USA > South Carolina > History of the Presbyterian Church in South Carolina, Vol. II pt 2 > Part 7
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APPENDIX TO THE THIRD DECADE.
[1820-1830.
( For The Southern Presbyterian.)
INDIAN MISSIONS OF THE SYNOD OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND GEORGIA.
LETTER VII.
PONTOTOC, MISS., Sept. 7, 1861.
DEAR BROTHER : In my last I mentioned the name of Malcolm McGee, whom yon doubtless recollect as the interpreter in our council with the Indians. He favored our cause on that day, and was ever afterward the fast friend of the Mission. His history being a little remarkable, I shall devote this letter to him. Having no education, and no record of his age, he did not know how old he was. He was born in the city of New York, his father having been killed some months before in the battle of Ticonderoga. While he was quite small, his mother joined a colony formed in New York for the purpose of making a settlement iu the territory of Illinois. The party eame round by water to New Or- leans, and ascending the Mississippi, and some distance up the Ohio, made their first landing on the north bank, at the mouth of a small stream, where they built a fort, called Fort Massac. Not long afterwards an agent of the British Government, by the name of McIntosh, residing in this country, visited the fort on business, and while there prevailed with his mother to bind Malcolm with him until he was 21 years of age, promising on his part to have him taught t > read and write, and cipher as far as " the rule of three." In dne time lie was sent t.) Mobile, then a small Spanish town, to obtain his education. Being placed in a French family, who made a servant of him instead of sending him to school, he embraced the first opportunity of a company of Chickasaw traders, and returned to the nation. From this time he broke off all connection with McIntosh, and set up for himself. He assumed the Indian costume and conformed to all their customs except their polygamy. By the time he arrived at manhood he had acquired such a correct knowledge of the Indian language that he was made Govern- ment Interpreter, which office he held more than forty years. In this capacity he once went with a deputation of Indians to Philadelphia, in General Washington's time, and while the American Congress held its sessions in that city. After the establishment of Washington as the seat of government, he was frequently there ; was present when General Washington delivered his Farewell Address, and often referred to it in after life. When he first came into the country, the whole tribe lived in one town for mutual defence and security. This is in the immediate neighborhood of George Colbert's, where we spent our first Sabbath in the Chickasaw nation. I have frequently passed through it. For many years it was called the " Chickasaw old fields." It was several miles in extent. They subsisted almost entirely by the chase Having no im- plements of husbandry, they conld not cultivate the soil The first mattock ever brought into the country was given by General Washing- ton to George Colbert, who packed it on his pony a distance of 1,200 miles. There was not a cow belonging to the tribe, and very few hogs or horses. To induce them to scatter out into the surrounding country and turn their attention to agriculture. MeIntosh removed and settled at Tockshish, where our council was held. About this time he married the mother of Maj. Jas. Colbert, who lived to a great age, and died in the summer of 1822. After the revolution, the management of the
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APPENDIX TO THE THIRD DECADE.
1820-1830.]
Indians having passed into the hands of the United States, McGee married an Indian woman and settled in the neighborhood of the Agency, where we first saw him in 1820. In a few years he acquired considerable property. The first siave he owned was purchased from General Jackson in 1792 for four hundred hard dollars. In 1820 he had over thirty, and a large stock of cattle. The first summer after I com- menced operations at Monroe, he made the first movement in getting up a subscription of milk cattle for the use of the station ; the result of which was eighteen cows and calves, four of which came from his own pen. This gave me such a start that I was never afterwards under the necessity of purchasing any cattle excepting a few for beef. He also gave us a commencement of a stock of sheep. The woman with whom he was living in 1820, and who was mother of the child before referred to, was his second wife. On my return to the nation, in the early part of 1821, she had separated from him, taking the child with her. But after a few years she gave it up, that it might be placed in my family to be educated. Having no family at home, and being much attached to his little daughter, he spent much of his time at the Station. He took a deep interest in the school, and was much pleased with the pro- gress of the children. He was confiding to a fault Did propriety adniit, I could give quite a history of the process by which he was swindled ont of all his property by persons professing to be his friends. Soon after my return from Carolina with my family, in the fall of 1830, having been absent a year and a half, recruiting my health, he came to