The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1901-04-10
Scraps Of History"
REV. j Y MEETZE.

bargained with the German govern
ment for body of troops with which
to 6ghttheir battle against the Ameri
can armies. These troops were called
Hessians. as they came from Hesse
Cassel and were practically sold BY
their Prince to the Eoglish rulers
Among them was the subject Of this
sketch. The family name was Miitze
but being Eoglicised became Meetze.
The quiet home Of his parents was
surrounded at midnight BY 8 press
gang and the promising and helpless
young boy was torn ruthlessly from
the arms Of weeping mother and
hurried to the army rendezvous. He
was here trained for duty and when
the time for embarking for the shores
OF America came he was permitted
to 60 to his home to bid last fare.
we'll to his heart broken relatives.
The manner of his impressment, the
brutality Of selling him as if:he had
been slave, and the crueltykof his
commanding officers were soshumili.
ating to the proud spirit Of the brave
youth that he determined to resent
the indignity and resolved to escape.
While Greenes army was encamped
at Bacon's Bridge on the Ashley, be
left the British army in the city of
Charleston and attempted to, reach
the American troops. Being recap.
tured he was punished by being made
to run the guantlet," which consist.
ed in passing, stripped to the waist,
between two lines of soldiers armed
with the "cat o nine tails," q whip
with numerous lashes. This effect.
i've instrument was sometimes go cru
ely applied that the victim: tainted
under the blows and was completely
at the mercy of his tortrentors.
Young Meetze escaped, with wounds
and bruises, but undismayed. A
second attempt was more successful,
and, though hotly pursued by q band
Of troopers, with,sword uplHted he
crossed the lines and was safe.
Whether or not be became con-
nected with the American, army is
not definitely known, but it is quite
certain that he rendered his, services
to the commanding General.
The truth seems to be that Greene
was not in a condition to arm the
large number of recruits whoreached
his lines at this period, and: it was
unsafe to have them remain In q sit-
uation so exposed, he sent them up
to Orangeburg. MIR. Meetze was at
home comparatively, among the
German settlers with whom he found
himself, and moved fromsplsce to
place in search of suitable resting
spot until he reached the Saluda, and
selecting home on the banks of
that river, about.'six miles from the
present county seat, was soon COM
fortably settled.
John. Yost Meetzs was born De-
cember the End, 1855, at the little
village of Brinkhausen on the river
Oder. Soon after the Revolutionary
War he was married to Miss Eva
Margeret Gross. There was no
elegant troussesu, no costly bridal
gifts, but the hopeful young couple
wended their way quietly to the
abode of the officiating minister.
stopping at branch on the way to
burnish and brighten the only silver
dollar they had in the world, which
they would soon ofsr as marriage
fee. To the credit of the minister,
be it written, that he handed the
money back and told them to keep it
"for luck"
Young, healthy, energetic, indus
trious and thrifty they soon had 9
comfortable home supplied with all
the necessaries and many of the COM
forts of life, and by close attention
to their duties acquired q handsome
property, raised a large family credit
ably and left them abundantly pro-
vided for %.
Mr.. Meetze was q man of extra
ordinary natural talent and soon be-
came prominent and Influential, and
proving himself consecrated Chris
tian was active in his church dutiee;
late in life became an earnest minister
Of the gospel, having been licensed
by the n. C. Synod in 1911, and
ordained by the same body in 1922.
His pastoral work was done chiefly
at Zion, St. Peters, Salem and Hol-
low Greek, and at q church which
stood on the south. side Of the
Saluda two miles below Wyse's Ferry
on what was once the Arehart lands,
NOM holonoino n Mr. Eduord Har