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LENOIR NEWS-TOPIC, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1919 Paje Two "GENTLEMAN" JOHN PERKINS Some Account of the Life and Times of "Gentleman" John Perkins, of Lincoln; and of His Contemporaries, Successors and Descendants; Together With a Glance at the History of the Manners, Customs and Development of What Is Now Caldwell County and of the Adjacent Country, During the Latter Part of the Eighteenth and the Beginning of the Nineteenth Centuries. By W. W. SCOTT (Continued from Last Week) II. Happy is the bride the sun shines on. The sun rose beautifully clear. Not a cloud was to be seen above the horizon. Night's candles had gone out and darkness seemed to have fled the earth. The birds were warbling their sweetest notes. The skipping lambs, the bleating sheep, the lowing herd, the chiming bells, the dense for est all gave interest to the scene. All nature seemed to rejoice and send up anthems of praise to the giver of every good. The guests arose and, with the family, assembled in the large hall for the purpose of offering up their morning sacrifice, for our ance? tors were a religious people. The Rev. Robert Johnston Miller con ducted the services. All arose from bended knees and at the first call repaired to the well-filled table of smoking viands of venison and beefsteak and salad of wild turkey, snow-white biscuits or lightbread and buckwheat cakes well prepared, milk deep set with cream, and coffee of delicious aroma. When all were served and breakfast over an invitation was again repeated to each and to all to accompany the happy pair to the recep tion. It was called "infare" then. Then there was hurrying to and fro, to gather up the scattered ar ticles of dress and place them in their reticules, for no Saratogas were used in those days. Then were brought in front of the gate the well trained and pvancing horses. When the good-by was given they all mounted their prancing steeds and started on their happy voyage. Blossomed trees and waving corn and grassy plains were passed in review, with here and there a deer scampering over the plain. At 12 o'clock they arrived at John D. Abernethy's, the brother of the bride. He had married Susan Maria Forney, as was said before. They lived on Mountain creek, not far from the eastern end of Ander son's mountain, in Catawba, not far from where Col. Francis Lock and his brave companions held a council of war the night before the battle of Ramsaur's mills. The wedding party stopped to take lunch. While there they heard the rising and swelling notes of music in the distance. All ears greeted the sound and all eyes were anxious to see the race. The sound came nearer and nearer. First they beheld the lord of the forest, a noble buck, with antlers raised high, bounding over the plain. Next came a well-trained pack of deer hounds pressing him hard. Abram Gabriel, who was fleet and quick of motion, ran for the rifle and jerked her down and found that she was not loaded. He filled the charger, poured down the powder, then next rammed down the bullet without patching, and took his stand. The game had passed by the admiring and anxious party. What disappointment! The noble stag had not gone far, till he turned and came back nearer than before. The sharp crack of the rifle was heard close by, and the stag at the report redoubled his speed as if he had a new lease of life, ran about 100 yards, fell stretched upon the plain. John D. Abernethy and his wife, Susan Maria, were blessed with 12 living children. It is a blessing for one man to have so many children! There is no danger of his name not living forever and being forgotten. These children have all lived to be over three score and ten and all who have died were over four score except one who died at forty. They had six sons and six daughters. Of the daughters. Charity mar ried William Young. Nancy married Thomas Rozzell. Polly married Abram Daitey. He died and she then married Absalom Duncan. Elizabeth Maria married Francis McCorkle and Susan married Alfred Hoke. The sons were Jacob, William, Miles W., David, Franklin and John B. Abernethy. The daughters were all fair to look upon and noble specimens of womanhood. The sons were rich with native into' lects. Miles W. Abernethy was one of the noblest and best men that ever lived. He represented "old Lincoln" county in the Legislature two sessions, M and 183:!. At the last session an act was passed making the offices of the clerks of the counties and superior courts elective by the people instead of being appointed by the magistrates of the county. He was a man of great popularity. And although his primary education was limited, he became a man of great infor mation. His manners were so gracious and so 'pleasing no one ever saw him that did not love him. And although of dark complexion, his noble, generous face, large