Dates: 1819; 1832; 1853-1915; 1937; 1962; 1980; n.d.

Size: 0.34 cubic ft.

 

Biography:
John Alfred Nabers

John Alfred Nabers was born on August 28, 1841 in Alabama, to Lewis Nabers (January 16, 1808 - August 15, 1865), a farmer from South Carolina, and Dorinda Mullens (April 3, 1814 - May 25, 1882) of Alabama. John was one of five children that included: Frank M. (March 8, 1939 - September 1, 1914), William B. (June 17, 1848 - January 15, 1864) Mary (December 15, 1851 - May 12, 1927), and two children who died as infants. His family may have moved to Mississippi between 1842 and 1844. John Alfred Nabers was a mason, cotton-weigher, businessman, and enumerator for the census. He also served in the Confederate States Army as a private with the 14th Mississippi Infantry, Company E. The Nabers family was one of the prominent families of Amory and the now extinct town of Cotton Gin Port, both of Monroe County. They, as many others, relocated to Amory when the Kansas City, Memphis & Birmingham Railroad came to town.

On January 4, 1869, John married Cinderella “Cinda” Armstrong (February 14, 1841- May 3, 1912). They had three children: Lewis D. (June 24, 1874 - September 5, 1882), Mary “Madie” L. (1876 - 1959), and John (b. circa 1879). By 1870, John Nabers and his family was living in Smithville, Mississippi and in 1880 he resided in Cotton Gin Port. Between 1880 and 1890, the Nabers moved to Amory. Researchers should note that sometimes the family name is spelled Nabors. He was the father-in-law to James G. Haughton, Sr.

James G. Haughton, Sr.

James G. “Gillespie” Haughton, Sr. (1874 - 1944) married into the Nabers family. His wife was Mary “Madie” L. Nabers (1874 - 1959). He was a train dispatcher, farmer, and telegraph operator. Both he and his wife are buried in the Masonic Cemetery in Amory, Monroe County. The couple had three children: Mary G. (1903 - 1981) who was a public school teacher; James G., Jr. (August 1, 1906 - 1986) who was a switchman with the railroad; John D. (b. circa 1908); and Joseph L. (January 6, 1919 - February 8, 2004) who was a truck driver.

Drury Armstrong

Drury Armstrong (May 2, 1802 - December 18, 1867) was born in Anson, North Carolina to William W. Armstrong (1770 - 1843) and Sarah Jones (1774 - 1847), both from and buried in Marion, Alabama. The family moved to Mississippi between 1810 and 1818 when Drury Armstrong was eight years old. Drury had four siblings: John (1800 - 1870); Jemima (1806 - 1868); William (1810 - 1862) and Susannah (1818 - 1909). All of his siblings are buried in the Masonic Cemetery in Amory, Mississippi. Drury had two wives. The first, Esther/Easter C. Stegall Armstrong (August 24, 1806 - February 10, 1832). Her parents were Solomon Stegall (1763 - 1850) and Mary Sarah Harrington (1775 - 1829). His second wife was Mary Ann White (1815 - 1859), however the couple did not have any children. Drury maintained a farm and used slave labor. Drury Armstrong, Esther Armstrong, and Mary Ann Armstrong are buried in the Masonic Cemetery in Amory, Monroe County, Mississippi.

 

Scope and Content Note:

The papers of the Haughton family of Amory, Monroe County, Mississippi, include financial records, some concerning slaves; an account ledger; a magazine; and newspaper clippings concerning family members and the history of Amory. The account ledger is that of a mercantile store in Cotton Gin Port, Monroe County, Mississippi, and was kept by Haughton family ancestor John Alfred Nabers between 1866-1867. Noted family surnames include Armstrong and Nabers/Nabors in addition to Haughton.

 
Series Identification:

Series 1: Newspaper Clippings. 1937-1980; n.d.

Subseries 1.1: Amory, Mississippi. 1937; n.d.

