Here’s a wonderful document sent to me by independent researcher Ralph Poore. It’s a reminder of the vibrant third-party political movements that emerged for a time in post-Civil War Mississippi. I’m especially intrigued by the names “R. A. Welborn,” “Dr. Lyon,” and “C. J.” and “D.A. Lightsey,” as those surnames are all connected in some way with Jones County Unionists and/or Populists. Perhaps readers can help identify possible kinships across county lines.
Vikki Bynum, Moderator
Jasper County Review
October 3, 1894 2:4
Resolutions of Populite [Populist] mass meeting.
Mass meeting of People’s Party of Jasper County held at courthouse in Paulding on September 20, 1894.
J. C. Rodgers chairman of the executive committee elected chairman of the meeting.
John White, secretary.
R. M. Read, Sr.
Committee of Ten: R. M. Read, Jr., A. W. Atwood, A. G. B. Graham, J. J. McNeill, John Simms, F.C. Thornton, R. A. Welborn, Dr. Lyon, W. E. Cook, C. J. Lightsey, D. A. Lightsey.
“Resolved, That we, the People’s party in mass meeting assembled, recognize the fact that the Democratic party has signally failed to carry out its promises. Therefore, be it
“Resolved, That we condemn the action of the present administration as subversive of the rights and interests of the people.
“2nd. That we condemn the action of Grover Cleveland in regard to the silver bill. We favor the government issuing greenbacks and paying the public debt and doing away with national banks, that general bankrupts may be averted.
“3rd. That we have been and still are in favor of Jeffersonian Democracy, and that our faith has never been shaken nor our courage diminished.
“4th. We recognize the People’s party as the only hope for relief, and that we ask all true reformers to go with us in this, the hour of our country’s peril.
“5th. That we are in the fight to stay until the battle for reform has been gained and the people emancipated from the rule of mammon.
“6th. That we are bound by no machine nor governed by no party lash, but believe more in moral honesty and competency in the discharge of official duties than the political epithets with which false men would beguile the people.
“7th. When a party becomes corrupt it is time to abandon it and build upon the ruins thereof truth and honor.
“8th. Believing in the righteousness of our cause and in the integrity of the American people, we invoke the aid of the God of justice on the success of our cause.
“9th. Resolved, That we reindorse the Omaha platform and the action of the Forest convention.
“Resolved, That we ask the Vindicator and all other reform papers to publish the above report, and on motion the Jasper County Review was requested to publish the proceedings of the meeting.”
| JASPER COUNTY PEOPLES’ PARTY
|
|||||
| Name | Party Position | Business | Location | Birth year | |
| Rodgers, J. C. | Chairman of the executive committee | Juror | |||
| White, John | secretary | Election manager | Twist Wood | ||
| Read, R. M., Sr. | Confederate veteran | ||||
| Read, R. M., Jr. | Committee of Ten | Election manager | Missionary | ||
| Atwood, A. W. | Committee of Ten | farmer | President, Jasper County Farmers’ Alliance | 1852 | |
| Graham, A. G. B. | Committee of Ten | farmer | Election manager | Cross Roads | |
| McNeill, J. J. | Committee of Ten | ||||
| Simms, John | Committee of Ten | ||||
| Thornton, F.C. | Committee of Ten | Leonia | |||
| Welborn, R. A. | Committee of Ten | farmer | P. K. | 1867 | |
| Lyon, Dr. | Committee of Ten | ||||
| Cook, W. E. | Committee of Ten | farmer | Election manager | Claiborne | 1861 |
| Lightsey, C. J. | Committee of Ten | farmer | Election manager | Paulding | 1841 |
| Lightsey, D. A. | Committee of Ten | 1894, candidate for Coroner and Ranger | Paulding | ||
| Heidelberg, W. W. | State senator | ||||
| JASPER COUNTY FARMERS’ ALLIANCE | |||||
| Name | Position | Business | Location | ||
| Atwood, Augustus W. | President | Farmer | TWP 3, Range 13 East | ||
| Long, W. P. | Secretary | ||||
| November 6, 1894 5th Congressional District election in Jasper County
Jasper County Review, Nov. 7, 1894 2:3 |
||||
| Precinct | Williams (Democrat) | Ratliff (Populist) | ||
| Paulding | 20 | 6 | ||
| Missionary | 24 | 7 | ||
| Antioch | 22 | 7 | ||
| Palestine | 15 | 10 | ||
| Twistwood | 42 | 8 | ||
| Hopewell | 14 | 4 | ||
| Fellowship | 29 | – | ||
| Garlandsville | 18 | 1 | ||
| Randal Hill | 6 | – | ||
| Montrose | 34 | 2 | ||
| Mt. Zion | 39 | 10 | ||
| P. K. | 20 | 16 | ||
| Cross Roads | 27 | 23 | ||
| Claiborne | 23 | 17 | ||
| Heidelberg | 47 | 2 | ||
| Vossburg | 18 | 1 | ||
| Rawl’s Mill | 17 | 1 | ||
| Total | 415 | 115 | ||
Ratliff received 120 votes in 1892.