dark brown eyes, his beaming coun tenance made him one of the handsomest men of his day. He became a candidate for the office of county court clerk in 1832. The then incumbent, Vardry McBee, was also a candidate. He was a man of rare accomplishments. He was never known to undertake anything or to engage in any enterprise that did not prosper in his hands. He had held the office a number of years. It had help to make him rich. He had discharged his duties honestly and faithfully and with skill and ability. Nothing could be said against this wonderfully successful man. Some said he had had it long enough. For the first time the word "rota tion" in office was heard. The two were condidates. The old county was well canvassed by them, and also by John D. Hoke and John Coilter, who were candidates for the office of Superior Court clerk. There were no opposing politics at that day All were Andrew Jackson men. Jackson, had not removed the deposits th"n. The candidates ran more on their personal popularity than any question of State or na tional policy. The country became stirred up from circumference to center. The excitement was so great that it was preached in the churches. At Lincolnton on the evening of the election the returns came in very early. , Mr. McBee led the ticket till late at night His friends were jubilant. Music and dancing were heard. The flowing bowl and the joyous laugh ran high. Late in the night the sound of the hollow hoofs of horses were heard coming from the north of the county. There was a rush that way. "Hoke's box!" was the cry. It had given Abernethy almost a unanimous vots. Old "Catfish" stood then together, as now. It elected Abernethy by several hundred. It was Abernethy's neighbors that did it! The one shout of triumph arose by his friends. Then all was hushed in .silence. He filled the office for four years. In 1836 he left the State, as too many of North Carolina's most gifted sons have done, and settled in Jacksonville, Ala. He represented his county in the State Senate of Alabama wkh great credit and approbation for several terms and could have gone to Con gress had he desired. He died only a few years ago, beloved and mourned by all who knew him. And the elements so mixed in him that Nature might stand up and say to the world, "This was a man." Lunch being over, the party visited the falls of Moravian Creek and the iron works, owned by John D. Abernethy, which were in full blast, situated on that stream at that point Mountain creek rises out of the highest point on Anderson's moun tain on the northwest side and runs northeast along the base of that mountain till it breaks through that range at the point above described, and turns its course and runs southeast and continues in that direction until it empties into the great Catawba near the Lincoln line. Leop ard's creek rises out of the same mountain on the same side not far from the source of Mountain creek, and runs in an opposite direction from that stream, till it turns and bursts through that mountain range near Derr's furnace, then continues south till it unites with Anderson's ereek, and the two make Dutchmen, which empties into the South Fork near Lineberger's cotton mills. Anderson's creek rises out of the same mountain not far from the source of the two others, but at the west end, at the celebrated mountain spring, where many a weary traveler quenched his parched thirst, and runs nearly due south until it unites with Dutchman creek, as before said. Along these mountain streams many boys and girls have grown up to man and womanhood that have and are playing well their parts in the great drama of life, and will live long as the good and great are revered by a grateful country. Ander son mountain is a continuation of the King's mountain range, which extends itself through Gaston, Lincoln and Catawba counties till it is broken up by the great Catawba at Buffalo shoals. This range runs parallel with the great Appalachian chain northeast and southwest. The highest points on this belt are King's, Crowder's and Anderson's moun tains the other portion having been washed down in an early period of the world's history and shortly after the upheaval, and is compara tively a level country, and has left partly exposed on the northern edge of this range some of the richest gold deposits and gold-bearing veins of any place east of the Mississippi river, and tradition says that during the early history of this country silver and lead were found in great abundance in a little higher latitude on this same belt. Inexhaustible lime beds are found from King's mountain to the Catawba river along this range, and at one point at A. D. Shuford's a fine quality of marble. On the south side of this range vast beds of iron ore, both gray and magnetic, are found, and along this same belt are found vast deposits of graphite. This range is only fifty miles in