The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-04
Chronicles of The Cdnebrdke
CHAPTER xI
By JOHN wIrTIERsPooN DUBosE
REV. EDWARD BAPTIST.

REV EDWARD BAPTIST. A gentleman of fair skin. ksdeep blue and very expressive eyes, medium height polished and gentle in manner, handsome features and most intelligent conversa- ton, was this early virginian settler of the Canebrake He came in 1880 and brought with him young wife and pur- chased valuable plantation Oakland, [. on the southern border of the area, ar bitrarily here designated the parish. The negro slaves of course, followed to occupy and cultivate the land.
 MT Baptist was minister of the Bap- tist denominations but no church build ing and no congregation of that faith was ever known in the parish. He and his family were active members of the general society, however. He was at an early period made a trustee of tho Uni versity of Alabama and was a most ar dent supporter of the institution. The annual midsummer commencement exer-
 cises there invariably found him on the
 long road 50 miles, driving forward to attend upon the duties of his office. He
 was a graduate of Hampden-Sidney col lege, Virginia, and had never permitted his classical education to lapse. The uni versity exercises and examinations were relished by him as by few in attendance His study" built in the shade of the
 great oaks of his yard. contained many books.
 The Baptist family of Virginia brought with them a coat-of-arms from England
 Lord John Russell was of that blood. The family in England were Catholics. Miss Mary Baptist among others of the fami- ly, came to the United States prior to the American revolution. She became well known as mother superior of one of the earliest of American convents. I was seated at the window of stage coach about to move off from one of the Vir- ginia springs when an officer in the uni form of the United States army spoke to me from the outside. introducing him self as Maj. Ambrose P. Hill, desiring to hear from his uncle, the Rev. Edward Baptist, my neighbor, as he was informed This became the Confederate hero a few years later.
 7 The Rev. Edward Baptist occasionally preached at Dayton His sermons were finished essays, delivered in excellent ora torical form.
 Mrs Baptist was Miss Eliza Judith Cary Eggleston, of the famous Cary fam fly of Virginia. Two of her brothers were eminent jurists, Judge Hugh B. Eggieston of New Orleans and Judge Miles Eggleston of Indiana The great Confederate soldier, Gen. Joseph Eggles- ton Johnston, was named for revolu- tionary soldier, Judge Eggleston of Yir- gnia uncle of Mrs Baptist.
 MT. and Mrs. Baptist kept open house, after the custom of the country. There arrived at Demopolis immediately after Appomatox, the celebrated soldier of for tune. Major McIver. fresh from distinc- ton won in the Confederate service. He was hospitably received at Oakland" and remained there for some days.
 The sons and daughters reared at Oak land" were delightful members of Cane brake society.
 JOHN AND RICHARD NAPIER
 These were brothers John Napier 8 plantation was the envy of all the neighbors. It consisted of a section and a half, as I remember, say 1000 acres. There was not spot on 1t the size of dinner plate that was not rich land, nor an acre that was not as rich as the best land in the canebrake.
 These brothers were educated men. John. continued to cultivate his early acquired classical education. I havo seen him in the school room examining the boys in Latin as pastime. They