BAYOU PUERTO: A pre-Gulf Hills Chronology

     Bayou Puerto is the ancestral name for the area that most of us refer to today as Gulf Hills. This small, isolated, primarily Roman Catholic settlement came into existence in the mid-19^th Century, and encompassed for the most part the S/2 of Section 12, all of Section 13, the E/2 of Section 14, and the NE/4 of Section 24 all of T7S-R9W, Jackson County, Mississippi.

     The terrain in the Bayou Puerto region is relatively high considering its propinquity to the Gulf of Mexico. Elevations range from twenty-five above mean sea level to sea level. The area of interest lies south of the Big Ridge escarpment on the western terminus of an east-west striking coastal ridge, which is sub-parallel to the Big Ridge. Here small bayous and streams have dissected the topography with steep ravines to create a "hilly" terrain. Reconnaissance, surface, geologic investigations indicate that alluvial-fluvial deposits of the Late Pleistocene Prairie "formation" are exposed in the higher areas of the Bayou Puerto-Gulf Hills section. (Otvos, 1972, pp. 223-224)

     There are five soil types in the Bayou Puerto region: Norfolk fine, sandy loam of the Flatwoods phase; Scranton very fine sandy loam; Plummer fine sandy loam; Ruston fine sandy loam; and tidal marsh. The Flatwoods phase of the Norfolk fine, sandy loam is the predominant soil in the area. It is one of the best soils in the uplands along the coastal plains and is suited for most crops. It is an excellent soil for slash and longleaf pines and because of its location is used primarily for vegetables and pecans. (Elwell et al, 1927, pp. 15-16)

     Many of you may have never heard of Bayou Puerto or at least seen it spelled in this manner. In fact, how does one spell this quite tidewater inlet defining the western perimeter of Gulf Hills? I have seen Bayou Puerto spelled Bayou Porto, Bayou Poito, Bayou Poteau, Bayou Porteau, and Bayou Porteaux, but never Bayou Puerto. Which is correct and why? I have a theory that the original spelling was Bayou Puerto because some of the original settlers in this area were Spanish mariners and their word for port, haven or harbor is "puerto". There is a high degree of certitude that this small channel served as the anchorage for their trading schooners and that they gave it the mixed Franco-Spanish nomenclature-Bayou Puerto. It is easy to visualize how this came to be phonetically spelled, as Porto, Poito, or Porteaux, none of which mean anything in Spanish or French related to water. Porto and oporto are port wine in French and Spanish respectively, while porteaux is probably the creation of a real estate developer whose grandfather was from southwest Louisiana-an Acadian.

     In the late 1920s, three score and ten years before Midwestern capitalists, C.W. Gormly (1882-1957), A.B. Crowder, and H.W. Branigar (1875-1953), carved a "millionaire’s playground", from the magnolia and loblolly pine, encrusted knolls on this subtle peninsula surrounded by the placid water of Bayou Puerto and Old Fort Bayou, that we familiarly know as "Gulf Hills", an Iberian flavored community existed here peppered with other European nationalities. The newcomers were flanked by descendants of French and Spanish colonials and Americans. These early Spanish and Portuguese settlers were recent immigrants and not descendants of the Spanish colonials who have anecdotally been linked with the Spanish Camp across Old Fort Bayou on the Fort Point peninsula at Ocean Springs.

     Here in the vicinity of and along Fort Bayou and Bayou Puerto men who were primarily sailors, Juan (John) Antonio Rodriguez (1812-1867), Jose (Joseph) Diaz (1803-1896), Ramon (Raymond) Cannette (1822-1880+), Emmanuel Raymond (1833-1925), Antonio Marie (1832-1885), Antonio M. Franco (1834-1891), Jose (Joseph) Suarez (1840-1912), Captain Noye (1827-1860+), and Jose (Joseph) Basque (1804-1860), established deep roots. They and their children married into some of the local families already established or arriving contemporaneously or later within this area such as: Ryan, Ladner, Bosarge, Beaugez, Cuevas (Quave), Manuel, Borries, Tiblier, Miller, Caldwell, Bellais, Bullock, and Morris.

In addition there was a Danish mariner, Thomas N. Hanson (1810-1900), and families of Italian origin such as Caprillo and Fugassa (Fergonise) who also found homes here along Bayou Puerto. In the early history of this area, only a few American Caucasians, the likes of William C. Seaman (1801-1844) William Brown (1810-1872), and Joseph R. Plummer (1804-1860+) were here.

     In later years other Europeans like, F.E. Bonjour (1840-1911), from Switzerland; Frenchmen, Adelin Martin (1858-1910+), Alfred F. LeBois (1851-1920+), Julia Bondit (1844-1900+), and Eugene Lonlier (1852-1920+); and the Norwegian, Andrew E. Olsen (1859-1920+) would find there way into this somewhat isolated community.

Black Americans, were represented by seaman, Alfred Stewart (1840-1902), and coal burners, teamsters, and wood cutters like, Washington House, Henry Harvey (1854-1880+), Samuel Thompson (1840-1880+), and Samuel Franklin (1840-1880+). The Weldy family would settle to the northeast of Bayou Puerto and become permanent settlers.

     The majority of the people of the Bayou Puerto sector made their livelihoods primarily from the sea and forest. The sea provided fish, crustaceans, and mollusks, as well as the medium for travel and trade. Sylvan dwellers cut timber and light wood and made charcoal. Agriculturally, there were some citrus orchards and viticulture, but large traditional farms were nonexistence. Families cultivated vegetable gardens to supplement their high protein diet consisting primarily of seafood, fowl, and game.

     Before 1900, there is a high correlation between occupation and clan name at Bayou Puerto. The trading schooners were owned and or run by the Rodriguez, Marie, and Suarez families. Sailors, fishermen and oystermen were generally from the Tiblier, Cannette, and Fergonise families, while the charcoal makers tended to be from the Borries, Ryan, Desporte, and Bosarge clans. The Ladners and Seymours were woodsmen. (1900 Federal Census JXCO, Miss.)

After 1900, there is a marked decrease in charcoal making. It has been suggested that the after the demise of Antonio Marie in 1885, no one continued his trading enterprises on Old Fort Bayou and surrounding tidal estuaries. (Russell Barnes, April 8, 2000)

     Another factor may have been the demand of the growing seafood industry at Biloxi to fill its canneries with marine victuals. Virtually every male resident of Bayou Puerto in 1900 was employed in the seafood industry. Only a few Blacks were still producing charcoal, probably for local consumption. (1900 Federal Census JXCO, Miss.) In reality however, there is a high degree of certitude that the coal burners depleted their sylvan resources in the Bayou Puerto region thus eliminating them from the charcoal trade. (The Pascagoula Democrat-Star, July 24, 1891, p. 2)

     Another local industry of seasonal demand was farm labor. The large Earle-Rose-Money Farm was situated only a mile or less to the northeast. Here, initially Parker Earle (1831-1917), a transplant from southern Illinois, with his sons, was engaged in commercial farming. The Earles were packing tomatoes, grapes, pears, and peaches for shipment to viable markets in the Midwest. (The Ocean Springs Record, December 30, 1993)

     Only a few individuals had specialty occupations in the Bayou Puerto section. Some of these people were:

Fritz E. Bonjour (1840-1911) was a pharmacist and worked for Dr. O.L. Bailey (1870-1938) in Ocean Springs and the Phoenix Drug Store at Biloxi. Eccentric and a loner, in November 1888, he acquired and resided in present day Laura Acres, the E/2 of the SW/4 of Section 12, T7S-R9W. Bonjour expired at home and was buried in his yard. (JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 5, pp. 612-613, The Ocean Springs News, March 11, 1911, and The Biloxi Daily Herald, July 9, 1902, p. 8)

Alfred F. LeBois (1851-1920+) was the proprietor of a machine shop. Known as "Frank the Frenchman", he is alleged to also have been a "bootlegger" supplying the needs of the thirsty in Ocean Springs.

John E. Ryan (1837-1907) was a ship carpenter. He raised a large family in the Bayou Puerto community with his wife, Mary E. Delauney. It is believed that Ryan built small boats like skiffs and catboats for the local fishermen. In the December 3, 1904 edition of The Daily Herald, the following was related:

     This schooner measured at least 5 tons, because the Deputy Collector of Customs would not have even been called if it was too small (under 5 tons) to be federally registered. I cannot find any other mention in the federal record at my disposal of this vessel. (Russell E. Barnes, August 17, 2000)

E.N. Ramsay (1832-1916) was a late comer to the area. He was the County surveyor when he resided in the Gulf Hills region.

     The more affluent settlers of Bayou Puerto had the suitable land and pecuniary resources to invest in and cultivate fruit orchards, primarily satsuma oranges. Joseph R. Plummer (1804-1860+), a land speculator from Connecticut, was probably the first to plant oranges in the Gulf Hills area. Captain Thomas N. Hanson (1810-1900), the Danish mariner, grew scuppernong grapes and made a fruity wine that was renown in the area. Both these gentlemen will be discussed in detail in future writings.

     Historical records and journals of the era indicate that Fort Bayou was an important inland waterway in the "lake trade", the commerce between New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Locally, this exchange consisted primarily of charcoal and naval stores from Ocean Springs and environs via the Mississippi Sound, often called "The Lake", via Lake Pontchartrain to New Orleans. Returning vessels brought hardware, tools, cloth, medicine, and staple goods to this region.

     The Bluff Creek (Vancleave) trade with New Orleans was stronger and lasted longer. The Anderson Brothers, Sidney Johnston Anderson (1867-1917) and Julius Anderson (1863-1910), were among the last of the 19^th Century entrepreneurs to establish commercial enterprises at Vancleave. They were outsiders from New Orleans and arrived in the community in 1895. S.J. Anderson also owned many trading schooners and commercial property at Ocean Springs.

     Although not a primary boat building center, some watercraft construction did occur on Fort Bayou and Bayou Puerto. Although most of the boats built here were probably small sailing vessels, i.e. catboats, and fishing skiffs, there was some schooner construction on Fort Bayou. Boat repair yards probably existed on both bayous.

     Some of the boat builders who resided at Ocean Springs at this time were George L. Friar (1869-1924), Alphonse "Manny" Beaugez (1887-1945), and Joseph "Dode" Schrieber (1873-1951). The boat yards and lumber yards were located on Fort Bayou. In June 1909, Beaugez and Schrieber opened a new yard near present day Anthony's Restaurant.

