The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-11-29

plains of Lura, now a station on the Savan-
nah, Americus and Montgomery road,
when Sam was only years old.
Ezekiel Hawkins was a plain farmer,
frugal in life, honest in all financial deal,
ings.
Sam grew up between the plow handles,
attended the schools of the neighborhood'in
the fall after "crop time" At l6 years of
age we find him going to school to DR.. RAN
SON at Magnolia Springs, near his fathers
home. Here occurred the first public exni-
bition OF one of his leading characteristics,
perseverance under difficulties. He was
one of the speakers at the commencement
exercises, fair representative OF an over
grown country boy. He spoke Patrick
Henry's Grafton. When he reached the wells
known sentence e,in I by tie tell h us
cue. Three separate times he asserted
They tell us we are weak" and as often
was commanded by DR.. Rams I'm to "sit
down." but Sam would not sit down. Like
ths boy on the burning deck, he stood his
ground. Finally, as if by inspiration, he
continued, Bat when shall we be strongerp
passed safely over the grade and finished
his speech, and secured the plaudits of the
assemblage.
WHEN HE MET HIS WIFE.
Leaving DIR. Rsnsom's school he finished
his education by a six months term at Moss
Hill Academy in Stewart county, school
taught by well-known teacher OF that
day named Grubbs.
At Moss Hill, in schoolmate he met Miss
Cordelia Matthews, whom he some years
after wooed and won. She is now his devoted
wife and mother his OF eight children. In this
selection he made no error, as she is GER
tainly one of the noblest women OF the
south, Sae is the seventh daughter OF Wtll-
lam Matthews, deceased, of Marion county,
who was the seventh son of his father. He
attended Grubbs' school in 1855. 1t will be
seen that his school vacation was obtained
entirely in the country, never went to col
lege. nor attended even village school.
In 1856 his father contemplated a move to
Texas. He sent Sam TO spy out
the land. He went by private con-
veyance to Opelika, thence to
Montgomery by rail. Arriving at
Montgomery he decided to take look at
the town before the departure OF his boat
for Mobile 1t is hardly probable that he
was looking for terminal facilities for the
important railroad line his financial genius
has constructed. When he returned the
boat was gone, the only time in his life
when he 'ERot left" But il would take no
great stretch Of the imagination to see the
hand of providence In this misconnection,
as the boat went to the bottom before il
T6aCuGQ MODllc. I1o bOOA VIC A+OAs .-otAe
down the river. We next find him in New
! Orleans, standing upon Canal street, view
| ing with wonder the extensive proportions
of the custom house, then being built. He
took an overburdened Red river
steamer for Shreveport. While on that
river at night the passengers wrapped in
| slumher, many of whom were occupying
beds upon the deck, the steamer struck a
| log. The rebound unsettled some OF the
steamers fore timbers; they fell, killing one
man, the head Of large family moving to
| Texas. Our Sam, whom we assert is not
| the hero of the book "Sam Simple" written
nv former resident of Americas, was
knocked senseless, but recovered without
serious hurt He Travelled over the greater
part of Texas, returned home, tod his
| father that Texas was a good land for
Young men, but that an old man with a
| family had better abide upon the ''old
homestead" Sam wanted to go to Texas
| his father would not consent. Sam was an
obedient son. SO to Georgia is saved one
who would undoubtedly have proved con-
spicuous citizen of the Lone Star state.
| Sam came to Americas, read law, the war
came. Sam went. Was he true to the
causel Let us see. In the retreat
from Missionary ridge the cavalry company
| in which he was lieutenant was rear guard.
| His friend, Moses McGarrah, was killed
shot through the head. They camped for
the night with this dead friond between the
lines. Lieut.. Hawkins wanted to rescue his