The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1909-06-21
SNYDER RUMINATES.

Family Floral College, First
Female College Chartered in
the South-Located in the
Midst of a Prosperous People.
Correspondence of The Robesoniar..
Noticing in a recent Robeson-
ian the visit of Mrs. Beail, of
Washington City, whom | used
to know as Miss Chattie McEach-
in, at the home of MIR. Wilton
Mclean, puts me, as Bill Arp
used to say, to ruminating. He,'
father was Squire Peter McEach-
in, but more commonly known
among his old neighbors as Little
Peter, from the fact that there
was Big Peter McEachin in the
community. Although called lit
tie, he was by no means a small
man, as my memory recalls him.
He was a fine man and was rated
as one of natures noblemen. Her
mother was a sister of General
John Mcqueen, of South Caro-
lima.
Mr.. McEachin sold his farm
and moved about 1S45 to Floral
College, where he engaged in
merchandising up to the time of
his removal to Alabama. | was
too young at the time of his leav-
ing his old neighborhood to know
much about the family, but after
wards knew them at Floral Col
lege. His oldest daughter, Ann
Margaret, a fine type of woman
hood, married Lawyer Kelly, of
Moore county. They have both
been dead now for several years.
| remember the oldest son, John
Edmond, as a handsome, pleas
ant-faced young doctor. Hector,
the next oldest son, married a
Miss Inman from the lower part
of Robson. Then came Bruce,
about my own age, l imagine,
who, | have heard, has or had a
large law practice in Birming-
ham, Ala. He was very bright
and talented. Next to him in the
line of the boys was Jimmie, and
another son whose name | have
forgotten. The youngest of the
family was a daughter, Miss
Sallie. Of Mrs. Beall and Mrs.
Beale [ remember very little, as
| was too shame-faced at that
time of my life to enter much
into the rather select CO
terie of young ladies who domi
mated the fashionable life at the
College.
At the time Of which | write
Floral College was at it's higl
tide of efficiency and popularity
1t was established principally b!
: the intelligent suggestions ant
! influence Of Lawyer Gilchrist, it
: first charter being granted b.
v the Legislature of 1841. 1t great
. ly influenced the spread and en-
: couragement of education il
Robson and the surroundin!
counties. think it was the frs
: chartered female college in tn
South, and was only antedate
by a few years by Holyoke Semi
nary of Massachusetts. If ar
Il wrong, somebody will please cal
me down.
!. Rev. John R. Mcintosh, a yer
E : superior man, was it's first pres
! ! ident, with a good corps of ir
= = structors. The College was e:
X tablished in the midst of an inte
;. ligent and highly appreciativ
= neighborhood. Most of the pei
u pie were well-to-do, a few whs
!. in those days you would ca
E wealthy, and none poor. Son
i sported fine turnouts of Sunday
y and stood around the chure
e doors with their gold-heade
Il Il canes and talked about Calhoun
n Clay and Webster, as we no
I, Cdlh VI DO you hHOW WHoiH!
II must confess | do not.
The annual examination OF tn
d institution on the second week
= June was one of the crownir
H. events of the day. The concert
s night was usually closed
3. Squire Peter McEachin on t
Ss fiddle (or violin, | suppose
\. should say), and Miss Chattie
u the piano. At that time
thought had never heard fin
d music in my life, and am inclin
y, to the same opinion still. Th
III there was no German of Fren
H. music, with unpronounceable
" menclature to distract ones me
cll tai equilibrium and rattle
as nerves; but good old-time tur
ry that will ever live to soothe a
rs cheer mankind.
,el ,ea SNYDER
No N