USA > North Carolina > Historical sketches of North Carolina : from 1584 to 1851, Vol. I > Part 46
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243
LINCOLN COUNTY.
rally known, a belief was entertained by the credulous portion of the com- munity, that Forney was bullet-proof. It was even affirmed that, after he reached the Fort, he unbuttoned his vest, and nearly a peck of bullets dropped out! In subsequent years Forney was accustomed to smile at this innocent credulity of his neighbors, but frequently remarked that the impression of his being bullet-proof was of great service to him in the trying times preceding and during the Revolutionary War.
Another remarkable incident, and perhaps sufficiently interesting to claim a place in this sketch, was the following: When Cornwallis passed through Lincoln County in pursuit of Morgan, it is well known he was arrested in his progress by high-waters. During this apparently providential detention, he was conducted by a Tory to Forney's plantation, about two miles from the main road. Here he remained encamped for three days, consuming, in the meantime, Forney's entire stock of cattle, hogs, &c. But the extent of his loss did not end here. His Lordship had been informed that Forney had a considerable amount of money stored up, and that, if diligent search were made, it might be readily found. This information set the British to work, and, aided by the Tory's suggestions, they finally succeeded in finding his gold, jewelry, &c., a considerable portion of which he had brought with him from Germany. Whilst this work of search was going on without, his Lord- ship was quietly occupying his Head-Quarters up stairs, cogitating, perhaps, on some decisive course of future operations and military glory ! Forney being old, and found unarmed, was not molested in his person or family, and was allowed the privilege of living in the cellar. As soon as he ascer- tained his gold and jewelry were taken, he seized his gun, and rushed into the house with the determination of killing Cornwallis, but his wife quickly followed, and intercepted him at the foot of the stairs, thus preventing the most deplorable consequences-the loss, perhaps, of his own life and that of his whole family. But the prudent advice of his wife, " Heaven's last, best gift to man," had its proper effect, and caused him, after a moment's reflec- - tion, to désist from his purpose. It is scarcely necessary to inform the reader he was punished in this severe manner for his well-known opposition to the unjust claims of Great Britain, and zealous support of the cause of liberty.
After Cornwallis left, Forney ascertained that the Tory informer was a certain Mr. Deck, one of his near neighbors, with whom he had always lived on terms of friendship. . Considering the act an outrageous breach of their hitherto friendly relations, and believing the heavy losses he had sustained mainly attributable to the Tory's agency, he could not overlook the enormity of the offence. He accordingly sent a message to the Tory, that he must leave the neighborhood : if not, he would shoot him at the first opportunity. The Tory, however, did not think it proper to comply immediately with this stern message. Forney hearing of this, armed himself, and went in pursuit; but the Tory eluded him by lying out, and otherwise concealing himself. At length, Forney came upon him one day fast asleep. He raised his gun to shoot him, but, at that moment, concluded he would rouse him from his slumbers before depriving him of his existence. The Tory was accordingly waked up. As soon as he beheld his dangerous situation, he immediately commenced supplicating most earnestly for life, and making solemn promises to leave the neighborhood. Forney, although smarting under his heavy losses, yet could not resist such earnest and touching appeals to his mercy, desisted from his purpose, and let him off. In the course of a few days, the Tory, true to his promise, left the neighborhood, and never afterwards re- turned.
During the Revolutionary War Forney was a firm and zealous Whig. Being too old to bear arms, his patriotic sentiments were early instilled into his rising generation. His three sons, Jacob, Peter, and Abram, were all unwavering Whigs, and sustained an honorable part in the cause of freedom. The subject of this sketch died in 1806, near to the place where he first settled, in the 85th year of his age.
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244
HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
GENERAL PETER FORNEY, the subject of this biographical sketch, was the second son of Jacob Forney, Sen., and born in Lincoln County, April, 1756. His father was the son of a French Huguenot, and his mother a Swiss. His descent is thus traced to a noble stock of people, whose names and whose' deeds adorn the historic page, and are inseparably connected with the cause of civil and religious liberty.
