Emile Sompayrac Place/ Cherokee/Murphy Place

Cane River Road Natchez, MS

Circa 1837. French Colonial and Creole style. Cottage raised above ground with 36 pillars

Built on an elevation on a elevated foundation.

Marie Clarisse Prudhomme Sompayrec (1817-1908) married (Charles) Emile Somopayrec (1813-1878) in 1837, and Sompayrcc purchased the land from her family. Sompayrec's father Ambroise Sompayrec owned a horse track Natchiboches. Marie's father was Louis Narcisse Prudhomme and owned Narcisse Prudhomme Plantation. Her grandfather owned Oakland Plantation and introduced cotton to the area. Cotton was the main production along with indigo, cane, corn and tobacco. By 1839, Sompayrac Place was established with over 1,100 acres. The home was known as Sompayrac Place until 1890.

In 1891, Robert Calvert Murphy (1842-1936) and Martha Gulley Murphy purchased the home and 356 acres. The Murphy family focused on cotton and indigo production. Their son Emerson G. Murphy and his wife Leola Albritton Murphy resided there. After Murphy's death, Leola continued residing and maintaining the property now called Murphy Place. Their daughter Theodosia Murphy Nolan wed William C. Nolan and they continued to help run the farm. At Leola's passing, the home and 88 acres passed to her daughter Mrs. John D. Bell of LA. She sold Cherokee in 1972 to Theodosia and William Nolan.

In 1979, Theodosia Nolan in El Dorado, AR owned the property. Cherokee comes from the numerous Cherokee roses on the property.NR 1973