Lamar County, Mississippi Genealogy and History

 

Jeff Kemp - State Coordinator    




| MSGENWEB | USGENWEB|


Welcome to the Lamar County GenWeb site.  The data posted here was contributed by volunteers who compiled it on their own time and at their own expense and donated it so that others could access it free of charge.  On most pages you will find the name and e-mail address of volunteer who donated the data for that page.  If you find something that helps you or that you particularly enjoy viewing, please take a minute to thank the contributor.  We would not have this website with them!

*denotes links to other websites.

 

ABOUT LAMAR COUNTY

 

   Lamar county was formed April 1, 1904 from the second judicial district of Marion County and a small part of Hancock County, and the town of Purvis was made the county seat.   Marion County was created from parts of Wayne, Franklin, and Amite Counties in 1811, and those counties were created from parts of Adams, Pickering, and Washington Counties,  which were created in the Mississippi Territory in 1799 and 1800.  Thus researchers will need to consult records from Marion County from 1811 until 1904, and from the other counties named for dates prior to 1811. 


Besides Purvis, the small towns of Sumrall and Lumberton are located in the county.  The much larger city of Hattiesburg, which is the seat of Forrest County, has grown across the county line into eastern Lamar County and that area is now the fastest growing area in the state.  It's a great place to live, work, and do genealogy research

NEIGHBORING COUNTIES

 

 

 

 Covington

 Jones

 Forrest

 Perry  Stone

 Pearl River

 Marion

 Jeff Davis

 

 

PLANNING A VISIT?

 

You will probably stay in Hattiesburg, where there is a variety of accommodations for overnight visitors.  Purvis is the seat of justice in Lamar County, located in the east central part of the county.  The drive to Purvis from Hattiesburg is less than twenty minutes via Interstate 59 or US Highway 11.  The town of Sumrall is in the northwest part of Lamar County, again less than twenty minutes from Hattiesburg.  Lumberton is in the far south part of the county, just over twenty minutes from Hattiesburg.

 

LOCAL  RESOURCES

COUNTY OFFICES

 

CIRCUIT CLERK:  Marriage and Criminal records

Leslie Wilson

P.O. Box 369
Purvis, Ms 39475
601-794-8504

If you know the book and page numbers you may order copies by mail for 50 cents per page.
There is an additional charge for certified copies.
They will, time permitting, search for the record for you at a cost of about $20.00.

CHANCERY CLERK:  Divorce, Land Records

Wayne Smith

P.O. Box 247
Purvis, Ms 39475 
(601 )794-8504

 

If you know the book and page numbers copies will be mailed at no cost.  If you need several copies the charge is 25 cents per page.  They will do a limited search for you as time permits.


GENEALOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETIES

*South Mississippi Genealogical and Historical Society

 If you have a we address or other contact information for this group please send it to me and I will post it here.


LIBRARIES

 

*Lamar County Library System

Purvis Public Library (Headquarters)
PO Box 289
122 Shelby Speights Drive
Purvis, MS 39475
601-794-8768
9:00am-5:30pm(M-F) 9:00am-12:00pm(Sat)

Lumberton Public Library
106 Main St.
Lumberton, MS 39455
601-796-4227
9:00am-5:30pm(M-F) 9:00am-12:00pm(Sat)

Sumrall Public Library (L.R. Boyer Memorial Library)
PO Box 327
103 Poplar Street
Sumrall, MS 39482
601-758-4711
9:00am-5:30pm(M-F) 9:00am-12:00pm(Sat)

*The Library of Petal, Hattiesburg, and Forrest County

Mississippi collection with many valuable resources.  Census records and old newspapers on microfilm with viewers that make copies. 

 

Open Monday-Thursday 8 am-8 pm, Friday-Saturday 10 am-4 pm.
329 Hardy St. Hattiesburg
601-582-4461

MUSEUMS

Armed Forces Museum at Camp Shelby

This museum houses memorabilia from the Civil War, WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf Wars. More than 6,100 items from all branches of the military are displayed. Re-Opening October 2001 Free admission.
12 miles South of Hattiesburg on Hwy. 49
601-558-2757


NEWSPAPERS AND TELEVISION

 

*Hattiesburg American

 

*The Times of Hattiesburg and Petal

 

*WDAM Television Channel Seven

 


 

 

 

*The Libraries at the University of Southern Mississippi

 

 

*Cook Memorial Library, University of Southern Mississippi :  Microfilm collection on the second floor includes census records, civil war records, WPA county histories, old newspapers from all over the state, and many other useful materials. Microfilm readers require a copy card for copies, ten cents per page. Copy cards available ONLY at the circulation desk on the first floor, so get one before you go upstairs!  Open late and on weekends when school is in session.  Reduced hours during intersession and holidays.