General Forney was a patriot and soldier of the Revolution. Believing the cause of freedom to be the cause of justice, no persuasive argument was ne- cessary to enlist his warmest feelings for resistance, and arouse him to prompt and energetic action. On several occasions, when the calls of duty summoned, his services were cheerfully rendered in assisting to repel the enemy, and in defending his country's rights. Having borne an honorable part in tlie es- tablishment of independence, his attention was naturally directed, at the con- clusion of the war, to the selection of some useful pursuit. His determina- tion was soon made up, and he engaged in early life, associated with a com- pany, in the making of iron, then a new and lucrative employment. After a few years, the co-partnership was dissolved. He then purchased lands on Leeper's Creek, in the same neighborhood, and commenced business on his own account. Here he permanently settled for life, prospered in his useful calling, and acquired considerable'wealth.' His residence received the name of "Mount Welcome," an appellation appropriately bestowed, as his future history clearly proved. The poor of his own neighborhood were frequently the beneficiaries of his bounty ; and the weary traveler was at all times made "welcome," and entertained beneath his hospitable roof, "without money, and without price."
In 1783, he united in marriage with Miss Nancy Abernathy, a lady of great worth, full of kind feelings, and benevolent in all her ways and actions. The natural goodness of her heart made her the "cheerful giver," and a portion of whatever a kind Providence had placed at her disposal, was freely dispensed in relieving the wants of the poor and the needy. Her numerous acts of charity, so well known in her lifetime, were free of all ostentation, and flowed silently forth, like gentle streams, imparting new vigor, and refreshing everything in their course.
An anecdote, illustrative of Mrs. Forney's domestic habits, may be here re- lated. A gentleman passing by "Mount Welcome," General Forney's resi- dence, and wishing to leave a message with the General, on some matter of business, accordingly called for that purpose. Before, however, he reached the gate immediately in front of the dwelling-house, he passed the cow-pen, by the road-side, where he discovered a white woman, with one or two ser- vants, busily engaged in milking cows. He inquired of the white woman, whom he supposed to be some hired dairy maid, if General Forney was at home. She informed him he was not. Then, replied the stranger, " I would like to see his lady, and would be very much obliged to you if you would just step to the house and request her to come to the gate for a moment." The lady then informed hin, he had now the pleasure of seeing Mrs. Forney, and that she would cheerfully deliver any message he might leave. The stranger, as might be imagined, felt greatly abashed at his mistake-made an apology, which was kindly and good-humoredly received by Mrs. Forney. He de- livered his message, and then pursued his course.
General Forney was elected as a member to the House of Commons from 1794 to 1796, inclusive ; and to the Senate during the years 1801 and 1802. He was again called out from the shades of private life by the partialities of his fellow-citizens, and elected as a Representative to Congress from 1813 to 1815. The duties of which several important trusts he performed with great acceptance and fidelity. He also served as Elector during the Presidential campaigns of Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, and Jackson. On each of these occasions he was selected on account of his great worth of character, and ex- tensive popularity. With these repeated evidences of popular favor his public services ended. Frequent solicitations were tendered to him afterwards to be- come a candidate, all of which he declined. The infirmities of old age were now rapidly stealing upon him, and rendering him unfit for the discharge of public
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245
LINCOLN COUNTY.
duties. Domestic concerns alone occupied his attention during the remainder of his days. For several years previous to his decease, his mental vigor and corporeal strength greatly failed. It was now evident to numerous relatives and friends, that his earthly pilgrimage was drawing rapidly to its close, After a short illness, without great pain or suffering, he quietly departed his life, on February 1st, 1834, in the seventy-eighth year of his age, a bright ex- ample of the useful citizen and upright man. Generosity, candor, integrity, and freedom from pride or vain show, were prominent traits in his character. Let his name and his deeds, and his sterling virtues be duly appreciated, and faithfully imitated by the rising generation.
