THE FINGER FPJIIITV OF LINCOLN COUNTY, N. C. , WITH BRIEF SKETCH CF SAINT HATTHEWS CHURCH

1903 Bv

ft. . Nixon

1 i

FINGER FAMILY OF

LTNOOLN COUNTY~ N . C .

"W:ITH

BRIEF SI<ETOH

OF

SAINT MATTHEWS CI-IURCI-I:

BY

A . NIXON

1903

LINCOLNTON, N.C.: Press of THn LINCOLN ]OUllNAL.

1903.

.... . ...

).

North Carolir'la State Library n L·-t,

Q ""

T H E

E 'IN G E R F AMILY O :F'

LJN"OOLN COUNTY~ N . 0 .

vV ITli

BRIEF SKETCH

01•'

SAINT ~1:Am~E\VS CHURCI~

B Y

A. NIXON

1903

LINCOLNTON, N. C.:

Press of '~LINCOLN JouRNAL.

1903.

Tbe 1' ingers of Lincoln are desc.•nrletl froUl Peter Finger, a Penn:>ylv!lnia DutcbLOan. Tbe first meution Q( tb" name in tbe public record:! it~ iu 11 tleed of date 2Srd l'tltir, 1778. frotn A lor»ham Keener to P..-ter Fiugt>r. for 270 ~tcrelt of land on Le~p~r't~ Cre~k. Tbi:t h!'came bts 110111e , and li~ iu Ironton tuwnsh•u. seven miles ust of Liuc.•IQtoo. wht>r .. the 8herrtll'tl Ford road crv:-~il L~p .. r',. Crt-ek.

Peter Ftugl'r'::s will be>trs cl>tte 2.1th 1 July, 1789. In this he lll•·ution:~ nin~

children:-Catbarint>, Eliz11beth, ~n~an· '-- oall , Btirbara. M11rganH, Jacub, J, !111.

Da.iel and Henry. I. JACOB FINGER.

J»cou married Christian~----- ;

iHSllt': - 1. Peter ; 2. J onal'; :1. U11uid; 4;,

Jttcob; !}, D11vi<l; 6, C!lthnrine. I. l'etet Fmger. son or J•tcOb. lived iu

Iredell county. Chtldren:-(11) Jobu Fiu­J{cr, born Dlj(;etuber 16:b. 1815, dit'd :\lay lOth , 18'H; tbts J ubn marrie<t Ddiln ~i!lrlow. of Wilkt-s ( 182~1889) anc.l tht-y rtHdw:l near Denver. thit1 county. Tbtly bad but one child the Ia e J. Monr<>f! Finger. H e mttrried Lannt AHbury. and Hhll and ber children, Wtlliltw. Robert, Lelu. Morris aud E lwar<t, reside 1.eur R einbartlt'll. (b) Moses Ftujler. (l') Sal­li" married Tanner Daniel Fi g~:r. (d) Su~an FiuKer.

2. J uuas Ftoger marned Sn~11n Sn•oo­lUtrow, and bad one HOD. Solomon; he married Franci11 Hallman. Jt;,,ull:-(») J onas C. Fmgt!r; (b) A mv, wife or J obn A. Bynum; (c) Laura J .. wire of Jobo P. Mullen; (d) Henry Franklin.

8. Dani1-l Finger married Catharine Sumruerow, lll09. To dlstlugnh!b hiw from tbP otber Daniel:~ be wa>~ known !ltnOng bis n"tgbbors tts " T upster D~tu­iel;" be dted Novemuer 16th, 1858. agl'd

72 year~. 10 w mth-1 an•l 15 .Jty•. lli~

wtdow died J oly ~r 1• l86l. ll'{t'd 74 ''*'ar•. TtH•y are b.uied !It Malthtlwtl T,, tbt:w were born six daughter>~. (u) Fruucis, born May 2nd. ISIS; oliell o .. cembt'r 12rh. J88t:: bnriert tit Mattht~\YI', Sll" uutrried Jalll"tl Ktsth.·r; their son. the tat~< J. L'lrkiu Ki~tl,.r married lt'nmci~< ~lcO!Ill·

lin autl rt->~ided iu Lincolut •n: l>i~< widow au. a chtldreu. Htmry. Willilun .. lobo. uwl )I ami ... wifl' of G W . HttfuPr. yet re~<i•l .. her... (h) d..unie married Anthony Ikerd and hatl ooe dantlbter, ~lahurla,

wbo marrit>d L evi Ftnger. (c) Sn><an marrit-cl Abel Ikercl; i~sue: thl' ltite Fnmk I kerd; Angm;tn~. clied m the war; L:nny. wife of J>tcob itndit~ill. Santb Ann ~tnd other:~. (d) Muliuda UHtrried Dr. Thornton; i~sut-: Duniel H .. Jobu, and Ann, wife of Henry Clin.e. (.-)Eliza married Eh~<ba R1nn~anr; it~><nt-: )Jttry. wife nf Satnut-1 England: Henry ami Arcbibahl. (' ) Sttllie married Willisw fliusou nnd tbPy settle<! a few yarcls nortb of MattbewA Church. Children: Jubn, ~idaey, Piak, Ed. , rtobert, .\itlrtba, warrtf'd Willittw T. r.~trpeuter. and Eu1wa. wift~ of )1n Allen.

Jubn Hia~<on 'II'II.R 1.1 volnotE>er, at tbe age of seventeen 11ud served tn the We.;t­~ro army under Gtln MorgAn. Bnt two ••f tbe f>tmily are left: Piuk Biut<ou. a well known mercbaot of Lincolotno. aud )Jr,o. AIIE'n, who rel:lic.le~nt tbecld borue­st .. ltd.

~idot>y D. Hin~o wtts a member of tile Jonior Resen·es. Co. D . 7J,t Rt>IZi· ment. He married Dora Summerow, one t!OD, E"p.>Y Hinson survives.

4. JAcob Finger. utarritl<l Susan Troutman. Issne:-(A) Catbt~rine. mar­ril'd David Arends. (b) Auu, married W~tllaco Campbell. (c) Solomon. mar­ried Catharine 8et:.~er and removed to

s

H11ywood oouut~·. N. 0.; Jonai\,---­Areot'ls. (to) D~tniel, never uutrr\ed. (f ) l''unklin. a member of Uo. K. 49th .l{eg­nu .ot. lately died 1n Lin1:0ln county: where b1s w1dow and children. Willialll Fmger, and otherri re~>irlll. .l<'r~tnklio

FJDgE:r ma· r iet'l MHy Cline; btl WM

buried at Pleat:~ant Gruve. (:t) John. married Uhri:~tioa Mou~P. N••vember, 1810. I~ue:--F.mr children. )ielinrt~t,

wife of Frank Keener: Ruo<IR. '1\'ifll of Hugh Wallace; Ander:!On, nne! Doctor Fr11n~lin.

Doctor Frttnklin Ftngt'r w11s 11 membe1· or Co. 1{, 49th R .. giulent, wunnrtoo at Sharpsburg and Wilcterol!s:~. H., hll~<~ n stilf ko~e as a re,;ult of one .. t thes~

wounil::~. He i11 11 I(I..IOtl citizo.:u. w t11l known for his droll w it. Q,,C·tl SOD.

Robert, was.a soldier in the PhiUppiue~:~

in the 1att1 Sp11u1sb War. 5. David Finger, married Mary Snm­

merow. They had but ooeson. theRt~v. John Fi~er, who WIIS· born in L ancotu county December Slst; 1818, ~tnt'! d1ed in Williamston, Aoaerson county, ::>. 0 .. J one 15th, 1884. He was It a member of the &mtb O~trolioa Conference M . E. Uburcb. South. for forty ye~tr,o. tli:~

sainted memory i11 sweetly trea,nteU by those who knew him. ~v. J vho Fan­ger m11rried Hannah E. Avery. thtOghiRr of Jame:~ Avery. J!:.q .. ot BorkP conuty, N. U. To them were born n.ree chil· dren, James Avery, M~try Eliz~tbeth and Robert Gag!'; the latt~r died at tba age of flve years m Iz.ttnreos county, S. L: .. and is bur ied at Mt. Bt~thel Church.

Jamel! Av~ry Fin..:e;r, son uf the Rev. John Finger, married Currie Roylston Cordes of Chari11Rtoo, S. U., where tbey reside; be is now the principal of the Courtenay Scbool at Oharlestou wath w h1ch he ha1:1 been conneotE><l ror a score

ot real'!'; it il~ts an enrollment of vyer 910 pnvil•. Their cbildr~o are James A\'llry. WatFoo Co,rt1&', H~36ie .l:loyl:!t•JO aod Jobo Wa1ghsti!l.

