Z 0953.000 McWillie-Compton Family Papers

William McWillie (1795–1869), attorney, banker, and state legislator in South Carolina, moved to Madison County, Mississippi, in 1845, engaged in agriculture and built "Kirkwood" near Camden, served as Congressman from Mississippi, 1849–1851, and as Governor of Mississippi, 1857–1859. McWillie married Nancy Cunningham in South Carolina and after her death married Catharine Anderson, daughter of Dr. Edward H. Anderson of Camden, South Carolina.

William McCorkle Compton (1833–1878) was a native of Kentucky, graduated from Jefferson Medical College, practiced medicine in Marshall County, Mississippi, was a surgeon in the Confederate States Army, 1861–1865, a member of the Legislature in 1861, and of the Constitutional Conventions of 1865 and 1869. Dr. Compton was superintendent of the Lunatic Asylum in Jackson, and after serving eight years, returned to Holly Springs. He was president of the State medical association, a member of the State Board of Health and of the International Medical Congress at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1876. Dr. Compton died in Holly Springs in October 1878, of yellow fever.

Dr. James McWillie (1847–1890) was a native of Madison County, served in the Civil War, graduated from Washington University, Baltimore, Maryland, married Nannie Lizzie Compton, and served under Dr. Compton as assistant physician at the State Lunatic Asylum in Jackson.

The collection is made up of copies of land grants, tax receipts, plat of the Kirkwood property, diplomas, memorabilia, letters to and from William McWillie and his wife during the 1850s, letters to James McWillie from his mother and sisters, and a list of land and slaves owned by Adam McWillie (1821–1861) in Mississippi, Arkansas, and Alabama in 1860. One group of letters is from William McCorkle Compton to his mother, Mrs. S. E. Compton, at Holly Springs, written while he was serving in the Civil War. Also included is a photostat of a telegram from Jefferson Davis to Dr. Edward H. Anderson, Canton, advising of the death of Eddie Anderson on July 22, 1861, as a result of wounds received at the battle of Manassas Junction. Apparently, Mrs. McWillie's father had also moved to Mississippi. The telegram also mentions the death of Captain McWillie on the field. One page of the "Morning report of the volunteer company of South Carolina riflemen in the U.S. Service detached for Bull's Island, under the command of Capt. Levy, commanded by Lieut. Col. McWillie." The morning report covers November 10, 11, and 13, 1814. William McWillie served under his father, Adam McWillie, as adjutant.