(TIMELINE FOR CORINTH)

Taken from Daily Corinthian Centennial Edition published in 1954

Submitted By: Vicki Burress Roach

1832-1899
  • 1832-Treaty of Pontotoc; Indians gave up land, moved to Indian Territory.
  • 1834-Reuben Boone and family first white settlers in Chickasaw Cession. Travelled Natchez Trace from middle Tennessee. (Editor’s note: There were white families here prior to 1834. The Alcorn Co. Genealogy Society found a shop ledger by Richard Burress who came here from LaGrange, Alabama in 1830 and established a stable and inn. The ledger is a record of his expenses and the charges of peoples’ accounts.)
  • 1835-Eastport earliest town, steamboat landing and trading post on Tennessee River.
  • 1836-Formation Old Tishomingo County, Jacinto, County Seat. First sheriff, W.B. Owens; first probate judge, H.B. Mitchell.
  • 1837-First bridge across Tuscumbia River; first marriage license; first sale of slaves.
  • 1838-Sawmill at Seven Mile Creek. First manufacturing plant, The Bay Springs-Union Factory.
  • 1839-Stage Coach line by way of Jacinto from Nashville to Memphis. Telegraph line along route.
  • 1840-Six ministers of the gospel in Tishomingo County (Methodist, Baptist and Presbyterian). Two newspapers published in Jacinto, first one edited by Dr. M.A. Simmons.
  • 1851-Euclid Academy founded near Jacinto by E.W. Carmack.
  • 1852-Railroad surveys; Memphis and Charleston; Mobile & Ohio.
  • 1853-Roadbeds crossed on land of William and Hannah Lasley.
  • 1854-Settlement east of crossing called “Cross City.” Big “Rush” to new town. Esquire M.B. Henry and family first settlers.
  • 1855-Name changed to Corinth. James E. Stuart, mayor; Houston Mitchell and Hampton Mask, founders; G. W. Gibson editor first newspaper “The Cross City” (changed to “Corinthian Pillar”). Rev. E.C. Gillenwaters preached first sermon in Corinth under a brush arbor. (Site of Primary School).
  • 1856-Col. C.W. McCord secured charter, dated March 12, 1856.
  • 1857-Cumberland Presbyterian Church, town’s first brick building, erected (used as arsenal during war and school building after 1871). Corona Female College (on College Hill) founded by Rev. L.B. Gaston.
  • 1858-“Rubel and Sekeles Co.,” (now Abe Rubel & Company) started in log store building. By 1858, Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian and Christian churches organized.
  • 1859-Completion of Memphis and Charleston Railroad; Corinth made seat of justice for new Circuit and Chancery Court district; first County Fair at Rienzi.
  • 1861-Completion Mobile and Ohio Railroad; first crossing two trunk line railroads in South. Strategic place during war, Confederate armies began movement to Corinth in April. “Corinth Rifles” organized by Judge W. H. Kilpatrick, Captain, G.W. Small, ensign.
  • 1862-Corinth, prelude and postlude to Shiloh; Battle of Shiloh; Gen. Johnston killed; Corinth occupied by Union Army; Battle of Corinth; fourteen generals (Confederate and Union) had headquarters in Corinth, including Albert Sidney Johnston and Ulysses S. Grant. (A few of the headquarters homes still stand).
  • 1864-Union troops evacuated Corinth; burned Corona College (used as a hospital).
  • 1865-War between the States ended; reconstruction period began. James Waits opened a watch shop (now Waits Jewelry Store).
  • 1866-National Cemetery established by U.S. Government; twenty acres in Southeast Corinth.
  • 1867-Population of Corinth seven hundred. Col. A.H. Taylor organized first bank in North Mississippi-“Tishomingo Savings Institution.”
  • 1869-Borroum Drug Store founded by Dr. A.J. Borroum, Confederate Army surgeon. (Oldest drug store in state).
  • 1870-Old Tishomingo County divided into Alcorn, Prentiss and Tishomingo Counties; Corinth county seat of Alcorn. James Almet Green, circuit judge. Dr. James Marcus Taylor reorganized first medical society-“The Tishomingo District Medical Society.”
  • 1874-Jesse James and gang robbed bank-Tishomingo Savings Institution.
