The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-07-05

/ friend and biographer, Hon. Weldon NJ
| Edwards, writes: His own inclina-
| tions eagerly seconded the hopeful pur-
| pose of his friends. While there he
| prosecuted his studies with fond dill
gence, and sought all the avenues to
useful knowledge with unfagging zeal.
| Nor did he relax his efforts in this re-
spect after his return home, deVoting to
such books as were within his reach all
the time he could spare from the ordi-
nary duties of life. In the lat
| ter part of his life he was often heard TO
say that his eyesight failed him sooner
than it otherwise would have done in con-
sequence of his reading so much by fire
| light in his youth and early manhood
being then too poor to buy candles-his
small patrimony having been exhausted
during his minority ia his support and
education"
In 1879, when the war clouds had de-
scended upon the South, he laid aside his
studies at college and fastening home
enlisted as a private in a company of
! which his brother John was captain He
CONTINUED in the service as 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 well 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
was being made for the soldiers of the
revolution he declared ''that no state of
i fortune could induce him to accept it,
! His was a hnightly spirit freed from the
! license and extravaganza of knighthood.
He served from a love of serving and
! when the frosts of many winters had
! crowned his head, the State was still TO
him "Our beloved mother North Caro-
, lima"
I While in the army and scarcely yet
| twenty three years of age, he was
| elected the first Senator from Warren
! county to the General Assembly of
/ North Carolina. 1t is said that his first
| intimation of the election was q sum-
mons from the Governor to attend a ses-
| sion of the assembly, and that he 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. Grccne'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
ic
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 in
his later life. Certain goods had been
( impressed from merchants in Edenton
for the use of the army. 1t was the oc-
casion of a petition to the assembly
Mr.. Macon, chairman of the joint COM
mittee to consider the matter, reported:
ut is your committees opinion that the
impressment of goods by general war
rants is unconstitutional, oppressive and
destructive of trade" Forty wears later
he wrote to his friend Bartlett Yancey.
1.-The book of Judges ought to be atten-
j lively read by every man in the United
! States to see the terrible effect in tho
Israelites for departing from the law
which was their constitution, and so
ought the book of Samuel and Kings.
indeed the whole Bible contains great
knowledge of the principles of govern
, ment. The rising generation forget the
principles and maXims of their fore
fathers, hence the destruction of free
government in every age. OF what
benefit was the law to the children Of
Israel when they departed from it, or
what benefit are written constitutions if
! 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"
He married Hannah Plummer, October
8, 1888 The marriage was a most happy
ono, but of short duration She died
January II, 1890, leaving a son. Plummer
who died in his seventh year and two
| daughters, Betsy X, who married VIM
Martin, cf Granville, and Seigniora, who
married William Eaton. Sr., of Warren.
He never married again.
Mr.. Macon established his home on
| Buck Spring plantation. some ten miles
northeast from Warrcnton Here died
ard were buried the wife and son and
here were spent the long years which
grew into lovely old age. In a splendid
grove of many hundred oaks he built
PLAIN dwelling cf poplar plank. One
room sixteen feet square, a half story
above and 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 accommodation 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 old
places in that country. the barns and
stables were first reached in approaching
the house. The great spring from which
the place derived its name was in a well
stocked deer park
Mr. Macon took much pleasure in the
PARK and disposed of his deer by will.
visited the old home in 1898. in com
Pahy With DR.. Francis A. Macon and OBJ
talfed photographs of some of tho most
interesting OHippfc