USA > North Carolina > Alexander County > A history of beginning and conduct of ye Baptist people, of Jesus Christ, of Alexander County, North Carolina > Part 5
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22. This consitution may be altered or amended at any time, two thirds of the members present concurring.
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For 1860 our records will be found only in the United Baptist Association, in as much as the Lewis Fork, Lower Creek and Taylorsville Associations merged into one. Bethel and Prilgrim Churches were in the Briar Creek Association, however no records of that meeting are to be had it appears. In 1862 we will find Lewis Fork emerging again, but for 1860 and 1861 it is one local Association: United Baptist.
Churches
Pastor
Baptised
Members
Concord
James McNeil
83
Little River
William Pool & Peter Tritt
3
97
Taylor Spring
J. B. Green
37
Center
James Reed
21
Taylorsville
Smith Ferguson
37
Dover
J. H. Brown
84
Mt. Gillead
Jacob Crouch
11
38
Antioch
J. B. Powell
125
Three Fork
Smith Ferguson
6
81
Liberty Grove
James Reed
20
56
Maccedonia
Jacob Crouch
1
128
Charity
Charity was in all probability just organized.
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Charity Baptist Church 1860
About the year 1860, a small congreation of Baptists built a brush "ARBOR" across the road from Friendship Lutheran Church and held some meetings under it. Afterwards a Church was organized, but there is no record of it extant. Rev. Jacob Crouch served as pastor for several years. There was a building erected, but was never finished. There was a building up of Baptist interest for a while, but later went down, finally the organization was dissolved, but the date of the dissolution is lost.
Page 45, W. E. White, History of Alexander County.
The last account of this Church was in 1888, when it was a member of the Alexander Baptist Association. It had 60 members then and W. W. Stafford was clerk. It is likely that Elder L. P. Gwaltney was the last pastor.
As stated above it was located across the road from Friendship Lutheran Church. The exact spot is now used as a burying ground. Is in the southern portion of Alexander County. Smyrna Baptist Church now is the only Baptist organization close by this old site.
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In 1861 our records are found in the United and Briar Creek Associations.
There were 11 Alexander Churches in the United Association in 1861 and only 4 in 1863.
No records at hand for Charity or Pleasant Hill.
Church
Association
Pastor
Baptized Members
Pilgrim
Briar Creek
Jacob Crouch
90
Bethel
Briar Creek
185
Charity
Pleasant Hill
Concord
U. B.
R. L. Steele
2
54
Maccedonia
U. B.
J. Crouch
123
Liberty Grove
U. B.
James Reed
51
Antioch
U. B.
121
Three Fork
U. B.
Smith Ferguson
79
Mt. Gillead
U. B.
J. Crouch
39
Dover
U. B.
J. Crouch
Taylorsville
U. B.
Smith Ferguson
79
Center
U. B.
J. H1 West
19
Taylor Spring U. B.
J. B. Green
38
Little River U. B.
A. Gilreath
2
97
Article 11 of the consitution of the United Association reads thus:
This Association shall withdraw her fellowship from any Church in her confedracy which hold members in fellowship who distell, vend or use spirituous liquors as a beverage.
This article was causing the United to become ununited as is seen in the next annual meeting. It is well to remember that the civil war broke out this year and there was a time of distress at hand.
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In 1862, the old Lewis Fork Association was reorganized by Churches which had been expelled from the United Association and other Churches which were not satisfied.
This writer has so far found no records anywhere of the reorganization, as best as possible from other sources facts about it will be set down.
Churches
Association
Pastor
Baptized
Members
Bethel
Briar Creek
W. G. Brown
20
204
Pilgrim
Briar Creek
Jacob Crouch
1
88
Charity
Pleasant Hill Taylor Spring Dover
U. B.
80
U. B.
12
49
Liberty Grove
U. B.
35
Taylorsville
U. B.
94
Little River U. B. & Lewis Fork
55
Concord
U. B.
37
Mt. Gillead U. B.
Antioch
Lewis Fork
Maccedonia
Lewis Fork
Three Fork U. B. & Lewis Fork
Center
U. B. ?
No record found of Charity or Pleasant Hill for 1862. Three Fork and Little River Churches had been excluded from the United Baptist Associa- tion in its meeting in 1862. Center Church was just likely absent this year for it was in the U. B. when it met in 1863 and was present in the U. B. in 1861.
Elder William R. Gwaltney attended the U. B. A. Meeting this year in the interest of army Colportage.