  • 1875-End of “carpet bag” rule; population 1,000; J.P. Collier, mayor; Dr. J.A. Warriner and Dr. L.W. Worsham practicing dentistry. “Corinth Female Academy” founded by Miss Mary Connelly of New York; later Mrs. Lena Elgin Rice’s School (now used as library building). Church Directory of 1875 listed seven churches, six hotels, twenty stores, seven doctors, eleven lawyers, five small factories.
  • 1878-Yellow fever epidemic-Corinth escaped because of strict quarantine. Bell Coal Co. begun by J.J. Bell.
  • 1879-W.T. Adams Machine Co. founded by W. T. Adams. First big industry and first large payroll. Mr. Adams operated first light plant. John Taylor established Corinth’s first water works system a few years later.
  • 1880-First brick courthouse erected; Masonic Lodge No. 116 in charge of colorful cornerstone laying ceremonies. Building committee; J.D. Bills, Chairman, Robert Henderson, Wm. N. Inge, D.J. Hyneman, K.M. Harrison, S.H. Simmons, A.J. Stricklin.
  • 1884-Sam Jones Revival started at Methodist Church, moved to Courthouse.
  • 1885-Byrnes Hardware Store established by Michael Byrnes (crew member of the Merrimac).
  • 1889-Alcorn Woolen Mills founded by Paul T. Jones and sons of Bolivar. Pioneer garment manufacturing industry in Corinth.
  • 1894-Public School Building erected. John Park, first principal. Others; W.D. Conn, W.J. Lamb, W.P. Dobbins.
  • 1895-The Daily Corinthian founded by J.C. Martin (first daily newspaper); Payne’s Jewelry Store opened by C.M. Payne. The Pansy Club (men and women, met at night) first social club, organized in “Gay Nineties”, The Emerald Club, Corinth’s first women’s club organized for study by Mrs. J.M. Boone. Twelve charter members.
  • 1897-Franchise granted for first telephone system. First job printing shop established by G.D. Winston.
  • 1898-Spanish American War-Corinth volunteers served. Founding of McAmis Hardware by J.A. McAmis.
  • 1899-Year of big freeze, February 12th, 14 below zero. Corinth Chapter U.D.C. No. 333 organized. Mrs. Mary Boone Curlee, first president; sponsored Confederate Park project on Fort Robinette. Pocahontas Lumber Co., founded by Major G.W. Garrett, moved to Corinth; owned and operated by Hugh E. Ray and Lloyd F. Garrett.
    1900-1954
  • 1900-At beginning of Twentieth Century, Corinth’s population 3,661. Mayor T.E. Henry. Ben E. Everett and H.N. Young established one of Corinth’s first insurance agencies.
  • 1901-April 30, gala day, William McKinley, President of the United States, and Mrs. McKinley, visited Corinth. Shelby Hammond Curlee founded the Corinth Woolen Mills. McAmis Drug Store established in June, by Hugh M. McAmis.
  • 1903-Mooreville Park and Zoo (now Hillandale Golf Course and Garrett Lodge) opened by Henry Moore, African game hunter and ivory trader. Owned a private museum (exhibits later sent to Smithsonian Institution). Citizens Saving Bank organized by J.O. Liddon and B.F. Liddon.
  • 1915-Construction of Post office; W.F. Elgin Postmaster.
  • 1917-World War I-Corinth Red Cross Chapter organized by Mrs. H.M. McAmis, regent LaSalle Chapter, Daughters American Revolution. Unveiling of Confederate Monument, erected by United Daughters Confederacy, at Shiloh. Mrs. Robert Henderson, (Mississippi Division Chm.), Mrs. Augusta Evans Inge (Poet Laureate) on program.
  • 1918-Thirty Corinth boys in Col. L, 154th Inf. 739th Div., shipped overseas August 6th, Willis Mathis, Capt. News of Armistice, November 11th brought great rejoicing in streets of Corinth
  • 1919-Capt. W.C. Adams and Capt. W.T. Adams, Jr. organized Perry A. Johns American Legion Post. (Named for first county soldier killed in battle).
  • 1923-Year of cyclone. McRae Hospital founded by Dr. W.W. McRae.
  • 1924-Big fire disaster December 28th. Opera House block burned; property loss valued $1,500,000.00. Corinth Welfare Association organized, W.D. Henry, secretary and director.
