The Hickman courier., 1882-10-13
DEATH OF 10 KEITH.
His Life and Connection with Hiek.
man Business Interest

man business Interest.
MR 10 KEITH, the subject OF this no
lice was born near Owensboro, Ky, Nov
I'D, 162 /, and died in Mississippi county,
Ark Sept. 29Ih, 1882, OF inAamstion OF
the bowels.
Mr.. Keith came TO Hickman in the fall
of lS44, and WAS employed salesman
and book-keeper in the grocery house of
cd one or two years, when hs went into
the dry goods esiablis hment OF Lysander
Adams, aud there remained until Mr.. Ad-
ans suspended business. lie then, on
his own account, went into wharfboatiug
for "a ear or more, when he disposed OF
his boat and entered into partnership
with William Robinson in grocery and
commission business. The business of
the firm for several years was extraordi-
narily prosperous-their grocery sales
and consig nments exceeding those OF any
other similar establishment in Hickman
Their accumuiatious were not boarded
but spent in providing facilities. Dot only
foI the transaction of their own business,
but that OF the town generally, by sap
plying larger warehouse room, n large
and subs tantial wharfbont, ami improv-
ing the landings for the better receiving
and Iischarging of freight from and 10
steamboats,. If not the best OF directors,
MIR. Keith certainly possessed great exc
cuiiye abilities the thing to be done
once conceived, its execution with amaz-
ing rapidity followed.
In the year 1852, he with others formed
a company and purchased from Geo. W.
L. Marr u tract Of land containing 500 or
900 acres adjoining he lower part of the
town. Then il WAS that That is now
known as West Hickman had its incipi
ency. II was n vast aud ugly undertAk-
ing, MS large part Of the area ON which
afterwards the town was located was
covered with drif,wood, which had to be
smoved-sioughs and ponds filled or
drained-and above all the site WAS sub
;ect to owe rfiows OF the Mississippi river.
Notw ithsta nding these appareut insur
mOuntable obstacles Keith became the
leader in The company 10 remove them.
I lie went 10 work with = zeal not common
TO most men, and IN Il short time, for the
imneIse work hc had TO do. changed The
face of almost a wilderness Of scrub tim
/ Der. old logs, acres Of driftwood, slougbs
aud ponds hlied with stagnant water, 10
smooth aud pleasing plain. The Mis-
sissippi, itself, II thought he had
walled by levees sufficiently stroog TO
I keep it Oft the projected town. West Kick
man was laid Off, many lots sold and
buildings went up rapidly.
With that public spirit, which pariicu
larly characterized the man, he aud his
partner Mr.. Rohinson) engaged in costs
ly work, that OF levyinE, trusssling and
bridging The Hickman and Trenton Ten
Essse) road across ne Obion river bott ON
"A distance of TWO and half miles. Al
that time The whole surplus products Of
Gibson county and a part Of Dyer came
10 Hickman when this road would permit
them 10 be hauied-over it. To secure this
trade 70 Hickman at all times, was this
great undertaking commenced and carri-
ed 10 completion, at cost of moro than
forty thousand dollars. Every thing
moved along smoolhly-lhe business OF
Hickman Was hOurishing, new enterpri-
ses springing up. and in three or four
years the town bad doubled its popula-
lation. But there came u change. La the
year 1864 memorable year in the an
mails OF iiickmsn-there was one Of those
terrible overfOws of the Mississippi,
which broke the levees and almost entIre-
ly destroyed the value OF the lots OF the
greater part Of the new town. Not only
the great damage sustained by the Mis-
sissippi, but the Obion river in The same
or succeeding year, swept away the work
done on the Trenton road--uhich latter
loss fell siDgiy on the firm or Robinson
& KeiIh. Nor did their misfortunes end
here-,he great fire OF 1861, destroying
three or the main business squares Of the
town, they were sufferers to a considerable
amount Mr.. Keith, 10 better his fortunes
went TO Columbus and there engaged in
commercial business, which proving un-
satisfactory ieft for New Orleans, but in
n short time the war drove him back to
Hickman, End from Hickman 10 Paducah,
and from the latter place he again return
ed TO Hickman in 1865, and remained two
or t1ree years, when, with very small
share OF this worlds goods and shattered
health, he moved 10 Missouri and engaged
in farming. From there TO Arkansas,
where he died.
The foregoing is but a skeleton, n mere
outline, OF the work done by 10 Keith TO
build up Hickman, and make il CONNER
oial hart OF no mean Importance. He
Was at the head of every enterprise,
which, any degree, tended to advance
the interests Of the town--railroads tel
egrsphic lines, the county roads and all
manner OF industries. lie literally lent
aid TO those who wished TO go into bu-
siness Of worthy nature aud were
wanting in funds 10 do so. In fsct, his
liberality in this respect was not guarded
by ordinary prudence Of self protection
| In social life he was genial and kind.
and ever ready TO add in any way in his
power 10 the happiness aud comfort Of
those with whom be mingled. To say that
he had no faults would make him more
than human. He may, and perhaps did
have some-who has ni?-but his true
I and generous nature-his kindness of
heart-his charity for the faults Of others,
cannot. with those who knew him best be
otherwise than forgotten.
He leaves widow, a son and daughter,
who have the heartfelt sympathies Of rel
Afiyes and friends hercsin their loss Of .
kind and indulgent husband and father.
! flef w