Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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ISSUED SEMI-WEEKL^^ t. k. gbist's sons, Publishers. J % Jfamiln Sftrspaper: 4or *1" promotion of the flotitol, Social, Agricultural, and (Eommccriat Interests of the People. jT K R*8in 0'*i0cory, fAivk ckkts.MB' ESTABLISHED !855. ~~ YORKVILLE, S. C., FRIDAY, NOVEMBER -37, 1903. 1STO. 95. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA j Bhe SKI < 4 ============ I 2 H ALT I J Aull J "The Man Ft 4 "Gleagarrjr School Da 4 J Copyright. 1899. by FLEH 4 CHAPTER XX. HOW BILL FAVORED "HOME GROWN INDU8TBIES." io>ralHE buildine of the Swan Creek ? church made a sensation, and all the more that Bronco Bill was in command. "When I put up money 1 stay with the game," he announced; and stay he did, to the great benefit of the work and to the delight of the Pilot, who was wearing his life out trying to do several men's work. It was BUI that organized the gangs for hauling stone for the foundation and logs for the walls. It was BUI that assigned the various Jobs to those volunteering service. To Robbie Muir and two stalwart Glengarry men from the Ottawa lumber region, -who knew all about the broadax, he gave the hewing down of the logs that formed the walls. And when they had done. Bill declare*! they were "better 'an a sawmill." It was Bill, too, that did the financing, and his passage with Williams, the storekeeper from "the other side" who dealt in lumber and building material, was such as established forever Bill's reputation in finance. With the Pilot's plans in his hands he went to Williams, seizing a time when the store was full of men after their mail matter. "What do you think of them plans?" he asked innocently. WUliams was voluble with opinions and criticism and suggestions, all of which were gratefully, even humbly, received. "Kind of hard to figger out Jest how much lumber '11 go into the shack," said Bill. "Ye see, the logs makes a difference." ' To Williams the thing was simpUcity itself, and. after some figuring, he handed Bill a complete statement of the amount of lumber of all kinds that would be required. "Now. what would that there come to?" Williams named his. figure, and then Bill entered upon negotiations. "I ain't no man to beat down prices. No. sir; I say give a man his figger. Of course, this here ain't my funeral; besides, being a gospel shop, the price naterally would be different." To this the boys all assented and Williams looked uncomfortable. "In fact," and Bill adopted his public tone, to Hi's admiration and joy, "this here's a public instltooshun" (this was Williams' own thunder), "condoocin' to the good of the community" (Hi slapped his thigh and squirted half way across the store to signify his entire approval), "and 1 cherish the opinion" (delighted chuckle from Hi) "that public men are interested in this concern." "That's so! Right you are!" chorused the boys gravely. Williams agreed, but declared he had thought of all this in making his calculation. But. seeing it was a church, and the first church and their own church, he would make a cut, which he did after more figuring. Bill gravely took the slip of paper and put it Into his pocket without a word. By the end of the week, having in the meantime ridden into town and interviewed the dealers there. Bill sauntered into the store and took up his position remote from Williams. "You'll be wanting that sheeting, won't you. next week, Bill?" said Williams. "What sheetin' 's that?" "Why, for the church. Ain't the logs up?" "Yes, that's so. I was just goin' to see the boys here about gettin' it hauled," said Bill. "Hauled!" said Williams, in amazed Indignation. "Ain't you goin' to stick to your deal?" "I generally make it my custom to stick to my deals." said Bill, looking straight at Williams. "Well, what about your deal with me last Monday night?" said Williams angrily. "Let's see! Last Monday night!" said Bill, apparently thinking back. "Can't say as I remember any pertiekler deal. Any of you fellers remember?" No one could recall any deal. "You don't remember cetting any paper from me. 1 suppose?" said Williams sarcastically. "Paper! Why. I believe I've got that there paper on to my person at this present moment." said Bill, diving into iiis pocket and drawing out Williams' estimate. He spent a few moments in careful scrutiny. "There ain't 110 deal on to this as I can see," said Bill, gravely pacing the paper to the boys.