Born 4.3 miles east of here, Mark Perrin Lowrey moved to Mississippi in 1845. He enlisted in the 2nd Mississippi Volunteers for the Mexican War. In 1861, after initially commanding the 4th Mississippi Militia, he became colonel of the 32nd Mississippi Infantry, CSA, in 1862 and a brigadier general in 1863. His brigade was part of Cleburne's Division in the Army of Tennessee. He resigned his commission on March 14, 1865. In 1873 he founded Blue Mountain Female Institute and served as its president until his death at Middleton, Tenn. He is buried in Blue Mountain, Miss.