Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1866-03-23
BILL ARP.
An interesting Biogrdphy.- Romantic Story Of q
Lost Sister, Charles IT. !Smih as a Senator.

I AMI
An interesting Biogrdphy.-R Rom1nGc Story Of a
| Lost Sister Charles H. Snuth as q Senator.
Among the celebrities in the Georgia Legislature
is the Hon. G. II. Smith, Bill Arp, so-called. He
/ is descended from the congenial States of Massa-
chusetts and South Carolina, his l,lther being from
the Bay State, and his mother native of the city
of Charleston There is nothing peculiar touch
ing his paternal ancestors unless it be that he ad
ventured from the city of Boston In 1917, with
cargo of brick bound for Savannah, and had to
throw them overheard when in the precincts Of that
port lit order to savo himself from an unpleasant
wetting. The loss Of bis cargo was death blow
to his finances and he became a citizen Of Georgia,
as the lawyers say, "eE nccessdte rel" The moth
er of the aforesaid William was lefl an orphan in
CharleSton-her parents being carried off suddenly
by yellow fever. She and her only brother were
finally separated by covetous relation one being
sent to Savannah, to the orphan asylum and the
other to Boston. Being children Of tender age,
neither knew what disposition had been made of
the other. The sister was taken from the asylum
by Mrs. Coudng, mother of the celebrated divine
of that name, and the brother was picked up,
Ipaupcr, in the streets of Boston.
I special Providence seems 10 have overlooked
them both for The sister was well cared for and
educated, and the brother taken of by esti-
ma5le man whose daughter he afterward married
Vain were their efforts to find each other Vain
were the visits made to Charleston, to find a trace
of their respective histories. The sister had
ried and the brother, too and Bill Arp in his mis-
chievous youth was cid enough to the 'pikters
in Websters Spelling Book, when his anxious
mother made another effort to discover some kim
dred blood. No father or mother, brother or sister,
uncle or aunt no ancestral friend, not even
quaintauce Of her infancy did she know in the
wide wide world. To crafty her, a notice was
nuhlishpl in the princinal of thp limited
States, which was iu the following words
/ CAROLINE ANN MAGUiRE,
born in Charleston in the year 1912, was separated
from an only brother when six years of age. Her
father was named Francis and her mothers name
was Mary. They lived in affluence in East Bay
street, and died Of yellow fever In 1916.
) Any information of her lost brother will be
gratefully received by her at Savannah, Georgia
address of A. r. Smith.
Carolnes brother had made repeated visits to
his native city, but returned sorrowfully, finding
no traces of his sister. He had exceedingly pros
pered, and his friends and neighbors all knew of
his misfortune. One Sabbath while he was at
church in the town of Randolph, his nearest neg gh-
Dor was reclining on his couch, perusing the Bos-
ton papers. Noticing the above advertisement
he bounced up from his repose and in gown and
slippers across the street to tell the glorious
news. Mcguire not at home In his excite
, ment he hurried into the church and while the
minister dispensing the Gospel truth, he
, rushed down the aisle, and exclaimed with glad
emotion, "Maguire I've found your sister" No
pen can describe the scene; every member Of the
congregation and every citizen Of the little village
knew the affecting history. The brother overcome
by the glad tidngs rushed from the church. and at
once started for Georgia, where he soon arrived,
and soon embraced his long lost sster-one of the
most beautiful and interesting women in her neigh
= borhood, which character she bears to this day.
Mr.. Mcguire was candidate for Congress in
1864, on the Mcclellan ticket, and was defeated
His eldest son, (Bis cousin) was appointed con.
f, sui, by President Buchanan, at Melbourne, Austria.
liza; but was deposed by Mr.. Lincoln, because he
entertained Captain Semmes, of the Alabama. IIt
: has written home that if this Government sha
d harm a hair Of Mr.. Davis head, he will forsweai
allegiance to his country and become citizen OF
Z Great Britain
!, William was quiet student in Franklin College
but did not graduate. On leaving College he soon
married. wedding the daughter of Judge Hutch
ins, of Georgia William, then, at the urgeny so
lictation of the Judge studied law few days, anG
was admitted to the bar. lie settled in Rome Ga
= having for his law partner the Hon. ]. w. II. I'm
u derwood who was Speaker of the House of Rep
resentatives of the Georgia Legislature in 1851
!, To use his own language the said William has beer
since that time, continually engaged in raising
9 children and chickens always having on hand q
a !, large family of both" The former he values a
u one hundred thousand dollars each, and says, ''a
:, an honest man, he will pay taxes Oh that rate il
u the State requires it,"
Early in the war; he was placed by Gen. Bartow
: on his staff and was afterward transferred to Gen
$ g. T. Anderson's Brigade Bill says "he didn't d,
Z any fton to hurt, but that or two occasions
e he was powerfully exposed" 1t was during his
connection with the army that he began that series
of inimtable letters addressed to "A Linkhorn,
but which Bill says twas true then, but aint now,
On account of declining health he resigned hi
'r commission and returned home in time to be rur
off by the foul invader" He became "Rom,
Runagee," but says he "don't think much OF tn,
bizness" lie still labors under the conviction tina
y the number Of times they caught him he was "spe
G. shuy run down, bekase he rit them fowl letters
II Bill is "a consistent member Of the Georgii
d Legislature, and Chairman of the Finance Commit
tee in the Senate.
ID A recent letter from Milhdgeville says:
le 'Hon. Charles II. Smith, Senator from the ROM
=, district, is the observed of all observers His sea
IL is to the right of the President, about midway th
e. side wall of the chamber and directly under tn,
full length portrait Of sold Hickory" jackson. liz
Ia is the first Senator the stranger asks to en-
erng the gallery and especially So if the aforesaid
stranger be Of the gentler SEX casual spectator
,e at first glance, would hardly single out small
Is trim, yet grave and dgnifed person, the crown o
VI whose head is unadorned with capillary ornaments
e to be the veritabe and nmitable "Bill Arp, o
Oh continental celebrity His stature is Napoleonc
very slightly exaggerated, and his port is Chester
ID tercldian sans the stills. But for his laughing
4 blue eye, full of lurking humor and quiet mschie
" and beaming with intelligence and bonhommie
one would set him down for another of Carlyle
. Earnest Men" Frank, cordial, generous, nobod,
ls finds warmer welcome in any circle and abound
20 ing in anecdote and story telling no one can recal
n a single biting or bitter remark that fell from hi
e lips. His heart is as tender as pity itself, and hi
&c modesty is equal TO bis merit"
IN
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