The Courier
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VOL. VIII.—No. 17
DEATH CLAIMS PIONEER
RUTHERFORD COUNTY PREACHER
Rev. J. B. Carpenter, Retired Methodist Minis
ter, Died At His Home in
Rutherfordton.
Burial At Pleasant Grove Sunday Afternoon—
Thousands Deplore Loss Of
Noted Minister
Rev. J. B. Carpenter, retired Meth
odist minister and one of the best
known and most universally beloved
men in the county, died at Ruther
fordton at 9 o'clock Saturday morn
ing after an illness of two weeks. His
death comes as a distinct shock to
thousands of friends in this county
and elsewhere.
Rev. J. B. Carpenter, affectionate
ly known as "Uncle Bate," was 87
years of age, having been born in
1838 in High Shoals Coaling Ground.
He was the son of J. H. and Cynthia
Carpenter and was educated at Olin
High School and York school.
The Rev. Mr. Carpenter had been
a member of the Methodist Confer
ence since 1875, and has held pas
torates from one end of North Caro
lina to the other. Since first enter
ing the ministry he had missed but
few of the state conferences and, al
though on the retired list for four
years, still maintained his position as
one of the leading figures in the
church.
Besides his church activities, Mr.
Carpenter was active in civic and
fraternal organizations. He was
clerk of court for Rutherford coun
ty for two terms and was actively
connected with other public affairs in
the county. He was a charter mem
ber of Oasis Shrine and a former
district deputy grand master of the
Masons. In addition he was a mem
ber of the Junior Order, Eastern Star,
Red Men, Knights of Pythias and
x Odd Fellows.
Mr. Carpenter is survived by two
sisters, Mrs. A. A. Hicks and Mrs. M.
Z. Toms, both of Rutherford county.
Mr. Carpenter. was licensed to
preach in 1874 and joined the Meth
odist Conference in 1875. He was an
active pastor over 45 years. He has
held charges from Swain to Halifax
counties and has held some of the
best appointments in the conference,
such as Bryson City, Kings Moun
tain, Gastonia, Church street, Char
lotte, High Point, Thomasville, and
Weldon. He has held as high as ten
appointments at one time.
He has been on the superannuated
list for four years. His first year's
salary was $l5O, second S3OO and the
highest he ever received was SBOO per
annum.
He has married over 150 couples
and has buried hundreds of his mem
bers and friends. Hundreds and pos
sibly thousands have been converted
under the influence of his preaching.
His home had in Rutherford
ton since 1875. He was Clerk of
Court of this county for two terms.
He represented this county in the
Legislature of 1862-64.- He is the
only known surviving member of the
famous Assembly which stood by
Governor Vance so faithfully during
the stormy days of the sixties.
Mr. Carpenter was at one time en
gaged in the newspaper business. He
and R. W. Logan began the "Ruther
ford Star" in 1867. They later sold
it to Rudolph Shotwell, a Confeder
ate officer, who edited the paper un
til 1870. Shotwell was convicted of
Vc. K. K. complicity by a Republican
"carpetbag" jury and sent to the Al
bany, N. Y., prison.
"Uncle Bate" was also a member
of Co. G, 16th Reg. This company
was the first to leave Rutherford
county for the front in the Civil War.
The company flag was presented by
Miss Ellen Mitchell, of Rutherford
ton. Mr. Carpenter enlisted in this
company May 9, 1861, and was dis
charged in November, 1861. Com
pany G was in Raleigh when the fa
mous Secession Convention met and
passed ordinances of secession.
Mr. Carpenter was an unusually
healthy man for his age. His hear
ing had been good but his eyesight
was affected to some extent. His
grandmother lived to be 101 years
old, while the average age of his an
cestors was 80 years. He was seeil
on the street* of Rutherfordton al
FOREST CITY COURIER
most every pretty day during the
past year. He was noted for his
cheerfulness and generosity. He
looked on the bright side and had no
terrors of death, for he was prepared
to meet the final summons. In his
life he exemplified service and Use
fulness and the world is better for
his having lived in it. He was dearly
beloved and will be long remembered.
