The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1868-11-06

history,of his early life, although he was a
very temperate man, /, The second omission
is that Nose Howard, spoken of was the
betrothed of Curry supremacy beautiful
daughter Mary.-Buttei county, (CdA)
Ifess,0t ias4a rma :
THE OUTLAW. .. =
In the year 1S-there lived in Iredell
county, North Carolina, a Presbyterian
MINISTER by the name of Curry. He was a
man in comfortable circumstances, with a
most excellent reputation, with large
family of sons and daughters. Among
these was boy by thename of Nixon, not
ed for his sprig his activity and
courage.
Mary are the incidents recorded of hi
early days, wherein he displayed his bra
very and won the respect and admiration
of his schoolmates. He seemed very i'm
pulsive, generous and the poSsessor of.many
noble qualities.
r From childhood Nixon Curry was in
love. His fair one was a girl much younger
than. himself, attended the same school
with him. She returned his affection, and
so ardenty were they attached to one an
ether that, what is most rare in childhood,
no rival was ever suffered to come between
them.
Thus they grew up in delicious dream
OF the future, and as their years increased
SO apparently with their passion for each
other AT fifteen this was so evident that
their parents forbid all interviews between
them. Her parents were In the very +.
F.'s of North Carolina, and had and could
easily secured more brilliant prospects fol
her. .-t .sE ....--..
The natural consequence followed. The
lovers met by stealth, aud renewed their
pledges to each other. Lucy promised
that whatever should occur she would never
wed any one else, and Nixon vowed to stand
by her SO long as breath of life remained
in his body. ''- '''
At length at the age of Is, when lucy
relatives were doing their utmost to force
her IN the arms Oh another, she fed with
her true and devoted love. They were i'm
mediately pursued and were overtaken,
when the enraged Nixon Curry, brought to
bay turned and shot his rival and one of the
others and renewed their flight.
The pursuit was hot, but he succeeded
in eluding them, and took refuge in the Al
legany Mountains, near the sources of the
Calawba. 81.
Here really begins the extraordinary ca
reer of NlxoE Curry. Under the plea of
necessity, he took up the profession of rob
Der and speedily rendered his name famous
by the number and character OF his exploits.
Without attempting to give any of the mi
nor incidents, it should be stated that the
yonng robber never took life for the sake of
plumber, although he did it again and again
to avoid arrest.
The Governor of North Carolina offered
IS, 900 for his apprehension, and many par
ties, tempted ty the offer, engaged in the
pursuit. They frequently gained sight OF
the notorious bandit more than once the
crack of his death dealing rifle was heard
from some adjoining rock but never was
they able to discover his retreat or bring
him to b y
Sud- My all rumors of his daring conduct
ceased, and although the Search was con
tinued, he was seen no more in North Carr
DINA. 1t was judged that his quarters were
becoming too hot fer safety, and he had,
therefore prudently removed them while
the opportunity remained to him.
During the first settlement of the fertile
delta bordering on the St. Francis, now in
the State of Arkansas, an emigrant made
his appearance, called himself John Hill
III rapidly became the most popular man
in the settlement. Although of moderate
means he was sober, industrious, and of ex
tended hospitality, and such continued to
be his character in the country which he
had adopted for period extending over
a dozen years.
During all this time, net quarrelsome
word occurred between them and any of his
neig hbors and yet ell knew it was not from
lack of courage on the part Of Hill, for of
all the hunters that pierced the jungles of
cane in the s'Great Swamp or descend>
cd by torchlight into the bowels of, the
Ozark mountains, he had the reputation of
being the most fearless. He was over
and over again elected to the Territorial
Legislature, and distinguished himself by
his powerful anc impassioned eloquence,
and speedily became a leader 10 the ranks
of his own party. He was member of
the convention which formed the State
Constitution, and was reelected to repre-
sent his own county IN the Senate OF Ar
kansas. rs H-s
Aud now began his second series of mis-
fortunes. Hills most intimate neighbors
were the Strongs, four brothers of consider
able wealth, great deal of ambition, and
IN the phraze of the country famous hgh-
tcie. "a clUSe anu eUFuIdl Intimacy grew
up between them and the latter, most UNI
fortunately and unguardedly, made q gorge,
the eldest, confident of his previous his
tory. 1t SO happened that George had a
most ambitious desire for political distinct
ion, aud made request of Hill that he
should resign his seat in the Senate in his
favor. Hill refused and the brothers con-
spired tn revenge.
Sending to North Carolina, they procur-
ed copy of the reward offered for Nixon
Curry, the notorious robber. The foul
powerful and determined as they were, dar-
ed not attempt his eaptlre alone, but Sc
cured the assistance of dozen men, and
made the attempt to capture Hill in his
own house. The latter never forgot his
daily peril He always carried an enormous
double barrel shot gun, two long pistols.
and formidable knife Arkansas has new
er been as peaceably inclined State, and
in those days its population numbered a
greater FER cent OF desperadoes and Law less
men than i, !ces at present.
The attack of the Strongs proved dread.
full one 10 themselves. Two of the brothers