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The
Pictures
Where is Vaiden, Mississippi?
Officials
and Dignitaries
Vaiden's
Officials
City Hall
In 1860, the
Charter of the Town of Vaiden was adopted; the highlights as follows: The
Mayor, four Selectmen, one Assessor and Collector of Taxes and a Treasurer,
shall hold office for one year; then subsequent elections shall be on the
first Monday in February. The qualifications for electors for the offices
shall be the same as how provided for by law, namely; to entitle elector to
vote for members of the legislature with elections under inspection of
Justice of Peace and two Freeholders, who shall certify the results to Secretary
of State; whereon the elected Mayor shall be commissioned by Governor as
Mayor of said Town. Elected officers meet as soon as
practicable, take and subscribe oath required by Constitution; subsequent
meetings regulated by laws of Corporation, which is authorized to ordain and
establish. A majority of said Board shall constitute a quorum.
Powers of Mayor and
Selectmen include: Sue and be sued; plead and be impleaded;
purchase and hold real and personal estate, not exceeding $30,000; power to
raise necessary sums of money for town by taxes levied on real and personal
estate; power to establish and regulate patrols within corporate limits; open
and repair necessary streets; order owner or agents to make necessary improvements
and repairs on streets in front of lots or houses; power to prohibit sale of vinious and spirituous liquors, except for medical needs.
In absence of named officer, Mayor has the power to be Justice of Peace.
Vacancies occurring by
death or resignation or removal shall be filled by Board until time of
regular elections.
Treasurer of said
Corporation, Assessor and Collector, shall enter into bond, payable to Mayor,
and Selectmen, in such amounts as prescribed by said Board.
City Hall Exterior -- April 2001
City Hall Interior -- April 2001 -- Money
Turntables from Old Bank
City Hall Interior -- April 2001 -- Money
Turntables from Old Bank
Ed. Note: When
the Vaiden Bank was in this location, there was a heavy, thickly-knit wire
mesh (bulletproof -- possibly 2 to 4 gauge) "fence" about 4 feet tall, on the top of the teller window frames. This fence was
topped with a row of very sharp spikes extending to within 8" to
12" from the ceiling. These spikes prevented anyone from climbing over
during a robbery. The wire mesh fence and spikes have disappeared since the
old Vaiden Bank became the City Hall in the 1970s. The gun portholes are
still beside the teller window. These were used in the old days by tellers
who decided to shoot back during a robbery.
Photos of the Gun
Ports and Turntables
Photo 1 -- Photo 2 -- Photo 3 -- Photo 4
Photo 5 -- Photo 6 -- Photo 7 -- Photo 8
Photo 9 -- Photo 10 -- Photo 11 -- Photo 12
Mayors
? Sproles -- circa 1867 -- CLICK HERE for more information; James
Trotter -- 1881; John E. McClurg -- 1885, 1934,
1936-38, 1946; John J. Armstrong -- 1893-1914; J.L. Seale -- 1915, 1930-32,
1948-50; J.C. Miley -- 1917-18; J.W. Conger --
1919; J.N. Armstrong -- 1920-21; X.A. Brock -- Short Term in 1930 to fill
unexpired Term of E.L. Conger; C.G. Boyette --
1932-34, 1936-38; Weldon Baskin -- 1946-48, 1957-65; H.G. Collins -- 1950-53;
J.W. Armstrong -- 1953-57; B.F. Wiley -- 1965-75; Claude Hatcher -- 1975-77.
Marshals
J.P. Cain --
1885, 1904-05; H.C. Blackmon -- 1893; J.W. Ward -- 1912-16; M.O. Huffman --
1917-22, 1929-36; J.C. Allen, J.O. Miley, S.R.
Wright -- 1922 Short Term; J.M. Summerville -- 1923; V.A. Gee -- 1925; W.A.
Switzer -- 1935-42; A.J. Grantham -- 1942-48; Joe Smith -- 1948, 1961; A.B.
Parker -- 1961-69.
Aldermen
R.R. Hawkins -- 1904; J.E. McClurg -- 1904, 1914-18, 1930-34; James Summerville --
1904, 1912-17; John J. Armstrong -- 1904; C.L. Armstrong -- 1904; J.E.
