Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-12-02
Vol. XVI. Whole No. l349. No. 49.
Characters Of q Fools Errand."

"a Fools Errand' is, as has often been
asserted, record for the most part of actu-
al occurrences in the South, especially of the
experiences of the author, Judge Tourgee.
The places and characters are but thinly dis
guised, and were easily recognized by Tour
gees friends. Nerdeuton, which is so prom
inent in the book, is Greensboro, hand
some little town of 1000 inhabitants, in
Guilford county, n. c. 1t was called after
Gen. Greene of revolutionary fame, and is
only five or six miles from the battlefield
of Guilford court house. Greensboro looks
more Northern than Southern, the houses
being well built, with grounds enclosed, and
the streets broad and shaded with large oaks
and elms. About a dozen Northern fami-
lies live there and are prominent in diverse
professions and industries. Colonel Thomas
b. keogh, a Wisconsin soldier during the
civil war went into the field a Democrat, but
came out a stauuch Republican. He was a
Republican candidate for Congress at the
late election, and is publisher of the North
State newspaper. In Tourgee's story he ap-
pears Gs Col. Tom Kelley. The Bennett
College buat by benevolent Trojan of this
State, and dedicated to the colored people,
is the ''nigger college" as the Southerners
style it. 1t is sustained by contributions
from the Methodist church north, and is
now under the management of Rev. Mr..
lhayer and his wife, of Boston, and several
other New Englanders. In one of the rooms
OF the college Tourgee wrote the greatest
part of "A Fools Errand," Summer before
last, and wrote 1t in very short time, as he
was oyertlowing with his subject. and had
dI' y in determining what to omit. The
author offered it for $1,000 20 a New York
newspaper to be published as a serial for po-
lItcal effect The manuscript was declined,
and then Tourgee would have taken $500
for It. The John Burleson Of the book is
DIR. Bcnlow, editor o! the North state lie
was four years in the rebel army and was
atterward a member of the kuklux. but re-
pented and is now doing excellent service in
the cause of progress. Col. Ezekial Vaughn
is Ezekial Jones. and is at present living in
Virginia. The shocking account of the mur-
der of John Walters, which readers Of the
volume Will remember, is declared to be
strictly true His real name was John W.
Stevens he lived and was killed at Yancey-
vile, Caswell county. \ prominent lawyer
Of liillsboro. recently talking of the crime,
sald that Stevens was native who had be
come the worst sort of a radical, and that
his death gave great satisfaction" to the
people Of that region He said that Stew
ems melted the negroes to burn the dwell
lngs Of their political enemies He was ar
rested and tried on this charge, but as the
trial was IN Tourgees court the Yancey vii
llans thought that he would not be convict
ed. Consequently they resolved to put him
out of the way, and he was aSsassiuated in
broad daylight in one of the rooms of the
court house, while POO persons, black and
white, were IN the building. The murder
was nevertheless velled IN mystery, and is
'tlll. Judge rourgee is well remembered in
and around 'Nerdentnn," and though many
OF the tarollnians affect 10 despise him, they
really esteem him As most courageous, ca
pahie, and conscientious man.