USA > North Carolina > Watauga County > A history of Watauga County, North Carolina. With sketches of prominent families > Part 10
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1 These "pews" were simply split logs, with pegs for legs or support, and without backs of any kind.
REV. REUBEN P. FARTHING.
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However, they preached in the grove that night, and moved their subsequent meetings to the house of his father, G. M. Bingham's, where they held protracted meetings, one that summer and an- other the following winter. But a few years later Three Forks itself became a Missionary Baptist association, as did also Cove Creek.
Farthing Family .- The coming of the Farthing family to Beaver Dams gave a fresh impetus to the cause of the Baptist Church in this section. They arrived in the fall of 1826, having come from Orange, close to the Wake County line, two brothers, William W. and John, having been first here. But William soon died, and John, having lost his wife, returned to Wake, where, having married again, he reappeared in Beaver Dams settle- ment in 1831 and settled where Zionville now flourishes. They organized Bethel Church, on Beaver Dams, July 4, 1851, get- ting their constitution from the Cove Creek Church, and having a membership of ten. Three other churches were constituted from Bethel, viz: Beaver Dams, in September, 1874; Forest Grove, about 1889, and Timbered Ridge in 1906.
A Family of Preachers .- The first Dudley Farthing, father of Rev. William W. Farthing, who came to Beaver Dams in October, 1826, was a public speaker of note in his home county, but he always said that as he could blow only a ram's horn and not a silver trumpet, he would not be a preacher. But his son, William, was a preacher of force and fame, and, although his health was such after his removal to this county that he did not preach often, he left four sons, upon whose shoulders his mantle fell and with whom it abided. They were Reuben P., John A., Stephen and Abner C. Farthing, who for years were the captain jewels in the Baptist carcanet. And their descendants still wear the armor they laid aside, and are still battling in the vanguard of the army of the Lord as preachers and leaders, while still others, feeling that in the pulpit they would be as helpless as David would have been in the armor of Saul, in their own way and in God's good time are striking mighty blows in the sacred cause of righteousness. No family in Watauga County have done more for the general uplift than that of the Farthings.
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Rev. Joseph Harrison .- This "just and faithful knight of God" was the son of Joseph Harrison, and was born February 4, 1799, in Iredell County, close to Black Oak Ridge, now Alex- ander County. Joseph, Sr., came from England with his brother, Benjamin, Ben going to Indiana and Joseph to Iredell. There he married Mrs. Nancy Price, whose father was John Caldwell. They had five children: Nathan, born in 1824, mar- ried Polly Harrison, his cousin; Joseph, born February 2, 1843, married, first, Elizabeth Hamlet, second, Carolina Wolff, third, Alice Baird, and fourth, Albertine Bond; Malinda, born in 1822, married Wilson Bradshaw; Mary, born in 1834, married John Cook, and Martha, born August 24, 1836, married Emanuel Van Dyke. He preached from 1825 till his death in 1884. He was repeatedly elected Register of Deeds of Watauga County, but during the Civil War he remained loyal to the Union, re- fusing to take the oath of allegiance to the Confederacy, with the result that Rev. D. C. Harmon served during that time.
Cove Creek Baptist Church .- There was such a strong repre- sentation in the Three Forks Baptist Church from the Cove Creek section that in April, 1799, it held its meeting there, and again in June, when Sarah Davis, Abraham Linvil and Susannah Vanderpool were received by experience, while in the following July Catharine Linvil, Margaret Linvil, Mathias Harmon, John Holsclaw and Morgan Isaacs were received by experience. These were followed in August, 1799, by Sarah Davis (probably daughter of the Sarah who had been received in June), Phoebe Vanderpool and George Davis, who were likewise received by experience. The first Saturday in September Three Forks Church again met at Cove Creek and chose Brothers Chambers and Samuel Vanderpool to attend the association at King's Creek on the fourth Saturday in that month. At this meeting also Brother Vanderpool's petition for a church at Cove Creek was granted, while in December, 1799, the newly constituted Cove Creek Church asked Three Forks for ministerial help for ordination, and it was granted, the constitution having been granted already. The first church was of logs and tradition says stood on the creek, but was washed away with the bridge over
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which the road then crossed, half a mile above Sugar Grove. The road was then changed so as to go around the hill and ford the creek below the site of the old log bridge which the freshet had carried off. This church was then moved to the site of the present Walnut Grove Academy, but was still of logs, and Hugh M. Isaacs, who was born in 1839, attended this church with his mother when he was six years of age, and remembers distinctly that the birds flew around inside the church, feeding their young in their nests in the roof and eaves, the logs being open, without chinking of any kind. It then stood where the Academy now stands and where there are yet two or three graves.