make us a visit, and the pony he rode was the only property he had in the world. He had been induced to remove to Tennessee Valley within the limits of Alabama, and in less than two years came back benniless. I could not do otherwise than offer him a home, which he readily accepted. In a few years his daughter married, very young, efter which he lived with his son in-law until the Indians emi grated west, in 1837.' Not being inclined to go with them, he came back to my house. By the treaty of 24th of May, 1834, he was allowed section of land (640 acres) as a reserve, including the place on which ie had formerly lived. This I sold for $5,000, the interest of which upported him comfortably while he lived. In the winter of 1848 his laughter and son-in-law. being her second husband, made him a visit. nd on their return he concluded to accompany them to their distant iome in the West, where he died on the fifth day of the following November, being, as I suppose, in the 89th year of his age While over here in 1856, I visited his lonely grave, not without some melancholy feelings and sad reflections; and but little realizing how soon his aughter was to be laid by his side. He never made a profession of eligion. His mind was often deeply exercised on the subject, and he ade many efforts to enter into the kingdom in his own strength. ave often found him at prayer in his room, but he was always deficient h a correct sense of the evil of sin. and never would admit the justice f God in his eternal condemnation. He built too much upon his own
ghteousness. I hold him in grateful remembrance for his interest in he mission, and his unwavering attachment to me individually. Peace e to his memory. Some years after his death, a gentleman in New ork city wrote to me for his likeness and a short account of his life, r publication in his "American Biography." How he ever heard of m I know not I furnished him the history, but have never known hat use he made of it. The likeness I could not send, not having any, circumstance which I have always very much regretted. I may add,
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APPENDIX TO THE THIRD DECADE.
[1820-1830.
as an interesting fact, a grandson of his is now in the Confederate army in Virginia. He was sent by his guardians, Governor Harris and James Gamble, into Tennessee to school There, with about forty of his fellow-students, he volunteered, and may have been in the great battle of Manassas Plains. I have written to the principal of the School, in. quiring for him, but have not yet received an answer.
Yours, as ever, T. C STUART.
(For The Southern Presbyterian.) INDIAN MISSIONS OF THE SYNOD OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND GEORGIA.
LETTER VIII.
PONTOTOC, MISS., Sept. 16, 1861.
DEAR BROTHER: You wished to know something of the trials and privations of missionary life. These are always greatest in the com- mencement of the enterprise To form a settlement in the midst of a heathen people, far removed from civilized and Christian Society, is a work of no small magnitude. In my case there were circumstances which were calculated to increase the difficulties. I was alone, I had no associate with whom I could take counsel, or who could sympathize with me in my trials. I well remember how much I was tried, not only by the indifference, but suspicion of the Indians. They had no confidence in the success of the undertaking, and were not without doubts as to the honesty of my intentions. This feeling was doubtless increased by the failure of a similar enterprise some twenty-five years before. A mission was sent out by a Congregational Association in New York. The superintendent of this mission, the Rev. Mr. Bullen, was esteemed a pious, good man, but the Association was unfortunate in their selection of men to accompany him. Through the misconduct of these the mission was broken up in a few years Mr. Bullen removed to the neighborhood of Natchez, where he joined our body, and lived and died a useful man. The only visible effect of his labors I ever discovered, was some sort of observance of the Sabbath day. Previous to this, no such day was known. The Indians required their servants to labor every day. Through his exertions a change was effected, but when I came into the country, the negroes employed the day in work- ing for themselves. I ought to say Brother Bullen had no interpreter, and hence his labors were confined principally to the colored popula- tion and the few white men among the Indians. It is not irrelevant to notice, that soon after my arrival I learned that there was a hogshead of Bibles and Testaments lying in an old warehouse at Chickasaw Bluff's, the history of which was lost, but supposed to be designed for Mr. Bullen's mission. Before opening my school I sent for them, but found they were not worth the transportation. The paper, binding and print, were very indifferent, and the books nearly destroyed by worms and moths. There was no document or record by which I could ascertain the point from which they came, or the place of their desti- nation. They were published by "The Philadelphia Bible Society," but I have no recollection of their date, if they had any. But to return from this digression.
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APPENDIX TO THE THIRD DECADE.
[1820-1830.