MAJOR DANIEL M. FORNEY was the eldest son of General Peter Forney, and born in Lincoln County, May, 1784. His refined sense, excellent judgment, and great personal worth, early marked him out for a sphere of public use- fulness. He was accordingly called'to fill several important trusts. During the late war with Great Britain, he received the appointment of Major, the duties of which responsible office, he performed with fidelity and ability. He served as a Representative to Congress from 1815 to 1818. From the years 1823 to 1826, inclusive, he served as Senator from Lincoln County. In each of these appointments, and others of less note which he filled, faithfulness, integrity, and a manly independence, marked the course of his actions. He never resorted to the wily tricks of the demagogue to secure place or office, but relied entirely on his known integrity, and a candid exposition of his views and sentiments.
Major Forney married Harriet, daughter of Captain Alexander Brevard, by whom he had several children.
.In 1834, he removed to Alabama, where he spent his remaining days. His ur- bane manners, gentlemanly deportment, and many excellent qualities of head and heart, gained for him, in his new location, the same high regard that justly pertained to him in his native State. Being seized with a chronic disease, he gradually sank under its debilitating effects, and died with peaceful re- signation, at his adopted home, in Lowndes County, Alabama, October, 1847, in the sixty-fourth year of his age.
MAJOR ABRAM FORNEY was the youngest son of Jacob Forney, Sen., and born in Lincoln County, October, 1758. He was a patriot and soldier of the Revolu- tion. At the youthful age of sixteen, he entered the service of his country, and participated in several engagements, with distinguished bravery. So strong was his patriotic ardor and military enthusiasm, that on one or two occasions, he stole off from his father, whose unwillingness arose solely from his youthful age. At the battle of King's Mountain, then twenty-two years old, he fought with great bravery, and performed important service in gain- · ing the brilliant victory which there crowned the American arms. He also participated in the battle at Ramsour's, near Lincolnton, with conspicuous courage, and assisted to inflict the merited scourging which Tory-loyalism there received. His recollection of Revolutionary events was remarkably vivid and accurate. No more exciting theme could be introduced than the "times which tried men's souls," imparting, as it were, new vigor, and en- kindling his warmest emotions in the faithful narration of memorable events. . Among other incidents of the battle of King's Mountain, which he related, was the following :- " Some time after the battle commenced, and the con- test became warm and well-maintained on both sides, a small party of the Whigs, not liking the abundance of lead flying around them, and occasionally cutting down some gallant soldier at their side, concluded to take temporary shelter behind an old chestnut tree- a mere shell-which stood near, and from its walls to pour forth a destructive fire against the enemy. The British, however, presently observed the quarter whence this galling fire proceeded, and immediately returned military compliments with a few well-aimed vol- leys at the old shell, completely shivering it. The concealed soldiers per- ceiving that they had now become a concentrated object of attack, and stood a very good chance of being killed with splinters instead of bullets, boldly
246
HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
stepped forth from their retreat, presented an unbroken front, and fought bravely to the close of the engagement." The results of this decisive victory, in which so much bravery was displayed, has never been sufficiently appre- ciated, or even fully detailed on the page of history. That spirit of Toryism and loyalism combined, which almost reigned triumphant in the South on account of previous reverses of the American arms, here received a death-blow from which it never afterwards recovered. In particular, that Tory ascend- ancy, which had for some time been raising aloft its insulting head, was there completely subdued. But to secure this important result, some of the bravest spirits of the Revolution there nobly fell in the cause of liberty. Colonel Williams, with a courage 'indomitable and bravery undaunted, nobly fell there whilst leading his men on to victory. Among his last words to his re- giment, just at the moment of marching to the battle-ground, were these- "Come on, my boys-the old wagoner never backed out yet." Major Chroni- cle, a distinguished Whig of Lincoln County, prompt and energetic in his movements, and greatly esteemed, there also met his untimely end. Indeed, on no previous occasion did patriotic ardor ever burn with more fervency. Never did the fixed and heroic determination to conquer or die, more mani- festly exhibit itself among both officers and men. But nothing more than a passing tribute to the actors and the occasion is here attempted. Let full honor be done, by some future historian, to the memoir of the gallant' sons of Virginia and the Carolinas, who achieved this important victory.
