Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1893-06-08
For the Herald and Tribune.
MORE OLD TIMERS.
some Interesting "Reminiscences Of Ear.
ly Times.

johnson. James K. Polk and Henry
Clay. Well dol remember those days
and incidents that happened in and
around your town of Jonesboro. In the
year of Polk and Clay I lived at Payne
Town, was . young man, comparir
lively and q Democrat, of course, and
did not know any more about politics
than q big tom cat, but must be q
kind of big fellow along with the rest
Of my neighbors. At that time had
six fine horses and good wagon, so
fixed me up fine band wagon, hired
driver, got James Anderson and eight
or ten others who made up a pretty
good band for that country. l started
out for the conventions at Greeneville
and many other places. On the way
picked up a man that could play
the Arkansaw Traveller, we went to
all conventions, Wing and Democrat,
had good time in general. At the
Wing convention at Greeneville we
had grand time and come near hav-
ing little war. While speaker John
again was on the stand some one in
the croud threw rock and came near
hitting him, and soon there was hun
dred men after big free negro who
worked for Andrew johnson the ne.
gro was running and the rocks flying
and most all hit the mark. l got be.
hind big tree to keep from being run
over, they caught the negro and as
long as they could reach over one an
others shoulders they give him n
lick. Finally the negro got into town
and was put under guard until next
morning. In the morning there was
many armed men-three Democrats to
defend the negro. 1t looked rough
for a while, but finally the matter was
settled without bloodshed. While the
rocks was flying at the negro here come
a man on horseback through the
crowd with big club in his hand and
every negro he saw he gave lick over
the head, finally he got up too one of
George Gilespies negroes, l think un-
Gle Wash-and give him heavy
blows over the head, that started up
the Gilespies, and another young war
was on fact ; but the man who done
the CLUBBING was one Barlow, from
Warm Spring, North Carolina, and a
good Wing, Gilespies found out, and
they let the matter drop.
spent weeks and months running
round over the country, and what
good did it do! Spent my time fool
ishly, had better been doing what
my nephew, John Kyker, told his
brother few years ago when he came
to visit him with an old gun on his
shoulder. My niece prepared him @
fine dinner, and after dinner John says
to him: "You had better be at home
tending corn in place of running round
with that gun ON your shoulder" My
niece says: "Mr Kyker you should
not talk that way" "well," Johr
says, 'it is so."
had better been at home plowinl
corn when was running round tc
those conventions for all the good i
done me.
My Nephew, John Kyker, lives neal
Telford, and if you see him with any
thing on his shoulder it will be an a,
or hoe or something to work with
or basket of corn to feed the pigs
he is money maker and a none,
saver.
Well after election was over W,
were all very anxious for the news q
Payne Town. Old Adam Broyles an,
his old negro Charley were gone +
Joneshoro, where they heard that Pol
was elected. Here they came, down tn
old Payne lane, Adam with an eigh
foot polkstalk on his shoulder, Char
ley, on one of Adams fine horses fift
yards in the rear, with another hura
for Polk; from Adam 4; hurah for Polk
form Charley; old Joseph Payn
standing at his gate as they passe
with his hat on ten foot pole. An
such times we had in the days gone by
| will ask You il the boys of you
town are as bad as my old frien
Christopher Galley said they was fit
years ago. He was Dunkard and ha
very long beard. He had been {
Jonesboro and on his way back stoy
ped at my house. He said you hav
mighty bad boys in this country, W
had no such in Virginia. As come OF
of town they were running and yellin
on each side of the street wanting
know if / had swallowed colt. say
no. They says know you have, sc
the tail sticking out of your mouth.
While writing up this foolishness
must tell some little jokes on one job
Spradling, and by the way he was a
uncle of mine. He was comical littl
} fellow, about five foot eight inche
and a cooper by trade; raised up a larl
family six or seven girls-no boys; /
made them pretty good living an
raised them respectfully. He woul
start out and buy side of bacol
come home with II ON his head and h
little brown jug in his hand, he woul
drink when ever he could get it, an
he always managed to get it. One da
he started out and was gone oil day
came home and told sally, his wifi
! there was not pound Of bacon in Il