Senate Concurrent Resolution 681

(As Adopted by Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING CARROLL COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, ON THE OCCASION OF ITS 175th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION.

WHEREAS, Carroll County, Mississippi, the tenth county formed in Mississippi and once the largest county in Mississippi, was organized in December 1833 from land acquired in 1830 from the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek signed, between the Choctaw Indians and the State of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, on March 11, 1834, a committee of four commissioners, thereafter known as the Board of Police, met in the home of George W. Green to organize the business affairs of the county and to appoint the first county officers, those being Abraham W. Herring, Sheriff; William G. Herring, Circuit Clerk; and William Banks, Probate Judge; and

WHEREAS, on April 16, 1834, Carrollton was designated as the county seat for Carroll County, as the town's location was strategically located at the center of the county and served as the only county seat until 1873 when Vaiden was also named as a county seat to serve the 2nd district of the county; and

WHEREAS, Carroll County was home to two outstanding U.S. Congressmen: Senators James Z. George, who also served as Chief Justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court and a member of the Mississippi 1890 Constitutional Convention, and Hernando DeSoto Money; and State Representatives Greenwood LeFlore, the last Chief of the Choctaw Indians, Dr. C.M. Vaiden, Mynelle Vaiden and Maurice Black; Senators Arnie Watson, Vernon Anderson and D.D. Fullilove III; and continues to be home to Representative Clarence Pearce; and

WHEREAS, Carroll County was and continues to be home to many patriots who served in every war and conflict involving the United States from the Mexican War to the War in Iraq, many having given their lives for Carroll County and the United States; and

WHEREAS, Carroll County, even during its territorial period, has a long history of religious involvement, with early churches of the Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian and Episcopal faiths being prominent and with such noted pastors as Sproles, Hamilton, Shattuck, Wade, Applewhite, Hart, Smith, Taylor and Keys; and

WHEREAS, Carroll County boasts of renowned attorneys with last names of Southworth, George, Turner, Cothren, Kimbrough, Anderson and Boykin; some were responsible for writing many of the current Mississippi and Carroll County laws, and all provided sound legal advice and representation for Carroll County citizens; and

WHEREAS, Carroll County residents fondly remember many physicians such as Doctors Vaiden, Power, Arrington, McBride, Sanders, Holman, Hightower, Redditt, Anthony, Wells and Costilow who gave untiringly during their practice to saving lives of Carroll County residents during Yellow Fever outbreaks as well as other epidemics and illnesses costly to the lives of the county inhabitants; and

WHEREAS, education in Carroll County has always been an important factor boasting of both male and female academies dating back to the mid-1830s throughout the county with emphasis given to education in Middleton, a town then located in Carroll County and given the title of "The Athens of the South" due to its outstanding educational facilities; and with educational progress in the county further enhanced by such educators as Finney, Money, Belcher, Pearce, Word, Hawthorne, McBride, Prewitt, Ross, Hatcher, Davis, Flowers, Bryan, Marshall, Lovell, Dulin, Scruggs and Stevens; and

WHEREAS, Carroll County was the birthplace of Admiral John Sidney McCain, Sr., grandfather of the 2008 Republican Presidential Candidate, John Sidney McCain III; and

WHEREAS, Carroll County was the birthplace of Mississippi Governor Earl Brewer (1912-1916) who ran for Governor unopposed and never gave a political speech for the office; and

WHEREAS, Carroll County was the setting for such movies as The Reivers, Mississippi Burning, The Music Man, Ode to Billy Joe, Home from the Hills and Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry; and

WHEREAS, Carroll County was home to Elizabeth Spencer, renowned author and novelist; Dr. Tim Smith, historical author; and continues to be the home of Betty Wiltshire, publisher and author; and upcoming novelist, Marvin Inman; and

WHEREAS, we recognize the present Board of Supervisors and county officials for their outstanding leadership and strong county support: Supervisors Terry Herbert, Beat 1; Lloyd Ashmore, Beat 2; Marvin Coward, Beat 3; Ricky Corley, Beat 4; and James Cobbins, Beat 5; Jerry Carver, Sheriff; Durward Stanton, Circuit Clerk; Stanley Mullins, Chancery Clerk; and Wilton Neal, Tax Assessor/Collector; and

WHEREAS, Carroll County residents are justly proud of their legacy and rich heritage and wishing to share these attributes with others throughout the celebration year, have selected special attractions designed to entice visitors to the county; those attractions being a lecture on the architectural styles of homes in the county, walking and driving tours of the Towns of Carrollton and Vaiden to become better acquainted with the towns' historical features, Yard and Garden Updates with special emphasis on heirloom plants and period landscaping, Seasons of the Gospel emphasizing floral designs for churches, Re-creation of an early 19th Century "Egg and Poultry" day photograph made in Carrollton and using descendants of the group as well as current townspeople in the new photograph, Carrollton Pilgrimage and County Pioneer Day, and Christmas festivals in the Towns of Carrollton and Vaiden; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize these noteworthy events and distinguished individuals during this significant 175th Anniversary Celebration in the life of Carroll County and congratulate the diligence of the current residents of Carroll County upon this commemorative event:

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the residents of Carroll County upon the occasion of the county's 175th Anniversary Celebration and extend warmest wishes for continued economic prosperity, spiritual growth and enduring success in restoring and maintaining the historic landmarks of Carroll County.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the Board of Supervisors of Carroll County, the Boards of Aldermen of Carrollton, North Carrollton and Vaiden, and be made available to the members of the Capitol Press Corp.