Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1904-07-27
REV. A, W. MosufFIN.
A Sketch Of His Liie--An Effort Being Made
to Raise Monument 10 His Memory.

to Raise Monument 10 His Memory.
The subject of this sketch was
born on Little Conneross (Bear
Swamp) creek, Oconee county, in
1911, of Irish parents, James and
Annie McGuffin. He was one of a
family of eight children.
In early youth he worked on his
fathers farm and attended school at
Old Conneross. VIM. Clannahan
was his teacher. He also studied for
several short terms under that schol.
arly teacher, Rev. Nimrod Sullivan
Here it was that he learned orthog,
raphy, reading, writing and arithme.
tic. His extraordinary power tc
memorize and comprehend was 6
surprise to his teacher and class
mates.
In 1881 he joined the Conneros,
Baptist church under the preaching
of Rev. Ballard, of Georgia, and was
baptized by the same minister il
Bear Swamp creek, two miles and {
half south of Walballa. He very
soon began preaching, and was or,
dained to the ministry at Perkins's
Creek church (now Return) in 1882
In 1888 he entered Mercer Uni
,, versity, Macon, Ga. The following
year he began preaching regularly
Almost his entire life was spent in
Oconee county. 1t is estimated that
he had baptized at least 5000 people
he having immersed IS on one occa
sion. He preached many funerals
so appropriate and with such elo,
quence that there would not be ar
individual in his large congregations
but what would be affected by his
preaching.
Rev. McGuffin was married three
times. In January, 1885, he and
Miss Patsey O'Kelley were married
To this union eight children were
born-four sons and four daughters
all living to be of age. After the
decease of his first wife (in>the early
fifties) he was married to Miss Aria
Carver. In the eighties he married
Miss Mary Wilbanks, who, with an
only son, survives. He is also sur
vived by five children of his first
wife-John, Thomas f., and Louis
McGuffin and Mrs. II. M. Harbin
all of whom live in Oconee county
Four children-Mrs. E. @. Butler,
Mrs. John Cobb Mrs. Ira Newell and
William McGuffin-preceded him tc
the grave.
Rev. McGuffip, for deep intellect
and gifted eloquence, scarcely had a
superior in Upper South Carolina
Although minister of the Baptist
denomination, he was held in high
esteem by the people of all denomi,
nations.
Rev. McGuilin was instrumental in
forming the Fork Association, OF
which he was elected the first moder.
ator. He presided over the meet.
ings with firmness and ability for sc
years, being annually reelected. His
successor was elected at his request
Rev. McGutfin performed many
marriage ceremonies. From records
that he kept and from data obtained
from his family, we find that he
united about 500 couples.
He preached the Gospel without
money and without price; not fol
the sake of financial gain, but fol
the great reward in heaven. He was
member of Conneross church. 1t
was here that he gave his first lee.
ture, and preached his last sermon a
short time before his death. In
Conneross cemetery his body lies
awaiting the resurrection morn. He
had been preaching 70 years. He
died in November, 1901. To the
surviving relatives and religious peo.
pie his example goes down into his.
tory for them to follow. Truly q
great man has gone to his reward.
Oliver M. Abbott.
Alexander, Pickens county, S. c.,
July 22.-To the Readers of the
Keowee Courier and People of Oco-
nee County: At the request cs many
people in Oconee county, I have
written sketch of the life of Rev
A. w. McGuffin, which, | hope, will
be of interest to his relatives and
Baptist denomination, of which he
was a decided leader for more than
fifty years in what is now Oconee
county. The sketch is thought
proper and expedient, as collections
are being taken up and some money
collected to erect a monument tc
Rev. McGuffin's memory. Any one
wishing to give any amount can dc
so by calling on or addressing Rev
j. NJ. Sanders, Poplar; w. o. Alex.
ander, Westminster; Andrew Bear
den, Oakway. Any amount, large
Or ann oil will ho oslnll.. .aaa;ual