The Blind Fiddler

 

There is one less-obvious column in the United States enumerations for the mid to late 1800s for which I've been grateful as I pore over records concerning the family of my possible third great-grandfather, William Laws. That column, often left blank, was the place for entries concerning serious health issues. The one detail that helped me tie William Laws' records together over each decade's move from county to county was the fact that his youngest son, Wiley, was blind.

I noticed that detail in the 1850 census, when the family lived in Yancey County, North Carolina. That same fact showed up for seventeen year old Wiley in the record ten years later, when the family surfaced in Carter County, Tennessee. But when a seemingly derogatory comment about "Wiley Laws, the blind fiddler" appeared in a Chattanooga newspaper from 1874, you know I had to take a closer look.

Yes, the Laws family seemed to have a less than favorable standing in the communities they had recently left. It seemed they kept one step ahead of impending trouble. Or perhaps it was trouble which attracted them—I have yet to figure out this family's dynamics. But one thing was certain: there was a lot going on in Greene County where they had settled. This Chattanooga newspaper was providing a glimpse of the latest disturbance.

The article itself was a retort to an article in the Greeneville American on April 1, 1874, regarding a local Temperance crusade. That article, in turn, quoted yet another newspaper's opinion that "the whisky war at Greeneville is degenerating into an interchange of personalities."

After the column's two long paragraphs which essentially comprised accusations volleyed between three newspapers regarding opinions on the women crusading on behalf of the Temperance Movement, out of the blue was this comment about Wiley Laws. As the newspaper set the scene—"one of indescribable character and almost beyond endurance"—here entered the mention which caught my eye.

Wiley Laws, the blind fiddler, kept by Gass & Campbell to annoy the ladies still continues to fiddle and blaspheme, but without affecting the determination of the crusaders.

Say what?! I had to take a closer look. Was that my Wiley Laws, the blind seven year old son of William from the 1850 census?

Since it was an archived historic newspaper resource which brought me that choice discovery—and left me with unanswered questions—this would be the perfect opportunity to put the company through its search paces.

Thankfully, Newspapers.com served up three other mentions about a blind fiddler named Wiley Laws. From the Jonesborough, Tennessee, Herald and Tribune on October 25, 1883, regarding a "Pic Nic and Dramatic Entertainment," the writer noted that "Wiley Laws and Mr. Henly were in attendance with their violins and discoursed some good music, as you all know Wiley makes no other kind."

A few years later, on February 2, 1888, the Johnson City Comet announced the entertainment for a fund raiser to benefit the poor of the city. Among those featured entertainers was Wiley Laws.

One final article I found, from February 14, 1884, must have been referencing the very episode at the Greeneville Temperance crusade which started me on my search. Back to where this all occurred, according to The Greeneville Herald, 

Wiley Laws, the blind fiddler, was in town making music on the streets on last Tuesday. It reminded us very much of the crusade of ten years ago.

Just as for his father William, Wiley's last days remain a blank slate for me. I have yet to find any mention of him after the 1888 newspaper entry. I am still looking for any record of his death or any burial information. I can't yet be certain this even is Wiley, the son of William Laws. It is almost as if each member of this family just faded off into the twilight toward the end of their lives.

We can't, however, just leave this unfinished research question where it currently lies. It's time to go back, review the documentation that has been found, and start reading between the lines. Perhaps somewhere buried within the details we already know, we may unearth additional clues.