USA > North Carolina > Mecklenburg County > Charlotte > The history of Steele Creek Presbyterian Church : Mecklenburg County, Charlotte, North Carolina > Part 13
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Harry S. Cathey Faye Choate George H. Clark Herman L. Clanton Robert Lee Cook Walter Quay Cook Gilbert R. Cooper Sam A. Croft
Clyde Demont Curlee A. Wilson Davenport Robert W. Davenport George W. Davis Ernest D. DeShields, Jr. John P. Dillon Warren C. Dixon John Craig Dixon Eugene L. Dunn
E. A. Earp Edward L. Edwards
R. O. Edwards
Edwin L. Faires
Donald A. Ferguson A. C. Freeman
John M. Freeman Roy H. Freeman
Walter B. Freeman
Henry B. Foard
Harvey P. Gassaway Archie C. Graham
William A. Griffith Price H. Gwynn III Albert F. Hand
John F. Heniford
Robert A. Helms
Roy R. Helms John Wesley Hinson
Henry Darrell Horne Olin Rymer Hovis Clyde Jack Hovis Basil Lynn Irwin Frederick H. Hyatt Jr.
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Bura A. Kendrick Jr. Billie Joe Kimbrell John S. Knox William Pryor King Sid B. Lands Alford D. Lawhon
Marian C. Lee
William D. Loy Robert B. Marshall
Hoke C. Marks
Leon Arrowood Miller
Cecil McCall
Billie G. McCall
Cecil G. McCorkle
Joseph D. McCorkle
J. M. McCorkle
William W. McCorkle
Roy W. McCorkle
Robert Paul McCorkle
Charles R. McCoy Jr.
Edwin R. McCoy Robert McNeely
Robert E. McDowell Jr.
Harry C. McGinn Jr.
Joseph H. Merritt Martha Pegram Mitchell Tally M. Neel Guy M. Neel
John Brown Neel Worth E. Neel
Woodrew W. Neely
Ralph F. Neely
Rufus G. Neely
James W. Niell Guy Lee Osborne Curtis M. Osborne W. M. Ottley Wilson T. Owens John T. Owens William J. Payne
Edward H. Pegram John Neely Porter Samuel Holland Porter Marion F. Query Luke W. Query, Jr. Marguerite N. Query
Richard Z. Query
James Sidney Query
Erwon L. Query
Robert Raborn James L. Reep
Betty M. Reep
Richard O. Renaud
Jack G. Renaud Herbert Lewis Reid
J. Y. Robinson George A. Rufas Guy A. Rufas Francis C. Ruppalt
Robert Lee Seals
Robert Earl Sing Isaac Link Shaver Charles W. Shubert Garland B. Simmons William A. Sholin Robert R. Sloan
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John W. Sloan Harry W. Sloan Marion H. Smith Allen F. Smith Connor H. Smith William B. Sparrow
Clarence A. Sparrow
Harry B. Sparrow Charles B. Sparrow
Ellenora Spratt
Michael D. Speckman
Paul R. Starnes
Cecil Starling
James C. Stikeleather
R. J. Stilwell
Robert L. Stilwell
Joe Lee Stratton
Edward Franklin Suttle
Oliver Thompson
Paul Thompson Jr. Pat P. Tompkins
Joe H. Tompkins Jr.
David W. Voxburg
William H. Walker
Milton L. Walker
Thomas English Walker Victor B. Wallace Jr. Walter R. Wallace Jr.
