American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1880-04-17

1t has been tru;hfully said, "time
aud tide wait for no man." What
great changes have taken place
within the las. fifty years, in the
State of Mississippi! Where are
the people who fist settled Maids
son county, l some times look
back with sadness upon the past,
and reflect, and ask myself, Where
are those whom l first became ac~
Quainted with in Madison county,
nearly forty-seven years ago p
whom l esteemed so highly for
heir many virtues, hospitality and
friendship. Comparatively few are
left to tell the tale; but it is consoling
to know that though l am now an
old man, and shall soon pass away,
we can meet again.
The first circuit court that was
held in Canton was in 1884. in a log
house. 1 was there, in search OF
sweet potatoes TO sell, there being
none to he had near where l had
settled. Canton, now quite a city,
then consisted of q few log hOuses
scattered out in forest. From
Canton east ont to Tildabogue, few
improvements had be. made, aud
"a more beautiful tract Of timber gas
hard to find. Now, what is to be
seen The ravages of war and the
tooth OF time.
In 1885 an insurrection plot was
started among the negroes, to con-
mence on the 4th of July, while the
white men were expected to lie cele.
brating the day of American indie
pendence. The secret was revealed
by a servant gill to her mistress,
and several white men aud many
negroes were hung at Livingsi Oh,
Benton and vicksburg. as the re-
suit of this attempt ut Wholesale
murder.
When i left Virginia, my native
State, in 1888. for the Choctaw puI
chase, in Mississippi, it was with
some feelings of regret. To leave
refined society, aud people pro
verbal for hospitality and friend-
ship, to settle in new and thinly
settled country, where I was an eu-
tire stranger, and to make living
by digging the ground, where !
thought the social amenities we're
little known. required some courage.
stopped my family near Pearl
river about the first Of October, and
took little round to look at the
country. going as far-as jackson. A
few log houses constituted the city
of Jackson in 1888. l entered land
aud went TO work, building a house
and clearing land. where hitherto
the mark Of an axe was not to be
| found. Meme but those who have
tried it can form a correct idea OF
the hardship aud exposure of fron>
tier settlers. But little was to be
had 10 eat, nearer than Vicksburg
or Yazoo City. for love or money.
It was not here it had not been
raised. The first settlers had made.
barely support. but divided with
the new corners AZ far as they could
and live themselves. I soon found
out that l was agraeably disaps
pointed. A more h0spitable peO-
I Pile were not to be found anywhere.
During the years 1884. IS and
'36, quite rise took place in i'm
proved iands, although plenty OF
public lands were offered at SLIPS
II per acre. With the rise OF lands
everything else went mp. Many
men with but little means were ena-
bled to sell their improved lands
aud enter others at government
prices. and buy some negroes To
help them work. That gave u new
impetus to business here. SpecuIa-
ti0n soon ran wild.
From the time that had been in
the State, say tw0 or three years, i
was but ii:tle known outside OF my
immediate neighl,oi hood. had lit
tie business from home, aud wanted
none. On one occasion I was ut
Madis0nyilie and IN the store of
man by the name of Hq5bard-he
will please pardon the use of his
name, il aluve-when Mr.. Hubbard
asked me if did NOT want. to buy
some negroes. / was some v hat
surprised at the question, our ac
quaintance being SO united. Said
be, "There are some valuable ne
grO~s in town, f,r sale by trader"
| told him that had no, money to
buy with, anil that if 1 had. negroes
were selling too high. To this he
replied, g. You are a sober, indus
triOus man, and can soon make the
money raising cotton. / will en-
dOrse for You and help you out"
| thanked him for. his kind offer.
but respectfully declined il. 1 have.
never to this day found out he knew
me 40 we'll. Perhaps he had in>
4uired of some of my neighbors M
10 my habits. But at that day and
age such DISTINGUISHED friendship
Was common here. If men were
poor, but honest, sober and inIus-
rious; keeping good company, hold
ng their heads up and trying to
make an honest living. the hest r,eo.
lie IN the country were their
'est friends. aud ready to help them
n time of need. Many, very many
imilar cases might be related, but