USA > North Carolina > Chronology of North Carolina : showing when the most remarkable events connected with her history took place, from the year 1584 to the present time, with explanatory notes > Part 6
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by William Patton, to a repast for which we had an unusual relish. At 10, we commenced the descent, and at 12 reached Mr. Sepp's, and partook of a most sumptuous dinner, at a table graced by a handsome, sprightly lass, daughter of our host. At 63 P.M., we were pleasantly seated at our own table, fatigued, but delighted with our two days' journey.
BUNCOMBE MEN.
The publisher, by permission of the author, finding, after this work was mostly in type, that a few pages would be wanting to give it proper form, hastily, and without the possibility of consulting either persons or papers, wrote out, from a bad memory and amid a mul- tiplicity of business engagements, the following sketches of a few of those deserving notice in a work like this who were among the first and the useful citizens of the " good old State of Buncombe," " away out West." The particulars in the notices of George Swain, Andrew Erwin, and Rev. George Newton he obtained from Hon. D. L. Swain, who has a greater collection of inci- dents in the history of his own State than any man in it, and who, it is hoped, at some future day, will be able to place them in permanent form, for the benefit of pos- terity. For want of proper data, he has placed thesc Buncombe sketches in this part of the work, under one head, with the exception of the above mentioned, which appear under date of 1766-only one of them, Mr. Mills, properly belonging there -- but owing to delay in receiv- ing manuscript, the others were put there in order to meet a necessity in printing the work.
DAVID L. (son of George) SWAIN was born in the
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neighborhood of Asheville, on the 4th of January, 1801. He was prepared for college at Newton Academy, en. tered the junior class in the University in August, 1822. where, on account of ill health and narrowness of re- sources, he remained only a few weeks.
He read law under the direction of the late John Lewis Taylor, Chief Justice of North Carolina, was licensed to practice in the County Courts in June, 1823, and in the Superior Courts in January, 1825.
He represented Buncombe County, in the House of Commons, in 1824, 1825, and 1826. In 1827 he was the Solicitor of the Edenton Circuit. He resigned the office at the close of the spring circuit, returned to the House of Commons in 1S2S, and closed his legislative career in 1829. In 1830 he was a member of the Board of Internal Improvements. In December of the latter year he was appointed Judge of the Superior Court of Law and Equity, and held this office during the years 1831 and 1832. He was Governor of the State in 1833, 1834, and 1835. A few days before the expiration of his last gubernatorial terin, he was appointed President of the University, of which he had been a trustee since 1832. He was a delegate to remodel the constitution in 1835.
He married Miss Eleanor II. White, daughter of the late William White, Secretary of State, and grand- daughter of Richard Caswell, the first governor under the State Constitution, on the 12th Jan., 1826.
Governor Swain was always a close student, and re- markable for his kindness and courtesy to all ; careful and prudent in his walk and conversation, always look- ing upon the better side of things, and hoping for the best. In his religious opinions he is a Presbyterian.
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In politics he has always exercised a sound discretion, en- tertaining the greatest respect for the opinions of others ; never violent ; his political affinities, when actively ex- ercised, were with the Whig party. For twenty-two years he has kept himself aloof from parties, and con- fined his time and his studies to the great interests of learning and education, especially as connected with his own State, and the University over which he has presided during this time with so much ability and suc- cess. By a prudent course of conduct he has accu- mulated a handsome property; showing that a well- spent life, though commenced in obscurity and poverty, seldom goes unrewarded, even in this life, and when it does, it secures in that which is to come an inheritance that is " undefiled and fadeth not away forever." The Governor is in the enjoyment of good health, has a vigorous constitution, and promises yet the hope of great service to his State and country. He was a delegate to amend the Constitution of the State in 1835.