Mary E .. dane:hter of Rev. John Fiu­'{er. m11rried J. A. ;ll nrdango, of B~tm· b.lrg. S. U., where tbev rel'id~. Tbe widow of tbe tc.~v .. Tono Finger, it; yt>t living. 1n b~r 71th yl'~tr, 11nd ap, nels h~tlf her tim'l with each nf her children.

Aflt:l' tbe f(P!Ith of D1tv1d Fiuger, h1" wid'''''• i.n 1$18. marraecl D11niel Shrnm, 11ud hlld i~•ue. ~nMn. Leyi, Solomnu, aucl l!'rllnklio ~qrom and l:>allie. now tho widow of Major Hmun }i'nroE'y. Sht> '''IlK born Febrn11ry !Gth. 1';'!)4, and •lied Sej:)tem her 25th. 1875. 8he wa:! one 'or the original memh~>r.s at ~t. Matt hews. in who~<e churchyanl she liJ'6.

The three brotb~r .. . J9nll.i Dlllliet,tocl D11vid. murried tine~ sisterR, Unthnriue. l:>uMU und Mary ::)ummerow. Ttwrce were dau~hters ot Hen•·y n'ud Ehz>tbeth Suunnerow, \VIt01 ar~ buried at tha <Jltl

white churcb grave\'ard in Lincolnton. Eliz11beth Snrumerow was a daug9ter of .ti~ory Whitener. a \}io~;~eer ;.etJler on Henry't> river: this br,llDCb or ,the Sontl' F,•rk. perpetuates hi;. name: she died Oc· tolt~>r 21st, Hl2-7, aged 63 yllars.

6. ~gtharine. UJarr•"'<< 1jobu Shrum; th~y lived on the op;:.osite side of Cl11rke's Ur~k froru tbe Ramsoor Hattle Ground, where Adolphus Sb•nw now live:<. They rlied wtthrut issue and are bullied u.t Matthews . .

Jl. JOHN Fll'1GER.

1 have not IIUfficient data ·to s~ty anuch : of John Finger, sun of the pioneer. but bnpe to acqnir.:: this latt'r. What i11 ' bt:re !'aid Is gathered from the public records. On t!le 7th of July, 1778. be. bonr(ht from Jobn Dellinger 100 sores of lana lying on both sidell of Lic·k Run ou

the waters of Leeper'a Oreek. Philip Can.eler, Senior, makes a bequest to his daughter, Caty Finger; and Philip Can­sler's wife was named Uly; so I take it John Finger married Catharine Cansler. John Finger's lands were divided among tbe following children: 1, Mary. wife of Adam K:eener; they were married in August, 1!!00. 2. John Finger. married :Mollie Troutman in 1801; 21st April, 1819, John Fln~oter sold to Joseph Gra· bam 91 acres on Hoyles Creek, b11ing a part of 800 acreas c<>nveyed by Christian Reinhardt. Sen1or, " to J ohn F1nger, Senior, now deceased, who died intes­tate, this being tbe share of John Fin­ger, his son, as laid off bv the commis­sioners." S. Catbariu,. ~- Ula. 5. Elizabeth. 6. Barbara. Catharine, the widow of John Finger, l:>entor, married Geard George Gerding in 1804..

Peter Finger, the pioneer, was married twice; his second wife was Barbara Reinhardt, a sister of Christian ReJU­hardt, Senior, who lived on the battle ground of Ramsonr's Jlill. . Peter nam­ed his wite, Barbara, and Christian Reinhardt as the executors of his will. By tbie union be bad two sons, Daniel and Henry. Barbara survived her hus­band many years and was buried in tbe old White Ohurcb graveyard in Lincoln· ton. ·

m. DJ.."illl;I, FINGlrn.

Daniel married Elizabeth Htltebrand. Peter Finger, Senior, willed Dan1el 260 acres of land on both a1de8 of Lock­bardt's creek; this tr!lct was grant-ed to Nicholas W elcb b,r his :Majesty's patent 15th Nonmber, 176!; and by Nicholas Welch conveyed to James Lockhardt 15th March, 177~; J11m.ee Lockbardt con­Teyed to Ben.ry Cline 19th Novemher, 1777; and Henry Cline to Peter Finger

4

18th Angust, 1778; it has never passed from h1s descendants.

Daniel Finger and hie wife are buried on this homestt-ad. Two heatl.atonea on a hillside near the .l<'inger .Mtll mark their last resting place. He died Jan­uary 18th, 1888, a"ed 66 years; bis wife, Elizabeth. survived him many years; she died Oct{)her 15th, 1A60, having been sparffi to the great age of 88 years, 11 mc>ntbs and 26 days. Issue:

1. Peter, married Catharine Warlick, sister of the late Maxwell W'arlick, Esq. Children: Martha and J ane, first ~tnd second wives of James Hicks, .Monro., and Ann.

2. Henry married Polly Killian. daugh­ter of Jacob Killian. lssue:-(a) Frank­lin, livP.d 1n Newton and operattd a foundry; he was twice married, but died without issue; (b) Alfred Killian Finger, married Elizabeth Anthony, and now res1des in Catawba county; (c) Levi, married LJUnie lkercl; (d) Abel, died 1n South Carolina m young manhood; {o) Wtlliam. now a 1;esident of Florid11; (t) Cyntha, marr1ed Ambrose Michal; be died in the war; ebe tben married Har­vey Boat and tht~y n:igrated to Texas; (g) Elizabeth, married Abel Seaa-le, a11d they now live tn Lincoln county.

Alfred K. was a member of Co. ltegi­meal; Levi aad William of Co. B., 2Srd Regimflnt.

J, Joseph Finger married Nancy Kist­ler, dau~Chter of Panl Kistler of Lincoln­ton; Josepll Finger was one o~ the founders of St. Matthews, and erected the church; be removed ro South Ouo­lina and became a successful bnsmess man; he built and operated two cotton mills a.nd left a large estate; his de· scendants yet reside there. He aiso erected the arbo.r a~ St. M:attbews.

4. Michal Finger became the owner ot hiS fntller's homestead, and here spent his life. He married Racbel Warlick. si~;ter of )laxwell Wnrhck, E-q.; she died Hitb July, IS-15, aged 3-1 yearR. 1 month, and 17 days. l~;sne of this mar­ria~e:

(n) . Dnvi<l Warhck Finger. born April lt~t, 18-t:l; me1•1ber of Co. 13 .. 23rd Re::!:i­rueut, N . C. V.: died at the Maucllester Ho~p1tal, Virginia . October 17th , 1861.

(b). D. Calvin Fingei. a member of Co. I , Lith Regiment: married Annie A bernatby: they li\·t in Gn .. tou county.

(c). ~lar~11ret. married W. E. Little, and they moved to Fannin county, Tf?XI\1;1,

(cl ). Ann. m11rriecl Jo~iall As b•ny and lived in c;,nrlotte. ls!!tw: -Ollie F1nger. E. 'lo •, and lllinnie: iilmnie lllarrietl Fr»nk Bl:ur: the last time I :;aw her wa'i nt Matthew;; Uhnr~:h whilt' ' 'h·iting her mother's people: she was then in the joyon<' bhl"h of yonnl( motherhovd. with a li'Wctot babe nestling on her bre11st; she was soon tttl lcd to 1 be spirit land.

(e) )lartba, married William WiU1ams and they reside in Newton.

M1chal Finger was marrie<l a second timtl to Elizabeth Killian. daughter of Jacob Killian and sister of Lc•vi K11liau. hs•te:

(f). Jnne, wtfe of George Brown, of Iron Sla t iou.

(~). William M .• married Mollie Ram­sanr; thl'y reside iu Charlotte.

(h). Luther Eli Fmger. WIIS l.!oru An­l(ll!lt 11 ttl. 1833; lJlarried 8111lie A. Derr, September 1st. 1837; died April 27th. 1890. Dis Wldow and two sons, Carl and l''reuerick Eli, live at StaniE>y Creek. .Eh is pleasantly remembered by tbe writor. W$ were schoolmates in boy­hood, at Rock :::pring's SeminAry, this

county. (i) . Laura U., warned W 11liam Oamp,

and lives in Lrouton, tbil! county. (j). 'fhomas Levi Finge1·, married

Florence Lehmans; they reside on tbe old homestead.

(k). Lucy, marned William Hol· brooks; they live near Matthews.

