Biography-History

McCool married Mary Niles, daughter of Judge Jason Niles of Kosciusko, in 1881. The McCools were the parents of one son, Jason Niles McCool. The McCools were Baptists by faith.

McCool began his successful political career in 1882, when he was elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives of which he was a member for five consecutive terms; three of which he served as Speaker of the House. During his tenure, he was appointed permanent chairman of the Democratic State Convention of 1899; and also ran, though unsuccessfully, for governor against A. H. Longino that same year. In 1900, he was one of two state presidential electors at large. He also served on the bench of the circuit court and was chancellor of the Sixth chancery district, Attala County, from 1903 to 1915; having been appointed by Governor A. H. Longino and successively reappointed by Governors Vardaman and Noel.

During his years in the House of Representatives, McCool actively sought to bring the railroad through Attala County, and was credited with securing the right-of-way. He offered free of charge to the railroad company the lands for the depot building and town site. The railroad company eagerly accepted his offer, and in return, they named the depot after him; from this transaction the community of McCool was established in 1883.

McCool was also involved in plantation management which consisted of record-keeping and the supervision of his tenant farmers' work. He followed the agricultural developments by correspondence while serving as a judge in various parts of the state. He also contributed to charitable organizations and was a member of the Masonic Order, serving two terms as the grand master of the grand lodge. He was also selected by the Masons, on their behalf, to deliver the dedication address of the new state capitol on June 3, 1903. The address was well received and later published in the Mississippi Official and Statistical Register of the Year 1904.

Judge McCool died March 2, 1919, of influenza. His wife Mary died four days later of the same illness.

Scope and Content

The business correspondence possesses considerable value regarding the late nineteenth century railroad expansion in Mississippi, circa 1882. It contains an excellent source of information regarding the relationship between area residents and railroad company representatives as both try to negotiate various obstacles.

The bulk of the collection consists of receipts from merchandise and plantation supply stores and reflects not only the local economy of Kosciusko, but also the supplies needed to operate large farming enterprises.

The collection also contains a variety of legal documents such as McCool's will, which in effect, would appoint his sister-in-law, Jennie Niles, testamentary guardian over Jason, 1888. There is also one publication, The Baptist, 1902; a variety of newspaper clippings, undated; and one photograph taken of the McCool Mercantile Store in McCool, during the period of time Jason N. McCool was proprietor, circa 1909.

Subgroup 1: James F. McCool

Series Identification

1. Personal Correspondence (Incoming and Outgoing). 1884; 1886;1892; 1901; 1904–1910; 1914. 40 items. This series contains the personal correspondence of James F., Mary, and Florence McCool. The letters primarily relate family matters and information concerning Judge McCool's court case loads and his length of stay while out-of-town. He frequently requested his wife to write him with weather information from home. In a letter dated April 4, 1906, he requested her to save his mail as he was expecting letters of endorsement for chancellor. In a letter dated January 29, 1910, he informs Mary of his invitation to Governor James K. Vardaman's campaign headquarters, yet intends on visiting the other candidates' headquarters in order to remain neutral. Florence's correspondence was written from 1910 to 1911, and primarily relates personal family matters. Arranged chronologically. Box 1, Folders 1–5.
2. Business Correspondence (Incoming and Outgoing). 1882; 1885; 1891; 1895–1897; 1901–1904; 1910. 43 items. This series contains notes of indebtedness, requests made by McCool for clarification of life insurance technicalities and several letters from the Canton, Aberdeen & Nashville branch of the Illinois Central Railroad to McCool, as he sought the right-of-way through Attala County. In one letter dated April 17, 1882, McCool was warned to stop buying up land along the route, which was obstructing the Attala Countians' chances of getting the railroad through their area. In a letter dated May 4, 1882, McCool was encouraged to imitate the actions taken by the citizens promoting the Yazoo line who offered not only better land, but more footage on both sides of the tracks. In a letter dated the following day, the president of the railroad company commended McCool as being foremost among the people of that area in pursuit of the railroad. Also in one letter dated April 5, 1882, he requested the depot building and subsequent town site to be named McCool. Arranged chronologically. Box 1, Folders 6–8.
3. Legal Documents. 1888; 1900; 1908; 1910; 1912. 6 items. This series contains an assortment of legal documents, but most notable is McCool's will which appoints his sister-in-law, Jennie Niles, testamentary guardian over Jason in the event his son ever survived his parents as a minor, 1888. Other documents include a cancellation of debt; a cost bill; a deed of trust between McCool and Forrest Smith, 1912; and two court documents, 1900. Arranged chronologically. Box 2, Folder 1.
4. Publications. 1902. 1 item. This series contains one issue of The Baptist, Volume 4, No. 32. Jackson, Mississippi, June 19, 1902. Box 2, Folder 2.
5. Account Receipts. 1885–1910; undated. 275 items. This series consists of a variety of receipts and account notes of Judge McCool. It primarily contains receipts and statements from various merchandise and plantation supply stores McCool patronized while managing his various farming operations. The receipts reflect the current cost per item and bulk quantities of goods and reflect the supplies needed for farming operations in the early twentieth century. Many receipts are dated in the 1910s and relate the tenant farmers' names in addition to McCool. There is also a list of McCool's belongings in Columbus McCool's possession. Included is a property list of houses owned by McCool which was compiled for insurance purposes, undated. Arranged chronologically. Box 2, Folders 3–9. Box 3, Folders 1–5.
6. Newspaper Clippings. 1900–1901; undated. 9 items. This series includes articles McCool clipped from various sources. One article from the Kosciusko Star Ledger cites Judge McCool as having saved Attala Countians approximately $850.000 during his two week court term, undated. Other clippings reflect his interest in Christian missions, especially Baptist, 1900. Box 3, Folder 6.

Subgroup 2: Jason N. McCool

Series Identification.

1. Personal Correspondence (Incoming and Outgoing). 1899; 1906;1909–1911; 1913; 1918–1919. 23 items. This series contains correspondence from Jason N. McCool to his parents and consists of his wedding announcement, family matters, a birth announcement, and he casually mentions his father's gubernatorial campaign. Arranged chronologically. Box 4, Folders 1–3.
2. Photograph. ca. 1909. 1 item. This series contains one photograph of townspeople standing in front of the McCool Mercantile Store, McCool, circa 1909. Box 4, Folder 4.