The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1888-02-02
A Few Points of History.

Much has already been said and written
regarding the old 'Wachovia Settlement"
as it is commonly called, but anything re-
garding it Is of general interest. Rev. w.
E. Swain, pastor of the NJ. P. Church, of
this place, has gathered some "reminiscences
regarding the quaint little village of Old
Town, this county, which he contributed to
the Greensboro Workman few days since.
A reproduction of the same we believe will
prove interesting to THE SENTINELs read
ers throughout North Carolina. He says:
1t was Saturday evening, Nov. 18th, 1853
that a wagon from Pennsylvania, drawn by
six horses, mig hit have been seen slowly
vending its way through the unbroken for
est. 1t was near nightfall when the wagon
halted on the banks of a little stream.
Twelve men and few women and children
accompanied this new adventurer But
these were not the first, for some time about
the year 1744 or AS, John Wagner, or as
the dutchman would say, "Hauntz Woggo-
mel" came over from the north, built
very small log hut, hunted for time and
then disappeared. The newly arrived emf
grants rested the day after their arrival, it
being the Sabbath. Monday they began
work, and in a short while they had built
This was the first settlement of what was
afterwards called Wachovia 1t was settled
nine years before Salem, and but for the fact
that Salem was nearer the center of vast
scope of country belonging to the early set
tiers, Bethabara would have been the chos-
en- and favored spot. 1t is situated about
FIVE miles north of Winston, N. c., and still
bears marks of its early inhabitants
In 1885, just one hundred years ago, the
| Moravians built stone church. 1t is still
| standing, and is in fine state of preserva-
ton. The walls are very thick, and the
| timbers that support the roof are simply
| huge. At the southeast corner of the
church stands slab of stone in which is in
scribed: "Wachovia, Settled Nov IT, 1853. .
On top of the house stands an open steeple,
built of wood, which is said to be the first
one put there, one hundred years ago, and
strange to say, that steeple is now in good
state of preservation. In this ancient stee-
| pie hangs time honored bell, to whose
/ early peals "the rude forefathers" listened,
while With tear dimmed eyes and throbbing
| hearts they saw sights and felt emotions
| which shall disturb them no more. While
musing on this antique structure l could not
help thinking how hard the poor Egyp-
tians teiled to perpetuate their names in
obelisk and pyramid. Why ? All perhaps
their idea of the Immortality of the soul was
vague, while something within revolted al
the thought of humiliation. These de .out
Moravians had no such object in view, but
their personal safety demanded some
thing secure. The red man had NOT
| yet abandoned the hills, and his tomahawk
was still thirsting for the white mans blood
About two hundred yards west of The
church is the burying ground. This is on
very high hill, and is well kept. Through
the central part runs the main walk, on the
left of which reposc the males, on the right
the females. On entering the enclosure the
| FIRST squares on the right and left contain the
children, and you proceed westward the
grown people are reached. On the upper
corner of the third square. on the left of the
main walk lies Matthew Stach pronounced
Stock who was born at Mathlen, March 4,
I'LL, was the first missionary from Wacho-
viato Greenland and died Dec. q, 1887,
1