Holly Hedges: Lot of Owners and thus Stories

Jay Brothers
9 hours ago
3 min read

214 Washington St. Natchez, MS

Circa 1796

Built during the Natchez Spanish era

The early structure was erected about 1796 by Don Juan Scott (John Scott)(1759-1801) and Susanna Miller Smith (1772-1838) from Spanish grant. He emigrated to America in 1792, and they wed in Natchez the same year. .

A few years later, in 1805, the current appearance when remodeled by the widow Susanna. She remarried to Philander Smith (?-1824) about 1808. Just prior to his marriage, in 1807, Smith had been the foreman on the grand jury which acquitted Aaron Burr of conspiracy in a trial held near Natchez.

In 1818, the Smiths sold the property to Judge Edward Turner (1778-1860). He was wed twice: In 1802, to Mary West Turner, and after her passing in 1811, to Eliza "Betsy" Baker Turner (1789-1878) in 1812. He was very active politically: Appointed aide-de-camp of the Mississippi Territory and then clerk of the territorial House of Representatives. He was elected to the Mississippi legislature , twice served as Speaker of the House, and then became Attorney General of Mississippi. He also was appointed to the Mississippi Supreme Court and served as Chief Justice in 1829. Within a year, the Turner family purchased Texada Tavern across the street for rental uses. Evidently, they also owned The Woodlands.

John Thompson McMurran and Mary Louisa Turner McMurran (?-1871) resided at Holly Hedges as a wedding gift until their huge Melrose mansion completed in 1848. He was a Pennsylvania native and lawyer who moved to Natchez in 1825 and wed a local gal, Mary Louisa. After the Civil War, McMurran planned to move his family north, but died of injuries after a steamboat explosion. Mary moved from Melrose to her parents dwelling at Woodlands until her death.

There were two brief owners: From 1875-77, Catherine Eliza O'Donnal Curry (1828-1994) and James Curry (1818-1862)(m.1842). From 1877-1880, Fannie Buntura, widow of wine merchant Josef Buntura was owner. She owned Buntura. Fannie sold the home to the Wensel family.

In 1880, Theodore Vincent Wensel, Sr. (1839-1902) and Emily Caroline "Emma" Kirksey Wensel (1846-1922)(m.1866) purchased the home. Later, the property went to their widower son Theodore V. Wensel, and then to his sister Anne "Annie" Laurie Wensel Carson (1873-1947) and her husband Henry M. Carson (1871-1949).

Nineteen thirty-six saw the estate of T. V. Wensel sell Holly Hedges to Caroline L, Korndorffer (1906-1990) for a sizable loss - it declined considerably in value over just over half a century. She flipped it in ONE day for a profit.

Next Elizabeth Carson Leake (1903-?) bought the home in 1936. She was the Cannon's daughter and already residing there in 1930 with her son Feltus B. Leake - her husband Feltus is not recorded.

In 1948, the Leake family sold the home to Stella "Zan" Frankie Miller (1899-1972) and Earl Hart) Miller (1896-1982). They restored the home to a Federal era appearance and bestowed it the Holly Hedges name. Earl Miller was a famed decorator in Dallas and worked on many homes in Natchez including Stanton Hall. The Millers did extensive renovation and decorating in and out of the home.

In 1973, widow Melody Hall Armstrong (1901-1987) was the owner. Evidently, the Feltus family bought their friend Armstong's State Street home, and Armstrong purchased Holly Hedges. She left the estate to her heirs. They sold to the O'Brien family.

By 1990 Dr. John P. O'Brien (1935-2017) and Betty Bloom O'Brien (1941-?) were residents. He ran the Family Health Clinic in Natchez.

2003-2007 Robert and Jacqueline Stephens. Owned pet store, Fydeaux.

2007-2021 Alan Kochek.

2021-pres, the owners are Wes and Tammy Pack from Texas. They were restoring the home.