The Daily News-Journal from Murfreesboro, Tennessee • Page B1

THE DAILY NEWS JOURNAL When I penned a story on Nathan Bedford incredible urfreesboro raid in the Civil ar, I pondered upon a new quest know the personal man. is strong personality traits were the result of a hardscrabble hildhood, followed by the en- ichment of wealth and impending poverty in the end. Nathan was born on July 13, 1 821, into a poor family in Bedford County, Tennessee (Chapel ill). This area now lies within he boundary of Marshall County. was the son of William Forr est and Miriam Beck, who were arried (1820) in Gallatin.

Will iam was a blacksmith for the ohn Emasy plantation in Bedford County; and the family be- gan a life together in a two-bedroom cabin. hen his father William (37) ied in 1837, Nathan, the eldest, emerged in charge of the welfare of his family at the tender age of 17 years old. mother Miriam, who as 6 feet tall, suffered a life of ardship. She was born into a trict Presbyterian Scottish ome, and much was expected for her future. I 1841, she married Joseph uxton; and three more sons and one daughter were born.

At the start of the Civil War, Luxton ied. All but one living son fought for the Confederacy with Nathan eemed the heralded general. In 1 867, son, James, lay ser iously ill in Texas, and she ushed to his side in a carriage nly to step on a nail and die of lood poisoning. A 24 years old, Nathan wed Mary Ann Montgomery (1826- 1 893) after a six-week courtship, a nd a lifelong love affair was in otion. I 1846, their handsome son, William, was born and later en- listed in the Confederate Army at age 15 serving with his father.

aughter Fanny, named for Nat twin sister, tragically perished at 5 years old. In 1861, Mary shared winter quarters in Kentucky and was supportive of her husband and prayed for im every day. I July 1862, Nathan was prom oted to brigadier general; and i 1863, he was a major general. By February 1865, he was a lieu- enant-general with the war in its inal chapter. Nathan was self-educated and never gained a West Point mili- ary education, as several of his fellow generals received as a restigious accolade.

Yet, his harp intellect and brilliant sense strategy led him on a path of uccess as a businessman. His ul- imate desire was to never return the impoverished existence he ad experienced as a child. Nathan was a farmer, cattle dealer and a broker in real estate. He had enough capital to buy cot- on plantations in Mississippi and A rkansas. He was also a slave trader and used this means of workforce to advance his holdings.

He strongly believed in keeping slave families united as ne. He fed and clothed slaves ell and assured good medical reatment. Nathan was known to fair and opposed cruelty in any form. Yet, he did not reason with- i the mindset to free his slaves. I June 1861, Nathan engaged as a private in the Confederate Army under Josiah Tenn essee Mounted Rifles, and history was soon in progress.

By Octo- er of the same year, he was an off icer in command of a cavalry. He aised and equipped a mounted attalion at his own expense and roved a keen sense with strate- y. This imposing 6-foot 2 inch HISTORY LESSON Forrest overcame personal hardship to gain Civil War fame SUBMITTED Nathan Bedford Forrest was a Confederate general. SUSAN HARBER hotmail.com SUNDAY 05 3 15 Religious eaders and Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital have partnered help improve health in Rutherford County, officials from the medical center said. The Saint Thomas Ruther- ord Foundation Inter-Church Council invited local clergy embers and leadership to impact collectively the health of the community by working together.

Anne Davis, director of the Saint Thomas Foundation, said the council was the brain hild of herself, Kristin Demos, the Rev. Colin Ambrose and Michael Gatch, Saint Thomas Ruthe new director of mission. Through its first two bi-annual meetings, with the third set for ctober, the group has discussed a few options. One is implementing a parish nurse program, which trains registered nurses on how to be a ink between their congregations and the medical communi- y. The other is launching a similar program to one commonly called the fficially called the Methodist Congregational ealth Network, the Memphis Model is a health and faith collaboration that focuses on improving a overall health by enlisting members of local churches to oversee the health of parishioners by increasing access to health care, Davis explained.

According to Methodist Le website, the oal of the program is to build stronger relationships between communities of faith and the ospital to improve access to appropriate health care and the overall health. he Congregational Health Network has more than 500 churches and faith communities partnered with the hospital to share the responsibility of caring for patients. Davis answered a few questions explaining how the Inter- Church Council was formed and what she hopes it will accomplish: Tell our readers a little about the Inter-Church Council. How id the idea come about? Davis: The Saint Thomas Rutherford Foundation has sev- ral committees, one of which is called the development committee. The development commit- ee is constantly looking for new donors to Saint Thomas Ruther- ord Hospital.

One group we were looking to engage as donors i the local area clergy. Who uses the hospital in their professional life as much as physicians? Clergy They are here tending to their flock all the time. Kristen Demos is the commit- ee chairman. She and I were working with the Rev. Colin Amb rose, and Colin is the associate priest at St.

Episcopal Church. We went to Colin; on the development committee as ell; they are both foundation members. said we want more clergy as members of the Rutherford Society. (A minimum contribution of $1,000 is required for being recognized as a member of the Rutherford Society.) He paused thoughtfully and said, really think that if a minister in our community did have an extra $500 they would give it to their own It was like this Level 10 profound thought. Kristin and I in all ur brainstorming and dreaming had never occurred to us the reality of the situation.

said, try to engage the clergy in another JOHN Founders of the Saint Thomas Rutherford Inter-Church Council include, from left, Kristin Demos, Saint Thomas Rutherford Development Committee hairwoman; Michael Gatch director of mission at Saint Thomas Rutherford; Anne Davis, director Saint Thomas Foundation; and the Rev. Colin Ambrose from St. Episcopal Church. Inter-Church Council tries to get religious leaders more involved with health care Michelle Willard CHURCHES, HOSPITAL PARTNER FOR BETTER COMMUNITY ABOUT HER Name: Anne Davis Title: Director, Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital Foundation ob Description: The Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital Foundation is a nonprofit organization, with the ain purpose to raise funds for Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital to make Saint Thomas Rutherford ospital the best place for patients to receive their care, associates to work and physicians to practice, Davis said..