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1717
Fort Toulouse was erected by the French at the
juncture of the Coosa and Tallapoosa Rivers near present day
Wetumpka, Alabama, just north of Montgomery, Alabama
to prevent English trade with the local Indians
and to deter Anglo settlers and traders from advancing from the Carolinas.
1717
The French return to Biloxi Bay and locate on the site of old Fort
Maurepas after a hurricane in August 1717 damages their harbor at
Dauphine Island.
1756-1763
The French and Indian War was the last of
four major colonial wars between the British, the French, and
their Native American allies. Unlike the previous three wars, the
French and Indian War began on North American soil and then spread
to
Europe, where Britain and France continued fighting. Britain
officially declared war on France on May 15, 1756, marking the
beginnings of the Seven Years' War in Europe.
Native Americans fought for both sides, but primarily alongside
the French (with one exception being the
Iroquois Confederacy which sided with the colonies and Britain).
The first major event was in 1754. Major
George Washington, then twenty-one years of age, was sent to
negotiate boundaries with the French, who did not give up their
forts. Washington led a group of Virginian (colonial) troops to
confront the French at
Fort Duquesne (present day
Pittsburgh). Washington stumbled upon the French at the
Battle of Jumonville Glen (about six miles NW of
soon-to-be-established
Fort Necessity, and in the ensuing skirmish, a French Officer (Joseph
Coulon de Jumonville) was killed, news of which would certainly
provoke a strong French response. Washington pulled back a few miles
and established
Fort Necessity. The French forced Washington and his men to
retreat. Meanwhile, the
Albany Congress was taking place as means to discuss further
action.
Edward Braddock led a campaign against the French in 1755;
Washington was among the British and colonial troops. Braddock
employed European tactics: bold, linear marches and firing
formations. This led to disaster at
the Monongahela, where the French and natives, though heavily
outmanned and outgunned (the British had a heavy cannon), used
superior tactics (using the trees and bushes as cover) to gun down
and rout the British. Braddock was killed; Washington, despite four
close calls, escaped unharmed and led the survivors in retreat.
Major French victories continued at
Fort William Henry,
Fort Duquesne, and
Carillon, where
Montcalm famously defeated five times his number. The only
British success in 1755 was the taking of
Fort Beausejour by Colonel
Robert Monckton, thus protecting the
Nova Scotia frontier. An unfortunate consequence of this was the
subsequent forced
deportation of the
Acadian population of
Nova Scotia and the
Beaubassin region of
Acadia.
1756 brought with it
William Pitt,
Secretary of State of Great Britain. His leadership, and
France's continued neglect of the North-American theater, turned the
tide in favor of the British. The French were driven from many
frontier posts such as
Fort Niagara, and the key
Fortress Louisbourg fell to the British in 1758. In 1759, the
Battle of the Plains of Abraham gave
Quebec City to the British, who had to withstand a siege there
after the
Battle of Sainte-Foy a year later. In September of 1760,
Pierre François de Rigaud, Marquis de Vaudreuil-Cavagnal, the
King's Governor of New France, negotiated a surrender with
British General
Jeffrey Amherst. General Amherst granted Vaudreuil's request
that any French residents who chose to remain in the colony would be
given freedom to continue worshiping in their
Roman Catholic tradition, continued ownership of their property,
and the right to remain undisturbed in their homes. The British
provided medical treatment for the sick and wounded French soldiers
and
French regular troops were returned to France aboard British
ships with an agreement that they were not to serve again in the
present war.
Though most of the North American fighting ended on
September 8,
1760,
when the Marquis de Vaudreuil surrendered Montreal — and effectively
all of Canada — to Britain (one notable late battle allowed the
capture of Spanish Havana by British and colonial forces in 1762),
the war officially ended with the signing of the
Treaty of Paris on
February 10,
1763.
The treaty resulted in France's loss of all its North American
possessions east of the Mississippi (all of Canada was ceded to
Britain) except
Saint Pierre and Miquelon, two small islands off
Newfoundland. France regained the Caribbean islands of
Guadeloupe and
Martinique, which had been occupied by the British. The economic
value of these islands was greater than that of Canada at the time,
because of their rich
sugar
crops, and the islands were easier to defend. Spain gained
Louisiana, including
New Orleans, in compensation for its loss of
Florida to the British.
1763
British Colonial Period
[1763-1780]
The Treaty of Paris often called the Peace of Paris,
or the Treaty of 1763, was signed on
February 10,
1763,
by the kingdoms of
Great Britain,
France
and Spain,
with
Portugal in agreement. Together with the
Treaty of Hubertusburg, it ended the
French and Indian War or
Seven Years' War.[1]
The treaties marked the beginning of an extensive period of British
dominance outside of Europe.[2]
While the bulk of conquered territories were restored to their
pre-war owners, the British made some substantial overseas gains at
the expense of France and, to a lesser extent, Spain.[3]
Preferring to keep
Guadaloupe, France gave up
New France [Canada] and all of its claims to the territory east
of the
Mississippi River to Britain. Spain ceded
Florida to the British, but later received
New Orleans and
French Louisiana from France;
Manila
and Cuba
were restored to Spain. France retained
Saint Pierre and Miquelon and recovered
Guadelupe,
Martinique, and
Saint Lucia in exchange for
Dominica,
Grenada,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and
Tobago
going to the British. In
India,
the French lost out to the British, receiving back its "factories"
(trading posts), but agreeing to support the British client
governments, as well as returning
Sumatra and agreeing not to base troops in
Bengal.
The British garrison on the
Mediterranean island of
Minorca was returned to her control, having been captured by the
French at the outbreak of hostilities in Europe. Britain
returned the
slave
station on the isle of
Gorée
to the French, but gained the
Senegal River and its settlements. Britain agreed to demolish
its fortifications in
Honduras, but received permission from Spain to keep a
logwood-cutting colony there. Britain confirmed in the treaty
the rights of its new subjects to practice the
Roman Catholic religion[4]
and received confirmation of the continuation of the British king's
Hanoverian right as a
Prince-elector of the
Holy Roman Empire.
1768
In June 1768, George A. Gauld (1732-1782), a Scottish cartographer and
surveyor, in the employ of the British Admiralty, made a map of
coastal Mississippi. He was operating from HMS Sir Edward Hawke.
During his reconnaissance and charting of the region, Gauld made
many observations about Horn Island. He discovered that it was some
sixteen miles in length, but in width no more than one mile.
Orientation was nearly east-west. As regards to vegetation, Gauld
noted that there were uneven groves of trees on the west end of the
island. The middle was characterized by dense growth, and the
eastern end of the sand bar was fairly devoid of tree growth.(Ware,
1982, p.107)
1776
On July 4, 1776, the thirteen American colonies declared their
independence from Great Britain.
1779
In June 1779, Spain declared war on Great
Britain. In September, General Bernado de Galvez
(1746-1786), Spanish governor of the Louisiana Territory, captured
Fort Bute at Manchac, Louisiana; the English garrison at Baton Rouge, Louisiana;
and accepted the surrender of Fort Panmure at Natchez.
