USA > Tennessee > Old times in West Tennessee : reminiscences, semi-historic, of pioneer life and the early emigrant settlers in the Big Hatchie country > Part 11
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The young man finally got well; Garland was bailed out, and what the verdict of the jury was in the case is not within the recollection of the writer there being no malice in the case, and Garland being a worthy good citizen of property and stand ing, it fell among the ordinary cases of assault and battery.
THE HIGH AND WELL-MERITED CHARACTER OF THE LATE GRANDVILLE D. SEARCY
is deserving more than a brief sketch, and a far better historic pen than mine. A long and strong personal attachment which existed between the writer and the subject of this brief notice, beginning when he entered upon his career in Covington, run- ning through a quarter of a century, renders the duty, however, a pleasing one. His high and well- merited character as a man and a lawyer ranked him pre-emintly among the men of mark in West Tennessee. In manners, easy and graceful, soul full of warm, generous impulses. His personel was attractive and captivating upon sight. His coun- tenance, unvarying in its reflex of kind and gener ous sentiment, was the admiration of every person; unclouded intelligence scintilated from every fea
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ture. A mind comprehensive with purity of thought, intuitively correct, fertile in expedient and imaginery, few were better fitted for the profession of the law. Clearness and simplicity marked his for- ensic efforts before both court and jury. When most vehement, and, not unfrequently, when the occasion was great, his full, clear, ringing voice rose to the climax of eloquence itself. As a lawyer or advocate, he avoided the arts and crooked ways known as "sharp practice," ever maintaining the dignity and purity of the profession. He was fitted for every station at the bar, and no lawyer was more successful in his cases. Before a jury, his manner was earnest and most impressive, never try- ing their patience; seizing upon the strong points in the case, he held their minds enchanted, until, as by intuition, he read in their faces a verdict. As a criminal lawyer he had no superior-he was the lion at the bar on "State days."
An incident occurred in one of his efforts before the jury at Covington court, illustrative of his great self-possession and capacity of turning to his advan- tage an incident calculated to break a link in the argument or confuse the case. It was a case in which the character of his client was attempted to be aspersed by the breath of slander; the argument against him had been strong and ingenious. At the moment when Colonel Searcy had reached the acme of his best forensic effort; when his genial face was beaming with expressions irresistible ; his rich, full voice thrilling in interest and delight to the intelli- gent peers of the land, by an excited justiculation
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the stove behind him was jostled, and down fell the long stove pipe upon the floor, between the speaker and the jury box, separating at every joint and fill ing the court room and jurors full of dust and soot. Simultaneously with the rising of the dust and soot a gust of wind came through the windows (it was blustering March day) dissipating the dust and soot- greatly to the relief of the jury. The incident instead of interrupting or clowding the brilliant and glowing eloquence of the speaker, it rose higher and brighter. Seizing upon the mishap as opportune, and tipical of the downfall and breaking assunder of the ingenious argument of his adversary, he pointed to the stove pipe on the floor which had fallen apart; from which came the dust and soot like the foul breath of slander, with which it was attempted to. blacken and asperse the character and fair name of his client, and which was dispelled and dissipated by the refreshing breeze; wafted away by the pure breath of heaven. His manner was majestic, and his eloquence burning and electric- it gave him the verdict. It is mentioned that the jury, in recurring to the case and the incident many years after, spoke of it as their " stove-pipe verdict."
With no other source of income but that arising from his large and lucrative practice to support a large family, he was kept from engaging in other fields of intellectual combat, save on incidental oc- cassions. Possessing in a high degree the mind and attributes, happily fitting him for the states man, his name was often mentioned in connection with the United States Senate. He had made
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distinguishing mark as a political debator. In ac- cord with the great statesmen Clay and Webster in political sentiment, the complexion of the rule in popular politics was adverse to him. Colonel Searcy was a native of Tennessee, his father was for many years Clerk of the Federal Court at Nashville, where he read law. Admitted to the bar in early life, he began his career in the practice at Covington upon the organizing of the first courts of that county. Ile removed to Somerville in 1840, and soon after- ward fixed his residence in Memphis, where he died in 1854, in the fullness of his well-merited honors, and in the vigor of his usefulness. - As a friend and companion, his geniality of soul and temper linked him to his fellow-man as with "hooks of steel."