Phillips -- 1909, 1914-17; W.N. Gaston -- 1912-18; Dr. P.T. Flowers --
1912-22; S.P. Armstrong -- 1912-25; C.H. Tillman -- 1921-25; John C. Calhoun
-- 1921-25; D.E. Anderson -- 1918-19; J.C. Bennett -- 1919; A.J. Moore --
1919; J.G. Fullilove -- 1920, 1940-46; B.W. Holmes
-- 1929-30, 1940; R.L. Rosamond -- 1929; W.A. Avery -- 1929; J.H. Grantham --
1930-34; P.A. Bennett -- 1934-46; D.D. Fullilove,
Jr. -- 1934-46; L.H. Johnson -- 1934-40; Dr. M.E. Arrington -- 1940-46; J.M. Vandiver -- 1942-46; V.F. Anderson -- 1946-1977; H.B.
Caldwell -- 1934-1946; Anderson Austin -- 1946-5?; L.H. Braswell -- 1946-53;
N.B. Hambrick -- 1946-48; W.S. Ward -- 1948-50; Manuel B. (Buster) Grantham
-- 1950-53; J.O. Cearley -- 1953-65; Taylor Everett
-- 1953-57; Herman L. Johnson
-- 1953-1977; T.A. Dulin -- 1953-57; T.A. Noah --
1957-65; C.A. Austin -- 1961-69; Dennis Welch
-- 1965-1977; J.W. Eades -- 1965-69; H.S. Milner --
1965-77; Lethal Cross -- 1969-73; C.E. Huggins -- 1973-77
Early 1900
Aldermen were paid $1.00 monthly compared to the 1975 salary of $50.00
monthly.
Treasurers and City Clerks
S.E. McConnico
-- 1885 Treasurer; A.J. McConnico -- 1904-05 Treasurer.
City Clerks
J.C. Calhoun; W.M.
Armstrong; J.E. Phillips; Dr. P.T. Flowers; O.J. Moore; James Summerville;
D.D. Fullilove, Jr.; L.H. Braswell; Lillie
McDougal.
Contracts, Ordinances and
Resolutions
August
7, 1927 -- The Town of Vaiden contracted with Mississippi Power and Light
Company to buy electricity operating thirty-seven street lights for
residential and commercial lighting, covering a twenty-five year period.
May 10, 1929 -- The issuance of
$26,000 in bonds to establish and construct a water
works system, was authorized.
1938 -- A total of
thirty-six mills was fixed and levied against all taxable property to provide
the following funds: street, light, water bond, City and Separate
School Districts,
School Improvement, and General Fund.
1938 -- An ordinance was
authorized under Mayor C.G. Boyette, to adopt as
official, the map of the Town of Vaiden, which was made from an original 1885
Monroe McClurg map, with additions.
1939 -- A $3,000 bond
was issued to repair and extend the present water works facility, and to add
a filtration system. In 1957, a water softener was purchased.
1952 -- The Board voted
for "Garbage Pick-Up" in the Town, approved streets graded and
ditched under the Highway Dept. Supervision, voted to black-top a portion of
the Town streets at a $25,000 expense, with the bond issue approved. Mr. W.M. Caddess was appointed as Water Superintendent to read meters,
collect water bills, etc.
1953 -- Three fire alarm
boxes were purchased, and used until 1973, when a three-way telephone system
was installed.
1954 -- A
"Volunteer Fire Department" and the purchase of a used Fire Truck
for $300 was approved.
1962 -- Mr. J.C. Patton,
a Professional Engineer from Lexington,
Mississippi, was hired as
Construction Supervisor for a limited time. Much was accomplished during this
period; $30,000 bond issue for street improvements, $12,000 bond for water
supply improvements, a new 12" well and new pump were installed by
Carlos Well Supply Company of Memphis,
Tennessee, at a cost of
$11,000.
1964 -- A lot on the
corner of Lee and Magnolia Streets was purchased from B.W. Holmes for $500. A
building to house the fire truck, City Hall,
and a warehouse area was erected.
1965 -- Municipal
boundaries of the Town of Vaiden were extended to include a total of 847
acres; another extension in 1969 totaled 1,157 acres; with a final extension
in 1973, making a grand total of 1,343 acres included in the Corporate
limits. This incorporated one mile of Interstate 55, north and south.