Spanish Colonial Period
[1780-1811]
1780
On
March 14, 1780,
General Galvez captured Fort Charlotte and the city of
Mobile, Alabama. The Mississippi Gulf Coast became a part
of
Spanish West Florida.
1781
In May
1781, the English at Pensacola, Florida surrendered to Spanish forces led by
General Galvez.
On July 3, 1781, Spanish Governor of the Louisiana
Territory, Bernardo de Galvez (1746-1786) granted Horn
Island to Marie Catherine Vinconneau Baudrau of Pascagoula.
She was born at La Rochelle, France and married Jean-Baptise
Baudrau II (1707?-1757), the son of Jean-Baptise Baudrau dit
Graveline and an Indian woman.
1783
American Revolutionary War ends with Great Britain the
signing of the Treaty of Paris. America is now bounded
on the north by Canada; east by Atlantic Ocean; south
by Spanish West Florida; and west by the
Mississippi River.
1797
The Mississippi Territory was
organized on
April
7, 1798,
from territory ceded by
Georgia and
South Carolina; it was later twice expanded to include disputed
territory claimed by both the
U.S. and
Spain.
Land was purchased (generally through unequal treaties) from Native
American tribes from 1800 to about 1830.
1803
The
Louisiana Purchase was the acquisition by the
United States of approximately 530 million
acres
(828,000 sq mi
or 2,100,000 km²)
of
French territory on April 30, 1803, at the cost of about 3¢ per
acre (7¢ per
ha);
totaling
$15 million or 80 million
French francs. Including interest, America finally paid
$23,213,568 for the Louisiana territory.[1]
The land purchased contained all of present-day
Arkansas,
Missouri,
Iowa,
Oklahoma,
Kansas,
Nebraska,
Minnesota south of
Mississippi River, much of
North Dakota, nearly all of
South Dakota, northeastern
New Mexico, northern
Texas,
the portions of
Montana,
Wyoming, and
Colorado east of the
Continental Divide, and
Louisiana on both sides of the Mississippi River, including the
city of
New Orleans. (The Oklahoma Panhandle, and southwestern portions
of Kansas and Louisiana were still claimed by
Spain
at the time of the Purchase.) In addition, the Purchase contained
small portions of land that would eventually become part of the
Canadian provinces of
Alberta and
Saskatchewan. The land included in the purchase comprises around
23% of the territory of the modern United States.[1]
The purchase was an important moment in the presidency of
Thomas Jefferson. At the time, it faced domestic opposition as
being possibly
unconstitutional. Although he felt that the Constitution did not
contain any provisions for acquiring territory, Jefferson decided to
purchase Louisiana because he felt uneasy about France and Spain
having the power to block American traders' access to the port of
New Orleans.
1805
Circa 1805, Louis Auguste LaFontaine (1762-circa 1813) and
Catherine Bourgeois LaFontaine (1768-circa 1840) purchased a
land grant on the Bay of Biloxi containing 280 arpents [7 arpents
(1344 feet) front by 40 arpents (7680 feet) deep] from Julian
Azevedo, probably a Spaniard. On January 15, 1816, The United
States House of Representatives approved the land grant known as No.
30 in an abstract of Commissioner Crawford titled, "land in the
District east of the Pearl River in Louisiana founded on private
conveyances or grants lost by time or accident". This land grant
became known as the Widow LaFontaine Tract and encompasses
Section 37, T7S-R8W, which is most of 'Old Ocean Springs'.
Section 37, T7S-R8W is bounded on the north by Government
Street; east by General Pershing; south by the Bay of
Biloxi; and west by Martin Avenue.
United States of America
[1811-2007+]
1810
The
Republic of West Florida was declared independent of Spain in
September at St. Francisville, Louisiana. It lasted only
forty-five days.
1811
When Dr. William 'Fat Doctor' Flood, the representative of
Governor Claiborne of the Orleans Territory, was dispatched to the
Mississippi coast to hoist the flag of the United States in January
1811, he found the population between the Pearl River and Biloxi to
be about four hundred people chiefly French and Creoles. Dr. Flood
in his report to Governor Claiborne wrote:
proceeded to the Bay of Biloxi, where I found Mr. Ladnier (Jacques),
and gave him the commission (Justice of the Peace). He is a man of
excellent sense, but can neither read or write, nor can any
inhabitants of the bay of Biloxi that I can hear of. They are, all
along this beautiful coast, a primitive people, of mixed origin,
retaining the gaiety and politeness of the French, blended with the
abstemiousness and indolence of the Indian. They plant a little
rice, and a few roots and vegetables, but depend on subsistence
chiefly on game and fish. I left with all these appointees copies
of the laws, ordinances, etc. But few laws will be wanted here.
The people are universally honest.
There are no crimes. The father of the family or the oldest
inhabitant, settles all disputes......A more innocent and
inoffensive people may not be found. They seem to desire only the
simple necessities of life, and to be let alone in their
tranquility. I am greatly impressed with the beauty and value of
this coast. The high sandy lands, heavily timbered with pine, and
the lovely bays and rivers, from Pearl River to Mobile will furnish
New Orleans with a rich commerce, and with a delightful summer
resort. For a cantonment or military post, in consideration of the
health of the troops, this whole coast is admirably fitted.
1812
Jackson County was created on December 12, 1812 as part of the
Mississippi Territory.
1817
Mississippi entered the Union on December 10th as the 20th
State of the United States of America.
1819
On March 3, 1819, the Widow LaFontaine Claim [Section 37,
T7S-R8W] was confirmed by an Act of Congress, entitled "An
Act for adjusting the claims of land and establishing Land Offices
in the District East of the Island of New Orleans". The land was
surveyed in 1824, and a patent issued by the United
States Government to the Widow LaFontaine on May 16, 1846.
1821
The first post office in Jackson County, Mississippi was
established in 1821 and called Jackson County Courthouse. It was
located in present day George County near Wilkerson’s Ferry on the
Pascagoula River. It was also in the vicinity of the County’s first
courthouse, which was at the home of Thomas Bilbo [Bilbaud]
(1776-1870), a prominent surveyor of this time.(The History of
JXCO, Ms., 1989, pp. 10-11)
1835
In 1835, Joseph H. Bellande (1813-1907) arrived in the
United States, probably New Orleans, from Marseille, France.
He was one of the first settlers in the fishing village of East
Biloxi, which became Ocean Springs in 1854.
1841
Harrison County, Mississippi was formed from Hancock and
Jackson County, Mississippi on February 5, 1841.
1842
Joseph
H. Bellande (1813-1907) married Rosaline LaFauce (18
-1895), daughter of Jacques
LaFauce and Marie Eveline LaFontaine on May 26, 1842. She was
the granddaughter of Louis LaFontaine and Catherine Bourgeois
LaFontaine.