     John E. Ryan (1837-1907), the son of Pierre Ryan (1790-1878) and Marie-Josephe Ladner (b. 1801) was a ship carpenter. He raised a large family in the Bayou Puerto community with his wife, Mary E. Delauney. It is believed that Ryan built small boats like skiffs and catboats for the local fishermen.

     George L. Friar learned carpentry from his father, Thomas R. Friar (1845-1916), who was an excellent small boat builder. George Friar once advertised as a "builder of power, sail, and row boats, skiffs, etc.". By 1915, he was a dealer in cypress and pine lumber. His uncle, Louis L. Dolbear (1855-1918), owned the schooner, Mystery, and operated a lumber yard on Fort Bayou in 1893, where he sold lumber, laths, pickets, shingles, and brick.

     Records furnished by Biloxi schooner historian, Russell Barnes, indicate that the following schooners were built in this area. These vessels primarily built on Fort Bayou ranged in length from fifty-six feet to thirty-eight feet and tonnage thirty tons to nine tons

"Lady Alfred", official number 140435*, 42 feet and 15 tons, built at Ocean Springs in 1880. This vessel was probably a fishing schooner.

"Hortense", official number 95652*, 57 feet and 24 tons, built at Ocean Springs in 1881, probably for Antonio Marie (1832-1885). Hortense was the name of the spouse of Paul Fergonise (1861-1893). She was born Hortense Ryan (1864-1900+), the daughter of Edmond Ryan (1823-1875+) and Adelle Bosarge (1828-1909). This boat was a freight schooner.

"Orita A.", official number, 155110*, 39 feet and 9 tons, built at Ocean Springs in 1885, by James Anglada (1856-1928) for his spouse, Gertrude Marie Anglada (1860-1891). She was the daughter of Antonio Marie (1832-1885) and Maria Arthemise Rodriguez (1840-1912). This vessel was probably a fishing boat and named for their daughter, Orita Marie Anglado (1884-1962), who would marry Henry W. Cook (1875-1964) in April 1899. (The History of JXCO, Miss., 1989, p. 273)

"S.J. Dickson", official number 116096*, 53 feet and 30 tons, built at Fort Bayou in 1886. This freight schooner was wrecked near New Orleans in the Mississippi River by the 1901 Hurricane.

"Young American", official number 27652*, 32 feet and 5 tons, built at Ocean Springs in 1892, by Paul Fergonise (1861-1893) for Mrs. Johanna Fergonise (1826-1900+). This boat was probably used for fishing. Paul and brother, Frank Fergonise (1865-1893), were drowned near the southwest pass of the Mississippi River in October 1893, during the killer, Chenier Caminada Hurricane. (The Biloxi Herald, October 7, 1893, p. 1)

"Alpha", official number 107643*, 38 feet and 9 tons, built at Ocean Springs in 1901, for use by the State Oyster Inspector. It is interesting to note that John Duncan Minor (1863-1920) in addition to his public service as Sheriff of Jackson County (1896 and 1902-1904), Mayor of Ocean Springs (1911-1912), and Alderman Ward Four (1913-1920), was a member of the Mississippi Oyster Commission from 1904 to 1914. This body functioned to protect and preserve local oyster reefs and bedding grounds.

"Ox", official number 155435*, 41 feet and 12 tons, built at Ocean Springs in 1902, and most likely a fishing vessel.

"Iduma", official number 201722*, 44 feet and 11 tons, built at Ocean Springs in 1905, by John Ramsay (1873-1953) for his own use. It was named for his sister-in-law, Iduma Walker, the spouse of Wesley Knox Ramsay.

* U.S. Bureau of Navigation Official Number

     Long before the motorized shrimp trawler came upon Biloxi Bay and environs circa 1915, the single, gaff-sail powered catboat and seine skiff were the work boats of the shrimp fleet. Fishermen generally worked the waters of the Bay of Biloxi and the marshes and bayous from Pointe Aux Chenes to the west for fish and crustaceans.

It was common in these early days to catch six to eight barrels of shrimp (210 pounds per barrel) per haul with the seine. Outstanding hauls of fifty or more barrels have been reported. Shrimp brought $3.00 per barrel to the fishermen for their efforts. Compare this with $2 to $4 per pound that shrimp bring today at the Ocean Springs Inner Harbor. (The Ocean Springs News, August 22, 1957)

     Melanie Earle Keiser (1889-1970), the daughter of Franklin S. Earle (1856-1929) and Susan Bedford Skehan (1864-1891), was born in an old fisherman’s cottage in Gulf Hills. In her memoirs, "The Ingredients To A Brave New Life Entering A Confused World", she relates that her earliest childhood memories are the boats in the Old Fort Bayou. Keiser adds that as the fishermen of Bayou Puerto and surroundings, returned from a night of fishing they would signal the bridge tender on the L&N Railroad bridge of their approach with the call, "tra-lalao ho-oo hoooo". This meant, "we’re coming home. Open the bridge! We made a good haul. Mon Dieu, we’re hungry". Immediately the wives of the sailors put on the coffee pot and started the galets. (Keiser, p. 1)

     As early as June 1882, the Jackson County Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance to prevent the destruction and to encourage the production of fish and oysters in the County. The Board deemed it unlawful to catch fish with a seine or gill net in any creek, bayou, or lake within the limits of the County. The statue also gave legal landowners the exclusive right to cultivate fish and oysters on any creek, bayou, or lake that was on their property. (JXCO, Ms. Bd. of Supervisors Minute Bk. 1, p. 324)

     In September 1884, another law to conserve the marine resources in Jackson County was implemented by the JXCO Board of Supervisors, when they passed an ordinance prohibiting non-bona fide residents from catching or marketing any oysters, fish, shrimp, or other game that is taken within the territorial limits of the County. A breach of the ordinance was a misdemeanor and punishable by not less than a fine of $25.00, nor more than $100, or incarceration for more than 30 days for each offense. In addition all oysters, fish, shrimp or game with the boats, casts, seines, and nets, or other fishing tackle in possession of the violator was subject to sale to pay all costs and fines imposed upon them. (JXCO, Ms. Bd. Of Supervisors Minute Bk. 2, p. 46)

     This ordinance was repealed in March 1885. (JXCO, Ms. Bd. of Supervisors Minute Bk. 2, p. 67)

     The JXCO Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance in March 1890 to protect the waters of Fort Bayou from fishing with gill nets. Anyone convicted of this offense was subject to a fine of $10 to $25, or not less than 10 days, nor more than 30 days in jail for the initial offense. A subsequent violation would double the penalty. (JXCO, Ms. Bd. of Supervisors Minute Bk. 2, pp. 347-348)

     In February 1897, the JXCO Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance prohibiting fishing with seines, gill nets, or other nets above Spanish Camp on Old Fort Bayou. Violation of the ordinance was a misdemeanor and punishable with a $10 fine for each offense. (JXCO, Ms. Bd. of Supervisors Minute Bk. 3, p. 190)

     All ordinances related to seines and gill nets prior to 1897 were repealed in March 1897. (JXCO, Ms. Bd. of Supervisors Minute Bk. 3, p. 194)

      Oyster leases in the fecund waters of Jackson County, were granted to individuals by the JXCO Board of Supervisors. These leases gave the lessee the private right and privilege to plant, cultivate, and harvest oysters. A brief description of some of the oyster leases, which are generally just west of Gulf Hills that were granted to the oystermen of Bayou Puerto follows:

     In January 1884, Jacob Elmer was granted the private right of property to and in the oysters planted and growing in the Bay of Biloxi on the front of Lot 5 in Section 14 and Lot 4 in Section 15, T7S-R9W, east and west of Bayou St. Martin. (JXCO, Ms. Bd. of Supervisors Minute Bk. 2, p. 18)

     In March 1892-Louis H. Manuel (1870-1946) and William G. Manuel (1872-1939) were given oyster rights for ten years on the sand bar in front of Lot 7, Section 14, T7S-R9W, bounded on all side by a channel; 600 feet east and west and 300 feet north and south. (JXCO, Ms. Bd. of Supervisors Minute Bk. 2, p. 499)

     In February 1899, Adolph Ryan (1875-1945) was given the private right and privilege to plant and cultivate oysters on a certain mud flat at the mouth of Fort Bayou and described as: begin at the SE/C of Section 14, T7S-R9W at a stake and run west 700 feet to a stake, thence north 525 feet to a stake, thence east 700 feet, thence south 525 feet to a stake. Bounded on the north, south, east, and west by a channel and being part of Section 14 and 24, T7S-R9W. (JXCO, Ms. Bd. of Supervisors Bk. 3, p. 322)

     In February 1899, the right to plant, bed and cultivate oysters was granted to William Seymour (1861-1939) on a certain sand bar north of Ocean Springs Point and describes as: Beginning at the NW/C of Section 24 at a stake and run east to a stake 2100 feet. South 350 feet to a stake, then west 2100 feet to a stake; thence north 350 feet to a stake. Bounded on the north, south, and west by a channel and on the east by a mud flat in Section 24, T7S-R9W. (JXCO, Ms. Bd. of Supervisors Minute Bk. 3, p. 323)

     In February 1899, private oyster rights were granted to Albert Tiblier (1869-1953), at the following location. Beginning at the NW/C of Lot 7 at a stake and run south 150 feet to a stake; then east 200 feet to a stake; then north 500 feet to a stake; then west 200 feet to a stake. Bounded on the south by a mud bar, north and west by a channel, and on the east by the line of Lot 7 and Manuel’s planting grounds. (JXCO, Ms. Bd. of Supervisors Minute Bk. 3, p. 323)

     In February 1899, Theodore D. Manuel (1880-1963) and John F. Manuel (1881-1920) were granted rights on a certain sand bar south of Lot 7 in Section 14 described as: beginning at the NW/C of Section 14 at a stake. Run south 1200 feet to a stake; east 800 feet; north 1200 feet; and west 800 feet. Bounded north and south by a channel, on the west by line of Lot 6, on the east by the planting grounds of Vital Tiblier. A part of this sand bar was granted to L.H. Manuel and W.G. Manuel March 1892, by the Board. (JXCO, Ms. Bd. of Supervisors Minute Bk. 3, pp. 323-324)

     From a plat constructed by Certified Land Surveyor, J.D. Ferguson, in December 1921, the Tiblier & Sons oyster lease consisted of about 50 acres in the Bay of Biloxi. It was located almost equidistant between Point Ascot, Fort Point, and Big Island (Bernard’s Island).

