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MISSISSIPPI
835
lying within the present limits of Mississippi, was erected into the two large counties of Hancock and Jackson. The original act defined the limits of Hancock as follows: “All that tract of country lying south of the thirty-first degree of north latitude and west of the line running due north from the middle of the Bay of Biloxi to the thirty-first degree of north latitude and east of the Pearl river.” February 5, 1841, that portion of Hancock lying east of the line between ranges 13 and 14 was embodied in the county of Harrison, and February 22, 1890, that portion of the county lying north of the dividing line between townships 4 and 5, and extending from the middle of Pearl river east to the line between ranges 13 and 14 west, was taken to form the new county of Pearl River. Among the early settlers of the county prior to the year 1825, were John B. Lardasse, Chief Justice of the Quorum in 1818; Noel Jourdan, Chief Justice of the Quorum, the same year; Elisha Carver, Assessor and Collector (181S); Samuel Slade, John Lott, George Sheriff, Alexander Frazar, Alex. Williams, Louis A. Caillaret, Solomon Ford, John Morgan, John Deal, William Stackhouse and John S. Brush, Justices of the Peace; John P. Saucier, Chief Justice of the Quorum (1820); Haman Hammond, James Toole,- Elihu Carver, Sheriffs, and George H. Nixon and Zebulon Pendleton, Presidents of the town of Pearlington. The important gulf town of Bay St. Louis is the county seat, and, with the exception of Biloxi and .Gulfport, is the most important city between New Orleans and Mobile. It is located in the extreme southeastern part of the county on the line of the Louisville & Nashville R. R., and contains a population of 3,500 inhabitants. It is the favorite pleasure resort of New Orleans people, one of the celebrated winter resorts for northern people and the center of a large coasting trade. It was originally named Shieldsboro for Thos. Shields, a pioneer settler, but subsequently was named for Louis XI. of France, and given its prefix from its position on the Bay. Other important towns in the county are Pearlington, a thriving lumbering town of 850 inhabitants; Pickayune, Gainesville, Logtown, Carriere, Nicholson, Westonia, Czesar, and the pleasantly situated little coast town of Waveland of 520 people. The principal streams in the county are the Pearl river, which washes its western border and affords transportation for the great lumber industry along its banks; the Jordan and Wolf rivers, and numerous tributary creeks. The prevailing timber is the long leaf or yellow pine and the face of the county is level or gently undulating. The soil is sandy, but, with reasonable fertilizing, will produce a great abundance of all kinds of vegetables and fruits. The pecan nut is also a source of profit, while sugar and molasses are extensively produced. Oysters and shrimps are found in unlimited quantities along Mississippi Sound and in the marshes along the coast, and the canneries of Bay St. Louis and Biloxi do a thriving business, their products going to northern and eastern markets and even to Europe. Salt and fresh water fish and crabs are also caught in great numbers in the gulf, bayous and s 'ms of this favored region and prove a source of profit.
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MISSISSIPPI
Grazing lands are excellent and wool of a superior quality is being grown in the county. Besides the splendid water transportation facilities afforded by its rivers and the gulf, the Louisville & Nashville R. R. runs along its southern fringe and provides ample rail transportation. The New Orleans & Northeastern R. R. also runs through the county from northeast to southwest. The climate along the coast is invigorating and healthful, the salt air, the piney woods, and the mild temperatures prevailing both winter and summer, are attracting an increasing number of outsiders every year, many of them invalids seeking a return of health in this land of flowers and balmy breezes.
Data taken from the twelfth U. S. census, showing the agricultural and manufacturing development of the county and the number of its inhabitants, will prove interesting. The number of farms in 1900 was given at 530, total number of acres in farms, 75,855, acres improved 6,014, value of the land exclusive of the buildings $199,910, value of the buildings $131,940, value of the live stock $241,829, and the total value of farm products not fed to stock $170,339. The number of manufacturing establishments in 1900 was 40, capital $1,989,927, wages paid $270,858, value of materials used $746,710, and the total value of products was $1,446,341. The total assessed valuation of real and personal property in the county in 1905 was $4,030,028 and in 1906 it was $4,394,736, which shows an increase during the year of $364,708. The population for the year 1900 was, whites 8,356, blacks 3,530, a total of 11,886, and an increase of 3,568 over 1890. In 1906 the population of the county was estimated at 13,500. Artesian water of an excellent quality is found in all parts of the county. The county schools for both whites and blacks are in an excellent condition, there being 46 white and 7 colored country schools, besides several excellent schools in the towns.
Handy, Alexander H., was born in Somerset county, Md., Dec. 25, 1809, and was educated there in letters and law, coming to Mississippi in 1836. In 1S53 he was elected to the High court over Judge William Yergcr, who had incurred political disfavor by affirming the validity of the Union bank bonds. In I860, Judge Handy was reelected, and, in the latter part of that year, went to Maryland as secession commissioner from Mississippi. He was again elected justice in 1865. In January, 1866, he was chosen chief justice. In November. 1866, he was elected the fourth time to the court, and resigned October 1, 1S67, because the court was subordinated to the military power. Moving to Raltimore, he was professor of law in the university of Maryland, until 1871, when he returned to Jackson. Subsequently he made his home at Canton. His opinions enter largely into 16 volumes of the court reports. He was the author of a defense of secession as a constitutional remedy, published in 1862. ( Lynch, Bench and Bar.)
Hand, a postoffice of Kemper county, 12 miles southwest of Dekalb, the county seat.