGS charter member and Chief Tishomingo Chapter D.A.R. Regent, Cindy Nelson, TCHGS charter member Betty Marlar, and Tishomingo County Archives & History Museum Project Manager, Jan Anglin, placed flags in two local cemeteries. Although plans were to spend Memorial Day with family and friends at barbecues, ball games and other events, the trio dedicated some time to pay tribute to the heroic men and women who have given their lives for this nation.

John Marshall Stone, born in Tennessee on April 30, 1830, was the son of Virginian natives, Asher and Judith (Royall) Stone. The Stone family was not wealthy, so John did not receive a college education. As a young man, he studied seriously and taught school. In 1855, John Stone moved to Eastport (Tishomingo Co.), Mississippi, where he worked in business. When the Memphis & Charleston railroad was completed, he accepted the position of station agent at Iuka, a post which he filled until his enlistment in the Confederate Army in April 1861. Stone commanded Company K of the Second Mississippi Infantry, which saw action in various Virginia battles until 1862. When a unit reorganization took place, Colonel Stone was placed in command of another regiment.

During the later years of the war, he was offered a promotion to Major General, but since it would have meant leaving his regiment, he declined the promotion. In early 1865, Stone and his unit were captured and held prisoners in Kentucky, at Camp Chase in Ohio, and at Johnson’s Island until the end of the war. Upon his return to private life following the war, Stone was elected to public office as mayor and treasurer of Tishomingo Co., Mississippi. In 1869 and 1873, Stone was elected to two terms in the State Senate. When Governor Ames resigned in 1876, John M. Stone, as President Pro Tempore of the Mississippi Senate, succeeded to the governorship. Stone was elected to the governorship in 1877 by a large popular vote. Defeated by Robert Lowery in 1882, Stone was again a candidate for governor in 1889. Due to the revision of Mississippi’s constitute, he served in the office from 1890 to 1896. Stone was a very popular governor because of his tax cuts, his involvement with railroad development in the state, and his support of the 1890 constitutional convention. He served as governor in the State of Mississippi longer than any other man. Stone is buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Tishomingo County. The Tishomingo County Archives & History Museum's John Marshall Stone Research Library is named in his honor.

Of the 263 Confederates buried in a trench at Shady Grove Cemetery and others buried in shallow graves where they fell, there are a few who have been identified from microfilm, published books, and correspondence from relatives. The following listing, compiled by Irene Barnes, includes a few Union soldiers. The following are from microfilm: Capt. COLEMAN, Co. B 40th MS Regt., killed; Sergeant Daniel GIBSON, Co. E 17th AR Inf. (a relative says he was from Cincinnati, Washington Co., AR. His brother, also of Co. B, brought home his colt revolver after Daniel was killed at Iuka); Pvt. S. L. CONNALLY, Co. E 17th Regt. AR Inf., killed; Capt. Green, 3rd Cav. Regt, killed (as he rose he said, "steady, boys, steady;" he was decapitated by a cannon ball); Lt. Hannah ODELL and Lt. INGRAHAM, 3rd TX Cav. Regt, killed; Lt. INGRAHAM rose to stop one man from retreating and was cut down by grape shot; Lt B. B. COFFEE, 1st TX Legion, killed; Lt. WYNN, 1st TX Legion, mortally wounded (he was the first man to place his hand upon a Federal cannon and just as he did, he fell mortally wounded); Pvt. Hiram HARLOW, Co. E 14th AR 2nd Brig 1st Div., Army of the West, killed; 1st Sgt. Thomas McMASTERS, Co. H 14th AR 2nd Brig 1st Div., Army of the West, killed; 3rd LA Inf. shows nine killed.

Dr. Ben Earl Kitchen’s book, Rosecrans Meets Price, lists: W. P. CRAWLEY, Co. C, 3rd TX Cav. Regt., "He carried a belt of gold around his waist beneath his clothes. Only about four or five of his friends knew this;" W. P. BOWERS, Co. C, 3rd TX Cav. Regt; Carter CALDWELL, Co. C. 3rd TX Cav. Regt.; Colonel STANTON, Confederate; Acting 2nd Lt. BAUER, commander of line of caisson of the 11th Ohio, killed.

The Life of Johnny Reb by Bell Irvin Wiley lists: Pvt. SMITH, father of Jud and Cary Smith, learned that they had been killed at Malvern Hill and joined Price's army at Iuka, following the example of Jud when he learned of Cary's death, keeping on going into the enemy line instead of falling back. They were Mississippians.

