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A Part of Hancock County, Mississippi History
I	have conversed with a number of elderly citizens of the Kiln, Mississippi area and reminisced about the "olden days" of Hancock County. The conversation usually goes back to a time in local history that directly reflects on an event that involved my great grandfather, Peter Nelson, during the latter period of the 1800's. They convincingly tell the story about Peter Nelson changing the flow of the "Jourdan River" near the old McLeod homestead area. They say that the Jourdan River once flowed in a Northward loop just immediately West of the present highway 43 and North of the present river. Specif-icately, the story goes that my great grandfather supervised a number of slaves in making a "shortcut" in the river by straightening the main river flow to a more direct East/West route. Consequently, much distance and time was saved by the waterway travelers.