Fiat Flux

The Writings of Wilson R. Bachelor, Nineteenth-Century Country Doctor and Philosopher

William D. Lindsey

• Publisher: University of Arkansas Press
• Year: 2014
• Print ISBN: 9781557286369
• eBook ISBN: 9781610755252
• Topic: Philosophy
• Subtopic: North American History

Wilson R. Bachelor was a Tennessee native who moved with his family to Franklin County, Arkansas, in 1870. A country doctor and natural philosopher, Bachelor was impelled to chronicle his life from 1870 to 1902, documenting the family's move to Arkansas, their settling a farm in Franklin County, and Bachelor's medical practice. Bachelor was an avid reader with wide-ranging interests in literature, science, nature, politics, and religion, and he became a self-professed freethinker in the 1870s. He was driven by a concept he called "fiat flux," an awareness of the "rapid flight of time" that motivated him to treat the people around him and the world itself as precious and fleeting. He wrote occasional pieces for a local newspaper, bringing his unusually enlightened perspectives to the subjects of women's rights, capital punishment, the role of religion in politics, and the domination of the American political system by economic elite in the 1890s. These essays, along with family letters and the original diary entries, are included here for an uncommon glimpse into the life of a country doctor in nineteenth-century Arkansas.

Diary of Wilson R. Bachelor (1870–1902)

A VOYAGE

MARCH 1, 1870

I moved my family aboard [a] flat Boat1 at Morris Landing2 with another f[amily] and about 4 P.M. I bid adieu to my friends and the pine clad Hills of the Romantic Ten[nessee], unmoored and rowed out, and began to descend the stream; we stoped awhile in Bend Shoals to Receive[d] another family. [A]fter tarrying a sho[rt] time, and bidding adieu to some verry warm friends, we again Resumed our voy[age]. [A]fter Running about one hour, we again touched at Hamburg; to discharge some friends, again those painful farewells were Repeated, after which we committed ourselves, to the rather swollen waters [of] the Tennessee River. [T]he night passed rather gloomily: neither I, nor my wife, being ve[ry] well. [T]he night was clear and serene and beautiful. [A]nd we progressed Sple[ndidly]. [T]he wind which had been pretty high all day, had Subsided Shortly after dark [and] there was not a Ripple to disturb the tran[quil] waters. [A]nd the River Seemed to Sparkle between its banks like a vast cosmic repose.3

MARCH 2ND [1870]

Morning came, brightening as the Sun rose directly out of the east before the Bow of our boat.4 A pretty strong gale of wind came and continued to blow. [Several?] gentlemen took a canoe and out and went to the Chute, of Beach Creek5 [Is]land, Expecting to find some wild geese [and] ducks, but saw none. [A]bout 5 P.M. we [la]nded just above old Perryville, and procured some firewood. [D]uring the evening of this day, two of the young men, went in a canoe gunning, and killed one duck and one Squirrel, I ate the Squirrel for Sup[per].6 [I]t is now about 8 P.M.[,] the wind has nearly ceased, and we are being Rapidly bourn along on the buoyant bosom of old Tennessee. [A]bout 11th o’clock I was awoke by efforts being made to land, in which [page torn] Britts Landing,7 here we remained until [page torn: next?] morning.

MARCH 3RD [1870]

This morning was quite gloomy, [a]nd drizzly. [H]owever we were Soon drifting downwards. Several little hunting [exp]editions along the Shore were indulged [page torn: in?], but were attended with no Success, [page torn: in?] one I participated, I visited the mouth [of] Duck River,8 and shot the fatest and [lar]gest Squirrel, I have [ever] seen.9 [We arrived in?] Johnsonville10 about 1 P.M. [page torn] went up into Town, [page torn] for the purpose of buying [page torn] and also, to avail myself [of the services?] of a Barber. I found one but like Romeo’s [top right corner of page is missing] Shop was destitute of everything that [page torn] a Barber. I entered cold and wet; [there] was no place to hang my hat and Shall,11 [so?] I hung them on the door, which stood ajar. [T]he furniture of the Room, consisted in one half broken down chair, one disabled stool, two or three half grown negroes and white Boys came in a[nd] stood apparently amazed at the tragedy about to be enacted.

My colored professional friend,12 Soon procured Some cold water, and commenced Operation; as soon as this unpleasant business was over, I Returned by the Depot back to the Boat. [T]his place was build up, during the war, and is a small dirty little place, with a few business houses and a depot. [I]t has a meagre and dilapidated appearance.

