Who was Daddy Claxton?

[Al Christians]

This character is mentioned in the Wabash Cannonball. Claxton was
also, I believe, Roy Acuff's middle name. If anyone can explain this,
please do. Is this a case of persons living or dead being purely
coincidental, or is there any connection not involving precognition?

TIA.

Al

[Robinjoy25]

>Al,
Daddy Claxton was a famous lawyer in Alabama in the late 19th century
in Albama. Roy Acuff's middle name is Claxton in honor of this lawyer.
Robin from Albany
>
>
>

[Al Christians]

Robinjoy25 wrote:
> Daddy Claxton was a famous lawyer in Alabama in the late 19th century
> in Albama. Roy Acuff's middle name is Claxton in honor of this lawyer.

How did that get him into the song?

Al

[Peter S. Shenkin]

Al Christians <ach...@easystreet.com> wrote in message
news:3738BC41...@easystreet.com...

Especially since Roy was from Tennessee.

-P.

[Hugh Barnett]

Al Christians wrote:

> This character is mentioned in the Wabash Cannonball. Claxton was
> also, I believe, Roy Acuff's middle name. If anyone can explain this,
> please do. Is this a case of persons living or dead being purely
> coincidental, or is there any connection not involving precognition?
>
> TIA.
>
> Al

Roy Acuff's middle name is indeed Claxton. However, I thought that Wabash
Cannonball was written by A. P. Carter. It was recorded by The Carter
Family prior to Roy Acuff's recording.

--
Hugh Barnett
Washington, NC

[Mr Steamy]

Al

I think that history would easily disprove A.P.Carter's authorship of Wabash
Cannonball. I wouldn't mind betting that the song was recorded by someone
before the Carters did. I recall an article (by Kip Lornell?) in which he
claimed to be A&R man for A.P. And I clearly remember Sara Carter saying
that the copyrights & writing credits were always awarded to the band/group
leader. It was more by convention than merit!

Come On TR - can you offer an earlier reference?

Alec

[Al Christians]

_The_Long_Steel_Rail_ says that the Claxton of the song is not known to
correspond to any actual person, and furthermore that the Carter's sang
'Cleaton'. The Delmore's sang 'Claxton', but maybe only after they were
acquainted with Roy Acuff, IDK.

OTM, it's enigma wrapped in mystery, but at least you can dance to it.

Al

[Mr Steamy]

Sorry folks, for Al please read Hugh!

Alec

Hugh Barnett wrote in message <373B0DC6...@coastalnet.com>...
>Al Christians wrote:

[Joe Cline]

On Thu, 13 May 1999 14:13:51 -0700, Al Christians
<ach...@easystreet.com> wrote:

>_The_Long_Steel_Rail_ says that the Claxton of the song is not known to
>correspond to any actual person, and furthermore that the Carter's sang
>'Cleaton'. The Delmore's sang 'Claxton', but maybe only after they were
>acquainted with Roy Acuff, IDK.

A.P. received a number of copyrights of songs that he "collected"
either on his jaunts selling fruit trees, from old songbooks, from his
own family heritage (including songs Sara or Maybelle brought to the
group) or from other sources, including Leslie Riddle.

Since Roy died, I've been singing the last verse: Here's to Mr. Acuff,
may his name forever stand. I highly encourage others to follow suit.

Joe in Charlotte

[poun...@gmail.com]

On Tuesday, May 11, 1999 at 4:00:00 PM UTC+9, Al Christians wrote:
> This character is mentioned in the Wabash Cannonball. Claxton was
> also, I believe, Roy Acuff's middle name. If anyone can explain this,
> please do. Is this a case of persons living or dead being purely
> coincidental, or is there any connection not involving precognition?
>
> TIA.
>
> Al

The version of this song I learned as a boy in Oklahoma in the 1950s has "Here's to Daddy Claxton, may his name forever stand / And always be remembered round the courts of Alabam'." This is Roy Acuff's 1938 version, though for all I know he may have sung others.

[robert...@gmail.com]

Daddy Claxton was an Alabama farmer at the turn of the century in rural Alabama.Most historical records say that he was Black. The railroads of that time had a monopoly on farmers crops getting to market and many lost their farms. He stole a train to get his crops to market and although tried, was not convicted, the jury was made up of sympathetic farmers from the area.

[jloe...@gmail.com]

On Tuesday, May 11, 1999 at 3:00:00 AM UTC-4, Al Christians wrote:
> This character is mentioned in the Wabash Cannonball. Claxton was
> also, I believe, Roy Acuff's middle name. If anyone can explain this,
> please do. Is this a case of persons living or dead being purely
> coincidental, or is there any connection not involving precognition?
>
> TIA.
>
> Al

Replying to the LAST comment on the thread, the one that says:
Daddy Claxton was an Alabama farmer at the turn of the century in rural Alabama.Most historical records say that he was Black. The railroads of that time had a monopoly on farmers crops getting to market and many lost their farms. He stole a train to get his crops to market and although tried, was not convicted, the jury was made up of sympathetic farmers from the area.

The above is what I learned, too, somewhere in my past. Did you learn it from me? for instance, at https://historynewsnetwork.org/blog/152354 ? If not, then you and I both learned it independently, which is TWO sources, twice as good as one!

[David Scolnic]

Jim - Terrific piece on the history - just read the article at https://historynewsnetwork.org/blog/152354 ?
Had no idea that the piece was lovingly ripped off from the Great Rock Island Route. Also never understood why Birmingham was cold and the train seemed to be going in the wrong direction. Thanks for the education!

PS _ Anybody else remember that Robert F. Kennedy's campaign train was called the "Ruthless Cannonball," as in "Ruthless Robert Kennedy," so called because of how he tough he was as AG?