BECOMING SOUTHERN

Becoming Southern: The Evolution of a Way of Life, Warren County and Vicksburg, Mississippi, 1770-1860 by: Christopher Morris

This book was recently donated to the library by the Vicksburg Genealogical Society In Memory of Mrs. Hope Shockley.
I’ve enjoyed reading this historical account of how our city was first settled and became a Southern place. The Choctaw tribe of Indians, were in the south and further north were the Chickasaw both of which traded furs with the settling Europeans. The settlers carved out a way of life in the wilderness by planting crops and raising homes. The wealthier ones bought slaves, planted cotton and established plantations. Vicksburg was founded by the Reverend Newit Vick of Virginia. He was married to Elizabeth Clark. They died in 1819 of yellow fever, leaving behind ten children. Mr. Morris’s book gives an interesting account of relations within households consisting of the husband, wife, master and slaves. His research consisted of wills, deeds, court records and manuscripts. For those doing genealogical research this is a great source with Surnames Indexed.