Willie Sion Franklin Tatum

History of Mississippi, Vol IV
Reprint Publishing Company, 1978

The most valuable citizens of a community are those who in securing the success of their own business enterprises place the means of advancement in the hands of others, to whom occupation is thus furnished. Hattiesburg counts as one of the greatest individual forces in its development the extensive industry which owes its origin and upbuilding to the progressive spirit and constructive powers of Willie Sion Franklin Tatum, one of the foremost lumbermen of Mississippi and of the South. He is serving as mayor of Hattiesburg and his public spirit has prompted him to contribute liberally of his time and means to advance the cause of education, morality and good citizenship. He holds his wealth in trust for the less fortunate of his fellows and his life has been filled with good deeds. He was born in McNairy county, Tennessee, six miles west of Bethel Springs, September 17, 1858, and a son of Robert William Tatum, who was a native of Guilford County, North Carolina, and of pioneer stock. His family crossed the Blue Ridge mountians in 1828, only sixteen years after that section of the country was acquired from the Indians and opened up for settlement. His mother was a member of the famous Osborne family of Virginia and came of Quaker stock of Philadelphia. Mr. Tatum's anestors were religious people, and he is a firm believer in the Bible as the inspired Word of God. His grandparents were Baptists, but upon settling in a Methodist community, his father and mother united with the Methodist church, in which they became active workers. Robert W. Tatum served as Sunday school superintendent and as steward, and would sometimes ride a distance of twenty miles to attend a Quarterly conference.

When Willie Sion Franklin Tatum was fifteen years of age he became an employee in his father's store, where he worked without remuneration until he reached is twenty-first birthday, when his father agreed to pay him five hundred dollars a year and give him his board. In two years he had saved two hundred dollars with which he purchased a horse and buggy, using this outfit largely for courting Miss Rebecca A. O'Neal, who became his bride on June 8, 1881, the ceremony being performed by Rev. J. S. Saunders. Mrs. Tatum was the eleventh child in the family of Christopher and Margaret (Deacon) O'Neal, who migrated from Maury county, Tennessee, to Chester county, that state, settling on a plantation near Montezuma, where she was born, and where she grew to womanhood. Four members of the family distinguished themselves in the battle of Guilford Court House, North Carolina, which was the turning point of the Revolutionary War, and though stanch Americans, they were proud of their ancestors over the seas, among whom were included the Earl and Viscount O'Neill and Baron O'Neill, the manor-house being Shane's Castle, in County Antrim, Ireland.

Soon after his marriage Mr. Tatum took over his father's business, buying it largely on credit, and into this he put great energy. He formed a partnership with his brother-in-law, M. F. O'Neal, and branched out into the buying and selling of lumber. He conducted the business successfully for about twelve years. In 1892 he visited the longleaf pine section of Mississippi on a prospecting trip and in the following year established a sawmill in Hattiesburg, in partnership with Mr. O'Neal. They encountered many difficulties in their new enterprise and in 1897 Mr. O'Neal grew discouraged, selling his interest to Mr. Tatum, who remained undaunted by the number obstacles in his path. His business motto is "Never Quit", and through perseverance and determination supplemented by his natural sagacity and keen powers of observation, he overcame circumstances, bending them to his will. He is a master builder and upon the enduring foundation of honor and integrity has reared an imposing monument to his remarkable powers of initiative and administration.

Mr. Tatum has never made the acquisition of wealth his sole objective in life and represents that class of men to whom personal gain is but one aim in many, secondary in importance to public growth and development and lower in value than many other elements which go to make the sum total of human existence. His activities are directed into those channels through which flows the greatest and most permanent good to the greatest number and he is noted for his benefactions and benevolent nature. The following are some of his many generous gifts: A donation of four thousand, one hundred and twenty six dollars (the first made) for the construction of the house of worship of the Main Street Methodist church of Hattiesburg and an additional dollar for every three dollars subscribed to that enterprise; five thousand dollars to the Hattiesburg Y.M.C.A. building; forty thousand dollars for two dormitories for the Mississippi Woman's College; five thousand dollars to rebuild one of the dormitories of that institution; and one hundred thousand dollars to endow the Tatum Chair of Religious Education at Millsaps College. A missionary to Cuba was supported for thirteen years, until his health failed, and the sum of two thousand dollars was contributed toward the construction of a church at Santiago.

Mr. and Mrs. Tatum are devout Methodists and their greatest delight is in doing something for the Master. The latter has been a Sunday school teacher since she was fifteen years of age and has long been active in the work of the Woman's Missionary Society. Furthermore, her efforts have included helpful service in behalf of the Young Women's Christian Association. Mr. Tatum's record as a church worker is a notable one. Before he was twenty-one years of age he was made superintendent of the Bethel Springs Sunday school in Tennessee and filled that position until he came to this state. On his first Sunday in Mississippi he united with the Main Street Methodist church in Hattiesburg and for many years has been one of its stewards, while for two years he was superintendent of the Sunday school. For twenty-two years he has been a member of the Board of Missions of the Mississippi conference and was elected to the General Conferences of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, in 1906 and 1922, in both of which bodies he served with marked efficiency. Another characteristic of this well known church worker is his interest in revivals and his readiness to promote the winning of souls in any way in his power. He arranges frequently to have evangelistic services at his sawmills and logging camps and never fails to participate in them, being deeply concerned for the spiritual as well as the temporal welfare of his employees.

The domestic life of Mr. and Mrs. Tatum is exceptionally beautiful and happy and theirs is an ideal union, each being devoted to each other. They have become the parents of three children, all sons, two being twins. All were educated at Millsaps College and the twins also attended Columbia University. All are married and reside in Hattiesburg. They are associated in business with their father, largely relieving him of the management of the large lumber company which bears his name, and each has inherited his business sagacity and ability, as well as his admirable traits of character. Mr. Tatum is a man of commanding presence, dignified, kindly and courteous in manner, and one of the striking features of his appearance is his long, flowing beard. By nature he is modest and retiring, never seeking the glare of publicity, and he has always been averse to entering the political arena. After much solicitation his fellow townsmen induced him to become a candidate for mayor and he was elected by a large majority. His work in this office has met with wide-spread approval, being directed by a loyal and sincere regard for the welfare of his fellow citizens. His activities have touched the general interests of society to their betterment and on every side Mr. Tatum is spoken of in terms of unusual appreciation and admiration.

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