Michael Finger was a man of tine sense aud sterling cbnt·acter. lie was born .January 12th. 1812 and died Feb­rlHiry Sru, 1877, and was buried at Mat­thews. He was one of the founders ot tbit~ church which was first organized at his home. .B.is wido,v, Elizabeth, lives with her son, Thotnal! L. Fioger, at the ancesh·al homestead on Lockhardt's creek.

ii. ~h1ry. married Sololllon RudJsill. She d1ed May 12th. 1873, ag~::d 64 years, 3 mouths and 7 days. She and her bus­baud were of tbe original members of ~atthews m whose churchyard they are buried. l ssue:-(u) Henry A. RudiSill, died iu the service of bis country at Lynchburg, Virginia, March Srd, 1863, aged 26 years, 4 utoutbs und 12 days; (b) Ehzabetb, wife of Israel R. Stroup; (c) Mnrtha Ann, wife of Henry R . (;hcr­ri~on: (cl) Mary A . • wtfe of George W . Side!<; (e) Ew11line S., wife of Abram Antbouy; (f) Francis C., wife of J acob Anth~:.uy; \g) Isabelle C., wife of Wil­ham Armstrong; (b) John Onhio Rudi­sil l, and (i) L uther l\licbael Ruaisi ll. with their fAtmlies now hve on the nncestral homestead on Leep~>r'e Creek; (j ) l:<.nfus, thll eldest sou married Dovie L. , sister S. P. and J)r. J. A. Sherrill; he was a soldier in the civil war and died in Rich­mond; his son, Lawson A. Sherrill, now lives in t:otawba county.

5. Elizabeth, married Henry· Rein-hardt, of Catawba county, wtere her descendants reside.

6. Daniel Finger married Sallie FlU· ger. a daughter of P eter Fin;:ter of Ire­dell county. lie ooeratea a tannery ana WllS called "T,.uuer Dnniel." Ue was one or the founders of W:attbew~t Cburcb. N enr tbe Ct>nter of I he ~tll')'ll1J: j:(rOuncl at Matthews be erected a monn111ent "In memory of thP Li'amily of Danwt l<"io­J(er." H ere rtlpose the rema111s ot b1s wife, Sallie. who died July 6th. 18-':7. aged 41 years, 7 months. and 24 days. Their four ttons were gallant t:onfedet­ate soldiPr:1, and three of them l~t their lives in the war. This ramily monu­ment perpetuates their names nnd cou­tllins 11 r t.'Cord of their :serviceR, a:lcl marks the last resting place of Monroe »nd Franklin. These will be mentiOned ti rdt.

(a). W:onroe Peter Finger died at Lyncbbnr,:t, Virginia. June 2nd, 1863, from wound rece1ved at the bnttle of Uh~:~ncellocsville. He was aged 27 years, 11 months and 28 days.

(h). Franklin Crooks Finger, died February 12th, 1865. from <libease con­tracted in the army. ngerl 17 years. <l months and 5 clays.

(c). Robert P. Fiuger, was lot~t at tb~ battle of Gettysburg. July 3rd. tS6S. Re reposes in an or. known grave.

(d). ::>icluey Michael Finger, was born 2Hb May, 1837; enlisted in Co. I, lith R egiment: promoted to CnptaiD and .Major 10 qnartermaster's dt•partiUent: was a!ISociated witb Dr. Clapp in Ca­tawb!l College fo. several years after the war: elected to the House of Representu­tives from Catawba <"ouuty in 187<1, ancl to the Senate from Catawba~:~ncl Lincoln iu 1876 and '81; elr:ctect State Superin­tondent of Public Instruction in ISS.I,

l:llling !hit~ Important office with gt·eat

G

!.'fihaency two terms. Major Finger married :;)arab Boyle Rhyne, or Gaston conntr, December 22ud, 1866. He died December 26th, l8!l6; b1~ wife was horn F ebruary 24th, 18:36. nod di~td ut Newton k\-l!ly 17tb, 190a. Major J!'inger and his wife are borietl iu tbe cemetery at Ne\\'­ton. They bud no children.

(--). Ehzabetb Susan died nt the age of eight years.

(f). Mary married Jo~epb E. Fry.

(g). Uaroline marr1ed Rev .. r. Dallas Rowe.

Dr.nie!l F10ger. T~tnner, WHA married a l!econu time to Miss Harnet Little; be then removed to Newton, where bis wi­rlow ::~ow resides. This uniou was blE-ssed witb one daughter. Lillie who was born December 14th, 1867; wanied J. H. L eonard J•lly 8th. 1891; died at her bome 1u Xewrou November 3rd, 1903. Two sons survive.

Daniel FJU~er d1e<l December 11th 1888. aged 82 yean~, 3 months and 21 days. H1s renuun~ lie buried in New: ton cemetery awaiting the resunection or the jn~<t. He was not ouly one of the fOllOders of s~. Muttht!WS Cbnrcb. but alt;o one of its pil11:1rs. He was one of its elders from the organization nutil his removal to Newton. 11 period of more than 1orty-five yenr:~. Ile wna d9YOted to bis church. the Snnd11y ~h"'l. the day school. und the cnmpmef'ting: be was al.so intere!!ted io pnbli<- alf:lirs and his example HDd prect>pl WE're on the side of morality au!l chril,til\nity. Be lived near ::>•. M~:~tthewt~ and wheu by pnrcbase his hOlllE'l!tt'nt\ extenrlerl to the church lancis he conveyed to it in fee thE' refrE'Sh1og church spring. Rit~ hos pitable boUle was ever rendy toentertain

the stranger as well as the ()hrtstlau minister.

1\'. n ..::-; RY t·'J :-><a:n

Peter Fir.ger, ~~nior, devtsed his bome ph1ce of 300 acrea to hi~:~ Roo lleory. Tbis was his K11enet· ulace, on Leeper'~; creek, convt'yed to him by Ahrnnam Keener in 1778. A Jlrlrt of t bis was gt·.tntt'd to Gaspar Keetwr. tbP f11tber of Abraharu. 25th mny. l'iiH and a mtrt granttld to AI.Jrabam Keener 28th February, 1775. There 1s a record of marrrage H enry Finger and Mollie flouser in 1805. and :tod ;April, 1811, a deed of conveyance from Ht'nry Fm~<'t' to John D err. He i s smd to IHtV<' reuroved to 'l\·nuessee. This tract ot· 11 portion of it passed through the Dert'l! to l!;phrHilll <.:toodsou, lately tb!' howe of~- V. Uood!MJ , ll,;,q,.

lllW ~vhen st ld fur l>arti t i<tll IIUlong the htirs uf Ephraitu <.:tuodtton was pur­chast>cl by 'fbouaa~ L. !ringer, the ~;on of .Michai:'J, W110 nOW Own:-~ it.

The <.:line tracLon L ocl<hurdt 's creek. w illed hy Peter Finger to his son Daniel. never passed <' Ut of the family. and is also owu~:d todHy by Thutnas L. Finaer. who thus becomes the fortunate JIO~:~.,~es.-;or of the two plantations owne<t hy his grest !{rand fath~r. Peter .Finger, hallowed by so many sac red memoried and s weet family ties.

LJ::£PF.R's CREEK.

P eter Finger's home pluce lny on both sides of L eeper's Ct·eek, aud IDC'Iuded wbat is knowu as the Goodson ana Lof­tin tracts. This creek it~ ment10necl in the pnplic recordt-~ at! "Leopard 's creek ," and " Lippard 's ()reek," but tbe pt·oper name is • · L eept'r's ()re~k," from the old pioneer, Rohert Leeper; who entered 11

large body of lantl ou this tllrenm nbovu

7

Mariposa. His entry bears date 3rd i\fnrcb, 17.33.

L '::Ch.""U.\.RDT'S CREFK.

Lockbardt's Creek IS a tri tlu tary of ()Iarke's creek, and perpetut11tes tbe name of James Lockharc1t, a pioneer G-erman settler. H1s place was a oove the Fmger's. and a half mile south of ~t. Matthews. It later became the home of Damel Shrnn1, antl by recent ::.ale for partition arnong the Sorum beirs was purchased by Tbotnas L, Finger. Jamt's L ockbarc.lt ruarried Annie Mills.

LICK RUN.

Lick Run is a tributary of L eeper's crtek. and we some•imes speak of it llR

''Fom Mile Branch. ·• the Sherri lls Ford !toad crossing it at that distance from Ltncolnton. T-is ~>tream took ita name Crow saline earth in its banks whet e deer and other animals resorted to lick. ,John FJUger son ot the pioneer fir::ot s~t­tler on "Lick .Branch.' I al110 find the following reference to a "deer lick'' on L ockbardt's c reek in a Jtrant to John Boyd; the land in thh:1 entry is described as bt.>ing "aix've James L ockbardt'& im­provements, inclnding the fork where Keeuer's path crosses, ruuning up both sid~ of the creek including a dee1· lick. ''

Th.:: Fingers have largely been •dentr­fiPd with the Reformtld cbnrcb; and iu­terested in the OrE,auizatioo and s upport of Saint Matthews; and. in the grave­yard of this church repose many of tbeir dead. I bad tnteoded to give a brid sketch of Matthe,vs, but havtug been pt~rmitted to ~sa wine its original re::ords believe a few extracts from these will be rettd with more interest than auythlng I could wr1te.

SAINT .\L\.'M'E!.EWS CHURCH.

