Evening journal., 1908-11-06

George w. NcMurphy living, in the
meantime sold his little stumpy farm
down by the campground to William
NJ Nandegrift. OF near Odessa. lie
bought a farm near Prescott, Wis.
which he farmed till after the war lie
was OF the old Whig persuasion and in
time OF the rebellion radical war
man. and after the war a Republican
of the Horace Greeley stripe. So In
1864 when the country was In very
excited and feverish condition he came
back TO visit his old friends, having
been away nine years, and with all
his aggressivoness and peculiarlties ho
always had hosts OF friends wherever
he went.
1t was interesting TO sec him when
he would meet those who had been
his best friends when ho went away
I'm 1855. for there had been great
changes in the sentiments of men, and
families were divided and friend was
arrayed against friend ON the war
question. Pretty soon after no had
again srasped the hand OF an old
friend hc would inquire whore he stood
on the war and if he did not express
himself favorably TO the side OF his
country he could not restrain himself
from Offering an emphatic rebukc
People did not want 20 quarrel with
him and in most cases would not
argue with him. They would try to
ovado the subject / saw him when he
met his old friend Jacob HIN. under
the old buttonwood tire, near my door
I'm Blackbird and it was cordial greet.
| ing beyond a shadow OF a doubt. In
less than i've minutes lac prlcked Mr.
Hin 10 the case. upon which Mr. liill
said. NOW John / don't want TO dis
cuss that subject with you and turn
ing away left Then again, one after
noon. going down in the train from
Wilmington 90 Middletowu ho accosted
another of his former friends Charles
Beaston. prominent man OF Odessa.
and afterwards prothonatory of this
and Mr.. Beaston said to him,
Now John II you don't desist from the
discussion of that subject | will change
my seat
And about the second sunday he
was here ne went TO the old Union
A. r. Church, near Blackblrd. where
he had always held his membership
while In Delaware. and a sacred spot
90 him. II was well circulated rumor
for some days previous that there was
likely TO be trouble on that occasion.
and 10 was 40 place for John McMur-
ply under the circumstances. But he
was there. The expected trouble grew
out of tho fact that a little blacksmith
from Duck Greek. by the name OF
Billie McPharlan had been appointed
by the elder 10 preach there every
fourth nd nm D. de- J.. 4
four weeks previous, on account of his
extreme loyalty he would pray for the
government and success of the gov
ernment troops This had become SO
distasteful 20 the major part Of the
congregation that they had notified him
not 10 come back. 10 which he said
that If the elder told him 20 come back
he would be there. After this they said
/ they would carry him out Hence the
leXpected trouble. That was my church
too, and while ! had no particular ad-
mlration for the preacher previously ]
did not feel like seeing him carried out
/ Of church on Sunday, before he was
dead. Consequently 1 concluded I had
a suit of lighting clothes that / had
never worn and that ] would go to tho
old church that Sunday and that
would wear that suit and / did The
news had spread far and wide, and
there were people from everywhere
and a big crowd TO sec what would
happen. Those who had made IN,
threat got the idea that perhaps 4
might get them into trouble 10 carry
him out, and decided on the plan 4,
start prayer meeting before he caml
land never stop, or give him any chance
20 preach. tOh / tell you they were
mighty seD. They did, and when IN
went into the pulpit 10 preach thel
drowned him out with enthusiast,
/. singing and loud and profound pray.
Iors. and he had 10 withdraw 10 IN,
yard, where he preached while the,
continued their (protractedl prayer
injecting. Things went smoothly tin tn,
inside crowd came out, and the tw,
factions got together when the crisi.
came, everything but the blows. They
talked about their manhood but fort.
unately no liclSs were struck "Uncl,
John proved very conservative ON thai
occasion and kept pretty well Ia tn,
background till il was about over, and
some one said something of very dis.
tasteful nature TO him / heard him saS
l"l don't know how / kept from knock
ing Purnal Jones down. fer it seemed
to me ! felt my arm coming up for the
purpose lie was of tho knockdowr
order and would not stand much fool.
ishness In that line. If the case re.
Iquired it.
! In 1857 he sold out in Wisconsin
hook and line. and went down into
Iowa, near Marion and bought another
farm and set up business there III
September 1883. When me sold ou
again and went to Kansas. near Bur.
lington, Coffee county and bough
another farm whore he died, october
Il, 1892, at the ripe old age of as. VI,
was rather remarkable man fol
eornr oood ,aaeon ITc ,,-s.s q. love-, 49,.