|
Shongalo
[Pronunciation: Shongalo rhymes with Bungalow]
Article about the name Shongalo
Where was Shongalo? Map 1
Map 2 Map 3
According to the U.S.
Geological Survey, Shongalo was located at an elevation of 410 feet. Its location is Peachahala
Creek, and is often listed incorrectly with alternate spellings of Shongolo and Shongola. Its map coordinates are 33
degrees 19
minutes and 40
seconds North, and 089
degrees 45
minutes and 15
seconds West.
Story
from the W.P.A. Files, 1936-1938.
Carroll County,
Mississippi.
Shongalo, a prosperous little village, was the
first settlement made in what is now Carroll County, and was located a mile
from the present town of Vaiden.
Shongalo was named by early pioneers from an
Indian legend which claimed that a beautiful maiden, while singing one day,
disappeared and soared away on a cloud.
The Indians were so surprised at seeing her ascend in such manner that
they used the word Shongalo to show their surprise. When the white people came here and were
told the story, they used the word to name the village.
The first man to open a store for business was
William Pickens, who lived a mile farther west from where the village was
located later. After this store was
opened, some public roads were laid out by the Board of Police – one from [the]
neighborhood of William Kirkwood along the line of Big Black River to ward the county line of Choctaw County and one
intersecting that, which was named Shongalo and Tchula Road.
A Mr. Eskridge built and operated a store at the
point of intersection, and the name of Shongalo was given.
Another store was soon opened and operated by J.V.
Stein, who, in a few years, moved to Greensboro
in Choctaw
County. Other business firms came and built stores
and homes; a post office was also established, and mail delivered
weekly. John Eades
had a carpenter shop, John Dean a grocery, and a Frenchman, who was known as
“Monsieur,” made spinning-wheels and reels for housewives and did a good
business. John K. Oaks had a wood shop
here, too.
The first tavern-keeper has been forgotten, but
the first one that can be recalled was Bob Cruss, a
Virginian. He was succeeded by James Eades, who kept open-house until the town was broken up
by the building of the railroad in 1859.
The first physician was Dr. H.H. Weir, who came
from Virginia
with his bride of a few months. Their
baby, Bob, was the first white child born in the neighborhood.
Dr. Nathaniel Wells was the next physician to
settle here. He married Mary Smith, a daughter
of Douglas Smith who lived here at that time on the Hudson Place southeast of Shongalo. Many of their descendants live in the
county now.
In the neighborhood of Shongalo, there lived Wiley
and Berry Kelly, John Murphy, Jeff Fullilove,
William Stovall, Thomas Harris, James Crocker, John Mann, Thomas Ely and his
sons, Netwon, Wash, Elias, and Rich; and Nat Carter
and his sons, Warren, John, Tom, Jim, Polk, and William.
The first marriage of record in the community took
place a few miles west of Shongalo, the ceremony being performed by a
magistrate who was also inn-keeper at Shongalo. This wedding date was January 1,
1833,
and the contracting parties were Mr. Foster and Miss Lambright.
[Ed. Note: The Carroll
County, Mississippi Census of 1860
(P. 25), lists 21
white males and 19
white females, with 11
children attending school. Cumulative
value of Real Property was assessed at $50,000. Cumulative value of Personal Property was
assessed at $133,380. Names appearing in this Census are: Wood,
Mattox (or Mallox), Ream, Gayden, Oaks, Boone, Ferguson, Stone, Cain and Johnson.]
Events In and Around Shongalo
From Newspaper Articles and
Cited Information
Laws of Mississippi
CHAPTER 131.
AN ACT to incorporate the
town of Shongola, in
the county
of Carroll. Pp. 221-223.
Section 1. Be it enacted by the Legislature of
the State of Mississippi, That the town
of Shongola, in the county of Carroll,
located upon the east half of section twenty-two, township seventeen, in said
county, be, and the same is hereby incorporated.
Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That
Milton Wardlaw, James W. Eskridge, William L.
Pickens, Charles Kopprel, and H.H. Weir, shall hold
in said town on the first Monday in April next, by giving three days public
notice, an election for Selectmen, one Constable, one Clerk and Treasurer,
and one Assessor and Collector to hold their offices for the term of one
year, from the said first Monday of April, and continue until their
successors shale have been elected, which election shall be annually
thereafter, on the first Monday in April, and the said board of selectmen,
shall, at their meeting, select one of their number to act as President of
said board, which said President, shall have all the powers of a Justice of
the Peace within said town of Shongalo.
