Newspapers / The Western Sentinel (Winston-Salem, … / July 11, 1876, edition 1 / Page 1
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! VOL. f t rso. as. L.V. & E. T. DLUr.19 PUBLISHERS AUS PROPRIETORS. TBangt-Ain in advance. Qne copy, one year................ ............. ..$2 00 .' V sixnionths,, .................... 1 00 " three mouths, ; ......... 75 UBEklAI. DISCOUNT TO CLUXXS. . " qkatiSn ; . r . PELIYERED JULY 1tH 1876, - AT SALEM, N. C, 0 BY nOBERT T. GHAT. I regret that the short notice I received has not left roe necessary time, oatsido tho engross ing engagements bf business, to pursuo my re searches into the history of Salem and Winston I to the extent I desired and. - perhaps, was ex pected : to do In: consideration ' of tho ample material which the founding and progress of Salem, at least affords, i - ( ; ' It lias, been my good fortune to have for ref erence the interesting volume entitled 'The Mo ravians in North Carolina," edited by Rev.L.T, Bcichel. It is as authentic a history as history can well bo made,-com posed as it is of acts gleaned from the "Memorabilia" of tho Church and tho diaries of individuals in which events were recorded at the timo of their occurrence and hence were fresh and accurately stated. '" J It is not the least among'the many admirable characteristics of Uie Moravian Church, that its authorities do aotentrust;tooniuch. if anyUung, to bo passed. down to posterity from the mouth of tradition. Tradition Ladies and Gentlemem : : It was with no little feeling of pride and - pleasure that I received and accepted your in- vitation to revisit tho scene of my childhood and early youth, to look into the familiar faces i of tried and clieri&hed friends, and to celebrate r with Ute people of the two towns, to which I ant so warmly and cordially attaclicd,a day so mem orable in the history of America's freedom and progress. I say it was with a feeling of pride tliat I received your invitation ; for, to one who lias broken the ties tlint bound him to his 1 ionic, and has gone ainHl strangers to fight life's battle, there is nothing so grateful or so pride-inspiring as to receive substantial testimonials of the aSecUucvJ regard and confidence of those who are deemed to know him best. And while I cannot lose sight of the fact that there are those 74a-yor. midst who would, perhaps, have more fully met tho demands of this occasion, still I ij.rauiuon preserves events rea sonably well at least, tho outlines of events, btit facts, beepjllstorted. discolored wnd sam- times aro so cliangcd after passing through tho mouths of three or four generations, that it is almost impossible to deter nai no Uie guaran tee of truth or falsehood that a legend contains. The descent of a marauder upon the flocks of a province' becomes, after1 the story has passed through : tho iniagiiuitUins and lips of two or three generatums, ,llo 'vicUuious campaign of an army of Iicrocs 5 and an insignificant brawl between two rival swains for the affections habits, sterling woith, industry, honor and de votion to their church and religion t Count Yon Zinzendorff, great grand-father of Bt. Rev. E. A. DeSchweinitz, of Salem, was , eonfirmed after Uie Revolution-by special act of the Legislature of North Carolina. There have been no leases created in Salem for about 20 years and tho number of thoso in oxistence the generous nobleman "who succored the op- i U being rapidly diminished as property changes pressed refugees from Moravia. fDcnyingbim-1 uands by death or sales self Uio distinction which employment in mat ters of state might liave secured, to him, and foregoing the life of case nnd luxury which his ample fortune and high rank would liave ena bled him to pursue, ho espoused tho religion of those whoso liberal patron he had become, de voted his fortune to religious uses, becamo a minister and afterwards a Bishop in the Church, suffered exile for a time in its cause, and spent m.ueh of his titno and zeal in tho establishment of colonies of Brethren. Tito colony at Betli- lchcm. Pa., was established under his supervi sion, during his .first visit to America in 1741. A few years subsequently he planned the found ing of a colony in North Carolina for the pur pose of reaching and christianizing the South ern Indians. Bishop Spangcnbcrg was deput ed to reconnoitre tho trackless wilds nnd Jo se lect a track of 100, for tho proposed colony. In the winter of 1752-1763, a spot was selected and a survey made by tho surveyor L general bf Lord Granville, pne of the lord pro- rietors of North Carolina, the only one who declined to surremlcr , his possessions' to the Crown. In August 1753 deeds were made to James Hutton, of London in trust for; the 7m- .?l las Fratrum. Tho county was then Rowan, of but by subdivision it lias lcn"successfuTly Snr- a girl, becomes,' after centuries liave passed and j ry. Stokes and now Forsyth. On Oct. 8th, 1753, under the witching tones of Homer's harp, tlio gigantic Trogian war. ' " ' Distrusting tradition, tlicreforc, and in pur suance of their love 4 order and accuracy, the Moravian congregations uniformly preserve! a record of the evonts occurring in their bounds affecting their interests, or exciting Uieir atten- cannot. on tbst-otber i band, r suppress tho emo- I pon m mm . . I W tious ol pruie ana pleasure which your flatter ing partiality has eToked in my bosom. At regularly recurring, periods tlie children of Israel were wont to gather at Jerusalem, and, iu the courts of nor magnificent temple, to com memorate tlieir deli very from Egyptian lion ti nge, to keep allvtt and fresh the traditions con THE MOUAVIAKS: OU UN IT AS FUATKUM. In ski.