by Judge Jeff Truly
Fayette, the county site of Jefferson
County, Is located near the geographical center of the county, on
the Natchez, Jackson and Columbus Railroad. Jackson, the capital of
the State, is seventy-three miles north, and Natchez, on the
Mississippi River, is twenty-six miles south.
Eighty years
ago, when the increasing population of the county necessitated the
removal of the seat of justice from the village of Greenville, where
it had been during territorial times, Commissioners were appointed
and vested with plenary power to select such location as, in their
judgment, would best conserve the interests of the general public.
After full consideration of the advantages of several proposed sites
they selected and purchased the Platner Tract, and upon it
accordingly the town of Fayette was built. An ideal location for a
town, the experience & three-quarters of a century have demonstrated
the wisdom of the final decision of the Commissioners. Few places
present more natural advantages. Situated upon the crest of a
cluster of gently undulating hills whose gradual declivities afford
perfect natural drainage; on the out skirts o the pine belt, above
miasma and free from malaria, the uniform good health enjoyed by its
inhabitants constantly attests the far-sightedness of its founders.
A brief comparison of the conditions which confronted our
forefathers when the location of the proposed county seat was
determined upon and those which surround us at the present time will
suffice to bring into sharp relief and contrast the manifold changes
which the hand of God bath wrought in our midst in less than a
century.
As we glean from the ancient record the two main
considerations which weighed heaviest with the Commissioners and
turned the scale In favor of the location finally selected were the
existence of “springs of living waters” thereon, and the fact that a
re lay house on the Stage Coach trace was situated within what
afterwards became the corporate limits of the town of Fayette.
Transportation was by stage to the Mississippi River and thence by
flatboat to New Orleans, so, when the town was first located the two
most important, if not the only, buildings near the tract purchased
were the Relay House, just north of the proposed town, and the
Tavern upon its southern confines.
Highways were infrequent,
and the fact that two of the most important public roads joined near
the point selected was of great, if not paramount, importance to a
people who were compelled to travel over one or the other to reach
market.
The question of an adequate water supply was then, as
now, one of the grave problems of municipal government, and the
record discloses that the “Big Spring,” on Spring Street was
dedicated to the public use, while the first work of public
improvement was the digging of a well from which all were permitted
to use. Obstacles which might well have daunted brave hearts
speedily disappeared before the indomitable energy of the pioneers
of that day, and soon a town sprang up where only trees had stood.
Here was erected a “Temple of Justice,” so the Courthouse was
termed, and soon after there arose an altar to the Deity, in whom
all trusted, in the form of the “Old Brick Church,” which through
many decades stood as a sentinel in the City of the Dead, keeping
watch and ward over the raves of the brave men and noble women
resting ‘neath its solemn shade.
How changed are conditions
to-day! The old stage coach with Its pleasures and perils, its
roughness and romance, has vanished, and in its stead the locomotive
places us in close connection with the marts of the world, in every
quarter. The old Tavern, which re sounded so merrily to the blast of
the coachman’s bugle, is but a memory now, while a modern hotel with
there luxuries than were dreamt of in the philosophy of that
primitive day, makes pleasant the traveler’s stay. The waters of the
“Big Spring” still ripple from their pure source, but the unceasing
yet unavailing murmur against their waste is drowned in the throb of
the engine which, near by, supplies from an artesian well a
never-failing flow of water delivered to every part of the town. The
“Old Brick Church” is gone! Destroyed by the unpitying march of
progress; only its dismantled columns remain to mutely protest
against its removal from a spot hallowed by fond memories made
sacred by the dear dead hopes which lie buried there.
In the
days of old, Fayette arrested and fixed the attention as an ideal
place of residence, and the passing of the year hat but enhanced the
many advantages of the place. No town in the State within the last
ten years has made more substantial improvement or greater progress
in any direction, and none to-day present more attractions or
inducements to the home- seeker.
As a place of residence for
a man with a growing family its attractions are practically
innumerable. In the midst of a hospitable, cultured, refined people,
the social atmosphere is of the purest. The Christian, Methodist and
Presbyterian denominations each have substantial houses of worship,
with large congregations. The Methodists are now building a new
edifice whose stately walls are already assuming shape and which,
when completed, will be an architectural ornament to the town. Other
denominations also have representative memberships, and all upon
occasion worship together in brotherly love and unity, co-operating
in every work of benevolence and charity:
Not only are the
social and religious influences wholesome, but the children of the
entire community possess school advantages unsurpassed by any in the
State, outside of the university cities. Here we have a public;
graded and high school all combined in one, upon a plan strictly its
own. By this system every white child of :the county of educable age
can acquire an education which will equip him or her for the battle
of life. From the primary branches until the pupil is prepared to
enter any of the State Universities he need attend no other school.
In addition, music, elocution, typewritten stenography, and
bookkeeping, are all free to the children of the entire county who
are pupils of the Jefferson County High School. If a young man
desires to prepare himself for a professional career he can here
obtain the knowledge necessary to enable him to enter upon such
studies at any college. If a boy or girl wishes to learn a business
course, the opportunity is here offered at home.
Upon the
score of general health, Fayette leaves nothing to be desired.
General good health is the almost universal rule. The death rate is
of the lowest the air is pure, the water wholesome, and typhus and
other kindred diseases are absolutely unknown.
As a business
place, Fayette presents unrivaled advantages. Situated in the center
of the county, by virtue of its geographical position it controls,
in part, at least, of the trade for many miles in every direction.
It is in easy reach alike of. the thrifty farmers of the east and
the rich alluvial lands of the west. The Natchez, Jackson and
Columbus Railroad gives it connection with the Mississippi River at
Natchez, and the Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad, two miles
distant, gives it speedy access to the markets at New Orleans and
the North East. The unbroken and increasing prosperity of its many
enterprising merchants furnishes incontrovertible proof, the success
which here attends commercial effort when wisely and conservatively
managed. The town owns a thoroughly equipped waterworks and electric
light plant, by which water and lights are furnished consumers with
unfailing regularity and reasonable rates.
As a cotton market
Fayette offers striking inducements. With “up-to-date” gins and oil
mills; the farmer can bring his cotton to this market and dispose of
the entire product at the full market price. Our merchants meet
prices of all adjacent towns without reference to size, both in the
cheapness at which good are sold and the prices paid for all cotton
offered for sale. And the result of this course of fair dealing on
their part is evidenced by the fact that this point handles a larger
number of bales of cotton per capita of its inhabitants than any
other shipping place from which statistics are obtainable.
Without unduly extending the length of this article, we epitomize by
saying: If you want to live in a healthy place; in a refined and
social community; where unrivaled school advantages are offered free
of cost; where religious influences control, yet tolerance prevails;
where the conveniences of city life are enjoyed freed of all that is
objectionable; if you want to live in a live town, where competition
is keen, but fair,
COME TO FAYETTE!