The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-12-15

fsAt1 ~
was the presentation Of a number Of
valuable gifts to the Hall of History
and TO the State Archives. The preSl-
lent Of the Association. DR.. Archibald
Henderson, desiring To present an OBJ
ject lesson in the matter Of gifts to the
society, made efforts in variouS dlrec-
lions. to secure gifts of historical anu
literary si~gnificance to the State.
The most important of these were
the rare and valuable Elizabeth Max
well Steele letters, discovered as being
still in the hands Of that branch OF
the Steele family living in Carlisle,
Penn. This discovery vas made Some
years ago by Mr.. John Steele Hen
derSon, of Salisbury, through CORES
%pondence with Mr.. j. Teamer, the
antiquarian. who wrote many OF the
sketches for the Photographed Annals
Of Cumberland county
yania.' Copies OF these letters were
secured from the owners and deposit
ed in the archives Of the Elizabeth
Maxwell Steele Chapter, Daughters of
the American Revolution, at Sails
bury. In an elaborate monograph,
Elizabeth Maxwell Steele, Patriot,
in the North Carolina Booklet, of Oc-
tober. 1872. DR.. Archibald Henderson
reproduced all of these letters, which
proved to be wonderfully interesting.
They tell OF the Battle Of Kings
Mountain. of Guilford Courthouse, Of
Cornwallis's visit to Salisbury. of
General John Steele'S service in the
American army as a boy of fourteen.
II the conflicts OF Wings and Tories.
or Cornwallis's visit TO Salisbury,
Mrs. Steele writes on April 10. 1881:
"In February last, the British were
so kind as to pay us Il visit, at a
time when my little family were i'll
with the smallpox, in which my little
youngest granddaughter died. The
rest have all happily recovered. /
was plundered of all my horses. dry
cattle, horse forage, liquors, and fam-
lily PROVISIONS
These interesting letters were writ
ten during the years 1873 to 1856 by
Mrs. Steele to her brother, Ephraim
Steele, OF Carlisle, =: Through
the efforts of DR.. Henderson, thes
given 10 the state OF North Carolina
BY the owners. the Misses Martha i
and Margaret j.. Steele, OF Carlisle
Ia. the granddaughters Of Ephrain
Steele. OF these ladies. it has beer
written: They have lived nearly al
Of their days in Carlisle. are known by
its entire community, and are univer
sally loved and esteemed for theil
modest worth and kindly ways"
The gracious gift Of these rare ant
luabi letters constitute anothel
link between North Carolina ant
Pennsylvania. which produced Hugh
Williamson, one OF North Carolina
earlier historians.
\ Celebrated Episode.
1T was Elizabeth Maxwell Steel
who presented to General Nathanae
Greene, in the darkest hour OF his re
verses in the campaign OF the Caro-
iinas, two BAGS of gold 10 help hin
pay his needy soldiers-an episod
celebrated in our national annals. r
supplement the gift of the Steele let
ters, DIR. Henderson presented to TIL
Hall Of History 4 beautiful picture i
tint of the famous scene, after q stee
engraving OF the original pain1ing
made by the famous painter OF Revc
l~utionary scenes, Alonzo Chappe
This picture may now be seen, hang
ing upon one of the columns in tn
west room Of the Hall of History.
t~nausurating "a Happy Custom.
1t was DR.. Henderson's desire t
Identify his in~cumbeucy as presider
Of the state Literary and Historic;
Association with the happ custom ,
presenting to the Hall of Histor,
memories OF our men and women (
letters. On December 4, 1912, AT
meeting Of the Association, he move
II following resolution, which vi
carried:
That this Association appoint
committee, consisting Of FIVE men
bers, men and women, to petition IL
Building Committee for the reserv
ton of adequate space in the projeC
ed new Hall of History, to be u.s.
permanently rs a section devoted
the literature OF North Carolin
Furthermore. that this committee
permanent, having for its objects
honor in tangible form, the litera
achievements of our people. and
preserve the literary remains Of o
native writer's OF emineuce. That tt
be done through the preservation a.
display. in the section before me
Eioned in the new Hall OF History,
portraits of our men and women
letters. autographed sets of tn,
works original manuscripts, lettt
from eminent men and women OF l
ters. testifying to the value of su
literary works, medallions, busts. p
all forms OF suitable memorials VIII
may keep green the memory of no
works, timely conceived and artfu
Ixecuted.'