Copied from the United Baptist Association minutes for 1862:
"Committee of three appointed on state of the Churches on temperance, reported and were discharged.
"On motion the Churches were called upon in the order reported by the committee, when they were dealt with as follows: ... On motion Taylor Spring Church was allowed another year to deal with any of her members who were living in violation of the consitution of the association. On motion, Taylorsville Church was passed over, the pastor promising to investigate and report against the Church. On motion, the Associa- tionwithdrew fellowship from the Three Fork Church. On motion, a year's indulgence was granted to Mt. Gillead Church. On motion, the Liberty Grove Church was passed over as innocent of the charge of intemperance. ... On motion, the Church at Dover was passed over as innocent.
"Again reserved business and took up a request from the Little River Church asking for a litter of Dismission, it being ascertained that said Church was holding members who are engaged in distilling ardent spirits. On motion, the Association withdrew her fellowship from said Church."
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Minutes relating to the temperance question, the expulsion of Churches and the organization of the Lewis Fork Association.
From United B. A. 1862.
ON STATE OF CHURCHES ON TEMPERANCE
"The committee to whom was referred the investigation of the standing of the Churches on the temperance question submit the following report. We find some evidence that the following Churches are mor or less guilty of violation of the consitution on this subject -- ... Taylor Spring, Mt. Gillead, Taylorsville, Three Fork, Liberty Grove, .... and Dover.
Respectfully submitted, James McNeil, Chairman
TEMPERANCE
"Temperance is a bible doctrine, but intemperance, its opposite is an awful curse to the Church and an enemy to civil liberty; therefore, no man that engages in the manufactory or trafficking in ardent spirits, no matter under what pretence, should be regarded as a friend to the Church or state. The Churches should get rid of such members in the shortest achriptural manner possible."
Respectfully Submitted, J. G. Bryan, Chairman
"On motion the following Churches were stricken from our roll of Churches, viz: .... Antioch and Maccedonia. " From U. B. A. minutes, 1863.
The original minutes for 1862, 63, 64 and 71 seem to have been pur- posely destroyed. That is the Lewis Fork minutes.
See for further information, Fletcher's Baptist History.
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The records for 1863 show:
Elder John G. Bryan Moderator, and David Downs, clerk of the Lewis Fork Association.
Elder Smith Ferguson was moderator and Elder Robert Steele Clerk of the United Association. It met this year with the Liberty Grove Church.
The finance committee of the United Association reported $61.10 as being handled.
The usual motions and discussions were included in the days meetings. There was a querry of no importance. A committee was appointed to help settle a difficulty in one of the Churches and the matters stated on the records herein for 1862 were cared for.
A resolution was passed endorsing the Southern Confederacy. One passed asking the brethren not to sell apples to distillers. One passed stating that it was inconsistent for ministers of the United Association to pastor a Church which had left the Association because of its Temperance stand.
Church
Association
Pastor
Baptized
Members
Concord
United B.
Isaac Oxford
53
Center
United B.
J. H. West &
22
Liberty Grove
United B.
Smith Ferguson
47
Taylorsville
United B.
F. A. Belcher
1
35
Taylor Spring
United B.
W. G. Brown
40
Bethel
Briar Creek
W. G. Brown
75
Pilgrim
Briar Creek
R. W. Wooten
87
Three Fork
Lewis Fork
F. A. Belcher
72
Little River
Lewis Fork
Peter Tritt &
4
44
Antioch
Lewis Fork
Jacob Crouch 20
158
Charity1
Pleasant Hill
Mt. Gillead
Notice that Little River after baptizing 4, had 50 less members than a year ago?
Notice that only three Churches had any baptisms.
1. No records found of these churches for 1863.
The Briar Creek Association met with Pilgrim Church this year, 1863.
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Maccedonia
Lewis Fork
James Kerley
Jacob Crouch
107
James Reed
.
1864
This writer has found no records whatever of the proceedings of the meetings held in 1864, of the United or Lewis Fork Associations. As previously stated it appears that the original copy of the minutes of the Lewis Fork Association for 1862, 1863, 1864 have been purposely and wantonely destroyed. A record of the Churches connected with the Briar Creek Association has been found.
It is well to recall that the Civil War was at this time raging in all its fury and local conditions were deplorable and practically all materials as scarce as the old proverbial hen's tooth.