REV. SAMUEL EDNEY was born in Pasquotank County, in 1763. At an early age he became a convert to Christianity, under the preaching of the then despised and persecuted Methodists. His first serious impressions were from a dream, in which he found himself and · all his brothers exposed to a raging fire, from which he alone escaped. This led him to serious reflections on his future state, and " to flee the wrath to come." In 1790 he received license to exhort and preach. In 1701 and 1792 he travelled and preached. In the latter year, he and Jonathan Bird were sent to Wilmington, and from thence to the " far West," or what was called the " Black Mountain Circuit," including all the western part of the
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State, and a portion of Tennessee, where he formed the acquaintance of Eleanor, daughter of William Mills, to whom he was married in 1793. He located in 1794, but continued to preach up to the last week of his life. He died Sept. 17, 1844. He was ordained elder by Bishop Ashbury, in 1813. He was the father of twelve children, eleven of whom grew up to maturity, and eight are still living. Ilis eldest son, John Morriss, enlisted in the war of 1812 ; was honorably discharged ; married a Miss Foll of Augusta, Ga. ; went to merchandis- ing, and subsequently went to Mobile and settled, where he died of consumption, in January, 1824, leaving one daughter, who now resides in Alabama, the head of a family. William W. Edney died July 22, 1822. Alson Mills Edney died Sept. 12, 1842-both of whom, with father and mother, "sleep their last sleep" at Edney ville, N. C., their old homestead.
Samuel Edney, in making his trip from Wilmington wrest, filled an appointment, on the way made for him, with this then high-sounding announcement : " Rev. Samuel Edney, an eminent Methodist preacher from the North, will preach," etc. This was without his know- ledge until he reached the place ; and finding "the whole country gathered together," was the most trying trial of his life, being young and inexperienced ; but he prayed to his Master, who never forsook him, while his knees smote together, and his hands trembled for fear ; yet it was reported that the sermon made a powerful impression for good. At a later day, he gave, uninten- tionally, great offence, while preaching the funeral ser- mon of one of a numerous family by the name of Stepp, during which, while in the height of his sermon, with great emphasis, he exclaimed, " Yes ! and after all these
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warnings from God, you will go on, step by step, till you all go down to hell !" An explanation afterwards was necessary to redeem them from so terrible an end. He maintained his Christian walk for fifty-six years, and his ministerial for fifty-four. It was his custom to supply some appointment on Sabbath all through life. He preached monthly, for a number of years, at the "Newton Academy," near Asheville, a distance of twenty miles from his residence ; was a regular attend- ant of camp meetings ; the first one ever held in the County was upon his possessions, and his house was "always the preacher's home. He lived, as far as possi- ble, "at peace with all men," and, like Paul, labored diligently through life with his own hands. He was an acting magistrate for forty years, and perhaps tried and disposed of more cases than any other man in his County or State. He was the first, and continued, postmaster at Edneyville for twelve years. He inherited and raised a number of slaves, but not being able to govern them without chastisement, he parted with them, and shared the common toils of his neighbors in the support of a large family, whom he loved and cherished till death. "He fought a good fight," was the first regu- lar Methodist preacher in that region of country, " finished his course with joy," and died in the triumphs of a living faith that never left him in his many trials ; often exclaiming, with a holy triumph, in his old age, "I have served God over fifty years, and have never seen the moment that I regretted it, or was willing to look or turn back to the beggarly. elements of the world."
" He preached in life, and cried in death,
' Behold ! behold the Lamb !'
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Servant of God, well done ! Thy glorious warfare's past ; The battle's fought, the race is won, And thou art crown'd at last."
GENERAL PHILIP BRITTAIN was a man of a strong mind and constitution, and represented his constituents in various public offices ; he was elected several times to the Legislature from Buncombe; while there, per- haps his last time, Henderson County was formed, and received its name at his suggestion, after " Old General Henderson," a worthy citizen of the State. He was an industrious, enterprising, public spirited man. He mar- ried Sophia, daughter of widow Lewis; raised a large family ; and died in 1848, at an advanced age.
COL. JOHN CLAYTON, of Mills's River, filled many stations of honor and trust in his own County, and, per- haps, represented it in the Legislature oftener than any other one man, and in both branches. He was magistrate and one of the County Court, in Buncombe and Henderson, for, perhaps, thirty years. He was a ruling elder of the Presbyterian Church for a great many years; raised a numerous family, and died in peace in 1857.
REV. JAMES ASKEW was another early and old settler on Spring Creek; he was an orderly, peaceable and useful citizen, for a long serious of years, and maintained his Christian walk and conversation, as a Methodist minister, through evil and good report; he died in peace the 9th of January, 1852, aged 74 years; leaving a large family, and a good name behind him.
