1852- possible routes to Texas

We don't know for sure which route our ancestors took from Rankin County, Mississippi to East Texas.

Today the shortest route would take them from Cato along route 28 westward to Natchez- just over 100 miles.

1845 Map of Mississippi

1852 Map of Mississippi

If they took this route, they would have stopped to say goodbye to relatives along the way in Rankin and Simpson county, many of whom were planning to follow them to Texas in the months to come.

At Westville, in Simpson County, they would have headed west, along what is now highway 28.  They would have forded the Strong River just outside of Westville.

Westville to Georgetown 14 miles- crossing the Pearl River at mile 12 and entering Copiah County.

Georgetown to Gallatin 18 miles

At Gallatin they had two choices;

a) either head northwest on the Old Port Gibson road to Port Gibson and the ferry at Rodney, which crossed to St. Joseph Louisiana or

b) head southwest (staying on what is now 28) and the steam ferry at Natchez, which crossed to Vidalia, Louisiana.

Gallatin to Union Church 25 miles
Union Church to Fayette 18 miles
Fayette to Washington 18 miles
Washington to Natchez 7 miles
Steam ferry from Natchez to Vidalia

At Vidalia they were just 30 miles from the plantation of their Campbell cousins at Flowery Mound, on the Black River. Uncle Beasley Campbell lived here, next to the prosperous plantation of his daughter Elizabeth Rose Campbell (now married to Joseph Miller) and the plantation of his son, William Preston Campbell, who was now married to Sarah Womack, the daughter of David Womack and Sarah Norris.

 Uncle Beasley and the cousins could have easily traveled by steamboat up to visit

Vidalia to Flowery Mound 30 miles
Vidalia to Frogmore Plantation 16 miles
Frogmore to Flowery Mound Plantation  16 miles
Frogmore to Jonesville- 9 miles, crossing the Black River just before Jonesville


They would have traveled about 12 miles per day- their pace set by the slow moving oxen that pulled the wagons.

They forded many streams, but would have crossed five major rivers.
Only 30 miles- two days journey from Cato- they would have crossed the Pearl River.

Next, they would have faced one of the greatest moments in their journey; taking a ferry across the Mississippi River. There would have been ferries at Vicksburg, Rodney (near the Windsor Ruins and crossing to St. Joseph La., Grand Gulf, and Natchez.

Cato to Rodney- 85 miles due west, ferry to St. Joseph,
St. Joseph to Olla, La. (Ralph Franklin in 1850) 80 miles
Olla to Alexandria 45 miles

Cato to Natchez- 100 miles SW, ferry to Vidalia (Campbell cousins)
Vidalia to Flowry Mound 30 miles
Flowry Mound to Alexandria 65 miles

Cato to Vicksburg- 70 miles
Vicksburg to Natchez- 70 miles, ferry to Vidalia
Natchez to Olla- 65 miles
Olla to Alexandria 45 miles

In Alexandria, they would have crossed the Red River.

An exciting time would have been when they finally crossed over the border into Texas- crossing the Sabine River, likely at Burr's Ferry.

Finally, nearing the end of their journey, they crossed the Neches at Town Bluff.


St. Joseph and Waterproof lay between Natchez and Grand Gulf, on the Louisiana side of the river.