Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1878-05-07
Abingdon in the Days RgOne.
Wolf Greek 90 Years ago.

In our 5th article, with which we
~tut.u,et 10 close all that we had 10
kuy in relation 10 Wolf Creek and its
early settlers, We omitted to slate some
matters ,Lzt would render this iInper-
feet sketch i complete 10 leave out
on account OF the close proximity 10
Abingdon "A church was neve erected,
Dut 10 people ever attended the min
is~tTatiOus Ui the Sanctuary more pune
tuSily than did the deuiZeus of the
cfsgH. For many years, as far back
Gs tie writer csn TecOiiect, weekly
prayer meetings were held alternately
at the different houses on tie creek,
which were always well attended.
When the weather was possible To I'D
nit OF il these meetings were held al
night and usually conducted by Il
mirister-in his absence Mr.. Abram
White usually conducted the meet.
itlgs. assisted by Michael Shaver and
James Robinson, al Irishman. often
nave I heard the prayers Of these then
slea aged servants of the Lord ascend
~ a throue OF grace in behalf of their
uvighbors and their neighbuTs chill
dIou. Occasionally something anus
ink would occur 10 mar the ~sOlemnity.
! IeCOIlecL one night a tune was given
out that had what il c8iled a particular
meter, sir. White attempted TO raise
tue tune aud failed becoming con-
fused lac shook Mrs. PARROT by the
arm saying, Peggy, raise the tune
AT5. +. asked him the meter. lie re-
k.Ied, on, Peggy, 1t has 40 meter al
ALL
About the year 1880 a room was fit
ted UP on the farm OF Mrs. Hamilton
called The lecture room, where seTvI-
ces were frequently held Oh sabbath
evenings 10y The Rev. Stephen lay
Tor, sud kept up for maLy years.
Rev. Mr.. Taylor, | think. came To
Abingdon ia 1892. He was a north
err man Oy birth. perhaps from New
jersey lis was 4 man Of superior
mental eaGoE uents. a good preacher
and a most earnest, iabOTiOus minister.
lie lad few sugeriurs as a pastor. aud
u.I - greater amount of pastoral la
Dor tDau amy ether minister 1 ever
knew. be Was a pastor over the
cauTCn ~ Abingdon for II years. lie
nss auco-tiodUy Rev. James SIcChaiu
la 1872. Rev. Mr.. McChnin anne
from the city Of New York 20 Abing-
don when quite a young man, having
been ordained gs q minister uHiS a
snort time. lis health WSs feeble
whsn he first U-nie 10 Abingdon, hut
BE enterCd Oh the duties Of his charge
with Z Zsat aud earucstneSs such as Is
rarely sueu. From the beginning of
his ministry in Washington county |
lie -cU0ImehceG preaching At stated
points - tie Gi9rrent ueigbborhOnds,
which he kept up regularly, during |
his iuu% Passionate, vi-h great punclu-
a!Ity. Toe weather was never too
Z..tBT-Er-Fsf A. ffsa aAnrrrLrvHFIH n lnl /
small 10 defer him from Eeing at his
post and preaching TO a mere handful
wllh gs much yathos and earuestnrss
"a II the house were full. Sir Nc
CHAIN was 4 Iusu OF particularly mild
aud gentle deposition he had so lit
Ue guile ia his composition that
he y 10 went 10 accord 10 every person
Tie UjLUrt sincerity and C&HGOr Ia all
tHlGrs. Besides his aTduuus luhOrS ~
4 E.iulstcT, lie Mas co editor for several
year, Of tte Euv8Uiatic Magazine, "a
n~IUatbiy periodical that accom- iIshed
much good IL defining aud deiehdIH.
t1e GygtTlAgs Of las church. 1t Was
largely Jn!uuga his energy aud in
automatically tb@t lie present band
some church eGIiC0 Was buiit. Mr..
BicChaIn married q daughter OF Capt
JUnu Gibson, Of this county and
granddaughter Of Rev. CAas. Cum
iaings. 4 rather remarkable COIN
Cideuce cCuneclcI with tuls history IS
that Rev. ME. Cummings, when he
FIRST CAME - tais county. C'mmeHced $
h0Use haepIDE in a house in iht sauLe
yard III the LDuse ia which M". Nc
CuEiu u>tI 1t Jne time o. his death.
hr. McCAa.a. s&lhough a northern
10y biTlu AND education, whoa
lac late unfortunate war brCEe out Ge-
the tN.O sections, fully ideH,i-
fed hini.sit with the South and the
l-Upie ii hls adoption. and when At
W&s threatened with Il serious
advance II = gaTtiou Of tie Northern
and ditCiIcs and bTeaat-WOrks
thrown uD 10 resist LHeia, well
/ remember seeing him IN the
al lns defenders OF tie town.
s-ruTIaE them ~ his presence and
that las every interest Was
Ii5IticJi with theirs. Mr.. McGhuIu
continued ajs Easlsgate for . years
without interruption. His health for
,rW years UrrgiUr- 20 his death was 4
vVry fsghIe, ulJ - determined was be o.
10 the work 81 u!s masteI that he con-
t. hl Isis pulpit regularly up .
- ok weeks before his dSUIn, aud :
when e~xitusiuiujsI with by hir friends
the eEeltion wa too great a t y
his strength, IiIs.o heard him re-
that Ee gEefc!e TO WraT cat r&ih-
- thai ruat cut lie ,uay truly be
sAld 60 b. y maj iiri lived for sous,
md literally di,u "Ith hIs harness on
Peace to AIs 4saC-. and may his crown
Gs bright - iIG Iie many Jewels thut .
Ie .L1Orcd AaId 90 gather on earth for
Iis mister.
Far back IN tie vista Of lhe past
an old !o2 Calm Oh the grounds
u Mr.. htvN. White, near where the
nna stands, which was used AZ 7
& cRiiru boy the Coiored people, and
rom tiiIs soWly huiiling have l heard
he shout ui the happy negroes as
went up TO g tbtoue Of grace
she c0lorcd population who worship
'ed there %e!e nearly all Baptists.- <
Their leader and preacher Was 2 tail 1
ian negro man, named Lace, belong
uR 10 Col. White. II summer lie al
dressed i3 perfectly white cloth
RR, and looked more ghost like than
JTtest like. Tie Esd the u~HOCunded
confidence Of bis flock and his race
hsVe heErd the old "a preach, and
5 hen preaching oH tne subject OF re-
1eHtA;scs, claim that there was 100 los.
!tis condition IL which "a ul2n could
% placed Thai Tcaasred his case so
that lac Levd 10 lost. One OF 4
sis faEUsIts cEFjC>sloHs was HAT the0e Z
might he repentance between the
lump and the pround. Old Uncle
.ack, Reese and IcHuah, three ne.
.roes belonging so iIe Balfour estate,
regular anj zealous attendants II
t this chu,~h, always going III 4 cart,
Rose and IIauuah filling up the