Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-11-21
TELLS OF DRY YEAR
Aged spartanburs Darkey Talks In
terestingIy Of Early Life.


Following is written by p. H. Fikc in
Spartanburg Herald:
New Prospect, Oct. 27.-"Don't forget
Uncle Felix" said New Prospect man,
as the news gatherer was dotting down
the official board of the New Pros
pect Baptist church, while the crowd
surging and jostling about was watch
| ing the fine display of milch COWS be-
ling Judged on the grounds of the COM
munity fair here this morning. Ana,
pray who is Uncle FeliX?" asked the
lreporter. Look right yondcr and you
will sec him." and the man pointed IN
the direction. The sight encountered
was an interesting one. Standing or
rather tottcring, his hands clasping an
o,d-fashioncd walking stick, bent with
the weight Of age, with every car mark
of infirmity written on his open, hum
bic countcnance, was Uncle Felix
! Clark. an old slave, who had passed the
1O2nd milestone on life's journey here.
Some one called to the ccntcnarian and
he managed to hobble up to where
Preacher O'Neill and the representa-
tiyes of The Herald stood. Each gave
the darky a handshake and asked him
how he felt: mighty feeble, thank
you," was the reply.
centenarian Church Member.
The reporter was told that the aged
colorcd man was a member Of the New
Prospect Baptist church, and asked
him when he joined. He replied: Way
back yonder before the war. Young
Mr.. John Landrum was the preacher.
helped to dig about the first grave that
was dug in the churchyard. was
born on Pacolet river near where Cliff
ton mill stands; belonged to old man
Johnny Cannon: then Mr. Ben Clark
bought me. After We was freed l'haVe
! lived at Mr.. Fosters. Yes, l remem-
Der the dry year; it was terrible times
| in this country. That was in 1S45. Mo
rain came from planting time until way
I'D in August; / was on the Johnny
|
the mill and he had to grind the corn
without taking any toll. People had
nothing to eat-no crops were made.
We had TO dig up the grass and weeds
and store them in the barn for cattle;
everybody had to. recollect they sent
to Tennessee for corn in them times,
| -,
times was bad too; / remember them;
in those days 1 was kept busy digging
graves; the churchyard filed up quick
then"
Rev. John G. landrum.
The Young Mr.. Landrum," Uncle
Felix" the 102-year- old colored mem
ber of New Prospect Baptist church
referred to, was Rev. John G. Landrum,
father of Spartanburg county's histor-
ian the late ]. B. O.. Landrum, and
grandfather of B. G. Landrum OF
Spartanburg. Mr.. Landrum was pastor
Of this church for nearly fifty years,
taking the charge in 1882. He was
subsequently pastor Of the First Bap-
tist church of Spartanburg when that
church was organized.
Well Thought OF.
Uncle Felix" is very popular in this
community. He. lives on the farm OF
Rion Foster, five miles from here. AS
an instance Of what the good people
here think of this quiet, inoffensive,
humble, faithful ex-slave, when he
hobbled from the cattle exhibit to the
school building and attempted to go
up the steps to the auditorium where
the big agricultural display was kept
two big stalwart white men, one on
each side, tenderly helped the old man
along Arriving in the hall, he was
given a seat where he sat very quietly
and watched the display and exhibits
Ever and anon persons in passing
would give him q cherry, cordial greet
ing and he would respond with faint
smile trickling over his time and
weather beaten countenance, which
was encrusted in a hoary beard. 1t
would have possibly inspired the pen
of the late Harriet Beecher Stowe or
one of her present-day New England
disciples to have just been spectator
on this incident at the New Prospect
community fair.
Uncle Felix" said that he had never
left Spartanburg during his life of
over one hundred years, and never
wanted to leave New Prospect. "The
white folks here" he said, ARE good
to me; they let's me stay right on and
takes care of me, though l can't do no
more work and haven't for years" He
says he sleeps we'll at night, but can
| oot b1,t vary 1ittIa