* who each scrutinized it and passed it on, with a shake of the head or a remark as to the absence of any sign of a deal. Williams changed his tone. For his part, he was indifferent in the matter. Then Bill made him an offer. "Of course I believe in supportin' * ? t?/l?ntniAO VA11 AO r* noiue grUWU niuuaiuro, nuu IM. ,.uu X-C.u touch my figger I'd be uncommonly glad to give you the contract." But Bill's figure, which was quite 50 per cent lower than Williams' best offer. was rejected as quite impossible. "Thought I'd make you the offer," said Bill carelessly, "seem' as you're lnstitootin' the trade and the boys here Ml all be buildin' more or less, and I believe in standin' up for local trades and manufactures." There were nods of approval ou all sides, and Williams iiiAlAAAAlAAAAAAAAAAAAiAli> I PILOT | ? 1 CO won I tor of ^ om Glengarry" ? 7/" &.nd "Bl&ck Rock" 1ING I. REVF.LL COMPANY ????????? ??????????? ????? "Ain't vou uoin' to stick to your dealt" was "forced to accept, "Tor T5IT1 "began arranging with the Hill brothers and Hi to make an early start on Monday. It was a great triumph, but Bill dis played no sign of elation, tie was rather full of sympathy for Williams and eager to help on *the lumber business as a local "institoosbun." Second in command In the church building enterprise stood Lady Charlotte. and under her labored the Hon. Fred, the Duke. and. indeed, all the Company of the Noble Seven. Her home beca me the center of a new type of sjcial life. With exquisite tact?and much was needed for this kind of work?she drew the bachelors from their lonely shacks and from their wild carousals and gave them a taste of the joys of a pure home life, the first they had had since leaving the old homes years ago. And then she made them work for the church with such zeal and diligence that her busband anc the Duke declared. ranching had become quite an incidental interest since the church building had begun. But the Pilot went about with a radiant look on his pale face, while Bill gave it forth as his opinion, "though she was a leetle high In the action, she could hit an uncommon gait." With such energy did Bill push the work of construction that by the 1st of recombor the church stood roofed, sheeted, floored and ready for windows, doors and ceiling, so that the Pilot began to hone that he should see the desire of his heart fulfilled?the church of Swan Creek open for divine service nn Christmas dnv. During: these weeks there was more than church building going ou, for while the days were given to the shaping of logs and the driving of nails and the planing of boards the long winter evenings were spent in talk around the fire in my shack, where the Pilot for some months past had made his home and where Bill, since the beginning of the church building, had come "to camp." Those were great nights for the Pilot and Bill, and Indeed for me. too. and the other boys, who. after a day's work on the church, were always brought in by Bill or the Pilot. Great nights for all of us they were. When the pipes were lighted then came yarns of adventures, possible and impossible. all exciting and wonderful, and all received with the greatest credulity. Happy nights, without a care, but that the Pilot would not get the ghastly look ont of his face, and laughed at the idea of going away till the church was built. And. indeed, we would all have sorely missed him, and so he stayed. CHAPTER XXI. HOW BILL HIT THE TRAIL. WHEX "the crowd" was with us the Pilot read us all sorts of IgjSy? tales of adventures in ill lands by heroes of all ag is, but when we three sat together by our fire the Pilot would always read us tales of the heroes of sacred story, and these delighted Bill more than those of any of the ancient empires of the past". He had his favorites. Abraham, Moses. Joshua. Gideon, never failed to arouse uss auiuirauon. dui jucuu was to him always "a mean cuss," and David he could not