Had the recent opportunity to chase some ghosts of our family history. My great, great, grandfather, George Wahington Askew had joined in with several other local farmers and confederate veterans to establish the Hashuqua Cotton Factory in 1866. My father and I had conducted significant research and located a lengthy article produced by an ancestor of one of the owners, some industrial census records, several newspaper articles, and a possible photo of the factory. We were recently able to visit the site of the old Factory located in Noxubee County, Mississippi. All that remains is the abutments for the dam along the Hashuqua stream, a small portion of the wooden structure of the water gates, and the foot pillers or piers that supported the floor of the factory structure.
A few facts on the factory:
- Operated from 1866 to approximately 1890. Unfortunately the company was forced into foreclosure and the property went back to its creditors.
- The machinery was imported from Liverpool, England through the port of Mobile, Albama. The import tax cost as much as the machinery.
- 1870 Mississippi Manufactoring Census of Noxubee County lists the Capital Stock at $70,000, employed 10 males and 14 females, and produced domestic yarn. By 1880, the factory employed seven males, eight females, and three children.
George W. Askew's initial investment was five thousand dollars, he was the acting secretary and treasurer for the company, and managed the general store on the site. By 1868, the company was at 'low ebb' through several misfortunes which included high water damage to the factory structure, machinery, and the deaths of three of the original owners, leaving only my GGGrandfather and one other. My GGGrandfather is described as "a young man of about 30 years of age, who was a graduate of Chapel Hill College, N.C. He came among us as active secretary and treasurer of the company; being a stockholder of five thousand dollars, he put his shoulder to the wheel right at the start. By this time the company had established a general store, and Askew was in charge of this and put in all his time, accepting such fare and eating at the same table with all the others. He remained at Hashuqua for several years until his health gave way from the effects of malaria." (Historical Notes of Noxubee County Mississippi by John Anderson Tyson)
Congratulations! You're off to a great start. Keep at it.
ReplyDeleteGordon Buck
http://buckfamilyofvirginia.blogspot.com/
The south, using slave labor produced tons of cotton. The north used said cotton and made it into textiles. The north also had food farms. This doesn't make sense. Is my us history teacher leaving something off? Did the north have tons of importing? What???
ReplyDeletephlebotomy schools in albama
This property has been owned by my family since about 1968.As kids my dad took us camping there every year .we used to play on the old cypress that had fallen in the water and have a grandole time in the woods.There is a small graveyard way back in the woods with about 10 graves.I used to keep it up but inthe summer the snakes are so badand in the winter the poachers are even worse so i stopped .I went camping justlast week down there.It is a beautiful place.CONTACT ME AND MAYBE I COULD SHOW YOU SOME THINGS YOU DIDNT KNOW ABOUT THE PLACE OLENPUGH
DeleteMy great grandfather, Walter Jones Hubbard came into possession of the mill at some point and wrote a history of it. In searching for this history, I came upon your blog. Hubbard after closing the mill lived in Shuqualak and operated a store called the Hubbard Supply Company. Hubbard is buried in the Shuqualak city cemetary. William Hubbard (Bill) Thomason 205-988-9891
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