to the north which drew off the populations of Wayne and Lawrence Counties. Still another reason may have been offered by a writer in 1894 who stated about Winchester: There was no church in the town until forty years after it was settled. After it lost its trade and importance as a town: after other towns were established in the county: after the railroad came through the county in 1854, then the people paid some attention to the building of a church. It appears that the morals of the people who lived in the town were averse to churches... liquor was sold openly on the Sabbath and [there was] much drunkenness on that day. Old Winchester today is covered by forest, while New Winchester has some residential homes located along its rural routes. A historic marker is located along U.S. Route 45 at Winchester Cross Road which reads: "About one mile to the West. Site of Patton’s Fort, 1813. Chartered 1818. Near old road from Natchez to Georgia. Became a thriving trade center, serving as county seat until 1867." Notable people Powhatan Ellis, U.S. Senator from Mississippi and U.S. federal judge; moved to Winchester in 1816 to practice law. James A. Horne, Secretary of State of Mississippi from 1852 to 1854. John J. McRae, member of Mississippi House of Representatives, U.S. Senator from Mississippi, and 21st Governor of Mississippi. Located to Winchester as an infant. James O'Gwynn, country music singer. James Patton, Lieutenant-Governor of Mississippi from 1820 to 1822. References Former populated places in Wayne County, Mississippi Former populated places in Mississippi