Tombigbee Tales

William E. Baldwin, Brigadier General CSA

How a bookstore accountant from Columbus, MS rose to Brigadier General in the Confederacy. #columbusms #visitcolumbus #visitmississippi #antebellum 

Mad Jack Rabb - Out of Enslavement into Prosperity.

Mad Jack Rabb bought his freedom and that of his sister from Alexander Rabb in Columbus, MS. His children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and now great great grandchildren have all been highly successful adults. His great great grandson Christopher Rabb is a highly respected legislator in Pennsylvania. #columbusms #blackhistory #knowyourhistory #visitcolumbus #visitmississippi #mississippi 

The Carpet Bagger Sheriff

Hiram Wheeler Lewis was elected Sheriff in Columbus, Mississippi during Reconstruction and considered a Radical Republican. He was run out of town by the Klan in 1875. #columbusms #visitcolumbus #visitmississippi #carpetbagger #Reconstructionsouth 

James Lull - Columbus’ Eclectic Architect

James Lull's Greek Revival elements are found in many of his buildings he designed in Columbus: Camellia Place, Riverview, Leigh Crest, Wisteria Place, Amzi Love Home, and others. #antebellum #greekrevival #visitcolumbus #historichometoursofcolumbus #Gothic #MUW #columbuspilgrimage

Liberty Hall - Greek Revival Lowndes County Home

Liberty Hall is a Greek Revival Lowndes County Home located in the Southeast corner of Lowndes County. It was moved by mules from its original location in 1922. #visitcolumbus #visitmississippi #Greekrevival #antebellum #historichometours

Horace King - African American Master Bridge Builder

Horace King, an enslaved man, was the engineer and builder of the first bridge to span the Tombigbee River. It was side enough for a wagon and team. #visitcolumbus #visitmississippi #tombigbeeriver #mississippihistory #Blackhistory #knowyourhistory. 

Did Oxen Turn the Frazier House 90 Degrees?

Legend has it that the large antebellum house once faced the river and was turned by a team of oxen to face the street. Is that true or is that a tall tale? To find out I did a TON of background research.#1830s #antebellumhomes #visitcolumbus #visitmississippi #historichometours

William Isaac Mitchell and Jim Crow Columbus

This episode tells the story of yet another obscure internment at Sandfield Cemetery, specifically a formerly enslaved Mississippian named William Isaac Mitchell who developed educational opportunities for the formerly enslaved and their children. He was also crucial in transforming the American Missionary Association school into Union Academy.

The Mad ”Millionaire” Murderer

Was the wealthy planter and financier Charles R. Smith insane when he shot E. A. Laurent at the Artesia train depot? 

First African American Senator for Lowndes County, MS - Robert Gleed

This episode tells the story of a formerly enslaved Mississippian who rose to prominent status in both politics and business after the Civil War, yet had the American Dream violently stolen from him along with the hope of expanding American democratic ideals. #mississippi #AfricanAmericanHistory #visitcolumbus #visitmississippi