The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-09-29

ed his business and he moved to his Alabama plantation near Guerryton. Plantation at Guerryton.
 Guerryton is small collection of stores and houses, a typical Alabama village situated on the Central of Geor gia, a few miles from Union Springs in Bullock County. It Is a few miles west of Hurtsboro and on the railway line that connects Middle Alabama with Columbus. Ga. In all probability, it bears today the same appearance 1t wore when Theodore CfTIara lived near by. and in doing so gave the place Q lasting fame.
 The surrounding country, before the war, was noted for the culture, wealth and intelligence of it's citizenship. Gnu nenuggee Ridge was settled by some of the finest pioneers that assisted fin the upbuilding of Alabama in the rich days before the war. The citizenship of that section had not lost its distin- gushing characteristic when Theodore O'Hara lived at Guerryton and in the fine homes scattered through that sec tion he unquestionably found some con- genial associates.
 I drove through Guerryton, a few years ago. There were several old places set back among the trees and old-fashloned gardens in which 1t might
 
 ing of his life. But the storekeepers and the few people to whom spoke could tell nothing of OHara's life among those scenes. The Journey was a hurried one. and the unsuccessful questioning is no assurance that the poet is unhonored and aforementioned by those who lived near the spot where he died. Beyond doubt some of the older citizens remember the few years O'Hara spent in Bullock County, before his tent was spread "on Fame's eternal camping ground ." All that is known should be gathered and written for the fame of Ala abama, for her adopted son Is one of the immortals
 Early Life In Mobile.
 Of his earlier life in Mobile more fs known with deiniteness. O'Hara was one of the long line of distinguished men who have edited The Mobile Reg ister. He came to Mobile to serve as editor of The Register when John For syth, man whose life was especially identified with The Register was serv- ing four years as @ United States Min ister in foreign parts. In his absence O'Hara served as editor of The Register from 1858 to 1861.
 There are today contemporary ac- counts of his appearance and life in Mobile and no doubt there are still liv-
 
 remember the picturesque author of "The Bivouac of the Dead" when he was editing The Register and was the close friend of Alexander Beaufort Meek, the Alabama poet, and others who gave a literary complexion to the best society of Mobile in the days just previous to the opening of the great conflict. He is described in those days as being tall. slender and graceful. He was a peculiarly handsome man. All the older writers who have recorded their impressions of OHara speak of his distinguished and impressive bear ing. He had curly, black hair worn long and his dove eyes were flashing and penetrating.
 He was a bit of a dandy, too. Hu- manity has been prone to sheer at the dandy, but 1t Is a peculiar fact that every man of dash and extraordinary courage, from Julius Caesar to George Dewey, has been dandy of his own age. Even so was O'Hara in his long coat of bread cloth and his shining silk hat.
 o'Hara, too, was fond of society and he had no objections to 1t if 1t was in clined to be conViVial.
 At the outbreak of the war, o'Hara was placed in command of Fort McRae at the mouth of Pensacola Harbor, when it had been taken from the Fed erals This was just after his expe- rience as editor of The Register.
 He was a veteran soldier then. He had served in the Mexican war. and he had served with distinction. At Cher ubusco he was promoted from Captain to Major for gallantry on the field. His entire service in the war with Mexico was with distinction. He went out as