THE FOURTH OF JULY AT COVINGTON, AND COLONEL CROCKETT.
Colonel Crockett felt that his valuable services in the Twentieth Congress in behalf of his imme- diate constituents and the republic at large, entitled him to a re-election. His advent in the Congress of the United States had given rise to many in- teresting anecdotes, and amusing incidents and caricatures. The representative of the Big Hatchie District had lost nothing of his popularity; on the contrary it had rather increased by the aid of "Jack Downing" and other wits and humorous writers of the period. The Colonel entered the canvass of 1829, with a bold and confident front. He had worked in the anti-administration party, afterwards called the Jackson party. He was anti-tarriff in favor of economic reform, and letting the actual set- 8
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tler have his land at a "bit an acre." The Colonel was not permitted, however, to run through the canvass alone; opponents came out thick and strong; the field was a large one, embracing all of thirteen counties-Madison, Haywood, Henderson, McNary, Hardeman, Fayette, Shelby, Tipton, Gibson, Car roll, Weakly, Henry and Perry. Colonel Adam R. Alexander, of Shelby, felt that his merit and capacity was equal to the duties devolving upon a Con- gressman. Captain Joel Estes, a worthy and highly respectable citizen, north of Big Hatchie in Hay wood, was a candidate. The Captain was among the earliest emigrant settlers in the Big Hatchie country, a native of "the Mother of Presidente" mu old times, and, withall, a gentleman of more than ordinary ability. He sought to reach the hearts and minds of the voters of the district by addressing them through a lengthy circular, instead of taking the field and stump. James H. Clarke, of Tipton, a merchant and rising man of Covington, who had worked himself up from a peddler's wagon to a brick store, enterprising and ambitious, his mind was turned in the direction of Washington, and he be- came a candidate against Colonel Crockett. Poli- tics began to run high, an the mileage was no incon- siderable object.
On the Fourth of July of that year Colonel Crockett and several of his opponents met at Cov ington. The"glorious Fourth" wasa big day in cold times,' without being made more glorious by the presence of such distinguished personages. It was the spread-eagle day in the land, and everybody and
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his neighbor was there, and for a wonder it neither thundered or rained.
Before noontide, the curling blue smoke, through the dark green foliage of the tall elm, and the still taller oak, was seen ascending from the long barbecu- ing pits on the hill to the southwest of town, indicating the place for the people to gather at. It. was in the grove where protracted revival medtings were usually held. A large bush arbor, had been, made, and a broad : platform stand erected for the orator and distinguished persons to occupy. Yankee White was the orator of the day-Yankee was pre- fixed to his name to distinguish him from the other Whites of the town, beside, he came from Yan- kee-land, and was a very good citizen; he came within a few votes, on one occasion, of being elected. to the Legislature. The day was propitious; the, bright sunshine made everything look gay and beautiful, and all present were patriotically happy. Several volunteer companies were on hand hand- somely uniformed. The order of the day was an- nounced from the court-house door ... . The procession formed on the public square and moved toward the grove, animated by the fife and the drum, discours- ing national music. As the procession neared the stand erected for the" occasion," the horses and mules hitched to the young saplings and swinging limbs of the trees became inspirited, and began prancing and dancing around their moorings. Getting still nearer, many became excited, broke lose and vaulted away through the moving masses, with saddle-skirts flapping. Midst the neighing and snorts of the
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animated and excited horses, whickering of colts and braying of mules; with the drum and fife, and the sea of the moving masses of men, women and children, closing in for position and place, and the clear, blue smoke passing up through the long rowa of pigs, shoats, lambs, mutton and veal, smoking and brown, with fumes most appetising, the glorious Fourth was marshalled in. The stand was filled with the men of the day, and, after the reading of the Declaration of Independence: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are born equal," etc., after the order of old times celebra tion, the orator of the day rose and delivered his "Spread Eagle" speech to the sea of upturned faces, whose souls, filled with patriotic impulses, made more glorious the "occasion" by repeated shouts and clapping of hands. Then came the dinner -- the barbecue-spread out, on long tables covered with clean, white linen. The well browned and juicy ribs and saddles, bread baskets piled up with home made risen bread of both corn and flour, pots and pans of rich chicken pie, interspersed with tarts pies, puddings, cakes and pickles for the girls (appe- tizing even to write about), enough for all, and basketsful to carry home.