Edgar B. Watson
Frank Y. Watson
Harvey L. Watson
Fred H. Weaver Lillie L. Weaver Richard R. Weaver Joe L.White, Jr. David H. White Robert G. Wilson Baxter B. Wilson James S. Wilson Samuel A. Wilson David R. Wilson Robert M. Wilson
Thomas E. Wilson John Knox Wilson Joseph F. Wilson William C. Wilson Joe M. Wilson
Bonsal H. Williams
William K. Williams
Faison R. Williams
Thomas M. Williams
William C. Winfrey Rush B. Winchester
Harry H. Wingate
James A. Wood, Jr. William A. Wood
Jack F. Woods
William Russell Woods Authers Franklin Wright Marcuse E. Yandle Alfred Yarborough
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IN MEMORIAM
Calvin Dickey Brown Hugh S. Garrison Richard Query Garrison Franklin Cecil Hovis
John Marvin Lawhon
William Wallace Neel Jack Milton Smith George Franklin Wilson James Calvin Wilson
KOREAN WAR
Roy S. Berryhill
Joseph W. Howell
H. Erwin Davenport
David C. Clark
David N. Moore
Billy G. McCall
Dwight Bruce Rankin Glendon H. Shelton
Charles William Shubert
Jack O. Wilcoxon
VIETNAM
Raymond Gilbert Cooper Jr. James D. Cousey Jr.
Bratton DeLouch Epps
James R. Ferguson Sr.
Paul J. Brown III
Dickie McCorkle
Herbie King
Boyd W. Mullis Jr.
Ronald C. Porter
Lamar Smith
Ernest W. Spruill Jr. Gene Weaver
James C. Montgomery Jr.
Larry W. Boyles Charles F. Boyles
Robert G. McDowell
Robert O. Byrum Jr.
Milton B. Bigger
Bryce W. Griffith Jr. Richard L. Harris Edwin Leu
John Wright
Claude Palmer
William Ashley Payne
Thomas Miller Paynes
Fred Herrin Ashley Long Jimmy Robinson Jr. Howard Hammer Roy Zachariah Thomas
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CHAPTER IX
Music At Steele Creek
In the chapters covering an overview of the events in the church's history, a number of comments are found on the empha- sis given to the role of music. The purposes of this chapter are to provide a more comprehensive description of the function of music and to give recognition to contributors whose light in the field of music would have been "hidden under the basket" in the narrative of general events.
Until the appointment of the Reverend Robert Henry as the first official pastor at Steele Creek in 1766, the most frequent reason for assembly to worship was for the congregation to gather to revive their spiritual faith by singing psalms. That music and what was sung was important is illustrated by the rift in the congregation that occurred near the end of the Reverend McRee's pastorate (about 1795), which eventually led, at least in part, to the "Seceder Churches".
When the Reverend Douglas was reminiscing over his pasto- rate in 1872, he commented: "One thing should be recorded to Steele Creek's credit - our good church music. For years past it has been excelled by few churches in all the land for good vocal music."
Records show that as least as early as the middle of the nineteenth century, music schools were held regularly in the church by competent teachers to give drills in the rules and principles of singing.
The title "Director" of the choir or "Director of Church Music"
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is a modern term denoting "head of" or "one with responsibility for", whereas, the term "leader" appears in the early church records. Evidently this person fully played the role of leadership as he set the note for each song by use of a "tuning fork" and the leader was usually among the more vocal or had the "strongest voice" and sometimes sang one or more notes ahead of the group in his rendition. General William H. Neel (1799-1888) is among those first recognized as "music leaders". The eulogy at his funeral was in part: "For fifty years General Neel was a leader of the music, and without the organ this congregation sang with great force and fervor the psalms and hymns of our church." Another prominent person, and one who shared the leader role in music with General Neel, was J. S. Collins (1882-1900), a ruling elder and a long leader of the church singing. He taught many of the music schools conducted at Steele Creek, and other churches. To sup- port the music program an organ was purchased for the church around 1890.
Since the passing of General Neel and Mr. Collins, or about the beginning of the twentieth century, music at the church was almost synonymous with the Freeman families as leaders. R. C. Freeman, I. H. Freeman, and Edgar B. Byrum constituted the Music Committee for a long while with R. C. (Bob) Freeman or I. H. (Ike) Freeman filling the role of music leader. Although there was no formal choir until around the 1940's, the two Freeman families formed the nucleus of special music sung from time to time from an old anthem book. Just how great an impression Mr. Ike made on the young people of the congregation was evidence by a youngster's description of him as "the man who stirred the music."