appreciate. Most of all he admired Moses and the apostle Paul, whom he called "that little chap." i*ut when the reading was about the one Great Man that moved majestic amid the gospel stories Bill made no comments?he was too high for approval. By and by Bill began to tell these tales to the boys, and one night, when a quiet nood had fallen upon the company. Bill broke the silence. "Say. Pilot, where was it that the little chap got mixed up into that riot'/" "Itiot!" said the Pilot. "Yes. You remember when he stood off the whole gang from the stairs?" "Oh. yes, at Jerusalem." "Yes. that's the spot. Perhaps you would read that to the boys. Good yarn! I.itiie chap, you know, stood up and told 'em they were all sorts of blanked thieves and cutthroats, and stood 'em off. Played it alone too." Most of the boys failed to recognize the story in its new dress. There was much interest. "Who was the duck? Who v.v.s th? A paug? What was the row a be.::?" st "The Pilot liere'll tell you. 'you'd flf kind o' give 'em a lead befotv on be- H gin, they'd catch 011 to the yarn bet- eo ter." This last to the Pilot, who was ar preparing to read. In "Well, it was at Jerusalem," began w the Pilot, when Bill interrupted: th "If I might remark, perhaps it might ba help the boys ou to the trail, mebbe, if th you'd tell 'em how the little chap struck be his new gait." So he designated the ui apostle's conversion. gr Then the Pilot introduced the ut apostle with some formality to the lo company, describing with such vivid sh touches his life and early training, his th sudden wreucli from all he held dear oe under the stress of a new conviction, he his magnificent enthusiasm and cour- ha age, his tenderness and patience, that I w was surprised to find myself regarding a* him as a sort of hero, and the boys he were all ready to back him against any ,n odds. As the Pilot read the story of the arrest at Jerusalem, stopping now ot and then to picture the scene, we saw It te all and were in the thick of it. The Pe raging crowd hustling and beating the y? life out of the brave little man, the sud- hs den thrust of the disciplined Roman Pa guard through the mass, the rescue, the h* pause oil the stairway, the calm face of the little hero beckoning for a hearing, sl( the quieting of the frantic, frothing mob, the fearless speech?all passed be- fe' fore us. The boys were thrilled. ov "Good stuff, eh?" ' n? "Ain't he a daisy?' "Daisy! He's a whole sunflower cri patch!" "Yes." drawled Bill, highly appreci- ^ ating their marks of approval. "That's oa what I call a partickler fine character of a man. There ain't no manner of in- ou wi 6ecks on to him. "You bet!" said Hi. 1 "I say." broke in one of the boys, who was just emerging from the tenderfoot stage, "o' course that's in the gr Bible, ain't it?" f0; The Pilot assented. "Well, how do you know it's true?" gr, The Pilot was proceeding .to elaborate his argument when Bill cut in ! somewhat more abruptly than was his at wont. yr1 "Look here, young feller!" Bill's j ^ voice was In the tone of command. . The man looked as he was bid. "How do you know a::ything's true? How do you know the Pilot here's true when ^ lie speaks? Can't you tell by the feel? You kuow by the sound of his voice, ? don't you 7" Bill paused, and the young fellow agreed readily. "Well, how do you know a blanked . ^ son of a she jackass when you see . ' him?" Again Bill paused. There was ?, np reply. ... . .. ^ "Well." said Bill, resuming his delib- ^ erate drawl. "I'll give you the informa ^fie A sa "I'll lam you amwstics and vtveral other kinds oj tricks." pi; tlon without extra charge. It's by the 1 6ound he makes when he opens his a3 blanked jaw." ^ "But," went on the young skeptic, ca nettiea at the laugh that went round, w< "that don't prove anything. You know," turning to the Pilot, "that there are heaps of people who don't believe ac the Bible." "e The Pilot nodded. a "Some of the smartest, best educated men ure agnostics," proceeded the gj young man, warming to his theme and .. failing to notice the stiffening of Bill's lank figure. "I don't know but what I ^ am one myself." ' "That so?" said Bill, with sudden Interest. *" "I guess so," was the modest