The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1913-08-14

oeshoiA l1oiIl dill fAllu
erson Gazette Of 1860.
Tippah County. Miss, June
25, 1860.
A. 0. Norris-Dear Friend: !
am closing up my tiftv-fftf
year, and as l am impressed
with the idea that my days ar,
almost numbered in this strange
land, aud being at a consider
able distance from many of M,
relations and a large portion O
of my old acquaintance am
friends, for whom I feel a grea
regard. l wish before I pas
away from this, to anothc
mode Of existence, to civ,
through your columns a shor
sketch OF nv life, hoping tina
it may admonish others to b,
more faithful than | have been
| was born in Spartanbure
District, South Carolina. the
End of July. 1905, and brought
to Pendlcton in the winter of
1909, and when Pcndlcton was
divided. | was cut off on the
Pickens, six miles north Of Pen
dleton. My mother had nine
children. | was the fifth son
out Of six. My father was af
fictcd with an ulcer or cancer
on his face, which took him off
when | was very young, though
able to work. My younger
brother and | / e left in charge
'of Il widowed mother, and as
we had no other chances for a
living but by the farm, we had
very little chanccto go Oschool-
At that time there was very
few Sabbath schools: there was
one, however, carried on ly
some Of my kind Presbyterian
friends ut Pcndlcton, and my
younger brother and | walked
almost every Sabbath morning
a distance Of six miles. 1t was
at that school that | got part of
my education. During that
time there was no church at
Pendlcton of any denomination.
We sometimes had preaching
in the Court House, and some
times went tothc Stone Church.
Our good old friend, Crosby
Miller went With us from the
school to the church. | was
very seriously convicted, and
joined the Methodist Episcopal
church in the seventh year Of
my age. But as | was Otter
thrown in company with WICKED
youngsters, | became careless
though meyer profanc or out
brcakingly wicked | con
tinucd in connection with tn
church as q seeker, until wa
married, but never had made f;
profession of religion. A shorI
time after my marriage to p. y
Gaines, which took place til,
21st Of September, 1924, | be
came seriously concerned on tin,
subject Of religion. My wifi.
was a professor and that CAV,
me some encouragement
There was Il quarterly meeting
held at Old Twelve Mile Churci
on the llth of June, 1896 and F..
believe it was then and there
that the Lord for Christ's sake
converted my soul. Oh! it was
a time | never shall forget.
commenced then to hold famil,
prayer, and | have tried to kccl
it up ever since. | was i'm !;
short time appointed to hcat
the class of which | was a mem
Der, and continued in that re
lation with the church until tn,
Spring of 1929, when the church
gave me license to cXhort. nnC
in the Fall ! was licensed t,
preach at the camp.mectinp y.
Sandy Spring. continued i,
that relation with the churcI
until February, 1885, when
was ordained a Deacon i'm tn,
Town of Columbia, by Bisho,
Andrews, and that year | tray
elled the Pendlcton circuit, il
connection with Bartlett Thorn
ason. In the close of that yca,
| resumed my work rs a ioca
minister, working during tn,
week and trying to preach OF
Sunday. In 1889, | was an
pointed by the State to take TIN,
census Of Pickens District
which did in the best manner
could, still trying to keep my
appointments. In 1919. wa,
re-appointed to the same work
When | got through | went
back to my farm-all the TIM
Keeping up my appointments
until the year 1852, when / was
ordained an Elder in the towr
of Mecklenburg, Charlotte coun
tY, n. c., still continuing nv
work as a local minister until
1857. WhonJ was pn,D1oyoJ tr