Mr. "Ike" and Mr. "Bob" were most faithful in seeing that proper music was available for all occasions. They were accom- panied on the organ in the early years by Miss Mary Robinson and later by Mrs. Irene Bigham, daughter of R. C. Freeman. When the
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bellows on the old Mason & Hamlin organ began to be a problem, a piano was purchased. Andrews Music Company of Charlotte sent out two pianos. The congregation gathered to sing and assist in selection of the most suitable instrument. An Ivers & Pond was chosen. This piano is still in service in the chapel of the Commu- nity House.
The old organ was preserved a long while in the home of church members but has been returned to service in our Sunday school.
B. J. Brown succeeded Mrs. Bigham as church pianist in 1931. He served in this position until 1974. In 1936, an electric organ was purchased to replace the piano in the church. Mrs. W. S. Berryhill, a music teacher in Berryhill High School, was asked to play the organ with Mr. Brown as substitute, but Mrs. Berryhill soon yielded the position of organist to B. J. Brown.
A highlight of music at the church was a "pickup choir" directed each Christmas by Mrs. J. B. Watt. She was enthused over music suitable for the Birthday of our Lord. Her favored phrase for bringing out the best from the participants was, "make this a part of your innermost feeling for this season." Mrs. W. W. McGinn served as pianist for the group.
The Special Christmas Music was always esteemed. The choir used homemade white robes. Paul and Louise Cathey decorated the church to perfection with candles. But even the best laid plans go amiss on occasion. At one time Baxter Wilson and his robe got too close to the candles and set fire to his robe. For a short period dancing was added to the performance. At another Christmas music program Sam Whiteside parked his car near the eave of the church. The music swelled, snow on the roof began to melt, releasing a great pile of snow and ice on to the top of his touring car and resulted in a collapsed roof.
Shortly after the Reverend Cooper arrived, I. H. Freeman and E. B. Byrum resigned from the Music Committee. R. C. Freeman's
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post had not been filled following his passing a few years earlier. Those serving on the new Music Committee were R. W. Daven- port, Mrs. Ruth Hunter, Mrs. Dorothy Boyles, R. F. Freeman, Miss Ann Bigham and Mack Brown. This committee arranged to bring Thomas Hibbard of Queens College in as Choir Director in March, 1950. B. J. Brown continued as organist. Mr. Hibbard insisted the new choir loft be constructed so that the director would not be visible to the congregation. This was quite a change from the day of the "leader" when he stood well in front of the choir.
Mr. Hibbard left in the fall of 1950 and was followed by Lindsay Merrill, a violin teacher from Queens College. He had perfect pitch. Choir practice became a hassle since tone quality and perfect pitch had not been stressed in the past. The number in the choir dwindled because their input had been challenged, but most soon recognized they had been responsible for the pitch failing.
In the fall of 1953, the Merrills left Queens College which made them no longer available for part-time service at Steele Creek. Donald Plott of Davidson College became the new choir director and Mrs. R. F. Bigham became director of the youth choirs. Mr. Plott continues to serve us well.
The congregation has been well served by a number of leaders working with our youth choirs. In 1950 Mrs. E. Lindsay Merrill became leader of these choirs. Miss Helen Carr, who later became Mrs. Richard F. Bigham, came in 1953 to take charge of our youth choir. In 1957 Miss Nancy Eagle was employed for this position. In 1967 Mrs. W. C. Horton, the former Ginger Brown, daughter of Leo L. Brown, a former member of this church, helped with the instruction of the youth and children's choirs. Mrs. Richard F. Bigham throughout the years has been interested in this work and has served beyond the call of duty. She has recently resigned, and Mrs. Glenna Shepherd has been engaged to take over this impor- tant duty to train our children and youth in the singing of important hymns of the church and in the appreciation of good
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music in general.
