The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-07-08

useful knowledge with u~nhagging zeal
NOT ala he relax his efforts in this re-
9pecI AFTER MS return home, deyoting TO
ouCh pooks as were within his reach all
the time he could spare from the ordi-
nary duties of life. 3 = = In the lat
ter part of his life he was often heard to
say that his eyesight failed him sooner
than 1t otherwise would have done in con-
sequence Of his reading so much bv fire
lght IN his youth and early manhood
Delng then too poor to buy candles-his
small patrimOny having been exhausted
during his minority in his support and
education"
In lIl9. when the wal clouds had de-
seconded upon the South, he laid aside his
studies at college and fastening home
enlisted as a private in a of
Which his brother John was captain. He
continued in the service as a private ex-
cept as interrupted by legislative duties
until provisional articles of peace were
signed in November, 1882, and though
commands and places of trust and con-
fidence, as we'll as of ease and safety,
were often rendered him. he invariably
declined them,' nor would he ever ac-
cept a cent of pay for his services.
When the war was over and provision
VIZ b'iii9 iioo III liz 4 v Iut.
revolution he declared that no state Of
fortune could induce him to accept it,
His was a knightly spirit freed from the
license and Extravaganza of knighthood.
Iio served from a love of serving and
when the frosts of many winters had
rOWnc his head, the State was still TO
him "Our beloved mother North Caro-
lima
NhJ1p in tho aTInV and Cparnn1Nr Unt
twenty three years of age, he was
elected the first Senator from Warren
county to the General Assembly of
I North Carolina. 1t is said that his first
lntimation of the election was a sum
mons from the Governor to attend a SEES
sion of the assembly, and that hc would
have declined the honor but for Gen.
Greene, who heard of his purpose and
persuaded him that he could be of
greater service to the army in the State
Senate than as a private in the ranks.
1t is said that he did not disappoint
Gen. Greene's expectations, and that it
was largely through his efforts that the
army received the supplies which made
possible the battle of Guilford Court
House and the hard marches that fol-
lowed it.
He was Senator five terms, beginning
in 1881. His recognition was prompt
| and the records of the Senate show that
he was one of its most industrious and
! influential members. His strict regard
for the law was as manifest here as i'll
his later life. Certain goods had boon
impressed from merchants in Edenton
l for the use of the army. 1t was the oc-
t casion of a petition to the assembly.
Mr.. Macon, chairman of the joint COM
l mittee to consider the matter, reported:
'It is your committees opinion that the
5 impressment of goods by general war
L rants is unconstitutional, oppressive and
| destructive of trade" Forty years later
= he wrote to his friend, Bartlett Yanccy,
t THE book Of Judges ought to be atten-
t lively read by every man in the United
= States to see the terrible effect in the
Israelitns for departing from the law
!, which was their constitution, and sc
f ought the book of Samuel and Kings
= indeed the whole Bible contains great
knowledge of the principles of govern
t ment. The rising generation forget the
principles and maxims of their fore
: fathers, hence the destruction of free
t government in every age. OF what
benefit was the law to the children Of
Israel when they departed from it, OF
what benefit are written constitutions il
they be departed from; the wise maXims
: they may contain are useless, perhaps
worse than useless, if not adhered to,
because honest people abide by them
and others do not"
S He married Hannah Plummer, October
9. 17S3. The marriage was a most happy
one. but of short duration. She died
e January II. 1890, leaving a son, Plummer
I who died IN his seventh year, and two
. daughters, Betsy X, who married VIM
Martin, of Granville, and Seigniora, who
married William Eaton. Sr., of Warren.
He never married again.
Mr.. Macon established his home or
d Buck Spring plantation, some ten miles
O northeast from Warrenton. Here dice
q and were buried the wife and son. and
+ here were spent the long years which
8 grew into lovely old age. In a splendid
q grove of many hundred oaks he built a
9 plain dwelling of poplar plank. One
= room sixteen feet square, a half story
above and a basement below. was this
mansion. 1t was in keeping With his
slender means at the outset of life, and
wholly sufficient for the simple tastes OF
> the lonely man when the light of his
life had gone out. Offices, such as were
{ common in that section were placed about
} the grove for the ccommodatlon OF
[ guests. The old time kitchen with its
great fire place in which l have stood
fully erect, was nearly in front of the
dwelling and nearby. AS usual in ole
n places in that country, the barns anc
stables were first reached in approaching
d the house. The great spring from which
the place derived it's name was IN q wei
S stocked deer park.
Mr.. Macon took much pleasure in tho
n park and disposed of his deer by VIII
y visited the old home in 1898, III com
pany with DR.. Francis A. Macon, and Cd
" tanned photographs Of some OF the mos
interesting objects. Some I'VE hundree
s oaks Of the old grove renamed. Inc
l. dwelling, kitchen, some old barns ant
h servant bouses were then standing. a
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