  • 1925-Two new bank buildings-Corinth Bank and Trust Company (now home of Security Bank), The First National Bank (now home of National Bank of Commerce).
  • 1927-Sale of municipal water and light system for $750,000.00 Twenty five miles of street paving completed, J.A. Lowe, Mayor.
  • 1929-Emphasis on dairying and crop diversification. A.K. Weaver of Coca-Cola Bottling Works added ice cream and butter manufacturing departments. Dewitt Mercier improved fine breed of cattle at Edgeworth Farms. The Kraft-Phoenix Cheese Plant opened March 1st. (Cheese plant and Hosiery mill early prototype of BAWI plants.)
  • 1930-31-Depression years, three Corinth bank failures.
  • 1932-Col. Roscoe Turner native Corinthian and ranking airplane speed pilot world, won Harmon trophy, (a three time winner of the Thompson trophy). The Security Bank organized and opened for business by Dr. R.C. Liddon, W.L. McPeters, J.F. Gish, and W.W. King. Corinth Bank and Trust Co. reorganized and opened for business under presidency of L.E. Watson. Name later changed to Merchants and Farmers Bank. Absorbed by the Security Bank in 1943.
  • 1934-ACE (Alcorn County Electric Power Association) organized in Alcorn County, January. First TVA Cooperative Electric Power Association. Pickwick Dam completed in 1938. Visit of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, President of the United States, and Mrs. Roosevelt. Marker placed by D.A.R. at grave of Indian Chief Tuscumbia, on old L.B. Mitchell farm near Biggersville.
  • 1936-Celebration of “Old Tishomingo County Centennial” at Jacinto, October 8th. 1938-Alcorn County Health Unit established. Alcorn County Public Library created, moved to own building (now Northeast Regional Library, Jameson C. Jones, founding president).
  • 1941-Radio listeners shocked by Pearl Harbor attack December 7th. War with Japan declared. “Seminole” train wreck, November 24th.
  • 1944-In World War II, Corinth’s National Guard, Co. H., 155th Inf. Dixie Division served with distinction. Corinth officers who commanded the unit during World War II were Capt. Nelson Timlake, Capt. Robert D. Gray, and Lt. William L. Sharp. The unit served for nearly two years in the South Pacific. Left February 1944, returned December 1945. Corinth Machinery Company presented Army-Navy E Award for civilian production achievement. Corinth sawmills used in every theater of war. Former Corinthian, John Osborne, of editorial staff of Life and Time magazines was a war correspondent. Death of Hon. E.S. Candler (former mayor and member of Congress from 1st District for twenty years.)
  • 1945-World War ends. WCMA, Corinth’s radio station, on the air.
  • 1946-“Granny Hyneman” (Eugenia Polk Hyneman) celebrated her 100th birthday, February 15th. National Bank of Commerce organized and opened for business, O.O. Robbins, president, D.M. Palmer, Jr., Board Chairman.
  • 1947-Boy Scout World Jamboree at Paris attended by Dr. R.B. Warriner, Sr., and three Corinth Scouts. (Dr. Warriner still active in Scouting after nearly 40 years of service.)
  • 1948-Claude J. Pounds, agent, retires after distributing the Commercial Appeal for 50 years.
  • 1949-Novel by Frances Gaither, former Corinthian, April selection for Book of Month Club.
  • 1950-Completion of First Baptist Church; the 162 foot steeple towers over Corinth, seen from all roads leading into city. Five outstanding Corinth scholars received grants to study abroad, including a Rhodes scholars and an atomic fission scientist, viz: Helen Conn, Charles Gaisser, Hal Phillips, James E. Price and Dr. David L. Hill. Korean conflict began.
  • 1951-Dr. W.A. Johns honored for 50 years of medical practice in Corinth. Dr. J.R. Hill also honored in 1953 for 50 years medical service in Alcorn County and Corinth. Masonic Temple and American Legion Memorial Building completed. Company H, 155th Inf. Regiment called to active duty. It was January 31st of this year that severe ice storm paralyzed town for several days. 1953-Million dollar bond issue for new school buildings. Water works purchased by City of Corinth on December 22nd.
  • 1954-“Combs Courts,” Negro housing project completed. Population of city 10,500, Col. Leslie Horn, mayor. Corinth Centennial May 16-22.

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