The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-08-03

Greenbrler and Pocahontas counties.
where he decided to labor, and spent a
year. In 1886 he was ordained sine tstu-
10 and entered fully upon his arduous la
bors. For four or FIVE years his work in
cluded the whole Of Pocahontas and the
portion OF Greenbrier county included by
the congregations of Falling Spring and
Anthony's Creek.
From Liberty church in Pocahontas to
Anthonys Greek in Greenbrier, the dis
lance was over fifty miles, and the breadth
OF his field was from twenty to thirty
miles.
This region is excessively mountainous
and abounds In dangerous streams The
roads in his day were narrow and rugged
and crossed the waters more frequently
than now. He made the rounds in four
weeks, preaching twice every Sabbath,
With frequent appointments during the
weekdays at dwellings and schoolhouses.
Mr.. Brown was one of the five preach
ing sons of Mary Moore, the Indian cap
tive, whose pathetic history is among the
most suggestive and usefully instructive
to be found in the annals of American
Christianity.
During the five or six years that he
occupied this extended district he literal
ly lived among the people. His visits
were always hailed with pleasure by pa
rents, children, and servants, his manners
were so genial and condescending.
In meeting his appointments he would
usually be on the ground some time in
advance of the hour, and would move
about among the people, conversing with
the heads of families, consulting with the
elders, or passing pleasant words with the
younger people.
never read these lines without think
ing OF the pastor of my childhood
Eat church, with meek and unaffected grace
His looks adorned the venerable place
The service past around the pious man
With steady zeal each honest rustic ran
r. en- children FOLLOWED with endearing will
And touched his hand to share the good mans
smile.
His ready smile parents warmth expressed,
Their welfare pleased him, and their cares dis
tressed;
To them his heart his love, his grief, were
given,
But all his serious thoughts had rest in heay-
en-"
About the year 1910 he established the
Little Levels Academy at Hillsboro, Po-
cahontas county. 1t was about this time
too that he was married to Miss Eliza
Matthews, of Lewisburg.
The first session of his school was taught
IN a rude cabin built of poles and rooted
with clap-boards. 1t stood near two oak
trees about one hundred yards due north
from the present brick building. 1t was
afterwards used for a smithy, and was af-
forwards burned in 1949.
The second session was taught in the
Oak Grove church, about three miles from
Mr.. Browns residence, which distance
was daily walked by himself, assistant,
and four boarders.
His residence was plain, unhewn log
teneme mt in the midst of a field. 1t was
afterwards used as barn.
The third session of his school was
taught in the new Academy, partially fin
ished, about half mile from his home.
Upon taking charge of this school he
relinquished Liberty and Huntersville
churches, to be ministered to by the Rev.
I. P. w. Magruder, while he retained
Oak Grove in South Pocahontas, Spring
Creek, and Anthony's Creek churches in
North Greenbrier. He conducted this
large school Of fifty or seventy-fve pupils,
preached twice month ut Oak Grove,
once month at Spring Creek, twenty
miles away, and monthly at Anthony s
Creek, nearly twenty-five miles distant.
He rarely ever missed an appointment,
and was usually in time to open school
Monday morning. His assistant for sew
eral years was Joseph Caldwell, Esq, now
of Wytheville, Va.
Mr.. Browns school was a great bless
ing to the county. 1t made an obscure
mountain community an educational CEN
ire, frequented by pupils from Rock
bridge, Bath, Randolph, Greenbrier, Mon
roe, Kanawha, Nicholas, Pendleton, and
Highland counties. 1t is owing to this
school, established by Mr.. Brown, and
afterwards conducted for many years by
the Rev. M D. Dunlop, that for the in
telligence of its prominent citizens Poca-
hontas will compare favorably with most
counties and surpass very many of higher
pretensions.
The impulse given by Mr.. Brown led
to the founding Of two other chartered
Academies, Huntersville and Green Bank,
both at times Furnishing schools, but not
sustained quite as well as the Little Lev
els.
1t was at this school. the writer received
his preparatory training for College, un-
der the direction Of Mr.. Brown and his