Excerpt from The People of Shrock Mississippi 1895 - 1922

Edited by Duncan C. Covington, an Attala County native son, the book identified in the title of this post contains the names of hundreds of residents and former residents of Attala County, Mississippi and the surrounding area and chronicles the details of various events in their lives. I am including in the post here today a copy of one particular article published in the November 22, 1922 edition of Kosciusko's newspaper, the Star Herald. The article identifies students who were named to the Midway School's Honor Roll.

First Grade - Norma Stephens, Blanche Shrock, Eunice Caldwell, Mart Baldridge, Joe Mabry, Alice Baldridge, Walter Jones
Second Grade - W. C. Mabry, R.C. Jones, Herbert Harmon, Morris McDaniel
Third Grade - Leonard Porter, Myrtice Harmond, Estell Stevens, Ethel May Stevens
Fourth Grade - Elmer Caldwell, Buena McDaniel
Sixth Grade - A.B. Cochran, Thelma Jones, Anna Jones, Lucille Simpson
Seventh Grade - Laura Branch, Inez McDaniel, Clarence Porter
Eighth Grade - Charles Shrock, P.J. McDonald, Percy May, Joe Wyatt, Eva McDaniel
Ninth Grade - Lelia Porter

Included  among the names above are several of my own relatives, including my grandmother, Lelia Porter (Branch), two of her brothers, Leonard Porter and Clarence Porter, and her future sister-in-law, Laura Branch (Jones).

Froggie's Friday Book Review - "The People of Shrock, Mississippi - 1895 - 1922"

Duncan C. Covington's book entitled "The People of Shrock, Mississippi 1895 - 1922" as seen by writers of local newspapers, is a compilation of Covington family history information and community news. The book was published privately in College Station, Texas, in soft cover form. Duncan graciously provided me with my own personal copy of his book, and I have been amazed with the plethora of information about Attala County people and events contained within its 273 pages.

Included in the book are transcriptions of local newspaper articles about families who lived in or near the Shrock community between 1895 and 1922. These newsy articles chronicle significant events in the daily lives of the residents of this early Attala County community and provide information about birthdays, engagements, marriages, and deaths. Various community events are chronicled, as well, and allow the reader a microscopic look at the social and economic life in Attala County around the turn of the twentieth century and continuing on into pre-depression years.

Also included in his book is a history of Duncan's own Covington family, told in story and in photographs. While many of the wonderful, old photographs are copies made from originals, some were made from glass negatives owned by the Covington family and included in the family's extensive collection of family documents and memorabilia. The book's 49-page index contains a list of "the people of Shrock" named in the publication and is a treasure trove of information for family history researchers.

In summary, if you are searching for information about your ancestors who lived or passed through Attala County, Mississippi between 1895 and 1922, I highly recommend Duncan's book as an important addition to your genealogy toolbox. In keeping with his reputation of being a dedicated Attala County native son, Duncan has donated a copy of "The People of Shrock - 1895 - 1922" to the Attala County Library in Kosciusko, Mississippi, part of the Mid-Mississippi Regional Library System Library, where it can be found in the genealogy research room.

The Violets

This pseudonym was used by several Attala County ladies who wrote a newspaper column about Shrock, Mississippi shortly after the turn of the 20th century. In a time before most folks had automobiles or telephones, weekly newspaper columns such as the one written by "The Violets" served to keep residents of communities informed about each other. They contained information about events, including engagements, marriages, births, and deaths, and provided details about other local items of interest. Variations of the pseudonym "The Violets" were used to sign the Shrock column, including, "Violet," "Two Violets," "Three Violets," and "We Violets." This type of column appeared over the years in other newspapers in Attala County, as well as neighboring counties, and these columns used similar pseudonyms, such as "Daisy,", "Country Cousins," "Golden Hair," and "Whippoorwill."

Reprints of these columns that span almost thirty years and chronicle daily life in the small communities of Attala County, appear in the book, The People of Shrock, Mississippi 1895 to 1922. Privately published by Duncan C. Covington, an Attala County native who now lives in College Station, Texas, this book is a valuable Attala County family research tool. Not only does it contain a wealth of names, events, and dates, it provides an alphabetical index that lists each name appearing in the book and the page number on which it is located.

