Year: 1868

In the year IS, there lived IN lrdell
county, North Carolina, a Presby min
lister by the name of Curry He was a man
in comfortable circumstances, of most excel
lent reputation, with large family of sons
and daughters. Among these was boy by
the name Of Nixon, noted for his sprightli-
ness, his activity and courage.


Many are the incidents recorded of his
early days, wherein he displayed his brave
~ and won the respect and admiration Of
his schoolmates. He wasE impulsiye, gene
rous, and the pOssessor of many noble quail
tiles.


From childhood Nixon Curry was in love.
HIS talr one was girl somewhat younger
than himself, attending the same school
with him. She returned his affection, and
so ardently were they attached to one an
other that, what is most rare in childhood,
no rival was ever suffered to come between
them.


Thus they grew up in a delicious dream
of the future; and as their years increased
so, apparently, did their passion for each
other At fifteen this was so evident shat
their parents forbade all interviews between
them. Her parents were the very f. F's of
North Carolina, and they had and could
easily secure more brilliant prospects for
her.


The natural consequences followed. The





pledges to each other Lucy promised that
whateFerashould occur she would never wed
any one else, and Nixon vowed to stand by
her so long as a breath of life remained IN
his body.


At length, at the age of eighteen, when
Lucy's relatives were doing their utmost to
force her into the arms of another, she fled
with her true and devoted lover They were
immediately pursued and overtaken, when
the enraged Nixon Curry, brought to bay,
turned and shot his rival and one of the
others, and renewed his flight.


The pursuit was hot, but he succeeded In
eluding them, and took refuge in the Allie
ghenY Mountains.


Here really begins the extraordinary ca
reer of Nixon Curry. Under the plea of ne
cessltY he took up the profession of robber,
and speedily rendered his name famous by
the number and character of his exploits
Without attempting to give any of the minor
incidents, it should be stated that the young
rObber never took life for the sake of plum
der, although he did it again and again to
avoid arrest


The Governor Of North Carolina offered
s 600 for his apprehension, and many par
ties, tempted by the offer, engaged IN the
pursuit. They frequently gained sight Of
the notorious bandit, and more than once the
crack Of his death-dealing rifle was heard
from some adjoining rock; but ne er were
they able to discover his retreat or bring
him to bay.


Suddenly al rumors Of his daring conduct
ceased, and, although the search was con
tinued, he-was seen no more In North Caro-
lima 1t was judged that his quarters were
becoming too hot for safety, and he had,
therefore, prudently removed them while
the opportunity remained to him.
During the first settlement of the fertile
delta bordering on the St Francis, now in
the State Of Arkansas, an emigrant made his
appearance, calling himself John Hill lie
rapidly became the most popular man IN
the settlement. Although Of moderate
means. be was sober, industrious, generous,
and Of extended hospitality, and such con
tinued to be his character in the country
which he had adopted for period extend
ing over about a dozen years.


During all this time not a quarrelsome
word occurred between him and any Of his
neighbOrs; and yet all knew that it was
from no lack of courage on the part Of Till,
for of all the hunters that pierced the
iungles of cane in the "Great swamp" or
descended by torch light into the bowels Of
the Ozark Mountains, he had the reputation
of being the most fearless. He was over
whelminglY elected again and again to the
Territorial Legislature, and distinguished



eloquence, and speedily became a leader In
the ranks of his own party. He was a mem
Der Of the Convention which formed the
State Constitution, and was re elected to re-
present his county In the Senate OF Arkan-
sas.


And now he began his second series of
mistOrtunes. Hills most intimate neighbors
were the StrOngs four brothers, of consider
able wealth, great deal of ambition, and
~, Al Efp r -
ers." A close and cordial intimacy grew
up between them and Hill, and the latter,
most unfortunately and unguardedly, made
George, the eldest, confident of his pre-
vious history. 1t so happened that George,
the eldest, had an ambitious desire for pOlit-
ical distinction, and made request Of Hill
that he should resign his scat in the Senate
In his favor. Hill refused, and the brothers
conspired for revenge.


Sending to North Carolina, they procured
a copy Of the reward offered for Nixon Cur
ry, the notorious robber. The four power
/. fui and determined as they were, dared not
attempt his capture alone, but secured the
assistance of dozen men, and made the at
tempt to capture Hill IN his own house. The
latter never forgot his daily peril lie nj
ways carried an enormous dOuble-barrel
shot gun, two long rife pistols and for
midable knife. Arkansas has never been
noted as a peaceably inclined State, and IN
those days It's population numbered a great
er per cent. of desperadOes and laWless men
than at the present


The attack Of the Strongs proved dread
ful one for themselves. Two Of the brothers
were shot dead, while six Of the others were
badly wounded, several Of them mortaily,
when the rest of them were glad to with
draw for the time. This affair caused the
most unbounded excitement throughout Ar
kansas. The thought that the chiValrOus
and highly popular John Hill could be iden-
tical with the notorious robber, Nixon Cur
", was staggering to hundreds. Many for
a time refused TO believe It.


Perhaps the state Of public feeling can
best be shown by the following extracts
from the Little Rock Gazette. The first ap-
peared when Hill became so popular, during
the days Of the Convention:


Among the truest friends Of the people
+ Of all IN the present Convention may be
named JOHN Hill, Of st. Francis. His ener-
/ ~, eloquence and courage fully entitle him
+ to the place he holds, and, as we trust, may
/ long retain-that of the leader of the Arkan-