The now defunct Memphis Press-Scimitar used to have a column called Strolling with Eldon Roark ... a noted columnist. This story is derived from one of his 1960 columns.
First Real Split-Level House in Hardeman County
In 1960, Robert Luther Ray was an 85 year-old Bolivar, Tennessee surveyor; he was known as a rugged and unique character. Mr. Ray was a bachelor and at the age of 75 he decided to build himself a house out on his farm. He decided he wanted a "split level" home...but mind you, this home was like no other split level home you have ever seen. Built of concrete block construction, his house had SEVEN levels (from the basement to the attic) with virtually every room on a different level. The roof of his home had an overhang that extended out EIGHT feet from the sides and the ends of the house...when you looked straight out the upper floor windows, you couldn't even see the yard.
Most people thought his home was rather peculiar (and it was), but Mr. Ray wasn't a man to care too much about what people thought, so long as what he was doing was honest and within the law.
Charged for Mule Time
Mr. Ray was the Hardeman County surveyor for over 50 years, and is credited with the peaceful settlement of many disputes over property lines. Most people were willing to abide by Mr. Ray's findings as a surveyor. "Whenever Mr. Ray says the lines are, that's where they must be".
Although his work took him all over the county, Mr. Ray NEVER owned an automobile. For years he rode a mule to his surveying jobs. But in more recent years the people who hired him always went for him in their cars to pick him up as that was good economy for them. Mr. Ray, you see, charged for his services by the hour and his time started when he left his home. The time he spent aboard his old mule riding to the site was included as well as his return trip home! So his clients found it to be a good practice to whisk him to his survey site in their cars.
Mr. Ray was a self-taught surveyor. He was good in mathematics and he read books on surveying. When surveying, he used to mark the corners of the land (boundaries) with bottles. "Best thing in the world to use for marking corners" he would say. "Glass never deteriorates. It will be there forever." Very interesting man--Mr. Ray.