USA > Mississippi > Newton County > History of Newton County, Mississippi from 1834 to 1894 > Part 27
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Among these were some ministers. Elder Cader Price for a time lived near New Ireland, a man of piety and much usefulness, and likely the first Baptist minister
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that preached in the county. Wade H. Holland, also a preacher, a man of energy and much force as an ex- horter, lived for years in the southern part of the county, and preached and baptized. James Merchant, a licensed Baptist preacher, at an early period, moved from Simpson county and lived for a time a mile and a half south of Decatur, and for a time preached in the surrounding country. These ministers, co-operating with the private membership in the county, and aided by ministers from other counties, succeeded in plant- ing the Baptist cause in the county at an early period after the country was possessed by the whites. It is understood that the first Baptist church constituted in Newton county, was in the date 1836, near the place known as New Ireland, and was called Ebenezer, is yet living and at work, and worshipping at Beech Springs, Neshoba county, under the pastoral care of Elder H. Bruce.
The same year, the records show that the second Baptist church was constituted, and in the Beulah · community, and bore the name Enon. In the year 1848, in January, this church moved its place of wor- ship to Decatur, and its name was changed to suit its locality. In connection with this change of name and locality, the writer of this sketch became a member of said church, and also pastor; which pastorate he has held continuously to the present time. This begin- ning of Baptist work in the county gave encourage- ment, and soon other constitutions took place, namely, Bethel and Mount Vernon in the south, and Pleasant Hill in the west. Efficient in this work were the resi- dent ministers already named, but these were aided by experienced ministers from other counties.
Elder John P. Martin did much to bring about the organization of Bethel church. Stephen Berry, of
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Scott county, aided Price at Ebenezer. Elder S. Jones, of Neshoba county, aided Price at Enon, possibly Rigsby, of Lauderdale. Holland was alone in the constitution of Mount Vernon. Other churches were soon constituted : Rocky Creek in 1842 ; Mount Pleas- ant near the same date; Princkney, in 1847; and so, year by year did the cause advance in the county, and new interests were planted, even up to the present time, so that at this date we number in the county twenty-five churches, containing a membership of 1776.
This result has been brought about by the labors of ministers resident in the country, or those who lived adjacent in other counties, and extended their labors to this. These ministers have been aided by a noble host of deacons and private members, men and women, pious and devoted, many of whom have passed to their reward, while others live to labor still. Noble spirits ! It would be very pleasant indeed for the writer, here to pay a tribute to the memory of the great and good men with whom he labored in days past in Newton and surrounding counties, who now . rest from their labors. Among those ministers who have resided in other counties, but have helped in this, I name the following : J. P. Martin, of Smith county ; W. P. Carter, Bryan I. Bigsby, Matthias Wolf, R. Y. Rasberry and J. L. Blanks, of Lauderdale; R. T. Gate- wood, A. Goss, Stephen Berry and L. P. Murrell, of Scott. Of the latter, it may be well said, that few such men have lived in our country. Of fine personal appearance, great dignity of deportment, affable and easy manners, great candor of expression, with a mind of almost the first order, and to these adding un- questioned piety, and an earnest and honest devotion to the cause of the Redeemer, he possessed vast intlu- ence for good. Bro. Murrell's style of speaking was
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easy, a plain declaration of the facts he wished to communicate. His great theme was salvation by grace; Christ crucified; man a sinner ; Christ a savior all sufficient ; and the work of the Holy Spirit. Few men were clearer in describing the work of conver- sion ; the travail of the soul from death to life; justi- fication by faith, evidenced by good works, formed a part of every discourse. Brother Murrell was a sound and consistent Baptist, an untiring worker in the Kingdom of God. His ministry covered a period of nearly fifty years, during forty-five of which he was . pastor of the Pleasant Hill church, near Conehatta ; had entered upon his forty-sixth year as pastor be- fore he died. He had entered far into his eighty-third year at the time of his death. Thus closing a long life of great usefulness. Long will he be remembered.