"May 22nd, 1836. A meeting of the

, -~

'

s

citJ:<~ens and members or the Ge~man Angnst A. D. 183G at the s1x JUlie post

ltt>formed Church iu tne neighborhood 11bove Daniel Shrums ou tne lt!htnd Ford

was held 11t the dwelling houae of Mr. road. Michael Fmger for the purpose of con· ·•Ou that in~;tant the btlilding commit­

suiting npon the propriety aod necess1ty tee met and flold tbe building of eatd

of building a meeting hou~e. church to ~lle lowest bidde1· of whom

"After a sermon waR preachf'll hy Re''· ~h .. Jo~eoh Finger gave the lowest bid,

Jobn G. Fr1tchey. John Cot11ter was ami then entered in.o the sucl·eediue­

called to the ch>~ir and Benjamm Norris cuntract." (Tbeu follows the contract at

appomted secret11ry. 'l'he CJill'stion was $W.'i.)

then pot to the congregation whethe1· '• ,Ju oe.fth 18llll. We the uncl!lrsigned

tho•y wonld bt1ild a Meeting lJonse which proulise to pay to .John Caq,enter ar.d

was nnamimous!y agret~d to in th~ John Ramsonr, Trustees, the suu1 an·

affimative. uexe<l to our uames for the use and pur-

"An<t after mature u•·liberatlon 1t l)<>~>~e of buildinl.{ a German Itt>forrued

was agreed to bnil<l a chntcll on the ro>td Chnrch to be known by the unme of

leadmg from Lincolnton to ~be l shmd Saint Muttnewl! for the use ol a ue• wan

l<'ord on lnnd which John H.amsour l~eforwed Congrl:'gntwn t11ere, sai(l

(Tanner) agreed to gJVe for tue purpose church to be buill on a tract or land Jy.

of erecting a houqe thereon for the wor· ing on the l>~lantl Ford R oad. ju~t above

ship of Almighty God. Daniel Hallman't~. Jr., which John Ram-

" It was further resolved that we build sour, Tanner, h>1th this day con1•eyed to

a honse one 11tory b1gb, forty feet loug the said Tru~tees, Oue half of the said

and thirty feet wide. subscription to be pnid as soon 1111 there

•·John Ramsaur and John Coulter is two bundre<l dollars StJbscribeu, the

were appointed 'rru'ltee<~, in order to otht>r half to be pnid 1vithto six mouths

raise sobscrlphous and superintend the after the bnildinl( i:l commenct'd The

collection and disbursement of the llt~t of subscripttous i:s liS tollowto:

money. Juo. C..,ulter $10: Dauiei Finger (T)$10;

·•It wns also I·esolved that the chair Mul'CIIt~ Shuford $:3; Franklitl !teiOiuu·dt

appoint tlu·ee otber per,;ons iu conjunc· $l.iJO; Lyman Woodforcl $10; Anthony

tion with the trustees, where upon Elchard, $2; Ly;;nudt>r Wtlsou, $1: U.eo.

J oseph Finger, John Blackburn anu Eicherd, $3; Jobo Ulauoey, $:3. lllurgat·et

JaoobSnmmerow were appointed. David Sullivan, ~1: David ttamsanr. *10; a. R. Bennick was appointed Stlc:retary for Rarnt~~tur. $2; David ffeedick, $3: J~tcob

the Society. l~alllsanr, p1. W .). $ll, Abel Ewh~rd, $3;

·'July 2Srd, 1836. Af~e•· tile aforesuiu D11uiel Ratusalll', $5; Peter Snu11nerow,

proceedings a 111eeting wa~ held at tile $3; Daniel Loretz. ~1: .r~w e.'l Buyd. ~;

bouse of Mr. Jos. Finger by the building ,John Ramsanr, St!uior. $2; Jrtcoh Link

committee for tile purpose of drawing $1; JamesSnu11uerow, ~5; Jobu Curpen

off the duneutioos of snid churc.;b, It ter, $!0: Jo~epb. Fin~er. :j;IO; Daoit.'l Srom

was unanimou:!IJ agreecl upon tllat the $10; Wiley Hallman, ;ill\': .MICbHel F111

building ot' the church be advertised and gal'. $10; Duvitl H.atnsanr, (S. R.), !l;.J

let to tue lowest bidder on Lhe 13th or A:(dre'" Motz. $2; Michael Sntutnerow

$5: David R. Benh;k, ~; Jacob A. Ram­~anr S;t; Marcus floke. $2; ~licbael Hoke, $1; Mr. Tbomp~ou , ;!;1: Daniel Som­UiCrow. JL, $6; l::lolomon Ramsanr, $1); John Blackbnrn, ~; Benj liuin Norris, $:3; Andrew H. Loretz, :j;Z: Jac~b Ram­~aur, Seniur, $5; Jacob :)uunnerow. $1>, Johu Hoke, $5, Michael Reinhardt, $:3; David J. Rarusanr, $'!; Alfred Ran•sanr; $11.50; llrs. Elizabt-tll !<'10ger, $1; Solo­mou Roc il;ill, $3; Jobu Srnm, :j:li; Epll­raim Goodson, :j:3.

"June 2-ltll, 1837. A sermon was preacbecl by tbe Rev. John G . Fritcbey, at Matthews. After sermon a weetiul-t' wall held in thP clmrcb by the trustees aud mem bt>rs ror the purpose of complet­ing lt.-Rellolv~cl by A majority that th(\ frame ot tbe gallery be taken out. 'l'o be ceiled with plank, square overhead. To be painted out:nde with white paint. 'fhat the colored people occupy the two b11ck seats aJ the end of the bouse-out> on each side of the entry as often or as loug as tbe sess•on llllly think proper.

"l::leptewber 22nd 1888.-Resolved that the church be lathed and phu;tered ..

·•May 3rd, 1897. A sermon was preached by the l:tev. John G. !<'ritchey for the purpose of organizing Saint bllttthewa Uburcb. After sermon. the muues of those perscms wbo wished to become members were t11kt n down as t 11lows:-Johu R11msour. (Tanner), DaVId .R. Bennick, Jobn Carpenter, Wilt'y Hallman. Daolel Finge•· ('fanner), Jncob Snmmerow, Anthony Ikerd, Joseph Finger. Daniel Snmtrt~row, Jr .. Henry Snmerow. Daniel ::>hrom, James N Summerow, Michael Fmger. Jacob Raml>onr, (:\1. R.), Peter Surumero,v, Awbrost~ Bolick. Solomon Rudisill, Dan­it!l R11wsonr. Michael Summet·t~ w, E lisha Suuuders, Rev. David Crooks. Nancy

9

li'inger, Mary Ann BenniCk, Racbel Fin­get·, Ehzabeth Garpeoter (Summerow). Susan l:tamsour, Mury Carpenter, Mary Ramsour. Widuw !<.:hz11bech Finger, Mary l::lrmu, Uatbriue Srum. Susan Finger. Barbara Hallman. ~argaret Summerow, Ann lkerd, R ebecca K . Summerow, Barbara l::lummerow (Jacob's w1te), Sarah Fin;er (Hinson), Elizabeth Finger (Rem­harclt). Sarah Snmmerow. Elizabeth Car­peulel·, R ebecc11 Bolick, Elmua Sum­merow. Mr11. :'tlary Rudisill, Mrs. Louisa Goodeoc, illrs. Saunders , Mrs. Uatharine Crooks, Mrs. Nancy Boyd and ~rs. Nancy Murphy.

June 3rd . 1838, John l::lhrum, Levi Car· peuter, William P . Reinhardt. Levi :::>ht'lliU and others wet·e confirmed. L evi Shrum is yet living in s1ght of the church, and ill its oldest tnember.

J ohn Carpt>uter. JauobRamsour, John Ramsaut· and Daniel Finge\' (Tanner) were elected elders, David R. Benmck, Ulerk and Rev. John G.Fritchey, Pastor.

"M.ay 19th A. D. 1837. A mt:eting of three d1ys was beld at -'latthews Church by tbe Revs Messrs. Fritchey, Craw­ford, aud Rankin fo1· the purpose of ded­tcating the church und ordaining the above named eldora. The elders were ordained.

•·l'be dedication sermon was preached by the H.ev. Crawford on the 21st from I Kings 8Lh chapter latter clause of the 68rd verse, wh1cb reads as follows: •so the Kin~ and all the cblldl·en of Israel dedicuted the bouse of the Lord.'

Thtl first fuuer11l at St. Matthews Wl\S that or a little daughter of John and Mary Carpenter. The church was not yet weatberboarded. The minister, Mr. Fritclley, stood on one of tba sills of tne church to preach.

