Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-07-15

return from the Confederate army. with his pa
role In his pocket, and to see him fall pierce
with seven bullets. Peter Hanger, her brothe
and his son were also shot down by the sam
party.
JOHN STUARTS FAMILY.
Father-an-la0 of James Leslie.
John Stuart was cotemporary of James AL
len, and with him, so far as is now known, tn
only elders of the Stone Church, In John Craig
ministry What was regarded as very extraor
dlnaTy at that day, they brought their churcl
certificates from their session or kirk in Ireland
from amid the Romans as Mrs. JOAN:
Hamilton, daughter of old Parson Craig called
the Catholics When the Stone Church wa
| built, the old Parson laid the first stone, anc
turning to John Stuart said, Nov John, ",
laid the first, do you lay the second" He act
| ed as the old Parsons stated cerk-so to speal
kept all the church records, which uufortu
! nately have been all lost.
| AS before mentioned, he lived on what's nov
know as the Humbert farm, and his son Johr
married Fannie Burnside Of John-who made
| the first improvement where J. Mcpherson
Crawford now lives. His children were Polly
wife OF DR.. Peachy Harrison, whose children
were IItiln-a promising young physician, who
died early; Gessner Meade, NJ D., Prof. al
the University of Va, and who married a
daugter of Prof. Tucker; Peacby Rush, M. d.
who died young much lamented; Mary Jane,
and Margaret. wife of the late VIM. r. Ste
vens, and Caroline Elizabeth Harrison.
Peggy Stuart married John Baxter, of Rock
lngham, the father of Geo. Baxter and Mrs H.
Il. Paine, Presbyterian minister of Holly
Springs Miss, and other children.
John Stuart married Zeigler, of Shenan-
doah, and his widow married Joseph Moore,
the to thor of Tho lo+o
Moore, of Rockingham
Molly Stuart married Ed. Hall and removed
to Shelby county, Kentucky, and raised large
tamily-one of the sons, DR.. Hall, settled at
indianapolis. Indiana.
JAS. Stuart married Polly Kenuey, daughter
OF Moses, and an uncle of the late Judge John
kenney, Robert, James, and Betsy. wife of
DIR. James Wilson. mother Of Mrs. Elizabeth
McCue, widow of Thos w. McCue, dec d, and
Phebe Stuart, wife of Chas A. Stuart, of
Texas
OLD PARSON JOHN CRAIG,
came from the North of Ireland, about 1773,
and the only residence we have any account of,
is the farm on which Col A. w Harman now
lives. He married ---, in Ireland. His
character for piety, combined with unusual
good practical sense, and the characteristics
lived, made him one who would have stood out
prominent in any age. The sturdy men, who
with him, constituted the pioneers of Presby-
terianism in this Valley regarded him with
great veperation. 1t is believed that Rev. Jas.
Black, who also came from ireland same time,
it may be in advance of Parson Craig preached
a short time In an old log church, that stood
near the gate of the old graveyard. With Jas
Allen and John Stuart, bis right hand men, be
no doubt projected the ''Stone Church." and
like the Jews in the days of Solomon, when
they determined to build the temple, went at
it with will. The stone were quarried on the
farm of James Allen, just opposite to Mrs Par
kins and dragged On trucks, whilst the sand
was packed on horses from the nearest point on
the Middle River, near Sam'l Harper's We
suppose the timbers to have been gotten out
with whip saws-tor the inside, the nails were
wrought as was common, by some of the black
smiths. and the glass must have been procured
and packed at Dumfries sole and first point
of trade at that day, for all this region. His
family we will speak of in order presently; but
It is proper to mention here, that his son,
George, who was carpenter, did most of the
inside work of the church. On sacramental oc-
casions the services commenced on Friday and
continued until Monday, and Friday was always
regarded as fast day, and scrupulously kept.
There were two services on Sabbath, and the
men who stood guard in the forenoon were re-
ieved in the afternoon by those who listened
to the service He had much labour to per-
form far distant from home, in the organizat ton
of other churches, as well as filing the two pull
pits Of Stone Church and linking Spring.
The anecdotes about his not being particular in
making elders, in taking dornacs when he
could not get the hewn stane, was told of him
10 connection with one of his missionary times
So the one in regard to his refusal to drink the
water out of the Tinkling Spring, because the
congregation refused to build it at more CEN
trail point, near where the Tunker Church now
stands on Barren Ridge. His good practical
sense enabled him to adjust the difficulties and
settle disputes without the aid Of Church ses-
sions, and all the red tape so common now in
church as we'll as in state. 1t is told of him.
that two of his parishioners repaired to his
house to settle dispute, and each told his tale,
and appeared much embittered against each
other. The old gentleman heard them patient
y, and calling to mind the circumstances under
which David on one occasion fddled the devil
out of Saul, called his son David, who, like his
name-sake of old, could handle bow like Or
pheus-to bring his fiddle He did so, and
played tune after tune, until the old gentleman
saw the effect was produced, when he asked
them to shake hands, forget the past, and 60
home He was cheerfully obeyed. On anoth-
er occasion, two dlsputants came to crlminate
each other, and pour into his ear their griev-
auces. He heard them through, gave them a
kindly admonition of the improperly of exhib-
iting such an unchristian spirit, invited them
up to the side board, where BLACK Bette
presided, as she did in the home Of his elders
and parishioners, and taking up the glasses,
poured out moderate quantity OF the bever-
age-invited them to drink each others health
and go home.
He had but two sons, George and David
George married Catharine Kennerly. daugh-
ter of - Kennerly, On South River, and
had numerous descendants, most Of whom are
in Putnam county, on the Kanawha, and o1
whom is Kennery Craig, who married VIM
Clayton's daughter, near Deerheld, but who
seems to have forgotten the PresbyteriaDism o.
his old grandfather. David died at about
eighteen years OF age.
Patience married Christian Hamilton or
Christians creek, on the Brady place, nov
owned by john Hamilton. Charles Baskins,
spoken of in former article as being so Gu
up at the battle of Guiford, where one ea
was cut down and hung by strip at the lowel
end, which he would never permit to be re
placed, but wore it as an ornament and re
minder of the British, whom he loved will
that sort of feeling which may be given ex
preston to by the following anecdote. A few
Sabbaths ago, a venerable gentleman, who ha
some of the blood Of the good old Parson Craie
to formerly by the old man, accosted an &C
quaintance with smile lurking in every corne
| Of his mouth, and asked if he would not lik
20 Nop V,n