The Tupelo journal. (Tupelo, Miss.) 1876-1924, 1905-07-28

4 Will w lIOlil WCllC w oOIlOOl d'
| the old Martin Academy, tracing
their lives through the interven.
ing years, and see what kind OF
a workman Capt. Martin proved
to be. But cannot do this to my
own satisfaction, and | feel that
it would not do justice to the
! dead of them, nor prove satisfac-
tory to the living, who might
read these lines. | will, therefore,
only undertake to say a few
words about them. They were a
very fine set of boys. No trouble
was ever given by any of them
to the master, nor the trustees,
and peace and good fellowship
feigned between themselves. OF
the number, five made lawyers,
J. D. Williams, Perry Nix, J. T.
. Richey, J. S. Clayton and the
writer of these papers. Possibly
others may have gone into the
legal profession, but | only know
of these. Three became physi-
clans, G. G.. Bessonet and Ed and
Will Wren. Frank Richey moved
! to Arkansas in the fall of 1856,
and settled at Camden, and there
remained until some time after
the war; and when the time
came, he enlisted in the Confed-
crate service, and was gallant
soldier, losing his right arm in
battle, and after the close of the
war, settled down again at his
profession, was elected to the
office of land commissioner of
his adopted state, and died only
a few years ago, honoi ed and re-
spected by all. AS to Perry Nix,
| only know that he went to the
Lone Star State in about 1859,
and settled there as practicing
lawyer. | know nothing of his
war record, but knowing Perry
as | did, lido not think | would
miss it much if were to assume
it was equal to that of any. |
have simply heard through others
few times since the war that
he was still in Texas. John d.
Williams and were a little more
closely associated than any Of the
others, In 1856, or about that
time, he also removed to Arkan-
sas, and there remained about
one year as practicing lawyer,
when he returned to the old
home, and then entered Irving
College in Tennessee, and re-
mained there till he graduated,
which | think was three years.
By that time the whole South
was a camp, and he entered the
service of his country in Capt.
Martins company, and | think
as its first lieutenant, was pro-
noted to captain, and finally to
lieutenant colonel of the regi-
ment, and no braver or more
gallant soldier or officer entered
the service. He was finally cap
tured at Atlanta on the 22nd of
July, 1864, and remained pris-
oner till the close Of the war. In
/ October, 1865, he entered into
partnership with me at Fulton,
and remained with me till Sep
tember, 1866, when we dissolved
lin order that might receive my
brother, j. S. Clayton, into bu-
siness, and soon thereafter Col.
Williams moved to Tupelo, and
settled the place now owned and
occupied by w. A. Dozier, He
continued in the practice of law
up to the time of his death,
which occurred something over
twenty years ago. He was a hare
worker, careful in the prepara-
ton of his cases for trial, and a
good advocate. He was a candi
date for district attorney at the
time of his death, and | know
was very hopeful Of success. fol
/ had a talk with him about his
prospects shortly before hi
{ death. He doubtless contracted
the disease from which he die(
, from exposure incurred in pre-
senting his claims to the Office
: during circuit court at Okolona
NV brother, ]. S. Clayton, wa.
admitted to the bar in Fulton il
October, 1866, just before tn
5 county Of Lee was organized. HI
entered the service OF the Con
!, federacy in an infantry regiment
butt do not remember the mum
! Der, and was from it transferred
at his own request, to the l2tl
Miss. cavalry, Col. Inge's regi
] lment, and served through tn
war. He entered into partner
I ship with me in the law as sool
las he was licensed, he then re
siding in Verona and in Fulton
He soon thereafter removed t
Tupelo, and built and settled tn
( place where Prof. Francis nov
Lives, and on March the 7th, 1871
9 I also moved from Fulton to Tu
: lpelo, and settled the place nov
8 owned and occupied by B. f
u Clark. In February, 1879, m
fbrother left the state and settle
id Cleburne, Texas, where h