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Todays Date:
Early settlers came in the spring of 1829 in four ox-drawn
wagons traveling together toward the Big Road
on their way to Natchez or Jackson. They decided to camp on the
Chappel hill overnight. During the night a spring storm came over
and the rain extinguished the fire coals banked in ashes within
their iron wash pots. While waiting for a scout to return from
Braxton with more fire, the men did some exploring and two
families decided to remain for the summer and raise some food. The
other two started on to their western destination. When they got
to Limestone Creek it had overflowed the banks and with no way of
crossing they made camp on the hill and prepared to spend the
summer and plant some crops. This was the beginning of
Harrisville, so goes a re-told tale, but there remains no record
of the names of these early families. It has been suggested that
one of the families was probably Buckleys.As
time passed more settlers came to homestead. Some names of these
early families were: Barlow, Bridges, Milsaps, Hilton,
Harris,Touchstone, Mahaffey, Gates, Rogers, Kelly,
Stuckey,Taylor, Guynes, Carrolls, Shoemaker,
Chappel, Ross, Neely,Ainsworth, Morris, Johnson, and McLeod.
Others include the Sandifers,Buckleys, Bells, Fergusons, Harpers,
Berrys, Keens, Tuckers, Sebrens,Shorters, Spells, Halls, Lawsons,
Albrittons, Moores, Burketts,Mulligans, Holcombs, Robbins,
McDonalds, Drummonds, Gibsons, Smiths,Hicks, Thames, and
Weathersbys.
Mills are Built
There is a record of a sawmill in operation during the Civil War by Jimmie Rogers
who employed about ten men. Later Mr. Leander Ross, John Stuckey,
Jim McDonald, a deaf and dumb man by the name of Weeks,and Mr. T.
N. Neely, Sr., ran sawmills, grist mills, rice mills, cane mills,
and cotton gins.A Town Grows At the turn of the century, Harrisville boasted three
general stores, a drugstore, a black-smith shop, four doctors, two churches,a
school and a Masonic Lodge. Early owners of stores as well as
those up to the present follow: A. Q. May, Alf Stubblefield, Dave
Neely, T.N. Neely, L. D. Spell, Dr. G. W. Barlow,Mr.Holcome, Mrs. Cecil Neely Barlow,
W. P. Harris, Wayne Rogers,Richard Sebren, Drew Ball, Oscar N. Sebren, R. R. Sebren,
and T. N.Neely Jr.
Cafes were run by Red Haleys, Whiteheads,Granthams, Buckleys. Thefirst service
station was built by Henry Rogers and Jim Albirtton ran
a shoeshop. Today there
are two service stations, two stores, and the Shorter's Cafe, two
churches, the Masonic Lodge, and the Post Office.Doctors Came;Doctors
who served Harrisville through the years were: Dr.Touchstone, Dr.
Plummer Neely, Dr. H. B. French, Dr. George W.Barlow, Dr. John
Gibson, Dr. Oliver Barron and Dr. Wyck Neely. Thelatter remained
to serve the community for over 60 years.
Post Office
Established By 1859 a Post Office was established here. Early post mistressesand postmasters
were: G. P. Touchstone, Mrs Beulah Burkett Bridges,Mr. Robert
Bridges, Mrs. Lilla Bridges Mrs. Leal Brackin, A. B.Cardwell, and
Mrs. Eloise Harris Neely.
In 1968 the Post Office leased a section of a sturdy, newly constructed concrete
block Lodge Hall built for Masons and Eastern Star, with a kitchen
and club area on the main floor which is generously shared with
other local groups for recreational and
civic purposes.
Education Develops
Many one-teacher schools for three months sessions were organized after 1845.
Earlier records are not available but teaching most
likely went on
in homes by itinerant teachers or parents.In early 1900 an academy was established in
Harrisville on top of the hills where the healthfulness of the place
is unsurpassed.
This was a boarding school at a cost of $6.50 month, with tuition at $1.25. A catalog
for the 1903-04 session of the academy lists H. N. Holyfield as the Principal and
Miss Louise Barber and Cornelia Holyfield as faculty and Miss
Florence Robbins as teacher of vocal and instrumental music.There was an enrollment o
115 students from 8 different communities with 21 listed in the Music Class.
Former Attorney General Greek L. Rice at one time was Principal of
the Academy.Around 1918 the Harrisville area was consolidated and a fine 2 story building
was erected. A fleet of eight T-model open touring buses
transported high school as well as elementary students.In later years Pearl consolidated
with Harrisville. An eight month term was established and
teacher's salaries were raised from $40. In 1927 the Agriculture
building was added and the school became the first in the county
to secure the federal aid from the Smith-Hughes Act. Three
teachers homes were added and a gymnasium and in 1933 the school
cafeteria was begun.Today there is a new
modern school plant with children bused in from a 25 square mile
area. Many graduates have gone out from here through the years
filling places of trust in many areas as doctors, lawyers,
teachers, preachers, farmers, public servants, executives
in industry, the military services, and government.;O.N. Sebren and Mrs. Minnie Taylor Dear
each served as Methodist and Baptist chairman of the centennial celebration of the two
churches in Harrisville recently.
