"I grew up in Quitman, MS. Clarke Co. and I remember the
Poorhouse that was located five miles east of Quitman in front of Coopers Chapel
Church. This was in the 1940's. we must have had a relative there because I
remember our family taking food. Also I was told by my dad that the County sent
food and the game warden would bring meat that he had taken away from hunters
that should not have killed the game. This brings back memories."
Billy Beckman BeckAmericana@webtv.net
"There was a 'poor house' located in Holmes County,
MS during the late 1800's to early 1900's. My GG-grandfather went to
this poor house called the Old Men's Home in 1903 after he suffered a stroke.
My grandmother finally told me the 'shame' of our family after much pleading.
The Old Men's Home is no longer there but it was on Acona Road
about 1 1/2 miles north of Lexington in Holmes County. It also had it's
own cemetery just across the road called Pinkston Cemetery. My GG-grandfather
was buried there. No markings or headstones."
Teresa Bransby April1692@email.msn.com
On my great grandfather's ( John Thomas Waldrep) death certificate is
listed the following information:
"Died in County Home, 8 July 1928, Jones County, Ellisville,
Mississippi. Buried in county home casket, Hinton cemetery, Jones county,
Ellisville, Mississippi."
Gayle gayle@grnco.net
"Lafayette County in Mississippi had a poor house
south of Oxford a few miles. When we would drive down route 7 we could see
it from the road. It was a little farm house and usually we could see people
sitting on the porch. It always evoked the oft quoted sentence by my
parents "If you don't stop wanting things, we will be in the poorhouse.I
believe the residents made a garden and grew vegetables for their kitchen.
This home had a bit of a mystique and we felt bad that people had to be
there but even as a child I realized it was for people who had nowhere else to
go."
Maralyn Bullion
mbullion@watervalley.net
"I don't have a list or anything, but there is still a county home
operating for the poor in Monroe County, Mississippi. It is located east
of Aberdeen just off Hwy 8 before you get to the Westville community. Grave
sites are there. I don't know if the present staff has records or not. I do know
it has been there over 60 years to my knowledge. The county may have records.
The phone no listed is (662)369-4485."
Jean Carr jsmit-car@webtv.net
"Pontotoc County also had a "poor house". It eventually
became what today is called the county home or Sunshine Rest Home."
A. C. Peeples ACPeeples@aol.com
"Does anyone out there have any information on a Poor House in Tippah
County that was in existence in 1870. According to the 1870 Tippah Co. census,
my gg grandfather was running a poor house. There were 17 paupers living in the
same household with his family of 9. I would imagine it would be near Ripley, as
that was the post office shown on the census, and where he lived most of his
life. I would be very interested in learning where it was located and how he
came to be running it. Also a little history about it. Any information or
sources where I might search would be greatly appreciated."
Thanks, Kay kaynlinn@aol.com
"I remember a poor house in Greenville, Washington County, MS
as a child growing up. I don't live there now, but the house was located at
the end of Lewis Street. Lewis Street could be reached by turning off Hwy 82
going east. I lived on Daniels Street, which ran into Lewis Street. My friends
and I would go by the poor house and look at everyone that was on the porch of
the building. They would be sitting there watching who passed by or just
talking with the other residents. There was a black house and a white house. I
don't know the names of any of the residents there. This was the early 1960's
that our family lived there."
Margie Scogin scoginm@ipa.net
