The leader., 1905-05-13
A Remarkable Character.

n kCnidIAdDlC IlidTdCtCF.
A gentleman who spent few
hours at Clarksdale a few days
ago happened up on Uncle jim
mie' Townes, and had a good
long talk with him.
Mr.. Townes is citizen and
planter of TalIahatchie county,
his farm of 1,400 acres of rich
land being in tile vicinity of Min
ter City. He is very remarka-
BILE man in many respects, and his
record proves once more that
truth is stranger than fiction.
1t might be remarked in passing
that Mr.. Townes' word is his
bond, and just as good security as
any man need want. When he
makes a promise he keeps it, no
matter how much be may have to
suffer in consequence. A couple
of years ago he contracted to sell
his cotton crop at 81 cents per
pound. The price of cotton went
to II or - cents, but the man
who bought the cotton bought
every bale that was made on the
place at the price agreed on,
though there was not the scratch
of a pen to show that any such
contract was in existence. Last
year be made similar contract
and the price of cotton went
down, but the commission mer-
chant who bad bought had to take
it.
Mr.. ToWnes returned home af-
ter the war on the 18th of May
and next DAY was IN his field plant
ing cotton. That was in 1865,
and he made a fine crop in spite
of the Iateness of the season. Like
other Delta planters he is way be-
hind this year, but expects to
come out all right next falI-un-
less it should just keep on raining
through the summer.
Since the war Mr.. Townes has
not cast a single ballot, nor has a
negro on bis plantation. He has
not wanted to vote himself, and
has prevailed on his negroes to do
the same. There are now on the
Townes place a number of negroes
who we're there before the war,
and who have never left it. They
find it is as good if not a better
home than they could get else
where and just stay on,
If at the end of the year any of
the negroes on the place fall be-
hind Mr.. Townes wipes out the
| idebt and starts over next year.
During Christmas week be settles
with alIthe tenants on his big
plantation, and if their accounts
| do not balance he makes them do
ESQ. liz he owes the negro any
thing he pays it then and there,
but if the negro is in debt. the ac-
count is balanced and he is told to
go and sin no mure.
He is generous iii all other
ways. On the place there are four
school houses, the teachers for
which are appointed BY the coun-
| ty superintendent at the suggess
tion. Of Mr.. Townes. He also
sends some ten or twelve negro
boys and girls down 10 jackson to
school, paying their expenses out
of his own pocket. These'are the
sons and daughters, or the grand
children of his old family SER
wants, and they all look upon him
still as their Marse Jimmie.
Mr.. Iownes does not chew,
smoke or drink, but is most liber-
al in his views as to what other
folks do.
Though sixty-fipe years OF age,
/ Mr.. Townes has never been sued.
be has never sued any other man.
And the fact of the business is
THAT be has never in his life been
lon the inside Of a court house. 1T
lis also said that though tile rail-
road runs close to his farm, there
Iare tenants who have never stop
ped work long enough TO 60 10
Isee it.
/ The big plantation is ruled III a
i lxsndlu hf4k fwFfs c49Sfs5t nuossTr atSos,