The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-10-27

} This valley is narrow and much broken, a
you enter it from the East; but after awhile
7 opens out into wide extent of country
beautiful indeed to look upon, and of {
moderately fertile soil. But the timber up
on it, abounding largely in post-oak and
black jack, indicates a thin soil. The sur.
faceisrocky; flint, sand and limestone abound
causing it to suffer severely from drought
Water is not abundant. Splendid springs
and running streams are occasionally found.
In portions of this valley, especially upon
the Rolling and Huzzah Praries, good crops
of corn were growing and maturing, which
were variously estimated at from so to Is
bushels per acre. [ put it down at not ex-
ceeding 40. The wheat crop had been gath
cred, yielding, as we We're told, from 10 to
Is bushels to one of sowing. But on the
greater portion of our route, the cotton crop,
and much of the corn, from continued and
distressing ,:;LGgbt%s almost an entire fail
|s,lallsa ~ ySsl.sy, is little com
munity of PresbyterianS who's
teresting, and with other like communities,
1 hope will be preserved, and handed down
to posterity. The people of the valley were
true to the South, during the late war, and
on this account incurred the wrath of their
exceedingly loyal neighbors, inhabiting the
mountains around and the region beyond
known in that country as "Grey Backs"
and "Jay Hawkers.' Their country was
laid waste, their grain and stock and all
means of support taken from them, and
many of their houses burned. Their min
lister, ReY. Mr.. McMillin, about the time of
the formation of our Southern Assembly,
and the union of the United Synod with that
body, by request, preached a sermon, in
which he stated and explained what he un-
derStood by cleansing the sanctuary.
Elk. xiv: 9, 10; Dan. viii. This gave NOR
tai offence to that exceedingly loyal element,
who showed their patriotism by theft, muir
der, and rapine. For this offence, and on
account of his adherence to the South, Mr..
McMillin, while on his way to mill to pro-
cure bread for his family, was arrested, taken
out and inhumanly and brutally murdered,
and his family of some five or six children,
were left orphans, without means Of support.
l have it from the most reliable authority, that
when the war closed there was scarcely a
hoof of live stock, no grain, and no meat in
the country round about. For weeks, and
even months together, many Of the people
had nothing to eat but boiled greens with
out seasoning. Many lived on the bark of
slippery elm. Sometimes it was dried and
ground into meal, baked and eaten in that
way. One lady, now in mparatively good
o;rouraseorSor IN lifa, tbo wifo &c ono Of the
elders of that church, while speaking Of the
suferings and privations of the people, said
that she and her family had been without
bread for four weeks, and that the first they
had, after these weeks of suffering, was made
of rye, ground in cofee-mill and baked in
the husk. She spoke of it as being really
the sweetest bread she had ever eaten.
The mother of Rev. Mr., McMillin still
lives, having g reached the age of SO years
Although almost entirely blind, and her
mind having lost much of its vivacity, she is
still erect, and was every day led to the
house of God, and during the entire session
of Presbytery, sat with the simplicity and
interest of a child, under the preaching Of
that Gospel, which has been her hope and
consolation for more than one half century.
She has brought up five sons and one daugh-
ter. Of her sons, two were ministers, and
three are now living elders in the Church
That aged mother in Israel was prostrated
upon bed of sickness, when those thieves
and murderers came to burn the house, and
even her condition did not spare it. She
was removed, and the house reduced to
ashes.
That little flock clung together during all
these scenes of suffering and death. Two
years ago one of their elders rode $50 miles
on horseback, over rough mountain road,
to attend meeting of the Presbytery in
Batesville, to represent the Church. and ask
for some one to 90 and break unto them the
bread of life. The Rev. ]. w. McCord soon
after went up into that country, by direction
of the Presbytery, and commenced preach
ing at New Hope.ana other points cOntigu-
Gus. Though an old man, and bending un-
der the infrmity of years, by untiring ener-
gy and perseverance and the hearty cooper
alton of the people, they have succeeded in
erecting a very comfortable house of worship.
The building is not yet completed, but was
so arranged as to be occupied during
the meeting of the PreSbytery. A
pulpit was erected temporarily upon a
work bench, and seats arranged in the house,
which is yet without floor, and only partly
weatherboarded, for the accommodation of
the people During the entire meeting, and
especially on Saturday and Sabbath, large
congregations assembled to hear the word,
and with evident interest and feeling. AS
the result, there are grounds to encourage
the hope that there will soon be some valu-
able additions to that church. The church