Randolph County, Indiana - Chapter 7: Reminiscences, 1882 (part 4 of 4)

J. Paxson, Union City

'"* At Canal Dover, Ohio, a merchant proposed that I be his clerk. I was surprised at the offer, but 'took up ' with it, and held it till he sold out (two and a half years). At Union City I was putting up a store for Benjamin Hawkins. He bought goods at Cincinnati, and came and put the bills into my hands, saying, "When the goods come, I wish you to 'open them out' and go to selling them." I was astonished, for I was at the first of it ; but I took him at his word, and when the goods were '' hauled" from Greenville (for the railroad was not in running order yet) I went to work. Afterward we agreed for my wages, and I stayed with him for some years. But he left, and I concluded to set up for myself. I chose the boot and shoe trade. I went to Cleveland and bargained for $800 or $900 worth; I could pay only part cash. Said the dealer, '"' That is a pretty large bill; "' "yes, but I needthem. Ifyou prefer, I will let you take a note I have for a farm I sold ($550)."' "' Well, leave it." I did so; soon sold out, so as to need a new supply, sent cash in part payment of the debt, and for the new stock, and soon, when that note came due, he sent it to me to collect, which I did, and paid him. From that time I could always get whatever I wished. My store was the first of the kind in the city, and, of course, it is the oldest in the town. I carry now $10,000 to $12,000 worth of goods, making large sales annually, and have been mostly without a partner."

Norr. - His failing health and feeble strength made him take in a partner a few years ago, and finally to sell out entirely in 1880, the firm being now Gordon & McKee, and still later, Gordon & Thomas.

William Stanton, Stony Creek

'We passed through Cumberland Gap; they hailed us, but allowed us to pass. At Cumberland Ford we encountered Zollicoffer's army. We asked to pass their lines; Zollicoffer said, "No; you may get through, perhaps, but not here." I said, "We will not harm you; we have property North, and we wish to go to it."" But still he said, ''No.'"' So we turned back through the Gap into Powell Valley, taking a circuit of thirtyfive miles. We crossed Cumberland Mountains by terrible roads. It was a whole day's travel over a track but little used. But we met no army nor any soldiers. 'There were eight wagons in company ; four stopped in Tennessee, turning aside to a settlement of Friends there. These stayed in Tennessee till spring. The other four wagons came directly forward through Kentucky.

We crossed the Ohio River at Madison. People welcomed us in a very friendly manner, one old blind man remarkably so. The people wished to make a dinner for us, but we could not stop. We stayed an hour or two, and when we started we found in each wagon nice things - pies, cakes, etc., as tokens of good will. There were about, twenty persons in the company, my family having seven innumber. We camethrough Rush County, Ind., to see relatives there, then to West River, where we stayed two months, at Absalom Dennis'. Afterward we came to Mark Diggs', arriving there in January. The main trip took us seven weeks. We got through safe and sound, thankful to find at last a quiet haven afar from storm and tempest, and a peaceful home among friends in a land of safety."

''Away from slavery.' That refrain has been sung for three-quarters of a century, and solemnly, mournfully marching to its steady chorus has been the ceaseless movement of the endless column, leaving the southern plains and valleys, crossing the mountain heights, and threading the yawning "gaps," crossing the beautiful river and spreading itself at length like a fertilizing flood over the virgin Western plains. What wonder that, under the weakening power of this depletive process, the Southern Jand should become enfeebled and decrepit, as though worn out with deadly infirmity. This avalanche of human beings poured jn a limitless flow upon these wide-spread plains has been like the vital current giving life to the new created body politic. what we have gained they have lost, and what aloss! Why may the process now not be reversed - that as the mighty virgin West once received her life and strength through the emigration thither of the best and worthiest of the dwellers in the Southern clime, so now the West may, now and in future years, give back to the depleted and enfeebled South, depleted by a process of impoverishment extending through several generations, and enfeebled and well-nigh exhausted by a long and bloody and disastrous war - by hundreds and by thousands - the worthy and vigorous descendants of the sturdy pioneers who fled, years ago, from the plague and curse of the Southern land - the institution of human slavery? Slavery is gone, and the emptied and impoverished South-land cries out to the wealthy and populous North and the hardy and vigorous West to send from their abundant and overflowing population to restore her waste and desolate places, and to renew the prosperity of the elder, ancient time.