1965 -- Barth and Associated, Inc., of Jackson,
Mississippi, were employed
as Engineers for the Town of Vaiden.
1968 -- A contract was
let to McDougal Plumbing & Heating Contractor at a $409,739 cost to extend the water and sewer lines, which was
completed in 1970.
1970 -- The one-story
brick building located on the southwest intersection of Lee and Mulberry
Streets was purchased from Holmes County Bank & Trust Co., the Bank's
former home, erected in 1890. As the present City Hall, including Mayor and Tax
Collector's Offices, it is unique with its bullet-proof plate-glass partition
and two gun ports in view, as well as the bulletproof mesh above the windows,
topped with needle-like spikes. The exterior brick walls were subsequently renovated.
1972 -- The Town
contracted with the Shongalo Rural Water
Association to furnish them Town water at a minimum rate of $220 monthly for
the first 440,000 gallons; 40 per M average.
1972 -- The Town
contracted with Herndon Well & Supply Company, Inc., at a cost of $24,800
for a new well , pumping 500 gallons a minute of
pure water, without treatment, into the water tank and mains.
1974 -- Street Signs were installed in Vaiden.
1975 -- At a cost of
$15,035.99, a new Garbage Truck, a 13 yard Standard Packmaster
rear-end loader mounted on a 2 1/2 ton Chevrolet Truck, was purchased from
Bob Ellis Chevrolet of Winona, and Hall Supply & Equipment Co., Inc., of Jackson,
Mississippi.
In 1975, the water and
sewer rates were: Minimum bill -- $3.50 for the first 3,000 gallons. Sewer
rates were 1/2 of the water bill. In the same year, the tax rate was set at
24 mills, and the assessed value of the Town was $775,865.
Officials: Claude
Hatcher, Mayor; V.F. Anderson, Alderman; Herman L. Johnson, Alderman; Charles
Huggins, Alderman; Henry S. Milner, Alderman; Dennis E. Welch, Alderman.
Employees: Mack L.
Boykin, Attorney; Lillie McDougal, City Clerk; W.M. Caddess, Water Superintendent; I.B. Griffin, Street Superintendent; James M.
Gerrish, Chief of Police; John W. (Jack) Fullilove, Policeman; Walter H. Browning, Policeman; Mrs.
Alton Parker, Radio Operator. At this time, the Town owned three Police Cars,
with Policeman on 24-hour duty.
Early Improvements
The Cumberland Telephone
Company installed the first Telephone Exchange in Vaiden between 1898 and
1900. During this period, the employment roster listed many of Vaiden's prominent citizens, namely, Operators Misses
Nye, Cain, Boyette, and Eleanor Wright. Miss Evelyn
Eades was employed as Day Operator for twenty
years, with two assistants. Other dependable employees were Messrs Charlie Boyette, Charlie King, and Craig and Ed Conger. Tom
Clifford Vaiden had the distinction of being the Telephone Exchange's first
messenger boy.
Order of Commerce
The only Order of
Commerce in Vaiden was organized on March 18, 1922, by civic-minded Dr. P.T.
Flowers, Dr,. C.D. Alexander,
and Mr. Cade Armstrong. Responding to the call for
community togetherness and unity for the Town's advancement, nearly 100
businessmen rapidly joined this prestigious organization. The Chamber of
Commerce was very active in securing better roads for this section, and
instrumental in inducing new industries to locate here. Unfortunately, this
once-spirited Chamber no longer exists.
Roads
The year 1930 witnessed
the first gravel highway through Vaiden, followed in 1936 with one of the
best paved highways in America,
which is known as Highway 51. Hugh White was Governor during this period.
This nationally-recognized highway first extended from Chicago
to Gulfport, later
to New Orleans, and
introduced tourism to Mississippi
on a large scale.
Town Improvements – 1975
The 1975 Improvement
Program for Vaiden included better housing; renovated vacant lots; adequate
drainage; Control Program for livestock, animals, and poultry; Control
Program for rubbish; approved refuse storage, collection, and disposal;
effective insect and rodent control; approved sanitary sewage system; and an
improved water supply.
