Allison, Tobias & Furr
Submitted by Bill Furr
Allison (1809-1889) and Tobias (1817-1882) Furr
Allison Furr went to Mississippi in 1846, but returned to Concord, North Carolina.
He went back to Mississippi with his brother, Tobias, in two covered wagons
in 1848. He built a two story house on the land he purchased from the Indians.
From "Mississippi A Guide to the Magnolia State," compiled and written
by the Federal Writer's Project of the Works Progress Administration, The Viking
Press, New York, 1943, page 487:
"Toccopola (Ind., the crossing of the Roads), was, before the white man
came, an Indian village so old that in the annals of the Chickasaw the date
is unknown. In 1840, however, two Carolinians, Tobias and Allison Furr, settled
here. Tobias Furr built a water mill on the creek and Allison established a
store at the crossing of two roads. Other settlers made home in the vicinity,
and eventually the Indian name TOK-A-PULA was corrupted to Toccopola. Immediately
following the War between the States, W. B. Gilmer, who was forced by a wound
received in the war to forsake farming for school teaching as a profession,
establishing Toccopola College, an academy for boys and girls. This college
continued operation until 1907. Toccopola's future was shattered when the Gulf,
Mobile & Northern R.R. passed it up in preference to Pontotoc, its rival."
William Meek Furr (1840-1906) -- son of Allison Furr (1809-1889)
Pontotoc Sentinel (Mississippi), 1906
A SAD CHRISTMAS
W.M. Furr, a Leading Citizen of this County, Suddenly Expires While His Home
is Being Reduced to Ashes
Toccopola was the scene of an awful and distressing double calamity on Saturday
night December 23, plunging the entire community in grief -- a sorrow shared
by friends far and near, Pontotoc being conspicuous among the number of sympathizers.
On the date above mentioned, Mr. Wm. M. Furr's residence, a large two-story
frame building, was discovered by one of the family to be on fire, having started
from a fire-place in an up-stairs bedroom. When found, the fire had gained such
headway that it was impossible to save the dwelling, although heroic effort
was made. In spite of the cruel, greedy flames, considerable of the furniture
and general contents were carried out. Calmly and collectedly, Mr. Furr had
given instructions to the workers and had himself assisted in the removing of
the household effects without any visible signs of fatigue or exhaustion. Suddenly,
while helping to unlock a bedstead, he fell dead in the arms of a son who had
just remarked, "It is getting too hot; we had better get out." It
is not known whether death was due to excitement, distress, rupture of a blood
vessel, or heart failure -- it might easily be attributed to any of these causes.
The shock was great and almost beyond comprehension, making the material loss
made by the fire sink into insignificance. Either misfortune wuld [sic] have
been almost unbearable but two coming simultaneously, is crushing and the very
thought of which strikes horror to the hearts of even those who are bound only
by ties of friendship. God alone knows the anguish of wife, . . ..
William Meek Furr, Nov 21, 1840. Coming to this state when a boy, he settled
in Toccopola, since which time he has been closely identified with that place,
a prominent, public spirited citizen. His life is an open book all may read
-- pages of merrit [sic] and true worth -- chapters of a useful, well spent
life, the finale reflecting a life without a blot or blemish. He was a model
man, filling every position with a true regard for charity, honesty and fair
dealing with his fellow man.
For many years a consistent and zealous member of the Methodist church, he was
serving as superintendent of that Sunday school at the time of his death. He
was also a loyal Mason and loved the beautiful principles taught by that ancient
fraternity.
As a Confederate soldier, his career is an honorable one, a credit to his family
and to his country for which he fought. Enlisting August 1861 in Company "E"
19th Miss. Regt., Anderson's Division, Longstreet's Corps, Army of Northern
Virginia, he served continuously until the surrender at Appomattox Court House
in 1865.
Always interested in churches and schools, and realizing what they meant to
the advancement and betterment of humanity, Mr. Furr was a liberal contributor
to their establishment and support. He was a successful financier and for twenty-five
years was a leading merchant in his town, doing a large, profitable business,
and leaving a good estate. Since the Merchants & Farmers Bank was first
established here, he has been one of the directors and his clear judgment and
quick intuition will be greatly missed.
He was married to a Miss Pickens when quite a young man, the noble life partner
of his joys and sorrows surviving. Eleven children blessed this union, ten of
whom are left to mourn the loss of a good and wise father, who did his whole
duty to them, inculcating right principles and giving each the advantage of
an education. Two sons were off at college when the tragedy occurred, Marvin
at Chicago and Esta at Atlanta. Both were wired and reached home just in time
to attend their father's funeral which occurred at Lebanon cemetery Christmas
day. A very large assemblage of relatives, neighbors and friends from other
communities were present to pay their last tribute of respect to the honored
and lamented dead. Revs. Hugh Edmondson and J. R. Roberson conducted the sad
and impressive funeral service in a tender, touching manner felt by the entire
gathering whose hearts were already surcharged with sympathy for the distressed
family.