3-23- Scott County Mississippi Courthouse and Bluegrass in Polkville

                           How do you spell soul food? Forest, Mississippi!

Giant Roosters seem to be the theme animal in Forest

But they have cute fire hydrants, too!

At the Scott County Courthouse we found land records. The earliest land books contain a mass tragedy....the land records note the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit and are filled with page after page of names of Choctaw citizens who made their mark to sign away their rights to this beautiful countryside. The Choctaw who had fought against the Creeks to protect the settlers and fought along Andrew Jackson in New Orleans to chase out the British and save American from re-colonization were now being chased out by the American government and President Andrew Jackson himself. Page after page of unfamiliar Choctaw names, followed by book after book of new names of settlers taking over the lands- including the names of my grandmother's grandparents, Robert R. Taylor, and his wife Jane.

Although I know that they were married in Scott County, the land records show them as being from Simpson County. Records show them selling land in March, 1839. One interesting record is noted below-

"Personally appeared before me, A. Graham, Justice of the Peace.....Jane Taylor, wife of Robert Taylor, who on a private examination from her husband acknowledged that she signed sealed and delivered this deed....as her voluntary act and deed freely, without any fear, threats, or compulsion of her husband."
I have seen this before; apparently it was the norm at the time; an early attempt to protect women's rights!


After our research we stopped by "The Garden Patch"- an unassuming building in Forest that was packed with cars and trucks. This simple but delicious buffet is served from 11-2 daily. We had fried chicken, barbecued pork, cornbread, fried okra,greens, turnips, lima beans, baked beans, black eyed peas, mashed potatoes and gravy, potato salad, green salad, deviled eggs, and a selection of desserts. For WVU football fans, on the way out the cashier said she heard we were from WV and told us that her sister's ex was head football coach at WVU! He was at Ole Miss first. Everyone is friendly and polite. It is easy to get used to.

Now an afternoon nap is in order!
Here is the campground pet...

Evening found us at a bluegrass festival in Polkville, Mississippi- a town about 7 miles from our campsite, and the place where my 3rd great grandfather, Henry Franklin, a justice of the peace and master Mason, died before he could make the trip to Texas to join his daughters. The festival place was full of campers that come here for the whole week. We set up our chairs in the "Music Barn" a nice building with a stage, ceiling fans, and lighting. The music was a combination of bluegrass and gospel, with a special comical selection of 50's music complete with costumes, an Elvis, Willy Nelson, and bobby soxers (now in their 70's) who danced to the music. One old man in his 90's who could barely walk got up there and danced like he must have in the old days. He was as good as the show!

"Elvis" and his blue grass band at the Music Barn in Polksville, Mississippi