1846
Circa 1840 before her demise, the 237 acres of land, Section 37,
T7S-R8W, possessed by Catherine Bourgeois LaFontaine, the Widow LaFontaine,
informally gave her land to her family. From west to east beginning
at Martin Avenue and going to the Inner Harbor, the Widow LaFontaine
original partition was to her sons-in-law, Jerome Ryan (1793-
c. 1875), John Westbrook, and Jean Baptise Ladner;
Joseph Bellande (1819-1907), the husband of her granddaughter,
Roseline LaFauce (1821-1893); Azalie LaFauce Clay Ryan (b.
1820), her granddaughter; and her son, Louis Auguste LaFontaine
II. The eastern three arpents were probably sold to Andre
Fournier and his wife, Catherine Bouzage Fournie (b.
1780), many years before the Widow LaFontaine's donation to her
family. The Fournier tract was bounded on the east by a small
bayou called Bayou Bouzage probably for his wife's family. It later
became known as Mill Dam Bayou, and after widening
and
dredging is now the Inner Harbor.
In August 1846, a partition deed for the Widow LaFontaine Tract
was filed at the Jackson County Courthouse. The land was divided by
her heirs and legal representatives. From Martin Avenue east to the
vicinity of the Gulf Oaks Condominiums, the land was parceled into
five lots. Lot One ran from Martin Avenue 561 feet eastward,
and was owned by Jerome Ryan (his wife, Euphrosine LaFontaine,
appears to be deceased at this time). Lot Two ran from the
east boundary of Lot One a distance of 672 feet east and was owned
by Robert B. Kendall. Lot Three, also possessed by
Kendall, was 720 feet wide. Lot Four which was 528 feet
wide was owned by Joseph H. Bellande, his wife, Roseline
LaFauce, and his sister-in-law, Azalie LaFauce. Azalie would
marry George Clay (b. 1812), an Ohio millwright, circa 1849, and
later Mr. Ryan. Lot Five was in the possession of Robert
B. Kendall and ran 198 feet. Madame Fournier owned to
Bayou Bouzage (Inner Harbor) which completed the seven arpents
fronting on the Bay of Biloxi.
1850
The
Louisville & Nashville Railroad was born March 5, 1850, when it
was granted a charter by the Commonwealth of Kentucky “...to build a
railroad between Louisville, Kentucky, and the Tennessee state line
in the direction of Nashville." On December 4, 1851, an act of the
Tennessee General Assembly authorized the company to extend its road
from the Tennessee state line to Nashville. Laying of track began
at Ninth Street and Broadway in Louisville in May of 1853. By 1855,
the founding fathers of the L&N, most of them Louisville citizens,
had raised nearly $3 million to finance the construction. The first
train to operate over the railroad ran on August 25, 1855, when some
300 people traveled eight miles from Louisville at a speed of 15
mph!
1852
Benjamin L.C. Wailes (1797-1852), State geologist of
Mississippi, viewed the village of Back Bay, present day
D'Iberville, from Biloxi on August 27, 1852, and observed the
following: Rode in the morning, after a call from Judge
Smith, to Back Bay 2 miles, which is the extension of the Bay of
Baluxi (sic). Found a steam ferry running across where it seems to
be a mile in width. The extensive brick yard of Mr. Kendall, where
bricks are made on a very extensive scale from dry compressed earth
by steam power, was in sight of the opposite side, about two miles
distant. A number of small craft were in the Bay, and several along
the shore were undergoing repairs. Several steam mills, which are
very numerous on the Bay, for sawing pine timber, were also in view.(Wailes,
1854)
William Gray Kendall (1812-1872) was a Kentucky lawyer and
entrepreneur residing at New Orleans, who
in
January 1846, purchased a fifty-acre tract of land at Ocean Springs
in Section 30, T7S-R8W with 800 feet fronting on the Bay of Biloxi,
between the present day Shearwater Pottery and Weeks Bayou. On this
beautiful, high ground facing Deer Island to the south, he built a
residence, icehouse, small cemetery. Mr. Kendall was
postmaster at NOLA in 1854 and operated the Biloxi Steam Brick Works
at present day D'Iberville. Kendall's brick making operation
utilized over 160 slaves before it went bankrupt circa 1855.
1853
On January 19, 1853, Robert Little was appointed Postmaster
at Lynchburg Springs [now Ocean Springs]. This village on
the east side of Biloxi Bay, which had been the site of Fort
Maurepas, the 1699 French beachhead of Colonial Louisiana, had been
known through the years as Biloxey, Vieux Biloxey, and prior to
Lynchburg Springs, East Biloxi. It acquired the name “Lynchburg
Springs” from George Lynch (1815-1880+), a native of Maryland.
Dr. William Glover Austin (1814-1894) and Warrick Martin
(1810-1854+) erected the
Ocean Springs Hotel on Jackson Avenue near Cleveland Avenue.
Yellow Fever
struck Biloxi on June 29th, when it was brought to Biloxi by
someone from New Orleans. Dr. Andreas Byrenheidt (1768-1858)
reported following the crisis that there were 533 cases of
Yellow Fever in Biloxi, which resulted in 111 deaths. He
estimated that the population at this time was 5500 people, which
included summer tourists and those fleeing the epidemic at New
Orleans.(Testimony of Dr. A. Byrenheidt, M.D. in Report of the
Sanitary Commission of NOLA on the Yellow Fever of 1853,
1854, p. 540)
The Yellow Fever
epidemic at New Orleans killed about 10,000 of the 30,000
persons infected with the mosquito borne virus. It earned the
Crescent City the epithet "Necropolis of the South".
1854
Frederick G. Moeling (1835-1880), pronounced “mailing”, was
the new Postmaster at “Ocean Springs”. His appointment date was
December 12, 1854. “Ocean Springs” took its name from the
Ocean Springs Hotel, which had been erected in 1853 by Dr. William
Glover Austin (1814-1894) and Warrick Martin (1810-1854+). The US
Post Office here has been called Ocean Springs since this time.
The Gazette,
a
newspaper owned by George Allen Cox (1811-1887), was published at
Ocean Springs.
1855
Eye of Hurricane of September 15-16 passed over Bay
St. Louis.
1856
The Last Islands [Isles Dernieres] Hurricane mauls this seaside
resort off of Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana on August 11th and kills
about 200 people. According to modern estimates by the
NOAA
the storm was probably a
Category 4 hurricane with central pressure of around 934 mb. It
tied with
Hurricane Hugo as the 10th most intense hurricane to hit the
mainland United States.
1859
In 1859, Joseph H. Bellande (1813-1907) sold
to Bishop William H. Elder of the Diocese of Natchez a lot measuring
192 x 100 feet for the first site of St. Alphonsus Catholic
Church on Porter Avenue for $100.
1860
John B. Toulme (1795-1860), native of Saint Domingue,
now Haiti, expired at Bay St. Louis, on August 17th. He was a
pioneer settler of this village and assisted General Andrew
Jackson (1767-1845) with information on the British invasion
forces in this area during the War of 1812.(The Daily
Picayune, August 25, 1860, p. 2)
1861
The War of the Rebellion or American Civil War commences on April 12,
1861 in South Carolina.
