The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-07-06
MONUMENT UNVEILED
TO THE MEMORY OF BRAVE FOLLOWERS
OF GEN. RUTHERFORD.
An Occasion of Deep Interest, Illustrating True
Appreciation by Citizens Of Catawba Coun-
tv--lmprovementS in Newton.


Rev. J. c. Clapp, d. D., president of
Catawba College, is certainly entitled to
the gratitude of the people of this section.
Some two or three months ago he called
together a few people living in the vicinl-
ty where the brave patriots, who were
sacrificed on the altar of their country,
were living in 1776, and organized an
association for the purpose of erecting
monument to the memory of those brave
men who Joined Gen. Rutherford in his
forced march against the Cherokee In
dams in 1776. To-day was unveiled, in
the southeast square of the court house
square a beautiful granite monument,
twenty feet high. The monument is made
from Rowan county granite; the work
was done by Wyatt & Fespermon, of
Faith, Rowan county. Geo. Il. Coulter,
of our town, paneled into the granite
slab of Georgia Creole marble, 2x4 feet,
with the following inscription:
"a TRIBUTE TO
MATTHIAS BARRINGER, LIPSCOM
ADAM, - GRUNDT, - HASS,
- WILSON, AND ANOTHER.
WHO WERE MASSACRED ON
JOHNS RIVER IN GEN. RUTHER-
FORD'S FORCED MARCH AGAINST
THE CHEROKEE INDIANS IN 1776,
AND TO PHILLIP FRY, WHO
ALONE ESCAPED, AND TO CON
RAD TIPPONG, ONE OF LAFAY-
ETTE'S MEN, BY A GRATEFUL
OSTERITY-JULY 2, 1897"
OF the seven men who left this imme-
date vicinity to aid Gen. Rutherford in
driving the savages, Phillip Fry alone
escaped the Indian scalping knife. The
question may be asked why was Conrad
Tippong's name put on the list as he was
not in the fight Tippong was a soldier
and served under Lafayette, and at the
close Of the war married the widow OF
Matthias Barringer, who was massacred
by the Indians. Tippong and his wife
lived to the good old age of 81 and 95,
and were buried near the old Barringer
muster ground, not far from Newton.
The ceremonies opened with an address
of welcome by w. B. Gather, Esq, Of
Newton.
This was followed by an address ON
THE Relation Of the Indians to the
Pioneer Settlers" by DIR. Spainhour, of
Lenoir, giving a very fine historical ac-
count Of the early settlers and the In
dams. At IL M, on Friday there were
held the ceremonies Of the unwilling of
the monument. At 2 p. m, an address
by Judge McCorkle, followed on the
subject, '"The Old Barringer Muster
Ground" The "Barringer Muster
Ground was indeed noted place from
the war Of 1851 to the war of 1861 IS.
The judges speech was greatly enjoyed,
especially by the older people. At p.
m there was an address on 'The John
Paul Barringer Family" by Rev. Paul
Barringer, of Cabarrus, and short
speeches by Prof. J. d. Rome and Col.
G. M. Yoder, who gave short sketches
of the heroes and the locations or dwell
ing places when called on to drive back
the Indians.
On Saturday at 10 a. m. '"The German
American as Citizen" was the theme
of DR.. Paul Barringer, president of the
faculty of the University of Virginia.
Also speeches by Judge Clark and others.
At 8 p. m. the subject, "The Forgotten
Huguenots," was discussed by Gen. Jno.
e. Roller, of Harrisonburg, Va. Gen.
Roller was with Gen. Robt. Hoke's COM
mand in the late war. He had charge
the engineering corps, he states that he
anxious to meet his old comrades Of
Ioke's division.
Rev. DR.. Clapp made a very patriotic
.ddress at the monument and at p. M,
diss Desa Cline and Miss Gertie Letter,
escendants Of the heroes for whom the
monument is erected, pulled the ropes,
nd the curtain dropped, exposing to the
large audience a beautiful monument
made Of North Carolina granite.
No one would believe that such beau
tiful monument could be erected in such
a short time. DR.. Clapp, as before stated,
rain, our country is suffering for a
change in our financial system. We
hope both will come in due time.
set the enterprise on foot, and he found
friends here and elsewhere who were
willing to help him. The result is a
an ornament in the beautiful grove around
he court house in Newton long after this
and other generations have passed away.
And good work does not end here. A
| description list is now in circulation to
'aise money to erect monument to the
memory Of our Confederate dead.
The Shuford Bank Company have Sc
cured corner lot, and the material is
now being placed on the ground for the
purpose of erecting a handsome new
uilding, which will be an ornament to our
town.
DR.. p. M. Trexler. one Of the faculty
of Catawba College, is having a nice
residence erected. So Newton is looking
| Up in spite Of the non-appearance Of the
dcKinley wave Of prosperity.
L A