-tching Siik-ui it the least prominent and most interesting part of the j picture would be oniUtcd, were I to omit an account of the Moravians by wltom the town was established nnd is principally settled at present. - A history of Salem without a ketch of its foundcr,would a company of 12 single Brethren started from Beihlcheni, Pa., for North Carolina, and after a long and tedious journey reached on the 17th of November, 1753, tho spot whereon Bethabara, or Old Town, now stands. They found an un occupied cabin, and. though quite small, they determined to nse it for tlieir present purposes. That' one cabin, with a single room, receiving an addition of siicd-room some months after, constituted the town of Bethabara. and was occupied by the little colony and their visitors until 1754, the eoraer'-stone of another building Was Laid and in March following was complet ed and dedicated. In 1756 a grist mill was built as Well as a dwelling and meeting liouse. On May 11th, 17Cv tlio firt .ciaid s 1'hof in In earlier days all property was held by, and business conducted nnder the supervision of a Church Board, and through agents appointed by it. The Church was the capitalist and the hotel, store, tannery or other business was sub ject to its control. The agents received sala ries and a certain per centage of profits, the surplus going into tlie hurch' fund to bo ap plied to Church purposes, just as tlie "profits of the Academy and I And Office aro applied at present. The " Economy,'" a system somethi ng similar to that of tlie modern : Commune.' was never in vogue in Salem. In Herrnhiit, Beth lehem, and Bethatxira it was in voguo. for a time, but It was never observed hero, as I am told toy well-informed members of the Church in Salem. The monopoly system by which nil cre restrained from following certain occupa tions except by permission of tho Church an tltoritics was in vogue until 1849. ' : Prior to about ,1850 no persons were al lowed to teside in Salem, at least to bold pro perty, by lease or otherwise, except members of tlie Church,. The first exceptions made were in favor of Thos. J. Wilson and Henry A. Lcnily. In tho paso of the former, tlie Church Board, when it sold the tract of 51 acres to the county of Forsyth for arounty seat, required that tho lot bold by Mr. Wilson nnder' a lease. should be sold to him at a modcrato price. The municipal government of tlie town was also nnder the control of tho church ' and re mained so until 1857, when a disestablishment took place, and regular civil autliorityj was cs tablkhod and tlie management of tlie town af fairs passed into the control of a Mayor and Board of .Commissioners.' " I ' ' Consulting our oracle. Mr. Reiclicl's inter esting volume, and using in forum tion leathered from diverse persons, as well as some from tradition, I will refer briefly, -to some of tlie Memorabilia ot the town, pointing out a few of the early ccrninff tho sufferfnes and triuinohs of tlieir an- I like offering the playof Ilamlet with the part testers the long struggle with tlieir heatK & MloP.rjBPe of luinjirk lftft J am ;ul'lriisa:; I pc'thnfmra. and received the name of Anna Jo- tny goodness 6f tlieTroV- nudiencc of pMs)etmarityoe whom d -over and preserVeI I nrc perlutps,:as well acqnainteil with tiic'liis'-' lory of Salem and its founders as I am. The foes.nd to ceWbmte the idence that, had watched -over and 'priserVeI tliem as God's peculiar people. So tho Ameri can piwple of tc day, laying nsido and resting from the occupations of their daily .life, com memorate, the. (tilth of tlieir reMibii , n-hctirjte the story o the struggles of the men of 1776. review tltp 3 progress of jtheir institutions and jirutefnlly aeknowledgo tlie kindn'ss,, of tlie reat Ruler whose liand has guided ourjnation through Uie perils tliat environed its early be ginning and have, at almost every step, threat ened iU hurt and ruin. This is the. day of our American jubilee. ; In all parts of the, Union wherever liberty is appreciated and "patriotic impulses find a home, tlie event of a hundred years ago is upon the hearts and " tongues -of men. From the bleak coasts of Maine to tlie fiowery fields of Florida from the sounding Atlantic, 'over the rocky ridge, .to the mild Pa cific Shore, glad