 

*McCain Graduate Library, University of Southern Mississippi :  Extensive collection of genealogy materials other than census records and microfilm are located in the Cleanth Brooks Reading Room on the third floor. Security precautions require that all purses and backpacks be placed in lockers outside the room. A copy machine is available and copies are ten cents per page, payable to the librarian when you leave. If you wish to access a special collection it is best to make arrangements ahead of time.  Open 9:00 to 5:00 Monday through Friday.

 

 *Manuscripts and Archives at McCain Library, University of Southern Mississippi:  How-to page tells you what they have, where it is, how to access it, and more.


Parking is a problem at USM when school is in session.  Enter the campus from Hardy Street to get a visitor parking permit at the guardhouse,  allow plenty of extra time to find a parking space, and expect a pleasant five to ten minute walk.

 

 

LAMAR COUNTY DATA ONLINE

SEARCH THIS SITE


powered by FreeFind

Searches all files on this site.  (Files on other sites are marked with *)


BIRTH RECORDS

may be ordered at this site:

*Mississippi Public Health Statistics.

 

Baptisms from Methodist Church Records


CEMETERIES

Transcribed by David, Sara, and Tara Williamson

 


CENSUS RECORDS

Partial Transcript, 1910   Part 1   Part 2


CHURCHES

Purvis Methodist Church Quarterly Conference

Official Roll | 1912 MembersBaptisms | Marriages


CONTACT OTHER RESEARCHERS

*Lamar County Queries at GenForum

Archived Queries 1996-1999

Roll Call of Surnames and Researchers


DEATH RECORDS may be ordered at this site:  *Mississippi Public Health Statistics.


HOME PAGES WITH LAMAR COUNTY ROOTS
Pam's Mississippi Genealogy


LAMAR COUNTY NEWS GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY  1913-1963

Index

Articles:

Herrin Ford Company

Lamar County Political History

Movie Star's First Plant

Oak Grove School Dedicated

Old Lamar Jail Razed

Purvis Or Purves?

Advertisments:

Cash and Carry Grocery

Dyar's Grocery

Phillips Texaco

Purvis Warehouse

Pylant Brothers

Wright Mud and Chemical

Photographs:

1922 Lamar County Agricultural High School Football Team

1923 Lamar County Agricultural High School Basketball Team

Paul B. Johnson, Governor


MAPS

*1895 MAP OF MISSISSIPPI

Very large and detailed.  It is courtesy of the Mardos Memorial Library housed at USGenNet.

*Mississippi Maps at SEGenealogy.com

*Mississippi County Formation Maps 1785--1918  

 *Mississippi Census Maps 1800 - 1920

 


MARRIAGE RECORDS

 from 1904 may be found in the Circuit Clerk's Office.  Records before 1904 are in *Marion County.

Purvis Methodist Church Marriages

 


MILITARY RECORDS

Bullock Civil War Marker


MISCELLANEOUS LINKS

*Mississippi Department of Archives and History

*Mississippi Public Health Statistics

*Mississippi State Agencies and Departments

*National Archives and Records Administration

*Beauvoir Confederate Veterans Home

*Bill Strong's Eclectic Mississippi Photo Tour


NATIVE AMERICANS

*Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians

*Final Dawes Roll Index, AccessGenealogy.com


PHOTOGRAPHS

Unknown Photograph from William Massey

Newman Lumber Company and Sumrall Depot

Tatum Lumber Company Photographs

Old photograph of  a street scene in Sumrall


SCHOOLS

1922 Lamar County Agricultural High School Football Team

1923 Lamar County Agricultural High School Basketball Team


HOW YOU CAN HELP

Did you find a bad link or address?

Do you have something to donate?

