An Old Log Pioneer Home Has an Interesting Connection

There are many old pioneer log structures standing in Itawamba County today. These old structures are a testament to the craftsmanship of those early hardy pioneers of the Tombigbee country. One such pioneer structure standing today is what has been known by many as the old Joshua Hood homestead. Believed to have been built by Hood around 1853 shortly after coming to Itawamba County from Alabama, this home is nestled in the edge of the woods off a rural road north of Fulton.

Joshua Hood, Elvis Presley’s great great grandfather was born September 13, 1828 in Alabama. He married Margaret Johnson (born June 18, 1830, died April 13, 1910 in Itawamba County) in St. Clair County, Alabama on December 20, 1849. Shortly after William, their first child was born, they moved to Itawamba County around 1853 where he had purchased land about seven miles north of Fulton. During 1886 the year after the death of Joshua (April 17, 1885) the older children of Joshua Hood deeded their interest in the old homestead to their mother and younger siblings [Click Deed Illustration for larger view].

Joshua’s first son, William, was born October 4, 1852 before the family moved to Itawamba County. On October 23, 1875 William married Mary L. Warren (daughter of William D. and Minerva J. Davis Warren and grand daughter of early Itawamba pioneers S. John and Sarah Robinson Warren. Her uncle, Charles Warren was the first sheriff of Itawamba County in 1836.) [Click Marriage License illustration for larger view.] Their daughter, Minnie Mae was born June 17, 1888 in Itawamba County and married Jessie D. McLowell Presley (born April 9, 1896 in the Clay community east of Fulton.). Their child, Vernon Elvis Presley (born April 19, 1916 in the Clay community of Itawamba County) married Gladys Love Smith on June 17, 1933 in Pontotoc County. On January 8, 1935 Elvis Aaron Presley was born to the couple in Tupelo, in neighboring Lee County

Elvis Presley’s family roots run deep in Itawamba County with ties to several of the county’s old pioneer families and what is considered his great great grandfather Hood’s pioneer home, stands as a silent tribute to those hardy early settlers who helped forge a community from the wilderness of the rugged hills of northeast Mississippi.