The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1883-02-01
The Wattersons.

and Philosophic Literary Societies
of the Vanderbilt the annual orator
to deliver the address IN June, and
that his name is heralded through
out this country and in foreign
lands as a man of rare gifts and ex-
traordinary culture, some reminis-
cences of the Watterson family may
be interesting.
In 1910 my father settled at the
Stone Fort, now Manchester, Coffee
county. At that time the two most
prominent men in that section were
Mr.. Watterson and Mr.. John Hick-
erson. The one the father of the
Hon. II. M. Watterson, the father
oil Henry, the other the father of
Hon. VIM. p Hickerson, who died
at his home in Coffee county last
year. They were both farmers, well
to do and men ofmind. Mr.. Hick-
ers0n lived few miles west of the
old Fort and Mr.. Watterson few
miles north. The one, then in
Franklin county, and the other in
Bedford county. Shortly after this
these two leading citizens put their
heads together to make a new coun-
ty off of Bedford, Franklin and
Warren. For several years no 9TH
er question was talked of in the pol
itics of that section. Henderson and
Watterson united and ran Jonathan
Webster for the senate, who was
strong man, was elected, and then
was elected speaker of the senate.
This was in 1885, and through his
influence the county of Coffee
(named for Gen. Coffee was es-
tablished.
Hon. H. M. Watterson, when
quite young man-about 1881 or
5-went to Shelbyville to live, and
for time edited a county paper.
While still a very yonng man he
was brought forward as the demo
cratic candidate for congress and
was successful over the Hon. Dan
iel Barringer, distinguished WING
of North Carolina, who had recently
removed to Tennessee. Mr.. H. M.
| Watterson was afterward in the
state legislature and speaker of the
senate. He was at one time editor
of the Nashville Union, the forerun-
ner of the American. He and his
estimable wife, the mother of Hen-
ry, are still living, spending a part
of their time in Louisville and
part at Washington. They have
been married a little over fifty years,
and are both well-preserved, ex-
ceedingly sprightly and enjoy life.
They often play cards with each
other for amusement, and cheat
each other like professionals. Mrs.
Watterson was Tennessee lady, of
Columbia, Tenn, and is the sister
of Mrs. Stanley Matthews, whose
husband is one-of the associate JUS
tices of the supreme court of the
United States.
Henry had two uncles the
brothers of his father, William, an
estimable citizen of Franklin coun-
ty, who is a Presbyterian minister,
and Thomas who lives in Louis
vile.
In 1847 I commenced practicing |
law IN Manchester in partnership |
with the late Judge Hickerson. Al
that time Henry's grandfather was
quite an old man, but very active,
and an exceedingly bright man.
He often served on the jury and was
always the foreman. / remember
two anecdotes of him which will IL
lustrate his active, sprightly mind.
At one time Maj. Hickerson-for
he was major of the militia-was
addressing jury on a case which
we had greatly at heart, and the
old man Mr.. Watterson), sitting
as juror, went to sleep. Hickerson
became annoyed and stopped
speaking, and said to the court he
could not afford to speak when one
of the jurymen was asleep. This
aroused the old man, who, rising
up in the most polite manner, said
he asked pardon; that he concluded
to take a little nap; that he knew
Mai. Hickerson so well that he knew
he wouldn't say anything but what
was right.
At another time when returning
a verdict, and handing in the papers,
he was asked by the presiding
judge, Marchbanks, whose hand |
writing, it was well known, nobody |
could read, but who always sent |
his charge out with the jury-by
way of having little laugh-if they
had read the charge.
o yes, said Mr.. Watterson prompt
ly, we read il. This surprised the
judge little, but gathering him
self up, he said: Well, / suppose,
Mr.. WattersOn, you found it all |
right. No, said Mr.. Watterson, it |
was not all right when we got it,
but we corrected it.
Henry was born and raised in
Tennessee, but saw good deal of |
Washington life in his boyhood.
During the war he, with Albert
Roberts published paper called
the Chattanooga Rebel. After the
war he and Mr.. Roberts published |
the Nashville Banner, until he went
to Louisville to edit the Courier
journal. Since he has been editing
this paper he has been an active
politicisn: was prominent in the
last two national democratic con-
ventions; had much TO do in the
nomination of Mr.. Tilden, and was
active in making the platform?
He was at one time member of
congress for an unexpired term.
He has travelled extensively in Eu-
rope, is a man of rare social quail
ties, great versatility of talent, flu
ent speaker, and perhaps the most
facile journalistic writer on the
American continent. He Is near
sighted; indeed his sight is so de
fective that one would suppose he
was incapable of work.
He married in Nashville the
daughter of the distinguished law
yer and statesman, the Hon. An
draw EUiOo