.Tune 3rd. 1836. J ohn Rawsour, Tau-

ner. for tbe nominal cou!'icleration of fif­ty cents coo,•eyed ~o the trustees five acres of land ou which the cntHch was built. At sam" time be leas~d the use of the spring tor 199 years. On the 9th or September, 183€, ,John Ram$our con­veyed to the trustees 25 acn::;. ''The said laud is conveyed to said tru;;tees for the use of tb.e German Reformert Cnurcb . for the purpose of a church graveynrcl 1111d campmeetin!! grounct-i u c 1 n d i u g Matthews ChlHCb." Fel>rnary 1st, 1878. Daniel Finger, coo .... eyed the trustees 65 sqnartj pole!>, •·inclndiog the spring."

Tl:ill CAMPMEETI NGS.

An institution of g reat interest to the community aorl surrou•1ding country for many miles was the campmeeung hE>ld annually at St. Matthews for a period of about tbirty-five year.s. '\'bese were first oeld unr1er a brnsh arbor, and after tS-1.-'> under the splendid structure. that yet shelters the la~ge audience:; at pro­tracted meetings . The 32od campmeet­ing. the last of which there IS a record, was held in 1ll7-1, but tney continued ROm !I three or four years after tllis.

The architect of the arbor was Henry Whitener (father of Wil;iam and Lee.) and James Summerow and Jo:;eph Fm­ger did the work.

In 1!!40. the Classis of North Carolina passed th is resolntion: "That a camp­we~ting shall be behl <tt Matthews cburcb, commencing on Friday previous to thP tbinl Saobath in Augu.st next, and it ~:~hail b~ the duty of all tbe minis­terial brethren to stttenu said <"ampmect­ing " A fe,v e.xt~·acts from the records of t he campmeettug may be read with interest.

•'The tirst campllleeting held at Mat­thews Church Angust 131 b, A. D. 1839, l!Jessrr;. Leopoll. Fritchey. Crawford,

10

Crook!:, and J. Lantz, and Sunday the Lord 's SnJ>per was administered, collec­tion $28.75; fifteen dollars was taken to defray the expenses of the building, the balance paid Mr. Leopolcl for the educa­tion or young rueu for thfl mimstry. mt-tetiog closed Monday. Two persons re­ceired as 111e111be.·s. Elizabeth Carpenter · and David Ramsour

··The second campmeetin~ commenced on Friday 'l8th August by Crawford, Ct·ooks, Lantz. aou tbe Rev. Crowell. a Methodist preacher. Ou ~nnday the Lord's Snpper was administered to about two hundred communicants. Collection $2l.'i5, twenty-one dollars pair! to John Ramsour, 1'., for laud pnrchasecl of hitu for lhe use of the camp and seventy-five centt; paid to Daniel Fin~er for wine. Closed Monday. Martin Carpenter uurJ Frances Shnford received as members.

•· ·rbe fourtli camprueetiog com•neuced on Fl'ichy, J'nly 29tb 18*2 by Me.:;srs. Crawford. Lnutz, Walker aud Middle­kaulf. The number ef persou:s j<Jined tile church were seventeen.

''Tbe fifth campmeetiu~ c.>mmtnclld F riday :.>Stb .Tuly 18-l:J by Mess:s. Craw­ford, Lantz aud Midr1lekaulf. Uo the tiabbatb the Lord's Supper was adminis­tered to a great numb.,r of communi­cants. Collection on Saturday $ 15.70, 37~ paid Daniel Finger for commnlllon axpenses: $4.1i0 paid to the Rev. S . S. · Middlukauff towards his tnlVeling ex­penses from Maryland to tni.s place. Six pen;ons joined the church. Meet1ng closed !\'loud!ly at 12 o'clock.

·•Third ~uuday in Sept. 18511 the 15th CawpmetltlOJ<: was bt:lcl at Matthews Chnrcb. Ministers present "·er e Crooks, Lantz. Crawford, Mood, a M. E ., and Wagoner, Lntherau. Twenty-one per­sons JOIUed the churcli. mue of these at.

11

tal·hed themselve3 to the church at i.\lat­thew:~: Oliver A. Ram~aur, Walter J. l'tam~onr. ~- 13. E. ltamsonr, M. J. Rawsour, Robert P. Finger, Martha S. Finger, Sidney S. Carpenter, L. Catha­rine U•u·penter, uud Hiram A. Fomey.

·'1855. The HHb campweeting was held at Matthews Church, embracing the 2nd Sunday in ::>ept. Ministers pres ent wtlre Cux>ks, Lantz, Crdwford and Finger, :\1. E. ~'ifteeo persons joined the church.

The campmeetiug;~ were remarkable tor ~rood order aod n:ligious devotion. Wbeu the Rignal wus giVen fvr puhlic servi<:e everybody went to the arbor withont <:~toppiog to ioquire wbo was to prPIICh.

Sinct> tbe clltnpmeotiogs were discnn· tiunetl protraded meetwgs are held eul­braetog lhe fir . .;t SuurlHy in September. T he,e nre nn:ninders to the older people of tb!' campm.:etiog«. It hao:~ been my good fortune to attend many or the lat­ter meetintn~. und enjoy tbe preaching of Dr. Ulapp, ll.r. Murphy and others, aull sweet inrerconrse with Lhe large assem­bly of good people gatbered from uaston. Lincolnton Maiuen, Newton, Hi<.kory and tbe intervening country.

•rr•:l'IT flOLDERS. Harrison 'V•lt<on, .Jacob Ramsanr,

.Max Warlick, David R11rusaur. Pinkuer Reiubnrdt. Adolphns Bost. Elkanah Hartzo.~e. .Taco\;, Summerow, James Somm.:row, (feorge Ram,anr, 1\hltou Campbell HiruUJ Forney. Henry Sbrunr, Solomon Rn!li>~ill, John Uon)t('r. Daniel i.taru:>anr, .Tohn Carpenter. Fn1u1in Uar­penter, David Crooks, Mr:~. !ioward. Henry Ram~uur anct Fraukhu Rt~in­bardt.

I'ASTOltS. ltev. John G. Fritchey organize<t St.

Matthews and was its first paster. H e came to North Oarohllll in 1828, and for twelve years did much fuithful aod etfed•ve \~Ork iu reorganizing and strengtilening the German .tteformed Church, whioh previous to h im had been for sixteen yea~s without a pastor iu this section, or nny person of tl.tat faith to preuch to them, except 1.n occasional sermon by some one sent out by Synod on H short mi~sion. To his ministrations is due much ot the steadfastness of the falbers and mothers of the German R e­formed Ohur,~h. and I know the people of A former p:eneration, that knew hi m, held bis name in high esteem, for ver1ly I.e did "strengthen the thing~> that re­mained." I do not know his f urther his tory or the date or his death, exe\lpt th is mention of him by Rev. Welker. about 1879: · •T he Rev. John G . F r1 tch('y was di~mi!tsed in 1841, to the Classis of Zion and now r.:sides in Lancaster City, Pa. Bt:in~ sti ll in the field, I shall forbear to write fnrther of bit.u for fea r the naughty date that I might nse mignt tmply that he was no longer a youth . w bo bAS uever laid off the harues.o;. but wbo still servt>s in the cause of the ~reat Master .. ,

Th(' Rev. G . A . L eopold t hen supplied the c,•ngregatiou for a brief time. perhaps dlning tbe year 1839. Thera 1s no ~:~pecial record of Ins \VOrk, e:s:cept he baptized some of the children from Nov. 18:38 to January 1810. H e was a native of Lincolu county. He finally weut to U>11iforoia to dig for g~Jld and d1ed tnere.

'!'here is no record that Rev. J. H . Uruwford preacilerl regularly to tins congrt>gat10u. bu t he admmistered tha rrghts of baptism from January l~l to Angn~t lS.l·). He frequently preacbed here durin~ this time. He was ll strong broad-miude<l man HI ways heartily wei-

12

comect at ::>t. Matthews. lie was a olRSS­mate of Mr. Fritcbey'll. who induced him to come south.

Rev. SolomonS. Middlekauff became pastor of the Lincoln charge in 184!, wh1Cil tben included St. Matthews church. He remained its faithful pas­tor,:until his untimely dt;ath, at Catawba ~priugs Mav 21st 1845, at the youthful age of 26 years. He was much loved. and Ius short ministry did much to unify and build up his cougi·egationlol. One who knew him penned this tribute to biS memory: "J:I.e was a man of mild and peaceful sp1rit and enioyecl in an emlnf'nt degree the confidence and love of his people. When his remains were bt·ongbt home to be iutened at Lincoln­ton in the mu.lst of b1s peoplt>, the large concourse tb'lt gathet·ect we .. ping around bis grave bore testimony to his faithfnl­ness to them and of their love to him. He was much esteemed by the win1sters vt I be Classis, among wbom be ~Spent his brief ministerial hfe; and there ne many throughout the cburch .vho cher­ish with faithfulness and &flection the memory of hlS short but beautiful life. 'fhe young, too, are n~eded in tbe cboir above, aucl it is not' for us to find fault with that mercy, which glvrilies thOse wbom 1t will io early life." His mortal rewains repose in the '·Old White Church" grave yarc1 in LincoLnton. His consort, a daughter of Jacob H.amsaur,

. lies beside uim. Some time after tbe death of Rev.

