Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1903-09-02
sIoarapAIeaI ske.eh. ol Il. Bill Arp.

Major O. H. Smith was born in
Lawrenceville, Ga, June 15, 1926
His parents were Scotch Irish. The
qualities of both sturdy races marked
him in later years. He began bis
education at a manual labor school,
and later attended Franklin College
at Athens, now the University OF
Georgia. After leaving school he
studied law and was admitted to the
lbar. He began his practice in Rome,
Ga, in 1860, being associated with
Judge j. w. III. Underwood. He
was located in that city when the
| war broke out.
In the war Major Smith was staff
officer with Gen. G.. T. Anderson
wOld Tige") eighteen months. He
was afterwards assigned by Mr.. Davis
to judicial duty with Judge Eugenius
A. Nisbet, of Macon, who was at the
head of commission to try treason
cases. He was partially instrumental
in oonvicting three brothers from
Columbus for completely with the
enemy. They were incarcerated in
Savannah until released by Sher-
man.
| After the dissolution of the court
at Macon, which was ordered by
Federal General Wilson, when he
entered the city on a raid, Major
Smith went TO Lawrenceville. His
wife at that time was stopping with
her father in that town. Two inci-
dents of those days are worth some
mention. While crossing Yellow river
Major Smith heard that the enemy
was ahead of him so he tied the
records of the treason court with a
cord, attached rock to the bundle
and sank them in the waters.
Another incident was trip Major
Smith took with President Davis
from Millen to Macon. He nursed
Mrs. Hayes, then young girl.
Major Smith began his writing in
1861. His object then was princi-
pally to amuse soldiers, and his sue
cess was shown by the wide popu-
larity of his letters. He was a
frequent contributor to the Southern
Confederacy, published in Atlanta
by the late George Adair and E. Y.
Clarke.
After the war "Bill Arp continued
his writings, and his letters did much
to divert the people and encourage
them to look on the bright side of
things.
With his wife, six children and
old family servant, Tip, Major
Smith returned to Rome in 1866.
About this time Major Smith had an
opportunity to plead for fellow in
Selma, arraigned on a charge of
embezzlement. He succeeded in get
ting the man out of prison on bond
and pocketed a fee of $4,000, Con.
federate money.
According to his statement of late
years, Major Smith invested $4,000
of this money in cotton cards, which
he packed in his valise, and the other
$4,000 in opium. This was followed
by an investment of box Of
tobacco and Roswell shirting, and,
taking Bob Hargrove as a partner,
he opened up stand in Rome.
Major Smith practiced law
with Judge Branham and also
with Judge Underwood in Rome for
a number of years. The Major
afterwards moved to the Fontaine
farm, in Barlow county, in which
county ne has since lived. His
home at Cartersville, "The Shad-
ows," with its large front yard and
giant oaks, is hospitable place, and
has been the scene of many delight
ful social affairs given by his wife and
daughters. Hehas lived there for16
years
The humor of "Bill Arp" has
long been a source of delight to
hundreds of Southern homes. He
was not only an author, but won
fame as lecturer. In addition to
his letters he has published history
of Georgia and also a volume of col
lected letters and addresses. "From
the Uncivil War to Date" is his latest
book.
Foiey's Kidney Cure makes the dis
eased kidneys sound 80 they will elipi-
nate the poisons from the blood. Fo,.