Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1914-08-20
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
OF JOHN |. WILLIAMS

L. Williams, of Tatum, Tex, who ID
a sonin-law of Mrs. Tabitha Cox, who
is at present with her daughter, Mrs.
E. s. Haynes, of this city. This let
ter will be interesting to many Of the
old settlers who knew him when he
was a resident of this county some
forty years ago:
Dear Children, Relations and
Friends:
81 thought would dictate a few
scattering, disconnected remarks for
my children, relations and friends to
read. | guess it will be like the In
dams preach-it will not convert any
on6.
am in my S9th year. l will first
speak of my family connection. was
born in the State of Georgia on the
14th of May, 1895. My father was a
native of Georgia. so also was my
father S father. Ny mother was a ma
tive of Georgia. Her mother was
born in Edinborough, Scotland, and she
was the only one of my glandmotbers
ever saw. My father lived at the
city of Macon. Ga, until was 16
years old. This is the fifth state l
have lived in. | have lived in Texas
forty-one years.
will now speak of my own exper-
ience. Men generally have heads like
Collins ram--they always think they
can do better. They will take notion
to sell out, and sell at low price to
get rid of what they have, snd the
consequence is, l think. nine out of
every ten ruin themselves. but it is
always too late when they find it out.
The loss of one is the gain of another
the world over, unless their loss is by
wind, water or fire. The young gen.
GRAFTON is like l was. One had as
we'll sing psalms over a dead horse
rs for old people to give advice to the
young of nowadays.
My life has been mixed with mill
tary service. l served twelve months
in the Mexican war, LIST regiment
Tennessee volunteers. l enlisted in
1851 in the Confederate army at Meri
dian. Miss under Capt Crumpton
and we were placed in the 14th Mis-
sissipi regiment and there | served
thru the war. was taken prisoner
twice, but not with my consent. Of
course it caused much exposure. l
have had many narrow escapes from
death duling times of peace and war,
but the good Lord has preserved my
life up to the present time.
Dear children, relatives and friends,
my memory reverts back to the days
of my youth, and it produces sad
thought. When the world seemed
flowery, pleasant and lovely, when the
future promised enjoyment, when fa-
ther and mother were living and all
my brothers and sisters and lovely |
companions, both boys and girls, how
we enjoyed life then. Now what a
sad thought l guess they have all |
passed away, those of my age, and l
feel like an old stem of the last rose
of summer, faded and decayed and in
"A condition to fall to the earth at |
any time and pass away. But, then.
what a great consolation it is for the
good Lold to let you live to enjoy the
company of your children, relatives
and friends. Thus is life mixed with
Joy and sorrow. guess am the only
man in the county who had three
children to be married in one evening,
twenty years ago. Fifteen of their
posterity are living, three little ones
having passed away.
I have not been able to see or write
in seven years and am very hard Of
hearing. From observations in my
long life there are three subjects l
will mention. Temper, tongue and
prejudice, and these three things
have done more harm, caused more
deaths and hard feeling than any 9th
er three things in the world. Trou-
BILE caused from these things has been
going on from that day until the pre-
sent day. l believe those three agents
have caused more deaths than war.
I will now tell you the difference
between old people and young people.
Young people think of living and old
people think of dying.
| am so weak that can't sit up
more than half of my time, but thank
the Lord for allowing me to live to
3njoy his mercies and great blessings.
and gambling have ruin
I'd the prospects of many young boys
md men.
1 will now give you my little COM
During my war days l was man,
But those days have passed.
And the sunset of life
Has come at last.
Man is but small part of human va
por.
lie comes forth in the world and cuts
a caper.
Ia ones down and ia M mora