Middlekauff m 18-15, tbe Rev. Davtd Crooks, became tbe next pastor. He was a native ol Franklin county, Pa., wbere be waR born, Marcb ~Otb 1812. He like­wise served until his death January 24th 1859. He was the r,astor of ::>t. Mattbaws about fourteen years. MaJor Finger

says of Mr. <.:rooks: ''He was wondet·­fnlly plain and direct and brief in bis sermons. He di ligeutly watched over h!S flock aud reproved wrong everywbere, and he lived what be preached. He was thuR enabled to preach by precept and example. lie possessed the rar~ talent of saying mucb in few words, and of coming directly to tbe point he aiwed at. He was a fine specimen and type of a Christian warrior and leader." Mr. Crooks is the only minister of Milt­thews wnose remains respose in its cem­etery. ·

Tbe H.e'1· Jobu L~.tntzserved Mattbew!l from tbe death of Rev. Cro?ks in 1859. until 1868. He was a native of f,incoln, reared u:1der the mimstJ·v of Rev. Fntch<ov. He was for a tit!lf• a stu 'Aut Rt the Academy in Lincolnton tben un­der the Rev. Fritcbey, and studi':ld the­oloKy at York, Pa .. under Dr. Mayer. He removed from bere to Augusta coun­ty, Virginia. and ended his ministry at Taneytown. Md., where be died iu the 7Srd year of his age, aod wherP his re­mains were lt.id to re8t. The late Major Finger left tb1s beantilnl tribute to his worth: •·I knew bim well, and I considered him oce of the best meu I t'Vel' knew. Be was a well equipped mao, and bad what he knew at bis ton­gues t:nd, a!ld conseqnently was a ready man. He seemed to need bot little time for preparation to preach an acceptable sermon . He served the con~regatioo at St. Matthews for about elflht years, ana dtd much for its npbuilrlil}g. .llh,ery­body liked biro for his ~eouine worth, aud everybody was reaoy to say, ·there is a goocl man. and one io whom there is no guile'."

Tbe minister.;s £<ince will be briefly mentioned. Dr. J. v. Clapp of Newton

lll

was supply from 1868 to 1873; l>r. LinCllln county, nearly always lodged Clapp anct Rev. John A. Foil from 1873 wJtb memtlers 1n Davidson and Rowan until 1!!81. Mr. Foil was then paQtor conn tJejj . 'fbe trip of 140 miles was us­from 1881 to JSSG. Rt.v . J. L. Murphy ually made in lbree days. Warm at­was paster from Jnly 1885 until October htcbments sprang up betweo::n the fami· 1890. Rev. ,J. M. L . Lyerly from June lies of these members and the membe1·s 1891 to June 1892. Rev. F oil then auted of Clll~l!i s. Wbat with winter mud and as supply for two year<:~. Dr. Ulltpp, cold, and summer beat and swollen then served a~ 1>astor from .January 1894. strellms, these journeys h11d a gooaly until June 18!17. Rev. T. C H PSSoo':; share of hardships along with many pastorate bt>g11n J nne 13th 1897 and pleasing incidents. 'I'bt:l!e trips annnal­eniled June 26th 1902. The Rev. C. B. ly to Classis in tlle spring, and others in Heller, began October 191h 19(12. the fall, to assist at communions. pro-

111~. J. c. CLAPP tr11ctecl stud campmeetiugs kept up a was for many renrs president of Cat>lw­ba Collegl': be is a scholar aml teacher of ability: 11 pn•acber of earnes tness nod force: he i1:1 wucb loved, and his benefi­cent wflnt'llCttll:lllOt bounded by denomi­uatiounl line!!. Htt is (IDe of tbe vener­able landUJatks of Saint Alattb~ws , and I estPf'm hi~> !ri('odship. Dr. Clapp 1s one ot the connecting links betwetn the p~U-t and preoent, w<>ll ,.e~eu 1n tbe his­tory of h1s church and people, and inter­P~ted in it~< pr<"H·rvntion. He yet travels in his bigh-wht>eleclRulky. Tbe follow­ing description ot travel in the eatly days is from hi11 pen:

b.>nd of communicatiOn and sympathy between the pastors and the different c'largt>s. 'l'he meetings were prt>cious o~.:caeiona for th<' congregations ond char~es in whiCh they were held. They usoully oroug!lt most of the pastors to­l(et her and some ti me.'l a visitmg brother from the North. or some friendly miniS· t!'r of a neighboring congre).(ation of a ~.>i:;ter chur-::h. The meeting:; were evan­gelil!tic, with pungent earoCjjt preach in~. and were often attenaed with t>xteosive and profound reVlvals and large ingath­ermgs of merubers mto tbe churches. lntleed they wer<> a prinuipal agency in building up the churches.''

~1001'. 01'' TRA VELLlNG. . Rev. J ohn A. F o1l, was born Decem-"Previous to the organization of the , ,

Cla~ts of N. C .• the travelliug was doutl .ber 12th, 1847. neal' Concord, Cabarrtlll almost exclu~J\•ely on horse-back . .Fatb- COtmtr, N. C; attended C11tawba Col­er Loretz kept two black steeds for this le!{t' four yt>an>; graduated in tht> litera­porp lBe. LRtt>r toe gig or chaise, a two- rv anti theological department of Urt~l· ,, heeled vehicle was introducl'd. This nut~ Colleg.:. Pennsyh•ania. 1n 1873; li­was a Juxnry i;dulgt>d in only by the ccn~etl by the Classis of Ph1ladelpnia, f!'w. Still later buggit>s and other fom anu one year later ordained at Newton, wheeled vt>hiClt•>' Wt're i n trod u -:: e u. N. C.: was professor in Catawba College There were no r~:~il roads in this section from 1873 uutil 1902; during tlns time until late iu I be fifties. Tbe ministers usu111ly acted Ill' a supply but was tbe and del!•gates to Classi o~ in those t imes. n•gnhn· pa~tor of St. Matthews h·orn 1n pas:;ing !rom <.7ullford and Orange to 1881 ti ll 1885. B.e married Sue, t!le seu-

14

ond daughter of Rey. Jot1n Lantz. SEMI·CENTENNlAt. CELEBRATION.

Rev. J. L. Murphy was the pastor of Saint Matthew!! when mv acquaintance with it began. This was his first pas­tor>tte. and ~int Matthews and tts peo­ple have retained a warm place in bis uffections. Mr. Murphy is s man of nbility, of sterling qualities of bead and heart, nr:d a preacher of power. Be bas uone much for the preset vation or church and local history. I copy the following notice of a celebration !!ervice. issued by Air. ~Jurphy, dated at Hickory, N.C., Angnst 27th. 189.3:

'"A ~erui-·;entenniRlservice will be held nt St. Matthew's Reformed church, SJx miles from Lincolnton, on the Ialunct Ford road, beginning on Friday, ~ep­tember 6th, and closing on Monday, the !llh. The invited flpeakP.rs are, Rev. A. R. Smith. J. A. Foil. J. 0. Clapp. New· tot:: H. A. ,\1, Holshon;:;er, Conover, and J. L. i\lur!JhY, Hickory. Historical ad­dresses will be delivered by Hon. S. ,,J. Fin{(er and Col. H. A. Forney.

•·Years ago, St Matthews flourished as <•ne of the prominent campmeeting places in Lincoln county, and around it cluster many sweet memoril~... The services provided will do much to awaken thi!Se memories, and bring out facts of history of great local interest. Let there be a large attendancA."

This occas.ion is pleasantly remember­ed. Maj. Ftnger's address WKS a beauti­ful and affectionate tribute to his kin· dred and V<:<>Pie. replete with bistortc fact11. I acknowledge mv indebtedness to it for many facts In these s.ketches.

Theodore Calvin Hes~:~on, is a native of Littlestown. Adams comlty, Pennsylvu­nta; engaged several yearR in education­al work; graduated from college and

seminary with d.stinction; hcensed by Gettysburg Class1s Mny 15th, 1897; or­dained and installed by committee of N. C. Classi~ July !Sib, 1897; this was his first pastorate.

C. B. Heller. the present pastor was born in Pa .. and edncuted in Franklin Ancl Marshall College, LAncaster, Pa. Ho came to North Carolina in 1884. He lives in the parsonage 11t Maiden, where there is a .tteforrued church, largely formed from the Matthews conp:reyation. He is an earnest preacher. faithful pas­tor, and affable gentleman.

