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During the Civil War, Bolivar was occupied by Federal troops. They remained from the spring of 1862 until the close of the conflict in 1865, the town being under the jurisdiction of military laws all the while. There were no banks in Bolivar ... where were people to keep their money in these troubling times? Here are but two actual stories:
The Hustling Bustle
The Kit Joy Place (built in 1840 but now gone) was located on the corner of Calhoun and Market in Bolivar (near
where the Methodist Church is located now). Mr. Coates had moved there with his wife and family but he died before the war. During the war, Ezekiel McNeal brought fifty thousand dollars in bills to the widow Coates, and asked her to keep it for him. She was amazed, and finally she conceived the plan to hide the money in her bustle.
One Sunday morning Mrs. Coates decided to leave her bustle off as it was so hot. While she was devoutly praying in the Presbyterian Church, the word came that the Yankees were coming. She was terrified because she was without her bustle. Rushing from the church, she dropped her key at Bills and McNeals store (southwest corner of Market and Main). She managed to find the key and fell in the door just in time to put the bustle on. She kept the money in this unique hiding place all during the war, and at the end gave the money back to the owner. She was probably the first "mobile banker in Bolivar".
Value: $50,000 in 1860 would be worth over $1.4 Million today (inflation)!
Under the Rose Bush
"The Pillars" was built in 1831. It was the home of six generations of Major John H. Bills' descendants. This
home, with its Mount Vernon influence is one of the best examples of antebellum architecture in the state. During the war, Bills proclaimed himself neither Unionist nor secessionist, and thus protected his home and much of his wealth from military reprisals. The story is told that under a rose bush was put $20,000 in gold coin which had been entrusted to a faithful servant to hide for safe keeping during the Civil War. Old "Uncle Bob" was told to transplant two rose bushes, one on each side of the greenhouse. Two deep holes were dug and the cans which contained the gold were slipped into each, dirt was sprinkled on and the roses were planted. They grew and blossomed and at the end of the four years the treasure was found unharmed.
After the war, Bills continued traveling, entertaining, and aiding in the rebuilding of his business and of Bolivar until his death at home in November 1871.
Value: 1,000 1860 $20 Gold coins would be worth over $1.2 Million in gold value alone... and a lot more than that to a coin collector!
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