Mississippi Culpepper Archives
Template County

County History

No web pages have yet been created at Culpepper Connections for the following counties, since no Culpepper records have yet been located within them.

Benton County was one of several that were organized during the reconstruction times, being organized from parts of Marshall and Tippah counties, July 15, 1870, during the administration of Governor Alcorn. As of 2000, the population is 8,026. Ashland, the county seat, is situated at the center of the county and is a small incorporated village of 200 inhabitants, named for the home of Henry Clay. Besides Ashland, other small towns in the county include Hickory Flat and Snow Lake Shores. Benton County is bordered by Fayette County, Tennessee (northwest), Hardeman County, Tennessee (northeast), Tippah County (east), Union County (south) and Marshall County (west).


 

Coahoma County, an original county of the Choctaw Cession of 1830, was the eleventh county established by the act of February 9, 1836. It is located in the northwestern part of the State in the fertile Yazoo Delta region. The name "Coahoma" is a Choctaw word signifying "red panther." In 1877 the county relinquished a part of its territory to Quitman. As of 2000, the population was 30,622. Clarksdale, the county seat, is the largest and most important city in the county. Other towns include Coahoma, Friars Point, Jonestown, Lula, Lyon, Dublin and Rudyard. Coahoma County is bordered by Tunica County (north), Quitman County (east), Tallahatchie County (southeast), Bolivar County (southwest) and Phillips County, Arkansas (west).

 

George County was erected March 16, 1910, from parts of Greene and Jackson countties, and was named in honor of US Senator James Zachariah George (1881-1897). It is part of the Pascagoula, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area, and as of 2000, the population was 19,144. Lucedale is the County seat and largest town. George County is bordered by Greene County (north), Mobile County, Alabama (east), Jackson County (south), Stone County (west) and Perry County (northwest).




 

Greene county was established on December 9, 1811, while David Holmes of Virginia was serving as territorial governor. It was named for General Nathanael Greene, a distinguished officer in the Revolutionary War. The counties of Amite, Franklin, Wayne and later George contributed to form its area. Among its earliest settlers was a large infusion of industrious arid conservative Scotchmen from the Carolinas and Virginia, as is evidenced by the prefix "Mac," which appears in so many of the names. As of 2000, its population was 13,299. Located on the Chickasawhay River, the county seat is at Leakesville. Other towns include McLain and State Line. The first Court House was a little log building, which was destroyed by fire in 1875, all records were destroyed. Greene County is bordered by Wayne County (north), Washington County, Alabama (northeast), Mobile County, Alabama (southeast), George County (south) and Perry County (west).

Issaquena County was established January 23, 1844, during the first administration of Gov. Albert G. Brown. Its name is derived from a combination of two Indian words: issa, meaning deer, and okhina, the poetic name of river (water road). In the Mississippi Delta region, its territory was formerly embraced within the limits of Washington County, but on March 29, 1876, together with Washington, it contributed to form Sharkey County. Just before the Civil War, Issaquena County had the highest concentration of slaves at 92.5% (115 owners held 7,244 slaves). As of 2000, Issaquena's population was only 2,274, the lowest of any county in Mississippi. It also has has the second lowest per capita income in Mississippi and the 36th lowest in the United States. There are no schools located in Issaquena, and students attend campuses in neighboring Sharkey and Washington counties. Perhaps its most famous native is the Blues Musician, Muddy Waters (1915-1983). Mayersville is the county seat and largest town. Issaquena County is bordered by Washington County (north), Sharkey County (northeast), Yazoo County (east), Warren County (south) and East Carroll Parish, Louisiana (west).

