Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1893-03-02
ANTE BELLUM TIMES.
Some Prominent Old Time Men of our
{ County,

didates and county officials, were John
Ryland, Maj. G. w. Willett, VIM. H.
Smith, DIR. E. Armstrong, Henry Hoss,
Joseph Crouch, Shelby 7. Shipley, Jas.
A. Dillworth, Joe A. Conley, Samuel
Crookshanks, ct al. These were all in
their day strong, popular men and
were rarely defeated for any office.
But among them all none seemed to
have a stronger hold on the people
than Maj Willett. He was Sheriff,
Trustee, and also Postmaster when he
died, we believe. He was also Sheriff
and officiated at the last legal hanging
that occurred in our county-that of
David Deakins, a colored boy, in 1s4s,
for killing his young master with an
axe. The execution took place in the
hollow east of where W. P. Brownlow
now lives and just to the left of the old
road, the remains of which cal vet be
e on the north side of Dosser's
meadow.
Before the adoption of our new con-
stitution in 1870, our county elections
were held on the first Saturday in
March once in every two yeers. So
that the candidates for public offices
had to do the principal part of their
hustling in the cold, the SHOWS the
rain and mud of January and Febru-
airy. And it took hustling in those
days, too, for the Greasy Cove and
Flag Pond districts, now a part of Uni
col County, were then in this county.
and to have to ride IS miles in that
wintry weather and cross the river at
Red Banks to get to Flag Pond and get
on the good side of the sovereigns up
there was no holiday picnic, any one
can see.
In 1854, when Maj. Willett made his
last race for Trustee, he was in very
poor health and not able to go out and
see the people at their homes. His
friends told him to remain at home
and take care Of his health and they
would take care of his election. That
year Maj. Willett had a competitor
man OF great energy and hustler from
away back-a Mr.. T., who rode almost
daily and visited every hamlet in the
county. So Mr.. Willett putin his time
writing letters to his friends and work
ers in different parts of the county, and
among others he wrote to a good old
friend down in Monk 8 district, telling
him that he was again a candidate, but
was not able to ride to see his friends,
and he also said in that letter: u have
a competitor, one Mr.. T., who will get
the most votes where he is the least
known"
Now, it so happened that this friend
OF MIR. Willett's could not read, so he
had to keep it for some days waiting
for some one to come who could read
it to him. The very first man who
came was Mr.. z. himself. He told his
best stories and used all the arts known
to the skilful politician to make him
self solid with tie voting portion of the
household, and when he had told his
story and was ready to leave, the man
said:
"Oh, Mr.. L., have a letter here from
some one in Jonesboro, and as l can't
read, l wish you would read it for
me-"
Mr.. q. was more than glad to favor
his newly found friend, so he read Mr..
Willett's letter to him and when he
came to that portion of it where Will
lett said that he Mr.. T. would run
best where he was least known, be be-
came furious and came back to town
mad enough to eat Willett up, body
and bones, but Willett beat him all the
same over 400 votes
Col. John H. Crawford, Mark Bacon
and Ell. Taylor were also very popular
ante bellum candidates. Crawford
was elected Circuit Court Clerk in 1862,
and again in 1856, defeating Col. Tel
ford, and in 1860 he was elected with
out any opposition.
VIM. II. Smith, the father of Conduc-
tor Ross Smith, died along about 1858
or "a, while he was county Court
Clerk, and was succeeded by Henry
| Hoss.
Maj. Willett died in 1866, while he
was Postmaster, and his wife sue
ceeded him in the office. John Ryland
died in 1856 Or '57, while Sheriff, and
was succeeded by Mark Bacon.
John b. Estes was once an unsuccess-
full candidate for Register, and DR..
Gibson used to tell this story of the old
man
Estes would stand around about the
court house not saying a word to any
one. Some n would ask:
What are you doing, Mr.. Estesp
Mixing with the people, mixing
with the people,"
Dr.. Sewer used to tell that Mr.. Estes
once went as a delegate to the Associ-
alton up in Greasy Cove, and Bro. Ed
wards took him around and introduced
him to the brethren as follows:
BRO. So and 80, let me introduce
you to Bro. Estes-all the way from
Jonesboro; he makes brides and sad
dies, boots and shoes, grinds razors and
shaves dead men,"
Iac W.;nL4 ..a eIl.-- Mi,-