reply. "Got it bad?" went on Bill, with'a W( note of anxiety in his tone. re But the young man turned to the Pilot and tried to open a fresh argument. ?? mlsi Dill fA thn " HllUiever Lie o gv/L, ddiu urn IV luv others in a tnild voice, "it's spoilin' hi9 manners. trf "Yes." went on Bill meditatively aft- P'1 er the slight laugh had died, "it's ruin- wc in' to the judgment. He don't seem to *r? know when he interferes with the trf game. Pity too!" ab Still the argument went on. pa "Seems as if he ought to take some- thi thin'," said Bill In a voice suspiciously mild. "What would you suggest?" thi "A walk, mebbe!" suid Hi in delight- th.' ed expectation. w'? "I hold the opinion that you have ua mentioned an uncommonly vallable ca remedy?better 'n pain killer almost." Ta Bill rose languidly. srr "I say," he drawled, tapping the kn young fellow, "It appears to me a little walk would perhaps be good, mebbe." ed "All right; wait till I get my cap," an was the unsuspecting reply. ne "I don't think perhaps you won't th need It, mebbe. I cherish the opinion he you'll perhaps be warm enough." Bill's tlv voice had unconsciously passed into a tu sterner tone. Hi was on his feet and wl at the door. po "This here interview Is private and confidential," said Bill to his partner. ed "Exactly." said Hi^ opening the door. vi< t this the young~7iITo\v7~who was "a rapping six footer, but soft and ibby, drew back and refused to go. e was too late. Bill's grip was ct his Jlar and out they went into the snow, id behind them Hi closed the door, i vain the young fellow struggled to rench himself free from the hands at had him by the shoulder and the ick of the neck. I took it all in from e window. He might have been a ?y for all the effect his plungings had )on the long, sinewy arms that lpped him so fiercely. After a mine's furious strugifle the young felw stood quiet, when Bill suddenly ifted his grip from the shoulder to e seat of his buckskin trousers. Then 'gan a series of evolutions before the use, up and down, forward and ick, which the unfortunate victim, 1th hands wildly clutching at empty r, was quite powerless to resist till > was brought up,'panting and gaspg, subdued, to a standstill. "I'll larn you agUostlcs and several her kinds of tricks," said Bill in a rrlble voice, his jjjrawl lengthening rceptibly. "Come round here, will >u, and shove your blanked secondmded trash dbiptf'bur throats?" Bill lused to get wadlj then, bursting out rising wrath: "There ain't no sootable words for :h conduct. By the livin' Jemlny"? 2 suddenly swung ns prisoner off bis et. lifted him bofflly and held him cr his head at ant's length. "I've a tion to"? 'Don't! Don't! Fbr heaven's sake!" led the struggling wretch. "I'll stop I will!" Bill at once lowered him and set him his feet. ! 'AH right! Shake!" he said, holding t his band, which the other took ith caution. It was a remarkably sudden eonver>n and lasting In Its effects. There is no more agnosticism In the little oup that gathered around the Pilot r the nightly readihg. The interest In the reading kept owing night by night. 'Seems as if the Pilot was gittin' In i work," said Bill to me, and looking the grave, eager faces I agreed. He is getting In his work with Bill, too; oupb perhaps B1U did not know it eraember one night, when the others d gone, the Pilot was reading to us e parable of the talents and Bill was rticularly Interested In the servant 10 failed In his cluty. 'Ornery cuss, eh?" he remarked, .nd gall, too, eh? Served him blamed ;il right, In my opinion!" But when the practical bearing of e parable became clear to him, after ig silence, he said slowly: 'Well, that there ieems to Indicate at TT8 luuui' U]iH) ;ior me w> gw a stle on." Then, after another silence, said hesitatingly: "This here church illdln' business now. do you think , at 'II perhaps count, mebbe? I guess , t. eh? 'Tain't much, of course, anyly." Poor Bill, he was like a child, d the Pilot handled him with a other's touch. 'What are you best at. Bill?" 