Churches in Alexander County in 1864 were:
Churches
Association
Pastor
Baptized
Members
Antioch
Bethel
Briar Creek
W. G. Brown
5 183
Pilgrim
Briar Creek
R. W. Wooten
85
Little River
Three Fork
Liberty Grove Center
Charity
Mt. Gillead
Maccedonia
Concord
Pleasant Hill
Dover
Taylorsville
The United Baptist Association was to have met with the New Hope Baptist Church, Wilkes County, N. C., ten miles North West from Wilkesboro, N. C., on Friday before the third Sunday in October, 1864. Elder James Reed was to have preached, Elder R. L. Steele his alternate.
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Our 1865 records are from the Lewis Fork Association and all Churches outside of it in the County with the exception of Bethel and Pilgrim are assumed to have been in the United Association of which no record has been located for 1865.
Church
Association
Pastor
Baptized
Members
Little River
Lewis Fork
Antioch
Lewis Fork
Jacob Crouch &
D. B. Brown
35
219
Maccedonia
Lewis Fork
Jacob Crouch
10
120
Pleasant Hill
Lewis Fork
Peter Tritt &
James Kerley
32
Three Fork
Lewis Fork
J. B. Powell & -
Jacob Crouch
5
95
Mt. Olive
Lewis Fork
Peter Tritt &
James Kerley
21
Charity
Center
Mt. Gillead
Taylor Spring
Concord
Liberty Grove Taylorsville
Dover
Bethel
Briar Creek
W. G. Brown 6 183
Pilgrim
Briar Creek
R. W. Wooten
83
Note that Little River has added 51 members since 1863, these must have been baptized in 1864.
It was during the spring and early summer of 1865, just after the war was over, that the bandits from Fort Hamby raided this County. In the process of eradicting them Two Alexander men were killed. Three Baptist men at least assisted in the execution of four of them. Isaac Oxford from Caldwell County, Elder William R. Gwaltney from Alexander County, and Parks Gwaltney a young man of nearly 17 years of age, who later became the great L. P. Gwaltney. Read the writers ver- sion of this, based on what he has been told by some of the members of the family of some of the victims of these men, told by others and by reading several versions of same history. This Fort was about 8 miles up the Yadkin River from Wilkesboro, N. C., on the west bank near where Lewis Fork Creek enters the Yadkin River.
Elder S. D. Swaim, who was ordained in 1847, died on February 23, 1865. (Must have been a son of Elder John Swaim. )
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Elders
95
Some notes relative to the bandits and robbers who operated from Fort Hamby. May 1865
The terrible war over the slavery question having raged so long, most of the able bodied men in the country had been in service on one side or the other and many of them killed in the time of war, this writers great grandfathers being among those that served and one Mr. William Brookshire being killed in service to the southern cause. Conditions of living and making a living were deplorable and the poorer class indeed had a struggle to keep soul and body together, during and after the war.
The chaotic conditions of the time were aggreviated by the siding of many people in our mountain country with the Union forces or cause while the neighbor was supporting the cause of the southern Confedracy. Says Elder J. F. Flethcher, "When I was a little child I remember neighbor shooting down neighbor because of differences of opinion on political matters, such as the salvery question." Speaking further Elder Fletcher says, "It has been the source of surmise and conjecture to many people, that there were so many Union sympathizer's in the mountains of western North Carolina. But to me there is nothing strange about it, Our mountain people were not slave owners. Most of them were barely one generation removed from the hardships of pioneer days and they had not accumulated wealth enough to enable them to own slaves. In addition to that, the mountaineer whereever you find him, is a lover of freedom himself and is always the last man to deny freedom to others. There was no liking for the institution of slavery in the mountains." 1
Lewis Fork community, from which the men under discussion operated was no exception to the statement of Elder Fletcher. There was consid- erable Union sympathy and sentiment in this mountain community. There were a few scattered slave holders, one lived only a short distance east of Fort Hamby, others lived further up the river on its tributaries. But the majority of the people in this community owned no slaves and in such a place conditions were fertile for the men referred to to live and work.
Fort Hamby as it is known to us was so named because the property was owned by some women by the "amby name. It consited of a couple of log buildings, one two stories high used as the fort, another one story building used for a kitchen. It was situated on a ridge or small hill on the North side of the Yadkin River, some 8 or 10 miles West from Wilkesboro, N. C., at a spot where the Lewis Fork Creek enters into the Yadkin River, near 1 mile east of Holman's Ford.
Here in the spring of 1865 about the time of the ending of the war and after, a man by the name of Wade who had deserted the Union army and claimed to have come from Michigan, gathered other deserters around him, as well as many residents of the community around Fort -amby, a stated total of 86.
