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00070
James Thomas, Fred Richardson, Jacob Holmes, and Tony Kelker served respectively as Constables at Pearlington.
Richard 0. Burrell served as Constable at Gainesville and Commissioner of Election of Hancock County.
James Thomas, the first colored Constable at-Pearlington and in Beat No. 1 of Hancock County, unfortunately lost his sight and had to resign. He and his wife, Nancy Thomas, became regular pensioners of Captain John Poitevent. This pension vas for the faithful service they rendered in Captain Poitevent's home. Capt. Poitevent said to his sons shortly before he died, "Boys, don't forget Jim and Nancy.'1 The sons did not forget and cared for them until death.
Likewise the H. Weston Lumber Company pensioned David Sam when his health failed and advanced years prevented him from working.
Nicholas N. Smith, Jr., was the first colored man at Pearlington to receive an appointment to a position at Washington,
D. C. He was employed in the Smithsonian Institution. Shortly before the United States entered World War One. Smith resigned and enlisted in the U. S. Army. He was stationed in the State of New Mexico near the Mexican border where hv was killed by lightning in the latter part of June, 1917. His body was shipped to Pearlington and buried July 5 where he was born and brought up under good parentage.
Prof. Henry C. Andrews was next. He was employed in the Department of Justice.
He w
Hlonzo Carmichael and Etienne W. Maxon followed in order in October and November 1917*
Captiin Nelson Fitzgerald ran the steamers Lollle and S. R. Poitevent for Captain"Bill"Poitevent. He also ran the steamer Dial and tug Asa for the Poitevent & Farve Lumber Co., and wherever he Mastered he had his cousin Jack Peterson for his Engineer.
Mr. Whitfield owned the schooner Mary and Pearl Whitfield named after his two daughters. A colored captain and crew manned this vessel. CaptainsAnatole McKan and William Mitchell ran her at different times, carrying lumber, rosin and turpentine from Gainesville to New Orleans. (Sea Coast Echo, May 20, 1893)
During 1875-6 Bay St. Louis was the Port of Entry for this Bistrict and all the Revenue Boats and U. S. employees were paid off here. Collector of the Port was Pickney Smith. After repeated requests from the Government for his reported, he barreled up all the books and papers he had and sent them to Washington with the remark - "Here's all your office. I can't do anything with them.
See if you can."
Pickney Smith's sister was Postmistress for Bay St. Louis.