Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-07-25
"Old Folks at Home"

EDITORS LEDGER: Many thousands OF
the good people of Shelby county assem-
bled at Bartlett on Thursday, the 23d, to
celebrate the anniversary of the venera.
BILE association of "Old Folks at Home"
and but for the rain (though welcome
and grateful to the crops in the vicinity,
would have been the most delightful oc.
casion which ever brought together the
noble sire, the honored matron the
graceful daughter and the stalwart son
Of old Shelby. Many, however, received
the pelting shower with that fortitude
characteristic of our people, whilst others
sought and obtained refuge in the adja-
cent buildings. The church close by
was filled to overlooking, who were agree
ably entertained by short speeches, and
among others our worthy fellow citizen
W. B. Waldran, in response to a most
enthusiastic call, in his plain but happy
style, said: Y
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: "Old Folks
at Home" lido not think an association
was ever more fittingly named; but l
don't know but we may have to amend it
and say: "Old and Young Folks at
Home" I presume the reason ! am
called on to address you is because it is
admitted / have q pre-emption right.
There are but few men in this county
who have been continuously here longer
than have. My father moved here in
1895, forty two years ago last October, is
here to-day hale and hearty, and ! am
thankful; but as he broke ranks in 1887,
moved to Missouri and spent four years,
Think we will dock him little; and as
II fought it out on this line" claim to
be the oldest inhabitant." We settled
about one mile west of this place, on
Government land, before it had been sur
veyed not the chop of an ak, or any
mark to show that white man had ever
seen the place. Neighbors we're few and
far between. Miils were very scarce and
/ had to hunt them. School houses and
churches had not yet made their appear
ance. Iverily believe if the poet Cow.
per had been here, we could have filled
his bill when he sighed,
VI
Some boundless contiguity of shade"
We of course had to turn our stock upon
the range, and many, many time have
l roamed over this plain, hunting cattle,
forty and forty-two years ago. FIRE.
quently / met the friendly Chickasaw.
Game was abundant.
While memory carries me back to my
early boyhood days, it vividly portrays
the countenance of the early settler, and
l ask where is he2 John Ralston and
William Lawrence, our first surveyors;
Adam r. Alexander, who represented us
in the Legislature, when giants were
there; james Jamison, w. p. Reaves
and his old father--uncle Sidney-Saml
Rembert, Andrew Rembert, Samuel r.
Brown, DR.. Christian, Dr. Bond, DR..
| Hawkins, 10. Locke, William Shelby,
Benjamin Robbins, Briton Taylor, Briton
Duke, John D. White, Epssy White, Till
man Belts, Solomon Rozell, Graldus
BuntyD, John Rosser, Geo. l.. Holmes,
John O. Greenlaw, Nat. Anderson, and
host of other worthless, who bore the
heat and burthen of the day, in subduing
| the forest, and making this pleasant
abode for man, they sleep with their
fathers. In mercy they were taken away,
and most of them spared the mortihca-
ton of seeing their beautiful country
rent, torn and crushed by cruel war. l
thank God that so many of the "Old
Folks" who have been ever ready 10
"weep with those that weep" are per-
| mitted to come up here to-day to " re-
ioice with those that rejoice" and, my
friends, bid you be Of good cheer.
Though by war we have lost much, and
suffered what nothing but war could in
| fict, vet all is not lost; we have much to
be thankful for; we have a country lett,
destined, with its genial climate, soon to
be the happy abode of untold thousands.
| Don't be discouraged by croakers. There
i is better day coming; in fact, feel 1t
/ IA here that we have touched bottom,
and are on rising ground; have made the
last curve; passed the last switch, and
have a clear track. All that is necessary
TO do, is to stand by the brakes, and we
can make schedule time and close con-
nections.
Feeling, as do, that this country is
fuUy upon its feet, and fairly entered
upon a second race for grandeur and
greatness, want the society Of Old
FoIks al Home" to keep pace with II.
The society, properly managed, is in at
tar wears 10 be one Of the most interest
inr and important in all the country; II
must not die. / am willing TO contrib
ute literally Of my means TO sustain IT.
and viii request my sons TO do the same
when I am gone
And. Messrs. Editors, We knew that
you will but respond TO the wishes Of
many hundreds Of your delighted read
ers II you will publish the foregoing sy-
nopsis Of the remarks Of Mr.. Waldrsn :
and you viii much oblige your friends,
Il J. HaIsrEAD,
N N l. SrrwlRT