The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-05-15
Sketch Of James Patterson PreSSly.
by REV. ]. I. Y
Prepared and Published by order OF tht
Second Presbytcry OF the Associate Reform
ed SYNOD. SOUTH
by REV. j.. I. BONNER.
From the a. II. Presbyterian.

Ell SYNOD, SCUM.
From the A. r. Presbyterian.
DR.. Pressly was favored In Divine Provi
dence in having sprung from Il Scotch lnd
Irish stock. something over Il hundred
years ago large colonies OF the better class 0l
Scotch-lrish people landed upon American
shores, seeking homes for themselves and
their children, and especially seeking Il place
where they could worship God according to
the dictates of their own conscienccS. These
colonies were scattered over the belt of States
that lie along the Atlantic, especially in New
York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, the Cnrolinas.
and Georgia. Among other laroritc spot:
was the lower part Of IA1hcrille County,. ana
among the families that settled at an early IN
this section were the TreSslys, II large con-
nectiOn OF whom entered into the organizu.
ton of the Associate Reformed church ut
Cedar Springs about l7Si. Among them was
the father OF the subject of this Skctch-Da.
vid Prcssiy, who married lane Patterson, and
settled about three miles south Of Cedar
Spring church, at Il place then known as the
brick house.
or the parents an intelligent friend, Gen.
p. IL. Bradley, says: Ills father was u man
of uncommon energy and business tact, ana
he succeeded in amusing a considerable for
tune for that period. For strength OF cliarac'
ter and keen perception his mother had few
equals. Together they toiled and labored,
and in that unculiiratcd age succeeded In
raising and cducating a family of whom any
The sons all received a liberal education.
Samuel, the eldest son, became Il physician,
settled near the place OF his birth, pructiced
his profession successfully, accumulated n
considerable fortune, became discouraged on
account of political disturbances and the
want of 81 settled pastor ut that time at Cedar
Springs sold out and moved to Wilcox
county, Alabama, about the year lS35, where
in n Jew years he siokcned and died in the
prime of life.
The second son was tho late DR.. John T.
PrcSsly, of Allegheny Seminary, Pcnnsylva-
MIA.
The third son. DR.. George W. Pressly, spent
his life In Abbcvillc, where he became emil
ncnt us q physician. rs Il legislator, and above
all as Il pious, largc-hcartcd Christian.
William, the youngest son, was graduated
at Miami University, Ohio, and has spent
his life in the West, in mercantile pursuits.
There were two daughters-thc eldest of
whom was married to Or. Brown. and rcmor-
ed many years ago to Ohio. The younger be-
anne the wife Of the late Rev. Joseph Lowry.
of Jefferson county, Georgia, and the mother
and or grandmother OF a numher of those who
have become prominent in the church.:
The fourth son, and next to the youngest,
was James Patterson, the subject of this
sketch.
Old Cedar Springs has furnished a long list
of families from whom ministers have
sprung, but none that can equal the family OF
David PrcSsly, Esq. II The parents had rca-
son to be proud of their children, the chill
dren have just as much reason to be proud Of
their parcntage. And the church has reason
to congratulate both.
AS already intimated. DR.. Pressly was born
about three mics south of Cedar Springs
church, in Abbcvillc county, South Carolina.
or his early youth but little Is known. Dur
ing IL portion of his bOyh0od his parents were
without q paStor-Rcv. Alexander Porter hav-
ing let Cedar Springs and removed to Ohio,
and his brother John I. not yet having en-.
tered the ministry. DR.. PresSly was himself
an carncst, lifelong friend of Sabbath schools,
and awaited himself of all the helps he could
obtain in instructing his household, but he
was Il bright and shining example OF what
could be accomplished by careful parental
training.
EARLY EDUCATION.
or his early education we only kno that
1t was obtained ut the common schools Of the
country, and the friend already quoted says,
"Th.y were common enough"
His parents, having the means, and bcliev-
ing that an education was the best inhpri-
lance their children could have, determined
To educate James. as they had educated
Samuel and John and George. Accordingly
he was placed at an early age under his BROTH
er, joan T. pN>sly, VIII" was presiding over
Union Academy, an institution which in its
day had some celebrity. 1t was located near
to Chiics' Cross Roads. on the premises Of the
late Col. Joh Hearst.
DR.. Ebcnczer PRESLEY, his cousin. and life
long friend, Col. Ttins. {. Perrin. Il distinguish
I'd lawyer ut Ahbcvillc. tho late Rev. Jumcs
NJ. Childs, OF tho BAPTIST Church, and others.
were his classmates at the Academy. Here
was laid the foundation of that thorough
ScttDldTS!Iip W HUI SltcI u Us ~ tlStlilS
ed him. He was resolved TO obtain Il ~collcgi-
ate education.
