My forefathers left me with many of their golden memories of the Rutledge-Salem Community. I would like to share a few of these with you. Much of this information was given to me by me stepfather, William Terry Edmondson. Tolbert and Ellen Rutledge provided much information also.

The picture shows the old James A. Bet Rast homeplace. Family legend says that 16 generations of children were brought up in this old home. It was originally a log structure and had a kitchen separate from the living quarters. It was moved twice. The living quarters were later torn down, but the kitchen still exists as part of a museum in Southern Mississippi.

Rutledge-Salem was well settled by the Civil War era. The Eastport to Fulton road and the Tuscumbia to Jacinto roads crossed near Rutledge-Salem. The stagecoach traveled these roads and a hooking station and inn were located at this intersection. This was about six miles south of Iuka. Traces of these roads are still found today. In places, the road bed has cut into the earth to a depth of five feet.

Aunt Liza Cain, sister of James A. Rast, gave property for Rutledge-Salem Church and Cemetery. In 1891 E.D. Rast petitioned the board of supervisors to move the Fulton to Eastport road out of the cemetery and run it along the west side of the graveyard.

A skirmish was fought near the Rutledge-Salem Cemetery during the Civil War.

The small two room school house at Rutledge-Salem also served as the voting precinct.

About one half mile from Rutledge-Salem Church was the pauper home. It was run at one time by Uncle Gus Cox. Several paupers were buried in Rutledge-Salem Cemetery.

Robert Spilsby Edmondson was one of the earlier settlers of Rutledge-Salem Community. He brought his family here from Lynchburg, Virginia settling in the “Edmondson Hills” area.

The one Bailey plantation was in the Rutledge-Salem Community. Two cemeteries were located on it.

The early settlers gave the name “Wash Pot Hollow” to the hollow that looked as if a huge wash pot of earth had been scooped away. Wash Pot Hollow now has a road through it.

Remains of a brick yard can be seen on part of the old Rast homeplace.

Around the 1940s, gypies would camp near Rutledge-Salem Church. The gypies tents resembled teepees. Mothers cautioned children not to leave the yard because the gypies might steal them.

Submitted by Austin Rast.