The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-07-03
Chronicles Of The Canebrake
BY JOHN wrrHEnspooN puposE

Mote: The next preceding chapter was
No. 3, enormously printed -
JOHN CHAPRON.
We find in the American State Papers
he name of this gentleman as a trans
'eree of two original allottments of land
by the government to Bonapartists This
VAS in 1927.
Mr.. Chapron was one of the most in
leresting of the pioneer planters of the
tanehrake. In the character of host he
MAS most notable The formal dinner
party, with unsurpassed menu and de-
ightful ceremonies was his forte.
In 1927, when he obtained the allott-
nents of land between st. Andrews
church and the present railroad station
village Van Dorm, he was a prosperous
merchant i'm Philadelphia.
He was a native of one of the French
West Indies and in all particulars was
/ thorough Frenchman. OF ample figure
lark complexion. puncttious manners.
cultured tastes, his bearing was of the
utmost elegance. He married In Phila-
selphia and reared there a family of sons
Ind daughters. Hon. James B. Camp
bell, lawyer of distinction of that city
Ind acknowledgements in the Pierce ad-
ninistrat ton, when Jefferson Davis was
secretary of war, was one of his sons-ln-
law. In the 1905 Mr.. Chapron TOOK up
his residence on his canebrake plantation,
that Is, he arrived in the late fall and re-
turned for the summer to Philadelphia
When the great war broke out he still
remained on the plantation and delighted,
through all the years of It's ravages, to
entertain prominent OFFICERS of the army
whom he might find at Demopolis. He
carried lively recollections of his native
Island home and was wont to describe
the prodigality of private hospitality
there. a visitor to a planters home there
carried no baggage. Upon his arrival he
was met at the door by the master and
his family and commanded to consider
everything about him his own. Next a
valet, black negro. in readiness guided
him to an airy apartment, lined with
sheves of white linen clothing. The
guest was fitted with suit, then taken
to his bath and chamber, where cordials
and cigars were ready
One of the dinners at the Chapron
home Is yet remembered by surviving
heighbors. 1t was in compliment to
Gen George Whitfield of Florida, on a
visit to his brother, Gen. Nathan B. Whit
held of Demopolis. Through the long
hours at table go tempting dishes were
brought on, the preparation all in French
cookery, the old home-curel ham boiled
In champagne, the roast so perfect that
the cooking was barely apparent. The
wines were numerous and the cordials and
coffee after dinner, excellent as only Mr..
Chapron could provide. In the FREEDOM
mating political excitement of that ma
tional oompaign of 1860. one of the editors
of the Charleston Is. c. Mercury, young
Mr. Alfred Rhett, arrived In the cane
brake. similar dinner was given in
his honor Only gentlemen were invited,
to the number of Is perhaps. The Charles
ton Mercury was the active organ of the
South Carolina type of politics and Mr..
Rhett was specially an enthusiast The
company consisted of neighbors known to
entertain variant political sympathies.
80 polite was the company, however.
that even the plentiful fruits of the vint-