Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1915-09-10
Big Bud Tells of the
Days of Long Ago.
To the Editor Of the BEACON :

VI olu anu young people gathered at
the home Of Mr.. Matthew Nelson, then
a prosperous and highly respected citi-
zen Of the Deerbrook neighborhood, to
witness the marriage of Lieutenant
Thomas Stevens, an ex-Confederate
soldier and gallant officer of Company
F of the lst Mississippi Cavalry, and
Miss Sue Nelson. the youngest daugh.
ter of Mr.. Nelson and his good wife,
Sebella Nelson.
The War had ended in April, and
Tom had made good use Of his time,
and had persuaded Miss Sue to become
his bonny bride, and this the 7th day of
September was the appointed time
Nick Rogers and John Deupree, his
trusted companions in arms, who had
served in the same regiment, and who
had stood by him in many hotly cor
tested battle, had consented to be his
groomsmen (as we called the attend
ants in those days., to stand by him in
this, to Tom. more terrible ordeal
that when he charged the Yankee bat
teries: and Miss Lizzie Farrar, after
wards Mrs. Brock and Miss Matte
Names, afterwards Mrs. Joe Nuckles,
were the lady attendants.
Thus attended, and surrounded by
the relatives on both sides and lot of
their friends, Rev. Joe Stone, the pas
tor of the Brooksville circuit, perform
ed the ceremony that made this gallant
old ex-Confederate and this worthy
lady man and wife.
Fifty years had elapsed, and on Tues
day eve, the 7th, we were invited by
his son, Nelson, and his good wife, to
come and rejoice with them and his 9TH
er children, Mr.. and Mrs. John Doug
lass and Mr.. Edward Stevens, that God
had spared both of these worthy peo-
pie for half century.
Mr.. Nelson's only son, young Matt,
was killed at Chickamauga. while fight
ing gallant in Rogers company.
His handsome son-in-law, Jim Carr,
had been reported missing after one of
the big battles in Tennessee, and was
never heard of any MOI e, and his wife,
:. Mrs. Mary Carr, he second daugh-
ter, remained faithful to his memory
for long years, until she was called
upon to come up higher.
Mr.. Joshua Stevens had married the
older daughter, Ann Eliza, and was liv-
ing in his old home, so as Mr.. Nelson
needed someone to assist him in mis-
business, he persuaded Tom to come
and be son to him, and this he did,
until he bought his own home nearby,
where he has lived ever since.
Industrious, frugal and economical,
this couple has ra ised and educated
their children, assisted in all church and
neighborhood work, and provided a
competency for their old age, and are
happy in the love and respect of their
children, relatives and many friends,
and now having discharged their duty
in every particular during their long
welded life, been true as steel TO each
other. hand in hand. are sitting at the
western window, waiting for the sun
set, and when the general roll is called
up Yonder, am sure that this faithful
old soldier and his loving old wife, who
has been such helpmate to him all of
these years will both be able to answer
here, and toreceive the welcome plaudit
"You have fought the fight, you have
kept faith come up higher"
There never was man who was
more faithful than old Tom, but he has
ever tried to tease Miss Sue as much
as | have my Sallie. and good many
of our friends have said that both Miss
Sue and Sallie will have to have an ex-
ira crown for having stood their old
soldiers as well as they have.
On one occasion, when we were all
camping on the river, and Miss Sue as
usual, was frying fish, and Tom, as u.s.
ual, guyipg everyone. one of our friends,
who had just married his fourth wife,
a handsome young lady, came up, and |
Tom said in his dry way, Some folks
are so fortunate. Here is DR.. --
who has had four pretty women, and |
have the same old woman started !
WITH But he came near having
skillet of hot lard thrown on him by his |
indignant wife.
Well, he has taken good care of his
old lady, and now that he is the more
feeble of the two, he can't bear to have
her out of his sight, ana she is devotion |
self. and anyone who had seen them |
wv old together. as | have for fifty
60, g couldn't look on them, and say |
yyssrr, Re was failure.
Mr. Matthew Nelson, Toms father |
in-law. was a remarkable man in many
respects. The very soul OF honor, and
h devoted member of the Methodist
hurch, in every way he was regular
,oldtime Southern gentlemen. To show
what splendid self-control he had over
himself, on one occasion, when he had
1bided Tom on some little matter, Tom
Eetorted by saying he did not chew to-
hacco. and Mr.. Nelson at ohce said,
fHYou can never throw that up to me
again" and although he had used to-
bscco tor fifty years, he stopped the
nse of it at once. Mrs. Nelson was
onite as remarkable in her way. :.
Industrious, hospitable to fault,
she looked to the ways of her house
hold. and was more active than either
Of ner good daughters, and could beat
them riding horseback even after this
Tom tells me that the Civil govern
- nod haan re-established and that