     To date, the author has found little information concerning the early history of the timber industry operating in the Bayou Puerto region. It might be assumed that the virgin forest was cut here very early because of its propinquity to tidewater. Some known saw millers operating in proximity to the Bayou Puerto sector are discussed as follows:

     George Lynch (1815-1850+) and Robert S. Scott (1818-1850+) are two millers listed in the Jackson County, Mississippi Federal Census of 1850 who appear to be living at Ocean Springs. Lynch was from Maryland and his white laborers are from Maine, New York, and Vermont indicating experienced lumbermen. Lynch’s operations utilized slave labor as evidenced by the Jackson County, Mississippi Federal Slave Census of 1850 which indicates that he owned thirteen male slaves, one female slave, and a female mulatto slave.

     In addition to his sawmill on Old Fort Bayou, George Lynch is credited with discovering a large spring in the vicinity of his milling operations, probably what we call today, the Indian Springs situated on the Aunt Jenny’s Catfish Restaurant property on Washington Avenue and Old Fort Bayou. When the first US Post Office was established here in 1853, it was named Lynchburg Springs, obviously for miller George Lynch. (C.E. Schmidt, 1972, p. 25)

     Robert S. Scott was from Alabama. No further information.

     Thomas N. Hanson (1810-1900) had immigrated to the United States in 1826, and was probably a schooner captain operating out of New Orleans in the coastal trade, when he met the Pierre Ryan family on Bayou Puerto. He fell in love with and in 1848, he married Marie Ryan (1828-1900), the daughter of Pierre Ryan (1790-1878) and Marie-Joseph Ladner (1799-1870+). The Hansons adopted a daughter, Ansteen Hanson McDaniel (1870-1960), who was born in Louisiana.

      Thomas Hanson was issued a Federal Land Patent on Governmental Lot 3, Section 24, T7S-R9W in March 1854. This eleven acre parcel of land is situated at the southern end of Gulf Hills on Old Fort Bayou, and includes the marsh islands in that waterway. The Pierre Ryan family was already living to the north of the Hanson tract at this time.(JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 19, p. 72) 

     Through the years, Thomas Hanson made his livelihood as a sailor, sawmill operator, timber dealer, farmer, and in his advanced years enjoyed the art of viticulture and became a skilled wine maker and vintner.

     There is excellent evidence that Hanson’s sawmill was in operation in the 1870s, as it is used as a reference point in describing many land transactions on the Fort Point Peninsula (Lover’s Lane). (JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 1, p. 216)

     The Winter Park Lumber Company, was a co-partnership between Parker Earle (1831-1917), his sons, Franklin S. Earle (1856-1929) and Charles T. Earle (1861-1901), and V.R. Holladay. Parker Earle was born at Mt. Holly, Rutland County, Vermont, the son of Sumner and Clarissa Tucker Earle, a dairy cattle farmer. University educated in horticulture, he was a disciple of the great Boston horticulturist, Hovey, the Luther Burbank of his time. At Dwight, Illinois in 1855, Earle met and married Melanie Tracy (1837-1889) from Rochester, Ohio.

     The Earle family had relocated to Ocean Springs from southern Illinois, in the late 1880s, as the result of his experience as the Chief Horticulturist at the 1884-1885, Worlds Industrial and Cotton Centennial in New Orleans. They settled on the Fort Point peninsula (Lover’s Lane) on what would become the Benjamin Estate. Here Mr. Earle, an entrepreneur, ran his business enterprises consisting primarily of commercial farming, timber, and real estate.

     The Earle Farm property was situated just northeast of the Bayou Puerto community. It is very likely that both men and women from this area found employment as day laborers in the tomato fields, vineyards, and fruit orchards of the Earles. This commercial agricultural venture consisted of nearly 840 contiguous acres in Sections 7 and 18 of T7S-R8W and Section 12 of T7S-R9W. Much of the land for the Earle Farm was acquired from William Seymour (1837-1908) in March 1887, when he sold the Winter Park Land & Improvement Company, an Earle subsidiary, 720 acres for $360. (JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 8, p. 431)

      Reporter Catherine Cole of The New Orleans Daily Picayune reported the following romantic description of the area on July 24, 1892:

     Unfortunately, the Earle Farm went into bankruptcy. A combination of the depression generating, Panic of 1893 and colder than normal winters damaged the crops. Parker Earle, the founder of this magnificent agricultural operation north of Fort Bayou, relocated to the New Mexico Territory in May 1895. (The Pascagoula Democrat-Star, May 10, 1895, p. 3) Here, Colonel Earle commenced developing apple and pear orchards on former range lands, in the Pecos River Valley, near Roswell.

      The Earle Farm, became the Rose Farm in 1897, when it was sold to Joseph B. Rose (1841-1902), of Chicago and New York for $5610, by John B. Lyon (1829-1904), of Chicago. In addition to the farm, Mr. Rose acquired about 5500 acres of pinelands in the vicinity. (JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Book 18, pp. 346-347.

      In July 1891, when the Earle’s were packing vast quantities of Concord, Delaware, White Niagara, Herbemont, and Ives Seedling grapes, peaches, and LeConte pears on their farm, the Winter Park Lumber Company mill was located a mile to the north of their agricultural operation in the N/2 of the SE/4 of Section 6, T7S-R8W. (JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 36, p. 241) It was operating in a virgin forest, which had escaped the charcoal burners. Just after the mill was set up and begin sawing timber, V.R. Holladay withdrew from the company dissolving the mutual partnership. (The Biloxi Herald, July 11, 1891, p. 4 and The Pascagoula Democrat-Star, July 24, 1891, p. 2)

      By late October 1891, the Earle mill was running at capacity. Several schooners had taken cargoes of lumber and the demand for finished lumber both locally and in other areas was good. In fact, Parker Earle activated his own ferry boat to service the Earle farm and Winter Park Lumber Company mill. (The Pascagoula Democrat-Star, October 28, 1891)

It appears after the logging and sawing operations were completed north of the Earle farm, the Winter Park Lumber Company moved to a site about one mile to the east of Ocean Springs. In late October 1891, Mr. Earle and M.L. Ansley of Bay St. Louis had purchased from F.M. Weed (1850-1926), the "Yankee Mayor", for $1500, a mill site of about thirty-three acres on the south side of Old Fort Bayou, in the E/2 of the E/2 of Section 19, T7S-R8W. (JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 13, pp. 75-76)

     Here, in November 1891, in the vicinity of the present day Millsite Subdivison off Vermont Avenue, Winter Park set up their mill, planer, and other appurtenances. (The Pascagoula Democrat-Star, November 13, 1891, p. 2)

     The name of the new Earle-Ansley saw milling endeavor on the northeast side of Ocean Springs, was called the Ocean Springs Lumber Company. It was incorporated at Ocean Springs in November 1891, with a capital stock of $15,000. (The Pascagoula Democrat-Star, November 13, 1891, p. 2)

     By late February 1892, the Earle mill was in operation, though not entirely complete. (The Pascagoula Democrat-Star, February 26, 1892, p. 2)

     M.L. Ansley, a resident of Bay St. Louis, moved to Ocean Springs and let the Wing House at present day 214 Washington Avenue. (The Pascagoula Democrat-Star, February 26, 1892, p. 2)

      A unique feature of the Ocean Springs Lumber Company operation was its tram railroad to haul saw logs to the mill. In November 1891, Parker Earle & Sons purchased a railroad locomotive, Jumbo No. 2, from the W. Denny & Company of Moss Point. (The Pascagoula Democrat-Star, November 6, 1891, p. 3) As logging activity increased, they acquired in April 1893, a new, 13-ton Shay, patent locomotive, No. 434, and five No. 3 logging cars from the Lima Locomotive and Machinery Company. (JXCO, Ms. Chattel Mortgage Bk. 1, p. 366)

     The sale of the Ocean Springs Lumber Company to a group from Chicago and Wisconsin headed by Edward Browne, Robert L. Chapin, and W.R. Sutherland is interesting in that the deed gives a description of the property, which became the Mill Site Subdivision, platted by architect William R. Allen III, in September 1986. (JXCO, Ms. Plat Book 17, p. 46)

     In addition, at the sale on May 8, 1893 the Ocean Springs Lumber Company, Parker Earle, president, vended to these gentlemen:

     The complete saw and planning mill and dry kiln plant together with pole and logging road, engines, cars, and all machinery and appliances used in or about or in any way appertaining to said saw and planning mill, dry kiln, and pole road together with all lands now owned by said corporation at and for the sum of $24,000. (JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. Book 14, pp. 577-578).

     There is little doubt that Antonio Marie (1832-1885), a Spanish, émigré mariner and resident of Bayou Puerto, was the leading shipper of charcoal produced by the Ryan, Bosarge, and Borries clans in the pine forests of present day Gulf Hills and environs. In 1858, Marie married Marie-Artemise Rodriguez (1840-1912), the daughter of Spanish immigrant, Juan Antonio Rodriguez (1812-1867), and Marie-Martha Ryan. Rodriguez had received a patent on Lot 5 of Section 13, T7S-R9W from the U.S. Government in 1848. Lot 5 comprises about 140 acres, bounded on the west and south by Bayou Puerto and Old Fort Bayou respectively and situated on the western perimeter of the modern Gulf Hill’s development.

     The Marie family was domiciled at New Orleans in 1860, when their first child, Gertrude Marie (1860-1891) was born. Another daughter, Esperanza (Essie) Marie (1862-1937), arrived in April 1862, after they had settled on the Rodriguez tract at Bayou Puerto. (The History of JXCO, Ms., 1989, pp. 272-273)

     This fact is corroborated by a warranty deed in January 1882, when Antonio Marie acquired nine acres for $25, in Lot 5, Section 13, T7S-R9W, from Martha Rodriguez, his mother-in-law. In this conveyance, the nine acres lies to "the northeast and west of said Antonio Marie’s Home Place", which implies that he has been living here previously. (JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 6, pp. 22-23)

     Russell Barnes, Biloxi naval historian, who is currently writing a book, "Across the Lake: Freight Schooners of the Gulf Coast" for the St. Tammany Parish Historical Society, has shared a portion of his research, sampled from the daily freight arrivals at New Orleans, as published in The Times Picayune. Barnes found during the period from January 16, 1884 to February 16, 1884, that 3,800 barrels of charcoal were sent to New Orleans from Ocean Springs via schooner. During this time, two of Antonio Marie’s vessels, Hortense and Maud, made voyages to the Crescent City. Hortense carried 1400 barrels of charcoal from Bayou Puerto while Maud hauled 1000 barrels from Vancleave.

