Carthage courier. (Carthage, Tenn.) 1913-current, 1921-04-21
Fifty Years in the Ministry
NO. XIII.
NO. XIII.

My first visit to Carthage was dur
ing the Civil War. The Yankees were
camping northeast of town. Bro. Jim
B. and l rode two old mares with
chickens swinging by ropes on each
side, basket on each arm, contain
ing cucumbers, pies and homemade
cheese, which found a ready sale
among the soldiers. With pockets full
of shin-plasters we returned home to
mother with thrilling stories about the
river and Yankees. / will never for
get an incident occurring at that time.
"A squad of rebels dashed up on the
west side of the river and fired across
and killed or wounded several Yankees
and the next morning several yankees
by way of retaliation stole across the
river and made dash on squad of
rebels eating breakfast at Rome in
which young Grissim was killed, fall
ing from his horse in his mothers
arms. Doubtless there are many read
ers of the Courier who remeber the
sad affair. A few years later / made
my second visit to Carthage. 1t was
Just after the impeachment trial of
President Andrew Johnson. My faith
er was a great believer in Andrew
johnson and the occasion of my second
visit Andrew Johnson had an appoint
ment to speak in Carthage. | rode
behind father on an old sheepskin
on a sharp-b backed horse for nearly all
horses were poor then. A great crowd
was present. 1 knew nothing of the
presidents mission. l remember only
one thing the president said. Refer
ring to mis- enemies in Congress, he.
exclaimed: Father, forgive them for
they know not what they do" The
chief attraction to me on that occa-
sion was the sight of my first veloci-
pede which had two wheels the same
height, being about six feet high. A
man was there showing it and several
men tried to ride it but were flung
ten to twenty feet and so much was
the excitement and merriment over
the thing the owner was stopped and
made to sit down. The third time l
caught view of Smith County's cap
itol was In 1870. The previous night
/ had an appointment at Grant to ex-
hort A fairly good crowd was pres
ent. Daniel Seay, who lived near, was
present and not being interested in
my exhortation concluded the people
had rather hear him read a newspaper
and proceeded to read during the ex-
hortation. Wednesday following there
was an old fashioned wood-chopping
for grandmother Sorry, who lived in a
Atwood place near the old John Roll
lin place near Grant. Not a sign of
the old home there now. Luther
Cheek was then sheriff of the coun-
ty. Suddenly he appeared and drew a
paper on me, notifying me to be at
Carthage by one o'clock, dead or alive.
l borrowed a saddle and we Hoped and
trotted all the way. | was rushed into
the court room and made to kiss the
Il = ~
room where sat twelve men. One man
took me in charge and said his name
was Esq. Alex Rigsby. He asked me
several questions about man reading
paper the Sunday night previous.
told him and was excused. | hit the
trail for home, stopping at New Mid
dleton l exhorted for Bro. James Bar
rett. / learned afterwards | had been
before a grand jury and that Daniel
Seay paid $68 for the information he
read to the congregation while | was
exhorting in old Buena Vista church.
He afterwards laughingly said he got
more good out of that nights reading
than any he ever did. Afterwards
he was my friend and his son, Rev.
Webster Seay, has often told me his
father was greatly benefited by that
nights performance. One thing ] can
can say and that is: Luther Cheek
like to have shortened my days by
rushing me to Carthage that day
Years afterward / was Alex Rigsby's
pastor and preached his funeral 80
years ago. Cheek and Seay are dust
and all of us travelling on to the
grave. My next visit to Carthage was
some thirty years ago when in COM
pany with Elders J. c. Bryon and J.
III. d. Gates. We had been to Pey-
toms Greek to assist in the ordination
of seven deacons. At Peyton's Greek
Bro. Gates and l spent night with
Roger Flippen on the river. One thing
/ viii never forget His daughter,
now Mrs. Ed Myers, drank buttermilk
and left her upper lip covered with the
milk. She was sure pretty then. On
Sunday night we stopped in Carthage
and preached. Two things / remem-
Der. The congregation fell down on
singing II Love to Tell the Story
when a gawky-lOoking fellow near the
door rose and sang it through. Sam
Allison, who used to live at New Mid
dleton, was present, for he was true
friend of mine when | was a boy.
Billy Barrett was over on a visit to
his father-in-l laval ison Billy was
rather rough customer in early life
One time old Bro. Lewis Dias went
to spend the night with Billy's father
Billy stole old Brother DlaS' horse out
of the barn and rode him to a party
four miles away. Some bad boys
shaved the horses TAIL Bill was up
against it. He knew he would be shaw
ed if he was caught with Dias' horse
out. He quickly gathered up the tan
gled tail and lit for home and put the
horse and tail in the stable Next
morning the excitement was high
when the horse and shaVen tail were
found in the stable. Bill lowed the
man who did it ought to be shot and
all he wanted was to find out who slip
ned In his father.,s harm . nj .dirf c.,,,.-