The Dawson journal., 1886-07-29
ONE OF THE WORST.
Sketch OF the Career of the Alabama
Jesse james.

l
Steve Renfroe, the notorious
outlaw and thief, who was lynched
at Livingston last Tuesday even
ing, has a history worthy the ba-
sis of a yellow-backed novel.
He was born in the mountains
of Georgia, where his father was
a highly respected citizen,and once
financially well-;o-do. Very little
can be ascertained as to his SON 8
habits and disposition during his
boyhood, except that he was fore
most in all boyish sports, and was
always a good ono in fight.
When about twenty-one years
of age he married thf Daughter of
d prosperous farmer Of North
Georgia, who proved to be a most
estimable little lady, and did
muck to restrain her husbands
reckless disposition.
In 1868 Steve arrived in Sum
ter county, Ala, and lived for a
good many months in almost hid
den seclusion with an uncle, an
l
ex-probate judge of Sumter. 1t
was reported, and circumstancial
evidence was strong against him,
that he was fleeing from justice in
Georgia-that he had killed a
man in his native section, and was
hiding to escape the clutches of
the law.
81 shall never forget the first
timo that I saw him, said the re-
pcrter's informant. at was
about three months after he had
arrived at his uncle's, and having
been confined, for secrecy, he
was as fair and delicate looking
as girl. He was just about
twenty-three years old, and was
dressed in what l thought at the
time was the prettiest suit Of
clothes l had ever seen a home
made check, handsomely worked
aud boun1 with silk braid. He
was a handsome, tidy young fei-
low, and his delicate features, fair
face and neat attire contrasted
striE ingly with the tawny, coarse
ly dressed ex-soldiers of the war.
| After he had remained with his
| uncle several months his wife
joined him, and they lived in
Sumter, apparently happily until
death, which occurred in a short
time after her arrival. Her re-
mains were inferred in the burial
ground of the Baptist church of
that place.
About a year after the death of
his wife Renfroe became M arked
in his attentions to q daughter of
DR.. Sledge, a highly respected
citizen of that county, and gaiu-
ing her affection, married her.
They lived together five or six
years,at the end of which time she
died and was buried in the Meth
dist churchyard. A year or two
afterwards Renfroe had her re-
mains removed and placed beside
those of his first wife, N the
Primitive Baptist cemetery, and
erected q handsome marble mon
1ment in memory Of the two.
Afterwards Renfroe married a
Miss Stone, of Livingston, and
lived with her until after he was
first charged with embezzlement,
| after which, she left him, and is
now living in Meridian, Miss.
Renfroe was always looked on
as leader in all kluklux or other
desperate or daring undertakings,
| and there is no doubt as to his
having had great amount Of
reckless courage and being a
quick man on the trigger.
In 1874, when the Republicans
came into power in that county,
he was arrested on the charge of
the murder of a man named Bill
lings, and lay in prison five
months. He proved an alibi, how
ever, and was discharged.
He was elected Sheriff in about
the year 1880, developed into
quite a politician, and it is said
that he aided much toward reliev-
ing that county from Republican
domination.
Later on he was accused # en-
bezzlement and put n jail, but
broke out and went out West.