     From March 31, 1885 to April 30, 1885, 9700 barrels of charcoal were shipped from Ocean Springs to New Orleans. Marie’s Maud was laded with 2,000 barrels while six other schooners, Juliana, Nonesuch, Albert M., Carrie Swain, and Dr. Franklin, embarked from Old Fort Bayou with the remaining cargo of 7,700 barrels of charcoal. In addition, Sea Witch, another boat owned by Marie, hauled 1,500 barrels of charcoal from the Bluff Creek region.

     Russell Barnes also notes in his extensive research of the "Lake" trade that after 1885, there are no further schooner shipments from Ocean Springs. This correlates with the death of Antonio Marie on Christmas Day of 1885. He died intestate, but left his heirs real estate and the four trading vessels, which were appraised by his brother-in-law, Antonio Franco (1834-1891), S.R. Thompson (1848-1912+), and George Mathieu (1840-1887+) for the Chancery Court in March 1887. They valued the four schooners as follows: Maud-$1500, Esperance-$1200, Hortense-$1000, and Sea Witch-$800. The court appointed appraisers also deemed that $200 per year would be necessary for the sustenance of Mrs. Marie and her daughters. Marie-Artemise Marie sold the schooners with the exception of Esperance, which was used by the family as a means of financial maintenance. (JXCO, Miss. Chancery Court Cause No. 275-February 1887)

     In May 1892, Esperance was moored up Fort Bayou with Maggie, Nevers, Seven Brothers, and Dr. Franklin, loading 7800 barrels of charcoal. (The Biloxi Herald, May 7, 1892, p. 1)

     As the charcoal industry waned in the Bayou Puerto section, it continued strong on upper Bluff Creek at Vancleave. Postmaster U.C. "Cleave" Havens (1862-1947) reported in April 1891, that "There are twenty-four or twenty-five schooners averaging two thousand barrels of charcoal a load, making monthly trips to New Orleans". (The Pascagoula Democrat-Star, May 1, 1891, p. 2)

     Leon Corbeau of New Orleans who owned forty-acres of land north of Joseph Suarez (1842-1912) and Leon Suarez (1872-1970), at Bayou Puerto, the N/2 of Lot 1, Section 14, T7S-R9W, was also active in the charcoal trade. Corbeau sold his tract to Julia T. Bondet (1844-1902+), a widowed French immigrant, in July 1893. (JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 15, p. 129)

     In April 1897, he had two large schooners at Vancleave ready to embark for the Crescent City. Corbeau noted that over 20,000 bushels (5070 barrels) of charcoal had been shipped from Bluff Creek in the past ten days. (The Biloxi Herald, April 24, 1897, p. 8)

     In 1892, William Martin (1838-1930), a merchant at Vancleave was vending charcoal for $.13 per barrel. (The Pascagoula Democrat-Star, January 29, 1892, p. 3)

     By 1928, the price had risen to $.25 per barrels, but was non-profitable. At this time, the "burners", the men and their families who made charcoal from gathered up pine wood not suitable for timber, had to pay the land owner $.03 for each barrel of charcoal burned. It cost them about $.07 per barrel to haul it to the merchant on Bluff Creek. When the product reached New Orleans, it had to be sold for $.45 per barrel. At this price, charcoal could not compete with natural gas and electricity. (The Jackson County Times, September 8, 1928, p. 1)

     Locally, the Ocean Springs Lumber Company of A.P. "Fred" Moran (1897-1967) on Bowen Avenue was still selling "fresh burned charcoal" as late as December 1945. (The Jackson County Times, December 15, 1945, p. 2)

The Marie Store on Jackson Avenue

     In September 1873, Antonio Marie and his spouse, Marie-Artemise Marie, began acquiring commercial and residential real estate in Ocean Springs. At this time, they bought a lot on the southeast corner of Jackson Avenue and Porter from Francisco Coyle (1813-1891), a Menorcan immigrant, for $1000. (JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 6, pp. 18-19)

     The 1880 Federal Census of JXCO, Ms. indicates that Mr. Marie was a retail grocer, but resided at Bayou Puerto adjacent to his in-laws, the Rodriguez family. It is interpreted from the above information that the Antonio Marie store was situated in Ocean Springs on Jackson Avenue.

     In October 1880, Antonio Marie purchased Lot 9-Block 31 (Culmseig Map of 1854) from E.P. Bredt. (JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 6, pp. 21-22)

     This parcel of land is at present day 523 Jackson Avenue. It seems that the Maries had plans to erect a home here opposite their store building, but probably didn’t as Marie-Artemise Marie conveyed the lot to George E. Arndt (1857-1945) in May 1890.  Here Mr. Arndt built a cottage in late 1895. (The Pascagoula Democrat-Star, December 6, 1895 and JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 11, p. 220)

     This edifice remains in the Arndt family today as Mr. Arndt’s grandson, George Dickey Arndt is the owner. After Antonio Marie passed in late 1885, his widow vended the store property in December 1890, to John Franco (1859-1935) and Peter Geiger (1858-1923) for $1250. (JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 12, p. 19)

     Shortly thereafter, The Pascagoula Democrat-Star announced that "Messrs. Geiger and Franco have embarked in the mercantile business at the corner of Jackson and Porter Avenues. They opened in the property recently purchased and fitted up by them, and have on hand a fine stock of general merchandise. They have come to stay". (May 15, 1891, p. 2)

      Circa 1908, Richard S. VanCleave (1875-1923+) built a one-and-one-half story cottage with "fish scale" shingles as siding on this site, now 528 Jackson Avenue. Bob Smith has resided here since 1973. The adjacent cottage at 526 Jackson Avenue was erected by Captain John E. Johnson (1859-1921) of Biloxi, in May 1897. (The Pascagoula Democrat-Star, May 14, 1897)

     In November 1881, Antonio Marie acquired for $1200, the White House, a tavern and inn, situated opposite the L&N Depot on Robinson Street in Ocean Springs from Charles E. Schmidt (1851-1886) and Laura Coyle Schmidt (1857-1931), the daughter of Franciso Coyle and Magdalene Ougatte Pons (1813-1904). (JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 6, pp. 19-21) After her husband’s demise, Marie-Athemise Marie began leasing the White House. In October 1887, she entered into a two-year contractual agreement with John Vogt Miller. The rent for the first four months was set at $5.00 per month, and $8.00 per month for the remaining twenty months. Miller expected Mrs. Marie to repair the doors, windows, and blinds of the building. She allowed Miller the use of the following articles: 20 beer glasses, 8 chairs, 1 base ball club and deer horns, 2 round tables, 1 large mirror, 2 plaster images, 1 marble top wash stand (damaged), 1 ice stand, and 1 beer closet (1 door off). (JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 11, pp. 10-12)

     Mrs. Marie was a resident of Biloxi when she sold the White House on February 10, 1906, to Jeremiah J. O'Keefe (1860-1911). (JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 35, p. 642)

     Apparently by this time, the White House had deteriorated through the years as described by an article in The Ocean Springs News of August 19, 1911:

     In April 1883, Antonio Marie’s daughter, Gertrude Marie Anglado Lauro (1860-1891), acquired Lot 13-Block 20 (Cox’s Map) from John Franco. This tract on Washington Avenue ran from present day Legion Lane to Old Fort Bayou and was eighty feet wide. This was the site of the Lauro-Verges Cottage at 1212 Washington Avenue which was relocated in 1983, to 3013 North First Street in Gulf Park Estates, when the latest Old Fort Bayou bridge was being erected. (JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 773, p. 107)

     Gertrude Marie had married James Anglado (1856-1928), the son of Peter Anglado (1826-1889), a Spaniard, and Rosa Amy Perillo (1825-1909), in Jackson County in January 1881. Her sister, Esperance Marie, married Joseph LaPorte (1858-1920), also in Jackson County, in November 1882. (JXCO, Ms. Circuit Court MRB 2, p. 215 and p. 441). Gertrude and James Anglada were divorced in Jackson County in March 1886.  She later married Vincent Lauro, a New Orleans barber.(JXCO, Ms. Chancery Court Cause No. 239-December 1885)

     In January 1884, Antonio Marie bought a lot for $700, on the west side of Washington Avenue from Louisa Monti Ames (1856-1925), the wife of Jeremiah M. Ames (1852-pre 1922). (JXCO. Ms. Land Deed Bk. 8, p. 714-715)

     It was sold to John J. Dixon in October 1885. Dixon was in the saloon business at Ocean Springs. Antonio Marie often acted as a surety for his license. (JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 8, pp. 715-716 and JXCO, Ms. Board of Supervisors Minute Bk. 2, pp. 22 and 67)

Move to Biloxi

     In March 1891, after her husband’s death, Mrs. Marie-Artemise Marie began buying real estate at Biloxi. Henry Lienhard et al sold her a home at 113 Lameuse Street at this time for $1200. (HARCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 26, p. 173) She leased it in April 1900, to Charles W. Moore for $125 per year. (HARCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 46, p. 24) Mrs. Marie acquired a lot at 728 Main Street in April 1903, from William Gorenflo for $120. (HARCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 56, p. 58) She must have had a cottage built here as this was her residence in 1905. (Smith, 1905, p. 110)

     Marie-Artemise Rodriguez Marie passed at Biloxi on September 4, 1912. Her corporal remains were sent to New Orleans for internment in the St. Louis Cemetery on N. Claiborne and St. Louis Streets. (The Daily Picayune, September 5, 1912)

     Slavery in the Bayou Puerto area was almost nil, as most of the inhabitants existed at the subsistence level. Only George Lynch (1815-1850+) and Mary G. Plummer (1808-1878) possessed slaves before Emancipation. Lynch, a saw miller from Maryland, is listed in the JXCO, Ms. 1850 Slave Census as the owner of: thirteen male slaves, one female slave, and a female mulatto slave. At this time, Mary G. Plummer possessed eighteen captive people.

     Mary G. Plummer, in the 1860 Federal Slave Census for Jackson County, is shown to have owned seven male slaves, four female slaves, three male mulatto slaves, and two female mulatto slaves.

