The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1889-05-03
Old Times in Hardeman.


the first magistrates in Hardeman
county, with short notices Of their
careers and descendants. We have
been favored by Gen. Nicely with
the letter of A. j. Wills addressed
to him, and with the accompanying
original poetry, which will recall
many interesting incidents of the
olden times. Mr.. Wills, though
now 80 advanced in life, still retains
his mental Yigor, and has promise
of many years of usefulness:
NEW YORK, April %, 1889.
Gen. Rufus P. Nicely, Bolivar, Tenn.
Afy Dear Old FYiend-A recent
letter from Tom Young, the sole
survivor of all my Memphis friends
told me that on his 80th birthday
he had as guests Perry Polk, A. j.
Nicely and one of Gen. CALVIN
Jones' boys. These names awak-
ened memories that had slept fifty
wears. / wrote him inquIring if
my friend. Rufus p. Nicely was still
living. He replied promptly that
he was alive aud still man of at
fairs, having something to do as an
official with a Tennessee or Nississ
ippi railroad. Ihereupon a tableau
vivant of our early days at Bolivar
and Memphis sprung up before my
minds eye as if of yesterday. I
INDUCED in transferring it to paper,
after fashion, and put it aside,
feeling that ] had enjoyed a contab
with one who still lives to share my
memory of those vanished years and
the friends who have vanished out
of sight and left us two alone.
l could not enlarge the picture to
include the half century that has
lapsed since those days; nor will /
now attempt such a thing. Could
we meet face to face, l think many
an hour might be enjoyed in look
ing back over the years toge ;her-it
IL the cid mans life as you have
doubtless found out. / have had
varied lite, leaving a part of myself
here and there, north and south
part on a cotton plantation In Louis
lana, say four years-but chiefly in
New Orleans and New York, while
Won have treasured the associations
of a home in your native state, the
more valuable tor not being difiused
or diluted. | spent a month or two
at Bolivar In the summer of 1912
with my sister, Mrs. Napier, In the
old Collier house-have not been
there to stop more than a night
since. did not see yOn on either
occasion, which | regretted. That
sister and her FIVE daughters and
one son 1.-THE nearest of kin to mel
are every one dead except one
daughter, who IS IN Texas, the
grandmother ola goOdly brood.
/ married a lady Of Hartford,
Conn, in 1S48; lived in New Or
leans till 1865, when retired from
the business / had made and carried
on thirteen years in that city; came
10 New York and became member
Of the stock exchange, but in 1858
engaged in a wholesale clothing
business, aiming at a southern trade.
In 1861 this was broken up by the
war. NV two partners being North
Carohnians Joined the Contederates
and went through the war on that
side. l remained in New York,
resuming my seat in the stock eX-
change and made out thereby to
nav nv share of the business debt
of The clothing house. The south
ern debts were worthless. AT the
end Of the war / was tree from debt,
without capital and full Of JOY at the
return of peace, In 1868 l found
my eyesight failing rapidly, having
cataract on both eyes. Tins threat
of total darkness at the age OF fifty
eight discouraged me, and sold my
seat at the stock exchange, expect
ing to hive in darkness the balance
of my days; but in 1870 the skilltul |
hand of the late DIR. Agnew gave
me perfect sight in one eve, with |
which 1 Presumed my usual activity. |
For the last eighteen years l have !
had a position with the Home In
surance Co., Of New York, where l
still attend daily.
MY home is in my own house at
Short Hill, N. j., one hour by |
rail from New York. l 90 and