The Southern Democrat, 24 Dec 1901 Reminiscence. I have been thinking for some time that I would write some for the Democrat, but I have been so busy and my education is so limited that I have been almost afraid to try. However I thought I would try one time and if it is published, I may try again. Sometime I study about old times way back fifty years ago and try to compare them with the present time to see if there is much improvement. In my judgment there has been great improvement in some things and in others there has not been so much. Who were the leading citizens of this County fifty and sixty years ago? There were on the east side of this County, Henry Cornelius, Robert Saye, Tapley Stephens, Jas. Harris, John Bynum, Solomon Bynum, Elijah Murphree, Marse Murphree, Daniel Bynum, Jesse Bynum, Lower Hamp Waid, Upper Hamp Waid, George D. Staton, Sr., George D. Staton, Jr., Ellis Clowdus, Elijah Majors, Tapley Bynum, Asa Bynum, Richard Scroggins, W.B. Deaver, William Cornelius, Champion Cornelius, Deforest Allgood, Banister Allgood, Ellis Murphree, Stephen Ellis, Jerry Ellis, William Ellis, Grandsire Blakely, James Blakely, Josiah Tidwell, Blake Tidwell, Jerry Tidwell, John Box, Mathew Deaver, John P. Cowden, Ose Woods, the Chair maker, Zack Blackburn, W.N. Crump, Minet Hallmark, Comins Hallmark, [first name missing] Cosby, Carrol Cowden, Robert Cowden, William Hullett, Solomon Palmer, James Palmer, Beasley Cornelius, Perry Palmer and William Reece. These and other I may mention hereafter. Now those of you who are old enough to remember that far back, compare them with the leading men of this section of the County now and see whether we have improved any or now. Old Sager.