JAMES JOHNSON, of Mills's River, died the 2d of July, 1852, in his 93d year; a remarkable instance of the power of " pure and undefiled religion," over the human
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heart. Everybody who knew James Johnson, knew the power that governed him was " from on high." He was a living monument of grace and peace, and in his exit, " death had no sting." He was a member of the Methodist Church, and a "shining light" for sixty years or more. In the revolution, he served his country as well as his God, doing valiant service for both. A large circle of friends and relations have inherited his virtues, and are emulating his examples.
Rev. HUMPHREY POSEY was by nature a man of remarkable parts ; a strong physical frame, and unbend- ing will, quick perception, and a mind peculiar for its originality, strength and activity. Perhaps no man in the back country, of his limited acquirements, raised in the wild woods, as he was, was his equal; he was a member of the Baptist Church, one of its first defenders and pioneers ; and was able to make a strong impression upon any audience, even the most refined and culti- vated. He used a heavy sledge hammer, and wielded it with great power upon sinners. He left several descendants in the mountain region, and moved to Georgia, where he continued to preach until his death, which occurred several years since; he was beloved and lamented.
JAMES MCCONNEL SMITH was the son of Col. Daniel Smith, and was the first white child born, west of the Blue Ridge, in the limits of North Carolina. Mr. Smith was a man of untiring industry, economy, and perseverance. He married Polly, daughter of Col. John Patton, settled at Asheville, at an early day, and commenced merchandising and farming, both of which he prosecuted successfully . till his death in 1856. He heeded not the fashions of the world, but steadily. .
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pursued his calling, and at his death left a large fortune for his children. Mrs. Smith died in 1843, respected and lamented. She was the mother of nine children, five of whom are still living-one, Mrs. Brown, at Washington, Texas ; she has been married three times, the first time to Mr. Hoke, who was killed by Mr. Hen- derson, at Lincolnton, in a fracas, several years since. She now enjoys a competency, and a bright hope of an inheritance where troubles and sorrows never come.
Col. J. BARNETT settled on French Broad, seventy years ago, and was the first man to pilot or navigate wagons through Buncombe, by putting the two big wheels on the lower side ! sometimes pulling, sometimes pushing, and sometimes carrying the wagon! at a charge of $5 " for work and labor done."
BEADON AND ZEBULON BAIRD were among "the old inhabitants," and were useful and respectable men, leaving descendants worthy their sires. They were the first merchants in Buncombe, and " imported " the first " Jewsharps," which were then as great a wonder as a Giraffe would be now. James M: Smith told the writer of their giving him one, when a small boy, which pleased him more than any present he ever received. " Gourd fiddles " were then in vogue, "puncheon floors," and " corn-stalk bows!" The Messrs. Baird carried np the first four wheeled wagon ever seen in Bun- combe, which was in 1793, and was then a great curi- osity ; "slides " or "sleds" having been, in connec- tion, with "trucks " or " truckle wheels," the useful and ornamental vehicles in that rolling region of country, up to that time; one horse carts were the next family carriage luxury; they brought that wagon across the South. Carolina or ": Saluda Gap," which was opened
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by Col. Earle, for the State of South Carolina, at the sum of four thousand dollars. This road has gradually improved down to the present time, and is now a good road. The Messrs. Baird have long been sleeping with the silent dead upon the blue hills of their balmy days.
Col. BEN. DAVIDSON was another old and useful citizen, who spent a long and useful life among the companions of his early days, in old Buncombe. Many of his de- scendants are still in that region of our State, walking worthy of their vocation, among them Col. S. W. David- son, of Swannanoa, now in a green old age, enjoying the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens.
Capt. THOMAS FOSTER, of Swannanoa, is still living, enjoying remarkable health and activity in his old age, of whom Bishop Abney frequently speaks in his visits to that region from 1788 to 1813. Mr. Foster is well and favorably known, and by a life of industry has accumulated a competency. But he must soon follow his old friends who have gone before him to the spirit land.
