Richelle Putnam

Legendary Locals of Meridian Richelle Putnam

In 1831, Richard McLemore received a federal land grant of 2,000 acres located in the future Lauderdale County, Mississippi. He gave free land to those he considered good neighbors and built his home within the one square mile that would be incorporated as Meridian on February 10, 1860. On Valentines Day 1864, Gen. W. T. Shermans troops marched into the small railroad town. After burning the town, Sherman wrote in his journal, Meridian . . . no longer exists. Meridian did survive and became Mississippis largest city due to its railroad and timber industries and progressive settlers like the Weidmanns, Marks-Rothenbergs, Threefoots, Rushes, Rosenbaums, Rileys, Andersons, and others. Within these pages, meet the people who proved Sherman wrong and continue to influence the area today.