John Luther Jones, known as Casey Jones, spent his boyhood in this community and became a famous locomotive engineer whose record feats won the admiration of his fellow workers. On the morning of April 30th 1900, while running Illinois Central fast mail train no. 1, "the cannon ball," and through no fault of his own, his engine crashed through three freight cars at Vaughn, Mississippi. Casey died with his hand clenched to the brake helve, and his was the only life lost. Remembered for bravery and courage, Casey Jones remained deeply fixed in the hearts of the American people in tradition and song as one who laid down his life for his friends.