In a few years we succeeded in gaining the confidence of the Indians and removing their suspicions, but then another source of trial was their ingratitude. With a very few exceptions, they were universally an ungrateful people. Let me give you one instance. Very soon after I came to Monroe, while I was yet living in a camp, an Indian arrived one morning early, bringing an interpreter with him. He was very much alarmed, and declared unless I could do something for hin, he must die, at the same time showing me several severe wounds on his breast and arms, inflicted by his own dog at camp a few nights before. After shooting the dog, he saddled his pony and rode day and night until he reached my camp. Taking it as certain that the dog was mad, and considering his case hopeless, I frankly told him I thought he would die and declined doing anything for him, assigning as a reason the superstition of the Indians that "the white man's physic killed him," and under the operation of the law of retaliation my own life would be endangered. He very earnestly assured me I was in no danger; that the Indians all knew the effect of hydrophobia, and his friends, as well as himself, believed his case a bad one. I then supplied him with a solution of corrosive sublimate and mercurial ointment, giving him instructions how to use them and when to stop. The result was he got well. and I had the credit of curing him ; but I never saw him from that day to this. Although we boarded, clothed and edi- cated their children gratuitonsly, we paid them full value for every article of provisions obtained from them, and when travelling among them, we were always charged for our accommodations.
The want of mail accommodations was a great privation. For many years there had been a regular mail from Nashville to Natchez, passing through the Indian country, but soon after I came it was removed to the Military road, and then our nearest postoffice was Columbus, sixty- five miles distant. The Government agent was authorized to hire an express once a month, and through him we received our mails regu- arly. In a few years a postoffice was established at Cotton Gin Port, within a day's ride, which was quite an advance in the right direction, It was not long until we had a weekly mail to the agency, when onr nail arrangements were considered complete. In this connection let me say the only time during all my missionary life, when my life was n jeopardy, was in a trip to Columbus, after the mail. I reached a reek of some size in the midst of a terrible storm, and found it swin- ning. Being already thoroughly drenched, I determined to attempt o swim through. There being a raft of timber just below the ford, I vent up a few paces and plunged in, aiming to swim diagonally across ind would have succeeded but for a pole which was concealed under he water. Striking this about the middle of the stream, the horse urned across and reached the shore at a place where the bank was so high and steep that it was impossible to ascend it. Now was my lilemma, and now for a few moments I seriously believed there was out a step between me and a watery grave. Committing myself into he hands of the Lord, I threw myself into the water and swam back. .Il a moment after the horse sank, and rising below the log, came out on the same side, and to iny great mortification ran off and left me. It vas eight miles to the first house, which I finally reached, very much xhausted, but thankful that my life was spared.
Our fare for many years was of the plainest and coarsest kind. We had plenty of the necessaries of life, but few of its comforts. Once for whole year we had no flour about the place. Coffee could be had only
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446
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CHARLESTON. [1830-1840.
at the most exorbitant prices. The first I obtained from Mobile cost thirty-five cents a pound by the sack, and the freight to Columbus, by keel boat, was $5.00. I have paid as high as fifty cents a pound in Cot- ton Gin Port. Consequently we used but little, taking it but once a day and always mixed with rye. We once had a barrel of parched rye sent to us from Boston, which was considered a great treat By the way, after a lapse of between thirty-five and forty years I am reduced to the same regimen as a matter of necessity and economy. I console myself that I am better prepared than most others for this self-denial, having had a thorough training for a long course of years during my missionary life. Our table furniture was in good keeping with our fare. Before opening the boarding school, Dr. Henry sent us an ample supply of pewter plates, iron spoons, knives and forks, and various other articles. We sent to Florence, Alabama. a distance of 125 miles, for ten dishes, cups and small pans, from which, with an iron spoon, we took our coffee, milk, soup and tam-ful-lah .* After all, I doubt whether our trials and privations were much greater than those of many who per- form long journeys to newly settled countries, that they may improve their worldly circumstances.
In my next I shall speak of the manners, customs, wars, traditions, etc., of the Chickasaws.
Yours, as ever,
T. C. STUART.
BOOK FOURTH.
1830-1840.
CHAPTER I.
THE INDEPENDENT OR CONGREGATIONAL (CIRCULAR) CHURCH . IN CHARLESTON, continued to be served by the Rev. Dr. Palmer, as its sole pastor until his feeble health compelled him to resign his pastoral charge and place himself on the foundation for dis- abled clergymen. The preparation of two public discourses for the pulpit, instead of one, as formerly, devolved upon him, in addition to which, he voluntarily assumed the labor of preaching or lecturing a third time on the Sabbath, as well as every Wednesday evening. These additional services, though not performed in the large place of worship, but in a building of moderate dimensions, contributed, together with other bur- dens, spontaneously sustained by the pastor, in forming, promoting, patronizing, and attending the various institutions for the spread of the Gospel, which have multiplied during the last twenty years, to exhaust his energies so materially as to
*This is an Indian diet made of small hominy, well boiled, with the additon of a little lye. While new it is sweet, but after fermentation becomes sour. in which state the Indians like it best.