“The Live Oak Rifles”, Company A, 3rd
Mississippi Infantry Regiment, C.S.A., were sworn into State
military service on September 18, 1861, on the Sardin G. Ramsay
(1837-1920) homestead and farm, south of Vancleave. 3rd
Sergeant Sardin G. Ramsay was one of the seven members of the Ramsay
family of Jackson County to serve in this military unit.(Howell,
To Live and Die in Dixie, 1991, p. 59 and
p. 552)
1865
The Civil War ends on April 9, 1865 in Virginia.
1870-1879
1870
On October 29, 1870, the New Orleans, Mobile, & Chattanooga
Railroad (Chartered 1866) completed the rail line between
Mobile and New Orleans. Rail service commenced on November 21,
1870.
1871
The N.O.M. & C. was reorganized on April 18, 1871 and became the
New Orleans, Mobile & Texas Railroad.
1875
An editorial in The Star of Pascagoula blasted the
New Orleans, Mobile & Texas Railroad as "nothing more
that or less than a gang of highway robbers, entitled to as little
consideration from the people as so many bandits who rob and plunder
the weak and defenseless in defiance of the law. The only
remedy for these wrongs is the sale of the road. Refuse to
patronize the road, even if undergo inconvenience in doing so.(The Star of Pascagoula,
May 22, 1875, p. 2)
In
June, D.B. Seal, District Attorney of Hancock County filed
litigation against
the New Orleans, Mobile, & Chattanooga
Railroad (sic?). The plaintiffs were asking that
the railroad build a draw bridge across the Pearl
River. The present bridge was blocking the East Pearl River
channel, which was needed for the lumber trade.(The Star of Pascagoula,
June 12, 1875, p. 3)
1877
In
February 1877, the citizens of Ocean Springs organized an
improvement society to beautify and refurbish the local
streetscapes.(The Star of Pascagoula, February 9, 1877, p. 1)
On
April 1st, the
New Orleans, Mobile & Texas Railroad almost doubled it
fare to $.05 per mile. Before the passenger rate increase
the cost of a round trip ticket to New Orleans from Pascagoula was
$5 and to Mobile $2. After increase, the New Orleans fare was
$10 and that to Mobile $4.10.(The Star of Pascagoula, April 6,
1788, p. 1)
In May
1877, Mr. Fontz of Paducah, Kentucky and Mr. Leftwich
of Tuscaloosa, Alabama acquired property at Ocean Springs.(The Star of Pascagoula,
May 18, 1877, p. 1)
In July
1877, Vigilant Fire Company No. 3 of New Orleans came to stay
at the Illing House for a three day respite. They
brought a band and held a ball, which was well-attended.
The Baptist community held an ice cream
festival to raise funds for a new sanctuary. Mr. Gueringer,
the railroad agent, auctioned off the cakes-some selling for $2.50
to $3.00 to as high as $10.(The Star of Pascagoula, July 20, 1877, p. 1)
1878
A monthly mite meeting was held in early April at the home of
Mrs. Lyman Bradford [nee Cynthia Davis (1813-1887) and the widow
of Lyman Bradford (1804-1858)] two miles east of Ocean
Springs. R.A. Van Cleave (1840-1908), local merchant was in
attendance and $11.25 was collected for the new Baptist Church
under construction at Ocean Springs. Guest were served cakes,
pastries, meats, candies, and fruits.(The Pascagoula
Democrat-Star, April 12, 1878)
In
late April 1878, R.A. Van Cleave (1840-1908) held a benefit at his
home to raise funds to erect a new Baptist Church at Ocean
Springs.(The Star of Pascagoula, May 3, 1878, p. 3)
In the late summer and early fall, there were approximately one
hundred seventy-five cases of yellow fever recorded at Ocean
Springs from the nearly six hundred people believed to have been
here at the time. From this population about thirty deaths
were recorded. Many were small children.
1880-1889
During the 1880s, Ocean Springs saw the ground work laid for its
future as an agricultural and horticultural center. Parker
Earle (1831-1917), William A. Sigerson (1844-1906),
1880
The
Van Cleave Hotel opened on May 1, 1880. The Pascagoula
Democrat-Star of May 7, 1880 revealed:
This
entirely new and comfortable hotel opened on the 1st of May, 1880,
and will remain open all the year round for the accommodation of
regular and transient boarders. This hotel being entirely new and
elegantly fitted up, and with large, well ventilated rooms lighted
by gas, boarders will find every comfort desired. Special
arrangements made for family. Rates moderate.
The
L&N Railroad leased the property of the N.O.M. & T. on
May 8, 1880.
In July 1880, Jefferson Davis (1808-889), former CSA
president, and Varina Howell Davis (1826-1905), his spouse,
visited and spent the day at the Ocean Springs Hotel.(The
Pascagoula Democrat-Star, July 23, 1880, p. 3)
On October
30, 1880 the Ocean Springs Fire Company No. 1 was duly organized
with forty-one active members and eighteen honorary members.
It was the first fire company in the State to receive
a charter,
which was signed by Governor John M. Stone on September
22, 1881. R.A. Van Cleave, president; Robert W. Lewis,
vice-president; A. von Rosambeau, secretary, and Thomas Cochran,
treasurer.(The Pascagoula Democrat-Star, November 26, 1880, p. 3
and Volunteer Fire Companies of Ocean Springs, Ms., 1961, p.
3)
1881
In March
1881, Father John C. Ahern of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church
was arrested and fined $35 for firing a pistol at C.F.
Emery, principal of the Scranton Public Schools. Both men
had guns on the streets of Ocean Springs and had been in a recent
disagreement. Sheriff Clark jailed Father Ahern in Pascagoula.
Professor Emery was not incarcerated. Professor Emory
departed Ocean Springs in May 1881 for Fort Smith, Arkansas to
practice law.(The Pascagoula
Democrat-Star, March 11, 1881, p. 3 and May 20, 1881, p. 3)
In May 1881, Elder I.A. Hailey of Louisville, Kentucky arrived at Scranton
[Pascagoula] to serve as pastor of the Baptist churches at
Moss Point, Scranton, and Ocean Springs.(The Pascagoula
Democrat-Star, May 20, 1881, p. 3)
On
October 5, 1881, the L&N Railroad purchased all the assets of
the reorganized New Orleans, Mobile, & Texas Railroad for
$6,000,000. This acquisition included the Ponchartrain
Railroad which ran seven mile from New Orleans to Milneburg on Lake
Ponchartrain, and the one hundred forty-one miles of track, depots,
the creosote plant at West Pascagoula (Gautier), stations, station
houses, section houses, rolling stock, etc. between Mobile and New
Orleans. (JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 5, p. 299)
1882
On
September 9, 1882, probably the most memorable event to take place
at the Van Cleave Hotel and possibly in Ocean Springs
occurred. This special occasion was the military review by
Jefferson Davis (1808-1889), former President of the Confederate
States of America, of the Reichard Battalion and German Guards of
New Orleans under the command of Major Maximillian Hermann. The
troops were accompanied to Ocean Springs by Wolf's band. The train,
which carried the military personnel, stopped at Beauvoir for Davis
and his daughter with the band playing the "Bonnie Blue Flag".
