The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1897-05-13


1borhood He moved here from
sSouth Carolina. soon after the Indians left.
THE country was almost an unbroken for
est, and the houses and homes of our peo>
pie were OF most primitive style. being
made OF logs from the forest, Of single
room, or IT double, with an entry between.
the church houses were built Of the same
Material and seated with puncheons. or
th small logs split open in the. middle.
q legs put in them. Ordinarily, the
Rcher had the only Bible and hymn
BIZ al. chqchs and gave out his hymns
lineb&& the8t for congregational
king. FNot single church in the neigh.
kood Had stove; and an organ would
ave been considered by many desecra.
bon. Buggies and spring carriages were
Ealmost unknown at that time, but OK. carts
land one-horse wagons we're used by many
families to get to church, though the most
com mon way was on horseback, and some.
times man, his wife and two children
wcnid.go on'the same horse. Many persons
walkedto church, some in their shirt
sleeves and some few baretooted. Some
women, who had to walk, would wear
their every day shoes till they came near
the church, then they would put on their
nice morocco.slippers till hey got beck
there.
But many years passed before there was
d great change for the better. The land
was fresh and productive, the people in,
dustrious aad economical, and gradually
the wilderness was made to blossom as
the rose. Nice dwellings took the place
OF log cabins and an air CT comfort and
refinement was noticeable throughout the
neighborhood. School houses, academies
and ch6rch houses. were built and MADE
comfortable. and there were evidences of
thrift seen everywhere, and at the com.
mencement of the war MONDAY reighbor-
hood was noted for its wealth, high,toEed
morality and eminent piety OF many OF its
members. And on some grand gala. day
occasion, in intelligence, appearance and
dress would have compared favorably with
Marietta. The Latimers. Roberts, Ben.
sons. Jones, Fowlers, Durhams, Hoys,
Greshams Reeds, Wins, Harris's, Aliens,
Chappells, Hall. and others, were stalwart
men, who labored more wisely than they
knew for the upbuilding of the neighbor-
hood and churches.
Bro. George Roberts was his active
helper and ready for almost every good
word and work; and one among the
wealthiest men in the Eeiehborhood. His
advice and help was in demand. He
was honored by his fellow citizens, re,
spected by bis neighbors, loved by his
brethren, and almost idolized by his
slaves. He was protested Christian and
an incorporating Baptist. He loved
| Gods word, bis house, His people and
everybody that he thought loved Jesus,
and he loved poor sinners, too, and often
times while praying for some dear sinner,
whom he loved, his eyes would fill with
tears and his voice grow tremulous and
husky while he prayed. AS his family
physician before the war, j was often al
his home ; and he reminded me of one OF
the old patriarchs of the olden time 49,
moved among his slaves. At the ringing
OF the bell for evening prayers, from every
cabin the inmates would quietly come
marching up with chairs in hand and
tase their seats in the hall OF his commo.
dious. mansion, and after prayers land per,
maps song, sung as only negroes can
sing, would return to their cabins again.
he was ordinarily gentle and tender as a
| child, but where principle was involved
| incorporating and immovable as a
rock. Within the last fifty years many
men have lived, and many have died. in
MONDAY neighborhood bnt among all
the living and all the dead, | remember
none who for so many years made and
sustained q better reputation religiousIy
than Geo. Roberts But without any dis
arrangement to many other good men,
dead or living, there is one other good
man. who was ola different temperament.
and belonging to another denomination,
who on account OF his intense zeal and
enthusiasm religiouslv, gould Ike to
link bis name with the name of George
Roberts, and that is Uncle Ezekiel Harris.
They rest from their labors and their
works do follow them. w. Fl. DEAN.
Woodstock ca