Bethel Baptist Church .- This church was constituted July 4, ° 1851, from Cove Creek Baptist Church. The members were Wm. B., Abner C., Stephen J., Ann, widow of Wm. B., Anne W., Rachel W., Mary N. and Margaret Farthing, and Madison Johnson and Nancy Johnson. The first church was of logs and stood on the knoll across the road from the site of the present church, which was erected in 1872 or 1873, and was probably the best in the county at that time. It has constituted three other churches which have drawn their membership mainly from Bethel: Beaver Dams Baptist Church, constituted in Septem- ber, 1874; Forest Grove Baptist Church, constituted in 1889, and Timbered Ridge Baptist Church, in 1906.
South Fork Baptist Church .- This was the third church constituted in Watauga County, and stood at what was known as Elk Cross Roads.
Ebenezer was perhaps the fourth church to be constituted, and was built at what is now called Zionville. Later on three churches were merged into this and called Mt. Zion, but after- wards took the name of the place at which it stood, Zionville.
Other Early Churches .- Laurel Springs Church was consti- tuted before the Civil War, with Joseph Brown and Riley Norris as prime movers. The Blowing Rock Church began about 1900 with the Hartleys, Greens and Browns as chief supporters. In 1885 or thereabout the church at Shull's Mills was begun, with the Robbins, Shulls and Browns active in its interest. In 1890 or thereabout George and Isaac McGinnis and Marion Story
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constituted the church at Mt. Lebannon, while about 1895 James Perry and Carroll Adams started Pleasant Grove at Silver- stone. Andrew J. and Eli Harman began the Zion Hill Church about 1880, and at about the same time Elias Isaacs and the Phillips family were active in constituting Mount Gillead. Bethany, near the top of Beach Mountain, began about 1895, and Gap Creek about 1875, with Larkin Michael zealous in the interest of the former and John Hopkins in that of the latter. Rich Mountain Church was constituted about 1900, and Doe Ridge, on Stony Fork, about 1900.
Brushy Fork Baptist Church was constituted February 26, 1858, by Elders D. C. Harman and Joseph Harrison, with eleven members, to wit: M. C. Harman, Moses Hateley, John A. Hagaman, Sarah Reece, Sally Hagaman, Sarah Hagaman, Susan Danner, Elvira Holsclaw, Elizabeth Hix, Melissa Harman and Sarah Monday. Elder D. C. Harman was the first pastor and served the church in succession for about twenty-five years, except eight or ten months, when he was in the Civil War. The following elders have served the church as pastors: D. C. Harman, A. C. Farthing, E. F. Jones, J. J. L. Sherwood, David Green, J. F. Eller, E. M. Gragg, J. F. Davis, Sidney King, Omey Triplett, S. L. Fox and J. M. Payne. The church has ordained the following ministers: John A. Hagaman, J. F. Davis, I. J. McGinnis, Thos. C. Holsclaw, S. L. Fox and John P. Hagaman.
The Boone Baptist Church .- This church was constituted in 1882 (Deed Book J, p. 502), by W. L. Bryan and Thomas J. and W. C. Coffey and others. This congregation is now erect- ing a large and handsome brick church on the corner of Main and School House Streets, to cost over $5,000.00.
Other Early Churches .- The South Fork Baptist Church at Elk Cross Roads was the third church to be constituted in this county, and among the finest and best beloved of its pastors was William Wilcox. Ebenezer was the fourth church, and it with two others were merged into one, called Mount Zion, which afterwards took the name of the town which grew up about it- Zionville. It was here that John Farthing had settled on his re-
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turn to this country in 1831. Antioch was organized largely through the influence of the Rev. D. C. Harman, with the as- sistance of Messrs. Dyer and Wiley Harman, as well as members of the Hix and Ward families. In it the Rev. L. W. Farthing has been a factor of great good. It was constituted in 1848, and a log house which stood in a meadow near the left bank of the Watauga River, from which position it was washed away in the May freshet of 1901. In 1904 the original site of the first St. John's, surrounded by young white oaks, was bought from the Episcopal Church and a large and attractive frame structure erected there.