[T]hough to resume my narrative; we ag[ain] took in our cable, and moved out. [A]f[ter] running about 5 miles, the rain begin[ning] to fall in torrents, and night comming on, we thought best to land, which we did and procured firewood; the night, thus fare, has Rendered [us?] uncomfortable, for it has Rained [bottom right corner of page is torn: incessantly?], ever since before dark, and the boat, I find, leaks verry much. [It is] now midnight, I have taken a [page torn: short?] nap, but am now up now writing [page torn: as rain?] is Still falling; all besides me [page torn: sleeping?]. Some, are lying on Beadsteads [page torn: some on?] bunks, Some on pallets. [The?] fire on the hearth, is gradually dying [away?]. [A] couple of lazy pups, are lying before the fire on the hearth, while a [s]mall Spaniel, is dozing with with his head against the jam:13 and I am getting tired of writing, So, good night.

MARCH 4TH [1870]

This morning the rain has ceased though, it is Still cloudy. [W]e turned loose about daybreak, and arrived at Danville14 about 10 A.M., where we Stopped about 30 minutes, after which, we continued our course down the river; we have not progressed today So Splendidly, as we have had to contend with the waves and wind, the water being quite tumultuous. [N]othing occured to day of Interest. Some little hunting along the Shore, but without Success. [T]he only thing killed was a Small waterfowl by myself. [T]o night we are tied [up?] to Some willows 20 yards from the Shore [torn] miles below Paris Landing,15 on the west Side of the River. [I]t is now about 9 P.M. [A]ll have Retired, Excepting I, and my wife,16 and while I am writing She is Sewing, and I feel [like?] retiring myself.

MARCH 5TH [1870]

[A]t 3 A.M. this morning we turned [bottom left corner of page is torn: loose?] and made a Splendid Days run, [page torn]. [W]e had much oaring to do in conse[quence] of a pretty Strong East wind, which [page torn: blew?] incessantly, on our Starboard, thus [page torn] us continually towards the Shore [page torn]. [W]e kept out and run about 40 m. [page torn] at Birmingham17 at 3 P.M. [page torn] about one hour, hindren in cable, and were again gliding Rapidly. [W]e landed 6 miles below Birmingham at 27 mile Island, and again Supplied [ourselves] with firewood. As the sun went do[wn] it become cloudy, and we did not think it proper to run, So we have Remained to the present hour. [N]othing has occured [to]day worthy of note, Some of the crew have been hunting along Shore all day, [but?] killed nothing Excepting Some Squirrels. [Sin]ce I have commenced writing, distant thunders begin to mutter, and the pattering [of] drops of rain on the roof of the boat, announce, the approach of a heavy rain and perhaps wind. I have slept 4 hours to night and arose, and, am now writing, at 3 oclock in the morning, while all [are] buried in Slumber.

MARCH 6TH [1870]

[W]e unmoored early this morning, [as?] the rain was falling, and a pretty brisk gale blowing from the North; however, we Continued to run untill 2 P.M. and when within about 5 miles of Paducah,18 we met wind in Such force, we were Compelled to land, which we did on the North [Side of] the River; and Spent the evening in [bottom right corner of page torn: gathering?] hickory nuts,19 and getting firewood. [T]he hickory nut trees, a great many of them [are] Still full of nuts, altho so late in [the] Season; it is now, while I am writing, [page torn] oclock at night (an[d] Such a night) it [bottom right corner torn: is?] verry dark and the wind is Exceed[ingly hi]gh, the tumult of angry waters [top left corner of page torn: tossed?] in every direction; the Boat reels and trembles, the groanings of the forest [m]ay be heard, mingled with the mad roar [o]f the waves, as they lash the Shore. [T]he weather is Rapidly turning colder, and altho, the night is so gloomy, nature warns me to take take Repose; So I cease writing and retire.

MARCH 7TH [1870]

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Table of contents

• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Acknowledgments
• Foreword by Sen. Dale Bumpers
• Foreword by Thomas A. Bruce
• Introduction by William D. Lindsey
• 1. Diary of Wilson R. Bachelor (1870–1902)
• 2. Occasional Pieces from the Scrapbook of Wilson R. Bachelor (1890s)
• 3. Letters of Wilson R. Bachelor (1890s)
• Afterword by Jonathan Wolfe
• Appendix I. Goodspeed Autobiography of Wilson R. Bachelor (1889)
• Appendix II. Masonic Eulogy of Wilson R. Bachelor (1903)
• Appendix III. Report of Wilson R. and Sarah Bachelor’s Golden Wedding Anniversary (1897)
• Appendix IV. Letter of Wilson R. Bachelor to Zion’s Ensign (4 February 1893)
• Appendix V. Genealogical Charts
• Notes
• Works Cited