Copiah County Mississippi Biographies and Biographical Sketches

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CAMMACK, James D. Biography

James D. Cammack, a planter of Copiah county, Miss., was born in Sumner county, Tenn., in 1812. He is the oldest living child of Thomas and Isabella Cammack, both of whom were born in Ireland, the former in 1784, and the latter in 1786. Thomas Cammack came to America with his mother, his father being dead, when he was thirteen years old. They located in South Carolina. His wife came to America with her parents at the age of three years, and they also settled in South Carolina. Thomas Cammack was bound out to learn the jeweler’s trade when a boyr, but his employer failing to send him to school, according to contract, he ran away, and found employment on a farm, thus beginning a career which he followed till the end of his days. He married Isabella Neally about the year 1800, and to them were born four children, of whom are living, James D. (our subject) and Jane, the wife of Julius Alford, of Copiah county. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Cammack married Jemima McLemore, and to them were born ten children, all of whom are deceased except two. Thomas Cammack spent his early life in South Carolina, and removed when comparatively young to Tennessee, and in 1815 he moved to Wayne county, Miss., where he lived two years, after which he moved to Perry county, and in 1826 he moved to Copiah couuty, where he lived until his death, He was a member of the Masonic order, and also a member of the Methodist church. At the age of twenty-two years, James D. Cammack married Lucretia A. Corley, daughter of Seth and Temperance (Watkins) Corleyr, of Copiah county. They have had born to them twelve children, nine of whom are living: Martha J., wife of Archibald Steele (deceased), of Copiah county; Rankin, of Crystal Springs; Thomas J., of Texas; Lucretia, wife of William T. Gray, of Copiah county; James M., of Copiah county; Francis A., the wife of Thomas Matheney, of Crystal Springs; Sarah A., wife of D. H. Tillman, of Copiah couuty; Mary the wife of Samuel McQuean, and John F., of Crystal Springs. Our subject has been a farmer all of his life. He is a member of the Masonic order, and has reached the highest degree in the Blue lodge. He has also taken the chapter and counsel degrees. Ho has beeu a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for sixty five years, and with that organization his wife and family are all identified. The success which has been attained by Mr. Cammack is but the just reward of legitimate endeavors, he having been all his life an honest, industrious and persevering man, rendering unto his fellowmen that which was their due, and sparing no effort to make such progress as to assure to himself and his children respectable positions in society. [Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Mississippi, Chicago, The Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1891.]

CATCHING, Martha Biography

Mrs. Martha Catching, whose postoffice address is Georgetown, Copiah county, Miss., is the widow of Dr. Joseph B. Catching. Dr. Catching was born in Pike county. Miss., in 1828, and is one of seven children of Philip and Matilda Catching. Philip Catching was one of three brothers who came from Georgia about 1820, and settled in Mississippi, the others being Jonathan and Joseph Catching. These three brothers are the originators of this name in the state, and their descendants are different families of Catcliiugs through all parts of the state, some of the members of which have held various positions of trust in state and national offices. I’hilip Catching represented his fellow-citizens in both branches of the legislature, and was a member of the first constitutional convention of the state at the time of secession. The Doctor received his medical education at New Orleans and Louisville, Ky., and began practicing in 1846. To him and his wife were born thirteen children, named as follows: Dr. Philip Catching, of Copiah county; Franklin B., of Copiah county: Margaret, wife of I. C. Enochs, of Jackson, Miss.; Walter S., of Copiah county: Dr. Joseph M., of Hazlehurst; Lucy, who is a member of her mother’s household; Nina It., wife of C. O. McKiunell, of Copiah county; Mattie, who died in 1883; Charles S., who died when about fourteen months old; M. Pallie, wife of A. A. Lilly, of McComb city, Miss.; Bichard O.; Courtney Q. and Lulu B. Dr. Catching was a thoroughgoing, honorable, progressive, self-made man, a well informed and distinguished gentleman of the old school, who had a wide acquaintance of the men of the state who lived during the time, and was held in high respect by all classes. Three of his sons, residents of this county, are well and widely known in this section, and a brief sketch of each is given in this connection. Mrs. Catching is a highly intelligent lady, and a descendant of one of the good old families of this state; a model wife and mother, she has nobh performed her duty in rearing her family, fitting them for honorable positions in society. Dr. Philip Catching was born in 1848, in Copiah county. He received his medical education at New Orleans, and graduated with the degree of At. D. in 1871, since which time he has been engaged in the practice of his profession, devoting a portion of his time to planting, and being connected with his brother. Frank B. in the mercantile business. He was married in 1873 to Miss Harriet A. Allen, the daughter of Elbert H. and Martha (Love) Allen. She has borne him seven children, live of whom are living: Hugh L., Walter W., Philip M., Elbert H. and Kattie. The Doctor is a member of the Hazlehurst lodge, Knights of Pythias, and he and his wife are identified with the Methodist church. He has a large and growing practice, extending in the distant parts of Simpson and Copiah counties. Frank B. Catching was born in Copiah county in 1 850. He is the son of Dr. Joseph and Martha Catching. At the age of about twenty-four he embarked in business life for himself, as a planter, in which he has continued until the present time, though during the past nine years he has been a leading merchant at Georgetown. He was' married in 1876 to Mary L. Steele, daughter of Archibald and Martha Steele, a sketch of of whom appears in these pages. Air. and Airs. Catching have had born to them five children, all of whom are members of their household. Their names are Alyra P., Frank B., Archibald Steele, Joseph B. and Alary. Walter S. Catching, another son of Joseph and Martha Catching, was born in 1855. He received his education at Centenary college at Jackson, La., and at Emory and Henry college in Virginia, graduating from the last-named institution iu 1877. He studied law for two years, and soon after was admitted to the bar, and for three years practiced, but in 1883 he located upon his present plantation, to which he has devoted his entire attention since. When he came to this beautiful farm, it was a portion of an almost unbroken wilderness, but to-day comprises about three hundred acres of improved and highly productive land. In 1884 he was married to Aliss Ida Sanders, daughter of William 4. and Arartha (Simmons) Sanders, of Aladison county. She has borne him three children: Martha L., Walter W. and Greenville. Air. Catching is a member of the Knights of Honor and Copiah lodge No. 60, Knights of Pythias, of Hazlehurst.