In 1849,Rev. Godfrey, a Methodist minister, donated a plot of land for a
Methodist church which the members built from hewn logs size
20'x20.' The seats were made from the large logs split in half,hewn
flat with wooden pegs driven in them to serve as legs to holdthe
seats the right distance from the earthen floor.The
little church grew and prospered and other denominations came to
worship with them. The building became too small. A number
of Baptists wanted to feel at home and desired to worship with
them and accordingly proposed to help build a larger building in
order that they might worship together. Tom Rogers, a Baptist, had
erected a sawmill and offered to donate the lumber if they would
build a Baptist Church. The Methodist offered to supply the plot
of ground if they could share the privilege of holding their
services in the building. This was agreed upon. The building was
completed and on the day of its dedication,Dempsey Touchstone gave it the name of
Liberty because the two denominations worshipped there. After many years it was
blown away by a tornado then each denomination built its own building
which stands in the same spots today.The
following Harrisville citizens served on the County Board
of Supervisors consecutively for the past century
(1872-1972)John W. Barlow, G. W. Barlow, H.
H. Harris, J. T. Rogers, A. J.Barron, Wyatt Shorter, John W.
Barlow, W. W. Butler, L. W. Murray, T.H. Harris, J. G. Harris, J.
F. Berry, Jefferson Burkett, James W.Garrett, M. L Barlow, G. Dewey Neely,
C. P. Mahaffey and W.P.Harris.
Economic Level Rises
Cotton farming was the chief money crop in the early days. With the
coming of the truck farming and the shipping of tomatoes, cabbage,
and other vegetables from Gatesville and Hopewell, life began to
change in this area and more money was in circulation. People
began to do diversified farming, and cut pulpwood to add to their
income. Chicken farms began to be another way to make an independent
living, followed by cattle farming.
With the coming of the BAWI program (Balance Agriculture with Industry)
in Mississippi, now spanned with a ribbon of paved highways going
in every direction, with Rt. 469 opening 1958,
life in the Northwest corner of Simpson County made a drastic
change. People began to commute to Jackson, Crystal Springs and to
the Universal in Mendenhall to work in industry, continuing to raise
gardens, small patches of farm products, and cattle.Reforestation
through the years made possible the systematic sale
of pulpwood.Evidence of improved economy is brick homes, numbering over 50,
built in the community in the past
decade and a half, at an approximate cost of $l,,000,000.00. A
local water system was begun in June 1968, serving over 100
families.
Organizations
Masonic Lodge,In a record submitted by Jennie Ruth Sherwood the Masonic Lodge was
founded in 1871. A list of officers in the minutes of 1894 include:
T. N. Touchstone, A. P. Hilton, B. E. Lutton, J. J. Hilton,John
Clarke, T. M. Miller, C. W. McLeod, F. M. Hinson, and J. G.Stuckey,
James Earl Dear and J. P. Dear.
Earstern Star
The Eastern Star was founded in Mississippi by Rob Morris.
The Harrisville Chapter was instituted April 6, 1946. It had 23
charter members and 18 officers. These were led by Worthy Matron
Zaomi Chappell and Worthy Patron O. C. Chance. The constitution
was written May 5, 1947, a name given of Chapter no. 315,
Harrisville.
The Chapter presently has seven charter members left, and sixty-six members on roll.
Mrs. Willie Jean Shorter now serves as Worthy Matron, and Wayne Owens as
Worthy Patron.
Lion's Club
In 1970 the Lions Club of Harrisville was organized. Charterofficers were: President,
Jerry Bridges; 1st Vice President, Leo Martin; 2nd Vice President,
Bob Neely; Secretary Byrd Bridges ,Treasurer, Edgar Ray. The
members have contributed a $10,000 ball park on land contributed
by the Perry family and have 7 organized softball and baseball
teams outfitted in snappy uniforms that play in the leagues and
host tournaments. This has greatly enriched the recreational life
of both the young and the adults.
Senior Citizens
In 1973 the Senior Citizens organized as a part of the National
Retired Senior Volunteer
Program and regularly visit Mendenhall Nursing Home. They
instituted a 3-day Folk Arts Festival that attracted over 700
people in October which they hope to continue annually. They have
spearheaded outstanding projects including the organization of the
Simpson County Historical Society and the establishment of the
local library Charter officers were: President, Sarah Lee Ball;
Vice president, Mrs. Lillian Rogers; Secretary and Treasurer, Mrs.
Nora Barlow; Historian, Miss Margie
Kelly.
Library Committee
In May 1974 the Harrisville Library Committee was formed. It is
sponsored by the Senior
Citizens Club. The Jackson Metropolitan Library Service was begun
in June. Plans are made for fund-raising for a future Public
Library. Charter officers were: President, Mrs. Dorothy Magee
Sandifer; Vice President, Mrs. Rachel Crowe; Secretary and
Treasurer, Mrs. Wanda Neely Bridges.Reprinted from the Simpson County Sesquicentennial
Historical Booklet(1974)