Stony Fork Association Churches .- Among the Baptist Churches belonging to this association are Poplar Grove, Mount Vernon, Laurel Fork in the Storie settlement, Boone's Fork, Yadkin Elk and Doe Ridge.
Bishop Asbury's Journal .- It is generally supposed that this good man did not travel through Watauga in his trips through these mountains, but the following excerpts show the contrary : "Monday, April 28, 1788 (after preaching the day before at the Globe on John's River [p. 31]), after getting our horses shod, we entered upon the mountains, the first of which I called Steel, the second Stone, and the third Iron Mountain; they are tough and difficult to climb. We were spoken to on our way by most awful thunder and lightning, accompanied by heavy rain. We crept for shelter into a little dirty house, where the filth might have been taken from the floor with a spade. We felt the want of fire, but could get little wood to make it, and what we gathered was wet. At the head of Watauga we fed, and reached Ward's that night.2 Coming on the river next day, we hired a young man to swim over for a canoe, in which we crossed, while our horses swam to the other shore. The waters being up, we were compelled to travel an old road over the moun- tains. Night came on About nine o'clock we came to
Greer's
2 This was probably Ben Ward, whose descendants are among Watauga's best citizens. There is a tradition that while at Ward's the Bishop needed a better light than that afforded by the open fire, and that Ward supplied it by throwing deer bones on the live coais from a heap of all sorts of bones kept in the chimney jamb for that purpose. It is not mentioned in the Journal, however.
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"Monday, April 5, 1790 (p. 78). After worming the stream (John's River) for awhile, we took through the Laurel Hill and had to scale the mountains, which in some places were rising like the roof of a house. We came to the head of Watauga River; a most neglected place. Here the people have had their corn destroyed by frost, and many of them have moved away. It was thus we found it in Tyger's Valley. We passed by W-'s, a poor lodging, and slept at the Beaver Dam in a cabin without a cover, except what a few boards supplied. We had very heavy thunder and lightning, and most hideous yelling of wolves around, with rain, which is most frequent in the mountains. Tuesday, 6th. We were compelled to ride through the rain, and crossed the Stone Mountain . . We came on to the dismal place called Roan's Creek, which was pretty full . . Reaching Watauga, we had to swim our horses, and ourselves to cross in a canoe At length we came to Greer's, and halted for the night.
"Wednesday, March 27, 1793 (p. 189, Vol. II). We began our journey over the great ridge of mountains. We had not gone far before we saw and felt the snow . We came to the head of Watauga River. Stopped at Mr. S-'s . My soul felt for the neglected people. It may be, by my coming this way, that I shall send them a preacher. We hasted on to Cove's Creek; invited ourselves to stay at C-'s, where we made our own tea, obtained some butter and milk and some most excellent Irish potatoes. We were presented with a little flax for our beds, on which we spread our coats and blankets, and three of us slept before a large fire. Thursday, 28th. We made an early start, and came to the Beaver Dam; three years ago we slept here in a cabin without a cover. We made a breakfast at Mr. W-'s, and then attempted the Iron or Stone Mountain, which is steep like the roof of a house. I found it difficult and trying to my lungs to walk up it. Descending the mountain, we had to jump down the steep stairs," from two to three and four feet.
3 This was probably Benjamin Webb, the first settler on Beaver Dams, and who sold out to Rev. W. W. Farthing in 1826.
4 This gap is commonly called Star Gap, though many insist that its true name is Stair Gap because of the steps mentioned by Bishop Asbury.
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At the foot of this mountain our guide left us to a man on foot; he soon declined, and we made the best of our way to Dugger's Ford, on Roan's Creek. We came down the river where there are plenty of large, round, rolling stones, and the stream was rapid. Wednesday, April 22, 1795 (p. 263, Vol. II). Crossed the ridge and kept on to the westward. We went Major J. White's path, and found it abundantly better than the old one. We reached the top of the ridge in about six miles. Here we found ourselves among fruitful hills; then we had a good path for six miles more, except where there were some laurel branches and roots. We stopped at S-'s, and it was well we did, or we would have been well nigh starved, both man and horse. I went on to D-'s, and thence to Nelson's, where I met with Brothers B-, A- and W-, ancient men among us. I stood the fatigue and sleeping three in a bed better than I expected. From White's to Nelson's is eighty miles. We crossed the Watauga about twenty times. At supper we ate of the perch that are taken in great plenty from Smith's fish spring. I judge there must be a subterraneous communication from that to the river." Wednes- day, March 22, 1797 (p. 340, Vol. II). After preaching at John's River on the 21st, "I set out on my journey for the west It began to rain violently before we came to Henley's. I took shelter in a house from the rain, and talked and prayed with a poor woman. We dined at Mr. Henley's, calling at Wakefield only to talk and pray. I cannot well pass by my friends without calling. We hastened across Linville Mountain, which is awfully barren, and came on to Young's Cove .