In addition to what has been stated, I mention A. Winsted, David Killen, J. M. Moore, G. W. Breland, O. F. Breland, and L. B. Fancher, all of Neshoba county, who have greatly aided by their labors, in building up the cause of Christ in our county. As, also, John Williams, S. King, J. L. Latimore and Jas. Thigpen, of Jasper county. We also give the names of ministers that have been citizens of the county, either raised up here, or have moved into the county : David Cooke, A. Phillips, Moses Thomas, N. L. Clarke, who moved into the county in the year 1847 ; W. F. Barrett, E. L. Carter, John and David Williamson, A. Clarke, Daniel Dove, H. Reece, A. Gressett, Lewis Jen- . kins, I. A. Hailey, J. W. Johnston, Henry Gill, A. J. Freeman, J. K. P. Shows, P. Vaughn, W. D. Maguirk, John C. Elerby, George Williamson, Z. K. Gilmore, H. B. Cooper, J. W. Arnold, T. I. Wells, H. O. White, W. P. Vaughn, J. E. Chapman. B. W. Dearing, H. Bruce, W. M. Yarbrough.
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These ministers were of diversified gifts, and abil- ity in the gospel work, and recognized as elders in the churches. Some of them have laid by their · armor and passed over the river; others have gone to other counties, while the remainder are citizens of the county, and workers in the cause of Christ. These ministers, and this creditable membership, embracing the old, the middle-aged, and the young, are friends to education, to piety and every good work, and are abiding true to the great cause. All the denominations have houses of worship, and preaching regularly, and are laboring that others may have the same blessed privileges. The writer of these sketches has been conversant with gospel work in this county since 1841, and views with interest the pro- gress of every work that has tended to benefit and elevate our beloved county in intelligence, morals, temperance and Christianity. The great fight for the cause of temperance engaged in by the united force of all religious denominations in the country, and the victory gained, should excite to the liveliest emotions of gratitude to God. May the blessings of God long rest upon our beloved county.
CONGREGATIONAL METHODISTS.
This order of Christians was founded and organized for religious worship in the State of Georgia, between fifty and sixty years since. The leading minister in the movement was the Rev. J. F. N. Huddleston. Some years after, several citizens of this order, with their families, moved to Mississippi and settled in Newton county ; also Mr. Huddleston, their pastor. These persons were organized for religious worship in the year 1857, six miles north of Decatur, in Newton
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county. The constituent members were Wm. Mapp, W. A. McCune, A. J. Smith, J. A. Mapp, Susan Mc- Cune, Mrs. Mapp, also J. F. N. Huddleston, pastor. The organizing Presbytery were Revs. H. T. Jones, B. M. Huddleston and J. F. N. Huddleston. The church received the name Mount Zion. This was an active, zealous body. Mr. Huddleston was a man of fine mind, an able and fearless speaker, bold and fearless, and in the prime of life ; with a commanding personal appear- ance, and warmed by an ardent zeal, he took well with the masses. Backed in his labors by an active mem- bership, the doctrine he advocated was received by many, so that soon there were several churches of the Congregational faith in this county and adjacent coun- ties. Also ministers were raised up in this and other counties. Some of these ministers have died and others have left the county. I may make honorable mention of Capt. John Maxey, a soldier, a christian and minis- ter. This order of Methodists now claim to have in the county four churches-Mount Zion, Mount Hebron, Blue Springs and Pleasant Valley, with a total mem bership of 200; three ordained ministers, John C. Por- tis, J. M. Belew and Thomas H. Rivers ; also one licen- tiate and one exhorter. They consider their prospects for the future encouraging.
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CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIANS.
This order of Christians have lived and worshiped in other parts of our State from its earliest settlement. About twenty-five years since, or more, they began to preach in Newton county-first about Union and New Ireland, and with such success that several churches were formed. Ministers active in this work were Nich- olson, Bailey, Boydston, Cooper, Ashmore, McBride and Millen. In recent years their cause has seemed to
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decline, so that now they have in the county one church and two resident ministers. They have been an active and zealous people.
DISCIPLES.
Located at Hickory, Mississippi, there has existed for the last eight or ten years a church of Disciples, numbering in all about thirty-six persons. These are followers in faith of Alexander Campbell; have no resident ministry, but are visited from time to time by active and able ministers from a distance. Promi, nent among these people I may name Gage, Hanna- Gray, and their families ; also Mrs. Pinkston. They are zealous, active and progressive.