Itawamba County was erected February 9, 1836, during the administration of Gov. Charles Lynch. Some Mississippi historians assert that it was named for the daughter of an Indian chief, while others insist that it is a Chickasaw name of Levi Colbert. In 1832, the treaty of Pontotoc had been concluded with the Chickasaw nation of Indians, whereby they finally ceded to the United States all their remaining lands in the northern part of the State. Out of this large and fertile territory, a dozen counties had been created by the close of the year 1836, one of them being Itawamba. In common with all of the Chickasaw region, Itawamba County was rapidly settled by a strong tide of emigration, not only from the older counties of the State, but from the states of Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia as well. The Indians, reluctant at first to abandon their homes, by the close of the year 1839, had nearly all retired to their new allotments west of the Mississippi River. In 1866, Itawamba contributed a large part of its western territory, to assist in forming the county of Lee. As of 2000, the population of Itawamba was 22,770 and it was part of the Tupelo, Mississippi Micropolitan Statistical Area. Its county seat and largest town is Fulton. Itawamba County is bordered by Tishomingo County (northeast), Franklin County, Alabama (east), Marion County, Alabama (southeast), Monroe County (south), Lee County (west) and Prentiss County (northwest). Cities and Towns include Fulton, Mantachie, Tremont.

Jefferson County was established in 1799, by proclamation of Winthrop Sargent, the first territorial governor of Mississippi. Its extensive original boundaries embraced the upper portion of the narrow fringe of white settlements, along the Mississippi, forming a part of the so-called Natchez District, during the 18th century. First named Pickering, it received its present name in 1802, in honor of President Thomas Jefferson. The County Seat is Fayette. Much of the early emigration to the county came in over the public road known as the Natchez Trace, which ran north from Natchez through Jefferson County, to the distant white settlements on the Cumberland, Tennessee. This public road was infested by bandits in the early years of the 18th century. As of 2000, Jefferson County had a population of 9,740 as well as the highest percentage of African Americans of any county in the United States. It also has the lowest per capita income in Mississippi and the 17th lowest in the United States. Its county seat is Fayette. There was a record loss in 1904. Then in 1990, the courthouse burned again. While a majority of records were saved, some of the "saved" records were later lost. Jefferson County is bordered by Claiborne County (north), Copiah County (northeast), Lincoln County (southeast), Franklin County (south), Adams County (southwest) and Tensas Parish, Louisiana (west).

The remaining counties need additional text drawn from:
http://mymississippigenealogy.com/index.htm

Lincoln County. As of 2000, the population was 33,166. It is named in honor of the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. MCI Worldcom CEO and founder Bernard Ebbers resided near Brookhaven prior to his conviction in the scandal that collapsed the company. Founded in 1870, its county seat and largest city is Brookhaven. Adjacent Counties are Copiah County (north), Lawrence County (east), Walthall County (southeast), Pike County (south), Amite County (southwest), Franklin County (west) and  Jefferson County (northwest),



 

Montgomery County. As of 2000, the population is 12,189. It was either named in honor of Richard Montgomery, an American Revolutionary War general killed in 1775 while attempting to capture Quebec City, Canada, or for Montgomery County, Tennessee, from which an early settler came. In that latter case, it would have been indirectly named for John Montgomery, a settler in Montgomery County, Tennessee, who founded the city of Clarksville, Tennessee in that county. Founded in 1871, its county seat and largest city is Winona. Adjacent Counties are Grenada County (north), Webster County (northeast), Choctaw County (east), Attala County (south) and Carroll County (west).


 

Noxubee County. As of 2000, the population is 12,548. Its county seat is Macon. Noxubee is a Native American word meaning stinking water. Founded in 1833, its county seat is Macon. Its largest city is Macon. Adjacent Counties are Lowndes County (north), Pickens County, Alabama (east), Sumter County, Alabama (southeast), Kemper County (south), Winston County (west) and Oktibbeha County (northwest)





 