paeans burst from millious of hearts like the triumphant sImhiU of a victorious army. Tlie South answers to ' tlie North, tlie . West listens to the East and prolongs the swel ling strain ; tlie temphs of liberty aro crowded with lier devotees pressing to lier altars to jtour out; in Iter honor, Uie incense of their love and to renew the' vows of tlieir allegiance. : ' It is not simply a -beautiful 'sentiment that prompts Vpeople to observe such a tioliday as this is to tlie American people. Abovcand be yond Uie sentiment it contains, is the practical good that resnlts from such observances. From the commemoration of tho great epochs in Jew . Uh history and the celebration of tlieir festivals and years of Jubilee, .to which I have just re ferred, the Israelites went down from Jerusalem to thcr homes, strengUicned in Uteir individual- ity as a pcoj)le, afliimo widi . increased love for their nation, and ailmi ration for their - national history, cemented in their attachments as mem bers of a brottierhootl, ' enlightened concerning their laws and destiny, ami yielding a mote cheerful obedience to Uio peculiar laws and cus toms which ftrew out of and were necessary in view of ' their peculiar' situation as a nation. lwaUifiUimplyjl jejntiment w iUi Jheni... but a. wise fcAj.ureof their . Uieocnicy, a provision ; insertell)ySlrefr divine Rnler to insure' the strength and permanency of Uieir institutions. So also, with us, there is something more con . tained. iu Uio celebraUon of this and ' other national holidays Uian a sentiment a mere hlea'. -Tlie effects do not cease with Uie sliont ings which grow fainter arid fainter as Uiey die upon the overburdened air, nor are they forgot ten as soon as the notes of triumphant music, facts therefore,1 which I shall mention, may ap pear to ninny stale and commonplace ; bul to some they may "prove new and interesting, llowever, I trust,that to all the reproduction of thu facts mny lie like, thu introduction oC old friends who receive a welcome no less cordial because for years their faces have not been, seen or tlwir names recalled. In tracing ithc history of the Moravians or UniLis Fratnon, I discovered what I was latfore ignorant of ami wluit i. j)erlia)s, not generally known, that the Mora vi:ui Church is, in priority pftimejof j establishment, the JirstProlenUitU Church . n the .world. More Uian a hundred years before the great reformer , Martin Lother, had fail ly entered ujion the great work of his life and liad licgun to preach against the mon strous iniquities of the Romish Cliurch, . tlie abuse of its" power, and tlie ctrrujt practices of Its priests, bishops and poiel the flames of per secution and tyranny had wrapped themselves nlxKit an able, bold and pious reformer wlio hat I daretl to! preach the necessity of reform, and to invelgji against certain doctrines nnd abuses which had grown ' up in Um) Church of Rome. In the year 1415, Jolin Huss, of Bohe mia, perished at the stake, a martyr to his con victions still proclaiming his doctrines and de nouncing the iniquities of the Church, j His writings liaving been pronouncetl heretical, were piled about him ami suffered the fate of tlieir author. His adherents settled in Boiie mia'and Moravia, dwelling in 'separate commu nities, and undergoing Uie most cruel and per sistent jteroecution. Because of the tenacity with which tliey held to tlieir religious creeti, hey; were driven tp ""seek refuge in cares and solitary phices and hentw were calltnl Cave Dwellers," r Grubenheiincr. Confiilent that they were rigbt it would liave been cowardly to desert tlieir convictions ; and tlevotetl to their principles, they Were willing to sacrifice easer eonveuience,j:WoalUi, xisition and friends, in order to prove their fidelity and .retain inde- pendence and freedom of thought and action. Despite tho oppression from which they suffer ed, their unflinching fidelity to their principles apd the purity of their morals, elicited the pro fmind respectof many, and their "numlter rap idly increased. The chief a peculiarity of their creed was' the denial of tho doctrine of transub stantiation. Bu, in truUi, Uiey rciecteil tradi Uon generally, and 'based' their doctrines on what was revealed and written in Uie Bible., or the Words of the eulogist of Uie day pass out The1; ecclesiastical poity and Chnrch discipline resembleil elosely the primitive Ulinsttaii com munities to tho extent of prtcticalfy denying anyUung to bo secular; and under the impres sion Uiat religion sliould conscientiously pene trate and shape Uie life and conduct of men, Uiey extended ecclesiastical authority over tho details of domestic , lifo. They were conscien Uously opposed to bearing arms, and having on several occasions refused to engage in war, Uiey were deprived of religious privileges ' Yeisrs and centuries oassed. lersectitionswer6 endured, Uie BreUiren were scattererfeocieties lianna Krause. Tho numbepf cptonistswai inrcjscd by new