* ♦ »
The Funeral.
One of the largest crowds in the
history of Rutherfordton county at
tended the funeral services of Rev.
J. Bate Carpenter at Rutherfordton
Sunday afternoon in the new Meth
odist church. People came from all
parts of this and adjoining counties.
Knight Templars Roy R. Harrill, At
kin Harrelson, B. D. Wilson, J. L.
Robinson, J. H. Carpenter, F. I.
Barber, Thomas G. Stone and Dr.
Wood, the latter three of Forest City
and Dr. Bobo Scruggs, Cliffside, were
pallbearers, while the members of
Western Star Lodge, No. 91, A. F.
and A. M., of Rutherfordton, assist
ed and had charge of the burial.
"Amazing Grace" and "How Firm
a Foundation," favorite hymns of
Mr. Carpenter, were sung. Pre
siding Elder E. J. Poe, of Marion,
and Rev. 0. L. Simpson, of Spindale,
read favorite passages of Scripture,
which "Uncle Bate" had requested be
read at his funeral. Dr. W. R. Ware,
pastor of the First Methodist church,
Forest City, spoke on the life of the
deceased and read an article from
The Rutherfordton Sun of April 3,
1924, telling of the activities of Mr.
Carpenter. He paid an eloquent
tribute to the life of Mr. Carpenter
while Rev. J. O. Ervin, pastor of the
Rutherfordton Methodist church,
spoke briefly of the life and good
work of the deacesed. Seven min
isters took part in the services.
OUR BOYS IN FLORIDA
*
The Courier has a postcard from
Sarasota, from some of our boys now
in Florida. Saying that they are
enjoying the sunshine, the card is
signed by Joe McCurry, Paul Har
rill, Robt. Harrill, Wilkie
Jack Bridges, Clarence Proctor, John
Ware, Frank Newton, Nelson Grif
fin and "Fifty" Padgett. Their
friends all hope the boys will pros
per in the ':Land of Flowers."
P. M. AT UNION MILLS
WANTS GOVERNMENTS' HELP
Mrs. Mae Elliott, postmistress at
Union Mills, has written as follows
to Senator Simmons:
"Fourth class postmasters are due
their rent, light, fuel and equipment.
"I think it unfair to require us
to transact government business and
bear all the expense ic-ident to run_
ning the office. v *^
"The cancellation at this office
makes the salary about $l,lOO per
year. It takes around 20 per cent of
this for rent, light and fuel and I
furnish the equipment. And we do
not get any clerk hire for fourth
class office.
"I think H. R. 4040 will just about j
fill our needs."
PROVIDENCE NEWS
Forest City, R-2, Feb. I.—There
will be preaching at Providence
church Sunday night at 7 o'clock.
Mr. and Mrs. R. L. Smith spent
Sunday afternoon with Mr. Smith's
parents, Mr. Eaves and family.
Mr. John McDaniel and family
spent Sunday afternoon with Mr.
and Mrs. J. L. Harrill. »
Mrs. Elizabeth Blanton has been j
sick for the past few days but we
are glad to say she is improving.
Miss Inez Dobbins of Oak Grove
section/ spent Thursday night with
Mise Virginia McDaniel.
PUQUSHED IN THE INTEREST OF FOREST CITY AND RUTHERFORD COUNTY
FOREST CITY, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, FEB. 4, 1926
The following tribute to Rev. J. B.
Carpenter appeared in The Charlotte
Observer in 1924:
A Home Example Of the "Grand Old
Man."
I
Rev. J. B. Carpenter is a product
of the piedmont climate. He has
worked hard all his life, part of the
time being starved on itinerary ra
tions and pay, but he is now 86 years
old and one of the most active pedes
trians in the town of Rutherfordton.
