Andrew Jack Sullivan (1876 - 1903)

Born 10 May 1876 in Mississippi, United States of America

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 26 Sep 1903 at age 27 in Mt. Olive, Smith County, Mississippi, United States of America

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Jack Sullivan is buried in Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery.

Biography

Jack was born 10 May 1876 to William Cicero "Wild Bill" Sullivan and Juriah Keys^[1][2][3]

In January of 1903, Jack's father Wild Bill got into a fist fight with his brother Wilson Sullivan during which Jack stabbed Wilson in the back killing him.^[4]

A telegram from Mt. Olives tells the following story of the death of Jack Sullivan:

"Wild Jack" Sullivan, one of the most notorious members of the Sullivan family of Sullivan's Hollow, a celebrated locality in Smith county near here, met his end last night a few miles from this place. It is claimed by people around him that he accidentally dropped his pistol from his bosom and it exploded killing him. A boy was the first to reach him and he called on him to pray for him, but the boy hesitating, he was obliged to offer his long deferred supplications himself, which he did. The theory of accidental killing, however, is not generally accepted. It is believed by many that he was killed from ambush to settle scores of long standing.

It was he who killed his uncle, Wilson Sullivan, in a passion last winter, and cut to pieces another person for some trifling offense. His life has been one of profligacy, gambling, drinking and general crime until he had come to be dreaded by everybody, kindred and all. He has been dodging law and vengeance for the last year, spending most of his time in the woods in hiding. Like all persons who live violent lives, he died a violent death, leaving a helpless wife and four children.

The Sullivan's of this neighborhood are not all desperadoes, as supposed, but many of them are, on the contrary, quiet and law-abiding and thrifty people. Jack was the black sheep of the flock.

His custom used to be to visit the neighboring towns and paint them a very deep crimson with his hand Smith & Wesson, rarely leaving without a fight or shooting scrape. This, however, has abated since the killing of his uncle. He has been kept busy keeping out of the way, only going into company once in a while to play a game or have a drinking bout.^[5]

He is buried in Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery, Smith county, Mississippi.^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ Tombstone.
2. ↑ Hammons, Ann R. Wild Bill Sullivan, King of the Hollow. University Press of Mississippi. 1980. p79, 84-5.
3. ↑ Sullivan's Hollow, Chester Sullivan. University of Mississippi Press, 3825 Ridgewood Rd, Jackson, MS) p47.
4. ↑ Smith County Feuds Get Into The Courts. The Vicksburg American. 12 Mar 1903.
5. ↑ Clarion Ledger. 06 Oct 1903. Jackson, Mississippi.
6. ↑ Tombstone.

• Gray, Peggy Keyes. By The Name of Keyes. p.?
• US Federal Census- 27 Jun 1900 Smith county, MS
• 1880 census
• Mississippi Death Certificate of his son Andrew.
• Mississippi Death Certiricate of daughter Eunice.