THINGS WISE AND OTHERWISE, Smith County, TX ***************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm Submitted by Leroy B. Butler, leroybutler@hotmail.com 16 May 2001 ***************************************************************** THINGS WISE AND OTHERWISE "Some Biographies of Old Settlers." Historical, Personal and Reminiscent. Volume I By Sid S. Johnson, 1900: Sid S. Johnson, Publisher, Tyler, Texas Chapter X - Pages 52-58 An eminent lawyer of Tyler, was noted for opposing anything that perverted the truth. It was Col. Medicus A. Long, a man of talent and great legal ability; he was philosophical and analytical upon everyday matters, as well as upon legal questions. He had a good practice and stood high in his profession. Dr. Henry McBride was then practicing dentistry here. He was know then-as well as now-as the best story teller in town. Col. L. and Dr. M. were good friends, often thrown together in a friendly way. Col. Long had heard his friend tell a great many stories, but as large as they were, (his friend had told them), the Colonel had swallowed them as actual facts, for he never could appreciate a joke. The funny side of any story he never saw-the truth in a jest was the only thing he looked at. The doctor told one story that destroyed their friendship. It was the straw that broke the camels back. One story too many. Sitting around a blazing fire one evening a crowd of young men were telling stories for pastime and amusement. Marvelous yarns were told Col. L. was present drinking in every word with the credulity of his nature. The doctors story ran thus: "A few nights ago, I was out opossum hunting and in passing around a friends farm, I discovered what I thought to be a man stealing corn from my friends field. Feeling it was my duty to protect my friends property and arrest the thief, I placed myself in a position to catch him as he came out. As the object approached me I was in the very act of laying violent hands on it, when lo! and behold! it was a very large bear, carrying from my friends cornfield an arm full of corn and three very large pumpkins on his head. I, of course, gave bruin a wide birth". The boys laughed at the story; but Col. Long sat with rigid countenance, with not a smile on his amiable face. Col. L. had lost confidence in his friend in who he had heretofore placed the most implicit confidence. In explanation of the reasons why he cut the doctor's acquaintance was given by him as follows: "I can very readily understand how a bear can stand and walk on its hind legs. I have seen that done. A bear might use his fore paws for arms and carry corn out of a field. But what looks unreasonable to me is, how in the h____ the brute carried three large pumpkins on his head at the same time. I regard the whole thing as a perversion of the truth. When he told it he looked straight at me, without a smile on his face-he tried to make me believe it. I spurn it. I think the doctor, most emphatically lied". Dr. M. told it as a joke, not thinking any one would believe it, and no explanation was satisfactory to Col. L. This closed the incident and Col. L. denied his friendship. Frank Bell, the father of Bryan and Frank M. Bell, of this city, was an early settler here. He was a man of energy and enterprise and was what the world terms as a successful businessman. He was always full of business up to his death, but full of pranks at certain times. He did business on the northeast corner of the public square in a log house, but now the ground is occupied by a large and commodious brick building. On one occasion a lot of drunken men on a protracted spree had taken possession of his business house around the fire, and he was anxious to get rid of them, and persuasion could not move them. Thee was Wood Henry telling stories and Andy Walters listening with his favorite expression "be gone", and a number of others. Bell declared if they didn't leave he would blow the house up. His threats were treated as jokes, and Wood Henry related another one of his stories. Bell became apparently mad and gathered an empty powder keg and said he was tired of life and thought it was time for all to go up in one grand explosion, and threw the keg in the blazing fire. Henry landed at the town spring in short order. Andy Walters, a large fleshy man, took refuge behind a large tree a short distance away. Ap Lott stumbled and fell out of the door and rolled to the public square and found a safe refuge, and others bounded to sequestered spots hunting for safe retreats and waited with impatience to hear the explosion of the keg powder. Bell quietly locked his door and walked over home and left the crowd to rejoin and go ahead with their levity. This added another yarn to Henry's store of wonderful experiences. It is said the John C. Bulger was there and Uncle Abram Chancellor was the next day looking for his son-in-law and found him inebriated and gave him some good fatherly advice. He said he was sorry to see him degrading himself in such a way. The famous remark of his son-in-law was "the kettle ought not to call the pot black". Old settlers will remember this colloquy between these two early pioneers. By the by, Uncle Abram Chancellor lived an honorable life and passed away regretted by all who knew him. He was an honest man, and swore the pig was worth only one dollar and a dime, and no more and no less, and that he ordered it killed. John C. Bulger held the office of constable here several years, and while he indulged in his "cups" at times made a good officer. He died a few years ago in Van Zandt county. Uncle Andy Walters, an old timer, lived in Cherokee county and I believe died there. He was a convivial disposition and enjoyed a "high lonesome" with the boys. He was a man of good impulses-but he had one weakness. Everybody liked Uncle Andy. There lived in Tyler in the early fifties John Holman, a noted wag. He was gifted in this way and never let an opportunity slip to use this gift. A young orator of Tyler and Holman were good friends. This young man received several very impressive letters to run for Congress. He consulted Holman and Holman said run. "But you see, I am only 22 years old and if elected could not take the seat", said his friend. "That's all right", said Holman, "you should run for your friends fully appreciate the fact, you will be qualified by age before you are lected. You should by all means run". The writer remembers Holman well. His features are recollected as only a boy then can remember them now. At the social gatherings he was a welcome guest, and his peculiar oddities were the attraction, especially to smaller boys. Johnathan Lewter may be living somewhere in West Texas-I have no recent information concerning him. Lewter occupied many positions of honor and trust in Smith county. He has filled the offices of county treasurer, tax collector and represented Smith county in the legislature. He had a limited education, but was a man of strong native force of character and will power. He was popular with the people and in a still hunt after office he was a lucky man. I remember well a heated contest for legislature honors in this county about 1857. Ex-governor R.B. Hubbard, Col. Geo. W. Clinton and Johnathan Lewter were the candidates, with two to be elected. Chilton and Hubbard inspired a rivalry among their friends, and Lewter apparently moved along in his quiet way being lost sight of in the deal. Chilton and Hubbard were giants in oratory and logic and the powers of debate. They canvassed the county, and were met at every speaking by a large crowd of admiring friends. Chilton and Hubbard vied with each other in eloquence wit and repartee. Jonathan went around with his coat and talked to the boys. When his time came to speak he made a common-place talk without any reference to his opponents. The election came off, Chilton and Hubbard not very far apart but Lewter was "out o'sight". Lewter and Hubbard were elected and Johnathan worked his political rabbit foot with success.