THE END OF THE CENTURY 1865-1899

• The Telegraph Line was built from Rienzi to Jacinto after Jacinto became the County Seat in 1870.  Due to a bad crop year, the farmers blamed the drought on the Telegraph Line and cut it down.

• The first of 3 tornadoes to hit Rienzi came in 1875.  It traveled from southwest to north, northeast.  It touched down among the stores of "Old Rienzi", demolishing them and the Rienzi Academy, along with several homes and the loss of several lives.  The new town of Rienzi had already been established  and "Old Rienzi" was never rebuilt.  Those that did rebuild chose to do so in Rienzi's new location near the railroad.

• The Patrons of Husbandry, better known as the Grange, was the first prominent farm organization to appear.  Originated in 1867 by Oliver H. Kelley,   a Minnesota farmer who had been a clerk in the Department of Agriculture, the Grange was a nonpolitical, fraternal organization for the self-improvement of farmers.  The reaction to it was enthusiastic.  All over the country local Granges appeared.   The first one in Mississippi was formed at Rienzi, on May 20, 1871.  It was here that Kelley held a meeting in 1872 to organize the state Grange, which as yet was functioning only in Northeast Mississippi.  (From John Knox  Bettersworth's 1909 book: "Mississippi: A History" pages 345-346)

• From the 1874 License Roll Book : 

• 5-07-1874  J. F. ArnoldAttorneyRienzi  5-07-1875 $10              
  5-11-1874 Martin Savage Merchant Rienzi 5-11-1875$10.00 5-11-1874Barton Lorick & Co MerchantRienzi 5-11-1875$20.00   5-11-1874R.Matt Merchant Rienzi 5-11-1875 $05.00  5-11-1874Bynum&Boone &PerryMerchantRienzi5-11-1875$25.00 5-12-1874Taylor & KnowlesMerchantRienzi5-12-1875$20.00 5-12-1874Robert HendersonMerchantRienzi5-12-1875$20.00  5-12-1874DJohnsey Merchant Rienzi5-12-1875 $05.00 5-18-1874Geo.Walton Merchant Rienzi 5-18-1875$05.00     5-21-1874J.C.&R.S. Stanly Merchant Rienzi 5-21-1875 $05.00 5-27-1874O.A.Gordon Merchant Rienzi 5-27-1875$05.00 . P 5-27-1874S.Clark Merchant Rienzi 5-27-1875 $05.00  6-11-1874DavidRogersMerchant Rienzi6-11-1875$05.00   8-12-1874W.M.Rap (Ress) Merchant Rienzi 4-06-1875 $20.00 8-12-1874Austin & Kirksey MerchantRienzi4-06-1875$05.00

• Newspaper clipping 1882:Hon. F.M. Boone, of Rienzi, was in the city, last Tuesday, looking as well as we have ever seen him. Alcorn is proud of Senator Boone.

• Newspaper clipping 1889: Mr. E.J. Green, of Rienzi, on the 5th killed a pig six months old which weighed 182 pounds.

• Newspaper clipping 1897: Eli Mitchell visited his father and mother near Rienzi Saturday and Sunday.  Albert Clark of Rienzi was in the city Tuesday.