arrivals and at tfie close or 1756 there Were at Bethabara 65 persous. I i Tlio settlement was fortified in 1756 by sur rounding it with palisades, as a protection against tho Indians,, and Itccame Uie refuge of fugitives from distant itarts of tlie country. It was known as the " Old Dutch Fort" and friend ly Indians stoke of it its ' the place w lie re there were good people and much bread." To accom modate the increasing colony. a new settlement was determined upon, and on tho 12th of June, 1759, a spot was selected 3 miles northwest of Betlialiara, to wliich the name of BeUiania war given. - i ' Mr. Rcichcl. in his history, gives many inter esting facts connected with the establishment of the two settlements, but I regret that I can not reproduce them in this connection, time ad monishing me to hasten on to the founding of Salem, the central settlement of the Moravians in North- Carolina. SALEM. more of reach of sense and memory, It results in an increased patriotism ' devoted loro of the history ami customs of our country, a higher interest in its prosperity and desUny. ' It causes us " tof look upon our couh try its one" and undivided, and to bury sectional prejudices in the completion, of the surpassing beauty nnd excellency of the stnicture which lus been, r reared by . common toil and danger and sacrifice. 1 .' j ' However much, Americans may be divided on questions r!2KtlI3erly. RpAmacy ; and sen- siU ve'as Cuf may be In matters relaUng to this j were broken np, and remnants wjerejeftin va- w armiy aoacneo-wtiie uepwaHs i erjnoTfbfatf eWnWr tolt--They may at Umes forget Uieir relaUonship and . contend as brothers should not, contend, but at tlio approach of a comman danger, Uie offer of a common insult, or the infliction of a common injury, party lines and secUonal boundaries are . obliterated and Uie preservation of Uie national dignity, and safety becomes tho highest object of all minds and hearts. ; ' i ? Itjs eminently proper that thit day.so abond . , - ant in glorlouA nem'oltafbd celebmU4 not on ly inoor hearts bat wrfth outward demonstra- ' , tions of rejoicing. And it was a wise and prop er reconrmendatfofi proceeding 'from Uie Chief ' Magistrate of our naUon, tliat Uie people of ev- nora and, deep., religious, feeling . ipd expe- ery county and lowk ahould assemble ' them-, riencea place whiere Jolui Wesley , deepene ' Tnlowlhernd & ODaMetkNi wUblheel- hi icligkms de voUonfand pbtaiBcd'new.reli; , ebralion of Uveday. and rnsini? a'T 'experiencoTd . returned - to JJn- suclt celebration, that a short sketch of the or-- and,; on .Jflre. Mrlth jjrw religious zcei and Uio igu, progress and present condition of inch placo from which eolowes in xarious countries J. bodies be rehearsed in the presence of the peo or the World have bee peopled and mission pentcr, Christian JJavid, trayejungnTLusatia, accidentally met a nobleman of high rank and of large estate who listened to Uie touching sto ry of the' suffering which tho remnants left in Moravia were undergoing for conscience sake . Ignoring Uie religion of Uie nobility, rising, su perior to the prejudices of his rank, and moved not only by Human nutaiso oy a aivine impulse, and under aydlvine guidance, he, invited Uie Brethren to settle upon his estate, freclT.offcr ing ti a imrccl of his land wlicreon to found a colcflvacnjoynu uie rcugion yiey professetl The invitation was accepted and the colony of Hcrrnhut was formed, place, xguch whenever menUoned brings to mmtl purity of On his last visit to America, in 1760, Count Zinzendorf, under Uie direction of Uio General Board of Uie United BreUiren, liad recommend ed the founding of a central settlement, to which he gave the nanio of Salem. On tho 6th of January, 1766, the first treo was felled for the first liouse in Salem, and on the 19th of Febru ry, 1766, four newly arrived immigrants from Europe and four residents of Betiiabara occu pictl tlie house a log hut still standing nnd now used as a part of Mr. Sliaffner's potter shop. . On tlie 20th of February, the placo was surveyed and' this public square was laid out. In June, 1776, the corner stoito was laid for the first family house, and in August tho building was completed ' Tlio first settlers were Gott fried Praetzel. Nn-'h -lVtersoitT Jens"Schmidt, Jno. Birkliead, George Holder, Jacob Steincr, Micliael Ziegler, Melchior Rasp. - j Iii 1768, Frcd.W. de Marshall, to whom James Hutton liad transferred the legal ' title to the Wachovia tract, returned from Europe and commenced the ad minis traUon of Uie affidrs of the new town. Mr. Marshall was tho son of a Saxon army officer and received a strict mili tary education in his youth. He was intended for military or court service, but his inclina tions led him to tho ministry, especially after ho visited Herrnhutand formed Uie acquaintance of Count Zinzendorf and tho BreUiren. He was a man of great working capacity and .possessed remarkable qualifications for organization, be ing