He began his career as a Methodist
preacher in 1874, and has enjoyed
the benefits of superannuation for
four years, only. About 30 years ago
he was pastor of Tryon Street church,
in this city, and the editor of The
Observer, then a reporter, was in the
habit of following him around just to
see him chew tobacco. To be sure
against the possible contingency of
finding him "out," we carried a plug
to keep him going. It is a great
pleasure to have word from this fine
old man after so many years, and we
have been entertained through a per
sonal account in the current edition
of The Rutherford Sun, which brings
information that "Uncle Bate" is as
chipper as ever, bidding fair to live
as long as his grandmother, who died
at the age of 101. Brother Carpen
ter was contemporary with the late
Brother Davis, of the adjoining
county of Cleveland, but he was
drawing a salary of $l5O in Ruther
ford, while Brother Davis was saddle
bagging it in South Carolina on sls.
But the second year, our Rutherford
County itinerant's pay was raised to
S3OO. He was a mighty proud man
when the time came that he was get
ting SBOO. In his early days he com
mitted the error of judgment of go
ing into the newspaper business,
from which, however, he was .rescued
through a turn of the political wheel
MR. LAWRENCE HARDIN DEAD
Mr. Lawrence Calhoun Hardin
died at the home of his father, Mr.
G. W. Hardin, Jr., just one mile south
of Forest City, Tuesday evening at
6:40 o'clock of pleurisy and pneu
monia. Lawrence had been serious
ly ill only since Saturday and his
death came as a surprise to relatives
and friends. He was 17 years, 9
months and 3 days of age. He pro
fessed faith in Christ and joined the
Florence Baptist church about four
years ago.
He was a student in the Forest
City graded school and would have
entered High School next term. His
many school mates will regret his
early going.
He leaves a father, step-mother,
four brothers, three sisters and a host
of relatives and friends to mourn his
j departure.
Funeral services were conducted
at the Florence Baptist church
Wednesday afternoon at 3 o'clock by
Rev. C. C. Matheny, pastor of the
deceased. Interment took place in
Cool Springs cemetery. The large
concourse of friends and the beauti
ful flora! offering gave evidence of
[the high esteem in which he was
held.
RUTHERFORD'S "GRAND OLD MAN"
■^9
REV. J. B. CARPENTER
that made him Clerk of the Court.
When he was sinning against his con
science in the newspaper work, he
was also dropped into the depths of
a State legislator. That was in war
times, from 1862 to 1864, and perti
nent to the day is his talk about the
pay and cost of living in those days.
During the first term he served the
pay of the law-makers was $3 per
day, while board cost $2 per day and
whiskey 25 cents per drink. The
pecond time, or first called session,
pay was $6 per day with board in
Raleigh costing $5 per day and 50
cents per drink. The second called
session psy was $12.50 per day with
board costing $lO per day and whis
key $2.50 per drink while the regu
lar session of 1864 pay had increased
to S2O per day and board was S2O
per day.
j Brother Carpenter had done his
j turn in the Army, having volunteered
;in Company G, 16th North Carolina,
t which left for the front in May, 1861.
He ranks high in Masonic circles; is
Junior, Pythian, Odd Fellow, Red
Man, Eastern Star and perhaps
knows other grips which he cannot
at the moment recall. And then the
editor of The Sun adds an appraise
ment which we are giving with an en
dorsement to which there are no
strings. Brother Carpenter's habits
are—
Clean and above reproach. His life
is a great example of service and
I usefulness. We know of nothing that
could give one more joy and satisfac
tion than to know "that in our old
days we can look back upon our past
life and realize that we have helped
some one to live a better and more
upright life." After all, "service" is
all that counts in life anyway. Men
measure their life in terms of service,
not the big name they make or the
money they accumulate.
! STATE COLLEGE GLEE CLUB
PLEASES LARGE AUDIENCE
in i
A large and appreciative audience
gathered at the high school audito
rium Thursday evening of last week
| to greet the State Club.
The varied program was most pleas
jing throughout.
After an introduction by Dr. W.
A. Ayers, the program was opened
by the orchestra in an overture by
Barnhouse, followed by a march by
Rocerto.
J The glee club made its first ap
pearance in rendering "The Gypsy
Trail," by Galloway, and were well
j received. Their rendition of "Turkey
j in de Straw" brought forth a rousing
! encore.