Sec. 3. Be it further enacted, That
all free white male inhabitants twenty-one years of age, who may have resided
the last four months preceding said election within the aforesaid limits of
said town, shall be qualified voters in said election.
Sec. 4. Be it further enacted, That
the said President and Selectmen shall be called and known by the name of the
President and Selectmen of the town of Shongalo, a majority of whom shall
form a quorum, to transact business, and by such name, shall sue and be sued,
plead and be impleaded, answer and be answered in all or any manner of suits,
plaints, matters, and things either and both in law and equity; may have a
common seal, may make all by-laws, ordinances, rules, regulations,
and shall cause the same to be published within said town, at least three
days previous to their enforcement; they shall have power to punish all
violations of their by-laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations,
by fine or fines for such violation, not exceeding fifty dollars, recoverable
before said President and Selectmen for the use and benefit of said town, and
to levy a tax in each and every year of not more than fifty per cent on the
state tax, and all persons and property within the limits of said town, for
the use and benefit of the same, all of which shall be under the direction of
said President and Selectmen for the purposes aforesaid, and compel all
persons living in said town, who are now under the laws of this state, liable
to work on the public roads, to work on the streets of said town not
exceeding six days in any one year, and in case of neglect, refusal, or
failure so to do, to prescribe a penalty for forfeiture for every such
failure, not to exceed in any one case the sum of five dollars, and shall
have the further power to require bonds of the said Treasurer, Assessor, and
Collector and Constable for the discharge of their respective duties, which
duties they are authorized to define, as well as those of clerk.
Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That
the regular meetings of said board
shall be once in every month, and that said board shall conduct all elections
herein provided for, and prescribe the manner of filling vacancies.
Approved February 22nd,
1840.
Laws of Mississippi
CHAPTER 248.
AN ACT to incorporate the
town of Shongolo, in
the county
of Carroll. Pp. 405-407.
Section 1. Be it enacted by the Legislature of
the State of Mississippi, That the town of Shongolo,
in Carroll County, be, and the same is hereby incorporated; and that the
corporate limits of said town shall run to the four cardinal points, having
for its northern and southern boundary the section line of section number twenty-two,
and taking lot number six, of said town, as at present laid off and surveyed,
as a center, to extend from the front of said lot a quarter of a mile east,
and from said point a quarter of a mile west; thus forming a square, one mile
long and half a mile wide, and embracing an area of one hundred and twenty
acres.
Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That
any free white male person, having attained the age of twenty-one years, and
having resided within the State twelve months, and in the corporate limits of
said town four months, next preceding an election for town officers, shall be
a qualified elector, and shall be eligible to any town office: Provided,
however, that any qualified voter of the county, who may have resided
within the corporate limits of said town ten days next preceding, shall be
entitled to vote at the first election.
Sec. 3. Be it further enacted, That the
sheriff of said county, or any acting justice of the peace for said county,
shall, on the first Monday of April, in each and every year, hold an
election, in strict conformity with the laws of the State, for a mayor, six
aldermen, and constable, for said town; and the sheriff, or justice of the
peace, as the case may be, shall give to each of the eight persons who may
have received the greatest number of votes, for the several offices, a
certificate that he is duly elected for one year from and after his election,
who shall continue in office until their successors are duly elected, and
qualified.
Sec. 4. Be it further enacted, That
the mayor elected in pursuance of this act, shall be commissioned by the
Governor as a justice of the peace, and shall have jurisdiction within the
limits of said corporation; he shall preside at each meeting of the board of
mayor and aldermen of said town, and by virtue of his office, shall have
power to perform all such duties, and receive the like emoluments and
immunities, as are performed and received by other magistrates in the said
county; but in case of his absence from any meeting of said board of
aldermen, any member thereof may be called to the chair, and execute the
duties of the president, pro tempore.
Sec. 5. Be it further enacted, That
the said mayor and aldermen, shall be a body corporate and politic, by the name
and style of the mayor and aldermen of the town of Shongolo;
and as such, they, and their successors in office, shall be capable of suing
and being sued, of pleading and being impleaded, of defending and being
defended, in all manner of suits and actions, either in law or equity; and
also receive the donations, purchase, give, grant, sell, convey and contract,
and do any and all other such acts as are incident to bodies corporate and
politic.