Volunteering for the MSGenWeb Project
Volunteering for the USGenWeb Project
*How to Transcribe A Cemetery
*Cemetery Surveys as an Eagle Scout Project
*Sign Up to Transcribe a Census


MISSISSIPPI GENWEB RESOURCES

 *MSGenWeb Home Page and County list

 *MsGenWeb Archives


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WPA HISTORY OF LAMAR COUNTY

INTRODUCTION: FORMATION OF THE MISSISSIPPI TERRITORY

FORMATION OF LAMAR COUNTY

Organization
Shape, Size and Boundaries
County Seat
Cyclone
Early Settlements
Prominent Pioneers
Historical Names
Unusual Names

TOPOGRAPHY

Elevation
Watersheds
Lakes, Marshes, and Bayous
Springs, Wells, and Mineral Waters
Minerals
Oil and Gas
Soils

FORESTS, FLORA AND FAUNA

Wild Flowers
Fruit Orchards in Lamar County
Vickers Plant Farm
Lamar Soil Ideal for Tung Oil Trees
Forest Reserves
Forest Trees and Forest Types
Economic Value of Forests
MEN WHO OWNED SAWMILLS

OUTLAW DAYS

Saloon Days
Two Die in Train Wreck
W. C. Walters
Lumberton Store Burglarized
Lamar Deputy The Victim
The Copeland Clan
White Caps and Bull Doozers, or Will Purvis
The Barney Lewis Train Robbery
Sullivan and Kilrain Fight
Boss Weatherford

INDIANS
LARGE AND HISTORICAL TREES
RACES AND NATIONALITIES OF THE COUNTY
LAMAR COUNTY NEGROES: WHAT THEY HAVE DONE

Tom Sharp
Industrially
Educationally
Fine Arts
Poem

COLORED SCHOOLS IN LAMAR COUNTY

Present Day Schools
Former Schools

COLORED TEACHERS 1904 TO 1935

LAMAR COUNTY SCHOOLS

Small Schools Before Consolidation
Schools Now Standing After Consolidation
Public School Systems
Later Development of Lamar Schools
Names and Locations of Schools In Lamar County
Colored Schools
Private Schools

CHURCH HISTORY

Statistics
Pioneer Churches
Modern Churches
Church Activities
Noted Ministers
Negro Churches
Colored Churches in Sumrall
Pioneer Churches

THE CIVIL WAR

Names of Fighting Units from Lamar County
Names of Enlisted Men from Lamar County
Letters From The War
Interviews
Stories of Raids
Home Conditions

SPANISH AMERICAN WAR

Men In The 155th Regiment

 Names of Enlisted Men From Lamar County
THE WORLD WAR

At Home During The War
Men Who Took Part In Battles
Army Units From Lamar County
Names of Enlisted Men
Letters
Interviews

HE FOUGHT IN FOUR WARS


WPA HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY

Introduction
Creation
Shape, Size and Boundaries
Name
Interesting Facts Concerning the County
County Seat
Early Settlements
        Columbia    Drake    Ebenezer   Wilksburg
        Carley    Bunkerhill    Lenoir   Morgantown
        Hopewell     Waterhole    Foxworth
        White Bluff   Sandy Hook    Keno    Pickwick
        Morris   Improve   Buford   Twin   Cheraw
        Newson   Jamestown   Carmich   Souer
        Condron   Spring Cottage   Press   Bismark
        White House   White   Rouse

        EastColumbia   Edna    Jordan     Petty
Later Towns and Villages
        Sumbax    Neb    Quaker    Hamage
        Kokomo    Nason    Pinebur    Mildred
        Lampton    Odile    Union    Broom
        Pinetuck    Goss    Expose    Ball's Mill
        Pittman    Hub     Hathorn    Morgantown
        Darbun    Stovall
Early Settlers


 

Ben and Jean Strickland left a valuable legacy to researchers in south Mississippi.  It is my understanding that a list of published works, prices, and ordering information can be obtained by contacting:

Jody Strickland

935 Little River 17

Ashdown, Arkansas 71822

Phone: (870) 898-3235

 


 


Copyright © 1996- MSGenWeb Project, All Rights Reserved.

The pages posted on this website may not be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation to the public by any person or organization unless written permission is obtained from the file contributor or the county coordinator. These pages may be printed or saved for personal use so long as this copyright information appears on the copies or pages saved.