'Bronco bustin' and cattle," said 11 wonderlngly. "That's my line." "Well. Bill, my line Is preaching just iw and piloting, you know." The lot's smile was like a sunbeam on a lny day. for there were tears in his es and voice. "And we have just got be faithful. You see what he Bays: Tell done, good and faithful servant iou hast been faithful.'" Bill was puzzled. "Faithful!" he repeated. "Does that ean with the cattle, perhaps?" "Yes. that's Just It, Bill, and with erytbiug else that comes your way." A.nd Bill never forgot that lesson, for heard him. with a kind of quiet enusiasin, giving It to HI as a great id. "Now. 1 call that a fair deal," he Id to his friend. "Gives every man show. No cards up the sleeve." That's so." was Hi's thoughtful re$ ; "distributes the trumps." Somehow Bill came to be regarded an authority upon questions of redon and morals. No one ever aesed him of "gettin' religion." He ant about his work in his slow, quiet ay, but he was always sharing his scoverles with "the boys." And If iy one puzzled him with subtleties he ver rested till he had him face to ce with the Pilot And so It came at these two drew to each other with ore than brotherly affection. When 11 got Into difficulty with problems at have vexed the souls of men far iser than he, the Pilot would either sentangle the knots or would turn his ind to the verities that stood out re and clear, and Bill would be connt. "That's good enough for me," he ouia say, aua nis uearr wouiq 00 at st. r t to be continued. r I Double Punishment.?A native [ Lveler In Japan bought two snap- \ ag turtles, and, being afraid that he 1 >uld be charged heavily for their l insportation as live animals 011 the ? tin. he placed them in a small port- e le trunk which he carried. The Ja- t n Weekly Mail tells of an adventure t at befell the man with his turtles. t When he got on the train he held e trunk so carefully under his arm i at a thief who was in the crowd c is sure the man had something valble In the box. So he got into the I me car and took an adjoining seat. ( iking the first opportunity he cut a J tail hole in the trunk with a sharp ? ife and slipped in his hand. i About this time the turtles conclud- 1 " ?? 1 tnat tnere was -someLning uum6, d they took hold of his fingers In a 1 arty way. Gritting his teeth, the 1 ief tried to withdraw his hand, but 1 could not. Then he howled, and ^ e owner of the trunk seized him and J rned him over to the train people, 1 10 at the next station gave him to a J liceman. J The incident, however, was not clos- I until the traveler was punished for jlation of the railway regulations. s SAM CHURCH, Interesting Story of a Time Honored Organization. ESTABLISHED NEARLY 100 YEARS AGO. The Pioneers Who First "Gathered Two or Three Together," and the Names of People Who Have Taken Up and Continued the Work?Valuable Contribution to Denominational History. Written by James L. Strain. In order to write a sketch of Sa [em church one must be acquainted with the early history of Bullock's "reek church, the oldest Presbyterian :hurch In this section. Of the early history of Salem church but little Is positively known, further than about :he year 1804 a group of Presbyterians, some or whom held their membership it Bullock's Creek, qame together and rtith the assistance of Rev. Wm. C. Davis organized a body of worshlpDers, which afterwards took the name >f Salem church. For several years k v f 11I V ; gf Hl -1 SALEM C; The picture represents an end view the Sunday-school In the foreground only one leg. Is Mr. James L. Strain, I sketch of the church that is published :his little group worshipped without i house?meeting at different homes n the neighborhood, which were riendly to them and their work. This vas considered a branch of Bullock's Hreek church. In a few years Rev. Wm. C. Davis vas deposed from the ministry by Concord presbytery for preaching and jublishing erroneous doctrines in Ocober. 