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September 17, 1982
I was born just North of Orphan Creek bank, about three and a half miles North West of Kiln, Mississippi in Hancock County, on August 21, 189 3.
In 1896, my Father sold 170 acres of good long leaf, yellow pine timber land for $200.00; that he had homsteaded there, at that location, and moved just South of what known as Gainesville road, where he purchased 160 acres of good timber land for #200.00 from a man by the name of Mike Asher; at that time the Louisville and Nashville rail road were being completed from New Orleans through Hancock, Harrison and on through further destination for completion.
I think that it was in 1898, we had a freezing snow, in dept of about 2 ft. My Father had over one hundred and fifty head of cattles, and he lost one half of his cattles. I personal don't remember this snow, but I heard my parents, brothers and other folke what also lost a lots of cattles talk about the cattles they lost, for many years after.
By the way the Gainsvill road, that I mentioned above, was qagon taril at that time that road would leave Bay St. Louis, Miss, and end at Gainsville, Mississippi where the Hancock County seat and court house were built. Prior to that time the county seat and court house were located at Anna, Mississippi. Near on what is now known as Caesar, Mississippi. Some time before or about 19 00, Hancoch County and Pearl River County were all one County known as Hancock County. Thereafter they made two county; known as Hancock and Pearl River County. And the county seat and Court House were established at Gainsville, Mississippi, at what point the N.A.S.A. is now established, and a post office built there by the name of Gainsville At my earlier recollection, Pontinent and Favre were operation a saw mill and merchantle busines at Pearlington, Mississippi on the east bank of the Pearl river.
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Sometime after Hancock County were changed to two conty, Hancock and Pearl river, and the Court House built at Gainsville for