Abram Forney died on the 22d of July, 1849, not far from the place of his
nativity, in the eighty-sixth year of his age.
C. L. H. -
Hon. ROBERT H. BURTON, son of Colonel Robert Burton, of Granville, was a resident of Lincoln, and one of its ablest citizens. He was born in Gran- ville County, in 1781. He was educated at the University, about 1799, but did not graduate. He studied law, and settled in Lincoln, where he married the daughter of John Fulenwider, Esq.
He applied himself with such assiduity and ability to his profession, that he soon rose to the head of the bar; and in 1818, he was appointed a Judge of the Superior Courts of Law, which, after riding one circuit, he resigned.
In 1830, he was elected Treasurer of the State, which he declined.
As a Christian, his life was a living proof of his sincerity ; as a citizen, he was patriotic and enterprising ; and as a friend, sincere and faithful.
He died in 1842, loved and lamented by all who knew him, leaving a wife and seven children to mourn their bereavement.
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The late COLONEL MICHAEL HOKE was a native and resident of this county. He was the son of the late Col. John Hoke, an enterprising and useful citizen of this county, and born in 1810.
He was educated chiefly at Captain Patridge's Military Academy, Middle- town, Connecticut, then in high repute. He studied law with Judge Tucker in Virginia, and finished with Hon. R. H. Burton, whose daughter Frances he married.
His ease of manners, brilliancy of oratory, and acquirements in his pro- fession soon won him "troops of friends" and an extensive practice.
He entered early " the stormy sea" of politics, and in 1834 was a member from Lincoln in the House of Commons ; which he held continuously until 1842, when he declined a re-election:
In 1844 he was nominated as the Democratic candidate for Governor, in opposition to Hon. Wm. A. Graham, the present Secretary of the Navy ; and such was the fairness of his conduct, his open, generous temper, his elevated mode of argument, that even in high excitement, party spirit forgot its ran- cor ; and he won, as he deserved, the regard and respect of all parties.
His career was short as it was brilliant. He died at Charlotte on the 9th September, 1844, after an illness of ten days.
Captain John F. Hoke, the brother of Col. Hoke, is a native of Lincoln, and her present senator. . He graduated at the University in 1841, and studied law. In the late war with Mexico he volunteered, and was appointed Cap-
247
LINCOLN COUNTY.
tain of Infantry, and was in the severely contested battles of Tolema, Na- tional Bridge, and Cerro Gordo.
. Hon. WILLIAM A. GRAHAM is a native of this county, for whose biography see Orange County.
Hon. JAMES GRAHAM resides in this county ; a brother of the above, and son of Gen. Joseph Graham.
He was born in January, 1793, and was educated at the University, and graduated in 1814, in the same class with Aaron V. Brown (late Governor of Tennessee), Charles Manly (late Governor of N. C.), and others.
He studied law, and practiced for many years with great success. He moved to Rutherford, and in 1822 represented that county in the House of Commons, as also in 1823, 1828, and 1829.
He was elected from that District to Congress in 1833, and served until 1843, and elected again in 1845. He then retired from public life, and de- voted himself to agricultural pursuits, until his death, which occurred in Sep- tember, 1851.
Rev. ROBERT HALL MORRISON, D. D., whose ambition has never led him
" The applause of listening Senates to command,"
- but to discharge the far more important duty of teaching his fellow-men " wisdom's ways," and the eternal truths of revelation, also resides in this county.