The trnstdes at the beginning of the w11r and for a long tiwe were John Car· penter. Michael Finger aucl H. A. For· ney. Jnly 8th 1877, William Hiusou, Elkanu Hartzog~. and A. Holick were elected Truste<:S. In Jl'all of 1889, D H. Thot·oton was elected trnstee ~o fill the vacancy caused by the death of Willi11111 Hinson, to serYe wtlh ,\lilton Campbell and Levi Shrum.

Daniel Finger, 'rarmer, was au elder and treasurer of the congrt)gatioo from its or~ranzatton nntil his removal to Newton. In 1879 Daniel Finger resign­ed as treasurer and William O.inson wad elected. After tbe d~:ath of William Hinson in the Fall of 1889 ll. H. Thorn­ton was elected treasurer.

CATAWBA COLLil:O.El

Slllnt Matthew's Oampp;roond was fautecl as thA rallyiog-l(ronncl of the Get·· man Reformed church in the Western part of the Classis. I am tndebted to Major Finger for this ttew which records the genesis of CaulWba Cellege at New­ton, N.C. "It was at this place in John Conlter's. tent during a meeting of tbe Lorelz Henefici!ny Society that tbe f'S·

tubliAhment o! a literury institution was suggeste<t. Tht> Lorctz Beneficiary fund

15

was estabhshed to assist 1n educating young men for the ministry. Wh1le the members of tllis soc1ety were discussing this' t:nbject, I learn that Mr. M. L. McCorkle, now our vem:rable and belov­E:<) elder Judge McCorkle, proposed that we take stPps to t>stablisb in our midst an institution to educate our young peo­ple at~ far as posSJble. 1t wns not long after this that Catawoa Collt>ge was opened. which bas done so ruucb for our people and church."

THE SCHOOL IIOU$t;,

H was characteristic of the early set­tlers to build a school-boose by the cbnrcb. anrl 8t. Matthews was no ex­ception to tb1s custom. A little nearer to the snrmg than the church the Site of the school hou~e can yet be seen. This was ertK:te<l about a year after tht> churr.b, and be fort> the ctars of public ~chools. It was built ot loas with chitunt>y and fire place to supply heat. &me of the teach­ers that swayed the sceptre were J ohn Killutn, Harvey i:tobinson. Valentine Manntoy, Jacob Lantz. John J:I. Roberts, D!lvld R. Whitener and John .li. Robin­son. Tbe public t:chool was subs~quent­ly removed to ·•Piney Grove."

1 have prepared a few additional sketches to preserve some of the history of the founders aud families connected with the early bistory of Saint Mat­thew!!.

One year after the orgamzation, June 3rd, 1838; the Rtv. Fritchey confirmed tne followmg membel't!: John Shrum, Levi Shrum, W. Pinkney Reinhardt, Levi Carpenter, Peter Shrum. Fraoc1s Hallman (Finger), Sarah Summerow (Gilbert), Linna C:arpenter (Lan tz). Mary Ann Snaumerow, Sarab Finger. (Hinson), S>irah Uarpenter, Mary Snu.unerow

(Poovey), Susan Summerow CHartzoge), and N11ncy Shrum.

Tht' Rev. Middlekauff in 1848, 1844, and 18-tG. confirmed the following: Wll­iam Himson, Elisb.'l Ramsanr. Heury Shrum. Oeo. E. M. Bennick, &lomon ::ihrum, Franklin Carpenter, Martha Carpenter, Adaline ::iummerow (Rhoney). Caroline Uarpenter (Fin!(er), Nancy Car­penter. Mrs. Eliza Ramsnur, Malinda lfmger (Thornton), Eva Lantz, Lavinia Carpenter, Sar11b Sbrum (Forney,) Mary Auu Carpenter, Jnba AtJn Rams•mr, Mrs. E. Smyre, Janetta Swyer, Mrs. Roxanu11 S111yer, Mrs. M11rtbll Smyer, Mrs. N1mcy Smyer.

JOliN £. COUL'J'ER, ESQ.,

preswed over tbe first meeting at :\iicbael F in!£er'o when it was determined to es­tablit>b St. Mntthews church. took an ac­tive intt>rest in its erection and welfare, and was a tent bolder: but there is no record that he ever became a member.­retainmg his membership at Grace. Mr. <Jonlter lived on the east stde of tile Sontb Fot·k; his place now tbe howe of Alonzo Lutz. He was 11 noted surveyor, aod sheriff of Lincoln county. His rep­utation for integrity, and as a Cbr1stian gentleman still li::.gers. I have often re­t. aced his surveys and so accurate \vas b1s work, that I can follow hit~ lines with t he IU!Slnance of bitting the corners.

l>A VID R. BENIOK,

was preseut at the organizution of St. lllatthews, and sacretary of first meeting at J.ll1icbael Fingers. Ris name stands second ou lhe onginal roll of members. Tbe early church recorda are in his band writiu~; und, tbose interested in Saint M11tthews, and its history owe bis mem­ory a uebt of ~ratitude for tbe fui tbful mnnuer io which be made record ta

minotest detail of the origin. ereQtion nod early history of St~iot Matthews.

THE RA)ISOCit FA~ULY.

10

today by his sou, Thomas, J., and lies next above A. Costner, E sqr., on the South J!'ork r1ver; on a quiet knoll, on this t·omestt-ttd repose David. John, Sr.,

T he church records witness that the Daniel - - and mttny members of this R amsoar 's bore tt snbstantial part in the branch of the Ratm-onr f~tmily . Tbom­e~>tablishment and sunport of Saint :\111t- as J . , a few yeArs 11go pointed out to me thews. T his family is descended from a log bouse. w1tb wide-exten liog fire­David and Jacob, the sons of Derrick place Inside, tm·ctecl by David Raru11our: i<amsour, a pioneer l>lltoh t~ettler; nncl by it stood au •>ld rud-p111nted want.lon, David ttn<l Jacob remaioed f11vor1te <·baracterh;tic of the early Dutch, built names; it will be ob~erved there are by his son, Johu J.~am~onr, Esqr.; every three Davids and two Jacobs on the part of it w8l! put together with b!lud subscript1ou hst to build St. ~latthews torgeJ nails; these ~11ood by a spring, church. John Ramsour. the son of Da- shaded with massi1•e oaks, near the r1ver vid, was a proulineut planter. and r"P· bank. A little further out from Lbe til'· reileutea Lincoln county in tbe G<meral er was the modt>ru uriclc residence erect A~dembly; J ohn and hit! son<~, J obn. J11- cd by l\lill Wrigilt Jacub,-the bomes or cob, Daoielaud Anrlt·ew dtiServe speci11l three succest.ive geuerat10ns of thE' Raw­luennou in the history of St. Matthe\\"ll. bOUr faw1ly. The Jttcob Rawsour place J ohn's name appears as John Ramsour. was purchased by Sheriff Robinson. Seu1cr, ~nd the sons as John Ramsour, Daniel Ramsaur tt~isted in the erection Tanner; the latter lived in wbat is now of St. Matthews and wa; one of the orli­the western limits of the town of MRtden, lOIII members. Andrew ltan,som· was nod operat<'Cl a tannery: be donated the tlle father ot Annie, wife of John E. Bo­first church laud, the llSe of the spring, ger, and isabella, wile of W. H. Michal. was one of the trnsteea, first elders, and It is a plettsnre to record that Thomtts bts name stands firdt in tile original roll J. Ramsonr hat~ made an object of bis of mew bars; he was a good citizsn. act- care the preservation of lila ancestral log ive and loyal in the interes~ of the cabin erected by h•s great-graoafatber. cbnrcb, and his name deserve.c; to rank It s tands today by the swirling wtttert! among tbe tir~:~t of the honored founders of the South lt'ork a mute monument of of :::aint Matthewt!; he was the father of pioneer life aur1 architecture. the late VardrEy, Jacob Hunter, Elisha Jouu R11wsaur. C:oqlllre, bad tbrP.e nnd others. Jacob. the sou of John broLbet·s. Duviu ( l'~tnnE>r), Henry and Ramsanr, Seuior, was a IJlill-wright, and Philip: Dana (1'.), hved at the Dr. E. bill name appears in tbe records "Jacob <.:rowel! place ~tnd Wlls the father or Al­Rawsonr. M. W. ;" be was one of the fred and Henry; tt.tsHeory tbefatber of f1unders of Saiut Matthews. and a lso ,\Irs. Elltt l:iar1lll, Mrs. Alice HArrill, oue of the first elder,.; be \V&~ the fatber and .Mrs. Olil•t-r i"t1.1msour. Henry, of Walter, Oliver A., Theodore J ., 1.1nd brother o1 J obu. Willi the father of Da­ot!:terl!. D11nit l inherited the ancel!trnl viu, (deat) . Solomon and otbers; and holllestead, where his father, J obn. and Solomon was th t father of E lkauab, granelf~ttber Da'\"id , lived; this IS ownecl Henry E. and othrr:~.