IT'S COLLEGE COURSE.
At that time there were but few colleges in
the country. The out Carolina College was
In operation, but for some reason it was not
selected. John I. prcSsly had graduated at
TranSylvaaia University, ut Lexington. Ky,
then under the Presidency OF Rev. r. Fl.
Bishop, ID. D., a young man that had been
brought over to this country by DR.; John N.
and Ebcnczer were at, towards that
school, and thitlcr they went. Arriving in
Lexington in the autumn OF 1871, they found
To their surprise that Pennsylvania had UNI
dcrgOnc material changes, and that DR..
bishop was about settling, out for oxford, Ohio
to take charge OF Iliami University. They
accompanied him to the new College, in that
new country, and entered the Junior class.
There, before the organization of Erskinc
College. more o: our ministers were gradual
ted than at amy other place. Jefferson College
Pa, furnished some. but Miami University
furnished mere. Here were educated, besides
the DrS. PrcssIy james and Ebcnczcr,) Rcvs.
John Wilson. Thomas Turner. William 'Tur-
ner. Joseph McCrery. james J.: Young, John
bert Gordon. David McCaw, Robert Mcttoy.
David Pressly, james NJ. Young, Sanluel
Morris, WV. Patton, and perhaps others.
OF the College life OF Or. Pressly we only
diii.cnt and successful. This much we have
heard from the lips OF his venerable prcccptor
who sleeps in the valley OF the Ohio.
A THEOLOGICAL. STUDENT.
Though only eighteen years of age when he
graduated, he had made mp his mind as 10 his
profession, probably, even then. For soon nE-
forwards We find him a student of Theology.
Again. he takes his place under his brother,
John 7. Prc>>!y. who had been appointed by
the synod to take charge OF her Theological
students and to direct their studies. In the
embryo Seminary ut Cedar Springs 1t was his
| privilege to have under his tuition such men
rs Henry BrySnn. Samuel J.. PreSSiF, r. f..
! Prcssly and james r. rr%ssly-all nf whom
! their Ireccptor. These four were the first
students in E.r>kine Theological Seminary,
and the only ones, so far as we know. whilst
DR.. John r. PresSly was at its head. AS 500
Pressly was elected his successor, and from
that day to this the seminary has been In Due
West.
The old people that heard him still remcm-
bcr pr. James PrcsSly's efforts as Il student
before the Presbytery. and are wont TO speak
OF his youthful appearance. ana his extreme
timidity and consequent EN-, arrassinent.
livcred in Due West, on the 10th of February,
ls29. The next day he was licensed by the
Second Associate Reformed Prcsbytcry Of the
Carolinas, Rev. Samuel 7. PrcSsly acting as
Moderator. He was ordained to the full work
Of the ministry at Generostee. March z, 1889,
Rev. Joseph Lowry lending the Prcsbytery in
the ordaining exercises.
AS A MISSIONARY.
After licensure Or. Press'y lnborcd for 4
time In the vacancies Of the Second PreSby-
tery-at Due West, GeneroStcc, Bethel In Lau,
re,S, etc, and then he visited various point
in Georgia, Alabama and Florida.
His carly visits to the churches In Carolina
are still remembered by the Old people, and
many of them love To tell of how he looked
so bOyish, so timid and Of how he talked
SO reserved, so cautious; Of how he preached
! without moving hands or feet, and with his
eyes liked on some object Immediately in
/ front OF the pulpit all the time. They love &c
tell, TOO, OF how he lodged their hard qucs'
tons; how cautious he was about giving al
opinion about a matter that lie had not invcS'
tisttcd, and especially in regard to difficult
passages of scripture, saying, II will tell yor
about that when | come again How clihrilc
teriStic this was Of the man! How careful he
WAS about interpreting the mind OF the Spiril
and set low tcnaciOuSiy he held to the truti
wien once uSccrtaincd!
HIS FIRST SETTLEMENT.
Among the clusters OF Associate Reformed
people visited by DR.. lrcsSly in his mission
AIRY tours througl! the West, VAS one III Daila!
county and one in Wilcox county. Ala.-tlit
oic on the North side of the Alabama rive
and the other Oh the south side, about fort!
males apart. The people In the former place
had gone for The most pant from ewbcrr
and Fairfield, =. e., aud those in the latte
place, viz: in Wilcox, had gone altOeetllei
from Cedar Springs and Long Cane. in .Ahhc
vile. The two communities eagerly SciZet
the opportunity md united In Il cali 10 tht
! young tarOlinian and asked him To take In
care of their souls. Some Of the people II
both the above places had been in Alahani;
for Il number of years. and all the time. win
out q Pastor. They were greatly rcjOiccu u
the prospect of getting a minister OF thci