The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1912-03-29
BORN FIVE MILES SOUTH OF
COLUMBIA SEPTEMBER
20, 1876.
ALWAYS LOYAL TO HIS DUTY
Was for Several Years Pupil of
Prof Harris, Superintendent of
City Schools-When Punishment
VS. Necessary He Took It.

verse;, in Maury county, David A.
Trousdale was born to Mr.. and Mrs.
Wilson Trousdale at their rome
about five miles south of Columbia
on the Pulaski pike.
David is one of seven children
he is the middle mantle balance
When but boy of nine years Of age
he was left motherless. The little
mother died and left a broken heart
ed father and seven children. The
Oldest daughter, about twelve in
years, became the little mother to
the family and thus it was that Da-
yid A Trousdale, the hero Of the
train robbery near San Antonio, came
into the world and grew up to man.
hood.
He was, however, born under a
lucky star, for he was never known
tC be down-hearted or in any other
spirit than that of joviality. When
but a mere lad he was noted for his
tricks and jokes that he would play
on his friends. Always strong in his
determination to do that which was
right, in fact his record as boy and
as man will show that he is a stick
Ter for fair play to all mankind. He
gives his fellowman fair show and
demands the same for himself.
Young Trousdale left Maury coun.
ty about twelve years ago and went
to Nashville to engage in street car
work. but failed to stand the exami-
nation in regard to height, and then
took position on the Louisville &
Nashville railroad running from
Nashville to Evansville, which posi-
ton he held for only about three
weeks. At the time he left Column
bia he was engaged in the carpenter
business, and had worked at almost
everything from which he could earn
an honest dollar.
He was struck with the Texas fe.
yer and liked himself to the Lone
Star state, unknown to his father
and family. When he landed in Tex.
as he engaged in farming, afterwards
taking a position with sheep raiser
at which position he engaged for sew.
eral years. From there he went into
an express Office in san Antonio and
was then promoted steadily until he
was given a position as express mes.
senger.
When here four years ago on a Wis.
1t to his people, he was asked II he
was attacked by robbers what would
he do. and he stated that he would
try them out once before they got
away with anything that was on his
car. This coming from young Trous.
dale had meaning with those who
knew him. Knew his cool, level
headedness and knew that he would
do just what he said he would and
at the same time wear smile that
fould not rub off.
r. L. Harris, Trousdale's school
teacher. in talking of him as boy,
had the following to say: 81 sup
pose ] know David Trousdale as well
as any man outside or his family. ]
gave him all of the schooling he ever
had He was boy of high ideals
and was a manly man. He was nev-
er a studious scholar. He thought
more of playing a joke on fellow.
companion than he did of getting up
his work but when he was told to
get up certain work, he never fail.
ed to deliver the goods.
II never knew of him telling a
falsehood. When he did anything for
which he deserved punishment, he
confessed 1t and stood and took II
like a man. Never flinching. He
was boy of remarkable self-posses-
sion. Never excitable, and when on
the play ground never failed to cope
with his school mates, regardless Of
age or size.
David Trousdale was born of par.
ents that were not in very fluent e.
nancial circumstances. His father
coming out of four years of hard ser.
vice in the war OF the states, he and
mis- brothers have had to wark and
hustle for their living and get what
schooling they could. He was always
hero when it came to defending the
weaker or smaller boys against the
impositions of the larger ones; was
always an espouser of the cause and
rights Of women and was. ever ready
to defend them in any way possible.
Speaking further OF what he knew
Of Trousdale and what he thought OF