sherrod mosley
1860-aft. 1940
Life Story
Sherrod Mosley was a resilient figure of the post-Reconstruction era in Newton County, Mississippi, whose life spanned the transformative decades from the end of the Civil War to the onset of World War II. A farmer, landowner, and family man, Sherrod’s story is one of steady labor, community ties, and the persistent pursuit of land ownership in the heart of the Piney Woods.
Early Life and Family Roots
Sherrod was born around 1860–1865 in Mississippi (though some records suggest Alabama). He was the son of Clarisy Mosley, who was born in Alabama and lived with Sherrod’s family in Newton County into her seventies. Growing up in the aftermath of emancipation, Sherrod entered adulthood with a drive for independence, marrying his first wife, Nancy Jane Evans around 1886.
Together, Sherrod and Nancy built a large family in Beat 4 (Newton), raising children including Frank, James, Mary, Joe, Flossie Lee, Ephesus, Bill (Willie), Ida, and Lela. By 1900, Sherrod was working as a tenant farmer, renting the land he worked but maintaining a household that included his aging mother—a testament to his role as a family provider.
The Pursuit of Land
For much of his early career, Sherrod navigated the difficult landscape of Southern tenant farming. However, the early 20th century marked a shift toward personal acquisition. In March 1914, Sherrod engaged in a land transaction with H. M. Nicholson, selling a small 1.5-acre parcel in Section 24 for $25.00. This small transaction was a precursor to a more significant expansion of the Mosley holdings.
Following the passing of Nancy, Sherrod married Eugenia Whitehead (born c. 1886–1889). By 1920, Sherrod had achieved a major milestone: he was no longer renting. Census records show him as the owner of his farm, held “free” of a mortgage at that time. His household continued to grow with his second family, including children Jessie, Thomas, Mable, and Ernestine.
Prosperity and the Great Depression
By the mid-1920s, Sherrod and Eugenia had consolidated a significant amount of property. In December 1916, they had acquired nearly 40 acres (less the 1.5 acres previously sold) from Thomas Watson for the substantial sum of $600.00.
However, the economic pressures of the late 1920s eventually reached the Mosley farm. In February 1928, Sherrod and Eugenia executed a trust deed with The Federal Land Bank of New Orleans to secure an indebtedness. This was a common but risky move for Black farmers seeking to maintain or expand operations during volatile economic times.
The 1930s brought the dual challenges of the Great Depression and aging. By July 1936, the Mosley family faced a significant setback when a Foreclosure Notice was published in The Newton Record. The notice called for the public sale of 23 acres of their land—including portions of the West Half of the Northwest Quarter of Section 24 and several lots in the N. Doolittle Addition to the city of Newton—due to a default on their loan.
Later Years and Legacy
Despite the foreclosure of a portion of his holdings, Sherrod remained a fixture in the Newton community. The 1940 Census finds an 80-year-old Sherrod still living in Newton with Eugenia and a young grandson, Lenoir Hardy. Though the value of his home had decreased significantly during the Depression years, he still identified as a homeowner.
Sherrod Mosley’s life was defined by the transition from the uncertainty of the 19th century to the structured, yet often exclusionary, legal and economic systems of the 20th. He was a man who learned the value of a deed, the weight of a contract, and the importance of documenting his family’s place in the soil of Newton County. He left behind a legacy of endurance, documented in the very courthouse records and census rolls that now allow his descendants to reclaim his story.
Resting Place
Unknown
Photos/Albums
Sources
- Land Description and Location
The deed dated March 7, 1914 (Book 36, Page 531) describes a specific 1.5-acre parcel:
“Commencing at the S. E. corner of the SE 1/4 of the NW 1/4 Section 24 Township 5 R 11 East…”
This location is situated just east of the city of Newton in Newton County. In the 1916 deed (Book 43, Page 57), Sherrod’s second wife, Eugenia, purchased the remainder of that quarter-quarter section (38.5 acres) from Thomas Watson for $600.00. This suggests the family was consolidating a significant farmstead in Section 24. - Literacy and the “Mark”
In both the 1914 and 1916 deeds, Sherrod Mosley and Thomas Watson signed with an “X” (his mark), a common occurrence for many born into the era of limited educational access for Black Mississippians. However, there is a discrepancy in the records:
1900 Census: Indicates Sherrod could read and write.
1910–1940 Censuses: Consistently indicate he could not read or write. It was common for census enumerators to make errors, or for individuals to lose literacy skills if they were not regularly practiced. - The Federal Land Bank and the Great Depression
The 1936 Foreclosure Notice involves the Federal Land Bank of New Orleans. This bank was part of a system established by the Federal Farm Loan Act of 1916 to provide long-term loans to farmers. While these loans helped many Black farmers acquire land, the rigid repayment schedules during the Great Depression led to widespread land loss across the rural South when crop prices plummeted. - The “N. Doolittle Addition”
The foreclosure notice mentions lots in the N. Doolittle Addition to Newton, Mississippi. C. H. Doolittle, the Justice of the Peace who notarized Sherrod’s 1914 deed, was a prominent local figure. The Mosley family held property not only in rural agricultural sections but also within these subdivided town lots, indicating a diversified attempt at real estate investment. - Sherrod is consistently found in Beat 4 (Newton) across all census records (1900–1940), confirming his life was centered around the town of Newton and the surrounding Lawrence community.
- Familial Connections
Nancy (1st Wife): Identified as Nancy J. Evans in supplemental records. This connects Sherrod to the Evans line. Tom Whitehead: The 1930 Census shows Tom Whitehead (age 79) living with Sherrod. This relates to the Whitehead family line and the father of Eugenia.
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