COLORED PEOPLE.
Up to the close of the war between the States the black population had membership with their owners, each according to his choice. After they were made free, however, they thought it best to go to themselves, thus forming churches of their own color ; first in the stronger communities, and then in the weaker, so that almost all the colored people in the county now have church privileges within their reach. In many of the churches before the war there were public speakers and exhorters. These soon became ministers to their own people, and were ordained ; and others, impressed to that work, entered the ministry. And such was the number of these, that these churches of colored people - have pastors of their own color. Many of these have but little education ; while others, by close applica- tion, have acquired a fair knowledge of the Scriptures and of church organization, management and discip- line. These churches are self-sustaining, or do not
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call on the whites for help, unless to aid in building houses of worship. The colored people in Newton county holding to the faith and practice of the Regu- lar Baptists, or otherwise called Missionary Baptists, have in the county fifteen churches, having a member- ship of 1000 persons. I would be glad to give the num- ber and names of the resident ministers, but have no way of coming at the facts. These churches are en- gaged in mission work, and are friends of education and Sunday Schools.
JOINERITE BAPTISTS.
Of this order of people there is one church in the county, having a creditable membership, and two resident ministers in the county, viz : Rev. Joseph Keene and Rev. Joseph Rhodes. These people agree in opinion with the Rev. Wm. Joiner, who some years since withdrew from the Mt. Olive Primitive Baptist church, in Kemper county, differing from it on several points. The seceding members were organized into a church, with Mr. Joiner as their pastor. Having formed themselves into a separate organization, they labored to propagate their doctrine and practice. Several. churches in various parts of the county have been or- ganized, and several ministers ordained. Only the one exists in this county.
The colored M. E. Church North, have a membership of 466, have four churches, six local and one traveling preacher ; have seven Sunday-schools, fifty-four teach- ers and 394 scholars, with an estimated church prop- erty valued at $2,500.
The Baptists have something over 300 scholars in the Sunday-school, and hold regularly a.Sunday-school convention ; representing from Newton and adjoining country, an attendance of 600.
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CHAPTER XLI.
MISCELLANEOUS EVENTS OF THE COUNTY, FROM ITS EARLY SETTLEMENT - KILLING OF A NEGRO BY A YOUNG LADY -- LOST CHILDREN - MURDER OF A YOUNG LADY BY A NEGRO-KILLING OF A YOUNG LADY BY A RACE-HORSE AT DECATUR-ACCIDENTAL KILLING OF A MAN FOR A BEAR - CHASING THE WOLVES OUT OF THE COUNTY - ACCOUNT OF THE KILLING OF A BEAR-BUILDING PUBLIC BRIDGES- OLD-TIME HORSE-RACE-OLD-TIME MUSTER-GROUND AND DRILL - CIRCUIT COURT IN THE LONG AGO- CUTTING NEW ROADS TO THE COUNTY SITE -- JUS- TICE COURTS OF THE OLD PERIOD - VERY NEAR APPROACH TO A RIOT AT DECATUR.
. Some things of an interesting and tragic nature will happen in every county, and have occurred in this county, that will probably be of interest to the readers of this history. These incidents are given as they occurred, without any exaggeration, from persons who were in the county and are now living.
To give anything untrue or even of romantic ten- dency, merely to attract attention, would be far from the intention of the writer, and while these things may sometimes be considered exaggeration, they are sub- stantially correct as received from testimony that is considered in every way reliable.
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KILLING OF A NEGRO MAN BY YOUNG LADY.
In the year 1862, near the town of Newton, on what is known as the McAlpin place, three miles east of town, a most remarkable event occurred. Mr. Jas. Walker lived on a place in the country, and had only three white persons in his family - himself, his wife and daughter. Mr. Walker was old, so was his wife; his - daughter, Miss Susan, about twenty years old. Mr. Walker had gone from home and only the wife and daughter were left. The young lady looked from the dwelling toward the gate, and saw a man with a sack over his head, coming; as the man approached the house he met Mrs. Walker in the yard and with a part of a rail he felled her to the ground. The man then started for the house-door, where Miss Susan was ; she saw the terrible situation, and with uncommon pres- ence of mind- - and particularly for a young woman- reached for a gun which was loaded and probably in the gun-rack over the door, and just as the man came on the door-steps she fired at close range, killing him instantly ; he fell in the door-way. He proved to be a negro man, a slave belonging to one of the neighbors. Her self-possession and heroism doubly saved the life of her mother and a wretched fate to herself. She was warmly applauded by the people of the county, and received quite a number of fire-arms to protect her- self in the future.
