Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1903-01-24
j. K. and Old Times.


stone and know that there are not many
more ahead Of me.--Of all the years of nv
long life the happiest were spent in good
OLD NoXubec. 1t was there thai spent
my early manhood and built castles in the
AR 1t was here that fancy woye dreams
lor me whose baseless fabric fell before the
realities of rpened experience. 1t was
mere, and in those bright days, that
formed the closest friendships Of my life
and learned to prize them rs better than
Ilches. Ana it was there that spent my
rourting days, which, as you know, ale the
best OF mans life. They were grand and
gIoFious-weren't they-like heightened
sweetness long drawn out" No matter
how old we may grow we never can forget
those days and our Old hearts throb With
gentle emotions at their recollection. 1t is
a wise and heoeiiceht provision OF nature
that makes us, when we look back over our
lives, dwell upon it, pleasures, not its
pains Weare made to forget our trials
and troubles, but we never do forget the
joys and pleasures thatwc find IN our path
way.
It's now drty years since first went to
Macon. then lived at Brook,yille and
w"n' TO Macon 10 buy yair Of pants 10
wear 10 John Hodges wedding. was one
Of his attendants aud wei remember the
occasion. johns friendship was one Of
those that formed before we were crown
and il lasted a. long us he lived. knew
him as soldier and never knew "a better.
He was good and true In all the relations
of life. bought the pants from Roby,
CaYett ~ Buck, viii ch was then the big
| gest firm in Macon. Their store was on
the corner now known as HaUenstein's
hardware store stand. The firm was com.
posed w. W. Roby, j. r, Cayett and J. Il.
Buck. Col. Roby was man of wealth and
high standing and was the father OF Mrs.
A. II. Bush and Mrs. Feb. Holman, Mrs
viii Selleck and Miss Georgia Rsby. He
has been dead for many years, j. II. Cav
cit was man of wealth and great business
activity, He had been sheriff OF the county
and enjoyed great popularity. HI is the
father Of Il D., j, c. and V. C. Cavett and
Is still living, being nearly eighty years
oil. There neyer.lived in the county man
ofstrongeI character or greaterpersonaI fol-
Lowing than he. lie handled money by the
bushel and aided ana accommodated every
body who asken him. He did business on
the scale Of thousands, and if he had had
the bank of England at bis back would
not have enjoyed more OF the confidence of
the people. All the banks from New Or
leans to New York grabbed at his paper
bearing six per cent. interest and he let all
of them have some OF 1t as n favor. He
! could do more business in an hour than
most men could in lay and it was said of
him that he could tout fgger" the man
who made the arithmetic. 1t took the
Confederate war to stop him aud il that
little national episode had not interyered
he would have owned half the county and
had mortgages on the balance. He was
man of great lberality and was one of the
foremost in all public matters. In his de-
cIining days he can enjoy the satisfaction
OF knowing tlat, in his day be did more
for the churches and schools of the county
than any man III it.
j. l.. Rnek, the Junior Of the firm, was
a member OF q family conspicuous in the al
fairs Of Macon. Only one member OF 1t
now remains, Rev, Jesse II, Buck, who in
the "sere and yellow leaf OF life, still pur-
sues the highest calling in the list Of mans
occupations,
went to Macon TO live in April, 1881.
When went there Jack Martin was
sheriff, Doe DIsmukes circuit clerk, Char
lev Bowen probate clerk, Maj, Terrell
treasurer Bryant Y, Williams assessor,
Daniel Grant ialer, l.. Grossman coroner
and ranger The court house was the
original one built by the county and stood
in the center OF the square now occupied
by the present building, Il was small
brick building with transverse halls run
ming its length and breadth down stairs.
The four Offices were located in the four
corners OF the building. The court room
. as up stairs. The building was small, the
cell 'ngs low and the Ower floor was of
brick laid on the earth. The building and
its appointments were dngy and Squatty
and were ridlculousIy poor for such
wealthy people rs then hved in NoSuoee
county, John Watts was the clrcul
Judge and was very line specimen Of the
LAWYER and citizen of his day. George
Wools was district attorney lie was
splendid man. The district then embraced
everything from NoXubee comfy to the
sea coast. The court and the lawyers
then went from county to county in bug
q les ST on hoI setback. The lawyers follow
ed up the court for weeks and practiced
all oyr the district. The old'fashloned
"dickey" portable SHIRT 'front.' was worn
and it was told oil Tue court anu lawyers
that they would put on clean o'ckey
every Sunday, over the dirty QUE a'u
wear them all until they got PACK nome :
Henry Dickinson was vlce'chahcel'or OF inc
northern district, wn'ch emor"'eu ni,' 'no
State. Twas the clerk oil 'hat court IL