The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1901-04-10
"Scraps of History
CONTINUED From FIRST PAGE

and J. D. Frauklow of Lexington
and Mr.. Hershell Of Ofangeburg.
Mr.. Meetze lived among German
speaking people and preached most
ly if not entirely in the German Ian
guage. Probably the first minister,
certainly the first Lutheran minister,
who preached in Eoglish in the Fork
was Godfrey Dreher. Among the
contemporaries of the subject Of this
paper was one OF his earlier friends
(xho was probably a companion OF
his youth in the "Fatberlapd" }
Valentine Gable who had escaped
from the Hessisn camp. Mr.. Gable
was for time among the leaders OF
the choir at Zion church and sang in
German in unison with the preach
ing Of his friend. His descendants
are still with us.
Yost Mastzs. was quaint and origi-
nal in his manners, and some of his
pecul;arities would be called blem-
isbes in one of his cloth in our day.
The customs and habits of the peo
pie were entirely different from those
to which we are now accustomed,
and moderate indulgence in the use
of intoxicating drinks was not thought
harmful. He took his morning
"dram" when he wished, though al
ways temperate and never indulging
to excess. A proposition came to
him from Temperance organization
in New England to become a life
member by the payment of fee OF
twenty dollars. He laughingly re
marked that this amount of money
would buy him whiskey enough to
last him all the rest of his life. 1t
was a favorable opportunity to say
"a good thing" and he did not let it
pase, though his whole life proved
that he was ready for every good
work and he doubtless sympathised
with everv Effort to suppress the
baneful use Of ardent spirits.
The vissitudes of his e7entful life
fitted him peculiarly for the euj ,y-
ment Of the sweets of liberty. filled
his soul with an ardent love for his
adopted country, and his patriotic
spirit was part of the Inheritance
of his posterity. Four Of his grand
sons were gallant officers in the Con-
federate army, while two of his great
grand sons, also officers, died on the
field of battle. Many other OF his
descendants rendered faithful and
efficient service in the ranks and are
among the unnamed heroes.
Forty or more crops were grown
on their farm by this excellent cou-
pie before the close CT their lives,
and the spare moments and rainy
days were devoted to other duties.
While the husband was engaged in
making wagon whips and split bot
tom chairs and other useful articles
which were readily and proftably
sold in the markets, the thrifty wife
was busy with her wheel and Ter
loom providing for the comforts of
her children.
Mr.. Meetze lived until the 7th day
of May, 1882, and the loving COM
panion of bis JOYS and his sorrows
who survived him, reached the end
of her useful life nearly seven years
later, the 16 b of April, 1889. L. is
interesting to note that if Mrs.
Meetze had lived ten days longer she
would have attained precisely the
age reached by her husband at his
death. They were the parents OF
nine children.
John, the oldest, who was the first
merchant at Lexington G. b, (and
the father of Hon. Henry A. Meetze,
who has himself earned the right to
a fair page in his county's history,)
married Anna, a daughter of Christie
pher C4ughman.
Jacob, long successful merchant
at Blackville, never married.
Felix married a lady from Charles
ton.
Henry married Caroline Dteher,
and lived at the old homestead and
raised a large and interesting family.
Margeret was married to a MIR.
Hendrix, who moved west.
Nancy was married to James Ora
ham of Newberry.
Catherine married Emanuel Cor
ley and Elizabeth was married to
Col. West Caughman, long one Of
the first men Of the county, of whom
it is hoped more will be written here
after. Edwin j. Scott, author of
Recollections of a Long Life, became
the husband of Rebecca. All of