The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-05-08


ago about Rev. Littlejohn Utley, a
preacher who was well known in
Wake, Chatham and Orange counties
fifty or sixty years ago, and whose
relatives were very numerous III
Wake. 1 remember him as an old
face; whose height was about five
feet ten inches. and whose weight was
perhaps a hundred and sixty pounds.
His face wore a very benevolent eX-
preston, and his general demeanor
was that of consistent Christian
minister. He was preacher of great
popularity, though | am not able to
say whether or not he was a man Oh
education or of more than ordinary
preaching ability. He had regular APP
pointmentS at Pleasant Springs, elSht
miles south of Raleigh, frequently
held services at private houses ana
was always gladly received Wherever
he went as everybody had the utmost
confidence in him; regarding MN as
an earnest faithful minister OF
Christ He belonged to the Christian
church. There are many people Nv
ing in Wake, besides d host who nave
drifted off into other counties ana
States. who are his descendants, or
related to him. The first baptism ser
vice by immersion l ever witnessed, ne
performed in Swift Creek, not far
from where Capt. Stephen Stephenson
lived. | was but boy, and l remem-
Der that other boys, as well as my
self, were impressed with the service;
and not many days after secrilegiouS
as it may seem to the reader, we boys
had baptizing, of our own, and, con-
trary to all presidents, the baptisms
were repeated until each boy had ms
turn as baptiZer. Our teacher would
have pOureu the hickory upon us IL
he had heard of it: but, luckily for
our hides, the matter never came TO
his ears.
Rev. Burwell Temple, Primitive
Baptist preacher. was very consplcu-
Gus character in my young days. he
resided not far from Milburnle, ana
was the father of James Temple, Esq,
who now lives in the Milburnle COM
munity. He published 1.-The Primitive
Baptist" and through its columns he
was we'll known, not only in this, but
in many other States. He was a
Jacksonian Democrat, and believed
that paying ones debts and voting
the Democratic ticket were virtues
which were almost Indispensable in a
well-developed Christian character
Like many other preachers of his day
and time, he thought brandy toddy
after preaching a two-hour's sermon
was not at all amiss, but he had no
patience with drunkenness.
/ do not remember very much
about Rev. George Nance, also a
Primitive Baptist preacher, who lived
southeast of Raleigh about five miles
from Garner, though / knew well some
of his children, one of whom was Mrs.
J. J. L. McCullers, the mother of DR..
j. J. L. McCullers, the present Health
Officer of Wake county. Mr.. Nance
was one of Wakes best citizens and
a popular minister whom all denoml-
nations were fond of hearing. They
said he always rode a fat horse to
his appointments, which proved that
he was a thrifty farmer, as well as a
preacher, and if, when he got up to
preach, the weather was uncomfort-
ably warm, he would take off his coat,
unbutton his vest and collar and pro-
coed in a sensible way, which showed
that he was sensible man. Our
friend. Charlie McCullers, on the
corner near the Union Depot, is an
other grandson. By the way, he in
formed me the other day that my re-
cent article on snoring" had gotten
him into difficulty-that his wife had
used, or proposed to use, some very
heroic methods to keep him from
breathing so loud at night, and, /
suppose. make him adopt the smok-
ing snore in place of the snort, or
whatever snore he snores.
Rev. Anthony Francks, a Christian
preacher was another whom | use'i
to hear when I was a boy. He lived
in the vicinity of the Catawba Springs
church, and was a most exemplary
man, though not great preacher. he
!. did not have the command of words
% express himself very elegantly, but
what he said was good and generally
to the point. Albert Hinton used to
get off some jokes at Mr.. FranckS s
expense, but he could not tease him
with them much, if at all; for he knew
that Albert was q pretty hard ease,
and people knew how to make allow
anceS for his fun. One Of the JOft 8
was that he, Albert, out hunting one
day, came near to where Mr.. Fran ckS
was trying to prize up :og ana put
a block under it. He could prize tie
log easy enough, but, when he s'ir red
along on the lever to put the block
under his weight being diminished Il e
nearer he got to the fulcrum, sudden
1y the lever would fly up, and down
the log would go. Albert said he wit
messed repeated trials, before he made
his presence known, and that every
time the lever flew up and the log
went down the preacher would say:
IF l did think it. bless the Lord |
didn't say it, The impression that
Albert tried to make was that the
preacher thought bad words. Mr.
Francks was "a good man, and has
many descendants out on Swift Creek
who have good reasons for honoring
his memory.
Rev. Patrick Doud, a Missionary
Baptist preacher, was perhaps the
most noted, as he was very able
preacher of my boyhood days. He
was an orator of high order, and drew
large crowds wherever or whenever
he preached The last time l remem-
Der hearing him was at old Pleasant
Springs, when he preached the funer-
al of David Henry Stephenson, all
older brother of w. r. Stephenson,
ESQ.,, of Swift Creek township. AS
now remember Mr.. Dowd was the
ab'est ninstHr OF his d nomination ~
Wake county, ifEnpt in the State. #i'i
it was sail thac - the fuEec,. 1e-
ferred to- +" pTatencd one OF the
greatest ser aons Of his iifr.
Rev. James Wilson, Primitive Bap-
fist, used to preach at Muddy Springs
in the neigbborhood of the Youngs
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