Supervisors -- Beat 5
The first
"Supervisors," actually the Carroll
County Board of
Police, met March 11, 1834,
in the home of George W. Green. They were: Daniel W. McEachern,
Thomas Matthews, Edmunds G. Whitehead, Woodward Applewhite,
and John Rodgers. These men appointed local planters, businessmen, etc., as
overseers to build the early roads of the country. There is no record of how
long these men kept their office, not of who followed. The Mississippi
Constitution of 1890 fixed the term for County
Officials at four
years. Prior to that time, the terms had been set at two years. Beginning in
1892, the following record exists for elected Supervisors: Rufe E. Hoge, 1892-1899 (two
terms); Henry W. Hill, 1900-1903; W.D. Morgan, 1904-1907; G.N. Michie, 1908-1911; W.D. Morgan, 1912-1915; W.P. Stuckey,
1916-1919 (died while in office, succeeded by John R. Heggie);
Charles G. Boyette, 1920-1927 (2 terms); James
Somerville, 1928-1935 (2 terms); Marion Ely, 1936-1948 (3 terms); Weldon
Baskin, Jr., 1948-1955 (2 terms); W.C. "Monkey" Welch, 1956-1971 (4
terms); Vernon "Buddy" Welch, 1972 -present.
Circuit Clerks
In 1874, Carroll
County was divided
into two districts. The Chancery Clerk keeps an office in the 1st District (Carrollton),
while the Circuit Clerk keeps the 2nd District office in Vaiden. Each
official serves as deputy to the other. Circuit Clerks are as follows: James
P. Nabors, 1892-1911; John C. Allen, 1911-1919;
Fred C. Smith, 1919-1940; Claude Hatcher, 1940-1955; G.W. Tuberville,
Jr. (left in September, 1964, before his term expired to take over the County
Welfare Office, where is is presently employed --
Mrs. Lynn P. (B.F.) Wiley, his deputy was appointed to serve until a special
election could be held); Ralph Self, 1964; Charles Ellis, at present.
County
Tax Assessors -- Vaiden Natives
W.C. "Lum" McDougal, first Tax Assessor; D.D. Fullilove, ???? (served part of a term).
County
Sheriffs -- Vaiden Natives
John McKenzie; James
Somerville, 1897-1900; W.C. "Lum"
McDougal, 1904-1907 (killed while in office
-- His accused slayer's public execution was the last "hanging" in Carroll
County). Mr.
McDougal (11/19/1867
- 10/26/1907) is buried at Evergreen
Cemetery in Carrollton,
MS, in Lot
106, with his wife Helen Brewer McDougal (1872-1948).
Deputy Sheriffs
Around 1914, a
Gentleman's Agreement gave the 2nd District the right to elect the Deputy
Sheriff to serve in Vaiden. Men who have served through the years are: Walter
P. Kennedy, L.M. Jones, Samuel R. Wright, William W. Milner -- Mr. Milner
left in February, 1935, to assume the office of Vaiden Postmaster and W.L.
Randle served the remainder of his term, Louis McDougal, H.R. "Charger" Michie,
R.W. "PeeWee" Miller.
Cotton Weighers
R.S. Allen; R.H. Dulin, 1912-1924; T.P. Whisnant.
1924-1931; B.C. McDougal, 1932-1944; Kim Pollard, 1944-1947; George Crook,
1948-1952; Dudley Stewart, 1952 - (after Mr. Stewart's term, the office was
abandoned).