determined, active, methodical and prompt in Uiought and action. He may bo regarded tho real founder of Salem, and the inspiring gen iusOf its success and progress in jits earlier daysrIn 1763 ho' had been appointed superin tendent of all tho temporal affairs of the Church in Wachovia, a position 'requiring the utmost prudence and vigilance, anil a place which he occupied until his death in 1802. He camo as the Attorney and Agent of James Hutton, bf London, the, Trustee of Uio Wachovian Tract, to administer Uie affairs of the Land Company which had been formed to facilitate the pay ment of Uie' purchase 'money and tho discharge of the annuaT if&it of tlie land." 1 1 " I liave not been nblo to obtain accurate and full information concerning Uie mode in which tlio lands were disposed of, to purchasers by the Land Company, j Lord Granville sold Uie tract of 100,000 acres not in fee simple, but on Jong lease,' receiving n stated annual rent. Mr. Marsluul and his successors sold to purclmscrs in the same way, reserving, a nominal rent. the old landmarks and enterprises of settlers, of Salem, t In 1770 Uie. beautiful burial . ground Uie "City of the Dead,7; wss cleared and enclosed.. The samo order and system which characterize, all tlio undertakings pX the Church .and town, wero observed in the arrangement of Uie Cem etery and havo been adhered to through the long intervening years, 'Separate lots, or sec tions.Avero arranged for -tho burial of the dif ferent classes composing the congregation, one half of Uio acre, or lot, being devoted as a rest ing place for tlie female members and all the other for the male members of the congrega tion. These are subdivided into lots or sections for the burial of married and single BreUiren ami bisters, ami ol cuilUren according to sex and age. In 1771 the Congregation, or Gcmein liouse was finished and onsecraUd. and re mained until 1854 when it was removed to give place to the elegant new Academy Building which adorns Uie town. This was followed in slow succession, as appears to us of this genera tion, when towns are built in a fortnight and cities spring like magic fr m the plain, by fam ily houses and buildings for the use of artisans plying the occupation so necessary and useful to a newly settled colony in a new and thinly settled country. Tlie liouses, I milt in Uie lion est days, wero snlistantial and strong; many of them remain Uiis day, while others have given placo to Uie ravages of time and, Uie greater and more urgent needs of Uie growing congre gation and community. . -., J j Dnring tho Revolutionary War, Salem was visited frequently by'detnclimcnts and scouting parties from both armies, and tin' main British army nnder Cornwall is passed through the set tlement, taking provisions. catUe and horses, but not wantonly destroying nny property, j In 1784 Gov. Martin and 63 memlters of Uio Legislature spent several weeks Jr. Salem for the purpose of Iiolding their session, but did not obtain a quorum. I In May 1791 Salem Was visited by Gen. George Washington, first President of the United States, tlien oh his way to visit Goyernor Martin who lived in tliat county. Ho-was entertained at tho town tavern, 'now thu Salem . Hotel, nnd kindly and courteously received Uio large num her of visitors who paid Uieir respects to Uie dislinguisled soldier and statesman.; Thn room lie occupied is immediately above, Uio office' of the hotel and is often exhibited to visitors by the kind and vrncrablo gentleman who now dispenses Uie hospitality of Uie place. Tradition says that the largo beam wliich spans tho ceiling of tho public room was placed Uiere'to support tho floor of Uie room altove when Uironged with the crowding guests of the President, but wo receive tho story cum grano salis, nnd opine that Uie tradition lacks' the strong support which tho Iteam affords to the upper room. President Washington 'was presented with a courteous and iatriotic ad dress inlbelialf of the people, of Wachovia, and responded to the same in fitting terms, truly saying Uiat "from a society whose gov erning principles are industry and Uie love of order, much may bo expected towards the im provement of the country, in whk-h their set tlements are formed, nnd experience auUior izes Uie belief Uiat much will be obtained." In.li.was 'bniU the ol paper-nii)l, llio first tn tlie State, wlucli was cniargetl anti suppiieu i . r t . ! K ;1 produces failure in other institutions, but in tlie midst, of wars and panics it has been liberally patronized by eager parents and guardians in. every State of tho South. Wherever- one may go, in Uio SouUi, he will find the representa tives of Uiis Academy, venerable and respected matrons and blooming maids, adorning society by means of the mental accomplishments and Uie graces and virtues of Christian character which they obtained at this school-.Sulcni, in all its admirablo history, can boast of no more fortunate event, Uian tho founding of the Fe