He graduated in 1818 at Chapel Hill, in the same class with James K. Polk, Wm. D: Mosely (late Governor of Florida), Hamilton C. Jones and others. He has been pastor of several Presbyterian churches of the State, President of Davidson College, and is now pastor of Unity and Machpelah churches, in this county. , He married a daughter of Gen. Graham. He is much esteemed by those who know him best, as one
whose doctrine and whose life
Coincident, exhibit lucid proof,
That he is honest in the sacred cause."
List of members of the General Assembly from Lincoln County, from date of its formation to 1850-51.
Years. Senate.
1780. James Johnston,
1781. James Johnston,
1782. James Johnston,
1783. Robert Alexander,
1784. Robert Alexander,
1785. Robert Alexander,
1786. Robert Alexander,
1787.
Robert Alexander,
1788.
Joseph Dixon,
1789.
Joseph Dixon,
1791.
Joseph Dixon,
1792. Joseph Dixon,
1793. Joseph Dixon,
1794.
Joseph Dixon,
1795. Joseph Dixon,
1796. Wallace Alexander,
1797. Wallace Alexander,
1798. Wallace Alexander,
1799. Wallace Alexander,
1800. Peter Forney,
1801. Peter Forney,
1802. Peter Forney,
1803. Henry Hoke,
House of Commons.
Valentine Mauney, John Sloan. Robert Alexander, John Sloan. Robert Alexander, John Sloan; Daniel McKissick, John Sloan. Daniel McKissick, John Sloan. John Sloan, Daniel McKissick. Daniel McKissick, John Sloan. Daniel McKissick, Jos. Jenkins., John Moore, Wm. McLean. John Moore, Wm. McLean. Wm. McLean, John Moore. John Moore, Nathan Alexander. John Moore, Nathan Alexander. John Moore, Peter Forney. Peter Forney, David Robeson. Peter Forney, David Robeson. Peter Forney, John Ramsour. John Moore, John Ramsour. John Moore, John Reinhardt. John Moore, John Reinhardt. Jesse Robeson, John Moore.
John Moore, Peter Hoyle.
John Moore, Peter Hoyle.
25
248
HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
Years. Senate.
House of Commons.
1804. Henry Hoke,
John Moore, Peter Hoyle.
1805. Ephraim Perkins,
John Moore, Peter Hoyle.
1806.
David Shufford,->
John Moore, Peter Hoyle.
1807.
Andrew Hoyle,
Peter Hoyle, Jones Abernathy.
1808.
Andrew Hoyle,
Peter Hoyle, Jones Abernathy.
1809.
Andrew Hoyle,
Daniel Hoke, Robert Patterson.
1810. 1811. John Reid,
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Daniel Hoke, Peter Hoyle.
1812. David Shufford,
1813.
David Shufford,
1814.
William McLean,
1815.
David Shufford, David Shufford,
Peter Hoyle, Daniel Hoke. Peter Hoyle, Daniel Hoke.
1817.
John Reid,
Peter Hoyle, Henry Y. Webb.
1818. John Reid,
Robert Williamson, J. F. Brevard.
1819.
Peter Hoyle,
Robert Williamson, D. Conrad.
1820.
David Shufford,
1821.
Robert Williamson,
1822.
Robert Williamson,
1823.
Daniel M. Forney,
1824.
Daniel M. Forney,
1825.
Daniel M. Forney,
1826.
Daniel M. Forney,
1827.
Michael Reinhardt,
1828.
Michael Reinhardt,
1829.
Daniel Hoke,
1830.
Daniel Hoke,
1831.
Daniel Hoke,
1832. Daniel Hoke,
1833.
Daniel Hoke,
Myles W. Abernathy, Henry Cansler. Daniel Conrad, William Johnson. Michael Hoke, Henry Cansler.
1835.
John B. Harry,
Henry Cansler, Michael Hoke.
1836.
Michael Reinhardt,
Michael Hoke, Henry Cansler, O. W. Holland, Thomas Ward.
1838.