When they arrived at Ocean Springs, the uniformed Ocean Springs Fire
Company greeted them in a heavy rain at the depot. The honored
troops marched to the splendidly decorated Van Cleave Hotel where
they were welcomed by R.A. Van Cleave (1880-1908), President
of the Ocean Springs Fire Company. After a review by Jefferson
Davis, a reception with champagne punch sponsored by W.B. Schmidt
(1823-1900), wealthy merchant of New Orleans, was held in the parlor
of the hotel. The festivities of the day were concluded with a
grand military ball at Schmidt's Ocean Springs Hotel.(The
Pascagoula Democrat-Star, September 9, 1882 and September 16, 1882)
1888
Parker
Earle (1831-1917) recently moved to Ocean Springs from southern
Illinois and former president of the American Fruit Growers
Association acquired over 20,000 acres of land in Jackson County.
He planted over 20,000 peach trees and 10,000 vines in orchards and
vineyards north of Old Fort Bayou. One of these tracts called
the Earle Farm would become known as the Rose Farm from which Rose
Farm Road got its name. Also at this time, William A.
Sigerson (1810-1897) from Ohio had 20,000 pear trees near Ocean
Springs of the Keifer, LeConte, and Bartlett variety.(The Biloxi
Herald, January 14, 1888, p. 1)
1889
Jefferson Davis (1808-1889) died at
New Orleans on December 6th. His remains were interred in the
Metairie Cemetery.
1890-1899
1890
Frederick M. Weed (1850-1926) sold an artesian well to Alfred E.
Lewis (1862-1933) in October 1890. Located on Church Street behind
present day Bayou Sporting Goods. Mr. Lewis became known as the
"Artesian Prince" because he furnished free water to the citizens of
Ocean Springs for four public fountains (drinking troughs for
horses). He also supplied water freely for fighting fires.
Mr. Lewis built a hostel on the southwest corner of Jackson and
Porter. It became known as the Artesian House.(Jackson
County, Mississippi Land Deed Book 12, p. 98 and Minutes of the Town
of Ocean Springs, July 4, 1893 and January 2, 1894.
1891
In late January, Louis Sullivan and James Charnley
of Chicago
were guests at Frye's Ocean Springs Hotel awaiting completion
of their East Beach homes.(The Pascagoula Democrat-Star,
January 30, 1891, p. 1)
H.H. Curtis of Wisconsin is a guest of Mr. Holcombe, a
winter resident and summer citizen of Chicago. Mr. Curtis is
in town to check in real estate investments and supervise the men in
his employ that are preparing Alto Park for further
development. Colonel Sigerson and Colonel Stuart
are engaged in greeting new arrivals from the North
interested in the "land boom" here.(The Pascagoula
Democrat-Star, January 30, 1891, p. 1)
In April, the L&N Railroad built an iron turn-table
at Ocean Springs.(The Pascagoula-Democrat-Star, April 24, 1891,
p. 2)
Parker Earle & Sons of Ocean Springs, succeeded
the Winter Park Lumber Company, in the manufacturing of
yellow pine lumber.(The Biloxi Herald, July 11, 1891, p. 4)
Potable water was introduced into local homes in late
1891. The Biloxi Herald reported in January 1892, that "the
streets (of Ocean Springs) that were torn up for the purpose of
introducing the artesian water into residences should be put in as
good condition as they were not left in ruts and holes, as is the
case in several instances".(The Biloxi Herald,
January 2, 1892, p. 4)
1892
Bishop Thompson of the Episcopal Church
delivered an inspiring sermon at the Baptist Church, which
the Episcopalians are using until their new sanctuary is completed.(The Biloxi Herald,
January 9, 1892, p. 8)
Ocean Springs Hook and Ladder Volunteer Fire Company was
organized in April. H.H. Beyer, president; W.R. Simmons, vice
president; and James B. Garrard, secretary.(The Biloxi Herald,
April 16, 1892, p. 1)
Town of Ocean Springs incorporated on September 9, 1892.
H. Eugene Tiblier Jr. (1866-1936), found a sunken French
vessel in the Back Bay of Biloxi beneath the shallow water over
the family oyster lease, near the L&N Railroad bridge. Captain
Tiblier hired Joseph "Pep" Suarez (1840-1912), who owned the
schooner, Maggie, to assist in the salvage of
artifacts from the hold of the sunken ship. His sons, Albert
Tiblier and Vital Tiblier, dove on the oyster bank during the
salvage operations. According to a report of The Pascagoula
Democrat-Star of September 23, 1892, the Tiblier family
recovered four cannons, swords and scabbards, some muskets,
cannon balls, wooden sheaves, fire brick, iron braces, and rock
ballast.
The Ocean Springs Signal-published
only in 1892 by C.W. Crozier and F.L. Drinkwater.(C.E. Schmidt,
Ocean Springs French Beachhead,
1972, pp. 80-81).
1893
In late May, the corporal remains of Jefferson Davis
(1808-1889) were sent from New Orleans by a L&N funeral car to
Richmond, Virginia for burial on May 31st in the Hollywood
Cemetery.(The Biloxi Herald, May 29, 1893, p. 1)
The Ocean Springs Leader-published
in 1893 by F.L. Drinkwater (Regina Hines Ellison,
Ocean Springs, 1892,
p. 27.)
The Mexican Gulf Coast Illustrated written by T.H.
Glenn of Ocean Springs is complete and being bound.
Mr. Glenn was renting Spring Hill, the Wing Cottage on Old
Fort Bayou.(The
Biloxi Herald, January 2, 1892, p. 8, January 9, 1892, p. 8, and July 8, 1893, p. 8)
The Columbian Exposition Edition, an eight page and eight column
journal, was published by The Biloxi Herald in July.
G.W. Wilkes, publisher, and W.L. Gilbert were responsible for this
splendid publication.(The Biloxi Herald, July 22, 1893, p. 1 and
July 29, 1893, p. 1)
1894
"Desoto Avenue a new street has been graded and ditched."(The
Pascagoula Democrat-Star, March 23, 1894, p. 3)
1895
'The Westbrooks',
local baseball club of Ocean Springs, lost to the
'Lemons' of Biloxi 29 to 7 at Ocean Springs. The
battery for Ocean Springs was Fayard, Seeman (sic), and Katchardt
(sic). Biloxi's battery was Clark and Henley. Clark
struck out ten Westbrooks, while Seeman (sic) fanned only two
'Lemons'.(The Biloxi Herald, May 11, 1895, p. 8)
A fire
in late September 1895 had destroyed the round-house which was
adjacent to and north of the L&N depot. The depot was damaged by
the blaze and water resulting from efforts to squelch the blaze.
The station was entirely renovated in November 1895. Agent Weed,
made numerous interior changes and the interior and exterior of the
building was painted. Many felt that the Ocean Springs depot was
the most attractive on this division of the L&N and a credit to the
company. The Pascagoula Democrat-Star, October 4, 1895).
