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The Progress of the Races
Although Henry Holmes could not read or write, lie rarely made a mistake in his delivery. He was strictly honest and trustworthy.
Maxson was removed from office under President Wilson’s Administration in 1916, and was l'e-employed by the same administration in 1917 as a war worker in the Air Service Bureau of the War Department, at Washington,
D.C. When the War Department at the close of the World War reduced its force, Maxson was transferred to the Department of Agriculture, where he is now employed. Maxson was appointed Census Enumerator for the District of Columbia, December, 1919, by Hon. Robert A. Mattingly (now Judge Mattingly), Supervisor of the Census for the District of Columbia. And he took the census in Ward 4, Enumerator District 77. Washington, D.C., from January 2 to 18, 1920, inclusive. This was done on his annual leave from his regular job, from which he received double pay. He has served alternately under eight Presidents, viz, Presidents Benjamin Harrison, McKinley, Hoosevelt, Taft, Wilson, Harding, Coolidge, and Hoover, covering a period t" nearly thirty years.
James Thomas, Fred Richardson, Jacob Holmes, and Tony Kelker served respectively as constables at Pearlington. Richard G. Burrell, as constable at Gainesville, and Commissioner of Election of Hancock County. James Thomas, the first colored constable at Pearlington, and in Beat No. 1, Hancock County, unfortunately lost his sight and had to resign, after which he and his wife, Nancy Thomas, became l-egular pensioners of Captain John Poitevent. This pension was for the faithful service they rendered in Captain Poitevent’s home.
Captain Poitevent said to his sons shortly before he died, “Boys, don’t forget Jim and Nancy.” And I am glad to say that his sons did not forget them, even unto 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., w’as the first colored man at Pearlington to receive an appointment to a position at Washington, D.C. He was employed in the Smithsonian Institute. Shortly before the United States entered the World War, Smith resigned, and enlisted in the United States Army. He was stationed in the State of New Mexico near the Mexican border, where he 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. Alonzo Carmichael and Etienne W. Maxson followed in order in October and November, 1917.
We have had pretty fair elections in Hancock County. But I would not attempt to say that the politics of this county is a criterion for all the counties in the state. Any colored man in this county who has registered and paid his taxes in time can vote without any intimidation.
Joseph Graves ran for sheriff of Hancock County, and John L. Collins for Representative, in the early Seventies. They canvassed every polling precinct in the county, and while they were defeated in the election, I Ix-lievc every vote cast for them was duly counted.
The Progress of the Races
Colored Veterans in the World War From Pearlington, Miss.
Charles T. Cloud	Eldridge Malone
William A. Cloud	Oliver Cromwell Maxson
Sherman Gaines	Nicholas N. Smith, Jr.
Sherman Merger	Walter Wade
Albert Jordan	Berman Wiley
Leon Limier, Jr.	Matthew M. Winston
All of the above named young men returned home from the war, except Sherman Herger, Nicholas N. Smith, Jr., and Berman Wiley. These young men made the supreme sacrifice for the cause of their country. It was my good fortune to listen to General Pershing on Decoration Day at Arlington Cemetery, Va., in 1920, speak of the anguish of soul that it gave him to see the flower of youth going forth to battle unprepared. Wouldn’t there be a glorious time in this world when all nations and peoples could adopt the spirit of our Saviour, Who said upon a certain occasion in rebuke to two of His disciples: “For the Son of Man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them?” But this spirit will never be adopted until the greater portion of men, women and children can truthfully say in the language of these beautiful lines:
I have a peace: it is calm as a river,
A peace that the friends of this world never knew;
My Saviour alone is its Author and Giver,
And oh, could I know it was given to you !
Religious Progress The fact that the religious progress of the race is placed last in this book does not mean or even imply that religion is placed last in the life of the colored people, and especially in this case. The colored people feel that it is their first duty to serve God. And they believe also that to first seek the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, all the necessary things of this life will be added unto them. When I say there are no people under the canopy of Heaven who are more devoted to the Christian Church than the colored people, I think my statement can be truthfully corroborated. The religion of Jesus Christ was the religion of the Negro slave on Pearl River and elsewhere in the United States of America, and it is the religion of the free Negro today. And God grant that he may never relinquish his hold upon the God who set him free.
The Reverend Taylor Fryerson’s Ministry In 1872, the Rev. Taylor Fryerson came from Mobile to Gainesville, Miss. He worked his way in helping to build the Chattanooga Railroad, running from Mobile to New Orleans along the coast of Mississippi, preaching and baptizing as he came, like John the Baptist in the Wilderness of Judea. Arriving at Gainesville, he worked in Captain Poitevent’s brick-vard and saw-mill. In the meantime he preached, and when he was called to the pastorate of the First Baptist Church at Gainesville, the charge being small, he preached and taught school.
He built a new church at Gainesville and increased the membership. Later he was called to the pastorate of the First Baptist Church of Pearlington.