After twenty-five years the old Hammond organ gave out. It was replaced. The new Allen organ was dedicated on February 5, 1961, in memory of the Reverend and Mrs. J. M. Walker, long time faithful servants to our church. Plans have been made (1976) to replace the electric organ with a pipe organ.
Steele Creek was widely known over many years for its Band as already pointed out.
Congregational singing continues as an integral part of the church. The Reverend Cooper had a dream one night that the people were kicking him out as pastor because he had made a remark one Sunday to the congregation that they couldn't sing. In spite of what had been a dreadful nightmare for a pastor, the church still enjoys excellent music under outstanding leadership - Donald Plott, Director, Mrs. Glenna Shepherd, Director of Youth Choirs and John Fair at the organ.
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CHAPTER X Steele Creek Burial Grounds
Neither the time when Steele Creek Cemetery became a designated burial ground nor the date of the first interment are known to us. Historians tell us that it was customary among those of Scotch-Irish descent to establish a burial ground almost simul- taneously with the organization of a church. The story passed through generations at Steele Creek holds the first person buried here was a stranger who, passing through the country on a nearby trail, was thrown from his horse against a tree and killed. This grave is without a name or a date. Recently the church placed a marker on his grave, for the place of burial has always been known. How long it was following this burial before the first marked grave was dug, we do not know. The oldest marked grave bears the date 1763.
No matter when the burial ground was opened, there is living history written in the moss covered stones of Steele Creek and numerous other cemeteries of the early churches of the South. These cities of the dead are densely studded with gravestones, alike memorials to the dead, and tributes of respect from the living. They are usually enclosed with rock walls, the most lasting and available material at the time. Within these walls are headstones, mostly standing upright, with short inscriptions, nothing eulogistic, no Biblical quotations - only the name, age, and date of death - nothing more. On many of these stones, above the inscription, can be seen a face with a wing coming out each side, a family coat of arms, eighteen different ones in Steele
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Creek, or a note that the deceased came from Scotland or Ireland. These emblems, no doubt, were brought over from the English graveyards where the face and wings were the ancient symbols of immortality. The author of Mary Powell and Household of Sir Thomas Moore attest that graveyards of England used the face and wings as a symbol of immortality.
The early stone markers were from soap-stone, old stones of marble, or hand hewn stones from some nearby quarry. The earliest stones of Steele Creek were of soap-stone. For most of these stones, time and weather have not dimmed their message, but others are almost impossible to read.
The very first burial grounds of this and other areas of the South were, of course, plots set aside by the family on the farms or plantations. Not until churches were built were there common burial grounds. Seventeen family burial plots have been identified near old farm homes in Mecklenburg County. The stones with inscriptions have been tabulated into a booklet. These plots, neglected for many years, are covered with trees and weeds. To name a few; there is the Dinkin Cemetery on Nations Ford Road in a wooded area in a pasture; the Polk Cemetery along the water-line right-of-way from Pineville to Arrowood; and the grave of Ezra Alexander, a signer of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. Another family plot along the same water-line holds the grave of George White Smartt who served in the House of Representatives of North Carolina for twelve years. At Rocky Creek, near Mint Hill church, is the grave of Captain Adam Alexander, another signer of the Declaration of Independence. The Davidson family plot, near Davidson, North Carolina, is still used by the family and is beautifully kept.
As a general rule, we believe the monuments in a burial ground may be considered as a fair index of the former social and worldly equality or differences among the dead, as the style of houses among the living. Wherever are found costly and elegant mansions
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for the living, one usually finds proud monuments or towering obelisks rising aloft to mark the graves of the mighty dead. Do away with the idea of nobility of birth, or pride of wealth among the living, and you will bring down everything to the same plebian level among the monuments of the dead. The uniformity of headstones at Steele Creek attest to the similarity of social and economic status in the community.