Panola County, just east of the Mississippi Delta. As of 2000, the population was 34,274. Panola is a a Native American word which means cotton. Panola County was established February 9, 1836, and is one of the twelve large northern Mississippi counties created in that year out of the Chickasaw Cession of 1832. On February 1, 1877, when Quitman County was created, Panola surrendered a small fraction of its southwestern area to assist in forming that county, which reduced Panola from an area of 756 square miles to its present land surface of 705 square miles. It had a population of 27,845, in 1920. Its inhabitants gradually increased in numbers from 1850 to 1910, from 11,444 to 31,274. Two of the oldest settlements in the county were at Belmont and Panola, a few miles apart, and on opposite sides of the Tallahatchie River. For several years there was a spirited contest between these two towns over the location of the courthouse of Panola County. With the advent of the Mississippi and Tennessee (now the Illinois Central railroad) Belmont was absorbed by Sardis, and Panola was absorbed by Batesville. One result of the above contest is found in the two judicial districts of the county, Sardis being the seat of justice for the first judicial district, and Batesville for the second judicial district into which the county is divided. Founded in February 9, 1836, its county seats are Batesville and Sardis, and its largest city is Batesville. Adjacent Counties are Tate County (north), Lafayette County (east), Yalobusha County (southeast), Tallahatchie County (southwest), Quitman County (west) and Tunica County (northwest).

Prentiss County. As of 2000, the population was 25,556. Prentiss County is named for Smith Prentiss, a famous speaker and debater. Founded in 1870, its county seat and largest city is Booneville. Adjacent Counties are Alcorn County (north), Tishomingo County (east), Itawamba County (southeast), Lee County (southwest), Union County (west) and Tippah County (nothwest).






 

Quitman County is a county located in the Mississippi Delta region. As of 2000, the population is 10,117. Its county seat is Marks. Quitman County is named for John A. Quitman, Governor of Mississippi from 1835 to 1836 and from 1850 to 1851. Founded in 1877, its county seat is Marks, and its largest town is Lambert. Adjacent Counties are Tunica County (north), Panola County (east), Tallahatchie County (south) and Coahoma County (west).






 

Smith County. As of 2000, the population is 16,182. Smith County is named for Major David Smith. Smith County is a prohibition or dry county. Founded in 1833, its county seat is Raleigh, and its largest town is Taylorsville. Adjacent Counties are Scott County (north), Jasper County (east), Jones County (southeast), Covington County (south), Scott County (west) and Rankin County (northwest).






 

Tate County, just east of the Mississippi Delta. As of 2000, the population was 25,370. James Earl Jones, an actor famous for being the voice of Darth Vader, was born in Tate County. Tate County is named for the prominent local Tate family. Tate County is part of the Memphis, Tennessee Metropolitan Area. Founded in 1873, its county seat and largest city is Senatobia. Adjacent Counties are DeSoto County (north), Marshall County (east), Lafayette County (southeast), Panola County (south) and Tunica County (west).




 

Tippah County. As of 2000, the population was 20,826. The name "Tippah" is a Chickasaw word meaning "cut off," and is taken from the creek of the same name that flows across much of the original county from northeast to southwest before emptying into the Tallahatchie River. The creek probably was so named because it, and the ridges on either side, "cut off" the western part of the region from the eastern portion. Founded in 1836, its county seat and largest city is Ripley. Adjacent Counties are Hardeman County, Tennessee (north), Alcorn County (northeast), Prentiss County (southeast), Union County (south) and Benton County (west).



 

Tishomingo County. As of 2000, the population was 19,163. Tishomingo County was organized February 9, 1836 from Chickasaw lands that were ceded to the United States. In 1870, this land was divided in to Alcorn, Prentiss, and Tishomingo counties. Tishomingo County is named for Chief Tishomingo, the last full-blooded war chief of the Chickasaw Indians. Founded in February 9, 1836, its county seat and largest city is Iuka. Adjacent counties are: Hardin County, Tennessee (north), Lauderdale County, Alabama (northeast), Colbert County, Alabama (east), Franklin County, Alabama (southeast), Itawamba County (south), Prentiss County (southwest) and Alcorn County (northwest)


 

Tunica County is a county located in the Mississippi Delta region. As of 2000, the population is 9,227. Tunica County is named for the Tunica Native Americans. Tunica County is part of the Memphis, Tennessee Metropolitan Area. Founded in 1836, its county seat and largest city is Tunica. Adjacent Counties are Crittenden County, Arkansas (north), DeSoto County (northeast), Tate County (east), Panola County (southeast), Quitman County (south), Coahoma County & Phillips County, Arkansas (southwest) and Lee County, Arkansas (west).