447
DR. POST.
1830-1840.]
render his absence from his charge for the purpose of re- cruiting his health, during the latter eight or nine years of his incumbency, of such frequent occurrence as to occasion a decline in the prosperity which marked the affairs of the church as long as his health was comparatively vigorous. After two attempts at resigning his office, which he was induced to recall from the strong reluctance expressed by the congregation at the proposed dissolution of his pastoral con- nection, he finally believed it a duty he owed to himself and his church to dissolve a union of more than twenty years' standing, and accordingly took an affectionate leave of an affectionate people, in July, 1835, and was succeeded by the Rev. Reuben Post, D. D., pastor of the Presbyterian Church In Washington, District of Columbia, who, having accepted the charge of the church, commenced his labors in February, 1836.
[The Rev. Reuben Post was born in the town of Cornwall, hear Middlebury, in the State of Vermont, on the 17th day of January, A. D. 1792. He graduated at Middlebury College, Vermont, in 1814, of which the Rev. Henry Davis, D. D., vas then President. He studied divinity at the Theological Seminary, at . Princeton, New Jersey, under the Rev. Archi- bald Alexander, D. D., and the Rev. Samuel Miller, D. D. He was ordained in Washington City, in June or July, 1819, ind immediately installed in the Presbyterian Church of that ity, where he continued to officiate in the midst of an Attached congregation until in February, 1836, he was installed n the Circular Church at Charleston.]
This church and congregation has always been active and nergetic in efforts to promote the general good of society nd the Church at large. The ladies of the church have been ealously engaged from early times in every good work. Their prayers and their alms have gone up as a memorial efore God. Their Thursday morning prayer meetings which vere originated in June, 1835, at the house of Mr. Stevens, and een in existence for almost half a century if still kept up, as been attended with blessed results. And who can tell the lessed results of the Tuesday afternoon meeting originated 1 1817 at the house of the Rev. Edward Palmer, and in the chool room of Mrs. Palmer. Of their efforts made in ad- ancing the cause of ministerial education by sustaining orthy young men in their studies while preparing for the
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EFFORTS OF THE CHURCH .- WAPPETAW. [1830-1840.
work, a more fitting and ample statement may be made in the next decade, if we shall be permitted to pass their labors under review.
The Sabbath-school received a due share of their attention. " Three years before the American Sunday-school Union saw the light, but not before Mission-schools had sprung up in Philadelphia," says the Southern Presbyterian, "the South Carolina Sunday-school Union was formed. It was born of the first Sunday-school which sprang up under the auspices of the Circular Church, began its career in the pastor's study on the eastern edge of the city, and was promoted to a car- riage house near the First Presbyterian Church."
"THE CONGREGATION OF WAPPETAW, IN THE PARISH OF CHRIST CHURCH."-This church was served probably by Rev. Geo. Reid. He was dismissed from Charleston Union Presby- tery November 8, 1831, to the Presbytery of Harmony, but did not send his letter and was not received as a member till the 9th of November, 1832. Rev. James Lewers, a native of Ireland, succeeded him. He was received by the Charleston Union Presbytery as a licentiate of the Presbytery of Nor- thumberland, Pa., on the 4th of April, 1832. Charleston Union Presbytery met at Wappetaw Church on the 20th of April, 1834, when Mr. Lewers was ordained and installed as pastor of that church, Dr. Palmer preaching the ordination sermon from Prov. xi., 30. Mr. Gildersleeve presided, pro- posed the constitutional questions, offered the ordaining prayer and gave the charge to the pastor, and was followed by Dr. Leland, with a charge to the people. Mr. Lewers was regarded as an able preacher. On the 21st of August, 1837, Mr. Lewers was dismissed to the Presbytery of Harmony, a call having been received from the Williamsburg Church for his pastoral labors. He was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Dupre, who is said to be a minister of the Methodist Church, and still living in 1876, at McLellandville, " a pure man of whom the world is not worthy, and now, in very old age, loved as a father through that whole country." [Letter of Rev. J. F. Leeper, August 6, 1876.]