     No Union incursions occurred in the Bayou Puerto section, nor are there any records of Federal occupation here during the Civil War. Some of the men left the safety and seclusion of their homes to fight for States’ Rights against the Union in the War of the Rebellion. The majority of the eligible men enlisted in Company A, the Live Oak Rifles, of the 3^rd Mississippi Regiment, C.S.A. "The Live Oak Rifles" were sworn into State military service on September 18, 1861, on the Sardin G. Ramsay (1837-1920) homestead and farm, south of Vancleave. 3^rd Sergeant Sardin G. Ramsay was one of the seven member of the Ramsay family of Jackson County to serve in this military unit. (Howell, 1991, p. 59)

     Men from the Bayou Puerto section who served with the "Live Oak Rifles" were: George B. Miller (1820-1864+), Felix Rodriguez (1842-1863+), John Eugene Ryan (1837-1907), and Martin Ryan (1842-1913).  Emile Tiblier (1838-1923) and H. Eugene Tiblier (1843-1930) enlisted in Company E, the Biloxi Rifles, of the 3^rd Mississippi Regiment.

     Privates Felix Rodriguez, John Ryan, and Martin Ryan were recruited in August 1862, by 1^st Lt. Abiezar F. Ramsay (1828-1864) and sent to defend Vicksburg. (Howell, 1991, p. 145)

     Pvt. Martin Ryan was wounded in the left foot at Atlanta, Georgia in July 1864. He and his brother, John E. Ryan, were with the 3^rd Mississippi in North Carolina, when General Joe E. Johnston (1807-1891) surrendered to General W.T. Sherman (1820-1891) in April 1865, near Hillsborough, North Carolina.  They returned to Bayou Puerto and continued their livelihoods rearing large families.(Strickland, et al, 1988, p. 76 and p. 78 and Howell, 1991, p. 423)

     Pvt. George B. Miller enlisted for military duty at Handsboro, Mississippi in March 1862. He was wounded at the battle of Franklin, Tennessee in December and taken prisoner. No further information. (CSA Military Record-MC 269-133)

     The Tiblier brothers, Emile Tiblier and H. Eugene Tiblier, who resided on the west side of Bayou Puerto, enlisted in May 1861, into Company E, the Biloxi Rifles, of the 3^rd Mississippi Regiment CSA. Private Eugene Tiblier was captured by Union forces and placed under parole. Emile Tiblier endured the entire conflict and surrendered with his unit in North Carolina. (Strickland et al, 1988, p. 51 and p. 52)

The Spanish Benevolent Society

     Although no direct proof of membership is available to the author, it is felt that families of Iberian ancestry from the Bayou Puerto community, Franco, Manuel, Ramond, Rodriguez, and Suarez, were certainly affiliated with the Spanish Benevolent Society. Like later fraternal organizations at Biloxi, the Fleur de Lis Society and the Slavonian Society, this organization sought to preserve the Spanish culture and language and to provide support to less fortunate members.

     The Spanish Benevolent Society was organized at Biloxi on October 4, 1877, and incorporated in 1880. The initial officers of the group were: Peter Perez, president, Nicholas Voivedich (1850-1937), vice president; and P.J. Montross Sr., secretary-treasurer. Other later known officers were: Antonio Pons (1842-1911), president in 1910; Captain Bruno R. Clemens (1830-1915) president in 1913; and Joseph Lawrence, financial committee member in 1909.

     In March 1923, the Society sold their lot and building, called Spanish Hall, on the southeast corner of Lameuse Street and Washington to Mrs. Josephine Reux Kline for $8000. Officers at the time of sale were: George Tonnelier (1856-1941), president; Walter Latimer, vice president; Joseph W. Swetman (1863-1937), secretary; and Henry E. Latimer (1855-1941), treasurer. Concurrently, the Spanish Benevolent Society only had fifteen members in good standing. There was some speculation that the society might be disbanding. (The Daily Herald, March 13, 1923, p.1 and HARCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 137, p. 276)

     Spanish Hall was sometimes used for public meetings. In February 1909, Biloxi citizens held a mass meeting here to express their dissatisfaction with the Road Ordinance Tax. Louis H. Manuel (1870-1946) made a speech asking for the repeal of the ordinance. (The Daily Herald, February 23, 1909)

     In November 1910, at Bayou Puerto, the Spanish Benevolent Society acquired several tracts of land by default that they had financed. These twenty-five acres were sold to Charles W. Dundolph and C.I. Simpson in 1913, for $450. (JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 36, pp. 243-244 and Bk. 39, p. 335 and p. 384)

The 1893 Hurricane and other disasters

     Like any estuarine, coastal community, the Bayou Puerto settlement was subject to inundation and the destructive forces of high velocity winds created by an extra-tropical depression. The Hurricane of October 1893, also known in the annals of meteorological chronicles as "The Cheniere Caminada Storm" was particularly eventful for the community. This menacing tempest struck, Cheniere Caminda, a fishing village, just west of Grand Isle, Louisiana on October 1, 1893, and sped rapidly across the Mississippi River delta parishes, through the marshes east of New Orleans, and pounded the Mississippi coast on October 2, 1893. Of the several thousand people killed by the storm, over eight hundred perished at Cheniere Caminada. (Looper, 1993, p. 59)

     Unfortunately Paul Fergonis (1861-1893) and his brother Frank Fergonis (1865-1893), also known as the Rubio brothers and Guiatan (Cajetan) or probably Gaetano brothers, of the Bayou Puerto settlement, were fishing in the Louisiana marshes aboard the schooner, "Young Amercia", and were caught by the hurricane. The tempest dismasted their vessel and drove it aground at Southwest Pass. Both men were lost at sea. (The Biloxi Herald, October 7, 1893, p. 1)

     Paul and Frank Fergonis were the sons of (Gaetano) Fugassa (1815-1880+) and Johanna (Anna ) Salaz (1825-1900+). Vincezo Fugassa was a native of Alassio Province of Genoa, Italy and his spouse from Wurtemburg, Germany. The family name through time became Furgassa, Fragoni, Forgones, and finally Fergonis. It has been spelled Fergonez, Fergonise, Fergonias, Fergonie, et al. Paul Fergonis married Hortense Ryan (1864-1900+) and Frank Fergonis was the husband of Louise Bullock (1867-1932).

     At Bayou Puerto, the Fergonis family owned twenty acres of land situated in the E/2 of the S/2 of Lot 3, T7S-R9W. Their home was probably in Gulf Hills Block 39, on the high, west plunging ridge between Cerro Verde Drive and Shore drive. (JXCO, Ms. 1875 Land Roll Book, p. 84)

     Other victims with roots at Bayou Puerto to drown in this killer hurricane were George F. Miller (1855-1893), and his ten-year old son, George J. Miller (1883-1893). They were both aboard the sloop, "Georgiana". The elder Miller’s corpse was recovered and buried at Crane Town, Louisiana. (The Biloxi Herald, October 7, 1893, p. 1.

      George F. Miller was the son of George Barney Miller (1820-1864+) and Marie Delphine Bosarge (1823-1861+). He married Marie Eulalie Beaugez (1859-1892), the daughter of Stanislaus Beaugez (1813-1889) and Louise Ladner (1820-1897). George B. Miller settled in the area in 1857, when he acquired a State land patent for the N/2 of Governmental Lot 3, Section 14, T7S-R9W.  He and Delphine Bosarge Miller reared a large family here. ((JXCO, Ms. Tract Bk. 1 and Adkinson, 1991, p. 190)

     The towns people at Ocean Springs became very concerned when the "Alphonsine", a fishing schooner, commanded by Captain Paul Cox was overdue. The vessel had been shrimping in the Louisiana Marsh. The people of Ocean Springs and others of the coast were relieved on October 13, when Father Aloise Van Waesberghe of St. Alphonsus reported to the editor of The Pascagoula Democrat-Star that Paul Cox (1867-1942), Ed Mon (1843-1920), Van Court, and Ladnier have returned to Ocean Springs from Breton Island where they spent the days following the hurricane. The men survived on two croakers a day while they dug their beached schooner, Alphonsine, out of its quartz trap.

     Two other men with Ocean Springs roots were less fortunate. Calvin Sylvane Ryan (1852-1893) and his son, Edward Wesley Ryan (1875-1893), survived the hurricane, but died of hunger and exposure on the southwest side of the Chandeleur islands. (The Biloxi Herald, October 28, 1893, p. 8)

Other Drownings

     It is only natural that in this region of many waterways, that death from drowning occurred on many occasions. Probably one of the saddest moments at Bayou Puerto occurred on September 30, 1899, when Ernest Louis Garec (1862-1899) and his son, Adrian D. Garec (1887-1899), perished in Old Fort Bayou. Young Garec, a non-swimmer, fell into the water and both perished as his father attempted to save him. (The Pascagoula Democrat-Star, October 6, 1899, p. 3) Ernest L. Garec was the husband of Adelaide Ladnier (1864-1939), the daughter of Alfred Ladnier and Caroline Ryan.

     In May 1923, Otto F. Eckert (1899-1923), the son of Karl Eckert and Ernestine Haltell and a native of Soraw, Germany lost his life while swimming in Bayou Puerto. Young Otto F. Eckert had just come from Germany in January, to reside with his brother, Karl Eckert. (The Daily Herald, May 25, 1923, p. 1)

     Karl Eckert owned a farm and thirty-three acres at Bayou Puerto, in the N/2 of the N/2 of Governmental Lots 2 and 3 of Section 13, T7S-R9W. He had acquired this land situated west of Washington Avenue between LeMoyne Boulevard and Plano Road from Dr. O.L. Bailey (1870-1938) in January 1920. (JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 47, pp. 548-549)

     Another local and very tragic drowning occurred after the time related in this treatise, but is important to the later Gulf Hills chronology. In July 1954, Richard W. Branigar (1908-1954), the son of one of Gulf Hills founders, Harvey W. Branigar Sr. (1875-1953), lost his life while fishing near his Gulf Hills residence, Twin Oaks. Richard W. Branigar was a Havard educated attorney. (The Daily Herald, July 21, 1954, p. 1)

Railroad death

     Bayou Puerto native, Miguel Rodriguez (1866-1906), the son of Juan Antonio Rodriguez (1812-1867) and Marie-Marthe Ryan (1822-1885+) perished in a railroad accident. Miguel married Alena Bosarge (1868-1948), the daughter of Jules Bosarge (1840-1923) and Nancy Jane Bennett (1837-1908), in March 1886, at Biloxi. He was the father of: Mary Eva Parker (b. 1890), Helena E. Rodriguez (1893-1893), Margaret L. Menendez (b. 1894), Miguel Rodriguez II (b. 1896), and John E. Rodriguez (1898-1969).

