Year: 1868

dell county, North Carolina, a Presby-
terian minister by the name of Curry.
He was man in comfortable circum-
stances, of most excellent reputation,
with large family of sons and daugh-
tiers. Among these was boy by the
name of Nixon, noted for his sprightli-
ness, his activity and courage. III /.


Many are the incidents recorded of
his early days, wherein he displayed his
bravery and won the respect and admi-
ration of his schoolmates. He seemed
impulsive, generous, and the possessor
of many noble qualities. ea - o1


From childhood Nixon Curry was in
love. His fair one was a girl somewhat
younger than himself, attending the same
school with him. She returned his
affection, and so 'ardently were they at
tached to one another that, what is most
rare in childhood, no rival was ever suf-
fered to come between them.


Thus they grew up in delicious
dream of the future; and as their years
increased, so, apparently, did their pas
sion for each other. At fifteen this was
so evident that 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. I


The natural consequence followed
The lovers met by stealth, and renewed
their pledges to each otner. They
promised that, whatever should occur,
she would never wed any one else, and
Nixon vowod 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 an
other, she fed with her true and devoted
love. 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 re-
newed his flight. The pursuit was hot,
but he succeeded in eluding them, and
took refuge in the Allegheny Mountains,
near the sources of the Catawba.


Here really begins the extraordinary
career of Nixon Curry. Under the
plea of necessity, he took up the profess
sion of robber, and speedily rendered
his name famous by the number and
character of his exploits. Without at
tempting to give any of the minor in
cidents, it should be stated that the
young robber never took life for the
sake of plunder, although he did it
again and again to avoid arrest. FEB


The Governor of North Carolina Of
fered $4,000 for his apprehension, and
many parties, tempted by the offer, en-
gagged in the pursuit. They frequently
gained sight of the notorious bandit;
more than once the crack of his death
dealing rife was heard from some ad-
joining rock; but never were they able
to discover his retreat or bring him to
bay. "l.t +


Suddenly all rumors of his daring
conduct ceased, and although the search
was continued, he was seen no more in
North Carolina. 1t was judged that
his quarters Were becoming too hot for
safety, and he had, therefore, prudently
removed them while the opportunity re-
manned to him.


During the first settlement of the fer
tile delta, bordering on the St. Francis,
now in the State of Arkansas, an emf
grant made his appearance, calling him
self John Hill. He rapidly became the
most popular man in the settlement
Although of moderate means he was
sober, industrious, generous, and of ex-
tended hospitality, and such continued
to be his character in the country which
he had adopted for period extending
over about dozen years. p a


During all this time not a quarrel
some 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 Hill, for of all the hunters
that pierced the Jungle of the cane in
the "Great Swamp" or descended by
torchlight into the bowels of the Ozark
Mountains, he had the reputation of the
most fearless. He was overwhelming
ly elected again and again to the Terri
torial Legislature, and distinguished
himself by his powerful and impassioned
eloquence, and speedily became a leader
in the ranks of his own party. He was
member of the Convention which
formed the State Constitution, and was
reelected to represent his county in the
Senate of Arkansas.


And now began his second series of
misfortunes. Hills most intimate neigh
bors were the Strongs, four brothers of
considerable wealth, great deal of am
bition and, in the phrase of the country,
"famous fighters" A close and cordial
intimacy grew up between them and
Hill, and the latter, most unfortunately
and unguardedly, made George, the old
est, confdant of his previous history.
1t so happened that George had most
ambitious desire for political distinction
and made request of Hill that he should
resign his seat in the Senate in his favor.
Hill refused, and the brothers conspired
to revenge.


Sending to North Carolina, they pro-
cured a copy of the reward offered for
Nixon Curry. the notorious robber. The
four, powerful and determined as they
were, dared not attempt his capture
alone, but secured the assistance of
dozen men and made the attempt to
capture Hill in his own house. The
latter never forgot his daily peril. He
always carried a double-barreled shot
gun, two long rife pistols, and formid-
able knife. Arkansas has never been
noted as peaceably-inclined State, and
in those days its population numbered
greater per cent. of desperadoes and
lawless men than it does at the present.


The attack of the Strongs proved
dreadful one for themselves. Two of
the brothers were shot dead, while six of
the others were badly wounded, several
of them mortally, when the rest of them
were glad to withdraw for the time
This affair caused the most unbounded
excitement throughout Arkansas. The