Col. JAMES M. ALEXANDER, who died the present year (1858), married a daughter of Capt. Foster, and lived the greater part of his life on French Broad, below Asheville, where he accumulated a large fortune, raised and educated a highly respectable family. He was a member of the Methodist Church, and a liberal sup- porter of the same; and extensively known as a most worthy and hospitable landlord, as well as a liberal public-spirited man and most worthy citizen. One of his daughters married George W. Baxter, Esq., since deceased ; and another, Col. John Baxter, now of Knox- ville, Tenn., heretofore favorably known in Rutherford and Henderson Counties as a private and public citizen.
JOHN JOHNSON, of Mills's River, died in 1849, leaving
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a large circle of relatives and friends to lament his de- parture. Mr. Johnson was a plain, unassuming man, of sterling merits and virtues-such a man as would bless and better the condition of any community of people among whom he should sojourn. He adorned a Christian character by a strictly humble, obedient and faithful course and conversation, through a long life, which terminated in great peace of mind and a bright hope of a blessed immortality beyond the grave.
Col. JAMES M. LOWRY, of Sandy Mush, was long and favorably known as an industrions and enterprising citizen, both in public and private. He served his Country in the legislature very acceptably a great num- ber of times ; was State Councillor ; and filled many other stations of honor and trust. Bishop Ashury said of him in his early days, 1802: " I would here record that James Lowry, an agreeable, pious youth, rode with me for the last seventy miles. I feel truly grateful to him and to his family. May the same measure of kind- ness be always meted to him and his, and to all such affectionate young men, and feeling, attentive people." His future conduct fully justified what was here said of him. He raised a large family to usefulness and re- spectability ; was a tried and faithful member of the Methodist Church for nearly a half century ; and died in peace in 1857.
JAMES PATTON was born in the County of Derry, Ireland, Feb. 13, 1756, of poor, but respectable parents. His father was a farmer, and died when James was fourteen years of age. On the 4th of June, 1783, having resided with his mother up to this time, he embarked for America, and landed at Philadelphia August 3d. For six years, he labored at mining, well-digging, farm-
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ing, working on the canals, grabbing, etc., and a good part of the time was sick, unable to do anything. He was "a stranger in a strange land ;" no friend, no rela- tion ; and, besides all this, had got in bad company ; once was made drunk; was cheated out of all he had by gambling, and his case became almost desperate. But having fallen in with some good people, and re- ceived some good advice, he persevered ; so that at the expiration of six years he had left about two hundred dollars. This he invested in a small " pack" of goods and a "pony ;" the "pack " was put on the "pony," and the trio started on the tide for a fortune. But three miles had been made, when the "pony," in place of crossing the dam at a mill, being driven by Mr. P., made directly into the mill-pond, where water and mud were abundant and free; the water at once ingulfed " pony" and "puck," and the mud below secured " pony's " heels ; and but for getting his head or nose on a stump, he would have been drowned! This was a complete mercantile baptism ! Assistance came and a rescue was made. This was in November, 1789. He made his way through to North Carolina, and on his way fell in and travelled with James McIntyre, of Mor- ganton. In Wilkes, Burke, Buncombe, etc., he traded for several years-returning north to get supplies- taking in exchange for goods fur skins, indigo, feathers, etc., upon which he made a profit. In 1791, he met with Andrew Irwin, who afterwards married his sister, went in business with him, and, after twenty years partnership, they dissolved and made settlement of a large estate in one day ! In 1792, he moved his mother and family to Wilkes County, and was afterwards instru-
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mental in bringing all his brothers and sisters to Ameri- ca. In 1794, he married a daughter of Francis Rey- nolds, one of the first settlers on Yadkin River. In 1807, Mr. Patton and family, and Mr. Erwin, moved to Swannanoa (where Col. Thomas Patton now lives), and in 1814, moved to Asheville, where his mother, his wife, and himself, all afterwards died. Mr. P., though he grew rich, " never sold the widow's cow nor the poor man's land." He brought forward many young men, who afterwards became useful and leading citizens ; among them, Andrew Irwin, Jeremiah Cleveland, George Jones, Wm. R. (" Long Billy") Smith, and others. He heeded well the maxim, " Stay at home and mind your own business." In his advice to his children, in his 84th year, he says : " Although I have often erred, still I am pleased that God has blessed my weak means, and enabled me to give you some advice for your good. And may the God of Grace cheer and support me until the time of our separation on earth, and give me a life of blessed immortality beyond the grave. That you may live in harmony and peace with each other, and so spend your lives in this world, that you will be pre- pared for that which is to come, is the wish of your affectionate father."
