Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1858-06-10

4
was man in easy circumstances, of ir
reproachable character. with family o.
promising sons and daughters. Among
these was Nixon distinguished when a boy
for his fearless courage, and the tender
ness of his heart alike. He seems from
several anecdotes of his early days, to have
been child of fimpulse and intense earnest
ness and passion. When only six years Of
age, he had combat at school with bull
ly of the play ground, nearly t"ice his own
weight and after suffering dreadfully, al
last achieved the victory, due almost en-
tirely to the sheer power of his endurance
From the time he was six years old,
that is to say, from the first session he at
tended the country schoolhouse, had Nixon
Curry been in love. His idol was a girl
of the same age, and under the tuition Of
the same master. The attachment SEEM
ed 10 have beer mutual from the commence
ment. They stood up in one class, and
always managed to stand together. Dur
ing the hours of recess, when the other Ju-
venilcs were amusing themselves with bosi-
ferrous sports, the precious lovers would
wander amidst leafy groves, or on the mos
So margins of silver rills. For ever. to
eternity, and whenever the soft spell of
first love comes, it brings with j, the bright
spirit of poetry, scattering thick starred
dreams Of divine visions of beauty over all
things. Even then they exchanged pledg
es, and discoursed in sweet, sinless whis-
pers, of their future bridal.
And thus they grew up into one deli
cious identity of fancy and feeling. Their
passion became so evident at fifteen that
all further intercourse was forbidden by
her parents-among the wealthiest aristoc-
racy Of Carolina. Then followed stolen
meetings by starlight, frmer vows and
wilder love, which always increased in pro-
portion to its crosses, and like the trees of
Labanon, sends down lis deepest roots into
the heart, the more it is shaken by the
storms.
Finally, at seventeen, when Lucy's rela-
tions were endeavoring to force her into
the arms of another, she fled with the love
of her childhood. They were pursued and
overtaken; and Nixon Curry shot bis rival,
one proud Gordon, dead on the spot, and
escaped with his bride, although hotly chas-
ed by more men. They found an asylum
on the Alleghany Mountains, near the sour
ces of the Catawby. Here, under the plea
of necessity, he embraced the profession of
robber, and rendered his name famous
by the number and astonishing boldness
of his exploits. We may record it, not as
matter of merit, perhaps, but as an histo-
rical truth, the youthful bandit never was
known to perpetrate any deed of murder
for the purpose of plumber, thoug h he did
several 10 avoid arrest. AT length the
rumors of isdaring felonies five thousand
dollars was offered for his apprehension by
the Governor Of the State, he was heard
of no more in North Carolina.
At the first settlement of the fertile
delta bordering on the St. Francis, there
came one emigrant, who was called John
Hill, and who soon succeeded in acquiring
universal popularity. Although of moder-
ate means, he was sober, industrious, gen.
erous and hospitable; and such continued
to be his character in the country of his
adoption for twelve successive years.
During all this long period he never had
personal difficulty or quarrel with any
human being; and yet everybody was sat
isfed that such peaceful life was not ow
ing 10 wont of courage, or deficiency in
power TO perform good service in any sort
of battle field; for, of all the bear hunters
that pierced the jungles Of cane in "the
great swamp" or descended by torch-light
into the dark caves of the Ozark Mountains,
he was celebrated as the most fearless.
He was repeatedly elected 70 the Terri
torial Legislature, where he distinguished
himself by strong, impassionate elo-
quence, as chief leader in the Democratic
ranks. He was next as we have already
seen, member of the Convention that
formed the State Constitution, and was
elected again the ensuing year, to repre-
sent his county in the State of Arkansas.
At this period commenced his second
series of misfortunes. Hills nearest neigh
bors were Strongs-four brothers of con-
siderable wealth, more ambition, and if we
may borrow the phrase of the country, 'fa-
nous fighters
Notwithstanding their characters were
dissimilar to that Of the pacific shear hun
ter" close and cordial intimacy grew up
between them; and Hill, in an unguarded
moment, made the eldest brother, George,
confident as to the secrets of his previous
history. The same George, conceived a
riolant doeiro fnr ,,olificol distinction md
requested Hill to resign his seat in the
Senate in the liberal friends favor. Hill
refused, and the Strongs conspired for a
terrible revenge. Writing back to Califor-
MIA, they procured a copy of the reward Of
fered for the arrest of Nixon Curry, the
farfamed robber; then collecting party of
a dozen desperate men, they attempted to
capture Hill in hisown house. The latter
had always gone armed with his enor-
nous double -barrelled shot gun; two long
rifle pistols, and knife so heavy that few
other hands besides his own could WELD it.
The assault of the Strongs proved horrible
to themselves. He killed two of the bro
theirs, and dangerously wounded five of
their friends, escaping himself unhurt, al
though more than twenty rounds of ball
and buckshot were aimed at his breast
The excitement resulting from the affair was
boundless. A requisition came on from
the executive of Carolina, demanding the
surrender of Nixon Curry. The Governor
of Arkansas published an additional re-
ward for the arrest of John Hill; and thus,
fI,a al .oxs. "a rhor