The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-05-19
GEN. JACKSON'S
FRIEND ATTENDS
THE CELEBRATION

The most unique and perhaps the
most distinguished visitor in attend
ance upon the opening OF the celebra-
tion OF the one hundredth anniversary
Of the birth of Memphis was the Rev.
William NJ Norment, OF Whiteville
Tenn, who came over Monday morning
TO be present at the dedication of the
monument of Gen. Andrew Jackson.
Brother or Uncle" Norment, as
the people call him, is 80 years old. For
so years he has been pastor Of the
Cumberland Presbyterian church at
Whiteville. Perhaps no living minister
has such a record for uninterrupted
service in single church.
He is not as active as he was rs or
80 years ago, but his mind Is as clear
as whistle, his hearing is good and
his memorytis perfect. His son, Riv-
says he is "just big boy" He takes
= keen interest in young people and old
people as well, enjoys the newspapers,
follows political contests and delights
In the things that men half century
younger find their, pleasures in,
morning he telephoned to The News
Scimitar and called for George Nor
ris, whom he chrstened, at least sew
eral years back, whose parents he
married, whose grandparents he buried
and whose great grandparents he
knew intimately. He was accompanied
from the Union depot to Court square,
where he was given q seat of promi-
nence at the exercises in honor Of Gen.
Andrew Jackson.
He said he was especially anxious to
attend the services. He wanted to
have a part, as a spectator at least, in
the services in honor of his old friend,
the general When Brother Norment
was student at Cumberland university
his class made a pilgrimage to the
Hermitage, IA miles from Nashville, to
visit Gen. Jackson. He gave us some
fatherly advice" said he, "and / have
carried in my mind to this day his
splendid bearing, his honesty and the
ruggedness Of his character.
In the party of students that visited
Gen. Jackson with young Norment was
another boy destined to long life and
an honoreds career, Judge Nathan
Green, for many years dean Of the
Lebanon law school, who taught more
members Of the senate and house, OF
representatives than any other teacher
in the United States. Last year Rev.
Norment and Judge Green had somt
correspondence about their visit to
Gen. Jackson. A few months age
Judge Green died at the age Of 80
Green, is a member of the supreme
\ court of Tennessee.
During the senatorial primary in 1917
when Senator Lea, Gov Patterson and
Mr.. McKellar were shelling the woods
Mr., Norment was a strong partisan Of
Mr.. McKellar MIR. McKella- spoke n
Whiteville at night. 1t was one OF the
memorable occasions in the history OF
Whiteyille, for Mr.. Norment made 4
4 stirring speech. in which he portrayed
the principles of the pure and unadul-
terated Democracy of the ''Old Hick.
ory" variety as he gathered them from
the partys greatest, exponent, and
which he has observed through all the
trials and tribulations of his eventfu
career
Mr. Norments memory of Memphis
extends back to when there was nc
Memphis, but merely village with g
few stores on Front row." Monday
he rode down Main street, which wa
never so gaily decorated, and recalled
the time when the territory he ira
versed was wilderness and the vas
expanse now covered by thriving cit,
was without form and void"