Encyclopedia of Southern Jewish Communities - Satartia, Mississippi
Overview >> Mississippi >> Satartia
The only evidence of Jewish life in Satartia lies in the Brazeale Cemetery, named after one of the town’s founders named C.W. Brazeale. The land is fairly elevated, which makes it both safe from flooding damage and difficult to get to. It seems that the Brazeale Burying Ground began as a general cemetery, but as two cemeteries called Phoenix and Germania developed to bury the Christian citizens, the Brazeale cemetery was left exclusively for Jews. Though most of the tombs are unconfirmed as Jewish graves, many bear Jewish names and face east in the traditional Jewish fashion. In 1889, Lizzie Kling, the wife of Monroe Kling, bought the part of Brazeale’s land containing several probably Jewish graves. The fact that she chose to purchase the land is further evidence she held a Jewish identity, and felt a responsibility to the other Jews buried in Satartia.
The Jewish tombs in the cemetery date between 1845 and 1850. In all likelihood, the Jewish presence in Satartia was due to the healthy trade economy that existed between the fertile Mississippi Delta and New Orleans. Jews likely came from the Delta in order to serve as the merchant class in for the prominent cotton trade. It was at this time that Satartia was at its peak, serving as the busiest port in Yazoo County.
A probable Jew named Abe Kling arrived in Satartia in 1850 from Watertown, New York. He was a Jewish Peddler who traveled from place to place offering goods until he gained enough capital to own a very successful store. After finding success in the store-owning business, he encouraged his brother, Monroe Kling to join him. Monroe Kling married Elizabeth Wilson soon after his arrival, and the couple moved to Utah and had a son named Allen Kling. After the death of Elizabeth’s father, they returned to Satartia to take over his large business. Several generations of Klings existed in the town, though besides Elizabeth Kling’s purchase of the cemetery, there is little evidence of religious identification.
It is likely that the Klings aided other Jews upon their arrival to Satartia. When the Goulds arrived shortly after the Klings, they were welcomed and assisted. The Gould family came from England, and the immediate friendship of the Goulds and Klings suggests that they shared a connection through their faith. Other tombs that possibly bear evidence of Jewish existence include those of Frank and Mary Hirsch, Nathan, Hannah, and Leah Kohler, Josephina Friedlander and Abraham Rauh. Frank Hirsch was a store owner in Satartia, though there is no record of the careers of the Ruahs or Kohlers.
There are several possibilities of why Jews may have left Satartia. One is the frequent incidence of flooding. Specifically, the Kling residence was in a particularly vulnerable position in terms of water damage. The large number of children’s graves as well as records of repeated episodes of disease epidemics suggests that the families may have left due to fear of disease. Regardless, the Jewish population of Satartia was short-lived, and this can be attributed to many factors including the lack of a large Jewish population, dwindling business opportunities, or the dangerous living circumstances.
The Jewish tombs in the cemetery date between 1845 and 1850. In all likelihood, the Jewish presence in Satartia was due to the healthy trade economy that existed between the fertile Mississippi Delta and New Orleans. Jews likely came from the Delta in order to serve as the merchant class in for the prominent cotton trade. It was at this time that Satartia was at its peak, serving as the busiest port in Yazoo County.
A probable Jew named Abe Kling arrived in Satartia in 1850 from Watertown, New York. He was a Jewish Peddler who traveled from place to place offering goods until he gained enough capital to own a very successful store. After finding success in the store-owning business, he encouraged his brother, Monroe Kling to join him. Monroe Kling married Elizabeth Wilson soon after his arrival, and the couple moved to Utah and had a son named Allen Kling. After the death of Elizabeth’s father, they returned to Satartia to take over his large business. Several generations of Klings existed in the town, though besides Elizabeth Kling’s purchase of the cemetery, there is little evidence of religious identification.
It is likely that the Klings aided other Jews upon their arrival to Satartia. When the Goulds arrived shortly after the Klings, they were welcomed and assisted. The Gould family came from England, and the immediate friendship of the Goulds and Klings suggests that they shared a connection through their faith. Other tombs that possibly bear evidence of Jewish existence include those of Frank and Mary Hirsch, Nathan, Hannah, and Leah Kohler, Josephina Friedlander and Abraham Rauh. Frank Hirsch was a store owner in Satartia, though there is no record of the careers of the Ruahs or Kohlers.
There are several possibilities of why Jews may have left Satartia. One is the frequent incidence of flooding. Specifically, the Kling residence was in a particularly vulnerable position in terms of water damage. The large number of children’s graves as well as records of repeated episodes of disease epidemics suggests that the families may have left due to fear of disease. Regardless, the Jewish population of Satartia was short-lived, and this can be attributed to many factors including the lack of a large Jewish population, dwindling business opportunities, or the dangerous living circumstances.