male Academy. It has given a name and famo to Uio place and people of Salem of which they aro .rightly proud, ami will strive to retain. ! In 1824 tho town consisted of 45 houses, in cluding tho Church nnd Academy, not averag ing one no use a year for tho first fifty years. The townj extended then to the. building occu pied now by Mr. Henry. Sliore. as a harness shop. Near it stood tho village smithy. ' Tlie lower end of Uie town was opposU Uie hotel ; all below that was a lot fer Uieinsof drovers as they passed through town. . TJm last house on tho east side of Uie street at Uio tipper end of town, was fvhere the store of Mr. BcloHow stands. On Uie present site of Pfohl & Stock ton's Salem store, was tlien a pond of standing water where tho' Kcrnersville correspondent oT Um Salem Press Vas wont with his fellows to sport and: wade in childish glee in search of creatures to which some inodcrn, philosophers would refer tlie origin of the human species. In 1836j the Salem Cotton Factory Company was organized, wiUi a capital of $50,000. - Work was commenced on the building in . Marcli. 1837, first brick laid April 10th, and in nine weeks Uie walls were com plctcd: ' Mr. Francis Fries superintended the building, pnrcliased the machinery, and acted as the business agent un til his resignation in 1840J In 1810 lie built his wool mill, and in. 1846 j tho firm of F. & II, Fries was formed, since which timo improve ments have been constantly made until Uie buildings and business liave assunicxl such pro portions as to mako them a noticeable institu tion ol Uio town. In 1849, the monopolies In trade theretofore existing in tlio town, were abolislied and free trado established. i Just jjeforo tho close of the late war,' Salem was visitod by a raiding detachment of Federal General Stoneman's command, under General Palmer, but Uio Mayors1 of Salem and Winston Jiavlng met Unjraidihg forces beforerciching the place, the town was surrendered and ho ravag es, or depredation' were committed save the taking of horses, cattle, and such provisions as were needed for the immediate support of th(r forces. There were no Confederate troops here. '' In February,186o, tho Centennial Anniversa ry of the establishment of Salem was cclcltra- Among those who exerted Uiemsclves most t encrgetii-ally for. Uio proixMed , division was ; . Francis Fries, of Salem, a man to whose enter prise, industry, marvelous business capacity . and public spirit. Salem, Winston and ForsyUi owe much of their prosperity. From his son, I learn Uiat Mr.) Fries spent four weeks at lLal--eiglu in the interest of tho proposed division, lobbying among tlie members, shaping Uieir opinions and winning their support. Messrs. T. J. Wilson. A. J. Stafford and Jno. W.Tliom- -as, of Davidson, were also zealous advocates of . Uio bill, the first mentioned spending twoweeka in Raleigh, opposing tho adoption of tlie shrewd substituto offered by Mr. Gilmer. Mr. Thomas of Davidson, fought vigorously for tho mousuro and in the exciting debates on tho subject prov- . ' . etl more tlian a match for tlio able, astute ami eloquent Senator from Guilford. I . . The necessity for tho long stay and diligenco ! ' of tho lobbyists at Raleigh, straws that tliero4 was delermiiied opposition to Uio division of !. Uie county, while tho almost unanimous vote by which it was adopted, attests tho Jnfiuenco whicli its advocates from Salem possessed ami oxerrUed. Six days after tlio passage of the . bill, Mr. Fries wroto to Hon. Mr. GilraerT say ing:, "On my return homo I fintT tlie foiling , for a division of our county stronger, than ever before. The news of tho final rrw-Mro Df the 1 bill caused more general rejoicing than nny one event has ever done in our county. It was not only at Sole.n, but at Old Town. Rclhania and I believe every wlicro, except at Germanton. m 1 m mm . 4 uiat uie news was naiicti wiui Uie nsmu evi dences of rejoicing.. . Cannons nnd small guns were used to send tho glad tidings, and Micro was a moro general burst of public feeling than wo ever have had after tho most signal pulitk-nl victory.w ; ' ! j It is projier to say Uiat the new county evinc ed the gratitude of the people for tho earnest zeal of the gentlemen- mentioned by electing Uicra to important offices. Mr. Fries lieing elect ed Cliairman; Mr. SLafibrd,' Clerk; and Mr. Wiliun, Solicitor of tho County Court. : The act of division provides that; the lino shall legin allho Southwest corner of Rocking-s liam. running to tho Surry line, nil north of said line to bo Stokos. and all south of it to lie Forsyth County," in lionor," says the Ijegisla-. ture, "of Col. Benj. Forsyth, a native of Stoles County, who fell on Uie northern frontier in Ukj fast war With England...:.- 4 . . " :'-.'