The Old Fulton Hotel: The First Tavern in Fulton built by Pioneer Family

One of the earliest pioneer families in Itawamba County was the Wiygul family. Alfred Wiygul (born February 14, 1798 in Tennessee, son of Henry and Rutha Logue Wiygul) came up from Cotton Gin Port in neighboring Monroe County and lived with the Chickasaws on the west side of the Tombigbee. His brother Reuben (born 1805 in Tennessee) followed him shortly thereafter and when the town of Fulton was established in the 1830s he built a hotel in the new town. Reuben had married Tarlie Stegall [pictured] of the old Ironwood Bluff area in southern Itawamba (born December 20, 1810 in Anson County, North Carolina, daughter of Solomon and Mary Sarah Harrington Stegall, and sister of Henry W. Stegall, prominent planter of Itawamba and Monroe counties).

The Wiygul’s hotel was known as the Fulton Hotel. During 1850 Wiygul sold the hotel to Sarah Richardson and Wiygul shortly thereafter built a new hotel on the southwest corner of present-day Wiygul and Clifton streets, one block off the town square (present-day Comcast building lot). The old two story hotel stood until the 1950s. Below is a transcript of the first Fulton Hotel deed:

This indenture made and entered into this Twentieth day of February in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and fifty between Wygle and Tarley P.L.C., his wife of the first part and Sarah L. Richardson of the second part for and in consideration of the sum of Sixteen Hundred Dollars to the said parties of the first part in hand paid by the said party of the second part at and before the unsealing and delivery of these presents, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the said parties of the first part hath granted, bargained and sold and by these presents do grant bargain, sell and convey unto the said Sarah L. Richardson, wife of O.A. Richardson, subject to her sole and separate use and benefit and to her heirs forever the following described lots towit: One, Two, Three, Four, Six, Seven and Eight in Block Seven embracing the entire block, Lots One, Two, Three and Four in Block Six embracing the entire block and Lots One, Two, Three in Block Eight, all within the donation in Town of Fulton known as the Fulton Hotel property and appurtenances to have and to hold the above described and hereby released premises unto the said party of the second part, her heirs and assigns forever…

In testimony whereof, the said parties to these presents hath hereunto set their hands and affixed their seals, the day and date first above written.

R. Wygle

Genealogical Notes:

1850 Itawamba County Federal Census
Page 437, Fulton Post Office
4-4

Reuben Wiygle: 45, Farmer, Tennessee
Tarla Wiygle: 40, North Carolina
Desdemonia Wiygle: 16, Mississippi
James Wiygle: 19, Mississippi
Cazillas Wiygle: 13, Mississippi
Pleasant Wiygle: 11, Mississippi
Tranquillas Wiygle: 8, Mississippi
Amarilla Wiygle: 6, Mississippi
Sam M. Vernon: 26, Physician, Alabama
John W. Downs: 25, Attorney, Alabama
Benj. L. Owens: 22, Attorney, Alabama