length, and, take it all in all, is prob ably the richest mineral belt for its length in the world, and yet it lacks want of capital, energy and labor. Seventy-five years ago all along this mineral range the ring of the forge hammer and the crash of the rolling mills and roaring of the smelting furnaces of iron ore could be heard. Now all is hushed in silence. There were giants in those days. The Forneys, the Brevards, the Grahams, the Abernethys and others like them lived and owned and worked on this vast mineral belt. And shall their descendants and those who are their successors be content to raise a patch of corn and cotton and live at this poor dying rate till some one of more energy and perseverance (probably from the North) shall come and "push them from their stools' 'and reap a rich golden harvest of wealth by devel oping these vast resources? No country can become rich and populous by producing the raw material alone. The most ordinary intellect is able to raise that. It is intellectual culture and skilled labor that man ufactures the costliest fabrics, and there the great profit lies. It is true that in this age capital is required to manufacture, but combina tions can be formed and supply it where it does not exist otherwise. There are too many men engaged in buying and selling, and too few in converting the raw material into manufactured goods. The country is dwarfed, intellect is starved and genius is driven away, and then the country is dependent upon other people for the luxuries and even many of the necessaries of life. From these reveries the party awoke and the cry was "To horse, to horse!" They all mounted their gaily steeds, and were soon on their journey to the hospitable home of Gentleman John Perkins, where a large number of anxious friends awaited their coming, and "whose eyes grew brighter when they came." III. The parents of Ephraim Perkins met the blushing bridge at the gate and welcomed her and the guests to their hospitable home. The mother soon made her feel as one of the family. True politeness consists in making all around us feel pleasant and agreeable. Catharine, the no ble wife of John Perkins, was an accomplished woman. Se had been well bred. Her father was Isaac Lowrance, who lived at the Bunker Hill place in this county, and there he died and was buried. All the sons of John Perkins were there. Joseph, the oldest, was there. He had married Malissa Lavender and they were the parents of their ele gant and accomplished daughter, Mira, who afterwards married George Conley, Esq., late of Caldwell county, and who are the ancestors of Mortimer Conley, Esq., and the grandmother of Judge Conley, of Iredell county. The Rev. Robert Johnston Miller and his most excellent wife, Mary, were there. Their son, Elisha P. Miller, the father of Caldwell county, and who represented Burke in the North Carolina Legislature from 1838 to 1840 and afterwards Caldwell county from 1846 to 1848 in the commons, and was one of the most useful men in his day a true type of his old ancestor, "Gentleman John Perkins," was there. He is the father of Kelson Miller and the grandfather of W. W. Scott, editor of The Lenoir Topic. ( John Perkins, Jr., was there. For the first time he beheld Nancy Abernethy. She was not more than sweet sixteen, was well grown and had blue eyes, and was fair as the lily. The winds of heaves had never been permitted to beteem her face too roughly. Her form was fault less, her moving elegant, her conversational powers unsurpassed for one of her age. Young as she was, she sighed and felt no pain. John. Perkins and she gave to each other unutterable looks. They shortly afterwards were husband and wife, and they are the ancestors of Susan, consort of the late Richard Bichaux, of Burke county. Alfred Per kins, the father of Alexander and Robert Perkins, "Par nobile fratum," was also there. Alexander and Eli, two other sons of John Perkins, were also there. Eli never married. And although John Perkins was an aristocrat, yet his neighbors were all there. The preparations were large, the feast was rich. Everything was done to make all enjoy themselves"." Some amused themselves in one way, some in another. Some promenading, some boat riding on the great Catawba. The most attractive sport of all was the race between the blooded colts (four in number) of John Perkins. They were all thoroughbreds or imported. There was one whose name was Peacock, because when he ran he curled his tail over his back. The colts were led out by their colored riders and grooms to the race ground, on the large bottom in front of the house. All eyes turned in that direction when the cry was given "The riders are up!" One of the colts became refractory, but was soon calmed down. The judges were seated high on a platform. The word was given and they all made nearly an even start. The goal before them was four miles. They