The original fence for Steele Creek Cemetery was one of wooden rails. Cattle had free range at that time; therefore, a fence was needed for protection. A wall of stone with an iron gate later replaced the rails. The third and present fence is of stones more than one foot thick at the top; it slopes to four feet at the bottom with the rocks cemented together.
Those interested in genealogical records will find in the oldest section of the cemetery names of many old families who had formed the band of immigrants: Allen, Bigham, Davis, Grier, Hart, Herron, McDowell, Neely, Porter, Sloan, Tagart and Vance. Also in this old section lie thirteen soldiers of the Revolution: General Robert Irwin, Captain Hugh Parks, Admiral Robert McLeary, the Reverend Humphrey Hunter, Henry Neel, Robert Bigham, John Bigham, Walter Davis, Joseph Davis, Thomas Grier, John McDowell, William McKinley and Robert Watson.
Found in the oldest section of the cemetery are the graves of perhaps the most distinguished Revolutionary heroines of Mecklenburg County. Their stories bear repeating at this time, for it is indeed unusual to have two notable heroines buried close together.
The first story concerns Eleanor Wilson, Robert Wilson's wife, whose "back talk" to General Cornwallis of the British Army is responsible for this section of the state being known as "the hornets' nest". The story goes that General Cornwallis and Colonel Tarleton were on their way from Camden, South Carolina, and stopped at the Robert Wilson home in Steele Creek
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for the night. Robert Wilson, brother of Zaccheus, was the father of six sons who were in prison at Camden. Eleanor was forced to be hostess to the enemy for the night. As they were leaving the following morning, the British General suggested that she use her influence on her husband and sons to join the British troops against the Patriots, promising them rapid promotion if they did this. Looking Cornwallis in the eye, Eleanor Wilson said, "Before I would see them desert the cause of American freedom, I would take this boy (pointing to her youngest son) and my old musket and enlist in Sumter's Army and show the men folk how to shoot." "Ah," Colonel Tarleton interrupted, "I think we have gotten into a hornet's nest."1
The second story gives the account of Jane Parks McDowell's encounter with some British soldiers under the command of a Captain McDowell, who had stopped at the McDowell home in the Steele Creek community. The following conversation ensued:
"It is the fortune of war," said Captain McDowell of the Army of His Majesty George III, while plundering this man's house in a foraging party, during the brief sojourn of General Cornwallis in Charlotte in the year 1780.
"Is it soldier-like to plunder a helpless family and leave us nothing?" said the wife and mother.
"But, Madam, we must have something to eat, and these rebels won't bring it in."
"And have you no women and children at home?"
"What is your name, Madam?"
"McDowell is our name."
"McDowell! That is my name. Where are you from?"
"Our family came from Scotland, sir."
"Aye! And very likely then ye are kin of mine; I have some here in America." Calling in his men, saying they had gotten enough from that house, he added, "An' likely ye have some 1. Wheeler, ibid, p.
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of your family amongst the rebels; but it is the fortune of war. Goodby! It is the fortune of war."2
Some interesting inscriptions on the stones of the oldest section of the cemetery are a joy to the ancestor hunter. Some follow:
"Sacred to the memory of John McDowell who departed this life July 30, 1795, age 52 years, an acceptable character in whose death, whose family, whose neighborhood, his saving church sustain a loss."
"In memory of Margaret Gilmor who died March 30, 1805. A good economist through life. In all respects was she a tender mother, virtuous wife, deceased three score and three."
"In memory of Thomas Grier, son of James and Margaret Grier, who died January 25, 1828, in the 84th year of his age. He was twice married, first to Hannah Alexander, by whom he had four children namely, Margaret, who married Samuel Neel; Alexander, James and Thomas. His second wife was Susannah Spratt."
