Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-08-12
s1vNawAlL JAcgsoG's Wow.
WADE bolton s,lEGAcY OF TEN THO

WADE BOLTON ssI.EGACY OF TEN THOU
SAND DOLLARS HISTORY OF A BLOODY
,FEUD.
The Memphis Crenn) Avalanche Of
July so gives history of Wade Boil
tons legacy OF $4,000 to the widow
of Stonewall Jackson, as well as OF the
Bolton Dickens teud, one Of the dark
est passages OF crime in the South
west:
During The month of February, 1872,
against the positive Instructions of his
attorneys; Mr.. Z. NJ Apperson, Of this
city, as executor Of Wade II. Bolton,
paid over TO Mrs. T. !. jackson the
sum of $4,000, half the sum bequeath'
ed to her husband, General Stonewall
Jackson, who fell in action at Cham
cellorsville, Va, in 1861, while com
handing corps of Confederate troops.
At an interview on the subject with
Mr.. Appcrson yesterday he stated that
the heirs of the Bolton estate have
been i'll litigation for some time past
concerning the distribution Of the pro-
perty, and while this legal contest re
mains undecided the attorneys deem it
unwise for him to pay any requests not
ordered by the 3 courts. Contrary to
this advice, however, and solely be-
cause Mrs. Jackson has stated that she
sadly needed the money, the executor
has paid her half Of the bequest, as
above noted. He has also paid the
several heirs considerable sums on ac-
count of their prospective inEeritances.
VALUE OF BOTTOMS ESTATE.
The value of the personal property
belonging to the Wade Bolton estate
is estimated at 100000. A claim was
set up in the courts some. years ago by
Wash Bottoms and Tom Dickens, his
former business partners, against Ike
and Wade Bolton for all their estate
is worth. Should the courts decide In
favor of the claimants there will be lit
tie or nothing remaining after satisfy
ing the judgment.
At the time Wade Bolton made the
bequest Of $4,000 to Mrs. Jackson he
was in hourly expectation of losing his
life by violence. Having expressed a
desire to do something to enable bis
name to live in the memory Of future
generation, unconnected with evil
deeds, Mr.. Apperson himself suggested
donation to Mrs. Jackson of $25, 1000.
| Bolton liked the idea, but reduced the
bequest to $4,000.
After his death, which happened a
few months subsequent to the time Of
making the bequest, Mr.. Apperson
| wrote and informed Mrs. Jackson of
the matter, telling her alo that as soon
as the terms of the law could be COM
| piled with the sum should be made
subject to her order.
AN OLD, BLOODY FEUD.
There is history connected with
the gathering Of this large and valua.
BILE Bolton estate which is full of thrill
ing events and violent deeds. The
property was chiefly accumulated by
| trading in slaves through long series
of years. The business firm, known as
Bolton & Dickens, had their location
in conspicuous building, situated on
the bluff in front of the lower part Of
the city, near the once famous Gayoso
House. Tourists on passing steamers
Chen the only method of traveling)
invariably had their attention called to
the large printed letters which adorned
the river side wall of their structure,
and which read Bolton e Dickens,
slave dealers The 81 On and the firm
both figure in Mrs. Beecher Stoves
story Of ''Uncle Tom;" and many letter
writer's Of the day referred and often
commented severely upon 1t, and Boil
ton & Dickens had more than a nation
al reputation. They had branch houses
at New Orleans and elsewhere, and
their agents penetrated every section of
the country south of Mason and
Dixon's line in search of black people
to supply the demands of their custo>
mers who embraced planters through
out the entire Southwest Many per-
sons and large sums of money were
emu! loved to aid them in their traffic.