The piano solo by Mr. Henry Sang
easily demonstrated his superior
ability on that instrument.
The orchestra and glee club were
good in every number, while the
violin solo by Mr. Jack Baxter
brought forth several encores.
Forest City was glad to have the
college boys, and, judging from their
reception, the college lads were glad
to be here. The entertainment was
high class in every respect and all
|iope to again have the glee club come
to oar city.
LATEST NEWS
FROM HENRIETTA
All the Interesting Happen
ings Told in Brief By The
Courrier's Special Cor
respondent.
Henrietta, Feb. 2.—Miss Pearl
Turrentine, a college classmate of
Miss Bertie Lee High and who is now
teaching at Glenn Alpine, spent the
week-end here with Miss High.
Mr. W. S. Moore was in Asheville
last week on business.
Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Lovelace visit
ed Dr. and Mrs. T. C. Lovelace last
Wednesday.
The teachers and Henrietta-Car
oleen girls played basketball at Hen
rietta last Thursday night. The
score was 24 to 4 in favor of the
girls.
Mrs. J. F. Sherrard made a busi
ness trip to Spartanburg last Thurs
day. Mrs. Sherrard has gone into
business with her mother, Mrs. H. A.
Wall, in North Henrietta.
Rev. J. P. Hornbuckle attended
the district meeting at Forest City
last Thursday and came away very
enthusiastic about raising the Cen
tenary quota.
Henrietta-Caroleen basketball team
played Alexander Schools, Inc., at
Henrietta last Friday night. The
score was 18 to 14 in favor of Hen
rietta-Caroleen.
Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Moore, Mrs.
R. D. Dillard and Misses O'Lema
Flack and Dovie Sue Harris made
a trip to Spartanburg last Friday aft
ernoon.
Mr. Clinton High, of Asheville,
has been spending a few days with
his sister, Miss Bertie Lee High.
Mr. R. D. Dillard has resigned his
position as overseer of the cloth
room here and accepted a similar po
sition at Abbeville, S. C.
Mr. and Mrs. Dillard have had
charge of the teachers' home here
this year. Mrs. Lane will take charge
when Mrs. Dillard leaves the first
of next week.
Mr. W. C. McAbee, formerly with
the Gluck Mills, Anderson, S. C., has
accepted a position as cloth room
overseer here. He began work Mon
day. Mr. McAbee will move his
family here into the house now oc
cupied by Mr. and Mrs. Lane.
Cards have been received here an
nouncing the marriage of Miss Bir
die Wilkie and Mr. Thomas Sane,
both of Rutherfordton. The mar
triage took place at Asheville Jan. 21.
Mrs. Sane taught in the school here
three years ago and made many
friends. She is a sister of Mr. M. T.
Wilkie, register of deeds. Mr. Sane
is a line young man and has been
{working in the west for a number of
: years.
Mrs. C. E. Elmore, of Forest City,
visited her father, Dr. R. Hicks, Sun
day.
Mr. Thomas Moore visited Bar
ents here Sunday.
Rev. and Mrs. J. P. Hornbuckle
attended the funeral of Rev. J. B.
Carpenter at Pleasant Grove last
Sunday.
Mrs. J. T. Camp substituted for
Miss Margaret Doggett in the high
school last week.
Mr. and Mrs. M. B. Mahaffee, Wal
ter and James Mahaffee were din
ner guests of Mr. and Mrs. Hicks
Hamrick at Caroleen Sunday.
Mr. Noah Piercy, an aged and high
: ly respected citizen, died at the home
of his granddaughter, Mrs. Emmet j
McCraw, last Wednesday. He was i
stricken suddenly Sunday while visit- I
; ing at Mr. McCraw's.
