Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1870-03-11
y LEMON BENNETT, A. NJ,
w Prin. of Fall Branch Seminary.
March II, 1852"

After teaching awhile, returned TO
school and went several sessions more.
My principal occupation up to and du-
ring the war was teaching.
Those who desire to know more
about my past life and character than
Is here given, can satisfy their minds
by making the proper enquiry.
The subject of politics / shall not
undertake to discuss. Nor will you
expect me to do so. That has nothing
whatever to do with this office. What
the people need and want is quail
fed. and faithful officer = one who
knows his duty, and is always ready
and willing to perform it.
This ofiice-is one of weighty impor-
lance to the people. All have more or
less 10 do With IL at some time or 9th
er, and much, yes. everything depends
upon its being correctly done.
Wben,I came into this office in Au-
gust, 1865, found il in utter confIi-
sion. Many papers lost, others mis-
placed aud promiscuOusly mixed up.
There were no rule dockets. No in
dexes to the Records. No flies of
papers alphabetically arranged. 70
search for anything that had been
made a matter of record through a
book containing hundreds of pages OF
Woo "iiNiAiEf MAAiiphA iIiltA lllIi-
eating the page on which the same
q might be found, was simply veXa-
3 tions undertaking, and one that often
proved failure. 1t Is quite different
now. | have prepared Rule Dockets,
and procured nice alphabetical Index
es for the same, and for several of the
most important records, including the
old Court Record of 1861, of over 500
pages, In which indexes may be found
under the proper letter, any name or
case of Importance sought for, and the
page on which the same occurs. This
was almost an lnterminable Job, aud
an improvement to the Office, the va
lue of which can hardly be over esti-
mated.
The settlement OF estates of deceased
persons-one of the most important
matters over which the County Court
mas Jurlsdiction-was most wofully
- behind In this county. The laws OF
tennessee impose such duties on the
clerks as that the judicious admins
tratiOn Of estates depends very much
indeed upon the clerks promptness In
bringing personal representatives TO
timely settlement. The inexcusable
neglect Of former clerks in this particu-
lar has been one of the prolific causes
or many OF the tedious, expensive and
provoking lawsuits with which the
\ Chancery Court has been burdened
Thus many valuable estates have been
squandered, when they should have
been settled In the County Court, and
distributed among just creditors or
divided among heirs. | have done an
immense amount of labor to get this
business up-haye settled up scores Of
estatet-many of them complicated
and troublesome, some of over ~ years
standing; and thereby have unques-
tlonably prevented considerable litiga-
ton In the courts Of the country.
"a IN making these settlements | have
gathered up all the scattered papers
bonds, sale-bills, petitions, DEGREES,
anu everything pertaining to each
n1rttellar case-houud them together.
labeled and filed them alphabetically,
et,n case under its appropriate letter
- that IL can be found In a moment OF
ii ne.
But, fellow-citizens. time and spact
would fail me TO tell YOU of all IN,
changes and improvements that hav,
been made, and the convenience viii
which every thing Is arranged.
My work IL all omen To insnection
ask no better testimony 10 nv an
cheney as IA clerk than TO have my yvor,
examined aud criticised ana IN doin'
81, think you will he eonsir al nj ~ !,
conclude that 1.-THE half has NOT bae
toid.n "o' pee
Ihave Ia en- special pains 10 IN ,or,
and prepare myself for the work.