Smyrna times., 1931-01-14

store house (Four CornersJ my
memory is somewhat confused.
associate Eben Blackston, Abran
Shannon and Jacob Raymond with
that corner. Whether the two
former kept store there or not
am not certain; but of Mr.. Ray
mond I have no doubt. He was a
tall man, of fine physique, digni-
fed bearing and suave manners
In a word, he was an elegant gent
leman, a merchant of high stand
| ing, very successful and of un-
blemished reputation. In after
years, he was long the President
of the Bank. Adjoining and north
of Mr.. Raymond's store was Mr..
Rowland's. 1 don't think he was
in business in Smyrna very long.
1 remember that he had a bull that
he allowed to roam at large, that
had learned the trick of throwing
its weight across a fence and
breaking it down, other cattle fol-
lowed in his wake and were con-
stantly depredating on some ones
pasture or grain field. Mr.. Row.
land was, I think, succeeded by
Ayers Stockly, who has continued
his residence in Smyrna ever since.
He and his estimable wife are too
well known to need any comments
from me. My recollection of them
both are most pleasant.
Next was the "three story" be-
ing so designated from being the
only three storied house in the
town. 1t had a porch, the posts of
which were of iron wood, import
ed from South America. I pre-
sumo they are still there, as en-
during as "Horatian monuments
of brass and iron" The Rev. Mr..
Piggott resided there and in addi-
tion to his parish duties, conduct
ed private school. I graduated
from Miss Parsons Primary and
entered Mr.. Piggott's Institute. !"
He is still living and has parish
in Baltimore County, Md; he is
very venerable in appearance,
though enfeebled by age. I met
him a few years since and we had
Ia most enjoyable chat about
Smyrna in the olden times. He
was a Low Churchman and some
times attended Methodist meet
ings. On one occasion at watch
meeting he took part in the ser
vices and conversed with the
mourners at the altar. That seal
ed his ecclesiastical doom, SO far
as his Rectorship Of Smyrna Par
ish was concerned. Since then he
has passed through deep waters,
but holds on to his Faith in God.
Between the Three Story" and
Judge Davis there were number
of small houses. In one of them
was the dwelling and store of a
Mr.. Rodgers a maker of ladies'
shoes, from Philadelphia. He was
a worthy citizen and an active
member of the Methodist society.
Israel Peterson, tailor, also lived
in one of those houses and had a
shop next to the dwelling of Judge
Davis. Mr.. Peterson was an of
fetal member of the Methodist
church and wore the "cut away
coat. He was man of good re-
pute. Next was the dwelling of
Isaac Davis. He was man of
mark. Tall, well proportioned.
erect and of commanding mien.
He was large property holder
and president of the Bank of
Smyrna. His sons, Joshua, Henry
and George are I believe, all de-
cease. His daughter, Mary, mar
ried first, Robert Wilson, and sec
ond, William Brdd. Ann married
Thomas Budd, they were Phila-
delphians. William Budd was the
superintendent of the NJ. E. Sun
day School. He never prayed in
public if he could escape it, though
he was gifted in prayer and en-
joyed the confidence of the COM
munity in his piety On the oc-
casion of a Sunday School prayer
meeting, Mr.. Budd, after several
persons had prayed, asked Miss
Ann Sharp if she would please lead
in prayer She rose from her
knees and said mo, I won't, pray
yourself, you have not prayed to-
day." Judge Davis was the
wealthiest man among the Meth
odist in Smyrna. The deciplinary
allowance for a preacher then was
500 for himself, S100 for his wife,
if he was so fortunate or unfor-
tunate as to have one; S16.66 for
each child under a given age, over
that age the children were expect
ed to shift for themselves. The
collection for the preachers in the
classes were made quarterly, and
quarterage came to mean quar-
ter of a dollar. Judge Davis used
to give one dollar and then he
would hand the leader of the class
another dollar, always remarking:
''This is for Mrs. Davis, she is not