"In memory of Susannah Grier, who died July 4, 1853, in the 84th year of her age. She was the daughter of James and Catherine Spratt and the second wife of Thomas Grier, deceased, by whom she had nine children, namely, Hannah, John S., Samuel, Andrew, Catherine, Mary, William, Zenas, and Susan."
In the old section are found many graves of children, indicating that infant mortality was high in the early years. The following very somber inscription appears on one:
"Stop careless youth and read and as you read consider soon the worm may feed on you and I together."
Others of these stones inscriptions were interesting. The head stone of Jane Irwin, who died in 1827 states that she was twice a widow: The inscription to John Lee goes into all the particulars. 2. Foote, Sketches of North Carolina; p. 417-418
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"To the memory of John Lee, who after a fatal illness of five days died on the 22nd day of December, 1813, age 19 years. He died on the way to Charleston, South Carolina, five miles above Monks Corner. His tender and affectionate father had the corpse put in a coffin and brought home and buried here on the 8th day after he died. He had left his mother, brothers and sisters with the wish to see Charleston but was stopped short of his expectations and brought home a corpse."
When the Civil War was declared, 240 men of Steele Creek enlisted. Of these 101 are buried in Steele Creek Cemetery.
Many people write for information about their forebearers. In 1953, Mrs. R. E. McDowell and her Sunday School class under- took the first complete tabulation of names from the tombs. A listing was published for ease in locating graves. At that time there were 1,874 stones. Many more graves were there but could not be identified because of missing stones. A listing of those identified as resting at Steele Creek 1763-1977 is a part of this book.
Many family names appearing on stones erected as far back as 1763 remain among the congregation in 1976, such as Berryhill, Bigham, Cathey, Clark, Freeman, Grier, Herron, Knox, Mitchell, McDowell, Neel, Neely, Porter, Price, Sloan, Spratt, Stilwell, Whiteside and Wilson. Some of these families span seven genera- tions of church membership, while other names found on some of those early stones have passed out of Steele Creek records. Among these are Calhoun, Carothers, Carruth, Cheek, Ferguson, Fogarte, Garner, Gill, Gilmore, Gracey, Iler, Irwin, Lee, McCrum, McKin- ley, McLeary, Stinson, Swann, Thomas, Vance, Verner and Youree. Many of these families emigrated to Tennessee when that frontier opened. The government was unable to pay for service rendered during the Revolutionary War. Land was offered in Tennessee to returning veterans as pay for service. After a time in Tennessee some emigrated farther west. Another reason for the exodus from
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Steele Creek was a malaria epidemic that swept through this section of North Carolina about the year 1800. As a result, many families left. A fact claimed by local historians but not of general acceptance is that William McKinley, 1742-1813, who rests here is the ancestor of President Mckinley.
In the "Historical Sketch" prepared by R. A. Grier in 1935 the cemetery is described thusly: "The cemetery is made up of four sections; the eastern quarter, the old original burying ground; the western quarter, commonly called the 'new', opened in 1840; the middle half made by joining the old and new in 1884; and the addition on the north side in 1910." We are uncertain of the acreage included in the original cemetery, but it was not likely large because by the 1830's it was noted that it was filling up. About 1837, John W. Herron, who owned adjoining property, made a gift of three acres for the expansion of the cemetery. At that time the total acreage owned by the congregation was given as sixteen acres. The records also note that the first grave in this new section was that of Mrs. Deborah C. Cox, wife of Samuel Cox, who was buried June 23, 1840. The records also note that during the summer, fall, and winter of 1884 the graveyard was enlarged by including the space between the two old graveyards at a cost of $325. (This is space probably occupied previously by one of the church sanctuaries.) On January 4, 1939, the congregation ap- proved the purchase of sixteen and one-half acres of land adjoining the cemetery for the purpose of extending the bounds of the cemetery. The cost of the land was given as $1,200.
The stone wall surrounding the cemetery at the present time was built in 1912. The contract for this work was given to P. D. Price, a member. The wall enclosure is 400 feet by 600 feet.
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