Lynn Hewlett - Taylor MS Minutes Yalobusha Historical Society Meeting September 16, 2011

[Joy]

The Yalobusha County Historical Society held its
regular meeting September 16, 2011 in Coffeeville at its headquarters
the Presbyterian Church. There were forty one members and guests
present.
The opening prayer was spoken by Mike Ayers. President
Mike Worsham welcomed members and guests. Mike acknowledged the
deaths of two longtime members, Bill Davis and Billie Rotenberry.
Heartfelt sympathy is extended to the Davis and Rotenberry Families
from the Yalobusha County Historical Society.
A brief discussion followed on the General Store, a
fundraiser to be held on Oct. 1, 2011 at “Celebrate Coffeeville Day”.
Julia Fernandez introduced the speaker and owner of
Taylor Grocery, Lynn Hewlett. Taylor Grocery continues a long
community tradition of cooking catfish, and serves hundreds of people
each weekend with world famous food and live music.
In addition to serving good food, Lynn Hewlett likes to
tell about the history of Taylor, MS. The year was 1832 when John
Taylor, a physician by trade settled in the area of Taylor Creek and
Yocona River. Taylor bought large tracts of land from the Chickasaw
Indians, and he built a mill on the river.
Other pioneer families, some whose descendants still
live there, chose to call this land home. The settlement was first
called Yocona Station. Soon a school and church were built. The
school as a one room log cabin on Thacker Mountain, the county’s
highest point at 571 feet led by Miss Victoria Thacker, who taught all
ages of students here. Yocona Church was built east of town and a
cemetery established. Construction of the Mississippi Central Railroad
began in 1856. A depot was built. Finished in 1858, the train was
the life blood of the town, ferrying everything from cotton and timber
to Memphis.
` Grant’s army moved in and around this area on its way
from Holly Springs to Vicksburg down the Mississippi Central
Railroad. Evidence of the Union Army’s camps is found east of
Taylor.
Taylor’s Depot was incorporated in February of 1873,
and in 1907 the name was officially changed to Taylor. Yellow fever
came through twice in 1879 and in 1898.
`` A fire swept through Taylor’s Depot destroying most of
the town. This disaster was the beginning of the end of Taylor as a
thriving center of commerce.
However, in the 1970’s several artists moved into
Taylor and more artists followed. Today, farmers, artists, and
refugees from city life live side by side attending church and raising
families.
There were many other interesting aspects on Taylor
that Lynn shared with the YCHS. Please come again, Lynn.
The next meeting of the YCHS will be October 20, 2011
and the guest speaker will be Gary Darby. His topic will be Harmon
Town.
Attending: Carl Vick, Mae Vick, Joy Herron, Betty
Miller, Pat Brooks, Mike Worsham, Dave Hovey, Debby Hughes, Mary
McCathren, Joy Tippit, Tom Moorman, Alma Moorman, Dot Criss, Ruth F.
Richmond, Pauline Hughes, Jeanette Marchbanks, Frances Stewart,
Gilbert Sullivan, Alma Brandon, Ella Jean McCain, Ruth Perkins, John
Perkins, Herb Hayward, Sue T. Fly, Opal Wright, Maxine Carter, Betty
Miller, Emma Hovey, Francine Pinnix, Jimmie Pinnix, Thelma Roberts,
Kay McCulley, Bobby Hutchens, Bobbie Hutchens, James Person, Julia
Fernandez, Margaret Jean Ross, Gray Tollison, Cliff Chandler, Mike
Ayers, Lynn Hewlett