Migrations from the Orangeburg District of South Carolina to Mississippi occurred primarily during the early-to-mid 19th century as part of the broader westward expansion into the Mississippi Territory. Families frequently migrated in cohesive wagon trains alongside related households and friends from back home in South Carolina. Undoubtedly, those that settled in the western territories wrote back to family that the land was good and encouraged other family members to follow.

The wagon train from Orangeburg District, SC was on their way west to TX and while on a stop in Rankin County, MS, a young girl died after a fall from a vine. As a result, some of the folks stayed and formed a church, which they named Shiloh, after their home church in the Orangeburgh District, SC. They have a camp meeting there every year in August.

Camp meetings may have passed for entertainment in the early part of the 19th century. People got a chance to socialize and get away from the farm or plantation. Young me got a chance to see the pretty young girls. Older folks got to gossip and share other information.

Some of the families were: Kersh, Jacob, brother to William; Kersh, William, brother to Jacob;Myers family; Rhodes family; Colliers; Martins; Nobles; Traxlers.

The DANTZLER brothers came in to MS in Wayne County. They were not wealthy at the time but bought and sold timber land until they owned the southern half of the estate. Had to build their own railroad to ship their lumber to the coast for export. Built giant lumber processing mills all over. Because of their output, the MS Gulf Coast became the largest lumber shipping port in the world in 1800.

There were two branches of MYERS families that settled in Rankin County, MS. One branch came on the ill-fated wagon trail to TX in 1828 and the other came down the MS River in 1818 from TN to Natchez on a flatboat and settled first in Lawrence County, MS and later moved to Rankin County, MS.

The first RHODES came into Pike County, MS by 1810. The majority of RHODES came later on the wagon train of 1828. The RHODES family had also elected to stay and settle in Rankin County, Mississippi.