1811; the result of which was i split in the congregation, and this jave rise to two separate organizaions?one of which stood by Rev. Mr. "VotjIc and roflfl Irnnvvn ns the Inde sendent Presbyterian church, while he other allied itself with the Presjyterian church proper. In 1817 there was a great revival In 3ullock's Creek church, and also in Salem (which was still regarded as a jranch of Bullock's Creek). Twenty>ne members were added under the nlnlstry of Rev. Aaron Williams, who vas at that time engaged in teaching i classical school on Thickety, near vhat is now known as the Owens' ord. At this time there were two organizations holding services about >ne-fourth of a mile apart, known as Salem and Salem Independent, in both >f which were some of the best people >f the country. The first elder of which we have any Lccount was Mr. Allison Hope, who ame from Cabarrus county, N. C.. vhen quite a young man. He marled Miss Jane Moore, and moved to he Bethesda neighborhood and was he father of Robert Hope, long an el!er* of that church, and he was also he grandfather of our present misiionary to Japan. The harmony of the church was very nueh disturbed by the erroneous docrlne of Rev. W. C. Davis, and as a onsequence its membership was very nich reduced, and on November 2, .838, the church was dissolved and its netnbers joined Bullock's Creek hurch. A number of families having noved off it was left with but one ruing elder?Robert Lusk. In April, 1840 tfr. Lusk took a pe: tlon to Bethel nesbytery to be reorganized, which vas granted and Saturday, May 30, .840, was tne time set lor tnui num. Hev. John B. Davis and Rev. James H. 3aye were appointed a committee to effect the organization. Rev. Mr. Saye >eing Providentially hindered from atending, Rev. John B. Davis, proceeded o organize the church. At this meeting the following white jersons presented certificates from >ther Presbyterian churches, to wit: Robert Lusk, Martha Lusk. Mary Wartin, Martha Bankhead, Jane Smarr, Caroline Walker, Samuel Davidson, Tohn G. Davidson, Jane Davidson, arah E. Davidson, Elizabeth Plaxco, Esther S. Lewis, Ann Cain. Elizabeth Williams, Tliza Ann Wiliains, Theodore Williams, Nancy 3oens, Nicy Boens, Nancy Hemphill, A'illlam Plaxico, Elizabeth Plaxico, Elizabeth Logan, Joseph Robinson, Mar.ey Robinson, Nancy C. Robinson, rames Meek, Elizabeth Meek. Martha _,eech, Mariah Leech, Martha Leech, fr,, Z. D. Hemphill, Elizabeth Greer, viary Hi. jriaxicu. ?ne uiaxrivo were fancy, Jonah, Anthony and Becca. William Plaxico, Robert G. Davldlon, John G. Davidson and Robert Lusk were elected ruling elders. Rob- 1 ert Lusk having been ordained a rul- < ing elder in Bullock's Creek church, i was installed a ruling elder in Salem and Messrs. Plaxico and the two Da- i vidsons were ordained and installed i as ruling elders. , The church being j thus organized was placed under the ] care of Bethel presbytery on the 31st , day of May, 1840, and the same day ] the sacrament of the Lord's supper t was administered by Rev. John B. Davis. On the following 26th of September the session met, with Rev. Wm. B. Davis as moderator, and was kept open until the 27th, when Robert Lusk was elected clerk of the session. Mr. William Plaxico, Jr., Dr. Sam'l Wright and Mrs. Elvira Wright came before the session and on giving satisfactory evidence of piety were received into the church as members. At the beginning of the service that rhornlng William Gillis, infant son of John G. Davidson, and Martha Elmira, infant daughter of Wm. Plaxico, received the ordinance of baptism, Rev. W. G. Davidson officiating. (I mention these facts merely io show who were the first members 'o Join, and the first Infants to be baptized after the reorganization of church in 1840). 1'" v-? - i 3URCH. ( of Salem church, with members of 1 The whitehaJred old gentleman, with * he", writer of the accompanying * herewith. 1 c Rev. Wm. Banks was the first minis- 1 ter called to the pastorate of the 4 church, but In their failing to get him, { a call was made for Rev. A. H. Monroe, of Unionville, a licentiate of Harmonv nresbvterv. It was placed in his ^ hands at an adjourned meeting of o Presbytery held at Bethel, November c 11, 1840, and on the 8th of December J r following Rev. Mr. Monroe entered up- { on the duty of supplying Salem in t connection with Unionville church. I: Rev. Mr. Monroe resided at Unionville ^ (now Union) and supplied it, with Sa- i lem, in 1841 and 1842. During those 1' years the following persons united ? with the church: Williamson Howell and his wife, So- ^ phia: Nancy Walker, Wright Walker, John Goudelock, Wm. Mitchell and wife, Violet: Rachel Carothers, Mar- j garet Parker, Hannah McCullouch and e John Murry. 