This subseries contains three newsclippings from The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tennessee). The first is a reprint of an article dated October 10, 1937 that is a detailed account of the history of the now extinct town of Cotton Gin Port and the 50th Jubilee Celebration of Amory, Mississippi. The next article dated October 21, 1937 is also about the Golden Jubilee Celebration and lists the leaders of the program with their names, pictures, and mentions the rededication of the Amory City Hall. There is a clipping dated October 23, 1937 which mentions the large turnout for the parade. The other clipping is undated and has a picture with a caption on the then mayor of Amory, S.A. Grady, standing with Confederate Veterans of Stonewall Camp. The names of each person are given in the caption.

Box 1, folders 1-4

Subseries 1.2: Haughton House, Myrtle Bower. 1980; n.d.

This subseries contains an undated newspaper clipping with a missing newspaper title and page about the Haughton family home. The antebellum home is named Myrtle Bower, built in 1849, and is at the time of the article located in Amory on Cotton Gin Road. Mary Gertrude Haughton is the caretaker of the home which was built by her great-grandfather, Drury Armstrong. The other article is from the Amory Advertiser dated Thursday, May 1, 1980. There are three clippings of the same article. It is an announcement about the Haughton home of Myrtle Bower being updated and becoming a group home for children.

Special note: The Amory Advertiser article gives background and genealogical information on Drury Armstrong. It notes that his first wife was Cinderella Armstrong and the couple had five children: Sarah, Jane, Rosalee, and Benton. His second marriage produced one daughter, Druanna. Cinderalla is recorded as marrying John Alfred Nabers. Mary Nabers Haughton was Mary G. Haughton’s mother. The article states the home was 113-years-old at the time it was written, dating the article circa 1962.

Box 1, folder 5

Subseries 1.3: Sam Dale. n.d.

There are two newspaper clippings with a missing date and newspaper name from the same article and paper. The title of the article is “Big Sam Dale-Indian Fighter.” No connection to the families mentioned can be determined.

Box 1, folder 6

Subseries 1.4: Cotton Gin Port, Mississippi. n.d.

This subseries contains an undated article from the Amory Advertiser. The article is written by Eugenia Gregory Fears about the recollections of Lucy Mayes Monaghan on her memories and life in the now extinct town of Cotton Gin Port and other cities in Monroe County.

Box 1, folder 7

 

Series 2: Slave Documents. 1817; 1832.

This series contains two records concerning enslaved persons. The first document is a slave bill of sale dated April 1817. A twenty-five-year-old woman named Elizabeth/Etubeth priced at five hundred dollars and a “yellow boy” about six years old for two hundred and ninety dollars were sold from Mrs. Armstrong to Drury Armstrong. The second document is the 1832 will of Solomon Stegall, Monroe County, giving to his daughter, Easter Armstrong, an eight-year-old boy of dark complexion named Ralph.

Box 1, folders 8-9

 

Series 3: Masonic Records. 1883-1915; n.d.

Subseries 3.1: John Alfred Nabers Masonic Receipts. 1883.

There is an assessment receipt for Cotton Gin Lodge No. 2608 for J.A. Nabers written for the amount of one hundred dollars and dated October 20, 1883.

Box 1, folder 10

Subseries 3.2: James G. Haughton Masonic Receipts. 1906-1907; 1912; 1914-1915; n.d.

There are several receipts to John G. Haughton for masonic lodge dues to the Supreme Lodge of the Masons’ Annuity. It was Lodge No. 145 located in Amory, Mississippi. There is one receipt from 1906; one from 1907; two receipts from 1912; one from 1914; two from 1915; and one without a date.

Box 1, folder 11

 

Series 4: Financial Records. 1856-1902.

Subseries 4.1: John Alfred Nabers. 1872; 1873; 1874; 1886; 1902.

This series contains five receipts and ledger records for John Alfred Nabers. The first is an untitled page with months and dates from 1872-1874. The amounts and materials purchased vary. “Watkins” is listed on the receipt. The second is dated December 24, 1873 to Love & Son. The third receipt is dated 1873 with names McIntosh & Gillespie. Another receipt is dated October 2, 1886 and is from J.W. Peck Staple and Fancy Groceries. The fifth receipt is from A.E. Dalyrmple & Company and is dated November 6, 1902.