It is not understood how long Miss Walker had known the use of the gun, but it is evident that she had had some practice with it, and it was very for- tunate that she did know and acted in self-defense, and saved her life and that of her mother. Miss Walk- er is at present living at Morton, Scott county, in the family of Mr. Pettus. 27
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A LOST CHILD.
In the early settlement of the county, when neigh- bors were far apart and the population small, a child in the neighborhood west of Decatur was lost. It oc- curred in this way, as related by an old settler :
Mrs. E. S. Loper went to a neighbor's house in the afternoon. She took with her two white children and a little negro child. She was spending the time pleas- antly in the house of her friend, and the children went out to play. When she was ready to go home she called the children. The white children came, but the black child did not. After repeated calls and diligent search she went home, supposing the child had gone before her. To her great surprise, when she reached home the child was not there. The news was at once spread abroad over the country and friends came in force to assist the family in finding the child. Torch- lights were used, for it was by this time dark, and people from different parts of the county joined in the search, and all in vain. For days the child was hunted, all to no avail. Mr. Loper, being a very kind and sympathetic man, felt such deep interest in the little one that was lost he offered $1000 in gold for the child returned alive. Nothing was heard from it again. The reader will at once ask what became of it, as no trace of the remains was ever seen. It might have been car- ried off by a bear, for there were some in the county at that time. It is more probable that a thief and rob- ber may have seized the child while he was a little way off from the white children, and stifled its cries to pre- vent its giving the alarm, and have taken it entirely out of the country. The only visible signs of its de- parture from the house was its tracks going down the hill from where the children had been playing.
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A LOST WHITE CHILD.
Another instance of a lost child occurred in Newton county in the year 1858 or 1859. It was the little boy of J. W. Flanagan. Mr. Flanagan and wife went to. church on Sunday morning, about three and one-half miles away, leaving the child and some other members of the family at home. The little boy went out of the yard, and from thence to the woods alone, and when the parents returned from church no trace of the child could be found. Neighbors came and made a fruitless search on the evening and night of the first day. It was renewed on the next day, and in the afternoon of the second day the child was found, after being more than twenty-four hours lost alone in the woods. When found the little boy was seated on the ground or log, and appeared very much unconcerned about his safety.
Children are said usually to be shy and even wild when found attempting to make further their escape after they have been some time lost. It is a terrible feeling to look for a lost child ; the certainty of their death can be borne with much more composure. The thought of an innocent little boy or girl of five or six years old being alone in the woods, with fears that it has fallen a prey to some wild beast or savage Indian, or has fallen over some precipice or into some stream, or may have been bitten by some poisonous reptile ; or they are suffering from great thirst or hunger. These things are terribly harrowing to all sympathizing per- sons, and particularly to the fond parents of the lost child.
MURDER OF A YOUNG LADY.
A young lady named Miss Brittain, was foully mur- dered by Tony Anderson, a black fiend and supposed
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accomplice, about 1887 or '78, in the southern part of this county, not far from Garlandsville. The wretch who killed her was caught and promptly hanged. The suspected party who assisted in the tragedy escaped.
YOUNG LADY KILLED BY A RACE HORSE AT DECATUR.
One of the saddest events that has ever happened in the county, was the killing of Miss Teas at Decatur in the year 1838 or '39. The Teas Bros., Albert and Jourdan, who have previously been spoken of in these pages, were prominent men in the early settlement of the county. They were merchants and stockholders in the bank and a family of some prominence. Horse- back riding was the most usual way that ladies took . outdoor recreation, and race horses were plentiful about Decatur at that time. It is said that Miss Teas objected, so probably did her mother, to riding the horse, for it was one of the race horses of the place, belonging to Mr. George Williamson, but it was con- sidered gentle and her brother insisted that she should do so.