By perseverance, his means increased, and after re- moving to Asheville he opened a store and hotel, and engaged in farming, all of which he continued success- fully through a long series of years, raising in the mean- time, a large and highly respectable family. His hotel was enlarged from time to time, and has long been known and kept up as the "Eagle Hotel," on the old site, and belongs now to James W. Patton. Only two
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of the children are now residents of the village; two are in the neighborhood ; and the others are all married and removed to various parts of the country.
Mr. Patton was a man of untiring industry and economy ; he lived as nearly up to the motto, "No moment unemployed," as, perhaps, any other man in his day ; yet he was liberal and public-spirited, lending a hand to everything calculated to promote virtue, morality, and the public good. Bishop Asbury-than whom there were few better men, better judges of human nature, and few who could say so much in a few words-thus speaks, in 1809, of Mr. Patton and Mr. Erwin, his partner: "Sabbath, Sept. 29th. At Bun- combe. I spoke on Luke xiv., 10. It was a season of attention and feeling. We dined with Mr. Erwin, and lodged with James Patton. How rich, how plain, how humble, and how kind !"
In 1831, Mr. Patton bought out and improved the Warm Springs, a celebrated watering place ever since, thirty-six miles below Asheville, on the French Broad. Mr. Patton was very inquisitive and very communica- tive, nearly always bettering and instructing himself or others by it; sometimes it was "otherwise." It was otherwise when a young man, who thought himself ex- ceedingly smart, after he had a half bushel full of salt, said to Mr. P., " Now, Mr. P., I will give you twenty- five cents to let me tramp that salt." "Get in, my mon ; get in, my mon ; tramp away till you are satis- fied." The young man put in two not very femenine understandings, and by the force of gravity lowered the salt to one peck, or less; stepped out, with a peculiar wink, took hold of the spade, lifted it full of salt to retill the half bushel, when his arm was touched, and
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Mr. P. remarked, " No, no, young mon; no, no, young mon ; you gave me two shillings to 'tramp that salt ;" not to fill the half bushel." It is currently reported that that young man never "tramped " another half bushel of salt for Mr. P., and that it was a bad invest- ment, at least for the time. It was " otherwise," when Mr. P. was improving the road near the Warm Springs. Having a number of men blasting and laying stone, he was out, with stick in hand, pushing and prying every stone, to see if it were well placed ; and was warned not to trouble them ; but being determined to see that everything was well done, in making a sudden push at a very unstable, and, for him, unfortunate stone, aided by the carelessness of a boy, it moved, and a slide from above took place ; and one or both of Mr. P.'s legs was so "put upon," that several months of careful " knitting" was required to fasten and restore to their proper func- tions the ligaments and bones that suffered from the catastrophe occasioned by that inquisitive cane.
At a subsequent period, he had some men repairing pump-logs, through which water was carried from the mountain side to his hotel. Being in a deep hollow, the water pressure was very great, being a pressure from both ends. Here, as.in other places, there was an inch hole bored and a pin driven in, "to try the water," and occasionally to clean the logs ; while the men were engaged near this, Mr. P. approached, and in his usual kind way commenced talking, inquiring, and making suggestions ; finally, his eye rested on the pin, and thinking it might not be thoroughly tight, he com- menced tapping, first one side and then the other, re- marking, "Is this tight, my men; is this tight, my men ?" " You had better let that alone, Mr. P.," said
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they, and by way of illustration of the latter remark, the pin became suddenly, either from water or cane pressure, or both, unsettled, and made a perpendicular gyration in the air, removing a certain hat, usually worn by a very clever old gentleman, that seemed to be just in its line of march, preparatory to a shower bath, which was administered with such extraordinary dis- patch and force, as to require the assistance of two or three men to elevate and transfer the gentleman with an inquisitive stick to another location. Yet, I don't know but the young man and Mr. P. himself were both " instructed" and " bettered" by these shrewd and mat- ter-of-course experiments in the journey of life-the young man was, no doubt, made wiser ; the old man, in the second instance, had several months' time allotted to him for reflection ; and in the third, shower-baths being considered healthy, and dry clothes pleasant and refreshing, he was none the worse of a change.
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