     Miguel Rodriguez and family lived in the St. Martin Point area of Jackson County in Section 15, T7S-R9W. He made his livelihood as an oysterman and in late March 1906, he boarded the Coast Train for the Rigolets to meet the Lopez Canning Company schooner, "Lewis Johnson". At the Rigolets, Rodrigues went into the butcher shop and was conversing with an acquaintance. He left the meat market and while attempting to cross the tracks was struck by Train No. 4. The body of Miguel Rodrigues was hurled to one side a distance of forty feet. His head was mashed to a pulp and most of his bones were crushed. The remains of Rodrigues were brought to Biloxi and interred in the Bosarge Cemetery at North Biloxi. (The Biloxi Daily Herald, March 30, 1906, p. 1)

     Two events in May 1912, brought great sadness to the Bayou Puerto community, the deaths of Hypolite "Polite" Ryan and Elwood Furney. Polite Ryan (1860-1912), a fisherman, was returning home from a Biloxi visit, with his future son-in-law, Lee Bosarge, when he was struck with a heart attack while they were crossing Back Bay. He died on the shore in the arms of Benny Yearger. Mr. Ryan was the son of John E. Ryan (1837-1907) and Marie Eudoxie Delauney (1841-1882). Polite Ryan married Victorine Tiblier (1868-1910), the daughter of Henri Eugene Tiblier (1841-1930) and Palmyra Beaugez (1846-1913). Their children were: Hypolite Ryan (1885-1934), Edward A. Ryan (1894-1909), Josephine Ryan Bosarge? (B. 1898), and Alma Paul Ryan (b. 1900). His remains were buried in the Martin Ryan Cemetery on the west bank of Bayou Puerto. (The Daily Herald, May 7, 1912, p. 8)

     Elwood Furney (1912-1936), the son of John H. Furney (1887-1950) and Permelia L. Furney (1892-1972), was caught in the open during a thunderstorm and struck dead by a lightening bolt. Young Furney was the caretaker of Texan Dalton Scale’s 105-acre "Sweet Bay Farm" on Bayou Puerto and his 30-acre pecan orchard. He was killed in the orchard, which was situated in the SW/4 of the SW/4 of Section 12, T7S-R9W and fronted on Le Moyne Boulevard. His corpse was also interred in the Martin Ryan Cemetery on Bayou Puerto. (The Jackson County Times, May 23, 1936)

     The Bayou Puerto School was located on a small lot (24 feet by 96 feet) in the northwest corner of Governmental Lot 3 of Section 13, T7S-R9W. The present day site of this former school is on the south side of Le Moyne Boulevard about 350 feet east of Bayou Pines Drive. William A. Seymour (1863-1939) donated the land for the Bayou Puerto school to the Jackson County School Board in March 1907. (JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 32, p. 280)

     From the Jackson County school records, under the supervision of Betty Rodgers and Lois Castigliola at the Jackson County Archives in Pascagoula, it appears that the Bayou Puerto school was viable as early as 1885. Families who sent their children to this house of knowledge were: Bellais, Bullock, Caldwell, Desporte, Fountain, Ladnier, Letort, Mallette, Money, Morris, Ramsay, Ryan, Sanchez, Seymour, Suarez, Tiblier, and Webb. As the French language was still pervasive in this area into the early 20^th Century, many of the children had to be taught basic English.

      Some of the Trustees at the Bayou Puerto school through the years were: Emerson Bullock (b. 1898), Delmas V. Ryan (1868- 1946), St. Cyr Ryan (1871-1939), Peter Seymour (1870-1934), Paul Seymour Jr. (1891-1970), and Solomon Seymour (1890-1926). Some of the teachers at this education center were: Caddie Ramsay, Mrs. Lulu Holmes, Mrs. Mary Price, Theresa Starks, Blanche Toups, and Ella Vance.

      The public schools at Bayou Puerto, Bayou Talla, and Bayou Costapia appear to have operated until 1925, when a decision was made by Jackson County School Board to close them and consolidate grades one through eight for all southwest Jackson County students into one building. Plans and specification for the new school, the St. Martin Consolidated School, were approved by the JXCO Board of Supervisors in June 1925. A $15,000 school bond issue was approved by voters and the Board authorized the purchase of a school site and the erection of the structure at its July 1925 meeting. (JXCO, Ms. Board of Supervisors Minute Bk. 11, p. 413 and p. 430)

     In August 1925, Joseph Schmid sold JXCO the initial 2.40 acres of land located in Section 15, T7S-R9W, for the St. Martin Consolidated School on the Old Spanish Trail. (JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 58, pp. 125-126) The County acquired an additional .91 contiguous acres from Esperance Borries in January 1926. (JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 58, p. 126)

     During the 1925 August Term of the Board of Supervisors, William A. "Maurice" Seymour (1863-1939) bought the Bayou Talla School house for $15.00, Camille Seymour (1883-1945) purchased the Bayou Costapia building for $22.50, and Adolph Seymour (1889-1973) acquired the Bayou Puerto structure for $20.00. It is believed that these simple building were demolished for their lumber or in some cases used as housing for turpentine workers. (JXCO, Ms. Board of Supervisors Minute Bk. 11, pp. 444-445)

Representative Louis G. Manuel and The Manuel Post Office

     Louis George Manuel (1848-1903) was born at New Orleans, the son of John Manuel (1795-1876) and Anna Maria Schmidt (1805-1877). John Manuel was a native of Lisbon, Portugal and Anna M. Schmidt from Hanover, Germany. L.G. Manuel married Mary Theodora Desporte (1848-1903) in June 1869, at New Orleans. Their children were: Louis H. Manuel (1870-1946); William G. Manuel (1872-1939); Mary Manuel (1879-1956); Theodore D. Manuel (1880-1963); and John Manuel (1881-1920).

     After his mother passed, Louis G. Manuel moved to the Mississippi coast settling in western Jackson County. (Joseph O. Manuel Jr., 1972) Louis G. Manuel began acquiring land on the west side of Bayou Puerto in May1871, when he purchased 291.5 acres in Section 11 and Section 14, T7S-R9W for $700, from Theodore Borries (1829-1880+) and his wife, Theresa Cecilia Trumph (1827-1887). This procurement included the following lands in Section 11-the SE/4 of the NW/4; the SW/4 of the NE/4; and one-half of the W/4 of the SE/4. In Section 14, L.G. Manuel bought: the western portion of Governmental Lot 7; Governmental Lot 2; N/2 of Governmental Lot 3; and S/2 of Governmental Lot 1.(JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 5, pp. 513-514)

     Here, Louis G. Manuel homesteaded and made his livelihood. He became an excellent politician representing the people of Beat Four as their Board of Supervisor from 1892 until 1896, and in the State House of Representatives from 1896 until 1898. (Cain, 1983, p. 10 and p. 14). Mr. Manuel moved to Biloxi circa 1901, and expired at his home on Oak Street near Howard Avenue on October 4, 1903. (The Biloxi Daily Herald, October 5, 1903, p. 6)

     L.G. Manuel’s son, Louis Henry Manuel (1870-1946), was the Postmaster in 1898 for the Manuel Post Office. It was probably located on LeMoyne Boulvard in the vicinity of Cardinal Road on the south side of Le Moyne Boulevard. In February 1891, Louis H. Manuel married Cora Lee Suarez (1872-1952), the daughter of Jose Suarez (1842-1912) and Antoinette Ladnier (1852-1880). They parented eight children: Louis J. Manuel (1891-1977), Antoinette S. Fountain (1894-1983), Henry S. Manuel (1896-1968), Mary S. Trochesset (1898-1992), Sidney E. Manuel (b. 1901), Lillian S. Snyder (b. 1903), Norita S. Wink (b. 1906), Leo E. Manuel (1912-1976), and Edna S. Henley (1908-1980). (Suarez, 1999)

     Louis H. Manuel owned the fishing schooner, Mary H. Manuel, which was built in 1891, by Peter Quave (1863-1936) at his North Biloxi (D’Iberville) shipyard. The vessel appears to be a fishing schooner as it was 35-feet in length and displaced 7 tons.  Mr. Manuel made his living at Bayou Puerto as an oysterman.(Russell Barnes, April 25, 2000)

     By 1905, the L.H. Manuel family had moved to Biloxi. They resided at 909 Holley Street. He became a building contractor with his brother-in-law, Edward Wetzel. They erected many buildings on the Mississippi coast. Manuel also served as a member of the Seafood Commissioner for five years. (The Daily Herald, March 8, 1946, p. 1)

      Mid-February 1899, saw the people of Bayou Puerto and the Mississippi Gulf Coast caught in a weather situation foreign to their souls. The mercury thermometer at the local weather bureau fell to one degree Fahrenheit. Ice formed in both the Back Bay of Biloxi and the waters of the Mississippi Sound. A steam tug operating in Dog Keys pass, which is west of Horn Island reported an inch of ice in the channel. Schools were closed because of a paucity of fuel to warm them. Children delighted not only in this, but took advantage of the ice coated slopes and hills to sleigh. Sheep and stock raisers lost large numbers of their flocks and herds to the extreme cold.(The Biloxi Daily Herald, February 14, 1899)

     At Ocean Springs, Captain John E. Johnson (1859-1921) also felt a significant economic loss from the frigid weather conditions. He lost over 700 barrels of oysters for which he had paid about $800. Ironically, demand for oysters at the time was so splendid that orders for the salubrious mollusks could not be completed. (The Biloxi Herald, February 21, 1899, p. 8)

     In both the 1899 and 1905 February freezes, large amounts of fish were harvested from the icy waters and local beaches. Speckled trout and red fish were particularly susceptible to the cold. It was noted that only the scale fish seemed to be affected by the lower water temperatures. Catfish, sharks, and rays tolerated the extreme conditions easily. (The Biloxi Daily Herald, February 16, 1905, p. 1)

Spanish Influenza-WWI

     As far as can be ascertained, the Spanish Influenza, that pandemic viral episode which overwhelmed the planet in the winter of 1917-1918, and was responsible for ten million deaths, killed only one resident from the Bayou Puerto community. He was Private Samuel H. Seymour (1893-1918) of the 150^th Infantry A.E.F. Seymour expired on a troop transport ship on his way to France and was buried at sea. (The Jackson County Times, November 23, 1918, p. 5) Private Seymour was the son of John Peter Seymour (1852-1938) and Pauline Basque (1860-1946). He was also the only casualty of the Great War from the area.

