Rasha moves to Mississippi
In 1830, when nullification was stirring the grand old
state of South Carolina with an excitement which caused
an exodus from that section, Rasha Cannon, late member
of the South Carolina legislature, adhering to the principles
of Andrew Jackson, left his native home and with his family,
his slaves, his flocks and herds started to the "West" to
escape political strife. As the prairie lands were so
productive, he decided to settle in that fertile section
of the young state of Mississippi. They came not as
pioneers boast - in the covered wagons, but as a man of wealth
as he was - on his coach for the comfort of the family used
to all the luxuries the day afforded. Wagons followed with
the servants and baggage, and the flocks and herds driven by
trusted servants who were privledged to rest at night along
the way.
With Rasha, came two sons, William and Thomas. They settled
in the Mayhew Prairie on the line embracing Lowndes and
Oktibbeha Counties, and he and his sons are mentioned in the
record books of Lowndes as having bought lands directly from
the Indians. Rasha and his sons began farming as soon as they
arrived in the county. In 1836, they cultivated 575 acres of
land and produced 132 bales of cotton.
Rasha left a large estate that was divided among his widow
and children. A study of the census records from 1850 reveals
several of Rasha's children died very young. His first wife and
two children died before 1820. His second wife and one child
died before 1824. It has been reported there were ten children
born to the third wife.(from Genealogy and Local History, by
Betty Wood Thomas. This is from an old newspaper in my area)
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