1: At a meeting of the church session ? held August 6, 1841, the following reso- r lutton was adopted: a 'Resolved, That all persons wishing r occasional communion shall come through the session, and after being j examined and received shall be entitled to commune as long as they evince to the world by a godly walk and conversation they are Christians." This c was repealed by the session on August a 4, 1844, under the pastorate of Rev. f Ferdinand Jacobs, who had succeeded J Rev. Mr. Monroe. It was also resolved by the session 1 (at the same time) that the use of to- e kens be dispensed with; and that the ^ new hymn book approved by the gene- j ral assembly be adopted. f Mrs. Catherine Fernandez applied to ? be admitted as a member of the j, church and alter Deing received uie i ordinance of baptism was administer- F ed to her; she afterward Joined Fair- ^ forest church. Mrs. J. Gunning was .. received by letter from Beersheba church. Rev. Ferdinand Jacobs was teaching school at Yorkvilie when he was called ^ lo the pastorate of Salem church in e 1S43. \ c In 1845 the session consisted of Rob- j ert Lusk. Colonel Robert G. Davidson j. and William Plaxico. The church had s permission from presbytery to employ ^ Rev. Joseph Hillhouse for a part of his time. He served until the end of 1847, e when he was succeeded by Rev. Mr. ^ Beard, who supplied them once a ? month for the year 1848. Occasional t< supplies were sent the church during y the year 1849, Rev. P. E. Bishop hold- e ing the communion meeting in July of that year. In December of that year J the board of Domestic Missions was !i petitioned for aid to assist in the sup- ? port of Rev. William Savage the ensu- c ing year. On the 26th of October, 1846, Elder " Robert Lusk and his family, including w effect the organization. Rev. Mr. Saye g Join church in Mississippi, and s Newton Plaxico and Dr. Sam Wright were elected elders on the 25th of the n following June. Dr. Wright declined e to serve, as he had such an extensive 13 Si practice of medicine that he thought 0 he could not discharge the duties of o the office. Newton Plaxico accepted and was ordained and installed as rul- ^ ing elder by Rev. James H. Saye, June 26, 1847. John S. Plaxico (familiarly ii tnown as Old Steady) was elected eller and ordained by Rev. William Savige, September 27, 1850. January 1, 1854, Rev. A. A. James vas called to the pastorate, supplying t one half his time. The session con?lsted of Colonel R. Q. Davidson, M. S. Lynn and J. S. Plaxlco. Rev. Mr. rames preached here until January, L859. When he commenced his minisry there they had been worshipping In i very dilapidated building. He urged hem to builJ a new house, but they lid not think they were able. The old church stood about seventy-five yards vest of the present building, and Provdence interposed and In a severe wind itorm brought down a large pine tree, completely demolishing the building, rhis occurred a few weeks after he commenced preaching there. (1854). ine inaepenaeni iresoyierwiiB were vorshipping in the old church, about >ne-fourth of a mile north of where he present church stands, and they nvited Rev. Mr. James to occupy their ihurch, which he did. The feeling beween the two denominations, or, perlaps we should say, congregations, lad been very bitter, and after preachng in their house and both congregaions worshipping together and comnuning with each other, Rev. Mr. Tames ventured a proposal to them to mite and build a union church, to vhlch they agreed, and the result was he building of the present house of vorshlp in 1364. They concluded they vould not build in the grove on ac:ount of storms, but exchanged the ii'e of the old Independent lot of land vlth Mr. Henry W. Thomson for the ?xtension of their lot into the field vhere the present house stands, and hey then planted shade trees around he building. The pine tree which demolished the >ld church opened the way for a union letween the two factions or churches, rhe Independents had but four minisers and but little prospects of any inrease. At a meeting of the presbytery n Unlonvllle, Rev. A. A. James offerid a resolution that a