seemed to be flying without wings. For the first mile they ran nearly in a breast On and on they flew. Now bay Maria is ahead, then Peacock leads the race. Handkerchiefs began to wave. The ex citement ran high. Now bets of tokens of love began to be made be tween the younger spectators of both sexes. Neither cared which would win. The last mile was now being repeated. There was a chestnut sorrel that had been led by the others. His name was Cuckleburr. He was of the Flying Childers stock. The lsst quarter he began to main tain his reputation. There was a shout for his success. As they passed the last pole he ran a little ahead. They had all done well. They were immedaitely blanketed and led away. The races were over, the enter tainment ended and all felt grateful to "Gentleman John Perkins" for his kindness and hospitality. Ephraim Perkins and his lovely bride spent their honeymoon visiting their friends. What married couple will ever forget their honeymoon the primrose path of pleasure, peace, joy, ecstatis bliss! Not a care, not a wave of trouble disturbs their happy souls. After that they enter into a new life. They have to swarm out from the old hive. A new government must be established often ruled by a queen. They would like to linger around the old homestead; but like the eagles, the eaglets must be pushed from their nests, their infant wings to try, and battle through the storms of life. They were settled on a plantation not far from the home of their childhood, now owned by M. J. Cochran. In the process of time they became the happy recipients of ten children five sons and five daughters. The sons were Elisha, who married Linny Sherrill, his neighbor, Enos Sherrill's, daughter. David and Daniel died unmarried. John married Elizabeth Norris and Robert married Elzabeth Martin, who died, and he married her sister Matilda. The daughters were Adaline, who married Abel A. Shuford. Caroline mar ried Colin Campbell, of Tennessee. Catharine married John Beard. Elizabeth married Dr. Robert Adams, and Martha, called Patsy, married Hon. F. D. Reinhardt, who represented old Lincoln county from 1844 to 1850 in the North Carolina Legislature. Patsy was the youngest daughter. She was large, fine looking, dignified and of excellent man ners. She was full of kindness and benevolence. She was a loving wife, an affectionate mother, a good neighbor and a devoted Christian. She. loved her husband, her children, her kin and her God. She was baptized by her uncle, Rev. R. J. Miller, and afterwards confirmed by him a member of the Episcopal Church, the church of her father; but when she married she joined the church of her husband, the Re formed Church. She considered that the four great reformed churches of the 16th century the Anglican or Episcopal, the Lutheran, the German or Dutch Reformed and the Scotch Reformed or Presbyterian churches were essentially the same in their main features justifi cation by faith and salvation by grace. Hers and her husband's home was a great place of resort for the young people of the neighborhood especially on festive occasions. One Christmas eve a party of young people paid them a visit. During the evening they engaged in several innocent amusements. They chal lnged each other before retiring that they would catch each other's Christmas gifts. Mr. Reinhardt at the time lived in a double log cabin with a wide entry between the cabins and only two fireplaces, one in each room below. The young ladies slept upstairs, where there was no fireplace, and they were told by Mrs. Reinhardt to undress in her room and go up to bed and the next mo.ning slip back through this entry and come into her room and dress by the fire. In order to ascertain whether the young gentlemen were, up, who slept in one of the rooms below, one of the girls came over their room (upstairs) and hollowed down, "Christmas gift!" They were answered in bed that one could not be caught unless you could see them. Finding that the young men were in bed, the ladies came down and were all in Mrs. Reinhardt's room. The young men were informed of that fact, and one of them, who was auite playful, jumped out of bed, in his night clothes, and ran across the entry, opened the door of the room just a little, where the girls were, and hollowed "Chris" , but before he could' get the word out he was landed in the middle of the room by some unknown person. The girls gave a squall and fled in confusion some under the bed, some behind Mrs. Reinhardt and the others no telling where. The young man rapdily retreated to his own room, without knowing by whom he was landed on the floor; but he always suspected Mr. Reinhardt. Mrs. Reinhordt came in and gave him a severe scolding for his rashness, and if he had not been her kin his acquaintance would have been cut and he would have spent no more Christmas eves there. She was the mother of four children, only one