SKETCHES OF TRAVEL (Author Unknown)
Hardyman co., Tenn., Jan'y 29, 1844
The North-Carolinian. [volume] (Fayetteville [N.C.]), 29 March 1845
Contact: Myrtle Bridges

	This is indeed a delightful region of country, producing corn and cotton in abundance. The people in this section 
plant aout two thirds of their open land in cotton and one third in corn. The land is high and level, easy cultivated, 
clear of rock; the soil is remarkable firm, when dry in summer almost like ashes. Several gentlemen and myself rode out 
yesterday exploring the country. We got down in the upper edge of Mississippi; there I saw some of the finest farms I 
ever saw. The land is a rich as heart could wish, as level almost as the floor. The farms are generally square, containing 
a quarter section, a helf section, etc. This land is in the Chickasaw purchase-it has not been inhabited by the whites 
more than ten years, and yet many men have made independent fortunes in that time. I endeavor to view the country with 
an impartial eye, weighing the advantages with the disadvantages, and yet I am inclined to decide in favor of this country. 
	I have found many old acquaintances and friends here. Indeed, I can never forget the kindness shewn me, for as soon 
as it is known that I am a Carolinian, every door is thrown open and I receive a hearty welcome. I admire the hospitality of 
this people-society is good in this section-very little profanity or drunkness. As I came to this neighborhood I called on 
K. Martin, L. McKinnon, and Kinneth McKenzie, in the north part of McNairy county-all well and doing tolerable well. They 
had land producing corn, wheat, and oats in abumdance-but it is not a cotton growing section. McNairy county in general is 
a poor county. I have visited Col. Mask, John Dockery, Thomas Bowdown, Wm. Usher, Mastin and James Pankey, all well and 
doing a large business. John Dockery made 150 bales of cotton weighing 500 lbs. per bale. I had the good fortune to meet 
Mr. Nathan T. Bowdown in this country, a gentleman from Richmond, with whom I was acquainted. He will go with me to any 
place in this section-he has been riding with me four days, and we expect in a few days to go down into Mississippi. Tell 
the girls that I have been treatly helped along by the kindness and courtesy of the Tennessee ladies. They are kind, 
handsome, and intelligent, able to converse intelligibly on any subject that may be introduced.

 Return to What's New in Richmond County 
 Return to Richmond Co. Home Page

This page created January 18, 2018 by Myrtle N. Bridges