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Fort Hamby cont., p. 2
A man named Lockwood worked a while with Wade, he later moved to another location.
This group of men took turn at guarding their fort and in making raids on the surrounding section and Counties. They were the terror of all who opposed them. They set guards on the road that runs parrell with the River and only let those pass that they wanted to. This road was on the South side of the River and pssed near the fort as well as by Old Col. Ben Cleveland's mustering ground's where he summoned men for the battle of King's Mountain. Upon one occasion just for practice they shot and killed a woman as she was crossing the River at Holmans Ford, she was sick and was being carried to a doctor on a wagon. She was Mrs. Frank Triplett. Her body was not yet buried when our men raided Fort Hamby. These men of Wade's also kept guards close by to warn of any approach of danger, their signal was to be a short of a Rifle.
This band of men would at times practically all gather together for their consultation and raids at other times they would some go home and others man the fort. They raided and robbed and killed people, going where they willed and doing likewise. It appears however that they mostly plundered those who had previously owned slaves and were considered to be better livers and offered more boot.
In our own Alexander Coun y these men made raids, Old Man Solomon Davis who lived just above Bethel Church on the old Cove Gap road was a victim of their robbery, he was a man of long Baptist standing and considerable wealth. Mr. John Greene of the Vashti community was another victim of theirs. Mr. Green gathered a company of men and attempted to overtake Wade and his men on their way back to the fort after they had tried their luck on him, Mr. Greene however failed in this effort.
The people of the North Eastern section of Alexander County as well as others were enraged at the conduct of these robbers and determined to drive them out of the country or capture and destroy them. A company was soon made up, mostly of men from Alexander County, which was pre- pared to attack fort Hamby. In this company were some young men in their low teens and among them Mr. Parks Gwaltney, wir. Jones Brown and Mr. James Linney. Jones Brown was a son of Billie Brown and Linney was a son of Dr. Copeland Linney. The men in the company from Alexander County, rode horseback up the road from Bethel Church, by Solomon Davis home and across the Cove Gap into Wilkes County. These men stopped at Mr. Davis home and talked with him, he had been as previously stated, robbed by Wade and his gang, Mr. Davis told the boys that he was too old to go and assist in the attack, but that he wanted to encourage them. It so happened that Mr. Davis had some 4 year old peach brandy (although he a Baptist) to which he told the boys to help themselves. They drank what they wanted and some filled bottles and took along with them on their way to the Fort.
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Fort Hamby cont., p. 3
The men and boys from Alexander County travelled on and advanced toward the fort section from the Beaver Creek section, having used the nearest approach. On the way over, Jones Brown who was a recently returned confederate soldier, was riding along beside young Farks Gwaltney and as they approached the banks of the Yadkin River, Brown assumed a very solem mood. Suddenly he threw his bottle of brandy from his pocket and said: "Parks, I never intend to touch that again." He had said earlier that : "I have a feeling that I shall never return over this read alive. I believe I shall be killed."
The group from Alexander County were joined by some men from Wilkes and they agreed upon a plan of Attack, divided themselves into two squads, of about 13 men each, one was under the command of Caption Evan Ellis, of Wilkes County, and the other under the command of Col. Wall Sharp of Alexander County. One squad was to dash by and then from all sides the attack was to be made at the same time. Firing began soon and it was a lively, hotly contested battle. James Linney was killed by Bill Beck one of the bandits during this engagement which was on Sunday, May 14, 1865.
The bandits in the log fort were well protected, while the men attacking them were in the open with no protection at all, so they soon under Heavy attack from the bandits retreated. When leaving Fort Hamby, going west up the Yadkin River, Gwaltney and Brown were riding together as they crossed Lewis Fork Creek and as they were crossing a bullet struck Brown who soon fell dead from his mule having bled to death. As the bullets were flying fast and thick at this time and Parks Gwaltney was attempt- ing to assist Brown before he died, Brown told him, "Take care of your- self. I'm killed." Saying this twice, then or during the moments before he died he said: "Parks, I am going to die, and Great God! I am not ready.
Sometime previous to this time, May 14, 1865, a company of men from Caldwell County had unsuccessfully attempted to destroy these robbers and murdes and had in the attempt lost two men namely, Henley and Clark who were buried near this spot. Young James Linney and Young Jones Brown were buried beside them making 4 men lost in efforts to do away with Wade and his bandits.
