The Monticello Gazette Archive

Located in the hilly, yellow pine woods of south-central Mississippi, Lawrence County was created in 1814 during the territorial period. Cotton, and later yellow pine timber, were major commodities produced in the region. The county seat, Monticello, was located at the intersection of the Pearl River and St. Stephens Road, which connected Fort St. Stephens in Alabama to the territorial capital, Natchez, on the Mississippi River.

The four-page weekly Monticello Gazette made its debut in April 1823; it was published on Saturdays by Mills and Marschalk. In all probability, Marschalk was Andrew Marschalk, Sr., printer of the laws of the Mississippi Territory and founder of several of the earliest Mississippi newspapers including the Mississippi Herald (1802-03), published in Natchez 80 miles to the west. Political affiliation of the Monticello Gazette was not obvious; however, in the 1820s Andrew Marschalk was a Jacksonian Democrat. Unfortunately, patron support fell short of expectations. The publishers announced in the September 27, 1823 Issue, "… we are compelled, to relinquish the hope of making the Gazette a permanent establishment; therefore, the next number will close … the publication of the Monticello Gazette."

As was often the case in early 19^th century Mississippi journals, the main goal of the Gazette was to inform its subscribers of the wider world. General intelligence articles, poems and witticisms, moral and religious lessons, and newspaper prospectuses could be found in the issues; however, foreign news predominated. Reprinted editorials followed the path of independence from Spain of Argentina, Chile, Venezuela, Colombia, and Peru. Attention to these events belied the United States' concern that Spain would try to regain control of their former colonies. In 1823, this concern was addressed in the Monroe Doctrine which took the stance that the American continents were no longer open to European colonization.

The Monticello Gazette also covered state and local government, including the dispute over the future location of the state capitol, the review of candidates for governor, and the division of Lawrence into two counties. Other local news reported the status of yellow fever cases in nearby towns. The Gazette included marriage announcements and obituaries, as well as local advertisements publicizing clock and watch makers, a jeweler, a hatter, and a general merchandise store. Legal notices were often of sales for cash to settle estates; everything from land to household items to enslaved people was for sale.