Sec. 6. Be it further enacted, That
said mayor and aldermen shall have power to pass all necessary by-laws for
the good order and government of said town, not inconsistent with the
constitution and laws of this State, and of the United States, whereby
education and morality may be promoted, and the retailing and vending of
ardent spirits, and gambling, and every species of vice and immorality may be
suppressed; and in their corporate capacity, they may inflict a fine or
penalty on any person for a violation of any such laws, not exceeding fifty
dollars for any offence, recoverable with costs, before any justice of the
peace for said county, in the name of said corporation, for the use and
benefit of said town; and that no law of the State now in force, or that
hereafter may be passed, legalizing either retailing or vending spirituous
[liquors,] or any species of gaming, shall apply in any respect to the said
corporation; nor shall the said mayor and aldermen have power, by any by-laws
to authorise any person to sell spirituous liquors,
either in small or large quantities, or to authorise
any species of gaming in the said corporation, unless upon petition, by at
least three-fourths of the citizens of said town.
Sec. 7. Be it further enacted, That
the corporate limits of the said town of Shongolo, are
hereby declared to be a district, entitled to a justice of the peace, and
constable; and the said mayor and constable, when elected, and commissioned
by the Governor, shall each be subject to perform all the duties, and receive
all such profits, as are performed and received by other justices of the
peace and constables of this State.
Sec. 8. Be it further enacted, That
the board of mayor and aldermen shall appoint, annually, a treasurer and
recorder, whose duties, responsibilities, and compensation, shall be
prescribed by said board.
Sec. 9. Be it further enacted, That
for the purposes of revenue, the said mayor and aldermen may tax such
property as is liable to taxation under the existing laws of this State: Provided,
such tax shall not exceed fifty cents on each white poll, fifty cents on each
slave, and twelve and a half cents on every hundred dollars
worth of other personal and real estate within the limits of the said
town, for any one year; and the money so raised, shall be appropriated by the
said mayor and aldermen, exclusively to the use and benefit of said town.
Sec. 10. Be it further enacted, That
the citizens of the said town, subject to road duties, shall be exempt from
such duties beyond its corporate limits; and the said mayor and aldermen may
release them for any equivalent therefor, not to exceed ten dollars in any
one year.
Sec. 11. Be it further enacted, That,
if from any cause, the said board should not be constituted as contemplated
by this act, any three citizens of said town may call a meeting at any time,
for the purpose of such election, by giving ten days previous notice, by
advertisement set up in said town; and such election shall be as valid as
though it had been held on the regular
appointed days therefor.
Sec. 12. Be it further enacted, That
when said board has been organized, the said mayor may call a meeting at any
time, by giving five days’ notice; that a majority shall constitute a quorum;
that, in case of a tie, the mayor shall give the casting vote; and that the
said board shall have power to fill all vacancies which may occur in their
body, from an annual election to the next preceding one.
Sec. 13. And be it further enacted, That
this act take effect and be in force from and after its passage.
Approved February 19,
1850.
Laws of Mississippi
CHAPTER 319.
AN ACT to amend an act to
incorporate the town of Shongolo
in the county
of Carroll. P. 431.
Section 1. Be it enacted by the Legislature of
the State of Mississippi, That so much of the above recited act as refers
to the east and west limits and bounds of said town of Shongolo,
be, and the same is hereby repealed, and that hereafter the corporate limits
of said town shall run to the four cardinal points, taking lot No. six of
said town, as at present laid off and surveyed, as a center to extend from
the front of said lot a half mile west, and from said point a half mile
north, and from said point a half mile south.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That this
act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.
Approved January 27,
1852.
Shongalo Plat
Note: Middleton and
Shongalo were both incorporated on the same day: February 22,
1840,
and were abandoned in the same
year; 1859.
The Oldest House in Shongalo (and in the Vaiden Area)
[Ed. Note: The
last owner of this house was Silas Weeks.
As of 2003,
it is still standing, and is located at the site of the small black dot
within the oval on this map. The approximate area of Shongalo is all of
the area within the oval.]
2003
Photos Courtesy of Susie James.
|
<img src="http://visit.webhosting.yahoo.com/visit.gif?us1434257802"
alt="setstats" border="0"
width="1" height="1">