Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-01-31
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"REMINISCENCES OF YORK
BY DIR, MAURICE 4. MOORE.
From the Yorkville Enquirer, 1870.
JtrDGE JOHN M'LANAHAN.

County Court Justices already spoken OF, L
am sorry cannot give an extended account.
l know nothing of his antecedents; not
even the place Of his birth. l remember
having seen him once or twice. He was a
tall rather slender man, altogether fine look
ing. with very finished manners. He was
we'll educated, and in every respect an ac-
complished gentleman of excellent business
capacity. His popularity among the people
is attested by their eecting him member
to the Legislature; once l know, and per-
haps several times. He and Hill and
Moore, were all, at one time, members of
the General Assembly. He was Federal
ist, and from the espousing of that party,
lost favor with the people of York, and
could never get them to elect him again to
office. After this, he removed to his plan
tation near Landsford, and spent the latter
part of his life in retirement. He was new
er married.
1.-The weary pilgrim slumberS,
His resting place unknown;
His hands were crossed, his lids were closed,
The dust was DER him StrOwn;
The drifting soil, the mouldering leaf,
Along the sod were blown;
His mound has melted into earth:
His memory lives alone"
And it has almost perished; but I would
not have one who served our fathers we'll IN
his day and generation, thus forgotten and
if he were mistaken, twas honestly so.
NV recollection may be incorrect as re-
CARDS Hill, Moore and McLanahan being
the only Justices ofthe Peace from 1872 to '99 ;
but such is my impression. / think they
were the three Associates during that period.
I have no opportunity to examine the rec
ords which might confirm or disabuse my
mind of this belief. 1t may be that others
served during the time, and they were in
office only a portion of that period. can
not assuredly say, but in my own mind l
am satisfied of the fact that they were the
only ones.
ADAM MEEK AND THE GHOST.
One of York's earliest Sheriffs-I think
the first after the present division of the
District-Was Adam Meek. He lived near
the mouth of Bullock's Creek. do not re-
member ever to have seen him, but know
he bore high character in the community
for real worth. He was man of great in
tegrity, fearless in the discharge of duty,
and particularly distinguished for his sound
common sense. He had a considerable fam
ily, and many of his descendants live in
York county still none, however believe
bearing his name. His daughters severally
married John S. Moore, Baldwin Byers, and
Samuel Moore, all of York. One, perhaps
both his sons, married and removed West
years ago.
| recall a mysterious occurrence in the
life of Mr.. Meek, related to me after his
death, by his brother, Mr.. James Meek, a
man of perfect veracity and the highest re,
spectability. 1t eXemplities the intrepidity
of the formers disposition and his uncom.
mon tirmness of nerve, which fitted him So
we'll for the trying duties Of the office he
held.
In the days of yore, our forefathers were
commonly believers in the supernatural.
Scotchmen all believe in second-sight and
warlock grim; Irishmen in banshee and
bOge; therefore, it is not to be wondered
that defendants of the two should see more
than other folk, and have many legend OF
haunted houses and witched souls.
.Wi' mar O. horrible and aufu,'
Which e en- to name wad be unlawful.
There was IL great excitement among the
people of Bullock's Creek, in the immedi'
ate vicinity of Adam Meek's. In Gordon's
Old Field, which had for years been large
open barren, and through the middle OF
which ran a road, an apparition had appear
ed to many. Indeed everyone who, tor
some weeks past had, after dark set in, been
travelling that way, were sure to see the
phantom-shape, at which sight they hest
tated not to confess, they invariably put
whip.to their horses, or flight in their heels,
and make off with all speed till they could
reach the wood which skirted the field
around, for this was the limit of the ghosts
walk; as when they drew near the shadows
of the friendly forest, it vanished.
Some faint-hearted, but reliable neighbor
was relating to Mr.. Meek a view he had OF
the spectre few nights before, as he passed
along the road through the old field:
"What did it say?" inquired the listener
81 never stopped to let it get near enough
toheara word from it." "was the candid reply
"Well! if ever l see it, will talk with
it," uuoth the bolden spirit Of Adam Meek
1t was not long afterward, he told the
brother (whO narrated the tale to me) that
he had one evening been detained till a late
hour, and it was dark, when, on his way
home, he entered the haunted old field
About the middle he deserted the ghost ap'
preaching. He stopped his horse and wait
ed until it came up to his side. He and the
ghost c0nversed together, and it accompa'
MED him to the woods, a distance OF two
hundred yards, talking all the while, when
! it disappeared. He came on home, but the
substance of the discourse he said he could
not then reveal; but perhaps, later, he mlgh'
be able to do so.
Mr.. James Meek said that an uncommon
amount Of fraternal affection and confidence
existed between his brother and himself, III
all the concerns of life. From boyhood they
had been used to repose all trust in one an
other-neither withholding any secrets from
the other; therefore, he knew If it were pos
sible or right, his brother would not concea
any part of the matter from him.
| Some weeks after his interview with the
apparition in Gordon's Old Field, Mr. Meek
| left home without stating his intention o.
doing so to any one-not even his wife OF
br0ther-and was gone nearly two months
and still, after his return, never dlvulgeo
the meaning of his long absence as to where
he had been or for what purpose. In reply
to questions on the subject from his family
and brother, his answer was, 81 ca'nof tel
certain. This / can tell you, the ghost al
Ciordon's Old Field will never be seen again
I can assure the ricmHy it has been seen .fo'
! the last tinae."
It was even so. The road through the
old field lost it's terrOrs to the belated trav
eler, whether riding or walking, for the
Snectre yiSitant was seen no more from thai
time forth.
The mysterious interview and journey O
Mr.. Meek, his brother thought, had some
connection with the ghost of Gordon's Ole
Field, but no explanation was ever made
as he died without ever giving any further
account of either. There was certainly
something strange in the tale, but his
strength Of mind gave him some knowledge
his neghbors were afraid to fathom.. What
this was-some promise made, perhaps, OF
! his discretion-made it undesirable for hin
to repeat.
\ WITCH STORY.
This wierd story brings to my mind one
my step-mOther used often to tell. 1t nap
Il f,f fl,Dr mi &