Early Roads, Bridges, and The Old Spanish Trail

     An important consideration when examining the early history of this area of west Jackson County north of Old Fort Bayou, is its isolation from the rest of the world due to a paucity of good roads and sufficient bridges. This situation allowed the indigenous people of the area occupying the north shore of the Back Bay of Biloxi from Biglin Bayou in Harrison County on the west, to the mouth of Fort Bayou on the east, to maintain for many generations, the French language and Roman Catholic religion of their ancestors. It was common to hear a dialect of French spoken by the people here into the 1950s. Their English was accented which identified their place of origin. To the natives of Biloxi anyone from North Biloxi, as it was known to almost everyone on the south shore, was a "hoss from across".

     The Bayou Puerto community was most easily accessed via waterways utilizing the coastal schooner, catboat, skiff, or the Franco-Earle Ferry, which traversed Old Fort Bayou at Ocean Springs. Land routes were primarily from the south and northeast or from the west via the Big Ridge Road. It wasn’t until August 1901 that the wooden bridge across the Back Bay of Biloxi from Biloxi to present day D’Iberville was completed replacing the intermittent ferry service between the two shores.

Old Fort Bayou at Ocean Springs was also spanned in 1901. The George E. King Bridge Company built a bridge here for $8990, which opened in December 1901. (JXCO, Ms. Board of Supervisors Minute Bk. 4, p. 45 and The Pascagoula Democrat-Star, December 13, 1901)

     Probably the oldest road that existed in the Bayou Puerto region was a loblolly-yellow pine traced, sandy, thoroughfare, the forerunner to North Washington Avenue-Tucker Road, which ran north from Franco’s Ferry landing on the north shore of Old Fort Bayou. It intersected the Ramsay Ferry Road near the home of St. Cyr Seymour II (1827-1903) in Section 27, T6S-R9W.

     In the late 19^th Century, the Jackson County Board of Supervisors appointed for a years duration, residents as "road supervisors" to keep up the thoroughfares that transected their sections. At Bayou Puerto, the Franco Ferry Road to St. Cyr Semour II’s house was maintained from 1876-1884, as follows: John Ryan (1876), Martin Ryan (1877), W.G. Bullock (1878 and 1879), Sherrod Seymour (1880), William Seymour (1881), Antonio Marie (1882), and Martin Ryan (1883). (JXCO, Ms. Board of Supervisors Minute Bk. 1, p. 29, p. 56, p. 122, p. 174, p. 216, p. 266, p. 300, p. 341)

     It appears that before December 1912, when H.E. Latimer (1855-1941) & Sons were contracted to build a road from Bayou Puerto to the Harrison County line for $3000, that only a wagon trail existed here. In 1915, this road, now Le Moyne Boulevard, was shelled. Its shelling was the last of more than fifty miles of shell roads that led to Ocean Springs. (The Ocean Springs News, January 21, 1915, p. 1)

     The Jackson County Times of February 24, 1917, made the following comment about this road:

     If Biloxi wants to encourage automobile travel between Ocean Springs and that city the people over there should get behind their Supervisor and see that the road from the county line to the bridge (Back Bay Bridge) is put in decent shape. This piece of road is in fearful condition and a disgrace to Harrison County. Ocean Springs and the country surrounding have built a series of splendid roads hereabouts, one leading over to the Harrison County line where it continues on to the city of Biloxi. From the county line to the bridge there are more bumps to the square yard than there is on an old fashioned a corduroy road. Autoist certainly get their bumps when they hit this stretch of road. (p. 5, c. 4.)

     By 1923, the road between Biloxi and Ocean Springs was paved with gravel. Beat Four Supervisor, James K. Lemon (1870-1929), was a strong proponent to hard surface his link of the Old Spanish Trail through his beat in western Jackson County. (The Daily Herald, May 30, 1923, p. 3)

     This was begun in July 1926, when the Moore Construction Company of Biloxi was awarded the $131,985 contract to pave the 4.32 mile section between the Harrison County Line and Ocean Springs. F.H. McGowan, civil engineer, supervised the construction. The concrete bridge across Bayou Puerto was also erected at this time. (The Daily Herald, July 3, 1926, p. 2)

     Supervisor Lemon also lobbied aggressively for The War Memorial Bridge across the Bay of Biloxi from Biloxi to Ocean Springs, which was dedicated in June 1930. This new route removed the "Old Spanish Trail" designation from the St. Martin-Bayou Puerto area. It now ran directly from Biloxi to Ocean Springs and east towards St. Augustine, Florida.

     The earliest recorded ferry operation across Old Fort Bayou was run by Captain Antonio M. Franco (1834-1891). It was a flat boat large enough for drayage animals and their burden and operated by a hand pulled rope. (The Daily Picayune, July 24, 1892, p. 12)

     Antonio M. Franco was born on April 11, 1834 at Lisbon, Portugal. He went to sea at the age of eleven and ended his maritime commercial ventures after the Civil War. Franco then began several land based enterprises. (The Biloxi Herald, April 4, 1891, p. 1)

     It was during his schooner based trading years, probably out of New Orleans that met Genevieve Rodriguez (1844-1915), called Jane, at Bayou Puerto. She was the daughter of Juan Antonio Rodriguez (1812-1867) and Marie-Marthe Ryan (1822-1885+).

     The Francos were married circa 1858, and resided at Bayou Puerto on the Rodriguez tract, Governmental Lot 5, Section 13, T7S-R9W, until January 1871, when they began acquiring land from George Allen Cox (1811-1887) in Ocean Springs, on Old Fort Bayou west of Washington Avenue. Here and on Bayou Puerto, the Francos reared a large family consisting of nine children: John J. Franco (1859-1935), Lillie F. Geiger (1863-1905), Charlotte F. Cochran (1864-1939), Joanna F. Ruppel (1865-1903), Thomas Franco (1869-1951+), Francis A. Franco (1871-1935), Eugenia Franco (1875-1950), Anthony Franco (1878-1939+) and Walter E. Franco (1883-1939+).

     By January 1874, Antonio and Jane Franco had spent $850 for approximately 2.52 acres on Washington Avenue and Old Fort Bayou. Here they erected their home, which is extant as a part of the Aunt Jenny’s Catfish Restaurant complex on Washington Avenue. The re-recorded warranty deed from Cox to Franco is important as it includes the location of the Daniel Goss store and the Moeling House, both which existed here in the 1850s. (JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 11, p. 28)

     Daniel Goss (1815-1855+), a Dane, and his German born spouse, Katharina B. Goos (1829-1851+) had come to Ocean Springs with their children, Daniel Goos (b. 1847), Barbara Goos (b. 1848), and Ellen Goos (b. 1849), after a short residency at Biloxi. On February 27, 1850, they had acquired in Biloxi, from Louise Alexandrine Leocade Hatrel Fourchy and Alexandre Fourchy of New Orleans for $2500, the property at present day 138 Magnolia Street. (HARCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 5, p. 256)

     The Creole Cottage now situated here is known as Mary Mahoney’s Old French House. In January 1851, the Goos family sold their Biloxi residence to Samuel Friedlander of New Orleans and moved to Ocean Springs. The selling price at this time was $5000. (HARCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 5, pp. 480-481)

     It would appear the Biloxi home was built by Goos and sold to Friedlander. Basis for this postulation is the doubling of the property value and that Kendall brick was used in its construction. The Kendall Brickyard existed from 1849-1854 at Back Bay (now D’Iberville).

     At Ocean Springs on Washington Avenue, Daniel Goos invested his money in the mercantile business as he advertised in The Ocean Springs Gazette of March 24, 1855, as follows:

Keep constantly on hand a large and well selected assortment of dry goods, groceries, tin ware, crockery, hardware, cutlery, medicines, boots, shoes, clothing, (several items illegible), carpenter's tools, school and blank books, saddles, bridles, trunks, etc. The above assortment will be sold at New Orleans prices. (March 3, 1855).p. 4, c.5.

     Daniel Goos also owned land and probably resided in the present day Alto Park area of Ocean Springs, which is now bounded by General Pershing, Kensington, and Ward. General Pershing Avenue was called Goos Avenue until its German sounding name came into disfavor during the years of World War I (1914-1918). It was only logical to replace this Teutonic nomenclature with that of the American general from Missouri who led our American Expeditionary Force in Europe during the Great War, General John Joseph Pershing (1860-1948).

     The other landmark on the Franco tract was the domicile of Frederick G. Moeling who was postmaster at Ocean Springs from December 1854 until December 1856. It is assumed that the post office, the first bearing the name "Ocean Springs", was situated in his Washington Avenue cottage.

     Antonio Franco’s land base commerce consisted of a barroom and ferry landing on Old Fort Bayou. He and F.W. Illing (1838-1884) had applied to the Board of Police for a license to retail vinous and spirituous liquors in Ocean Springs, as early as April 1875.  Franco petitioned the Board for a ferry license in October 1882. (JXCO, Ms. Board of Supervisors Minute Bk. 1, p. 6 and p. 338)

     By March 1887, the Franco saloon had moved from its site on Old Fort Bayou, to what is now the southwest corner of Washington Avenue and Robinson. (JXCO, Ms. Board of Supervisors Minute Bk. 2, p. 188)

     Franco’s son-in-law, Thomas A. Cochran (1852-1883), a local house carpenter and Mobile native, had acquired a 1.25 acre lot here in July 1878, from E.W. Clark of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for $140. (JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 5, pp. 622-623) It is postulated that with the construction of the White House, a grocery store cum bar, and the VanCleave Hotel, both on Robinson opposite the L&N Depot in the late 1870s and 1880 respectively, that the thirsty tourists and drummers (salesman) were being entertained near the depot. To stay competitive, Antonio Franco had to relocate his bar business near the L&N operations. On Old Fort Bayou, he was literally, "on the wrong side of the tracks".

