Amite County Courthouse, Liberty, Mississippi

Liberty, in the southwest corner of Mississippi, is the county seat of Amite County, named for the Amite River. The name is derived from the French "amiti", meaning "friendiness." This sleepy little town reported 633 residents at the census of 2,000. It is 59 miles north of Baton Rouge, Louisiana and 23 miles west of McComb, Mississippi.

Karen and I made a stop in Liberty during a road trip through Mississippi in December, 2006. I learned that although Liberty's population is small, the town has many reasons to be proud.

First, the Amite County Courthouse, on the National Register of Historic Places, is the oldest standing courthouse in the state of Mississippi. It was built in 1839-1841, twenty years before the War Between the States. Liberty is also the site of the First Confederate Monument to be erected in the state following the War.

Ever hear of Borden Condensed Milk? Canned condensed milk is a staple ingredient of cooking that can be found on the shelves of virtually every grocery store in America, and Borden is one of the most popular brands. It all started here in Amite County when Gail Borden, founder of the Borden Milk Company (now Borden Inc.) conducted condensed milk experiments while working as a teacher and surveyor in Liberty.

Also, Dr. Tichenor's Antiseptic originated in Liberty. George Humphrey Tichenor (1837-1923) was a physician who introduced antiseptic surgery while in the service of the Confederate States of America. He is believed to have been the first surgeon to use antiseptic during the Civil War. Dr. Tiehenor's Antiseptic is still being produced and is available commercially.

Finally, Liberty is the birthplace of Jerry Clower the famous southern comedian and one of America's greatest storytellers.