Many of you who know about Robertson County history know of the lawyer and statesman of Robertson County known as H.C. “Grip” True. Most everyone who knew him and many at the state of Tennessee level knew him and called him “Grip” True.
Grip was born and raised in Cross Plains. When he was a boy he fell into a well. While falling down into that dark pit he caught on to a rock that was sticking out of the dirt wall. He grabbed that rock and held on for dear life. He was a very young lad and hung there for several hours swapping one hand and then the other while yelling for help. Finally someone heard his cry and came and rescued him from the well. A fellow of the town said that the boy must have a strong “grip” to hold on so long. From then on he was known as “Grip” True.
“Grip” went on to be a very effective speaker around the county and in Nashville. He had a loud voice and was able to tear into a defending lawyer’s case and cut him to shreds. Whenever he spoke. people listened. He was one of the most effective lawyers in our local court. At one time he became a judge. He was close friends with Doc Pitt, who ran the largest saloon in Springfield in the late 1800s.
“Grip” and another well known lawyer in town, John Ewing Garner, had an office together on the west side of the Court House Square. One day a farmer from the Ridgetop area came in with old overalls and an old dirty hat in his hand and head bowed. He told “Grip” that he knew he had gotten some others off from going to the federal pen in Atlanta due to making and selling moonshine. He had been caught by the revenuers and would probably go to the federal prison unless “Grip” could help him. He told “Grip” that he had eight kids and a wife, and if he went to prison, they would probably starve to death…