     Circa 1880, Thomas A. Cochran erected a Greek Revival cottage at present day 900 Robinson Avenue, often referred to as the Cochran-Cassanova House. A two-story, frame structure was also erected on the Cochran tract. It was situated on the southwest corner of Washington and Robinson and was known as Franco’s Saloon. In a forced heirship case, heard by the JXCO, Ms. Chancery Court, in February 1896, a portion of the Cochran tract was described as "being the same lot or parcel of land, which stands the two-story frame building formerly occupied by A. Franco, now deceased, as a barroom or saloon". (JXCO, Ms. Chancery Court Cause No. 675, "Mrs. Charlotte F. Cochran v. Thomas A. Cochran et al")

     After Antonio Franco’s demise, his son, Thomas Franco operated the saloon. (JXCO, Ms. Board of Supervisor Minute Bk. 2, p. 493)

     In March 1897, Commissioner Frank H. Lewis sold the Cochran saloon lot (120 by 80 feet ) to George E. Arndt (1857-1945) for $1250.  This became Mr. Arndt’s renown Paragon Saloon. Arndt had previously operated a barroom in the White House with his brother-in-law, Emile Engbarth (1855-ca 1905), as early as March 1883. At the time of Arndt’s proprietorship, the White House was owned by Antonio Marie (1829-1885), Antonio Franco’s brother-in-law. (JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 18, pp. 140-141 and JXCO, Ms. Board of Supervisors Minute Bk. 1, p. 358)

    The Franco Ferry appears to have run continuously from 1882 until the Old Fort Bayou Bridge was opened for commerce in December 1901. Rates on the Franco ferry in September 1893, were as follows: 

     One man on foot-$.05; One man and horse-$.10; One man with horse and buggy, or cart, or wagon-$.15; One man with two horses or 2 oxen with buggy, cart, or wagon-$.20; One man and an additional $.10 for each yoke of oxen or span of horses.  Each horse or cow beast driven on foot-$.02; Each sheep, goat, or hog-$.01 (JXCO, Ms. Board of Supervisors Minute Bk. 3, p. 4)

     The Franco property on Old Fort Bayou was sold to Emma Rudd Powell (1860-1936), the wife of Canadian physician, Dr. Henry Bradford Powell (1867-1949), in two transactions. In January 1896, the heirs of Antonio Franco sold their 2.52 acres for $1000 and in February 1906, Jane Franco vended her .96 acres with over 400 feet on Washington Avenue and the Spring lot for $1800. (JXCO, Ms Land Deed Bk. 31, pp. 298-299)

     Here Dr. Powell established a sanitarium, which by 1915, had become the Bayou Inn, a lodge, which catered to Midwestern winter tourists. We know this place today as Aunt Jenny’s Catfish Restaurant, which was established by Carl Lizana in October 1981. Bellande, 1994, pp.114-115)

     Mrs. Genevieve Franco passed at Mobile, Alabama on February 9, 1915. She had relocated to Mobile in 1908, as her three sons, Thomas, Anthony, and Walter Franco, were residents there.  Her granddaughter, Mildred Franco Theriot Powell Petrie (1896-1969), later married Dr. Henry B. Powell (1867-1949), after Mrs. Emma R. Powell’s death in 1936.(The Ocean Springs News, February 18, 1915, p. 6)

     The ferry boat of Parker Earle & Sons as previously mentioned went into service in October 1891. It was utilized primarily to service their large commercial farm northeast of Bayou Puerto and the saw milling operation of their Winter Park Lumber Company, about a mile north of the Earle Farm. In addition, in December 1890, Susan Skehan Earle (1864-1891), the wife of Franklin Sumner Earle (1856-1929), acquired the N/2 of Governmental Lot 2, containing forty acres, in Section 13, T7S-R9W from Margaret E. Smith for $1000. The sale excluded 5.5 acres. (JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 12, p. 16)

     The present day Gulf Hills Country Club is situated within this 34.5 acres. The Earle’s homestead here was called "Bayou Home" and it will be discussed in detail in future additions of this essay. In March 1894, Franklin S. Earle, the secretary for the Winter Park Land Improvement and Live Stock Company, petitioned the JXCO Board of Supervisors to be appointed keepers of the public ferry on Old Fort Bayou. His reasons were: (1) The Earle’s were already running a private ferry, which they owned, even though it was known as a public ferry. (2) Their business made up over half of the ferry utilization and it was an inconvenience to have the ferry service controlled by another party. (3) The Earle’s controlled the landing on the north shore of Old Fort Bayou. (4) The Earle’s were willing to charge rates lower than the legal ferriage rates. Earle’s petition was denied and Mrs. Franco continued to operate the public ferry until December 1901. (JXCO, Ms. Board of Supervisors Minute Bk. 2, p. 548)

Bus Service

     In 1923, the Trackless Transportation Company of Gulfport provided reliable and rapid bus transportation from Henderson Point to Ocean Springs. The bus driver would stop at any point on the route to pick up or leave off passengers. (The Daily Herald, July 24, 1923, p. 2)

RELIGION

St. Joseph’s Mission Chapel (1922-1957)

     In October 1922, Delmas V. Ryan (1868-1946) and Olivia Tiblier Ryan (1878-1957) conveyed to the Catholic Diocese of Natchez, a small lot (50 feet by 125 feet) in the S/2 of the N/2 of Governmental Lot 2, Section 13, T7S-R9W, for a Roman Catholic mission church. (JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 52, p. 181)

Delmas V. Ryan, a fisherman, was the son of John E. Ryan and Marie Eudoxie Delauney. Mr. Ryan also cultivated satsuma oranges and scuppernong grapes on his land in present day Gulf Hills, which was situated roughly in the area between Mesa Road and Paraiso Road. He made and sold his wine. (Martha Tiblier Eleuterius, April 2000) Mr. Ryan had acquired the S/2 of the N/2 (twenty acres) of Governmental Lot 2 in June 1895, from Hypolite Ryan. (JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 16, p. 618).

     Delmas Ryan relocated to Biloxi in 1926, and retired from fishing in 1931. His children were: Herman D. Ryan (1898-1975), Vallie Joseph Ryan (1902-1908), Bertha R. Fallo (1903-1988), Matthew I. Ryan (1905-1985), Elliot V. Ryan (1911-1951), and Velma R. Taranto (1909-1986). (The Daily Herald, September 13, 1946, p. 3) A grandson of Delmas Ryan, Edward L. Ryan of Biloxi, served twelve years (1988-2000) in the State Legislature representative District 115.

The Catholic people of Bayou Puerto and Bayou Talla, actually built their house of worship before the land deed of Delmas Ryan was given to the Catholic Diocese. On November 1, 1922, Bishop Gunn wrote Father Chauvin (1867-1959) at St. Alphonsus and said, "I never was more surprised than a few minutes ago to get from Father Leech a letter from Mr. (David) Smith in which I hear for the first time about the building of a new church someplace in your parish." In Smith’s missive to Father Leech he also mentioned that "Father Chauvin of Ocean Springs is to arrange to have Holy Mass there one Sunday a month------many adults and children, even grown ups, have not been baptized and so few have received Communion, and later we shall have many for Confirmation."(Diocesan Archives of the Catholic Diocese of Jackson, Folder 12-Ocean Springs)

     David Smith taught the children of Bayou Puerto their catechism.

     About eight months later, Bishop John E. Gunn of Natchez dedicated the mission church of the Bayou Puerto community on Pentecost Sunday, May 20, 1923, at 3:00 p.m. He also administered the sacrament of Confirmation to thirty-three candidates. That very day the Bishop anointed another twenty-two young Christian soldiers at St. Alphonsus in Ocean Springs, at a 7:30 p.m. Confirmation service. (The JXCO Times, May 26, 1923, p. 4)

     In January 1926, Father Chauvin of St. Alphonsus led a party of the Mississippi Roman Catholic hierarchy, which consisted of Bishop Richard O. Gerow of Natchez, Chancellor Reverend W.J. Leech of Pass Christian, and the Reverend Peter Keenan (1873-1937) of Biloxi, to Gulf Hills to meet the founding fathers: C.W. Gormley, H.W. Branigar, Root, and Hollister. Bishop Gerow was impressed with the rapid progress of the new resort development. (The JXCO Times, January 16, 1926, p. 3)

     Also in January 1926, Father John O’Neill (ca 1900-ca 1955), who was a guest of Captain Francis O’Neill (1849-1936), the retired General Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department, at his Ocean Springs estate, "Glengariff", began saying a 9 a.m. Mass each Sunday at St. Joseph’s mission chapel. On January 31^st, Father O’Neill planned a mass for the repose of the souls of the parents of W. Angero Ryan, Martin Ryan (1842-1913) and Permelia Delaunay (1847-1877). A large attendance was anticipated. (The Daily Herald, January 29, 1926, p. 2)

     Father John O’Neill, a nephew of Captain Francis O’Neill, was born in the same region of western Ireland as him, near Bantry. He came to the United States for about one year and spent most his time at Chicago. In 1997, Ossian Press of Cork, Ireland, published Harvest Saved: Francis O’Neill and Irish Music in Chicago, by Nicholas Carolan. Other recent events in Ireland to honor Francis O’Neill were the dedication of a bronze statue of him at Bantry and the dedication of the "Chief O’Neill" Hotel in Dublin. (Mary Wade, June 2, 2000)

     In 1938, several years after to its abandonment as a Roman Catholic mission church, the small building was hit by a lightening bolt which blasted open a wide breach in one of its corners. A temporary patch was applied to the opening. Also in 1938, David Smith, the catechist of Bayou Puerto, asked permission from the Bishop to demolish the structure and utilize the salvaged materials to erect a room for himself on the Church property at Ocean Springs. He was denied this request. (Diocesan Archives of the Catholic Diocese of Jackson, Folder 12-Ocean Springs)

     The St. Joseph’s mission chapel, the 25 foot by 40 foot frame building with a heavy gauge tin roof, which had been built by G.N. "Git" Tillman (1872-1925) in 1922, was demolished in 1941, by Elvin Ramsay (b. 1907) of the St. Martin community. In July 1941, Mr. Ramsay, a native of the Pointe-aux –Chenes community, bought a lot (140 feet by 192 feet) from Lee M. Seymour of D’Iberville situated in Section 16, T7S-R9W, on the north side of Quave Road. Here he, put to use the lumber from the St. Joseph’s Mission chapel to build his home at 16204 Quave Road. The window casings for Ramsay’s home were built from the church pews. (Elvin Ramsay, April 2000 and JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 79, p. 15)