Alphabet File page 280
One of the most pleasing features of this great business is that it is the product of the fertile brains, iron will, indomitable courage and business sagacity of Pearlington's two most distinguished native citizens. Capt. John Poitevent and Capt. J.A. Farve were both born and raised in or near Pearlington. They have spent their lives here. Their marvelous success proves beyond question that Southern pluck are equal to the task of developing wonderful resources of wealth in the South. Extracts from the N O T D. (SCE 8/20/ 1892)
At a Democratic Mass meeting, held in the Town Hall, pursuant to a call by the members of the County Executive Committee of Beat No. 1, for the purpose of endorsing candidates for the postmastership, which was a hard fight between Messrs. M. F. Baxter and W. A. McGuire, 47 votes were cast -McGuire, 25; Baxter, 22. The following resolution, offered by Mr. W. T. Stocker, member of County Executive Committee, Beat No. 1, which was on motion unanimously adopted: RESOLVED, We, the Democracy of Pearlington in mass meeting assembled, that we heartily endorse the application of our honored fellow citizen, Hon. T. M. Favre, for the office of Collector of port for the district of Pearl river and hereby call upon our Representatives and Senators, assembled in Congress to use all honorable means in securing his appointment. ( Pearlington) (SCE 3/11/1893)
Reliving old-time religion - Pearlington UMC to observe 178th year old-fashioned style. Hooped skirts, knickerbockers and bonnets will be "Sundays best" when Methodists dress up this weekend to celebrate their 178 years in Pearlington, in the southwest corner of rural Hancock County.
-----------------------
In the throwback days of circuit-riding preachers, the Rev. William Jenkins will arrive on horseback for worship services, if all goes well.
"It'll be a gentle horse, a very gentle horse, " Jenkins predicted as he completed plans for Pearlington United Methodist Church's anniversary.
"I'm even thinking about dressing in black with knickers because that's how it would have been done. This is also about history.
Jenkins is a modern circuit rider, of sorts. He serves two churches and about 100 parishioners each Sunday--in Pearlington at 9 a.m. and Clarmont At 11 a.m. But his steed is metal and multi-horsepowered.
The 42 year old lay minister actually lives in Pearlington, once a bustling river town, now an unincorporated community with an important Coast history. The story of his church, insisted Jenkins can not be separated from the story of its surroundings.
" So much has happened here," said the avowed buff who has spent months reading and researching.
" In 1777, Simon Favre, the first known white man to live along the Pearl River and a real wilderness man, was here. When the American flag was raised in the Mississippi PanÂhandle in 1811, the first spot was Pearlington, and Favre was appointed justice of the peace.
"IN An earlier 1801 census, Pearlington was the largest community on the Coast, yes larger than Biloxi. It was the major city between Mobile and New Orleans and a major center of commerce.
" The Biloxi area would be oldest, and I Say that we are the second oldest continuous settlement on the Mississippi Coast. Because of Indian raids, Bay St. Louis and other early communities broke up for a while."
The Methodists were already in Pearlington when it was incorporated in 1822. Through thick and thin, as the town suffered from dwindling timber and port use and a migrating population, the church has remained steadfast.
The old-fashioned chapel is the setting for all night wakes with family, food and friends, since the town has no mortuary. Weddings and baptisms are few but big occasions.
The wooden church on Levee Avenue lends itself to the 178th birthday, which was kicked off last night by Seashore District superintendent, the Rev. Nick Nicholson. Jenkins was there too, sharing the history he has written in a new book, "Pearlington: Church and Community."
Tonight, the unusual mixture of ancient psalms and New Age music will liven the sanctuary, and an old fashioned covered-dish supper will follow Sunday worship services. Jenkins hopes the community, as well as old and new parishioners, will attend.
He has timed the celebration with the annual conference of Mississippi's United Methodists, who will be meeting Monday through Friday in Biloxi, 45 miles away. They've been invited to share in this bit of early history.
"We had a suspicion that Pearlington was one of the older churches in the Mississippi Conference, and we knew for sure that Methodists were here in 1831" Jenkins said.
" Now we know that as early as 1810 circuit riders came into Spanish West Florida, which included the Mississippi Coast. We believe, but cant prove, that a preacher stopped at Pearlington. However, we are on firm historical ground to claim our 178th anniversary--1813.
" Pearlington was an important bustling Coast community then."
In the 1990s, it's a sleepy village with three groceries, one quick stop, a post office a bank's automated teller machine and three other churches.
Catholic Baptist and a black straightaway to old man Dearman to remove the spell. I have known persons to go from 50 to 75 to 100 miles to consult him.
" I was fully convinced that this old man could exert no good influence as a preacher and determined to rid the church of such a burden. To this end. I made a special visit. He lived in a smoked cabin in the mist of a dense pine forest, far from any neighbor.
" As I approached the cabin I saw it was encircled with a perfect network of cotton yarn of the texture of an old fashioned candle wick, enclosing an area of perhaps an acre around the cabin. This was to entangle the evil spirits if they dared to approach.
' I confess I felt a strange sensation creeping over me. Still I ventured by a small path and was welcomed to the eminently fitting castle of the witch killer. I Was compelled to spend...a dark dreary, cold night.
" I talked, advised, remonstrated but to no purpose. I said that he must cease to ply his trade of destroying evil spirits or surrender his authority to preach. He would not decide; but the Quarterly Conference decided for him, and he failed to obtain a renewal of his license to preach." ( THE SUN HERALD, BY KAT BERGERON JUNE 15, 1991)
1819 - First known plot or map, 1819 - "This plot and diagram of the Town of Pearlington in Hancock County State of Mississippi was made by Elihu Carver in accordance with the resolutions of the Pearlington Company and made ???? at their meeting of 24th day of February 1819, the 16th October 1823, 24th December 1823 and 14th day of February 1825."
1863 or 1864. Pearlington was bombarded by the Federal gunboat, the "WABASH". No opposition was offered. The "WABASH" hit an obstruction in the river and sunk about a mile north of Logtown. (PC&C p 32)
1837 - Postmaster in 1837 was C. M. Greenleaf (BSL?) (years unstated)
Pearlington Herald - Newspaper owned by SCE and operated by Sam J. Gray until the closing of the Poitevent Mills. (SCE Jubilee 1942 pg 3).
1878 -
Rev. A. B. Nicholson, writing from Pearlington October 23, 1878 says "Yellow fever has been in this town ever since the first of August. It has visited this place several times, but has never been an epidemic, in the common acceptation of that word, though it proved fatal in nearly every case, so it has this year. No new cases at this date. Business of all kinds has stopped; church matters suspended; Sunday-school stopped; our flock scattered - some have crossed the last river, mostly young people. Logtown, two miles above here, a small place of not more than two hundred inhabitants has been awfully scourged by the fever, in fact I question whether any place in the South has suffered more than Logtown, according to its population. While the entire population has been prostrated; the death rate very heavy. In that community we had a new and beautiful church, a respectable congregation, Sunday-school and Missionary Society; but alas, how sad to-day. Our steward there Bro. Robert Carrie, a noble Christian gentleman, was among the first to fall victim to the disease, and none left to take his place. The fatality has been in the main among the young people.