An excerpt from Covington's book, a column that was published in Kosciusko's newspaper, the Star-Ledger, exactly 107 years ago today, is reprinted below. The column, dated February 12, 1902, and signed by "Two Violets," has some personal significance for me: it contains an announcement of the birth of a son to Mr. and Mrs. John Porter, my paternal great-grandparents.

"Mesdames G.W. Thomas and W. C. Hearst spent part of the past week in Camden.

Both are wearing broad smiles at the arrival of a granddaughter: one at the home of B. J. Barnette, the other at Mr. J. P. Hearst's. Both arrived Sunday last. Great joy to the little ladies.

Miss Carrie Shrock is spending a few days in Kosciusko, the guest of Miss Hassie Riley.

Messrs Phil Simpson and Frank Shines were with us Sunday. Mrs. Nettie Mabry is nursing a sprained ankle. Hope she will soon be all O.K.

Messrs E. L. Hearst and I. E. Stingley are attending court this week.

Mr. and Mrs. John Porter are rejoicing over the arrival of a fine baby boy who arrived on the 1st.

Mr. and Mrs. Hal Shrock visited Mr. Will Ward Sunday near Artesia Springs.

Misses Donald spent Sunday in Goodman with their cousins, Mrs. Ella and Ruth Donald.

Miss Lillie Holley has returned home after spending several days with relatives near Dossville, and friend in Kosciusko. She was accompanied by her brother George.

Miss Hattie Mabry has gone to Clarksdale to college.

Miss Florence Bunch has gone to Aberdeen to visit her aunt.

Mr. Philip Shutleworth was here on business Monday.

Mr. Luther Donald returned to Goodman last Sunday, after spending a few days at home recuperating and taking a rest.

Little Madeline DuBard is her jolly little self after a short spell of fever."

"Two Violets"

The Smartest Girl in Her Class

Copy of an excerpt from "The People of Shrock" by Duncan C. Covington.

Above: Lelia Porter

circa 1922 - 9th Grade

Midway School, Attala Co.

Recently, while thumbing through my new copy of Duncan Covington's book, "The People of Shrock," I found that my paternal grandmother, Lelia Porter Branch, was the only student in the 9th grade at Midway School, who was on the "Honor Roll." Also, on that honor roll, were two of her brothers, Clarence Porter and Leonard Porter, one of my paternal grandfather's sisters, Laura Branch, and a cousin of my grandfather's, Mart Baldridge.



I always knew that my grandmother was a smart lady, and I based this opinion, in part, on the variety of books she read. When she was not busy with household chores, gardening, or chasing us when we were young, she could likely be found reading a newspaper, a book or a magazine. Her choices were many, ranging from the classics of her young years to modern day fiction and non-fiction, and any current event publication she could get her hands on. One of her favorites of the 1950's was "Grit" newspaper. My best recollection is that this was some sort of "tabloid" newspaper that included some current event items.



She remembered so much of what she read, and many of the things she discussed with me as a child came from what she had learned from something she had recently read. I feel so fortunate to have had a grandmother like her, because she instilled in me the belief that I should "take care" of all books. She also passed along to me her fondness for books and her lifelong love of reading. I still have some of the books she gave me over the years, and I will never, ever part with any of them. Each time I pick up one of the books that belonged to her, I feel that she left a part of herself with me.



One of my most sentimental possessions is a copy of Eudora Welty's book, "Delta Wedding," that my grandmother gave me during my teen years. A few years later, I actually met Miss Welty while she was "Writer-in-Residence" at Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi, and I was fortunate enough to have her sign the book. Now, many years later, the book is not only a sentimental treasure, but a valuable one as well.



I also have in my possession two of my grandmother's well-worn textbooks, "Latin for Scholars" and "Textbook of Chemistry." According to the many marks in these two books, her two sisters, Vertie and Etta Porter, must have used them in school, as well. The fact that three young ladies who lived in rural Attala County, Mississippi, who pursued difficult courses such as Latin and chemistry during the early 1900's, should dispute the opinion of many outside the State of Misssissippi that Mississippians have not valued education.



My personal belief is that Mississippians have always valued education and the dreams that blossomed along with it. And books will continue to allow those dreams to flourish and grow.