White's Spring Church .- Whenever Bishop Asbury visited John's River he was entertained by Major Joseph White, as the Bishop's Journal shows (Vol. II, pp. 31, 78, 189). By April, 1795, Major White had constructed a good road over the Blue Ridge, probably through what is now called the Coffey Gap, as the Bishop speaks of following the "Major J. White's path, and found it abundantly better than the old one" (Vol. II, p. 263).
5 This is what is now known as Fish Spring, four miles below Butler, Tenn. But there is nothing separating the spring from the river, and no fish are found in the spring, floods having washed the intervening bank away.
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Major White had a camp near this old path, and the fine spring there, and just below the Coffey Gap, still goes by the name of White's Spring. This is the same White who was a major in Colonel McDowell's regiment. A good building for the ac- commodation of the Methodists was erected near this spring about 1895, and commands a fine view. According to Draper (note on page 149), Captain Joseph White was wounded at Cowan's Ford in a skirmish September 12, 1780, and was at King's Mountain (Id. p. 474).
Methodist Churches .- According to Mr. Cyrus A. Grubb, of Laxton Creek, Methodism began in this county about 1809 when an itinerant minister, whose name he has forgotten, traveled through what is now this county in the interest of Charles Wesley's newly founded church, Bishop Asbury having preceded him at various times between 1788 to 1798, but passing through only a small corner and holding meetings in this section and in other sections, notably in Buncombe County, from 1800 to 1813. This unnamed pioneer in Methodism is said to have stopped first at the home of Gwyn Houck on Old Fields Creek, next at Risden Cooper's on Cranberry, then at James Jackson's on the ridge between Grassy Creek and Meat Camp, afterwards going to Edward Moody's on upper Watauga, followed by a visit to a man named Davis on Cove Creek. No visit seems to have been made to Boone, or what was probably nobody's home at that time, for, unless the first Jordan Councill had moved here then, this locality was probably "all in woods." At each place he "left an appointment," as the saying went in those days and as it still goes in many parts in these days. Out of the visit to Cooper's grew what is now Cranberry Church, on the ridge between Cranberry Creek and Meadow Creek. The Cooper family has always stood for this branch of the Christian re- ligion, and its influence has been powerful and efficacious in that cause. James Jackson was so much interested in the necessity for some edifice in which all the people might come and worship, go to school or discuss public affairs, that he conveyed to Edmund Blackburn, a brother of Levi, David Miller and Ephraim and William Norris, as trustees, a tract of land for a
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school house, meeting house or church, as was desired by those using it, to be open at all times to all alike. It was at this house that the first Methodist preacher first preached, but his name has been forgotten. Levi Blackburn lived near Jackson Meeting House at that time, but soon afterwards sold out to Jonathan Norris and moved to Riddle's Fork of Meat Camp-a section then and since known as Hopewell. Here a log school house was used as a church when the congregation proved too large to be accommodated in Levi's hospitable home, where for many years preaching was held whenever there chanced to be a preacher in the neighborhood. About that time another ap- pointment was left at Elk Cross Roads, to which Levi Blackburn soon moved and where he died, and where he started another church, using his home or a log school house for the purpose for many years. This is as far as Brother Grubb's information extends, but others state that when Henry Taylor came to live at Valle Crucis he became active in the cause of Methodism, and his family have since followed in his footsteps. He is said to have induced preachers to hold meetings in the orchard in rear of the present store house of W. W. Mast at Valle Crucis, in his own home and at Franklin Baird's home, a mile down the Watauga. As interest increased he acquired the home that had been occupied by "Old Man" Christoffle,“ a chairmaker, who lived on the right hand side of the road going from Valle Crucis to Charles D. Taylor's present mill, inside a field. This house was enlarged and was the first Methodist Church in that com- munity. This was in the fifties. This small house was used only three or four years, when another was built where the present edifice now stands, long before the Civil War. The present large frame church was built in 1895. Among the more active pioneers in Methodism in this place were Joel and Levi Moody, Sally Tester, Franklin Baird, Andrew Mast and the first Joseph Shull. But its growth was slow for a long period. Among the first elders and preachers were Elder Haskew, who came from
" Tradition says that this man was judicially and judiciously whipped at Boone for having stolen "hawgs." One who saw the thirty-nine lashes "well laid on" remembers that the licks were struck with small willow switches, which made first white and then red stripes. Christoffle left the country after this disgrace.