Later the remains of Brown and Linney were removed to home sites for burial. James Linney, son of Dr. Copeland Linney and brother of Well, Will C, and others of the Linney family was buried near his home and a marker placed at his grave, the words are "He was killed by Bandits at Fort Hamby" the date May 14, 1865. This writer as an intermediate has often visted this grave as well as recentely. Where Mr. Jones Brown, son of Billie Brown was buried, this writer has not been told, but is inclined to think (without actually knowing) that it was at the old burying ground at Vashti.
The courageous men attacking the Fort, some killed and others defeated returned home, and the loss of the young men above named caused considerable sorrown in the community. It also aroused the people and they determined to destroy the bandits.
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Fort Hamby cont., p. 4
The men of Alexander County were reinforced by some from Iredell County and 'if records are correct and this writer correctly discerns them) on May 17, 1865, the stronger and more determined group marched toward Fort Hamby and planning to clean out the robbers. On the way, and near the Fort they were joined by about 75 men from Caldwell County who had proceded them and were found waiting to attack the fort.
The Caldwell, Wilkes, Alexander and Iredell men joined forces and sur- rounded the Fort and began the attack. (This would have been on Thursday, May 18, 1865. ) All that day and all the night following the firing was kept up but no man on either side was killed. After a while before daylight of the day of May 19, 1865, Col. "all Sharp, under cover of darkness slipped up to the kitchen building of the fort and set fire to it.
When Wade and his men found the kitchen on fire they thought that the main building or Fort would soon be afire also and that they would soon be burned alive if they did not surrender. Thereupon "ade called out to the men attacking the Fort, to the effect of what quarters would be given them if they surrendered. Some one from the group replied that "We'll give you a passport to Hell. " But Wade announced that they would surrender. Although there were about 86 men in the gang, they had all escaped during the period of attack except Wade and Bill Beck, Bill Wood, Enoch Wood and a Lockwood. By some means when Wade came out he made his lucky break and slipped through our men's lines and although being fired upon he escaped to the Yadkin River and there sub- merged himself, breathing through a reed, untill late in the day after all was quiet and over. 4 men as named above were caught and held for court martial and execution.
After the 4 robbers, bandits and murders were captured the main Fort building was searched for anything of value that the men had stolen,
everything returned to its rightful owner if possible then the Fort was fired and a happy group of men watched it burn to the ground. (It has not yet been rebuilt. (1952) ).
As previously stated the men from Alexander were commanded by Col. Wall Sharp. The men from Caldwell were under the command of Elder Isaac Oxford a prominent Baptist minister at that and later times. Elder William Gwaltney of Alexander County was also present.
After the burning of the fort, a court martial was organized and the 4 bandits were tried in regular millitary fashion, and condemned to be shot at the stake. They were taken a short distance east of the ashes of the old Fort and there tied to stakes and awaited execution. (This was on hangmans day, Friday May 19, 1865. )
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Fort Hamby cont., p. 5
After the men were tied to the stakes they were allowed a few minutes to get ready to die and say what they wanted to. They cried out "Men save us, " "Men Save us" or words to that effect, whereupon Col. Wall Sharpe is reported to have said, "You had better ask God to save you, we can't, we are going to shoot the hell out of you. "
Elders W. R. Gwaltney and Isaac Oxford Baptist ministers being present and in the organized firing squad were asked to pray for the condemned men. They hesitated for a while saying that they couldn't pray or words of such nature, soon however they laid down their guns and Elder Isaac Oxford thanked God for allowing them to catch the men tied to the stakes, he also asked God to save their souls as he asked the men to repent. Gwaltney tried to pray also but said after that he didn't think that his prayer got 10 feet high. After the moments of waiting and prayer the signal was given to fire, whereupon the detailed squad fired and the men tied to the stakes slumped over, dead, their bodies riddled with bullets.
It is reported that the preachers present, did after praying for the men, pick up their guns and shoot with others of the firing squad.
Among those in the firing squad was Well Linney, son of Dr. Copeland Linney and brother of James Linney who was shot and killed on the previous Sunday, by Bill Beck. Well Linney asked and was given per- mission to shoot Beck who had confessed killing his brother James. One of the slaves of Dr. Copeland Linney was with Mr. Well Linney and Linney would lay his gun across Orange's shoulder and fire. (Orange was the slave's name. ) Mr. Well Linney was the father of Elder W. E. Linney.
After the execution of those caught and tied to the stakes, the men of the several counties searched around about and in the river for "lade but failed to find him. They left the 4 murders hanging to the stakes and returned home.
The bullet riddled crumpled bodies of the executed men were after 3 days placed in boxes and hauled away and buried by citizens of the community.
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