The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-11-18
Brick Church and Early Times.


father, Maj. John Gordon.
He interested US in long enter.
tanning talk, detailing many novel
incidents and events which trans
pired in the Brick Church neigh
borhood, more than three score
years ago.
The Maj's. father bought ii 1907,
800 acres of land including the
place now occupied by Mrs. Roth
rock. In 1908, himself, and two
sons, Col. Thos. K. and Maj. John,
and two negro men, cleared up ten
acres, cutting and burning the cane
and pitching the crop some time
in April, which Notwithstanding
the freshness of the virgin soil. pro-
duced but a ameager yield, by reason
of the shade of the standing trees.
About that time it was, the father
and sons, once a month, made a
trip to Williamson county along
the narrow trace" for the double
purpose of yisititing the family,
who had not yet moved down, and
of carrying three grists of corn to
the Williamson mill, to be ground
and broght back, for next month s
supply. But forty miles to mill
was but a beakfast spell compared
with the trips of the merchants of
those early times, who thought lit
tie of a horseback ride to Philadel
phia for goods. Those were the
DAYS of leather breeches ("full of
stitches buckskin hunting shirts,
moccasins, &c, which the Maj. told
us he had often worn and would
not be ashamed of yet. They felt
quite comfortable, he said, till they
cot wet, and then rather tighten
ing tendency ensued, and it behoov-
ed one to 'shed his linen,' or stand
away from the fire. In those days
there was no cotton, nor focks of
sheep, and the sturdy frontiersmen
had to look to other sources fol
clothing. Neither were there any
Drs., nor was the afable insurance
man, "then in the land" These
two essential integrals to all modern,
well regulated communities, were
unknown to the times we speak of,
though aUe subscribe to them both.
On asking Maj. Gordon how they
got on without a DR., he replied
they did without; that he had lived
in Giles sixty years and never
knew a chill or fever.
Again the facilities for marrying
then, were not such as bless this
golden age, marrying material being
then exceedingly scarce, "Squires'
still scarcer, and ministers out OF
the question. The MATS. eldest
sister and her afI1anced, Mr.. Nc
Donald, rode some 15 miles to meet
Esquire Linsay (on half way
ground) his home being ten miles
east of Columbia. At this point
they were pronounced man ant
wife, by his worship.
In STANCE contrast to this, wher
the land swarms with pretty wo
men, Justices of the Peace
and ministers, some of the same
Gordon family obstinately and per
sistently refuse to marry, although
they could secure the loveliest o
blooming maidens cat the drop o
hat" and although Esquire Alex
ander and DR.. DuBose are bott
itching to say the ceremony. All
the perversity of human nature.
BRICK CHURCH.
The first house of worship where
this church now stands, was com
meneed in 1919, Mr.. Henry T
Butler, father of the Dr., Esq. Sam.
John, Bob, Tom, Mrs. Charb
May, and Mrs. Col. Alternately
finishing the seats and pulpit il
1920. But as early as 1915, Mr.
Willis Hopwood, a primitive Bap
tist minister preached, as a kind o
missionary through that country
| 1--WE beg leave, just here, to refe
the reader to the venerable Maj
Dick Williamson, who may sup
plement any omissions of his com
patriot, Maj. Gordon, touching
these early times.
The records of Richland Churcl
session say that son the 10 of Oct
A. D. 1910, Rev. Edward Mcmillan
organized a church on Richlan,
creek, under the name of the Rich
land Church." Brick Church } con
sisting of eight members. On tn
next day there was an accession o
ten others. On May 7th of IS4l
Mai. John Gordon was received b.
certificate from Mars Hill Church
and on the day following, there wer
six others added, and Maj. G
elected one of the ruling elders o
the congregation.
Maj. Gordon now nearing hi
four score years, retains in a mos
remarkable degree, that vigor Q
mind and body, and that cheerful
ness of spirit and kindliness c
temper, which rescue him from til
infirmities of decripitude, and whic
adorn and beaatify a green old ag,
Though nearing the close of hi
life's long day, the sunshine c
youth is about him. Serene b
llife's evening, and tranquil its clos,
to this venerable man.
Dyspepsia.