The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1900-11-29


the sessions of the General Conven-
tion-and perhaps other thing con
Cured in hinderiug him, and he died
in 1917, uncOnsecrated. but having a
stainless reputation as a citizen, a
Christian. and a faithful Minister Of
Christ.
The Rev. Charles Pettigrew married
Mary Blount, daughter Of Col. John
Blount, Of Mulberry Hill. Chowan
county, Oct. %, 177S, by whom
he left one surviving son, the
late Ebenezer Pettigrew, q distin-
guished member of Congress from
this State. Ebenezer Pettigrqw mar
ried Miss Anne Blount Shepard, Of
New Bern, a cousin Of his own upon
his mothers side. He left three
sons, Charles, William Shepard and
James Johnston, and two daughters.
Charles Pettigrew married, and his
two sons are the only male represent
tatlves Of the Pettigrew name in this
Carolina family, James Johnston
Pettigrew was the distinguished
scholar and soldier, remembered by
his military title as General Petit
grew, but perhaps almost as well re-
membercd as lhe most brilliant math
ematiclan and: scholar ever sent out
from the University Of North Caro-
lima. William Shepard Pettigrcw.
the Clergyman. like his distinguished
brother, remained unmarried. | have
dwclt thus upon his family derivation
and connection because that is the
way in which God made him. He
made him as one Of a family, coming
before him, spreading out around
him, following after him in the fami-
lies OF brother and his kinsmen. His
life, more than most lives. needs 10
be seen in its antcceGents and in It's
relationship. 1t was, as we may say,
the resultant OF intellectual, moral
and social influences preceding and
accompanying it, by which it wa.
moulded, and by which it must be in
terpreted and understood. The world
in which we live is vastly different
from the world in which he grew up.
We shall never again see lust such
man as he was, because the condi-
tions of life have changed. He was the
son Of wealthy planter whose prop
erty consisted chiefly, if not wholly,
of fertile swamp lands, and the fami-
lies of negro slaves by whom the
lands were cultivated. | have often
thought that this form of wealth was.
of all forms, the least exposed to the
ordinary temptations of wealth. Its
very possession involved certain re-
sponsibilities and duties not to be
avoided by All upright and conscien-
tious man, and obliged him to habits
of industry and bodily activity and
out OF door exercise, calculated to
counteract the opportunities wealth
usually offered to the self-indulgent.
/ Hence it was often seen that our
wealthiest men were simple and unos-
! tentatious in their habit, frugal and
industrious, temperate, accustomed
to endure fatigue and exposure, not
dependent for comfort and content
ment even upon the luNuries with
which they were familiar.
In another important respect we
observe peculiar quality in the best
type OF the old planter. His wealth
had come to him by Inheritance or by
a gradual and almost imperceptible
increase and appreciation Of values.
Ordinarily he had not acquired it by
| special eNertion, and he could not
very greatly increase it by conscious
effort, 1t was therefore possessed
with 4uietness and placidity Of spirit,
and did not seem to arouse that eager
ness, that appetite for acquisition,
! Z h,t g,
auri sacra tumes, which so often ac-
companies success in business and the
accumulation Of wealth.
| FurthermOre-wha NAV have
been the disadvantages Of slavery, it
certainly produced in masters Of the
highest type development of manly
character. quiet, dignitied, cOnsiderate
| OF others, gentle and courteous to-
wards all, yet strong, self-reliant,
brave, and in the best sense mdstcrTW.
which can hardly be Matched
Such a man, with those qualities
which | have tried to indicate, was
our departed brother. He inherited
from his father and his grandfather,
not to speak of other worthy ances-
tors, high type of manly character
and intelligence. He was bred up in
an atmosphere of social and intel
lectual refinement. He was educated
at our State University with the first
men Of the State. and of the country,
as his familiar associates. He came
at one. by the liberalitv of his father
into the possession of ample means,
and of a slave property. demanding
/ the care and attention calculated to
/ develophis own best qualities. Family
papers. which it has been my privi-
lege to see, and the common report Of
! the country, which | am Old enough
| to have some memory of. concur in
! their testimony that the Pettigrew
/ family represent the highest type Of
the Christian slave owner. Ny first
recollection of our dear brother is
connected with his residence in Edge
cOmbe county during the war, where.
except when called out for military
service. his whole time and care was
given to the welfare of his slaves.
During the whole OF his life he felt
a deep interest in public affairs and in
the welfare Of his country and his
people. He had a wide and familiar
acquaintance with our history, and
with the characters and careers of our
public men. He was singularly
read and favorable eNtemporaneou-
speaker. and seemed in many ways
peculiarly fitted for public life. But
his high spirit, and refined. sensitive
temperament, disqualified him for the
petty rivalries and contentious hard '
10 be avoided i'll political life. He
was highly valued by the best people
of his section. but, | believe, never
consented to seek any public position.
save as the representative OF hi:
County OF Washington in the State
convention Of le6l-which passed The
Ordinance OF Secession-in which ht
was useful member. AMI was Chair.