Constable and Justice of the Peace
-- Beat 5
1892-1895 --
W.H. King (JP), J.C. Calhoun (JP), G.R. Traxler
(Constable)
1896-1899 --
W.H. King (JP), W.C. Billingsley (JP). James Kidd (Constable)
1900-1903 --
J.L. Cain (JP), J.C. Calhoun (JP), J.L. Seale (Constable)
1904-1907 --
J.L. Cain (JP), G.N. Michie (JP), W.C. Thomas
(Constable)
1908-1911 --
T.A. Brock (JP), G.N. Michie (JP), E.L. Conger
(JP), W.C. Thomas (Constable), J.W. Word (Constable), H.A. Heggie (Constable)
1912-1915 --
R.B. Smith (JP), E.L. Conger (JP), W.M. Girner
(Constable)
1916-1919 --
R.B. Smith (JP), B.C. McDougal (JP), W.M. Girner
(Constable)
1920-1923 --
T.A. Brock (JP), W.M. Girner (Constable)
1924-1927 --
G.A. Grantham (JP), Jim Pollard (JP), D.R. Devine (Constable)
1928-1931 --
D.R. Devine (JP), James Pollard (JP), E.H. Armstrong (Constable)
1932-1935 --
D.R. Devine (JP), W.H. King (JP), H.R. Michie
(Constable)
1936-1939 --
James Pollard (JP), A.J. Grantham (Constable)
1940-1943 --
E.H. Armstrong (JP), W.A. Switzer (Constable)
1944-1947 --
E.H. Armstrong (JP), A.J. Grantham (Constable)
1948-1951 --
Lloyd Welch (JP), A.J. Grantham (Constable)
1952-1955 --
E.H. Armstrong (JP), A.J. Grantham (Constable)
1956-1959 --
R.L. Rosamond (JP), Taylor Everette (Constable)
1960-1963 --
Homer Tucker (JP), Taylor Everette (Constable)
1964-1967 --
R.L. Rosamond (JP), Elton Williams (Constable)
1968-1971 --
J.H. Putman (JP), Ed Davis, Jr.(Constable)
1972-1975 --
Charles Ellis (JP), Ed Davis, Jr. (Constable)
1976- --
Charles Ellis (JP), Ed Davis, Jr. (Constable)
Legislative Personalities
Senators
1848-1850 --
Benjamin Kennedy (died while serving his term)
1940-1944 --
Vernon F. Anderson
1948-1952 --
D.D. Fullilove, III
Representatives
1838-1840 --
Benjamin Kennedy
1846-1848 --
Benjamin Kennedy
1848-1852 --
Dr. C.M. Vaiden
1856-1860 --
S. Hawkins
1870-1872 --
J.C. McKenzie
1872-1874 --
W.H. Armistead
1876-1878 --
Dr. C.M. Vaiden
1880-1882 --
T.H. Somerville
1882-1888 --
H.C. Williamson
1890-1892 --
E.L. Conger
1897- -- Monroe
McClurg
1900-1904 --
A.J. Coleman
1924-1928 --
C. Garland Hatcher
1928-1932 --
A.J. Coleman
1932-1936 --
Walter Elliott
1936-1940 --
Estes Armstrong
1940-1944 --
John Seales
1944-1948 --
Grover G. Bennett
1944-1948 --
Mrs. Mable Wilson (J.B.) Bruce
1948-1952 --
Mrs. Mynelle McClurg
(T.C.) Vaiden
1952- -- Clarence A.
Pierce, Jr. -- Mr. Pierce was the first representative from the 2nd District
to be re-elected. He was Chairman of the Highways and Highway Financing and
Chairman of Interstate Cooperation.
Lawyers of Vaiden
Judge Carter Glass,
father of Fred Glass, Sr.
Joe Hirsh, left Vaiden
for Memphis, where he established a law firm.
Amos A. Armistead, born
in Vaiden in 1863. Spent childhood and a greater part of his life in Vaiden.
Law degree from University
of Mississippi.
Practiced in Vaiden until 1890.
A.J. McConnico,
Jr., was born in Vaiden on February 20, 1875. He graduated from Mt.
Hermon
Academy, Northfield,
Massachusetts, in 1895, and
from Brown University,
Providence, Rhode
Island, in 1899, Ph.B.,
LL.B. He practiced law from 1902 until 1908. In 1909, he was appointed Consul
at St. John's Quebec.
He served as Consul as follows: Guadalahara,
Mexico,
1919; Bluefields,
Nicaragua,
1924; Yarmouth, Nova
Scotia and Charlottetown,
Prince Edward Island,
temporarily, 1928; Hull, England,
1929. He retired in 1936, and died in 1969 in Jacksonville,
Florida.
Fred Glass, Sr. Practiced
in Vaiden and Winona for many years.
Simon Turner. A resudent of Carrollton, came to Vaiden to practice. Married Miss Alice
Tolbert.
William Conger.
Practiced in Vaiden for many years.