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Tennessee long before the Civil War; Archelus Brooks and a Mr. Allspaw. Since the Civil War the church has grown to be the largest and most influential of the denomination in the entire county, most probably.
Henson's Chapel .- According to Col. Thomas Bingham, Elizabeth Whitlow was the first Methodist who ever came to what is now Watauga County. She came with her family when they were on their way to Tennessee in 1810 or 1811, and, be- coming snow-bound on Brushy Fork, became acquainted with Golston Davis, whom she afterwards married. Golston fol- lowed her to Tennessee, where they were married, and soon returned and started a Methodist community. This is probably the Davis with whom the first itinerant left an appointment, as stated by Cyrus Grubb. But there was no Methodist Church for a long time, the first Methodist preacher who passed up Cove Creek using the log Baptist Church which formerly stood on the site on which the present Walnut Grove Academy now stands. But he preached largely, if not entirely, to Baptists, and when he offered to leave another appointment there objection was made. Whereupon, this Methodist preacher asked if there was not some member of the congregation who would open the doors of his home for the next appointment, and Golsten Davis offered his own home for that purpose. It is said that Davis was not a very prepossessing looking man, and that up to that good hour his wife had been more charmed with the beauty of his heart than with the pulchritude of his person. But when he rose and made this offer, tradition says she declared that he was "pretty," using a generic word for good looks which is still common with our people. At that meeting at Davis's house only two or three were present. This was near Amantha and that preacher's name was Greer. From this nucleus grew the present large Methodist community which worships at Henson's Chapel, built about 1868, the widow of Charles Henson having donated the land for that purpose. Her name was Elizabeth, and she came with her husband from Iredell County about 1829 or 1830. The present house, replacing the one built in 1868, was built about 1885. This congregation is credited with paying more money
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for all purposes than any other Methodist Church in the county, having contributed this year $563.00, of which $360.00 is for the pastor's salary. It has 196 members, of whom J. B. Horton, Don Horton, Thomas Bingham and J. C. Henson are very active and earnest. Among those most prominent in the past are re- called the names of George M. Bingham, John Combs, Thomas Harbin and wife, Charles Henson and his wife, Elizabeth, George Moody, Mrs. Eli Farmer and Golson Davis and wife. Among those who preached here in the distant past were Messrs. Miles, Joshua Cole, Tillett, Blackburn and Martin. Sheriff A. J. McBride was for a time a Methodist preacher, but toward the close of his life became a Baptist minister, dying in that faith.
The Boone Methodist Church .- This was organized soon after the close of the Civil War, meetings having been held prior to that time in the court house and elsewhere. But about 1873 land was bought on the hill on which now stands the residence of J. M. Moretz and a church seating 600 erected. This was used till September, 1897 (Deed Book T, p. 369), when M. B. Blackburn sold them the small lot on which the present church was built. The Hardin, Winkler, Blair, Norris, Blackburn, Lovill, Bingham, Councill, Critcher, Rivers and Linney families are prominent in this church.
Other Churches .- After the Civil War the third church was built at Elk Cross Roads, after which J. N. and his wife, Nancy, Norris conveyed land to G. W. Norris and C. A. Grubb and others, as trustees in April, 1886, at Fairview, where a large congregation worships (Deed Book L, p. 575). On the 4th of February, 1882, George W. Dugger conveyed to Thomas Prof- fitt, R. N. Culver, E. H. Banner, J. H. Perry and A. J. Proffitt, as trustees, land for a Methodist Church at Banner's Elk, which church was soon afterwards erected. In this community the church is quite strong, its members having worshipped before acquiring this land in a common meeting house used by all denominations. On the 19th day of April, 1902, John W. Hodges and wife and Robert L. Bingham conveyed to L. H. Michael and others, as trustees, land at Rutherwood for a
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