Extinct Villages and Towns of Holmes County, MS

Extract taken from Publication of the Mississippi Historical Society, By the Mississippi Historical Society, Edited by Franklin L. Riley, Secretary, Volume V, Oxford, Mississippi, 1902, pgs 339 - 340, from chapter entitled “Extinct Towns and Villages of Mississippi” by Franklin L. Riley

Submitted by Debora Reese

Rankin[1] – The town of old Rankin was situated on the Tchula and Yazoo City road, about five miles from Tchula. When Holes county was formed out of a part of Yazoo the flourishing town of Rankin was prominently spoken of as the best location for the seat of justice of the new county. Bit Lexington was chosen instead, and Rankin had long since been extinct. Its history has been almost entirely forgotten. There is nothing there now but an old field, owned by a negro, Claibe Davenport.

Old Capt. Parrisot, father of Capt. S. H. Parrisot, and father-in-law of Mrs. F. Barksdale, of Yazoo City, settled in that vicinity in 1828. Soon afterwards he removed to Old Rankin, where he kept a hotel until 1834. He had but one eye, one arm, and one leg, his other members having been lost in the French service. Hon. E. F. Noel in writing of Capt. Parrisot’s hotel says:

“An old New Orleans gentleman, whom I met at Lookout Mountain this summer told me he spent a night at this hotel when a lad, and that Gov. Runnels and his Attorney-General were there the same night, gambling in the office * * * * * ; and that in the place of a watch dog, Capt. Parrisot had a crane which would walk around and protect certain parts of the premises by pecking any one who intruded.”

Tradition says that Mr. Etho Beall, a justice of the peace, held at old Rankin, under the protection of a shot-gun, the first court of the territory composing Holmes county.

Montgomery – The town of Montgomery was situated on the west bank of Big Black river at Pickens ferry. It was incorporated by the Legislature in 1836. Another act relating to the charter of Montgomery was passed in May 1837.

Vernon – About twelve miles north of Lexington was once a thriving business place called Vernon. Before the War between the States the country surrounding this town was settled by wealthy planters, but when the slaves were freed the med who gave life to the town were greatly impoverished. This brought decay to the place. In writing of the effects of the war, Mr. Bowman says:

“For many miles in every direction there were many thousands of acres of land lying waste, overgrown with grass and weeds, which before the war were productive fields of cotton and corn. Many fine two story residences were toppling down and going to decay. Some were tenanted by thriftless negroes, who had the apology of a few acres of badly tilled land for a crop. The building of the Yazoo and Mississippi Valley railroad has resuscitated this section, but trade has found new centers.”

Georgeville – The town of Georgeville was situated in the northwest of S. 35, T. 14, R. 3, East. A negro cabin with badly washed land is all that is left of this place.

[1] The sketches of the extinct towns of Holmes county are based upon information derived from Hon. E. F. Noel, of Kosciusko, Miss., and Robert Bowman, Esq., of Yazoo City, Miss.