Frank Hawkins. Practiced
law for a short time and then was made Superintendent of Vaiden Public
Schools.
A.J. Coleman. Son of
Calvin James and Aurelia Reeves Coleman. Born December 29, 1871, at Emory,
Mississippi. Educated in Carroll
County schools, French
Camp Academy,
and University of Mississippi.
Married Lillian Louise Cearley of Oxfors. They had three children: Mary Louise, who died in
infancy, Mrs. Jerred Aurelia (J.J.) Huffman of Eupora, and Alfred Jeremiah Coleman of Texas.
Elected to State House of Representatives in 1903, and again in 1927. I 1948, was a member of Democratic States' Rights Party or
"Dixiecrats." Went to Texas
on "Dixiecrat Special." He served as
attorney for the Federal Land Bank and Illinois
Central Railroad. He was a Mason and a member of the Shongalo
Presbyterian Church. He died July
2, 1957.
M.L. Boykin. Practiced
in Vaiden for many years. Served for many years as Attorney for the Carroll
County Board of
Supervisors and the Town of Vaiden.
John Shands.
Practiced in Vaiden at two different times during the 1950s and 1960s. Mr. Shands was married to the former Virginia Alice Price and
had five children; Alice, Mark, Louisa
(died in infancy, and is buried in Tupelo,
MS), Rachel, and Morgan.
Luther Gilmer. Born in Clinchfield, Virginia.
Married Henrietta B. Gilmer, B.S. Degree, University
of Louisville, Kentucky,
1948. LL.B. Degree, University
of Mississippi, Oxford,
1954. Practiced law in Vaiden from 1955-1959, returned in 1975. Was the Mississippi
Attorney for the Federal Land Bank, New Orleans, 1959-1968.
Employed for Disaster Counsel, SBA, Jackson,
Mississippi, 1973-1975.
Some of the lawyers who
were Vaiden natives but never practiced here are: Ike Stone, T.L. Haman, David Sanderson, Pittman
Stone.
Statesmen
J.Z. George. Born 1826.
Moved to the vicinity of Shongalo in 1834 and
attended Richland Academy
there. Married Miss Elizabeth Young of Carrollton.
Served in the Mexican War. Served as Reporter of the Mississippi
Supreme Court (while living in Vaiden). Member of 1861 convention which
passed Ordinance of Secession. Served in the Civil War. Served as Chief
Justice of the Mississippi
Supreme Court. Elected U.S. Senator.
Earl Brewer. Born six miles east of Vaiden.
Educated in Carroll County Schools and received his training in law at the University
of Mississippi.
Served one term as a member of the State Senate. Served as District Attorney.
He became the only Mississippi Governor ever elected unopposed in 1911.
Monroe
McClurg. Born March 19, 1857, near Vaiden. County
Representative in
1897. Member of the Mississippi
Constitutional Convention in 1890. Attorney General of Mississippi
from 1900-1905. Chairman of the Building Commission of the New Capitol.
Represented Mississippi
in Boundary dispute with the State of Louisiana.
Married Ida Blanch Williams of Vaiden in 1881.
Dr. Larkin S. Rogers
(1859-1920) was born in Carroll
County near Vaiden.
He attended the University
of Oxford, Mississippi,
for two years, then took medical courses while
studying medicine under Dr. B.F. Kittrell at Black
Hawk. He taught school between terms when he was a student at the University
and while taking medical courses. Whle teaching
school at Blackmonton, one of his pupils was Earl
Brewer, who later became Governor of Mississippi.
Dr. Rogers was elected
to the legislature from Holmes
County in 1907.
While a member of the legislature, he served on the Committee of
Appropriations, Banks and Banking, Benevolent Institutions, and was Chairman
of the Committee on Public Health and Quarrantine.
During the session of 1908, he introduced and had passed a bill giving equal
rights and privileges to all members of a family to mileage sold in the
state. During the session of 1910, he introduced a Joint Resolution which was
adopted, calling on members of congress from this state to ask for an
appropriation to survey the Big Black River
with view of draining low lands along this stream for agricultural purposes.
He also introduced, and carried through successfully, a bill for a State
Charity Hospital
at Jackson. In
recognition of his efforts to get this institution, the legislature voted
unanimously to name it the "L.S.
