1795 JOHN CHRISTOPHER MIXON, JOHN MIXON (1775), JESSE MIXON (702), JOHN MIXON IV (6), JOHN MIXON III (3), JOHN MIXON II (2), JOHN MIXON I (1)

John Christopher Mixon, s. of John and Rebecca Slade Mixon, was b. Jan. 18, 1827 in Perry County, MS, and reared at Monroe, Mississippi, in Perry County (now in Forrest County), d. Dec 24, 1914, bur. Providence Baptist Cemetery, Hattiesburg, Forrest County MS.  His parents moved to Perry County about 1831, and his father entered land November 4, 1833, in Perry County and paid tax there for 1833. John Christopher Mixon lived at Monroe (now Old Monroe) with his parents until the family moved further south to a place out from Augusta (Old Augusta), Mississippi, sometime between 1850 and 1852.

On September 24, 1857, John Christopher Mixon married Martha Jane Perry, born Nov. 2, 1834, d. May 19, 1923, bur. Providence Baptist Cemetery, Hattiesburg, Forrest County MS, the dau. of Rawls and Sallie (Lee) Perry.

A Confederate soldier, he was member of Company "B" 7th MS Bn. Like the great majority of those men who returned home from the war, to join his wife and children, he had to begin life anew. In 1868, he bought a home in the northwestern party of the county, about 10 miles from Hattiesburg - living there the remainder of his life.

A Resolution presented June 5, 1915, to Mrs. Martha Jane Mixon by the camp of U.C.V. to which John C. Mixon was a member, gives this account of his service during the Civil War: In 1863 he joined Capt. Hartfield's Company "B" in the Seventh Mississippi Battalion Infantry, and was with his company in all of its engagements until the end of the war except when absent on furlough or sick in hospital. When General Grant surrounded Vicksburg, he was sick in hospital in Enterprise, Mississippi, and thus escaped capture when Pemberton surrendered. He was in the Battle of Missionary Ridge and in the retreat to Dalton on to Atlanta, and followed General Hood in his memorable Tennessee campaign. When Lee surrendered he was at home on furlough. Not knowing of the surrender of Lee, he rejoined his company then near the Alabama and Florida state lines. Was captured, sent to Ship Island, from there taken to New Orleans, and up to Vicksburg where he was paroled. He returned to his home where he had a wife and three children to commence life again with nothing but industrious hands and a stout heart. Like other confederate soldiers, he struggled bravely to rebuild his home and country.  The Resolution also states: He was a true friend, generous hearted, and a quiet, peaceful citizen, yet ever ready to resent an insult, or redress a wrong. He was ever ready to assist in building a church or school, or any measure for the good of the community.

In 1884 John Christopher Mixon joined the Providence Baptist Church. On April 30, 1885, he donated the land upon which Providence Church was built and the cemetery adjoining it. John Christopher Mixon died December 24, 1914, and was buried in the cemetery.

Martha Jane Perry Mixon, b. Nov. 2, 1834, d May 19, 1923, and was lain beside John Christopher Mixon, her husband, in Providence Baptist Cemetery, Hattiesburg, MS. Martha Jane came from a family who did not have slaves, so she knew how to work, and she did just that. Her frail body wore out while the heart was still as young as a sixteen-year old heart so her doctor said. Her youngest daughter stayed with her to take care of her until the daughter was about 40 years of age. The daughter married and took her mother to live with her until she died.

One granddaughter tells of a conversation with Miss India (Indy) Draughn who told her when John Christopher Mixon was young and families needed meat for log rollings, quilting, and such, they always sent for John. She said he was given up to be the best hunter anywhere, and always came back with a deer, turkey or some kind of game. This granddaughter described John C. Mixon as being stocky in build, average in height, and possessing powerful arms.

Another granddaughter remembered: Mama used to tell about a race track at Old Monroe. She said Grandma, Martha Jane Mixon, would get mad at the men for racing their horses on Sunday. It seems that Sunday was the only time they could get together and that is what they did. So I expect John Christopher was racing his horse. This was one of the earliest and least expensive entertainment these people could have. I expect John Christopher inherited the love of horses from his parents. Mama said he always tried to have a good saddle horse, as long as he lived. Remember they had a few slaves and she always said he had been waited on, and would work, but didn't mind if "they" did the work for him. He used to ride anywhere. The war left them without everything, and they had to rely on themselves, but his love of horses stayed with him.

Census:

1870 On Bowie, Perry, MS, age 43, wife Martha-35, children: Sarah-11, Julia-9, William-7, Stephen-4, George-1

1880 Perry, MS, age 53, wife Martha J-48, children: Sarah A-21, Julius J-19, William F-17, Stephen-14, George R-13, Mary E-10, Reuben L-5

1900 Beat 2, Perry, MS, age 73, wife M J-65, children: George R-31, Elizabeth-28

Children:

1840 Sarah Ann Mixon - b. Oct. 31, 1858. Perry Co., MS, d. Oct. 16, 1887 Perry Co., MS, died in childbirth-baby also died., m. Dec. 19, 1886 Jesse Lott - b. Sept. 5, 1864, d. Dec. 21, 1939 Covington, Co., MS Both buried Providence Cemetery.

Jesse Lott, m., second, Nancy Catherine Mixon (#1814), dau. of Jesse Mixon, son of Cornelius Lofton Mixon, and second cousin to Sarah Ann Mixon.

*1841 Julius John Mixon - b. Nov. 2, 1861, d. Jan. 29, 1937, m. Elizabeth Sheppard

*1842 William Franklin Mixon - b. April 21, 1863, d. Nov. 26, 1929

*1843 Stephen Henry Mixon - b. Jan. 20, 1866, d. Apr. 11, 1950

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