Box 1, folder 12

Subseries 4.2: Drury Armstrong. 1856; 1857; 1860; 1861; 1862; 1863.

There are eight receipts from various accounts in this series regarding Drury Armstrong. The first receipt from Pontotoc County dated March 29, 1856. The second receipt is for attorney fees dated November 20, 1857. The third receipt is dated April 3, 1860. The fourth is a partial receipt dated November 29, 1860. The fifth receipt is dated March 28, 1861. The sixth receipt is for taxes dated April 1862. The seventh receipt is dated October 6, 1862. The eighth is a tax receipt dated for March 3, 1863.

Box 1, folder 13

Subseries 4.3: Miscellaneous. 1853; 1886.

This subseries contains two receipts. One is from J.W. Peck Staple & Fancy Groceries dated October 2, 1886. The other receipt is for items purchased February 22-23, 1853. These documents were found in the Cotton Gin Port ledger located in box 2.

Box 1, folder 14

Subseries 4.4: Cotton Gin Port Ledger. DATES.

The account ledger is that of a mercantile store in Cotton Gin Port, Monroe County, Mississippi, and was kept by Haughton family ancestor John Alfred Nabers from 1866 to 1867. There are accounts for Cotton Gin Port, Dr. Thomas Moody, Captain James H. Montgomery (1818-1892), Isaac Mayfield (1803-1893), G.B. Specia, Joe Adkins, and Jesse P. Tubb (1828-1870).

Box 2

 

Series 5: Printed Material. 1885.

This series consists of a Peterson’s Magazine Vol. LXXXVII No.6, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania dated November 1885. Peterson’s Magazine was a lady’s magazine created by Charles J. Peterson in 1842. This particular issue consists of poems, short stories, poems, and fashion advertisements.

Box 1, folder 15

 

Series 6: Education. 1887.

There is a Providence College tuition flyer dated Wednesday, September 7, 1887. Providence College was one mile outside of Nettleton, Monroe County. It was chartered in the spring of 1886 near the Kansas City, Mobile, and Birmingham Railroad, but closed five years later. There is a notation for a seven-dollar payment for room and board. For whom the payment is for is unknown.

Box 1, folder 16

 

Box List:

Box 1, Folder 1: Newsclipping, The Commercial Appeal, October 10, 1937. 
Box 1, Folder 2: Newsclipping, “Amory Celebration Opened by City Heads,” The Commercial Appeal, October 21, 1937. 
Box 1, Folder 3: Newsclipping, “10,000 View Parade at Amory’s Jubilee,” The Commercial Appeal, October 23, 1937. 
Box 1, Folder 4: Newsclipping, “Confederate Veterans Line Up with Amory Mayor,” n.d. 
Box 1, Folder 5: Newsclipping, Myrtle Bower House, The Amory Advertiser, ca. 1962; May 1, 1980. 
Box 1, Folder 6: Newsclipping, “Sam Dale: Indian Fighter,” n.d. 
Box 1, Folder 7: Newsclipping, “Remember When,” The Amory Advertiser, n.d. 
Box 1, Folder 8: Slave Records, Bill of Sale, Drury Armstrong, April 6, 1819. 
Box 1, Folder 9: Slave Records, Will, Solomon Stegall, 1832. 
Box 1, Folder 10: Masonic Records, Receipt, John Alfred Nabers, 1883. 
Box 1, Folder 11: Masonic Records, Receipts, James G. Haughton, 1906-1915; n.d. 
Box 1, Folder 12: Financial Records, John Alfred Nabers, 1872-1902. 
Box 1, Folder 13: Financial Records, Drury Armstrong, 1856-1863. 
Box 1, Folder 14: Financial Records, Miscellaneous, 1853; 1886. 
Box 1, Folder 15: Printed Material, Peterson’s Magazine, 1885. 
Box 1, Folder 16: Education, Providence College, 1887. 
 

Box 2: Cotton Gin Port ledger, 1866-1867.