Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1909-02-18
HILL COMMUNITY.
RecOIeCt0RS Of Its Early Days and
First Settlers, by an Old Citizen.

list Jslul5ia, Wy oil Ulu blllEGll.
I have heard il told OF two
planters in the county, that they
would snip their cotton crops to
New Orleans, 20 down, seq and
buy negroes with the proceeds.
back TO the landing on the
river and march their purchases
by the others place TO the music
Of n string band. They were ri.
walls and chose this plan 10 90
some hoasiing.
IL was necessary To- have order.
and discipline must be exercis d.
There were rare exceptions where
this was done. The masters Of
that day would not practice cru
city nor allow il. Those Old mas
tiers and slaves are getting very
scarce now but when they do.
meet II IS with the kindliest, bos
feeling. ! am s~peakin. for Col
iege titil row. and what comes
immediately under my observa-
ton.
The first houses built by these
hrst settlers were made Of hewed
logs, school houses. churches.
and residences. timber was plen-
utul and saw-mills wore few and
lar between. Some II these I q
-
houses are standing 10 day. anu
are comfortable and in a rood
state of preservation. Some-
times the whole length If a log
was cut out - admit light and
air. The school house that the
scholars turned Mr.. Russell ont
to gam a holiday, was n lonp.
low, wooden building with shed
rooms. which stood on the lot ON
winch the Misses FrierSon now
reside Russell lived across The
hollow on the Smith lot. Yam.
cey, ms assistant, came over first
that morning 10 open school. lie
soon discovered that the situa-
ton required more force than ne
mad at command, so he fastened
back to form Mr.. Russell. In
stantly, both came bounding
across the hollow. Mr.. Russell
barehcaded. The doors were
braced with long benches. He
demanded admission in the most
emphatic tones, this was denied.
Then he and Yancy got n heavy
rail from the fence 10 use az a
battcrIng RAM. A few ineffectu-
al attempts convinced him thai
he would have 10 compromise
which he did by giving a holiday
ard a treat of candy. which one
OF the boys who had n horse
volunteered to 20 to Oxford for.
Let me tell you, that the Girls
and the little boys, of which this
scribe was one, shut up in that
shed room whilst the bio bows
were negotiating for day free
dom suffered from the most in
-" - III
tense fright until the seige was
raised. went through the civil
war and felt some uneasiness m
times, but | do not remember that
thu little heart in my bosom ever
palp!tated with such force as ON
that memorable day. The Young
men mentioned previously plan
ned and carried out the m.ye for
a days freedom. None but tho
most daring and fearless would
nave proposed It, when such a
maa as Russell was to be antaco-
hized with fancy to help him. II
was expected that the trustees
would do something terrible to
punish the leaders, but they treat
Ell the matter a a jest and things
~ent on as usual. 1t was done
IN NJ mean, vicious spirit, mere.
" IN a spirit of fun and fondness
for adventure.
these first settlers who laid TIE
foundations for future usefulness
broad and deep well knew thu,
the church and school must have
mrs. place ia the community
ihat they were wisely directed
m their plans is amply proven hv
the success which crowned their
Efforts. College Hal has AWAY
been considered a centre from
winch was sent forth the very
best influences. Then who can
measure the effects of sueh mn
ences for the past 60 or 20 wears
Representatives from this centre
nave gone forth TO all parts of
our country, to impart these in.
nuences to other communities.
what a debt Of gratitude then do
we owe to these grand old fathers
ana mothers who so wisely PLAN
ned and builded for their p%osteri-
~. Dear children, let us show
our appreciation of their efforts
ny improving the advantages
they nave left us and by appro-
priaung to our own use their wise
council and by following their
good example. And dear chill
dren when your annual decora.
tion day comes around let US see
10 II that every first settlers
grave shall be literally DECORATED
with your %rarest, sweetest flow
ers. My first recollection of any
tning at all was of a small band
oil Indians galloping their horses
and whooping end chatterino.
Ihey stopped at the gate an in
CURED for stray horses and were
OIL in a furry. They had some
gay colors about their head and
blankets.
Before close this letter | must
mention that | find that the r.