Dinner over, and toasts through with, a call was made for the candidates for Congress to take the stand. Crockett! Crockett! from an hundred voices. The Colonel ascended the stand, took off his hat, deliberately pulled off his coat, and hung it up, presenting himself in his shirtsleeves, midst deaf- ening applause and huzzahs. The evening was
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close and hot -- not a, breeze stirring, save from the numerous turkey-tail fans in motion, in the hands of the patriotic matrons present. The recollection of the writer does not serve him in giving even, a. synopsis of the Colonel's speech. It was plain and sensible, however, with now and then a dry, witty allusion to his educated opponents, which would bring down thunders of applause and "hurray for Crockett," and " hurray for Davy." . "Be sure you are right, then go ahead." The Colonel was followed by the other candidates in order, the last speaker being Major Jim Clarke. Excusing himself on account of the lateness of the hour, he simply announced himself a candidate for a seat in the Congress of the United States; saying that it was getting late in the afternoon., That, for a wonder, it had not rained on the "glorious Fourth;" that, judging others by himself, he concluded that "all were getting dry. That over at his store were five five-gallon, demijohns, which would speak for him in the fullness of the spirit with which they were filled." With such a talk, the Major leaped from . the stand, and shouted for all to follow him. Clarke had made a "ten-strike," leaving no dead wood behind him. It was the only one he made in the canvass. The day of the election was close. at hand. The result of the vote was, for Crockett, 6,786; Alexander, 4,300; Estes, 132, and Clarke .9. Clarke, it is due his memory, as well as the history of the canvass, to say withdrew from the field, and engaged in the building of a turnpike across the Big Hatchie bottom, where his hard earning went
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drifting with the turbulent waters of the river.
In justice to the memory of Captain Joel Estes, who was perhaps the most intellectual of the candi- dates in the field, it may not be inappropriate as a part of the history of the times, to allow a place in these pages, for the following, taken from the Jackson Gazette, a newspaper then published in Jackson, Madison county, by Colonel D. C. McLean. It appeared in the issue of that paper of the 15th of August, 1829. The election having been held on the first Monday of the same month.
[For the Gazette
"MR. EDITOR: As the election is now over, per- haps it would not be amiss, nay, justice, to say what was the cause of Captain Estes not holding a better poll. A great excitement having been raised among the people by the friends of the two great political champions of the West, Colonels Crockett and Alexander, that a correct, mild and independent political course was swallowed up in the vortex of ambitious buzzing. It is to be hoped that the time is not far distant when this electioncering mania will cease, and true merit, untrameled by party spirit, will assume her dignity of character.
[Signed] "A VOTER."
As a specimen of the amusing interest the repre sentative of thirteen counties in West Tennessee afforded to the newspaper men of those days, I copy entire a speech the Colonel is reported to have made during the canvass of 1829, by a correspondent of the Missouri Republican. The correspondent writes thus :
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" The honorable Mr. Crockett, being on the day of election at one of the hustings in Tennessee, and having heard two of his able opponents address the people, was at a loss how to attract their attention to the remarks he wished to make, and asked the gentleman who had just spoken how he should effect his object, to which the gentleman replied (intending to quiz), 'mount that stump and cry, a bear to be skined.' Davy taking it litterally, mounted the stump, and sung out at the top of his voice, 'A bear to be skinned,' when the crowd gathered around him, and he began:
" 'FRIENDS, FELLOW-CITIZENS, BROTHERS AND SISTERS : On the first Tuesday, previous to next Saturday, you will be called on to perform one of the most important duties that belong to free white folks-that are a fact. On that day you will be called upon to elect your members to the Senate and House of Representatives in the Congress of the United States, and feeling that in times of great political commotion like these, it becomes you to be well represented, I feel no hesitation in offering myself as a candidate to represent such a high- minded and magnanimous white set.
" 'Friends, fellow-citizens, brothers and sisters : Carroll is a statesman, Jackson is a hero, and Crock- ett is a horse !!
"'Friends, fellow-citizens, brothers and sisters: They accuse me of adultery, it's a lie-I never ran away with any man's wife, that was not willing, in my life. They accuse me of gambling, it's a lie- for I always plank down the cash.
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" 'Friends, fellow-citizens, brothers and sisters They accuse me of being a drunkard, it's a dad eternal lie-for whisky can't make me drunk.'S.
