The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1910-04-22
AAhTOH- N iLL|STER FAM|LIE

safis class. With the squatters the plan
ters were very conside-ate, for if they
incurred their enmity these people
might 10 them serious harm. It was
sonsfdered quite an acomphs hment to
gain the good viii of the sauatters.
Early Times.
Wren anyone wished to be married
they were compelled to cross to Point
Chicotto Madame De VilIemont < and
there the probate Judge of Chicot coun-
ty met che happy couple and tied the
knot DIR. Samuel r. Dunn and Miss
Elizabeth AcAhister, daughter of Tfos.
MeAIhster Of Waterproof, La, also
Miss Louise Berthe. niece of VIM. W.
Rlanton, and Col. Rice Ballard were
marraed there. They constructed bat
team, and with stout negroes rowed up
the river 10 Point Chieot where they
met the probate Judge, ami returned in
high glee, their boat laden with all the
Injuries Of the season. The flow of
champagne being only surpassed by
the river.
The planters of those days were men
Of wealth and refinement, highly edu-
Gated and created excellent society In
those primitive days everyone rode on
horseback many miles through bride
paths in the canebrakes to dinners
which were generally on Sundays. Dur
ing the week they often met for
musicians who performed well for reels
and cotillions.
There were no levees at that time,
and in the spring when the overflow
was at full sht the river flowed over
the country everywhere except where
the high ridges were located By this
food of waters very stream, pond
and lake was filled with immense guam
titles of FISH of every kind In August,
September, Oct.obed and November FISH
fries We're frequently in vogue, princj-
DAILY on Saturdays. The negroes were
encouraged to hurry their work to have
Saturday a holiday and with cooks
supervised by the ladies, fish were pre-
pared in every style, and we returned
home well supplied and the negroes
with all The FISH they would need for
ther t2n,ilies
Fishing with pole and line was the
sport Gentlemen enjoyed themselves
at hunting with dogs, as there were
grea5 quantities Of deer and bear, al
so some wolves and panthers. Wild
fowl were in immense flocks, and 5
few hours bunting would furnish de
icious living.
No people enjoyed themselves in
their social gatherings more than the
planters in these early times. They
built a steamboat called the southern
er, Capt Hart master with its cabin
on the lower deck aft the shaft, with
berths on each side with curtains and
screens, a dining table in the center,
of fee and cook rooms in front of the
shaft They made up parties and had
delightful excursions to New Orleans.
Natehez and Vicksburg, everyone
bringing game, meat and vegetables to
6fl the harder This steamer was the
old style. After this came many steam
ers The Walk in the Water and tn
pslatial Eclipse and Robert f. Lee
Names of BENDS in the River.
abour 1880 my father, William VIII
aker Blanton, gave a dinner to which
he invited his neighbors There were
present Major W. Z. Hunt, Thos War
field, James McCutcheon, Alfred Car
ter, DR.. Samuel r. Dunn, Pinkney
Montgomery and others. At the din
neT it was brought up what to name
this bend in the river, and as the men
could not decide, il was left to my
mother, Mrs. Harriet Byron Banton, 10
give the bend a name. She remarked
that as there were no married men al
the dinner except her husband. all The
others being bachelors, she proposed tc
name It Bachelors Bend. which was
adopted.
In the upper portion of the county
Georgetown bend was named after
Georgetown, KY. Miller's bend just
below was named for Mr. Miller, who
settled on it, but abandoned his place
on account of over1ows. Below it or
the Arkansas side was Spanish Mos;
bend, from the first Spanish moss foun,
on coming down the river.
Lake Lee in the carly days was {
part Of the river, and was named Shirt
Tail bend from the squatters who sol,
their eor3 wood ~ +ba e4a.,,haa+s
When the boats landed at night these
squatters would come to the boats il
their shirt tails for their money
Gazing Banks.
The immense changes in the banks
of the Mississippi river caused great
loss 70 the planters living on them as
instaneed on Argyle plantation. whict
has entirely eaved away and is now 10