Lowndes County Mississippi Biographies and Biographical Sketches

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Canfield, Julius O. Biography

Julius O. Canfield was born on the plantation on which he is now residing July 1, 1841, a son of Orlando C. Canfield, who was born in South Breton, Conn., on the 4th of April, 1791. He was of English descent and a lawyer by profession, aud a graduate of Yale college, and after his removal to Greene couuty, N. C., in 1822, he continued to practice law, in which capacity he became well known. While at that place he was united in marriage to Miss Mary D. Roach in 1828, by whom he became the father of the following children: Mary, Augustus R., Julia O., and Julius O., living, and Charles B.. Sarah T. and Henry C., deceased. In 1837 Orlando C. Canfield removed with his family to Lowndes county, Miss., and settled on the plantation that is now owned by Julius O. The latter received a practical education in the common schools, and at the time of the opening of the Civil war he was deep in his studies. He at once cast aside his books to enlist in the Confederate army and became a private in company C, Thirty fifth Mississippi infantry. The first active engagement, in which he participated was at Iuka, but later he was in the engagements at Corinth and Vicksburg. In the siege of the last-named place he was taken prisoner, but was soon afterward released and returned to his home, where he commenced devoting his attention to planting, a calling that has occupied his attention up to the present time. He was married November 19, 1869. to Miss Charity, daughter of Nevett and Mary (McKinnie) Edwards, and as they have no children of their own they are rearing a child of a deceased brother of Mr. Canfield, James Burton Canfield. Mr. Canfield is a member of the A. F. & A. M., is a democrat politically, and has long been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. [Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Mississippi, Chicago, The Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1891.]

CANNON, William R. Biography

William R. Cannon, a distinguished and truly great and good man, was the eldest son of Rashae Cannon and Sallie Vinson. He was born in Darlington district, S. C., April It, 18O4. His father was of English descent, and was truly a politician of the Jackson school. He was firm and decided in his character, and was possessed in an eminent degree of wisdom and high honor, which fitted him to train and educate his children. He was for thirty years in succession a member of the senate of South Carolina, showing conclusively how he was esteemed by the people of his state The mother, Sallie Vinson, was born in Newport, R. I., and was quite young when she came to Charleston, S. C., and assumed the duties of a wife and mother. She was intellectual, gentle, refined and religious, espousing the faith of the Congregational church. Her pious training left its impress upon her son, William, who was her fond aud constant companion. Thus, his character was well formed when but a child. It was during this period of his life that he determined never to taste spirituous liquors, smoke or chew tobacco, which he faithfuly kept during his entire life. He had the misfortune to lose his mother in early youth, thus depriving him of his best earthly friend, but the moral and religious tone of her instruction to him gilded his future life with culture and refinement. He received a common-school and academic education in Darlington village. About the vear 1821 his father sent him to the fostered institution of the state, the South Carolina college, located at Columbia. He was placed under the tutorship and guardian care of its able president, the celebrated Dr. Cooper (whose name is a household word to every South Carolinian). His course while at college was classical and complete. After graduating with honor in a class composed of some of the most gif ted young men of that day, he pursued the study of law at the same institution, often excelling the other members of the class. After a thorough course his name was enrolled at Columbia on the list of attorneys, as stated by O'Neal’s ‘‘Bench and Bar of South Carolina.” Being endowed with a fortune, he made the law more a pastime and pleasure rather than a profession. Soon after his return from Columbia to Darlington village, he married Miss Jane C. Witherspoon, of Georgetown, S. C. Her early death left to his fond care two little daughters. During his life in South Carolina he made annual tours to New York bysteamer from the port of Charleston. Upon one of these occasions, a terrific storm dashed the billows with more than ordinary fierceness against the vessel. The entire crew and passengers despaired of life, each one praying for deliverance. It was theu that Mr. Cannon was brought face to face with death. He then made his mother’s God his God, surrendering himself entirely to his Savior. From that moment his faith never swerved, and after reaching his home he united with the Methodist Episcopal church, and ever afterward lived a consistent Christian life. In 1880 began the exciting time of nullification, which severed the best of friends. This dreadful time of turmoil and anxiety caused many sons of South Carolina to leave their native homes and seek asylums in the far West. Noted among this number was Rashae Cannon and his two sons, William and Thomas. They felt a pang of deep sorrow to abandon the soil of South Carolina for a home among strangers. But thev claimed allegiance to the principles of Andrew Jackson, so in the year of 1835 they moved with intrepid steps to Mississippi, bringing with them their families, their negroes, flocks and herds, and settled twelve miles northwest of the Tombigbee river. Lowndes county at that early date was but sparsely populated. The town of Columbus was in its infant state. Very soon a prosperous tide of emigration came pouring in, which caused its rapid development. There was no family more influential, wealthy, or intelligent than the Cannon family, so comfortably domiciled in their new home. The brothers and sisters were each in their turn sent off to the best colleges in the Southland, and obtained finished educations which secured for them a permanent influence with their new friends and acquaintances. William It. Cannon married the second time, in the spring of 1836, his distant cousin, Miss Eliza J. Cannon, at Darlington, S. C. She was the daughter of the late William Henry Cannon, so complimentarily mentioned by the historian, W. Gilmore Simms. When the young, fair and intellectual bride reached her Western home, she began with energy to embellish it, and very soon it was like an oasis in contrast with the log huts and uncultivated gardens of most of the inhabitants. This rural but artistic home was soon sought out by the politicians of that early period of Mississippi. Mr. William R. Cannon’s influence and support were considered a passport to success, for he had been truly portrayed as one in whose character was blended modesty, integrity, gentleness, wisdom and firmness, consequently those who were so fortunate as to gain his friendship felt repaid for days of fatigue and travel. It was about the year 1836 that S. S. Prentiss and Samuel I. Gholson made their celebrated canvass for congress. Each of these gentlemen had warm friends and adherents. While Mr. Cannon listened spellbound to the eloquence of the gifted Prentiss, and personally loved him and admired his genius and ability, still, when the test came he cast his vote for his faithful party friend, Gholson. In the year 1842 Colonel Cannon was nominated and elected to represent Oktibbeha county in the lower house of the legislature (into which county he had moved about this date). His able course and his devotion to duty made his career distinguished for peculiar usefulness. At the close of his term he was elected senator from the counties of Chickasaw, Chocktaw and Oktibbeha, by a very large majority. His services were brilliant and very conspicuous for ferreting out frauds in the treasury of the state, as he was put upon the financial committee. He was made president of the senate, over which body he presided with ease and judgment, and was called upon a number of times to act as governor in the absence of that high official. [Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Mississippi, Chicago, The Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1891.]