 

Union County. As of 2000, the population was 25,362. Union County received its name, by being a union of pieces of several large counties. Founded in 1870, its county seat and and largest town is New Albany. Adjacent Counties are Benton County & Tippah County (north), Prentiss County (east), Lee County (southeast), Pontotoc County (south), Lafayette County (southwest) and Marshall County (northwest).





 

Warren County. In 2000, its population was 49,644.  Warren County is named for American Revolutionary War officer Joseph Warren. During the American Civil War, Vicksburg was the site of the Siege of Vicksburg, a significant event in which the Union gained control of the entire Mississippi River. The 47-day Siege of Vicksburg was required to starve the city into submission, for its location atop a high bluff overlooking the Mississippi River proved impregnable to assault by federal troops. The capture of Vicksburg and the simultaneous defeat of Lee at Gettysburg marked the turning point in the American Civil War. Because of the city's location on the Mississippi River, its reputation in the nineteenth century often rested on the river's prodigious steamboat traffic. Between 1881 and 1894, the Anchor Line, a prominent steamboat company operating on the Mississippi River from 1859 to 1898, operated a steamboat called the City of Vicksburg, named for the city. In 1876 a Mississippi River flood cut off the large meander flowing past Vicksburg leaving access to the new channel limited. The United States Army Corps of Engineers diverted the Yazoo River in 1903 into the old, shallowing channel to rejuvenate the waterfront. Railroad access to the west was by transfer steamers and ferry barges until a combination railroad and highway bridge was built in 1929. This is the only Mississippi River rail crossing between Baton Rouge and Memphis and the only highway crossing between Natchez and Greenville. Interstate 20 bridged the River in 1969 and freight rail traffic still crosses by the old bridge. North-South transportation links are by the Mississippi River and U.S. Highway 61. Founded in 1809, its county seat and largest city is Vicksburg. Adjacent Counties are Issaquena County (north), Yazoo County (northeast), Hinds County (east), Claiborne County (south), Tensas Parish, Louisiana (southwest) and Madison Parish, Louisiana (west).

Wilkinson County. As of 2000, the population is 10,312. Wilkinson County is named for military leader James Wilkinson. Founded in 1802, its county seat is Woodville, and its largest town is Centreville. Adjacent Counties are Adams County (north), Franklin County (northeast), Amite County (east), East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana (southeast), West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana (south) and Concordia Parish, Louisiana (west).





 

Any names below in red have not been matched with a person in the Culpepper family tree. If you can identify any of them, please let us know.

Census Records

Military Records

World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918

Source: National Archives and Records Administration. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-18 (database online) Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, 2002. National Archives and Records Administration. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. M1509, 4,277 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration

U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946

Source: National Archives and Records Administration. U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 (database online). Provo, Utah: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2005. Original data: Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, 1938-1946 (Archival Database); World War II Army Enlistment Records; Records of the National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 64; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD.

Marriages

Mississippi Marriages, 1776-1935

Source: Hunting For Bears, comp.. Mississippi Marriages, 1776-1935 (database on-line). Provo, UT, USA: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2004. Original data: Mississippi marriage information taken from county courthouse records. Many of these records were extracted from copies of the original records in microfilm, microfiche, or book format, located at the Family History Library.

Land Records

Mississippi Land Records

Source: United States, Bureau of Land Management. Mississippi Land Records (database on-line). Provo, UT, USA: MyFamily.com, Inc., 1997. Original data: United States, Bureau of Land Management. Mississippi Pre-1908 Patents: Homesteads, Cash Entry, Choctaw Indian Scrip and Chickasaw Cession Lands. General Land Office Automated Records Project, 1997

Deaths

Social Security Death Index

Source: Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index (database on-line). Provo, Utah: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2007. All records of deaths on or before 31 Dec 2007 in which the final benefit was paid or final residence was in this county.

Places