My Genealogy Hound

Hardy Mattax, a companion in hunting and friend of Tom Comstock, mentioned on a previous page, was born in Coweta County, Ga., in 1839, the son of H. H. Mattax. In 1841 the latter settled near White Plains, in Benton Co., Ala., where he lived until 1846, when his wife died, after which he returned to Georgia, Morgan County, the home of Hardy’s grandfather. There our subject remained until nearly grown. In 1855, becoming possessed of a desire to see something of the world, he left home, and finally reached Cohutta Springs, Murray County, where some relatives were living, and here experienced the first pleasures of hunting, a pastime to which he has since been greatly devoted. Among his early successes was the killing of an immense bear, 600 pounds in weight, whose death only occurred after an exciting encounter. Entertaining a desire to attend school, he went to Benton, Shelby Co., Tenn., remaining as a scholar in schools there for six months. In 1859 he was occupied for a time in teaching penmanship at West Plains, Howell Co., Ark., subsequently resuming his teaching in a little primary school in Fulton County, where he went in 1861. When the war broke out he went to Memphis, Tenn., obtained employment until the Federals took the city, after which he lived near there until hostilities ceased. On the last day of 1870 he landed at Van Buren, Ark., removing from this vicinity, however, in 1873, to a place sixteen miles north, on Lee’s Creek, and one mile from the Cherokee line, where was a good hunting ground. Here his early desires for the sport were again cultivated, and before long an acquaintance sprang up between Mr. Comstock and Mr. Mattax, which has since continued to the pleasure of each. It is impossible to give, in the space allotted in a work of this kind, a detailed account of all the experiences undergone by them in their numerous successful expeditions, howbeit they would be full of interest. Thrilling, humorous and enjoyable excursions have been made in the pursuit of this favorite occupation, in all of which peculiar success seems to have crowned their efforts. Both are well known through this community.