. , - ' Caleb Jones, Feed C. Mcinnng, , mid Jno. Banner were by tlie act appointed oonimlssioii-j erslo run Uie dividing line which was require! tp be itenr Germanton, leaving the cMrt liouse and public iHiildiugs In Uie county of Stokes Zaddock StalTurd. Jno. Stafford. II. A. Ixjnily, ijconoru -oonrnii, ami t r;mc:s t rios were ai J i ted with appropriate and interesting cereiito- I Jointed commissioners for Forsyth to select -nihlr Vlcl- with new. machinery, from timo totime, until Jannarv. 1873, wlien it was destroyed t by fire. beipg owned at.t)io',tine by, lWber Gray of Wjnston. . i In 1798 the corner stone of Uie present Chnrch building was bud? and iu 1800 Uie house was completed and consecrated to divine worship. In 1803, Uio authorities, responding to the stations supplied wHh wen noted for Uieir steady , sou The title in Marshall's , successors was Upon tho formation of tho Ijind Company a urgent requests of strangers wliii had observed the attention wiucu uie Moravians jkxiu io uie ediicatiou of their children, and who desired that their own children should enjoy Ute bene fit of Uie same excellent training, determined to establish a boarding school for girls, and in Uie same year UieAcademy was opened for the reception bfjscholnrs. . Steadily since Uiat time Uio school lias increased in .usefulness and rep utation, noted throughout Uie SouUicrn States for Uio Uiorou&hness of Uio mental and moral training it affords, Uie excellency of tlio disci pline it employs, a&d Uio comforts and conven iences which the boarding department ensures. U has never, suscuDAbed to. the causes. which tract of 500 acres was reserved for Uio Salem congregation, which was subject to tho leaso system. Tho Company liaving paid to Lord Granville a gross sum in lien of rent and ob- ' m f tained Uio fee. AH Uio'land Sold beyond the l5w acres were soldj in 'fee simple also. Mr. jno, fries, in repiy io iujt inijuirica wjami iho subjectr said: " All Uie early sales were made on Uij lease plan. Ixrd Granvilb hav ing accepted a gross sum1 in lieu' of JiiiTCnt, and this leaso tenuro - being so foreign to Uie genius bf our NorUi Carolina peciplevtbe Land Office soon commenced to sell insfco simple v nics. The congregation -consisted at Uio close of that year of six hundred and fifty-two )x:r- sons. , j ' Among the old customs which have survived Uio lapse of time, and remain as w reminder of tho p:ist, is tho employment of a night watclt man, whose tlnty it is to traverse the streets of Uio town, through storm and calm, rain and snow, and watch the sleeping town. At regu lur intervals during the long night, his trumpet blast is heard echoing through the place, quiet ing fears and assuring all that tlie town is safe from fire and theft. In Feudal times Uio watcli man stood upon tho tower of tlie English cas- ue, ana in response tome anxious' enquiry. "Watchman, wlmt of the! night?" would an swer, "alls well!" lhat, assuring cry put ords, ladies and retainers at rest and left them to , fear, only in their . dreams, the foray and siego of some rival lordl The answer "all's well!" brought no greater joy to them of olden Ume than is brought to the slumbering citizens of Salem by the cheery blast tliat now comes ringing from Uie naUvc Shore. . It is a noteworthy, bee ins t remarkable fact. Uiat in a period of 110 years Uicra havo been but two dwelling houses destroyed by fire with in Uie limits of Salcnib.Tbo town tavern was burned in 1784, and replaced by the present Salem. Hotel; and Uie resilience of Mr. Henry Shaffner was burned in Uie year 1863.'' Fire engines were brought from Europe in 1785, and in 1832 a new engine was brouj5t Jrom Philadelphia. Insurance rates should by nom inal in a town ami among a people, where sucti a record exists and whero such prudence is ob served. ' Th Weekly Gleaner was established in 1827. by J. C. Blum, and published for one year. In 1830 Uie Farmer''s Reporter and Weekly Chronicle was commenced and published for five years by tlio same firm. In 1841 Uie Caro lina Gazette Was started and published for two years by Uie same parties. The People's Press was established in 1851 by Blum & Son. and continues to Uiis day, published by L. V. & E. T. Blum, sons of J. C. Blum'. The Farmers and Planters Almanac was established in 1828 and is still published . by L. Y. & E. T. Blum. It is a State institution a houseliold treasure reliable in its statistics and farming intelli gence, and in many qnartors is considered an oracle whoso utterances on Uie wen titer ques tion are entitled JLo far more credit Uian were the fitful and bribe-bought speeches of the fa mous one at Delphi. ( i " . - rOKSYTH COUNTT. On December 1st. 1848, Uie bill for tho divis ion of Stokes county into two separate counties tossed Uie Hotiso of Commons by a vote of 100 in favor of and 14 against the. measure. De cember lllh Ute BiU: pahsed Uio Senate by a vote of 32 to 9, John Reich being Senator from Stokes, and an ardent supporter of tlio bilL Mr. Reich.