Wade Hampton Bolton was a prominent Memphis citizen known for his philanthropy, but was
never well liked. The Bolton family feuded with the Dickens family, both of them slave traders,
and Wade was shot and killed by Tom Dickens on July 14, 1869.

In Bolton's will, he stated that he wanted a statue on his grave depicting him as he was in life.
His family granted his wish by erecting a life sized statue of him in wrinkled clothes, scowling,
with his fingers crossed behind his back, his vest buttoned incorrectly and his shoes untied.