Mr. DuPre could only have served the church and congre- gation as a supply, for being of another denomination, neither Presbyterian nor Congregational, the pastoral relation could not have been regularly constituted. Nor does it appear that he was the constant supply of the pulpit, since others, as Dr.
449
REV. JAMES LEWERS.
1830-1840.]
Palmer, frequently ministered to it. But he was responsible that the church should not be closed, nor its regular services be interrupted. Mr. DuPre's ministry, according to the in- formation we have received, continued till 1841 or 1842. It further appears that Mr. James Lewers did not accept the call to the Williamsburg Church, nor present his letter of dis- mission to Harmony Presbytery, but on the 20th of Novem- ber, 1839, sought instead, a letter of dismission to the Presby- tery of South Carolina where he then was. He was received by this Presbytery from the Presbytery of Charleston Union, and continued a member of the same until October the 8th, 841, when he was dismissed from the Presbytery of South Carolina to the Presbytery of Newton, New Jersey.
" The Rev. James Lewers was born, says the Rev. Dr. Schenck, "at Castle Blayney, County Monaghan, Ireland, Aug. 30, 1806; was son of William and Susannah (Dixon) ewers. Received his classical education first in the Academy f Mr. Ryan at Monaghan, and subsequently with a Mr. Rodgers at a classical school in the town of Castle Blayney. Vas graduated from Belfast College (then called " Belfast cademical Institution") A. D. 1826. First united on pro- ession with the Presbyterian Church at Frankford, near astle Blayney when about eighteen years of age. Was censed by Monaghan Presbytery, Ireland, March, 1827. ame to the United States in his twenty-first year. Married une-, 1849, Miss Jane Runkle Ingham, daughter of Jonathan gham, a farmer of Musconetcong Valley, near Asbury, War- in County, N. J. She died at Asbury, N. J., May 20, 1852. is mother also died at Asbury, N. J., and is buried there. He ed of inflammation of the bowels; date and place already given. is end was very peaceful and full of expressions of faith and pe in Christ. He wrote much poetry. Several fine speci- ens are printed in The Presbyterian, of Philadelphia. He as an eloquent speaker. He left one child, a daughter.
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF DORCHESTER AND BEECH ILL .- This church called a Rev. Alexander Forster as their stor, August 28th, 1830. The call was not accepted by m. He had, however, served them for a season, and received a compensation for these services $250. They next en- avored to secure the services of Rev. John B. Vandyke, io had been received as a member of the Charleston Union esbytery from the Second Presbytery of New York, as their 29
450
I. S. K. AXSON-STONEY CREEK. [1830-1840.
pastor, but without success. On the 20th of April they resolved to call Mr. Thomas Davis, but having received no reply from him, they rescinded their call December 5th, 1831. On the 25th of October, 1831, they requested of Mr. Palmer that he would allow the dedication sermon preached by him at Summerville to be printed. The Rev. Arthur Buist served them for six months or more in 1832, retaining, meanwhile, his residence in the city of Charleston. They then sought the services of Rev. Mr. Rogers for the summer. On the 12th of May, 1834, they called I. S. K. Axson, who had been recently licensed by the Charleston Union Presbytery, without any stipulation as to salary. Mr. Axson signified his willing- ness to accept the call on the 13th of September, and they voted him a salary of $600, a house at Summerville, the other parsonage, with the use of forty acres of land. On the 16th of July, 1835, Charleston Union Presbytery met at Summer- ville, was opened with a sermon by Rev. Mr. Gildersleeve, from Eph. 3 : 19. Mr. Axson passed the usual trials, and was ordained and set apart to the work of the ministry by the imposition of hands, Rev. B. Gildersleeve preaching the sermon, Rev. J. A. Mitchell, the Moderator, presiding and offering the prayer. A suitable charge was then given to the pastor by Rev. J. F. Lanneau, and by Rev. Edward Palmer to the people. Mr. Axson remained in this pastorate till the spring of 1836, when he removed to Liberty County, Ga. He was dismissed from the Presbytery of Charleston Union to the Presbytery of Georgia, April 4, 1837. June 12, 1836, they invited the Rev. Mr. Rogers for the summer. November 7th of the same year they extended an invitation to the Rev. John A. Mitchell to supply them, and on the 8th of July 1838, they again made arrangements to pay Mr. Rogers for his services for the summer. It seems, therefore, that they had the services only of temporary supplies. after the departure of Dr. Axson till the close of this decade.
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