History of Hinds County, Mississippi, 1821-1922

This history of Hinds county is one of the entire number of histories of the counties of Mississippi that the Historical Society has undertaken to prepare for its readers. The more advanced States have many volumes devoted to county history. With a few exceptions careful histories of Mississippi counties have not as yet been prepared, and in this collection the author has endeavored to lay the foundation for all writers who come after to build upon. The publication of the history of Hinds county where the State capital is located seems at this time, when the city of Jackson is contemplating a celebration of its one hundredth anniversary, eminently fitting. In fact both the city and county could well celebrate together, as scarcely a year intervenes between their legislative natal days, the county having been established February 12, 1821, and the city November 28, 1821.

This work has received the commendation of the Secretary and other members of the Historical Society. Still, as Roosevelt has observed in other' phrasing is his history, 'The Naval War of 1812" covering Jackson's Coast campaign against the British, 1813-15, where there are so many opinions perfect history is not possible. The author, however, has striven to present the important events that helped to make the history of the county and believes that the subject has been treated with a fair degree of accuracy. If any important incidents have been overlooked she will gladly receive such information for future use.

 

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Though not as old as the counties formed from the Natchez District, which was partly settled when the country was a colonial possession, Hinds County, nevertheless, has a history of great importance in the annals of Mississippi. Situated in the west-central section of the state, it originally included a region which had long been a center of much speculative interest, since it was territory greatly desired by the national government, and also by the people of the new state of Mississippi. George Poindexter, then governor of the state, having become intensely interested in acquiring this large area of land, exerted himself in every possible manner in bringing about an understanding with the Choctaw Indians, looking to a treaty ceding it to the United States. In 1820 Congress appropriated $20,000 for the expenses of the treaty, and the Mississippi delegation in Congress had proposed that Generals Andrew Jackson and Thomas Hinds be selected to negotiate a treaty with the Indians. In accepting. General Jackson said he did so because he could refuse neither President Monroe nor Mississippi.