Rogers Charity
Hospital."
In 1919, Dr. Rogers
was elected to the office of State Treasurer and assumed the duties of this
office in January, 1920. Dr. Rogers
died suddenly on October 14, 1920. On October 15, the day of his funeral,
both capitol buildings were closed all day out of respect for his memory.
James Somerville, Jr.,
son of James Somerville, Sr., and Anna Liddell Somerville,
was born in Vaiden on July 24, 1892. Mr. Somerville was tutored for seven
years by his stepmother, Elizabeth Liddell Somerville, his own mother's
cousin. He furthered his education at Vaiden
High School, French
Camp Academy,
military school, and Washington
and Lee University.
He majored in Greek, Latin, history and economics, receiving a B.A. in 1912,
and an M.A. in 1913. Phi Beta Kappa, 1912, Phi Delta Theta -- Editor Rimg Tum Phi (University
newspaper). Mr Somerville held a principal
University Fellowship at Washington & Lee and served three years as an
Assistant Professor of History. He taught at Marion Institute, Alabama,
and was Headmaster of Chamberlain-Hunt
Academy at Port Gibson,
Mississippi.
In April, 1917, Mr.
Somerville was turned down for active war duty because of his eyesight. He
volunteered for overseas service with the YMCA and was assigned to Russia.
The trip took five months through the Arctic Ocean
to Murmansk,
Russia,
and one week by freight car to Moscow.
Thus began a six year (1918-1924) period of service organizing Russian famine
relief operations (four years with the YMCA, two years with the American
Relief Administration under Herbert Hoover).
While in Russia,
he met and married Olga Svetouchin in 1923. She
died in 1963.
1925 -- Entered the U.S.
Government service with the Bureau of Foreign Commerce as specialist in
Russian affairs. 1926 -- Appointed Trade Commissioner in the office of Comercial Attache in London.
18 years of service in London Embassy, ending in 1944, included the
following: Special reporting 14 years on Soviet Russian economic trade
policies and activities; five years reporting on markets for U.S.
agricultural products; seven years on markets for U.S. forest products --
including three years assignment at the request of the national Lumber
Manufacturer's Association as Acting Lumber Trade Commissioner. Also on
request of the State Department, did special reporting on British system of
export credits and other forms of foreign trade financing.
1939 -- Transferred to
State Department Foreign Service, continuing previous reporting as modified
by war conditions.
1940-1941 -- Appointed
Embassy Liason Officer with British Ministry on
Economic Warfare. ON entry of U.S.
in World War II, he was appointed Director of this division.
1943 -- Appointed First
Secretary with Embassies to the six exiled governments then established in London.
1944 -- Appointed as
Principal Economic Officer in American Embassy, Tehran,
Iran.
1947-1948 -- Served as
Acting Chief of Mission,
Tehran Embassy.
1949-1952 -- Special
assignment to Department of Commerce in Washington
as Director, Eastern European Division and consultant on Middle Eastern
Affairs.
1952 -- Retired from
State Department, July 31.
1954-1974 -- Foreign
representative for New York
engineering firm, active in field of electric power.
1954-1974 -- Established
own firm, James Somerville Associates, for purposes of acting as Washington
representative and overseas consultant for principal power engineering client
and other noncompetitive engineering firms. Missions included ten months in three
trips to Brazil in 1952 and 1953 and six months in 1954 and 1955 in Iran,
Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Lebanon; also trips to Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and
Peru in 1956.
In 1965, Mr. Somerville
married Marjorie Newcombe of London,
England.
They redided in Arlington,
Virginia.
It is interesting to
note how Mr. Somerville climbed the ladder of success from his first job at
Vaiden Brick Company, where his father was manager. He was paid five cents an
hour to haul bricks from the mold to the dryer. Later, he worked as Sexton of
Shingalo Presbyterian Church for 50 cents per week.
Fredrick M. Glass, Jr.
Born in Vaiden, he graduated from Winona
High School and the
University of Mississippi.
Mr. Glass is President of Prudential Funds, Inc., of New
York. He has served in key capacities with
airlines and as President of the Airport Operator's Council. IN 1961, he
served as Chairman of a task force on national aviation goals and was with
the New York Port
Authority for six years.
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2002.
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