1896
An indication that Schmidt & Ziegler were losing interest in
their Ocean Springs Hotel occurred in June 1896, when they
sold the venerable Marble Springs to the City of Ocean
Springs for $1.00.(JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. Book 17, pp. 431-432)
William Gorenflo (1844-1932) of Biloxi sold the Town of Ocean
Springs 10,000 barrels of oyster shells to pave the streets of Ocean
Springs. Jerry O'Keefe (1860-1911) bid $185 to do the
work.(The Pascagoula Democratic-Star, November 27, 1896, p. 3 and
The Biloxi Herald, November 28, 1896, p. 8)
The Ocean Springs Wave-published
for 10 months in 1896 by Arthur Soule. Jules Soule, editor. Two
issues (1896) available at Mississippi Department of Archives and
History and on microfilm at the Pascagoula Public Library.
Jules Soule,
editor of The Biloxi Review, was mortally wounded by
John H. Miller (1847-1928), editor of The Biloxi Herald
on December 7th. Captain Miller was exonerated of manslaughter
charges in July 1897.(The Biloxi Herald, December 12,
1896, p. 8 and July 3, 1897, p. 1)
1897
In February, Albert E. Lee (1873-1936) of Hammond,
Louisiana was in Ocean Springs to determine if a local journal was
warranted. In his thirty-nine years in town, Mr. Lee
would go on to own and publish three local journals: The
Progress, The Ocean Springs News, and The Jackson County Times.(The
Pascagoula Democrat-Star February 10, 1897, p. 3)
William S. Van Cleave
erected a small, one-story, frame, store building juxtaposed to the
family home and situated on the northeast corner of Washington
Avenue and Desoto. This 750 square-foot, general store building was
razed in March 1903, after he had formed a partnership with Junius
P. Van Cleave, his brother.(The Pascagoula Democrat Star, March
5, 1897, p. 3 and January 27, 1903, p. 3)
Joseph Kotzum
(1842-1915) sold the Town of Ocean Springs a strip
of land thirty feet wide and one hundred feet long to continue
Desoto Avenue from Cash Alley to State Street.(JXCO.
Ms. Land Deed Bk. 34, p. 463)
Marshall Tardy had his men working to beautify Martin Avenue.
They were also shelling the Beach Road.(The Pascagoula
Democrat-Star, April 16, 1897, p. 3)
Ocean Springs Hook and Ladder Volunteer Fire Company held a
grand May ball in late April in order to raise capital to acquire a
building lot.(The Pascagoula Democrat-Star, April 16, 1897, p. 3)
The Progress-
A.E. Lee (1874-1936) publisher and editor from 1897-1903. Lee sold
to Ernest Beaugez. Plant destroyed by fire March 4, 1905. Some
issues (1904-1905) available at Mississippi Department of Archives
and History, and Chancery Court of Jackson County Archives in
Pascagoula.
1898
The
Spanish American War began on April 21st.[see Civil War and
Spanish American War on webpage]
1899
Battery D, 1st Regiment Artillery, Mississippi National Guard
was reorganized on May 6th. Joseph B. Garrard
(1871-1915), Captain;
Ross A. Switzer, 1st Lieutenant; Harry P. Halstead,
2nd Lieutenant; Louis D. Schmidt, 1st Sergeant; and Edward
F. Illing, Quartermaster.(The Pascagoula Democrat-Star, May
12, 1899, p. 3)
Frederick M. Dick was appointed manager of the Joseph B. Rose
Farm, north of Ocean Springs.(The Pascagoula Democrat-Star,
June 23, p. 3)
H. Piser & Company of Mobile acquired over 50,000 pounds of
Jackson County wool through the Davis Brothers, their local agent.
The price was 19 1/2 cents per pound.(The Pascagoula Democrat-Star, July 7, 1899, p. 3)
Light for local houses was created with acetylene gas.
At this time, George W. Dale (1872-1953) provided the service
locally.(The Pascagoula Democrat-Star, July 7, 1899, p. 3)
The Mayor and Board of Alderman passed an ordinance giving the
American telephone & Telegraph Company the right to
construct and operate lines of telephones and telegraphs along
the streets and alleys of town.(The Pascagoula Democrat-Star,
August 4 1899, p. 3)
The Mayor and Board of Alderman accepted the survey and plan
of the Evergreen Cemetery made by Fred Hess of
Pascagoula.(The Pascagoula Democrat-Star, August 4 1899, p. 3)
The Colored Camp Meeting in progress is largely attended by
White people as well as Colored.(The Pascagoula Democrat-Star,
August 11, 1899, p. 3)
H.F. Russell (1858-1940) and
Dr. Oscar Lee Bailey (1870-1938)
met with
Mayor Daniel Nash (1859-1900+) of
Biloxi to have
quarantine restrictions lifted on the healthy
Gulf Coast resort towns.(The Biloxi Herald, September 19,
1899, p. 8)
Due to the 'infamous quarantine',
the news and other items from Ocean Springs did not
reach The Pascagoula Democrat-Star for publication.(The Pascagoula Democrat-Star,
September 22, 1899, p. 3)
Ernest Garic (1862-1899) and son, Adrian Garic
(1887-1899),
drowned in Old Fort Bayou near the Washington Avenue ferry on
September 30th.(The Pascagoula Democrat-Star,
October 6, 1899, p. 3)
A new map of the Evergreen Cemetery was drawn by
Professor Q.D. Sauls and was accepted by the Reverend Oren
Switzer, Joseph Kotzum, and George W. Davis,
appointed trustees.(The Pascagoula Democrat-Star,
October 13, 1899, p. 3)
Mrs. Pauline Bellman (1811-1899) died on October 20th.(The Pascagoula Democrat-Star,
October 20, 1899, p. 3)
1900-1910
The period 1900-1910 is marked by the birth of the
remarkable Schmidt brothers. These sons of Frank E. Schmidt
(1877-1954) and Antoinette Johnson Schmidt (1880-1956), Dr. Frank O.
Schmidt, Dr. Harry J. Schmidt, and Charles E. Schmidt, left an
indelible mark on the history of Ocean Springs. Though seemingly
native sons, the Anderson brothers, Peter, Walter (Bob), and James
(Mac), who would become leaders in the artistic community for over
seven decades, came into the world at New Orleans.
Many of the old guard millionaires from New Orleans, the Midwest,
and the Eastern seaboard, whose winter havens dotted the shoreline
from Fort Point to Halstead Bayou passed on. Modern technology in
the guise of the telephone, electricity, the automobile, moving
pictures, and an ice plant, began to arrive here. Several new
churches were built and the tourist industry was strong with more
than ten hotels and many tourist homes in operation primarily on
Front Beach, Jackson Avenue, and Washington Avenue.
Horticulture, especially citrus and pecan orchards, began to develop
east and north of Ocean Springs. On the negative side, two
hurricanes hit town and a small gang of young ruffians who had
terrorized the city for several years was broken up when one was
killed in a scuffle on Washington Avenue by a gun-slinging, lawman
from Vancleave.
1900
Edward W. Wickey
(1866-1900+) of Indianapolis, Indiana asked the Board of Mayor and
Aldermen for a franchise to
establish an electric light plant and ice factory.