-on every occasion when the measure came before tho Senate, demanded Uio ayes and noes, determined Uiat its friends and foes sliould be known and put on record. There, seems to have been strong opposition jn somevquarUirs to Uie contemplated division, comingprinci- pally from Uie central part of Stokes and .liav ing as its chief champion and mouUi-picco the pure, able and disUnguislicd stitesman and pa triot, lion. Jno'. A . Gilmer. Uien Senator from Guilford. Memorials wero laid before tlw As sembly, praying it to refuse the division asked for, ami I find tliat after the passage of lite bill and daring the pending bf a supplemental bill, a substitute was offered by Uie opposition; slew ing that Uicre was dissatisfaction with the ro visions of the Act of Assembly. ' Hie sulalitute wss rejected so decisively by its friends, Uiat I infer Uiat it was intendedjo defeat or hamper, in some way, the objects of tho original hjll. determine suitable sites for tho seat of 'Justice. -.-to purch:ise the necessary land, to lay . off town lot, reserving 30 acres, at least, for; ami at tlie. Court House and sell the remainder at auction. : on a eredit of one and ' two, ybars. Tlie jilcbt , owing Ity blokes wa3 apportioned equitably. Itc tween the two counties. The act provides als tliat the two counties should bo represent cl in tho ? legislature as one county .until further provi sion should be made : that the election should bo held by the Sheriff, or other returning- officers of Stokes county. The first County Court for Forsyth was hcltl on the first Monday in March 1819. in the old Town ltdl of Salem, which occupied the ground where the residence of Dr. Shaffner now stands. " - . " 4 Tlie railroad leading from , G recnsltoro to Salem and .Winston was chartered by Um? Statu Convention of 1808. Tho citizens of Salem and ; Winston sultscribbd $30,000. Forsyth County $l00.000iy a vote of the people, and Grccnslioru. $20,000. i'llie State appropriated $10,000 per'' mile the Road; the JSonds were never sold. Init' . rcturnetl to the Stitu Tre:isurv by order of tho Legislature. Mr. II. W. Fries." of Salem, was Ute first President and Mr. E. Belo his successor? Under his supervision and by llic-'assist-tncc of Uio Richmond and Danville li. R-, the Roatl w:ts completed iu July 1873. -' ', " After the division of the County of Stokes in 1848, and the. erection of Forsyth County, a stot was delected for the county s-:it about one mile ' from tlie centre of Salem Tlio rocalily known , as "Double Branches,' near the County Panper House, being more nearly tho centre of tho ; county, was . thought by sonic to be a proper placo for tho location of tho scat of justice.' It-' was, Iiowcver, located as heforq statcil ami was known as Salem. For some reason, most rob ab!y becuiso of tlio lease system in voguo iu Salem as well as the system of monopolyio trade, which w:is not altolisltod until 1850, dissali&fac-j. lion arose in tlioetinty and a movement beganr for a change pf name, which excited so ranch interest that it becamo .the leading- issue in Uio political canvass by the candidates for tlio Leg- -islatnre in 1850. Three opposed to Uio eliango of name nominated a fusion ticket of 2 Whigs 2 Democrats Andrew Joyce, J. W. Covington. ' A. Gamble and, J. J. Martin; those in favor of tho change nominating 4 Democrats Philip Barrow, Allen Flynt, Cd. Henry Marshall and Jesse Waiigh. The latter wcie elected and the Legislature of 1851 declared that tho county town of Forsyth shall lie styled and known as ' Winston, in lionor of the hero of King's Moun tain. .Ujon the scht-tion of tho t pot Cur tho County seat Ute Clinrch Board sold 51 acres of land toLlte county of Forsyth at $0' per aero.; Tins tract was divided into lots which were sold at miction, and froni the proceeds of the sales Uie Court House. Jail, and, Por House, ' were built and tlio County started on ' its morning march.ont of debt nnd full of hope fur the future. , The Court House and jail were planned by and built, under the sujrrvLMin of Mr. Francis Fries, in 1850. The first house built in w h it is now Winston was thcrcseiit residence of Judge T. J. Wilson though the town had not Uien been laid off. Tlie first residence Imilt in Winston, after its establishment, was that of the late Mr. Jesse Kennedy now no. npied by Mr. Jesso liigs- Tho first settlers were T.J. Wilson Harmon MUlcr. Jesse Ken nedy. Rolion Gray, Peter A. Wilson Henry A. Hol.ler, Francis I. Gorrcll, Jhii P. Vt and David C.k. Mr. Harmon Miller oN-ned the fit " sltfTe in a little iMiilding which u.'ilil recently wvu pieif llto- .ilo whereon now stands iHe Ntr wood4 Building. Willis ItwreiiVc how living ne:r Old Town, bought tlie fiff.t piece' of goods ever ll in Winston. Mr. Millt-r, notetl for his overweening love of humor,' and-iTactical jokes, prctcmling to be loo busy in opening hla t, : !'! ; .Ui !; rr t i - I" , .i. V. - V" 'It! . i a 13. 1 1 I M' r ; IV 'f ', i , . t , V- i'" ; 'I J , ' v Nl 4 4r i ;
The Western Sentinel (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
July 11, 1876, edition 1
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