Waterhole Settlement , Methodist Church and Campground

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Waterholes, Marion County, Mississippi
Surnames/tags: Lewis, Conerly, Ford, Foxworth, Magee, Regan, Davis Bullock

Space Page written by Allan Harl Thomas

Methodist Church Waterhole Settlement

WATERHOLE was one of the outstanding communities of Marion County in early days. The place was so named from the early Methodist Church, Waterhole, which the first settlers built as soon as conditions permitted. The church and settlement were in the southwestern part of the county near the Pike County line. The pioneer people who settled there were very pious and had daily worship in their own houses and regular neighborhood services from the first. As early as 1810 we find pioneers began making their homes in this primeval forest near the headquarters of the stream known as Ten Mile Creek and in the vicinity of the Waterhole church.

Some of the outstanding names identified with this settlement are: The three Lewis brothers: Quennie, Lemuel, and Martin, Hosea Davis, Steve Regan, a Mr. January, Mr. Bass, Dr. Luke Conerly, Dr. Newton Cowart, Joel Bullock, and Henry and Fleet Magee,

Sources

• Marion County W. P. A. History

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Mrs. Celia Lewis Foxworth, interviewed by Oizella Foxworth Sylverstien

Celia Lewis Foxworth.

August 13, 1936 MHistorirs. Celia Lewis Foxworthcal Research Project Assignment #3

Narratives On Interview; 1. Pioneers:

Old Settlements.

Interviewed: Mrs. Celia Lewis Foxworth, Gulfport, Mississippi.

Methodist Church Waterholes Settlement

This was one of the outstanding settlements of Marion County in early days. The place was so named from the early Methodist Church which the first settlers built as soon as conditions permitted. These pioneer people were very pious and had daily worship in their own houses and regular neighborhood services from the first. The church and settlement were in the Southwestern part of Marion near the Pike County line after Pike was organized in 1815, taking a large part of Marion.

As early as 1810 we have pioneers making their homes in this primeval forest near the headquarters of the beautiful stream known as Ten-Mile creek on the head water’s of the Pushepatapa, in the vicinity of the Waterholes Church.

Some of the names identified with this settlement are: The three Lewis brothers: Quennie, Lemuel, and Martin, Hosea Davis, Steve Regan, a Mr. January, Mr. Bass, Dr. Luke Conerly, Dr. Newton Cowart, Joel Bullock, and Henry and Fleet Magee, brothers who settled in the community and had slaves at an early date as did all the others, they having plantations and engaged principally in agriculture. Others moving to the section later. The Magee’s, Henry and Fleet as well as other Magee’s came to Marion County prior to 1812 for we find their names listed in George H. Nixon’s 13th Regiment from Marion County during the was of 1812.

Quennie Lewis and his wife Patty with their children came from North Carolina about 1810 and settled first south of Columbia. After a few years he moved to Waterholes. Quennie Lewis built the home he lived in at Waterholes, it is still in good condition. This is a framed building. Mr. Lewis bought the building material in New Orleans, and it was brought over Lake Pontchartrain on flat boat and then by ox team to the present sight. The building was done principally by slaves.

The Lewis family are all pious Methodists and have furnished many preachers for the state. Lemuel Lewis, a brother of Quennie, came later as a teacher for his brother’s children, including the neighborhood children.

One Mr.January had erected a rather expensive house and when Luke Conerly moved in, he bought this house.

Dr. Luke Conerly and his brother, Owen, came from Dublin County, North Carolina, in 1822. They were sons of Cullen and Letticia Conerly. They married sisters. Owen married Mary, and Luke married Rebecca, daughters of William Wilkinson and Elizabeth of North Carolina. Dr. Luke who settled in this community had no children. Owen purchased Ralph Stovall’s property at China Grove.

Lemuel Lewis, brother of Quennie bought this place, later, gave it to his son, Benjamin, who gave it to his daughter, Beulah, who married Charlie Barnes, and Maggie Barnes, great granddaughter of Lemuel Lewis, was born in the house built by Mr.January.

Adjoining the January place, was the Hosea Davis home. Mr. Davis came at an early date and reared a large family. He had a mill on Ten-Mile creek about one mile from his house.

Adjoining his place, just below the mill about two miles, was the Cowart house. Newton Cowart was a doctor and had three sons who practiced medicine: Drs. Ed, Eleasar, and Ben. Ed rendered valuable service as a Confederate. Dr. Newton Cowart’s girls were: Hester, married a King, Lou, married William Stovall, and Mary, married Milton Jones.

Steve Regan, one of the neighbors, reared a large family. One son, Bill Regan, married Susan Scarborough, Ralph, married Quennie Lewis' daughter, Abigal. These four families each had a son born on the same year and the four boys served in the Confederate army: B. B. Lewis, Tom Regan, Ed Cowart, and Hosea Davis, Jr.

Martin Lewis, a brother of Quennie and Lemuel Lewis came from North Carolina in 1820. His wife’s name was Nancy. They settled near the Waterholes church but afterward moved to Stovall Springs above Columbia where he died in 1857. His sons were: Samuel, Josiah, Henry, Barney, Jabus, and Silas. Josiah married a Miss Smith, Henry’s wife was Eliza Faulk.

Joel Bullock like others in the community came for North Carolina. His wife was Rhoda Davis whom he married before coming to Mississippi.

Some of these people from North Carolina were related. Namely the Bullock and Davis family. The Bullock and Davis family were of Irish descent, from England and came to America prior to the Revolutionary War. These people from North Carolina were known for their honesty, integrity, and sterling worth.

Some adhering to the Baptist faith, others, especially the Lewis family and Conerly’s being devout Methodists. This settlement has furnished ministers not only for the County and State but for the foreign fields.

Probably it would be well to say Waterholes is now extinct, however, this section of the county has many prosperous farmers who are progressive.

Oizella Sylverstein

source

Marion County W. P. A. History