The franchise was reported granted to Mr.
Wickey in mid-January.(The Pascagoula Democrat-Star, January 5,
1900, p. 3 and January 19, 1900, p. 3)
The Cumberland Telephone & Telegraph Company
commenced
installation of the first telephone system in Ocean Springs.
Business and residential telephones became operational in late
April with Mrs. Olive Perrigrin Terry (1878-1900+) as
operator in charge. Will Terry (d. 1899), her spouse,
was killed at Plaquemine, Louisiana on April 28, 1899.(The
Pascagoula Democrat-Star, February 2, 1900 and May 4, 1900, p. 3,
and April 28, 1899, p. 3)
Narcisse Seymour (1849-1931), pioneer seafood shipper, was sending
shrimp to Mobile, New Orleans, and Pascagoula.(The Pascagoula
Democrat-Star, March 16, 1900)
The Big White Public School on Porter and Dewey was completed on
April 15, 1900, by contractor, Frank Bourgh. Professor Q.D. Sauls
was in charge of the nearly two hundred students in attendance.(The
Pascagoula Democrat-Star, April 13, 1900)
Nine hundred head of sheep driven to Ocean Springs from the
Vancleave ranches of H.C. Havens, Thomas E. Ramsay, and George
W. Tootle. They were shipped to W.L. Bramblett in three railcars to
Paris, Kentucky.(The
Pascagoula-Democrat-Star, May 18, 1900, p. 3)
The Methodist Episcopal Church on the southeast
corner of Porter and Rayburn was dedicated on September 16, 1900.
The first service was held in mid-May although the edifice had not
yet been completed. A new Sanctuary commenced services here October 21, 1962.(The
Pascagoula Democrat-Star, May 25, 1900, p. 3 and
Mrs. Thomas Hanson, nee Ryan, widow of
Thomas Hanson, Danish immigrat, expired at Ocean Springs on the
29th of October.(The Biloxi Daily Herald, October 30, 1900, p. 8)
The Ocean Springs Drug Store building of Herman Nill (1863-1904)
situated on the northwest corner of Washington Avenue and Porter was
destroyed in a large conflagration on December 2, 1900. The
building also housed the Cumberland Telephone Exchange and office of
Dr. E.A. Riggs (1861-1903). Mr. Nill’s brother-in-law, Caspar Vahle
(1867-1922), had his livery stable burned the same night.(The
Pascagoula Democrat-Star, December 7, 1900)
Pioneer citizen, Joseph Catchot (1823-1900), a native of Mahon, Menorca,
died. He was the father of Antonio J. Catchot (1864-1954), Mayor,
Fire Chief, and L&N bridge builder. Joseph Catchot arrived here in
1848.
1901
Stock raising is to be made a feature of the
big Rose Farm as a carload of western horses was
received here. Rush H. Field is the gentleman behind the
stock venture and is thoroughly capable of making a grand success,
having had years of experience.(The
Biloxi Daily Herald, January 15, 1901, p. 8)
The Hurricane of August 15, 1901 came ashore at
Pascagoula.
The Peoples Water Works was chartered by Joseph Kotzum
(1842-1915, F.J. Lundy (1863-1912), B.F. Joachim (1853-1925), Thomas
I. Keys (1861-1931), et al on September 4, 1901, to compete with
J.J. Kuhn’s water works company.(JXCO Chancery Court Chattel Deed
Bk. 2, pp. 182-187)
William
B. Schmidt, (1823-1901),
the Merchant Prince of
New Orleans expired at New Orleans on June 16th. Schmidt had a large estate on Front Beach and
owned the Ocean Springs Hotel from circa 1866 until 1901 with his
business partner, Frances M. Ziegler (1818-1901). He was generous
to the people of Ocean Springs giving land for St. John’s Episcopal
Church in 1891, and the Marble Springs Park in 1896.
The first Fort Bayou Bridge, a steel structure,
at Franco’s Ferry on Washington Avenue was built by the George E.
King Bridge Company for $9469 in 1901. It was completed in December
1901. Leonard Fayard (1847-1923) was the first bridge tender and
was remunerated $30 per month for his duties.(Minute Book 4, JXCO
Mississippi Board of Supervisors, p. 39, p. 45, p. 108, p. 122, and
p. 165)
By December, Leo von Rosambeau had replaced Mrs. Terry as
operator in the telephone office. He was backed up by
Minnie Powell.(The
Pascagoula-Democrat-Star, December 3, 1901, p. 3)
Peter Anderson (1901-1984), potter and artisan, was born on
December 22, 1901, at New Orleans.
Arthur A. Macginnis (1846-1901) Jr., cotton
manufacturer of New Orleans, and proprietor of a large estate on
Front Beach, died at New York City on December 27, 1901. His wife,
Mary Amelia Tweed (1851-1887), was the daughter of W.M. “Boss” Tweed
(1823-1878), leader of Tammany, the Democratic political machine of
NYC.
1902
The Progress, a local journal, was selected by
the Jackson County Board of Supervisors as one of its County
printers.(The Biloxi Daily Herald, January 9.1902, p. 8)
The Bowers Bill, created for the conservation of the
Mississippi oyster industry, passed in the State legislature.
In April 1902, Mrs. Annie L. Benjamin (1848-1938)
of Milwaukee acquires the Parker Earle (1831-1917) Place on Fort
Point from Sarah Deuel Cooke (1839-1904), and commenced development
of the park landscape at “Shore Acres” on what became known as
Benjamin Point.
Joseph Benson Rose (1841-1902) expired on July 3, 1902, in
the Savoy Hotel at NYC. Mr. Rose, an entrepreneur and yachtsman of
NYC and Chicago, maintained an estate, “Elk Lodge”, on East Beach.
He gave his name to the Earle Farm, which he acquired in August
1897.
Dr. Frank O. Schmidt (1902-1975), dedicated community
physician, born at Ocean Springs on November 16, 1902.
1903
The Scranton State Bank opened a branch here on the northeast
corner of Washington and County Road (Government Street).
Dr. Ethan Allen Riggs (1861-1903) who formerly practiced
medicine at Ocean Springs and Biloxi expired at New Orleans on
May 28th. He was educated at the University of Mississippi and
Tulane.(The Biloxi Daily Herald, May 29, 1903, p. 1)
Jacques Bertuccini (1854-1943)-now Minerva's Antiques owned
by Courtney Cook Blossman was erected at
present day 619 Washington Avenue.
Walter I. “Bob”Anderson (1903-1965), ceramics decorator and
watercolorist, was born at New Orleans on September 29, 1903.
1904
The Ocean Springs Electric Light and Ice Company
began operations south of the L&N Railroad bridge on Biloxi Bay.
Judge Thomas W. Grayson
(1825-1904) passed on March 4, 1904. Grayson came here in 1881,
from Grangers Landing (Woolmarket) and was elected Mayor of Ocean
Springs for the 1897-1898 term. Eugene W. Illing (1870-1947) was
elected Justice of the Peace to succeed Mr. Grayson.
