The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-07-26

and constitution: but the Missionary
Baptsts, as they were called. went on
doing their work in the old State.
SiIty-four years after they organized
at GreenYIlle. 1t was while the Bap-
lists were in session ct Reeves Chapel
in Chatham county in 1892. the pastor
Of Rocky River church, Rev. John
Culpepper. suggested the idea of 4
weekly religious paper, This suSEos-
ton was recorded and carried out in
1s38-first publication Of the Biblical
Recorder. Rocky River church was
siXty-six years old when the Manual
Labor School. now Wake Forest Col
lege, was organized. The old story OF
the late John Culpepper is q story OF
earnest, strenuous effort and hard
work. John Culpepper would make
his appointments through storms and
floods in the early days. At the
~Culpepper ford the river would run
fifteen feet sometimes above the low
water mark. but Culpepper would tie
his clothes on his horses head and
plunge in and swim his horse to the
other shore in safety. He was diligent
in business, forever in spirit serving
the Lord.
Rev. Samuel, p. Morton served
Rocky River church from the year
1841 to 1856 and from 1851 TO 1866
and from 1870 to 1874; he served the
church twenty-six years, and during
IAio III II liz IIASloIS Ol lIIt CIuIGl
We find the name of Capt. Hancock,
James Broadway. James Benton and
Wash Staten as clerk.
Rev. Samuel P. Morton was born
November %. 1906, at Palmerville,
near the Narrows on Yadkin river.
and died June 18th. 1887, and was
buried at Red Hill in Arson county.
He lived to his eighty-second year. He
was a man Of good education and logi-
cal in his reason. All who knew him
We're impressed with his tender re-
gard for his friends and acquaintance.
He was a strong believer in the in
SEPARATION of the Bible, and evidently q
disciple of Shubal Stearns. He was
the leader of the Israel Of God during
the dark days of the Civil War. But
the church records at the old Rocky
River do not show that there was ever
a civil war. The church did not miss
a single conference meeting during
the War Between the States. It did
not seem to interfere with their
church work at all. Just before the
war in the yea 1859, the church had
a meeting, in which tWenty-one were
added to the church.
Rev. Samuel p. Morton took up
the mantel of John C~ulpepper in the
old frame building and carried 1t
tWenty-six years, and finally gave 1t
up in the good old arbor located where
the present building now stands. In
1913 III the HOllSSl OI tIlc udyS Vi IL
fight between the States, the record
book Of Rocky River shows 154 mem
bers on the roll. There is now living
in Stanly county, a colore0 man who
was reared in the home of Wyatt
Nance, the first recorded church clerk
Of Rocky River. He was five years
old when the old building was erect
ed located q few yards from where the
present one is. He saw John Culpep-
per and heard him preach in the old
log house on the Gaddy place, and
also in the frame building. Rev. E. l.
Davis served the church as pastor in
the years of 1867, 1868 and 1863. In
the years 1875 and 1876 the records
show as pastor, the Rev. Mr.. Phlfer
and Rev. Mr.. Foreman. Rev. E. l.
Davis came again as pastor in 1879
and 1880. Mr.. Davis was a strong be-
lever in the great commission. He
came to the Missionary Baptist from
the Hard Shell with strong convic-
tons Of Gods word. These conVic-
tions held him, conquered him and
mastered him. His appeals to men
we're strong. and he preached the Cos
pei without fear Of men. There was
nothing cold or compromising in his
preaching. He handled the great doc
trine of Gods work with gloves off.
His devotion to duty was unflag-
ging; he sowed the seed in the heart
Of the people and with it brought
lOItH d Id StSl IL oAo1J ~ ~
In the year 1914 VIM. A. Morris IS
mentioned as serving the church for a
year. Rev. Cu}pepper leads the saints
in the years 1876, 1877, 1878 and again
in 1891 and 1892. He was an earnest
Bible student and pursued his work
with undated zeal.
In 1881 Rev. c.. O.. Without, who
still lives, residing at Ansonville. this
county, took charge Of the church and
served it for five years. During his
first administration, he did away with
the arbor, but pleasant memories Of
departed days in the arbor are still
with the people. Rev. G.. O. Wilhoit
did a great work for Rocky River and
also for the regions around. He has
been. and is now, one of North Caro-
lina's great pioneer When
the list Of the men who have made
good in the cause of the hosts in this
roctinn ic callnd hiC namn stands hioh