of whom survives Capt. Robert Perkins Reinhardt, the model farm of Catawba. (To Be Continued Next Week) MUST PRACTICE SUGAR ECON OMY IN THE EAST Heavily increased use of sugar in candy, soft drinks, ice cream and other luxuries in the United States during the first nine months of 1918, it has been announced in New York by the United States sugar equaliza tion board, means that such over indulgence in sweets "must now be curtailed in some sections of the east for the next three months." George A. Zabriskie, president of the board, in a statement to the press, declared that although the talk of shortage persists, it was a fact that from last January to September, in clusive, 500,000 tons, or 18 per cent, more sugar had been delivered to American consumers than for the same period of 1918. The normal in crease in consumption for the period named, he said, would have been 4 per cent. The west should secure immediate relief from the harvesting of an av erage beet crop, said the statement, which will be in full swing within a week. The Louisiana supply of 100, 000 tons available after Nov. 1, while disappointing, will serve to supply the south until the new West Indies crop is ready next January. The east is dependent, however, it was said, on the old Cuban supply and "conserva tion," therefore, would have to be practiced for a time in this section of the country. S. Glenn Young, special secret ser vice detective of the bureau of in vestigation, department of justice, reports the capture of 40 deserters during the past month. After yQeat always take ATONIC Instantly relieves Heartburn, Bloat edGasiy Fooling. Stops food souring, r""fr, snd all stomach miseries. Aids eifratioa and appetite. Koees stomach sweet and itrong. Incrauea Vitality and Pop. E ATONIC U the boot remedy. Ton of thou sands wonderfully banofltod. Only easts a eant or two a day to om it. Pooitively gaaranteed So phase or wo will refund nosey, Getsbia box today. Yog will too. Ballaw's Caah Pharmacy, Lenoir. CINCINNATI REDS CHAMPIONS OF BASEBALL WORLD The world's baseball championship pennant for 1919 will fly from Red land field, Cincinnati, next season. Pat Moran's athletes invaded hostile Chicago territory and annexed the eighth and deciding game against the White Sox by a score of 10 to 5. The attendance for the whole se ries was 236,028, and the receipts, exclusive of war tax, $722,414. Of this amount the players received $260,349.70 of the amount taken in during the first five games. The win ners' share is $117,157.68, which will give $5,207.01 to the participating athletes. This is more than the sal aries of most of them, it is said. The Sox players will distribute twenty four shares of $3,254.36 each. D it Usad 50 year rtllK witnout a change. The Good Old Millar's Fhined kind lYlllier S that never fails. , Unequalled lor 1 .1VPT Biliousness, Sick J"V Headache, Consti PUle pation and Mala I HIS ria. Your Grand father relied on l them. Nothing 1 IJC. better at any price. Cet the genuine. At-ltdramtlsU. WJy fM iMille Drn C. I ne Rkeevwid. Ve LIMIT FLYING INTOXICATION (Brooklyn Eagle) Uncle John Schell, Kentucky's 131-year-old citizen, has just had a ride in an airplane. "It sure makes a fellow feel like he is drunk, but it is all right at that," was his comment upon landing. The prohibitionists will have to look into this; also the other fellows. Flying that is more than 2.75 per cent intoxicatnig should be prohibited. James Stucky Says: "Rata Cost Me $125 for Plumbing Bills" "We couldn't tell what was clog ging up our toilet and drains. We had to tear up floor, pipes, etc.; found a rat's nest in basement. They had choked the pipes with refuse. The plumber's bill was $125. RAT-SNAP cleaned the rodent out." Three sizes, 25c, 50c, $1.00. Sold and guaranteed by Bernhardt-Seagle Co., Lenoir Hardware and Furniture Co., Bal lew's Cash Pharmacy and Hoffman & Son. PARROT WAS ARRESTED FOR ABUSING THE BOCHE One of the humorous incidents of, the German occupation of Liege, which are now being described, is that of the arrest by German police of a parrot on the complaint that it had repeatedly called out "Down with the Boches." According to the story the parrot was kep tprisoner for a month. The woman who owned it finally convinced the German authori ties that the parrot could not pro nounc e"B" and the bird was released. National prohibition has been adopted in Norway by the vote at a general plebiscite. OVER-EATING b tha root el Marly all digestive ovils. If your digestion is wooJi or out of kilter, better eat lass and ass IIM1QI0S tha new aid to latter digestion. Pleasant to take effective. Let Hi-moid help straighten eat your dig estiva troubles. 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Lenoir News-Topic (Lenoir, N.C.)
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Oct. 17, 1919, edition 1
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