committee be ippointed to meet with the Independents In their annual convention and >ropose a union of the two branches of he church. It was adopted, and Rev. L A. James and J. Starr Moore, of the fork church, were appointed. They net with the Independents at Olivet ihurch in York county, and were very ordially received, and steps were tak in toward the union of the two >ranches. But the war coming on it vas delayed for some time, but finally t was accomplished. The Independints had only four ministers at that ime, viz.: Rev. Robert T. Russell, lev. W. Washington Carothere, Rev. J. Starkes Bailey, and Rev. W. W. Ratcbord. They had in change fifteen hurches, which were added to Bethel iresbytery. All praise lofty pine ree and the Providence that directed he storm. The present house of worship was iullt in 1854, and dedicated to the worhip of Almighty God. Rev. Arnold V. Miller, D. D., (at that time pastor f Fishing Creek church, in Chester ounty, and afterwards pastor of the ^irst Presbyterian church, Charlotte, J. C.), preached the dedicatory sermon rom the text: "How amiable are thy abernacles, Oh, Lord of hosts," Psalm sxxlv, 1. At a meeting of the church session teld September 11, 1864, with Rev. tobt. T. Russell, moderator, the folowing communication was received, nd was ordered placed on the church ecords: "Jackson Hospital, Richmond, Va. "o the Session of Salem Church, Union District, S. C.: This will certify that on the 26th lay of June, that I examined Joseph >{. Smith upon his Christian experince and was well satisfied that he lad received a change of heart. I adnlnistered to him the sacrament of laptlsm and received him at his own equest Into the Presbyterian church, nd It Is at his own request that his iame be enrolled upon the church book .t Salem, Union district, S. C. R. F. Payton. >ast Chaplain, Jackson Hospital, a Presbyterian minister of the Synod of Georgia and Presbytery of Cherokee." (Mr. Smith was a member of Co. C, Seventh S. C. Cavalry, Gary's Brigade nd was mortally wounded at what Is amiliarly known as the "Wheatfleld" ight, near Cold Harbor, Va., May 3?, 864). In 1878 the church was recovered, 'his year (1903) It has been re-weathrboarded and painted Inside and outide. The plastering on the inside was nuch damaged by the earthquake of tugust 31, 1886, but it has been retired. To give a full history of the hurch, with its various ministers, eldrs and other officers, together with ts membership would carry this sketch ar beyond the space we have for its lublication. Deaths, removals and the icissitudes of life have wrought many hanges in all these. They have been scattered like roses in bloom, Son e by the bridle and some by the tomb." Rev. W. H. White is at present suplying the church once a month. The Hers now are, S. F. Estes, C. W. V'hisonant, T. J. Estes and J. L. Strain. The deacons are, J. W. Brown, ack Smarr and H. Terry Estea. the anitor, Lesslie Blackwell. There are ixty-two members on the roll. The Sabbath school was organized i 1886 and is evergreen. The first person buried in the cemterf was Mr. William Davidson. He ied June 25, 1854, during the awful pldemic of flux. Rev. A. A. James reached his funeral, taking for his ext, "Weep not for me, but weep for ourselves." These words are inscribd on the family monument in the emetery. During the pastorate of Rev. A. A. ames and before as well as since, lrge congregations attended. The allery was generally filled with Nernoo of oonh corvlno thlfl U'flfl thp ase for several years after the war. Mr. James tells a laughable Incident hich took place while he preached here. By some means a dog found Its ay Into the gallery, crowded with Neroes. It couldn't find the way down tairs again, but jumped upon the parpet and looked down upon the white ongregatlon below. An old Negro wolan seeing what was about to happen, aught it by the tall and pulled it ack. Very few of the white people aw it and so Mr. James had their part f the fun to himself. He preached n just as If nothing had happened. To Howe's History, Rev. A. A. James, Irs. Martha E. Smarr and others, beides the sessional records. I am inebted for the invaluable help I got 1 making this sketch as full as It is.