The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-05-01
A Visit TO Loves Branch On Horse
back.

bRck.
The writer had occasion, last Saturday,
to travel on horseback, to Cathey S creek
and Love Branch, l6 miles west Of Co
lumbia. 1t rained necessarily until II
o clock, but in the afternoon the sun
shone out. Every stream we crossed
showed signs of the late treshet, in the
washing away of fences and plOwed
ground, but in most instances fences have
been repaired. We were surprised to see
so much ground prepared for planting,
considering the great amount OF wet
weather this spring In several fields
corn was seen that is two and three inch
es high, and many acres sown in cotton,
| while piles of cotton seed could be seen
| dotting the surface of many acres. The
growing wheat crop looks promising, and
large breadth of land is sown. From Co
Iumbia to Bigbigby creek and a mile be-
| yond embraces some of the finest lands
| in Maury county, some of which have
sold from $50 to 500 per acre. A large
steam Touring mill is in course OF cree
ton by Mr.. Shacklett, the masonry being
| almost completed. When completed the
mill will be of great convenience to the
public. Poplar Top seems to be popu-
lar place Sergeant Bros. have store
here, and near by, as at every other store
on the road, blacksmith shop is located.
Jim Fleming, Dr. Nichol and others, were
| here and it being fruitful subject, were
discussing the weather. Our friend Jim is
quite a prognosticator of the weather; he
saws he does not like blackbirds, whenever
| they are seen, it is sure sign Of rain; he
don't know where they go in dry weather,
probably to the same place the Jay-blrds
| go on Fridays. Mr.. Willis K. Erierson,
one of the most successful business men
in the county, has store at his residence,
! near Cross Bridges. He ginned about
| 700 bales of cotton, last year. Before
reaching Mr.. Frierson $, the keen whistle
| of an engine was heard upon Mr.. ID. j..
Estes place, which is spread out as it were
| a map, to our view. Cross Bridges is
| very properly named, for no less than
four brigdes can be counted in a stone. s
throw. This is place of tolls-there is
no less than four places where people
| paw toll two gins, one mill and one gate.
| We were permitted to pass however, by
dropping nickel in the lands Of rosy
checked little girl, who lives in q house
| set high I'D off the ground. The bridge
| across the eFesk is one span, and ives
erected in 1868. The store Of Ch9ate q
Lipscomb must be the place for bargains,
| if we are to judge from the number of per
| sons in and about the store. The post
Office is kept by Mr.. Choate The Web
| ster mill makes good turn out and an
1 excellent article of -four. Immediately
| beyound the Ra1lsu place we left the
good road, and went the Bookef ,Gpe, the
worst road, for half mile, in the county;
but after ascending the ridge it is good
| road 10 Cathey's creek. The ridge is high
/ and thickly covered with beech, Gat, wal
| nut, poplar, chestnut, &c. Immediately
on top Of the ridge are many names carv-
| ed upon beeches, on one are the names
of j. c. McGaw, and A. X. Dale, 1861.
Almost the whole distance of the ridge
road for miles to the north beautiful
view is presented to the eye of the travel
er, showing many farms in a splendid
stste of cultivation, and far down N the
valley could be heard the merry song and
whistle of the farmer boy; bat the trees
snd shrubs are fast putting on their livery
of green, the dngwoods. their garlands OF
snowy whiteness, shutting cut al! views
| Arriving at Gathsy' creek, we found a
two-horse wagon nired TO the axle. On
the west side is schoolhouse, which needs
painting, in front of which is a grave
| yard, unprotected from the depredatlons
| of hogs and cattle. The creek derives its
| name IFOM d ahG 50 Ah@ AAGhAJ ASSPCSeo
| BILE family of that name, and it would be
a hard matter to find person living on
the creek, not in some way related with
the Catheys In this neighbOrhood our
| friend Lee Bullock spent his hoyhood
days, and the people think q great deal Of
him and are always glad to welcome him
when he comes among them. Some IA
years ago in company with Lee, we were
one of the happy ones who participated in
a picnic on the banks of the creek, aud
as we rode by the place We could not but
muse upon the many changes that have
been brought about since that pleasant
event. Loves Branch empties into the
creek not far from Mr.. Strayhorn's gin;
on the opposite side of the creek, a nice
house has been erected by Mr.. Stray
horu. Taking the road up Loves
Branch, which is the hea of the Branch,
we arrived at the late residence OF Mrs.
! Emily Cathey, now owned by Mr.. q. h.
Cathey, a clever young man, but who is
sadly in need of wife. The administra-
tors sale of the personal estate of Mrs,
Emily Catkay, decd, had brought to-
gether a small number OF citizens, among
others, Milton Whitesides, the box carrier
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