In late June 1904, electric street lights operated by the Biloxi
Electric Railway Company.
The Rose Farm was selling its mandarin oranges at Biloxi for
between 15 and 30 cents per dozen. They also had a large crop
of Creole oranges.(The Biloxi Daily Herald, November 4, 1904, p. 5)
Robert Walter Lewis (1886-1904), son of the widow of A.E.
Lewis, expired on December 4th.(The Biloxi Daily Herald, December
6, 1904, p. 5)
Frederick J.V. LeCand (1841-1933) from Natchez, Mississippi
acquired 'Audubon Place' at Ocean Springs and moved his family here
in December 1904 to start a poultry farm.(The Biloxi Daily
Herald, December 7, 1904, p. 5 and December 28, 1904, p. 5)
Frederick Mason Weed 1850-1926), incumbernt, defeated
Hiram D. Cudabac for Mayor of Ocean Springs 76 votes to 35
votes.(The Biloxi Daily Herald, December 14, 1904, p. 5)
Jacob C. Tucker (1845-1917) advertised for his Gulf
Coast School of Practical Railroad Telegraphy.(The Biloxi
Daily Herald, December 17, 1904, p. 8)
1905
“Iduma”
[L-R:
(ground)-Jonathan Ramsay (1873-1953); David Ramsay (1873-1947); unknown; Reuben
Ramsay; Knox Ramsay: L-R: (on Boat)-Iduma Walker Ramsay and Woody
Ramsay. From Mike Ramsay, Arnaudville, La.]
Schooner Iduma built
by Jonathan Ramsay (1873-1953)-
official number 201722*, 44 feet and 11 tons, built at Ocean
Springs in 1905, by John Ramsay for his own use. It was named for
his sister-in-law, Iduma Walker, the spouse of Wesley Knox Ramsay.
The Ocean Springs State Bank was organized in January 1905, by
Dr. O.L. Bailey (1870-1938) and F.M. Weed (1852-1926), et al.
The L&N RR announced that it would build a modern
depot at Ocean Springs commencing in June.(The Biloxi Daily
Herald, January 11, 1905, p. 5)
Mary McGowan (1839-1905), native of Ireland and mother-in-law of L&N Conductor William
Johnson (1861-1922), died in February.(The Biloxi Daily
Herald, January 16, 1905, p. 1)
Henry Gottsche (1875-1905), brother of Albert C. Gottshe, took
his own life in the barn behind the Davis Brothers Store..(The Biloxi Daily
Herald, February 3, 1905, p. 6)
The venerable Ocean Springs Hotel on Jackson Avenue was
destroyed by fire on May
25, 1905.(The Pascagoula Democrat-Star, May 26, 1905, p. 3)
George Friar commenced a bucket factory. Porter B. Hand
(1834-1914), master mechanic and son of Miles B. Hand (1804-1880+),
the founder of Handsboro, ran the machinery which made staves from
pine and native woods at the rate of one bucket each minute.(The
Pascagoula Democrat-Star, December 1, 1905)
In August 1905, The Illing House, one of the
oldest hotels of Ocean Springs, was demolished by Judge E.W. Illing.
It was located on the northeast corner of Washington Avenue and
Porter where Illing would build later his Illing Theatre.(The
Pascagoula Democrat-Star, August 11,1905)
In October, Marcellus “Mike” Reus (1884-1905) was killed in a
scuffle by Night Policeman, Henry Taylor (1869-1947), on
Washington Avenue. Officer Taylor, a former deputy sheriff, was
brought in from Vancleave to eliminate hoodlum activity in the
town.
Dr. Harry J. Schmidt (1905-1997), prominent Biloxi physician,
was born at Ocean Springs on December 28, 1905.
1906
J.J. Kuhn (1848-1925) of New Orleans sold his
waterworks operations to the Peoples Water Works for $3180.(The
Pascagoula Democrat-Star, January 5, 1906)
The automobile arrived at Ocean Springs. Two Canadian born
gentlemen, who settled here, Dr. Henry B. Powell (1867-1949) and
Orey A. Young (1868-1938), share the honor of owning the first cars
in town.(The Pascagoula Democrat Star, April 6, 1906, p. 3, c. 5
and Ocean Springs French Beachhead, 1972, p. 101) Not far
behind were Fred W. Benjamin (1879-ca 1945) and Colonel Newcomb
Clark (1836-1913).(The Pascagoula Democrat-Star, October 26,
1906, p. 2, c. 1)
Dr. Henry Bradford Powell establishes a
sanitarium on Fort Bayou in the Antonio Franco (1834-1891) home.
The Scranton State Bank failed in August 1906.
On September 26-27, 1906, a Hurricane hit Pascagoula. There
was wide spread damage at Ocean Springs as the 1878 Baptist Church
on Desoto Avenue was destroyed. The Knights of Pythias Hall on
Washington Avenue was severely marred and later demolished. The
Rose Farm was extensively damaged as well as the Boulevard Farm
residency of Mr. C.S. Bell (1842-1925). The residences of Wilson L.
Carter (1867-1942) and Joe Wieder (1879-1931), which were under
construction, were demolished by the tempest. The Firemen’s Hall
and the new concrete block store of the VanCleave Brothers were
wrecked. Many trees and fences on Washington and Jackson Avenue
were blown down. The Horn Island Lighthouse was destroyed and
Charles Johnsson, the keeper, his spouse and daughter, were drowned.(The Pascagoula Democrat-Star, October 5, 1906, The Biloxi Daily Herald, September 28, 1906, p. 2,
and the Mississippi Press, October 16?, 1977, p. 13A)a
The Jeremiah J. O’Keefe (1860-1911), family
mansion, which now serves as the Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, was
built on Porter Avenue.
In late August, H.F. Russell and family moved
into their “new” home, the Dr. Case place on Porter and Washington
Avenue.(The Pascagoula Democrat-Star, August 24, 1906, p. 3)
Mrs. Martha Lyon Holcomb (1833-1906) expired at “Hollywood”,
her home on the northeast corner of Porter and Rayburn, on November
29,1906.
1907
L&N Railroad erected a new depot building east of the
former structure.
Pioneer citizen, Joseph Bellande, (1813-1907), a native of
Marseille, France passed on June 16,1907. The Bellande Cemetery
situated on Dewey Avenue was named for him and his wife, Rosaline
LaForce Bellande (1821-1893), the granddaughter of Catherine
Bourgeois LaFontaine, the Widow LaFontaine. Bellande arrived at
Ocean Springs in1835.
James McConnell Anderson (1907-1998), artist, born on August
9, 1907 at New Orleans.
The Hanson-Wilson House, originally called Bay
View, now called Shadowlawn, and the bed and breakfast establishment
of Bill and Nancy White Wilson on Shearwater Drive, was erected by
Christian C. A. Hanson (1845-1914) of New Orleans.
Mrs. Julia Egan (1833-1907), fiery red-headed Irish lady, who
once ran the post office, a store, and a boarding house, the Egan
Cottage, on Jackson Avenue and Front Beach, expired.
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