Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1911-07-13
Another Letter From Mr.. StrOther.

est you and many of your readers. Not
often does a man in his 87th year write
to his loved ones. That would be an
easily performed duty compared to
writing communication to a wide
awake newspaper, busily engaged in de-
Tending the policy of its own party and
exposing the mistakes of the opposition,
as well as chronicling the local happen
ings of the community in which it ex-
lists. have already written you two
letters-one the Echoes of Eighty-fiye
Years Ago." the other seventy-ive, and
this one of sixty-five years ago.
When was in my twenty first year I
left my paternal home, Mount Airy"
near Washington, Rappahanock county,
Virginia, for Alabama. 1 started from
home horseback. My father enloined
upon me not to trade my horse. In my
saddle bags, besides my clothing, had
some books l had used at the Univer-
sity of Virginia. was about one week
getting to my cousin, James Pendle-
TONS, at Marion. 1 met my brother,
Henry, there. My brother, Wade, was
young lawyer, located at Tazeweil.
After leaving my cousins, it took me,
think, about one month to get to Bel
mont, Sumter county, Alabama. Not a
railroad did cross in this long journey.
The first car ever saw was five years
later on. When got to Alabama had
traded horses until was about broke
out of money and the owner of-well
wont describe the horse l got in my
last trade. This trip to Alabama was
long, lonely and unsafe one of six weeks.
Many man in crossing Cumberland
mountain was robbed and killed. How
different now. You can now take a
Pullman after dinner and eat breakfast
in Alabama.
remained in Alabama five years,
teaching two years in Sumter county.
One winter l spent at Mr.. Andrew
Glasswell's. He was raised in, think,
Culpeper, Va, and married q Miss
Thornton, of this State. He had lost
his wife, and his mother-in-law was
taking care of his three boys and little
eight-year-old daughter. Some years
before l knew them, Dr. Thornton. Mrs.
Thornton's only son, when returning
from visit to a patient, put his gun
down, the jar it received causing it to
explode, and resulting in his death.
They were elegant people. After this
l taught at Belmont and boarded with
DR.. Hadden, whose young brother lived
near there. This brother was killed by
negro shortly after I left there
then went to Green county and took
charge of Triangle Academy. This
school kept three years. My school
life in Alabama had in it much to make
me thankful for, but many sad deaths
took place everywhere l went. If had
it to go over again how differently
would spend it, not so much for the dol
lars and cents, but as Christian teach
er should. Many of our teachers are
now doing a grand work Many are
not only teaching the day but are also
teaching the Sunday schools. While
was teaching in Alabama, all teaching
was done by men. How different now.
Almost all our schools are taught by
women-the salt and light of every
community. l always played with my
boys-went 'possum hunting with them
but never went ''snake hunting"
One day they insisted upon my doing so,
and if were to tell how many snakes
they found your readers wouldn't be-
lieve it. One night we were all lost in
the river bottoms while 'possum hunt
ing. While hunting we got to gather
ing pecans, and became bewiIdered.
One fellow said he could take us out,
but after travelling for some time we
found we were going not out, but round
and round. This we found we were do
ing by barking tree. We then select
ed star and guided by it went out.
Well, when / was twenty-five years
old came back to Virginia to see my
loved ones. While here met with MISS
Susan Petty, of Culpeper, and married
her. The Lord heard the prayers of
my sainted mother. and continued to
bless me in giving me a wife, whose su-
perior have never known. From the
beginning of our forty-seven years of
married life she gave me valuable aid
in making our support. When l had
charge for many years of a female COL
lege, she was always my main depend
ence. She composed many pieces of
music. Her musical talent has de-
scended from daughter to grand-daugh-
ter, the latter of whom took the college
gold medal as being the best performer
on the piano. During the first five
years of our married life, had charge
of Loray Academy and then of Salem
Female Academy. Here 1 met with
some of the grandest men l have ever
known. President Bittle was the peer
of any college president and a man
whom everybody loved and honored.
Won Hoxer was professor of modern
languages. l gave him and his wife