Michael Reinhardt,
M. Hoke, John ,Killian, O. W. Hol -. : land, W. W. Monday ..
1840. Thomas Ward,
1842. A. Ray,
Larkin Stowe, Jas. H. White, Nathaniel Wilson, John Yount.
1844. Larkin Stowe,
1846. Larkin Stowe,
1848. Henry W. Conner,
1850. John F. Hoke,
James H. White, Nathaniel Wilson, F. D. Reinhardt, Richard Rankin. James H. White, Franklin D. Rein- hardt, N. Wilson, John Webster.
J. H. White, Franklin D. Reinhardt, S. N. Stowe, Andrew H. Shufford. Richard Rankin, F. D. Reinhardt, S. N. Stowe, Henderson Sherrill.
2.
Daniel Hoke, Peter Hoyle.
Peter Hoyle, Daniel Hoke.
R. Patterson, John Ramsour.
1816.
John Reid,
Peter Hoyle, Daniel Hoke.
D. Conrad, Robert Williamson. Peter Hoke, Oliver W. Holland. Peter Hoke, Daniel Conrad.
O. W. Holland, Daniel Conrad. Bartlett Shipp, Daniel Conrad. O. W. Holland, Daniel Conrad. 0. W. Holland, Bartlett Shipp. Alex. J. M. Brevard, Daniel Conrad. Bartlett Shipp, Andrew H. Loretz. Bartlett Shipp, Andrew H. Loretz. Bartlett Shipp, Andrew H. Loretz. Myles W. Abernathy, Henry Cansler.
1834.
Bartlett Shipp,
M. Hoke, O. W. Holland, W. W. Mon- day, John Killian.
249
MACDOWELL COUNTY.
1
CHAPTER XLVII ..
MACDOWELL COUNTY.
MACDOWELL COUNTY was erected in 1842, and called in honor of Colonel Joseph MacDowell, a distinguished officer of the Revolution, for whose biography see below. .
It was formed from portions of Rutherford and Burke Counties, with which counties it still votes until after the next session (1852).
It is situated in the western part of the State, and bounded on the north by the Blue Ridge, which separates it from Yancey and Watauga Counties, east by Burke, south by Rutherford, and west by the Blue Ridge, which separates it from Yancey and Buncombe.
It is called in honor of Colonel JOSEPH MACDOWELL, who resided in this county. He was born at Pleasant Garden, on Feb. 25th, 1758. He was dis- tinguished as a soldier and as a statesman. He married Mary Moffet, by whom he had several children. Among them, Colonel James MacDowell, of Yancey, John MacDowell, of Rutherford, and the wife of Captain Charles MacDowell, now residing near Morganton. After his death, April, 1795, she married Colonel John Carson, of Pleasant Garden, and by him she had a number of children, among them the Hon. Samuel P. Carson.
MARION is the county seat, and called after the distinguished partisan General of South Carolina, Francis Marion, and is distant from Raleigh about two hundred miles.
FRANCIS MARION was born in Charleston, in 1732. He was Major in Col. Moultrie's Regiment, and distinguished himself in the repulse of the British in their attack of Sullivan's Island in 1776. He was appointed Brigadier-General in 1780. While the British overwhelmed South Carolina, Marion retreated with his men to the swamps of his native State, from which he made frequent and successful sorties on the enemy, and much annoyed them. . He was with General Greene in the bloody engagement of the Eutaws (Sep., 1781), and received the thanks of Congress for his gallantry. He died in 1795.
The population of MacDowell County, according to the census of 1850, is 4,777 whites ; 1,262 slaves ; 207 free negroes ; 5,741 representative population.
250
HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
CHAPTER XLVIII.
MACON COUNTY.
MACON COUNTY was formed, in 1828, from Haywood County, and called in honor of Hon. Nathaniel Macon, of Warren County, who was long the representative in Congress, from the Warren District, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Senator in Congress ; for whose biography see Warren County.
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