The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1903-05-14
IN MEMORikM.
Mrs. Maria SouthsEiaEi perhan1

the heavens. 1t was the passing Oh gentle.
but bright and heroic spirit, the closing OF a
life which through all its vicissitudes illls-
trated the ideals and methods OF the best civ
ization that the world has ever seen. To
the people of the town who, for thirty-seyen
years had watched the unfolding OF her beau
tiful character and the achievements of her
noble life, her death came as a personal be
reavement. In many other parts OF the State,
and in other States of her beloved South,
there was sorrow for her removal In the
church which she loved so tendeTiy and for
which she laborad SO wisely and faithfully,
| they mourned for her as a mother In Israel
| She is worthy of foremost place among the
| sanity women whose names adorn the ar
| mails OF \ orth Carolina.
| Through her father Mrs. Parham came OF
| all old English family, the Southerlands, who
| in colonial times settled in Butte, now Warren
and Franklin counties, and in Duplin. They
/ were a sturdy. fearless, persistent people. hav
| ing the characteristics of the race from W hich
| they sprang They were ardent patriots dur
! ing the Revolution, and some OF them did
| honorable service as soldiers in that strug
| gle. Ransom Switzerland was the Repre-
| sentative of Warren County in the Iegisla-
| ture OF 1870.
| The work of the Baptists in Butte, now
| Warren county, began about 1910. 1t was
| aggressive and successful from the first, and
| the Soutberlands with other leading fam
| lilies, Were drawn into it.
4
| ginning OF an era, for the Baptists OF North
Carolina In the State Convention they found
| what they had been seeking for thirty years.
| channel through which the churches could
| cooperate in the largest possible work for
| missions, education and benevolence. Against
| this forward movement OF the denomination
| faction had been gathering in opposition
for ten years or more. Its violence and
| strength eliminated in the kehukee AssOca-
ton, which then includsd the territory lying
between the Sea aboard Air Line Railway and
the Albemarle Sound in one direction, and
| the Roanoke and the Tar River in the other.
| Nine churches of this body, unwilling to obey
| the behests of intolerance and eXclusiveness,
] withdrew and organized the Tar River Asso
citation, which, for seventythrea years, has
! been moving forward with syifter pace and
Il widening sweep in every department oi
| Christian activity. James Switzerland
| grandfath of Mrs. Parham, was chosen
| moderator of the body. He was a member
| OF the church at ALEU- s, now Brown $. and
his home, which is still owned and occupied
by one of his grandsons, was eight miles east
! of Henderson. He was the most influential
| aymen in the new movement. He was kin
/ 20 the MERGERS, OF Halifax county, and OF
| Georgia, and was greatly beloved by vii
| .oughby Hudgins, who, besides being the pas
tor and close friend OF Nathaniel Macon, was
| accounted by his brethren the ablest preacher
| imOng them.
| Of the four sons of James Switzerland, the
| ELDEST an accomplished and successful
| physician, who settled in Mobile. Ala On
lis death his widow returned to North Caro-
/ ina and died q few years ago at the home OF
ner sister, Mrs. Susan Smith, in Scotland
| Neck. Samuel Mercer, the youngest sou, mar
| ried Miss Lpscomb of Brunswick county
| Virginia, and in 1910, removed to Gaines
| vile. Ala, remaining there until Maria, his
| oldest child, was two years old. Then he set
| tied i'll Mobile and engaged in business as 4
! cotton factor. In that delightful city of the
| old South, delightful still, three other chill
| dren, son and two daughters, were born
| All the agencies which make for the building
up OF lofty characteristic home, the church
the school, the social circle-were there in
| a high degree OF perfection. But as the years
| wore on the father, desiring Il larger field fol
| his business plans, removed to New York. in
| tending that his family should JOIN him a lit
| tie later. They had made their way to North
| Carolina, and were tarrying among friends
in Warrenton, when the storm OF war burst
| on the land. The father waited in New York
| hoping against hope, but finally Joined his
family. 1t was only to die. The son who
| had entered the Confederate service as lieu
| tenant in the 10th Regiment n. c. troops
| came to be with his father in the last illness
| but died himself soon afterwards. 1t was
| now the story OF so many Southern homes il
| those dreadful years: the oldest daughter
| taking the place OF breaG-winner and man
| ager for the household. In this ease there
| was neither Sinking nor repining OF thOss
| who attended the Baptist State Convention
! at Warrenton in 1864, some are still living
! and they retain pleasant memories OF Miss
! Switzerland: the charm OF her beauty, the
| grace OF her manner and the sprightlness O
| her conversation. BY her labor as a teacher
| she was able to make home for hose who
| looked to her for guidance support
| In 1866 she married Captain Samuel Par
ham, gallant officer during the war. and al
| the time OF his marriage, a successful man o
| business in Henderson. There was Il brie
season Of prosperity, then financial embar
easements followed by disaster; then the
| brave soldier entered into the rest which il
| prepared for those who have fought gooG
| fight and finished their course
/ Once again Mrs. Parham girded herself fol
| the burdens which she seemed to leave behind
| her with hermarria2e; heavier than ever, since
it was to provide for the maintenance anG
| education of six children five sons and =
| daughter, and this by her own labor.
| Again her fine education, her splendid intel
lect and her lofty split bore her through
Returning to her favOrite occupation she
| achieved Il reputation as a teacher, and what
| is far better, a home for her children and AIDE
| quate training for the business life Though
! straitened at first, there was no happier
| home in all Henderson,, because there was
not one that was presided over by a purer
Drawer spirit. Through her father she inner.
tied the clear insight of practical things, the
courage which dares to do and to be right
| and perseverance which is usually proph
ecy of success. There came to her, through
her mother a touch of the HugenOt. Many
OF her traits We're French-the talent fol
| home. making, the power to do the most and
best with small MEANS the proneness to see
the bright side of things, the courtesy and
| tact which never fail. From both parents
there came to her u strong religious nature
which had been quickened by grace and
strengthened by cultivation. Through all the
changes OF life she was perhaps foremost in
all the work of her church. The illness which
ended her life was FASTENED by attending a
meeting Of the Missionary Society when her
strength was unequal to it. And there was
III her n large-heartedness which interest ed
her in the greater work of the denomination
and also kept alive to the last her zest for lit
erature and music, and for all that made VI
the busy life OF the town. Her burdens Were
made lighter by the growth of her children
and her JOY was greatly increased she be
held her sons succeeding in life and holding
places OF honor in the world of business
They did what they could to make life easier
and more pleasant for her. They were plan
ming larger things for her when God took he1
to Himself.
This sketch has EXTENDED beyond the limits
usually allotted to such papers, but there arr
reasons for it. To understand the struggle
which was made by the South during the
four years of war and the drearier years
which followed, one must know the part
which was borne by the Southern women oil
that time. Adequate provision has been
made for preserving the memory of the men
and their noble deeds 1t is done in monu
ment and statue, in story and song. in eIo
quent orations and ponderous histories But
scant record is made Of the submer heroism
and the greater victories OF the Southern
women OF that time. 1t is only as we con
template their trials and triumphs that We
can fully appreciate the South and her his
tory The old Romans were wont to ex
claim, ''1e gods, what women these Christians
made"
| Hon n1.Snr, \ a