Bessie

The village of Bessie was named for the daughter of James C. And Mary Nevill Harris and the wife of Col. Albert E. Markham.

Bessie was located on state highway 22 a few miles south of the Kentucky border. A post office was established in 1894 with James P. “Jimmy” Harris as Postmaster. He named the village that had grown up around the post office to honor his 20 year old sister. James P. Harris died 29 July, 1898. He never married. Other Postmasters at Bessie were Mayetta Whittington, Thomas F. Russell, Emma Cloud, Joseph C. Hawkins, and Sidney H. Ward. The post office was discontinued 15 Sept. 1913 and the mail was sent to the Cronanville Post office.

This was a thriving community for several years. Bessie had several stores, a church and a school. All this changed with the 1937 flood. On Sunday Feb. 1, 1937, at 10:13 A.M. the Mississippi River smashed through the dike protecting the village and washed Bessie away. No lives were lost, but the village was never rebuilt.

Mrs. Bessie Harris Markham has descendants living in Lake Co. At the present time.