FROM MISSISSIPPI MEMOIRS. HON. JOEL A. HEARNE, PLANTER, RIPLEY, MISS.

Mr. Hearne's paternal great-grandfather came from St. Christopher's Island in the West Indies, but was probably born in Ireland. He was a blanket merchant. His son, Jesse Heerne, grandfather of our subject, was a native of Maryland, born about 1748, and served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Thomas Hearne, Father of our subject, was born in North Carolina, Cabarrus Co., Feb., 1793. and was one of a family of five sons, Geo. W., Jesse L.. John. and William Spencer, all of whom were reared to manhood in N. Carolina. In 1814, being twenty years old (born 1793 ), Thomas started out to fight life's battle for himself, and, when grown, married Miss Diana Hearne, also a native of the Old North State, 1822 he located in Wilson Co., Tenn.; remained there one year, and then located in Carroll Co., Tenn.; 1844 he came to Tippah Co., Miss., and there his death occurred June, 1855.

Joel A. Hearne, one of eight children born to the above mentioned union, owes his nativity to Tenn., his birth Wilson Co., 1823. He passed his boyhood and youth in Carroll Co., of that State, and when twenty-one years of age he cast his first vote for Henry Clay, for President, 1844. In 1845 he located in what is now Union Co.. where lie resided until 1800. He was the first mayor of New Albany, which was organized 1850, and held that position until the breaking out of hostilities between the North and South. 1848 he engaged in merchandising, and continued that business until 1873, when he established the New Albany Union, which he ran until 1876. After this he followed planting until 1880. He married 1858 Miss Dansby, who died 1878, and 1880 he married Mrs. W. T. Fleming. 1865 he was elected to the Legislature from Pontotoc Co., and served until 1867. Mr. Hearne was appointed by Gov. Alcorn, when Union Co. was formed out of Pontotoc and Tippah counties, with Joe J. Nutt, S. H. Hall, S. H. Ferguson and Charles Williams, to constitute a board of supervisors to organize Union Co.

Socially Mr. Hearne is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He and Mrs. Hearne are members of the Methodist Church, Mrs. Hearne is the owner of about sixteen hundred acres of land in

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