American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1879-09-13
S. w. TROTTER.
2ND DIST, MADISON Co,
SAINT = 1870

good people of Madison county that
they should be made acquainted
with our candidates, as well as to
do justice to an injured friend, l
have undertaken to give you a
short and succinct history of the
life and character of our fellow citi-
zen Mr.. S. w. Trotter.
Mr.. TIotter was horn near Browns
vile in Kinds county, on the 18th
day of February 1913 and is now in
the 32nd year of his age. He re-
cieved common school education,
and was prosecuting his studies
under the tuition of Mr.. .imbali,
when the breaking out of the great
civil war interrupted his course, and
In 1868, when only 10 years old, he
enlisted Tor the war in the 9th Tex>
as regiment, Ross brigade of cav
airy. This brigade earned a repu-
tatiOn for exceptional hard fighting.
and. boy as he was, no man went
further or dared more than S. w.
Trotter. He won the cOmmenda-
ton of his Captain and Colonel, and
the last year of the war was kept on
detached service with a select body
of men as scout along the Mississ
ippi river in Washington county.
AT the close of the war he found
himsel without means and not
dollar in his pocket. However. be-
ing young and full of activity, he
uusaddled the horse which he had
ridden in many wild foray, bOr>
rowed a pillow and gear from his
father, and went to hard work. By
dint of energy, economy and push,
he accumulated means enough TO
go to merchandising in the fall of
1868 in company with his father
and brotherin-law, under the name
and firm Of ElkIns, TrOtter & Co.
The partial failure of the crop of
1871 and the constant decline in
the price of cotton embarrassed
them, and when in 1874, upon the
death of both the senior members
of the firm, Mr.. Trottcr took charge
of the business, as sole surviving
partner, he found their affairs ais
most hopelessly involved; with
heavy debts, mortgages, etc. threat-
ening him with ruin. Still by his
uutiring energy. close application
to business, and the confidence he
impressed upon his creditors, he
succeeded in winding up the busi>
ness, paid every cent of OutstaDd
ing Indebtedness and saved all the
private property and the large
landed estates OF the firm.
In 1875 Mr.. Trotter moved to his
plantation in Madison county, and
was the next year elected member
of the Board of Supervisors from
District 2, over the present able and
popular incumbent, MIG. j. Hulme.
Owing to business engagements,
and conceiving that there was some
unfaIrness in the election, he did
not qualify and Mr.. Hulme was APP
pointed to the vacancy. Pending
the present canvass, our district
thought that we were entitled to a
representative in the State Legis-
lature, from the fact that we had
had no representative from among
us since 1856. We therefore began
to canvass for p suitable man. Sev
eral gentlemen were suggested, but
finally the contest narrowed between
Mr.. TrOtter and Mr.. III. w. Lawson.
When we met in district conven-
tion on the 9th of July, we resolved
"that we take vote by ballot for
representative, that the successful
be declared the nominee,
and our delegation be instructed
Upon taking the
count, Mr.. Trotter received 8G votes
aud Mr. Lawson AZ. A motion was
made, which Mr.. Lawson magnani-
seconded, that "Mr. Trotter
be declared the unanimous choice
Of our district, and that our dele-
gates to the county convention be
to vote for him first, last,
md all the time;" which was Car
RED without dissenting voice.
On the 9TH of July Mr.. Trotter,
with his colleagues, Baskins and
was nominated on the first
ballot, and these gentlemen were
declared the candidates of the Dem
,cratic Conservative party.
Up to this time, Mr.. Editor, no |
shadow had fallen across Mr.. Trot- /
.er's pathway as a public man, and
10 hindrance appeared to mar a
successful issue to his candidacy.
as the shades of ewes
ling heightened apace, some of our
delegates, being wearied with the
abOrs and close confinement OF the
lay, and having had too little dim
Ter and too much of that stimulant
which creates an Over-ponderance
# vital action. became nervous, and
lpon inquiring for Trotter learned
hat he had gone home. This
'iece of unexpected news put a
'ad taste in their mouths, and they
,egan to spit out certain qualifying
detectives which were not compli-
nentary to Mr.. Trotter; but those
gentlemen are friends of his, and
IS soon as they got home, cooled
IF and took u bath, they regretted
What they had done, and unhesi>
made all the reparation in
heir power. by publishing a card
yer their signatures in the county /
'apers of August 10Th, generating
i'm from all censure, and express
ng regret for their own hasty cons
net. The reason that the other
-legates were not requested to