Her ride appears to have been pleasant and would have ended so, if the parties had not unfortunately gone to the race-track, as they were then called. These race-tracks were very near the town of Decatur. the starting point being near where the Methodist parsonage now stands. The animal ridden by Miss Teas thought when he reached the starting point that he ought to run a race although ridden by a lady. The lady was unable to hold the horse and was thrown, and either her foot remained in the stirrup, or her clothing caught on the pommel of the saddle, and in this condition she was dragged and her body terribly bruised and mangled. She lived only a short time
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after she was taken home. It was a terrible shock to her brothers and her aged mother.
ACCIDENTAL KILLING OF A MAN FOR A BEAR.
The killing of Mr. Lusk by his nephew, is a very. thrilling thing as related by an old settler. Lewis Lusk and his nephew went bear hunting in Conne- hatta swamp. The cane was very thick and the uncle wore an overcoat made of material very much re- sembling a bear. The young man saw his uncle, sup- posed it was a hear, and through an opening in the thick cane he fired, shooting his uncle through the heart. The young man, though a rough backwoods- man, was so overcome with grief, that after telling what he had done, did not speak for three or four days. The mental agony was so great as almost to derange the man and he never did get fully over the sad event.
CHASING THE WOLVES OUT OF NEWTON COUNTY.
Bears and panthers were both found in the county, though not so plentiful as smaller game. The wolves were numerous and did much damage to sheep. Men in the county took it upon themselves to hunt them down and drive them from the county. Some did it for the fine sport it offered, while others did it for the purpose of ridding the county of the destructive pests.
Large packs of hounds trained for wolves and deer were taken to the woods. Hunters from different neighborhoods would meet at a given point and if a trail was not struck from 9 to 10 o'clock, a deer would be killed to feed the dogs and give fresh venison steak to the hunters. At night they would camp in the · woods in the neighborhood of where they expected the game, build a big fire, cook and eat their supplies,
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tell their various and humorous stories, both new and old, and plan for to-morrow. They used their saddles for a pillow, a saddle-blanket for a covering and in this way pass the night, and after very early breakfast and sometimes "something a little stronger," and in that way be bright and fresh for the morning's work and sport.
The second day would be probably more successful, and after many adventures, many hard races, many hair-breath escapes by rapid riding and falling into unknown holes in the ground and in passing under stooping trees and through thick brushes, into quag- mires and through reed-brakes, the day would be passed. Many would be killed and many chased away. By repeated hunts of this kind and by the lib- eral rewards offered by the county, they were finally destroyed.
KILLING A BEAR. -
Bears are much harder to kill than panthers or wolves. No animal of our forest is as tough as a bear. A bear story is related by a reliable old settler. He says Coot Sellars went bear hunting one evening on Tuscalameta Creek and shot a grown bear with a large bore rifle .. He had a fair shot and was well satisfied that the ball struck where he had aimed it. The old hunters knew if the rifle fired clear that it struck very near where it was aimed, as they had steady nerves and were good marksmen. Sellars' bear went off as if nothing had happened to him. The hunter felt sure he had wounded him badly, and went in search of bear dogs that he knew his neighbor had. Some time in the forenoon of the next day the dogs took the trail of the bear ; they came up with him and chased him sev-
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eral miles, and he finally stopped to fight the dogs. The hunters came up; he refused to run further, but was full of fight, and it required several well directed shots to kill him. The large ball that he had been shot with the evening before had gone through his liver, and if he had not been further pursued and killed, would probably have gotten over the wound.
BUILDING PUBLIC BRIDGES.
When it was necessary to build in the early settle- ment of the county, men who understood the work would go long distances, and neighbors would board them while they did the work. This was a slow but sure way of getting a bridge, as all the timbers had to be gotten out of the woods. The sills were all hewn, the flooring was made of heavy split puncheons, and the balusters were made of poles. Yet the work was strong and substantial, and served good purpose in allowing planters to go to market and to the court- house. The roads, in many places, were almost im- passable in winter. It was impossible to causeway all the wet places, owing to there being so few hands in the county, and when the roads did get bad in the winter they remained so until summer.
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