Tishomingo

The town of Tishomingo which sits along Highway 25 south, got its name from the Indian chief Tishomingo. Its beginning was west of the present location, around Highland, a stage coach stop, store and post office.

The land for the town was bought from Tom Storment at a cost of $500.00. Tishomingo was located on the line of the Illinois Central Railroad running from Jackson, Tennessee to Birmingham, Alabama. The first train went through the town in 1907, the year the town was incorporated. The town was a one square mile area.

Cal Smith was the first mayor, J.J. Nagle the first store owner at the south end of town. The first hardware store was W.C. Hundley Hardware. The first post office was near where Ed’s One Stop is today. Sid Holley was the first postmaster, V.A. Audrey Stennett was the first mail carrier.

On March 13, 1913, the town was devastated when a tornado hit Tishomingo killing Dr. Daton Waldrep and R.C. Edmondson and causing much destruction for this little town.

The Tishomingo Agriculture High School was started about 1916. J.C. Looney was the first school principal. A terrible fire burned one entire block of stores in 1918. The first grammer school was built about 1924 and burned in 1958.

The first bank was established in 1947 and “Blue Bell,” the first garment factory in 1953.

Submitted by Ila Trimm, Kathy Everitt and Cindy Nelson