The Crittenden record. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1904-1907, 1906-08-03
NOTES MANY GREAT CHANGES
Rev. Blgham Relates an Interesting
Story Of Ills Early RecOIIecflons
Of Our City.
NOW RESIDES IN STATE OF FLORIDA.

Rev. j. W. Bigham, Of Barlow, Flor
ida, was in Marion, KY, few weeks
ago and being in a reminiscent mood
talked somewhat freely Of Marion and
old times. Standing at the corner of
Yandell-Gugenheim Company's store
and replying to number Of questions
he said:
"Yes-it is true | was the first
child born in the town of Marion, Ky."
Pointing his finger across the square
he said, 81 was born in the touble log
house that stood on the south side of
the street Immediately in the front of
the old Doctor Crawford property. I
am therefore not only one Of the first
home-comers, but am one Of the first
comers TO this good town Of Marion.
| have seen three Marions reared on
this present site Of the town, and have
seen three court houses reared in that
court house yard. The first one was
destroyed by the rebels during the war
in the year Of '6S, think and the sec
ond one was burned accidentally by
workingmen repairing the roof.
siy father built the dwelling house
now owned and occupied by Mr.. r. w.
Wilson, but on the death of my mother
he would not live there, so he traded
the property for the brick tavern corn
eli now occupied b. Yandcll Grgenheim
Company. We moved to the dwelling
near the old brick church cemetery in
the year 1876 or Z, which is now occu-
pied by Mr.. 7. II. Lowry. the distiller.
The place was known then as the
Marley house. II is there that have
the fhst recollection Of anything on
this earth. | could not have been over
three years Of age. but have a vivid
recollection Of large white SOW and
her little pigs lying just outside the
fence at that place. Some one, I think
Ned, my fathers eolored man. carried
me In his arms and doubtless 10 amuse
me showed me the SOW ard litter Of
little pigs. That scene abides."
"Bro. Bigham, how do you like the
change you made from the Louisville
conference to the Florida eonference!"
Just the finest kind. We all like
to live In Florida. Ny first appoint
ment was Tallahassee, the capitol,
where served two years and among
other successes led the movement in
which saloons were driven out. The
capitol city and Leon county arc now
prOspering and happy, under the
wholesome reign Of prohibition. am
now serving my church as presiding
elder Of Orlando district, which embra-
ees the western gulf coast Of South
Florida. Many thrifty towns and cities
are springing up all over this territory.
and new railroads being built and 9th
en projected in addition to these
already operated. indicating that the
future material interests Of this section
is regarded as most hopeful, lands are
rapidly advancing in price, vast bodies
Of timber lately passed into the hands
Of great corporations. Phosphate lands
now prOspected and in process Of de-
velOpment, while truck gardening Is on
a boom. gives promise that this South
Florida country will in the near future
be teeming with a thrifty. happy peo-
pie Many small bodies Of desirable
lands can yet be had al reasonable
prices. The orange industry Is grow
ing and among other productions in
creasing the bank account Of the
truckers. may mention the lettuce
crop yielding sometimes $1,000 per
acre. Celery culture nowso extensive
ly engaged In at Sanford and other
places, yield $1,000 or more per acre.
while the luscious eanteloupe Rocky
Ford" and others have yielded $500 per
acre to the gardener. These results,
however. are not universal for be Il
known there IL some unproductive land
In rlorlda alaa n few unnruslprtiva