The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-04-25
Following the Army
in I8I2'as a Boy
Wheeling. Winn Parish. "a,


In 1918. my sister married General
James Watson--who. for the last four.
teen years of his life. resided at Co
iumbus. Ga. I. at that time. knew but
little about my fathers matter, than
that he had died possessed OF some ne
groes and land; and Watson knew less
! than did. The war was going on
cared nothing about the property
and II Watson wanted anything or
wanted to know anything about my
fathers estate. he was too proud to
ask, or make any inquiry about 1t.
But mentioned to Watson that /
thought II right could take place, that
my sister and myself ought to have
something more than our uncle prom
Used for US. and that I thought there
was a will somewhere, asking him
to see my uncle about 1t. but he de-
clined making any inquiries on the
subject and we went on dividing what
little we habitat is. my sister and
myself.
watson would not consent to settle
with me. but insisted on having Robert
Rutherford appointed my guardian
| then weighing near ITO pounds. Ruth
| erford consented to act for me and ev-
erything went. on well;l the division
was equally made. Rutherford ther
said to Watson: take Toms little
matter into your hands and pay what
is right. for he VIII do nothing while
the war lasts but follow the array.
Eo,~matters rested until 1914 when
was discharged from on board that i'll
fated vessel, FL Eperyier5 of which
will give you more In my next. On my
arrival at Miiledgeville, l met with
my old uncle he seemed proud to see
me, saying: tom, you are now a man
want you to talse q horse and go to
Judge Soreness for Q paper. II the pa
per Is not in Judge Soreness posses
sion. do you give this paper to the
clerk at Saundersville." handing me 8
letter at the same time.
4 went to Judge Soreness and got
the paper 1t was my fathers will. OF
a copy---I DO not recollect now which
the pnrport of which have given you
before. carried the paper to my
uncle. He said: Take the will. exam
Inc It; take it to a lawyer, and do what
you think is best"
But he said that he was certain that
ali the property of which my father
died possessed belonged to- my sister
and niyself--as well as portion OF
what my mother had and was TO re-
ceive from my fathers estate.
And while am at this portion Of my
narrative, let me say for the benefit
of some yet living. that neither my
self or my sister ever received par
ttcle or what DelouBso 10 my motneE'
except the milk we drew from her
breast, and the few clothes she may
have made for us when we were small
children. Notwithstanding there was
some valuable property that I was en-
titled to. never asked for or tried to
recover a cant OF It. I know where 1t
Is. 1t is in the, possession of branch
of my mothers family who are less
entitled to It than any of the family
into whose hands 1t coHid have fallen.
1 could recover 1t yet were so dis
posed. know where the papers are,
and could identify the negroes, but
was deprived OF the use Of 1t when 1t
might have been OF some service to
me: now I am old and fast becoming .
At subject for q wooden Jacket and, o
hole in the ground. would not fee o
lawyer and break myself OF one nights
rest for all the money Samson coulo