2.
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CAPTER VIII.
The Mountain Academy-James Holmes, D. D., His Pupils-My Room- Mate-Style of Dress-Camp- Meeting - Youth and Love.
NORTH of the Big Hatchie was yet a part of Tipton. It was not until 1836-7 that it was embraced in the county of Lauderdale, which was established in that year.
My father had become satisfied with his experi- ment at tavern-keeping, and returned to the old homestead north of the Hatchie. As yet there were no good schools in Tipton north of the Hatchie. My next eldest brother, who was being educated for a lawyer, was sent to college at Nashville, and I to the "Mountain Academy," an institution just founded by the Reverend James Holmes.
The establishing of the "Mountain Academy" marked an era in the educational department of Tipton, and no one contributed more to the forming of a correct state of the society of the county than its able and accomplished founder and principal. The school was long noted as the best in West Tennessee, and hundreds of youths were instruced and trained there, who became eminent as teachers and professional men. The name of James Holmes, D. D., is more intimately connected with West
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Tennessee as an educator and instructor of the young, both male and female, than, perhaps, any other man of letters. Imbued with the fundamen- tal principles of practical philosophy, his every undertaking was marked by the clearest light of reason and sound jundgment. As a man, he lived a life of Christain virtues, ignorant of remorse, and blameless.
Mr. Holmes was a native of Pennsylvania, bis birth-place Carlye. His father died when hewas in his childhood, leaving him to the tender car. and training of a pious mother. He was noted m early life for his studious habits; graduating Dickinson College before he was twenty-one, he repaired to Prinston, and entered the theological school. His feeble state of health, however, re- quired that he should relax his studies for the ministery, and seek a recuperating field; none better offered than the mission among the Chickasaw Indians, which he accepted in his twenty-third year.
In 1824, we find him among the Chickasaws, opening a school for the teaching and training of the red children of the forest. The reader can picture to himself the youthful missionary hssem bling the red men of the wilderness, grouped under the shadows of the noble forest trees, near where Pontotoc, Mississippi, now stands. The old chief and his braves, seated upon the ground, the old men, women and children, forming the back ground of the picture, with the young gradnate standing erect before them, relating the object of his mission.
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Alone in that wild territory he stood, in the spring time of life, away from old associates and familiar Acenes. May we not conclude that his language and words spoken, were in the spirit of the great and pure founder of his native State. When speak- ing to the Algonquins he said :
" We meet on the broad pathway of good faith and good will. I will not call you children nor brothers only, for brothers differ. The friendship between you and me, I will not compare to a chain, for that the rains might rust or a fallen tree break. We are the same as if one man's body were to be divided in two parts. We are all one flesh and one blood"- (pointing to the heaven above)
' Where the souls of heathens go,
Wh , better live than we, though less they know.'"
Mr. Holmes labored among the Chickasaws from 1824 to. 1833, when it was decided to remove them west of the Mississippi.
As a mark of the high esteem in which he was held by the Chiakasaws, a large number of Indian girls and boys followed him to Tipton, and remained under his tutilage until they were required to return to join their red friends in their removal West.
The second year of Mr. Holmes' sojourn among the Chickasaws he was accepted as the husband of the noble and heroic Miss Sarah Van Wagenon, of Newark, N. J., whose first wedding tour was among the children of the forest, who cheerfully exchanged the luxuries and comforts, the pleasures and enjoy- ments of the cultivated and refined society of her native city, and braved the perils and hardships in-
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cident to life in a savage territory, to live with the man she loved, and share with him his pleasures and triumphs. Few wives are marked with such hero- ism. Mrs. Homes survives her noble husband after a happy wedded life of forty-seven years.
The "Mountain Church" was organized in his house in 1834, and he was made a ruling elder, Feeble lungs, and consequent weak voice, debared him from taking an active part in the ministry. In the early history of the "Mountain Church" an occasion offered illustrative of his great character and influence. It is related that some difficulty grew up in the church, difficult to settle, and likely to work harm. When the cloud of discord por- tended evil, and was most thrilling, his smooth, even-tempered good sense lighted up the reason of the contentious, producing an immediate, amicable adjustment. He possessed in a high degree a sa- gacity of mind which enabled him to separate that which belongs to individual prejudice from that which commends itself to the more rational. i.He ever avoided the jars and jarring of men, and con- troversies. His words, at all times "freighted with truth," commanded the ear and enjoyed the confi- dence of all men.
