The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1888-06-08
LAKE CHARLES CALCASIEU PARISH LOUISIANA FRIDAY, JUNE 1885,
Relics oru Notable Family.
southern CAlis..l Herald.

Southern (Alissl Herald.
Il was the good fortune Of this writer to
spend night recently, with Winchester
Everett our esteemed friend and christian
gentleman, and his interesting family, from
whom we learned much Of the early history
OF the pioneer family, from which he de-
Bcended The house In which he lives, and
in which we shared his hospitality, Is one Of
the olden time, having been erected by his
ancestors more than eighty years ago, but
which is yet in most perfect state Of pres
erYation, all its parts free from signs Of de-
cav, 60 far as We could see, notwithstanding
II has been In constant use while four success
sIye generations have come and most of them
gone back to their native dust The material
OF which this family residence Is built is
heWed logs, protected by both ceiling and
misunderstanding or rather ceiling IN and
outside the walls The roof Is perfect, and
may have been put on long after the house
was built. This time-worn house contains
some heirlooms that have been handed down
from generation to generation, dating far
back OF the memory Of any living person,
but which carry with them memories OF the
past of peculiar interest, and TO the present
age seem exceedingly strange, not TO say
fabulous. Among many of these ancient
relics we may mention plain black walnut
chair, made by hand altogether, which is
known to have been in that family for the
long period of SO years, and from cTcum-
stances connected with this chair 1t must
have been in the family long before the com
meneement OF the present century. IL this
chair we sat while conYeTslDg with members
Of the fourth generation Of the Everett famI-
ly. This old chair was owned by Mrs. Mar
garet Clay, the grandmother Of our we'll
known fellow citizens, l.. l., and w, n. Lea,
and the gTeat-gFandm0ther OF Winchester
Everett. Before this chair Mrs. Margaret
Clay, the owner of It, was accustomed every
night 70 bow in prayer for her family and the
advancement OF the cause Of Christ, she be-
ing a deYout member Of the Baptist church,
and for which she was arrested, tried aud
convicted of the charge Of being Baptist,
and sentenced to pay fine Of $25 or receive
forty stripes save one and, not being able
to pay the money, would have been whipped
at the stake but for the kindness of friend
who paid the fine for her. This family has
an Qld-fashioned stone pitcher, without a
break In 1t, which has been In use fifty eight
years, and, like everything else upon which
ornamental or picture work is placed for the
purpose Of handing down the corridor of
time the memories and representation of
things most prominent In their day, 1t too,
carries with it lasting reminder of the fas-
cinating and exciting sport Of the first set
tiers Of this country. On the surface Of this
old ware may be seen the "stag at bay,D sur
rounded by pack Of hounds, In desperate
struggle for Che prize of an ended chase, all
well outlined In delicate stnccO, the handle
being well shaped hound, hind feet near
the bottom Of the pitcher, with fore feet and
head at the top, making an excellent picture.
This Everett family for more than four
score years has been an exempliheation Of q
high morality and christian conduct, whose
memories and character come down to us
without a spot or blemlsh. The uninteTrupt-
ed success Of this family In the conduct Of
human affairs, illustrates their love for the
home of their ancestors, and It's legitimate
| families where they are content TO remain on
their paternal homesteads. Happy would It
| be for the generations TO come after us, II
they would cultivate this love, and pride
themselves In being able to prevent the
homes of their childhood falling into the
| hands Of strangers. A VISITOR