HAVING SALE IN FLORIDA
The Cyclone Auction Co., is hav
ing big sales at East Winter Haven
and Kissimmee, Fla., this week.;
i Messrs. J. A. Wilkie, June Harrill |
| and B. H. Wilkins left for Florida j
| Monday to be at the sales. Messrs. j
•C. E. Huntley and G. C. King have
been on the ground preparing for
the sales.
| A live and enterprising firm like
( the Cyclone Auction Co., will do a
great part in the up-building of this
city and county. With the expected
rush of development in the coming
Cyclone Company will
play a prominent part. That this
I company means to boost is well at
tested by their advertisement in to
day's Courier. Read the ad and -see
what the Cyclone Co., is doing for
your city and county.
12 Pages
~72 COLUMN^
sl4lO Per Year In Advance
WELSH SINGERS
COMING FEB. 12
Great Welsh Quartette In Pro
gram Of Songs Next Pied
mont Lyceum Number.
j Music lovers in Forest City and
| vicinity will be afforded a rare treat
I Friday evening, Feb. 12, when the
; famous Adams Welsh Quartet will
j appear at the High School audito
j rium in a combination of classic, pop
ular, and humorous program. The
numbers of this fine singing organ
ization are all from the famous Royal
Male Chorus of Wlaes. Each is a
soloist of note and has made good
i before hundreds of audiences abroad
and in the United States. They spe
| cialize in superior vocal work, their
| programs including solos, duets and
I ensemble numbers of the better sort.
| Their sketches in costume are un
usually attractive and popular. Their
; repertoire include hundreds of com
positions ranging from the simple
popular melodies to the most diffi
cult of the operatic masterpieces.
DEATH OF MR. CHARLIE HARDIN
Mr. Charlie Hardin, aged 22, died
at his home here, Thursday, Jan. 28,
after an illness of nine days with
pneumonia. He was a well known
young man, whose death i s deeply
deplored by many friends. Mr. Hard
was a member of Mt. Vernon Bap
tist church. He is survived by his
father, Mr. Jeff D. Hardin, and one
brother, Mr. Sam Hardin.
Funeral services were held at
Florence Baptist church last Friday,
Rev. Buchanan, of Union Mills, Rev.
H. C. Sisk, of the Wesleyan Meth
odist church and Rev. C. C. Math
eny, of Florence Baptist church, tak
ing part in the obsequies. Inter
ment took place in Cool Springs cem
etery.
WILKIE-SAND
Miss Birdie Wilkie was married in
Asheville Jan. 21 to Mr. Thomas
Sand. The bride is the daughter of
Mrs. W. E. Wilkie, of Rutherford
ton, and a popular school teacher.
Mr. Sand is a well known young far
mer.
KIWANIS CLUB NOTES
Featuring the Club meet
ing Monday eveniiig Was a short talk
by Mr. J. M. Edwards Needs
Of Our Town." First some
things the club if
it had the co-operation
have and said that the first great
need of the city at present was the
new*hotel that Forest City must have
this spring, if the growth of the city
is net to be i iem , .ane:.tl} stifle 1 . That
the new hotel is a crying n \ i iar-
Jther evidenced by the fact that Dr.
W. A. Ayers also mentioned its
pressing need in his sermon Sunday
morning. Mr. Edwards told of how
Kiwanis creates a better feeling and
brotherhood in the city, and urged
that new members be secured so that
the work could be better carried on.
Mr. J. W. Dalton, who had charge
of the program, also made a talk on
the urgent need of securing new
membership in the club. To do a
great work—-and it will—the club
needs to increase its membership. Pa
triotic citizens who are not now
members should come in now and do
their part in the great development
movement that is just now starting
in this section.
Mr. R. W. Minish and Mrs. Min
ish delighted the club with several
musical numbers.
Ladies' night will be observed Feb.
15th.
! MT. PLEASANT BOY HONORED
I
Mr. Wade B. Matheny, who i? t
college at Wake Forest, was recently
I elected president of Wake B.
Y. P. U. Mr. Matheny is a very
capable young man and has always
been interested in the church work.
He was president of the Mt. Pleasant
' B. Y. P. U. befoie going to college
' and proved himself to be a very suc-
cessful leader. Mr. Matheny is the
1 son of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Matheny,
'of Mt. Pleasant.