The degree of D. D. was conferred on him in 1846. In 1849 he was elected to the Presidency of the West Tennessee College at Jackson. The col- lege never prospered more than while under his management. Still preserving his love and attach- ment for the people of Tipton, with fond memories of his early teaching at the "Mountain," he dis-
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solved his connection with the college at Jackson, and fixed his residence in Covington, taking charge of the "Female Seminary" at that place, which con- tinued under his management up to the time of his death. That large band of young women, who live to adorn the society of West Tennessee, trace with pride and pleasure their training and education and refined deportment back to the "Mountain Acad- emy" and the "Female Seminary," and attest the truth of this brief sketch of my old preceptor, whose memory we alike venerate.
I had commenced this brief sketch of Mr. Holmes, and had written to him asking a synopsis of his carly life, and was answered by his son, referring me to an obituary notice of him.
A more loving character I never knew-a theme worthy a better pen. His long and eventful life has become history; his noble Christian virtues live embalmed in the memories of all who knew him. IIe had lived all the days allotted to man; born on the 21st of August, 1801, and died on the - day of February, 1873, in the seventy-first year of his age.
A touching incident, beautifully illustrative of the wonderful power and influence exercised by Mr. Holmes over those who fell under his training and pupilage, I may be permitted to relate a story told me, most interesting in Indian life. On the fourth Chickasaw bluff, in the vicinity where Court Square is situated, long before Memphis was a village, at the mouth of Wolf, stood an Indian hut, the dwell- ing place of a half-breed; (his wife was a full blood). From them sprang many sons. One of them, the
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eldest, perhaps, mingled much with the whites as they came in and settled upon the bluff. He soon learned to drink whisky, and like most whisky drinkers, became dissolute. Wishing likewise to acquire a knowledge of books, to read and write like the white man, he resolved to join the school of instruction, which had commenced its operation by Mr. H. Holmes. Prevailing on others of his as sociates to go with him, it was soon arranged and the day fixed for them to start. Filling his pack and binding up his blanket, none were found ready on the day appointed but himself. In his eagerness, he left alone and on foot to join the missionary school, situated near where Pontotoc now stands. At noontide he stopped by the side of a bright run- ning stream for rest, and to refresh himself from his scanty stores. Seated on the bank of the stream, its bright waters rippling at his feet, alone in the deep shades of his native forest, he drew from his pack, among other things, a bottle of whisky. Holding it up in the clear sunlight he began to re- flect-as he had never done before-of the evil and trouble whisky had brought upon his race. Cast ing his eye down upon the clear rippling waters flowing beneath his feet, without uncorking his bot- tle he returned it to his pack, refreshed himself from the waters of the branch, ate of his scanty sup- plies, and resumed his tramp toward the missionary school. When night overtook him he rolled him- self up in his blanket and slept alone in the wilder- ness. Refreshed by sleep, he rose early, and re- sumed his earnest steps, until he reached a suitable
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place for rest and eating. Taking out his bottle of whisky again he withdrew the stopper. When in the act of putting the fiery fluid to his lips, the same thoughts rushed upon him again. Rising to his feet, and without tasting, he dashed it against the nearest tree. Refreshing himself again from the bright waters of the wilderness, he ate his frugal meal and continued his walk. Reaching the mis- sionary station-it was on the Sabbath-his people had already gathered at the chappel in the shady grove, he made his way to it and took his seat among them. He had learned to speak and understand English, and was an attentive listener to the man of God. In the discriptive portion of the discourse, as it fell from the lips of the pure Christian man, truthful to nature and most touching and gentle in its delinea- tion of human devices aimed for the destruction of man, the young red man realized his own situation, and read in the strong picture of human misery and sin, drawn to very life, the picture of himself. Illustrating most truthfully incidents and scenes connected with his past career, he concluded at once that the story of his past life had been told to the preacher. Rising to his feet in the midst of the discourse, he slowly glanced his eyes over the gathered multitude to see if some of his companions and associates were not there; whether they had not arrived ahead of him and related to the good missionary much of the truth of what he was saying. Finding none of the those his eyes had searched for, he rusumed his seat riviting his eyes upon the divine speaker. It
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