Letter correspondence lists: William Woodall BARNES of Attala Co., Miss., shot in the leg and died shortly afterward per Confederate Bible records and microfilm in LA State University collection; William DeFORE killed in skirmish at Iuka, date unknown; Edgar Bloomfield OATES, age 19 years, died of pneumonia in luka, 9th Texas Regt.; Samuel Wiley OATES, 19 years old, died from a wound, Regt. unlisted; Jonathan T. WOODY, Battle of Iuka, died Oct. 1, 1862, dysentery, 37th Ala.; Jesse MAYS, Co. K 40th Inf., Attala Co., Miss, killed; Hans NILSON (known as Johannes Nilsen Okhnd in Norway) served in Union Service, Pvt. Co. E 15th Regt. of Wis. died in hospital Aug. 31, 1862, in Iuka from typhoid fever and was buried in National Cemetery, Corinth. Miss.; James McGINNIS, 19 years old, a farmer from Burnside, Eau Claire Co., Wis., carried Old Abe, the War Eagle, until May 1862 when he died of disease at Iuka, Miss.; James M. COWAN, 4th AR lnf., wounded in Battle of luka. His brother, Jasper N. Cowan, left to nurse him and both were never heard of any more. Jasper's war record says "captured and escaped." A letter from Robert H. Cowan says he was killed in Battle of Iuka; Wm. A. STEWART, Pvt. Co. G 38th Regt. Ill. Inf. died in Iuka, Aug. 22, 1862, of typhoid fever. Born June 13, 1835, Monroe Co., West Va., enlisted June 1, 1862, left sick at Jacinto, Aug. 14, 1862, died in hospital in Iuka; Fairfax WASHINGTON, 19 years old, Ordn. Sergt. 38th Miss., died at Iuka, Oct. 2, 1862, after leg amputation from wound in battle of luka, Sept. 19, 1862. He was a 1st cousin three times removed of President George Washington; David C. RUSSELL, 4th Sgt. Co. E Wirt Adams Cav. Regt., killed in skirmish line, from Lowndes Co., Miss.; James H. YEAGER, Pvt. Co. E Wirt Adams Cav., killed in line at luka, Sept. 19, 1862, from Starkville, Miss. "Last time I saw Jim he was still in his saddle and blood spurting from stub of leg;" and William George WELLS, born Sept. 10, 1829, enlisted at Columbus, Miss, May 1, 1862, died Oct. 21, 1862, legs shot off at Battle of luka, Co A 17th AR Inf.

Memorial Day was observed by remembering the men and women who sacrificed their lives that we might live in freedom. We honor them and their families who mourn their loss. May we never take for granted the precious freedom that is the legacy of those men and women who died.

Camp Courthouse

The 2006 theme for Camp Courthouse was "Exploring Native American History." Children participating in Camp Courthouse explored Native American history with Chief Wayne "Black Eagle" Voyles and his friends, who are part of the five civilized tribes in the southeast corner of Mississippi, Tennessee, and Alabama. On Monday, campers, courthouse staff, and other volunteers hunted arrows and used the arrows to create a personal necklace. They learned calligraphy using feathers, made rain sticks, designed personal t-shirts, and among other activities, played horse shoes and other fun games. On Tuesday, interacting with Native American villagers, the children learned about Native American culture, learned Indian dances, and watched the Native American's prepare a meal which included Indian Fry Bread. Children who attended Camp Courthouse received a Camp Courthouse Badge, T-Shirt, and daily treats.

Broken Spirit Novel Signing

Set partly in Tishomingo County, Broken Spirit is a new inspirational fiction novel. Author John Shivers performed research locally for the book, the first of three in the “Renew a Right Spirit” trilogy. He was at the Tishomingo County Archives & History Museum (Old Courthouse) on Saturday, August 12, 2006, meeting local folks and autographing his book.

Local connections in this first book are set in the past and told through the memoirs of a young Tishomingo County teenager quarantined in the state tuberculosis sanatorium. In the forthcoming second and third volumes, however, the young patient’s story will move more to present day in and around the county, as her granddaughter, Saralynn Reilly, begins to trace her family’s roots in north Mississippi. This fictional book was written from the premise that faith is nothing more than believing that God will do what he has promised. Further, he often answers prayer using ordinary individuals who often are not even aware they are being used.

Genealogy Classes Offered

The Tishomingo County Historical & Genealogical Society conducted genealogy courses during the month of August 2006 at the Old Courthouse Museum at 203 E. Quitman Street in Iuka. The first class, “Introduction to Genealogy,” was held Saturday, August 12, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. A second class, “Advanced Genealogy/Publishing,” was held from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 26. Refreshments were served. Classes were taught by TCHGS President, Cindy Nelson. Class participants were encouraged to bring basic facts about immediate family members and were given forms and instruction on how to begin pedigree chart documentation. Museum staff continued to assist those who wished to research in the John Marshall Stone Research Library following the seminars.

Iuka Heritage Day

Iuka’s Heritage Day Festival was held at the Mineral Springs Park across from the historic County courthouse. The archives and history museum participated in the event with tours and special gift shop items.

September Society Meeting

The Tishomingo County Historical & Genealogical Society (TCHGS) resumed its regular membership meetings on Thursday, September 12, 2006. Mrs. Cindy Nelson introduced the unique collections of the John Marshall Stone Research Library at the startup meeting. Mrs. Jan Anglin reviewed the many opportunities available to TCHGS members to assist with the mission work of the Society. Future meetings will be held on the second Thursday of every other month at 6 p.m. at the Tishomingo County Archives & History Museum, 203 East Quitman Street in Iuka, Mississippi.

Future meetings will be held on the second Thursday of every other month at 6 p.m. at the Tishomingo County Archives & History Museum, 203 East Quitman Street in Iuka, Mississippi.