North Carolina Stat"' L'b "' 1 rc. y Raleigh

17

Davicl Ramsoor (deaf) lived where Lee Hoovf'r now lives, his sou Andrew L., was one of tbe early tru~;tf'e'! of ~11lt­thews camp groun<l; Andrew L. now lives in Hickory, 1.; past his fout· score years, and is perhaps the oldest person Jiviug conne~ted with the early llistory of St. ~atthews.

Derrick R!!msaur, the pioneer, came here in 1750 and dted in 1770; be entered large bod1es oC land alo:lg the South Fork r1ver; in colonial days be builL a mill on Clark'!! cret.k, near its junction with tbe rive!'. His mill passed to his :.ou. Jacob. who owned 1t duriug tbe Am ncan Ro:votutiou; it became historic a::- , .. ., uatll,;·gronnd between the Whigs auu tori~<~. Jnue 20th, 1780, and the ca1uping ground of Lord Cornwallis aod theE Jgli.;b Army a few months later. The pubhc bridge now spans the <·reek at the old will oite. J acob died in 1787. and is buried on the bigh~t part of the ridge west of the mill.

Jal·Ob Ramsanr, son of the pioneer, was the rather of David .• John. Jacob an\.1 other~:~; this David was the father of Jacub A., and others; lind (;hmerl!l Ram­saur, of Coutederate tame was a :;on of Jacob A.; John, was tire father of the h te George and Dav'd; Jacoh, son or Jacob, Senior , munied Barb•H·a~::~mmey; issue: (1) Wiiliam; (2) Ed. G.; (8) Daniel; (4) Allred; (5) Alex.; (6) Eliza; (7J Mttry Annie; she married fir.t .H.ev. Solomon Middlecoff: artt~r his u~atb she !ll&rriecl Rev. Tuornton Butler. ;lUother Genn11n Rarormed wini1:1ter; she l1es bes1de her first boaband in the old white church ;..1 avt.yard in Lincolnton; (8) Barnet wanie:i the late Lt>ooard Tb:>mpson. E>q., for many years a member of the L neola Bar; (9) Myra, widow of the late I:.tnj . H. Sumner; she resides in Lincoln-

too and is tbe last of her family and the las~ living grandchild of Jacoh Ram­::.our, of ·•Ramsour's Mill."

TUE CABPENTEKS.

David ar.:.d Henry Oal'peoter were brotuers Hving on oppos1te sides of Clarke'~:~ Creek. David's place passed to his son Michael. William T. Carpenter, one of the present members of St. Mnt­thew;; is a :;on of this Michael. l:ieory Carpenter was the fllther of John An­dre\\', Solomon, and other$; his home­stead is now owned by John S., Julius, and CaiVln tbe sons of Soloman.

John, the son of Haury, marl'ied Mary, dau~hter of Henry Ramsour, and tbc sio~ter or ~olomoo Rmnsou r; they settled nearM:1tthews,his homestead now owned by, his son·in-law, J ohn G. Little. John Carpenter wa1:1 nu llprighL man ant! good citizen, zealous in gl)()(l works and ac· tive io promotinst the interest of tba church; his name is loyingly enshrined in the history ot S!!int Matthews a'l one of its organizers, one of i ts first tru.;tees, first eldf'rll and a deyoted, constant, and (;()D!IiStf'nt member. His wife was u de­vout Christian and most exempl .. ~y womnn, loved by tbO.iEl who kuew her. whose gentle refining i ~tlnence is yet felt . Tbeir dn~t r11poses in the cemetery at St. :\lutt!:c-v11, thu chun:b they lov~ so w.:ll. Cuihlren: -1. l\iartin n~ver m~trrieu-died io Califoruia. 2. Frank­lio-uow a re!lidomt of Greeo~v:lle, S. C. U. Linney married .Jacob Lantz. 4. Mury Ann married Franklin Car~nter. of Nuulon. ~· Nancy wite of SJiomon Shrum. 6.AJfhld,now a resileotof .Mflm­phls, Tenn. 7. Sidney. died in Br<nvn­ville, TE'DD. 8. Catbarme, married Job a G. Little. 9. William, member of com­pany B. 23 Re~:., l'llled at the battle of Gettysburg, July 1st. '63. 10. Elizl!beth, ''

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married James Summerrow. 11. Jane B., an infllut. died F ebruary 13, 1837; the first funeral at St. Matthews was that of this little child; the church wa3 not yet wcatherbo11rded. The minister, Mr. Frituhey, stood oo one of the sills of the church to preach. 12. Caroline married !\loses FIDger and they remove<! to Uaioel-viii P. . Georgi11; MOlle!,! Fingt>r was a son of Peter Finger: P .. rer Fin,:;tr married Annie Hollar; th«:tr Ulttrriago bond bear:~ date April 2o•l 1805.

Andrew the sou of Beory Carpenter settled in Gttstoo, and is the fatbet of Ben. Carpenter of Stanley Creek. Utht•r children of Henry are, 4. Dnuiel; he murrie.l Margaret Hager at Hager'::~ Ferry: his bome$tead at Triangle, is y~:t cfllled the "Carpenter p lace:" they mi­grated wes t; 5. Catharine. marr~ed Jn­<·ob Killian; 6. Elizabeth, murried Rub· ert D.aynes: it~<~ne, Captain Sidney Hny­ues, J ohn F., aud other~:~: 7. La,·iuia marrh.'<l Ephrnim Blackburn.

The only stga.. of Sa10t Mtttthews CampJ.tronod, except the arlNr, pointed out to me, at th1s tirue, is one loue tent, that stood on the uorth-WtJ>'t ttuglt>; all tb t~ oth~r tents have- been torn ltway,llud there 1s nothing lt:ft to iudicHte to thlj spectator tbeir hoe& and fonnatiou-a -;quare with the llrtlor iu the ceuter. All of the teut-bolu.:rs mentiooe,l h11va pa~s­ed to the eternal camp grouud ·•beyond the river," with one esueptioo, auu by n singular coinCidence, that 1:< Fnmkiin Carpenter. whORe tent yt-t t:tands a re mincter of the days of yore, wh~n tlli sacred ground was a !>ceoe of life and JOY and religions devotion. Mr. C trpeu· ter, and his s .)US, Leonidas A. and Mar­tin, em bur ked in the cotton Mi II i oclos­try and the towo of Maiden is a monu· meut to their euterpt·ise. and lml!lne.s:~

act. Mr. Carpenter is one of the oldest members of St. Matthews; his w1fe was the dau~thter of Jobo Uarpeuter.

I must record my pleasant recollection of the late Dnniel C~trpenter, a bt·other of Fra•Jklius, with whom I bad an ac­qnniotaoceshio extending over many )'t!Rrs. He was a member of St. Mat­thews llnd liverl near the church on the Catawba side of toe hoe. He wade fur him~;«:Jf a surveyor's compass. and onr coo\·ersat'on often turned to land !lnrveymg. I re: raced a line be bad ron and marked 10 the ·•pin~y woods." It was a satisfaction to h11n that I round 1t stra1ght and at'corate. Franklin and Dauie-1 were sons of .Toseph C11rpenter.

TTm RI':INI!Aitl>T 'S. A 1uong the early settler!! w 1~ ()hristian

R einhardt a Pcmt~ylvuOIII Dntcbmno; he weddtu Ehza oetb Wurlick. 11 mol>t es· tunable lady; she wns the dung:..tet •1f Daniel Warlick another riont~er and patriarch of toe Warlick family. Chri•­tian Reinhardt settlrd on t11e western slope of the hill on which was fongbt the lmttle of RlllllSOllril Mill. Tne Reio­hudts Warlick ... and Ranlsonn.•, were devoted members of tbe Gt·tlltiiO Re­forlllecl Church . ru the ~aint Mntthews recorcl I find the uatnes of Micbn(ll , John, Wm. P .. and .Franklin D. Reinhardt.

i\ltuba»l Re-inhardt, sou of ()hristiao Reinhardt. ~oior. represented Lincoln connty in the Stllte Senate tour hmes-182i, '28 ':S6, and '3S. He married Mary dungbter of Ales, Moore. He h11s one bOD yet hviug io Lincolnton. Wallace M. Rt-iuhar<lt,Esq.

John Reinhardt, is 11lso a son of Chris­tiuo; and Wm. P. and Frl!okllu D. 11re sons of John; Jobo married Annie, also u dangbt~:~r of Alex. Moore, who was a soldier ot the Re"olotiou. John and

19

b1s wife are bor1ed at Salem, six miles was Nicholas Shrum. His svn Peter nortu of L10coloton; Wm. P., marrted Ul&rm:d Margaret Epley. Daniel, tbe .Mary F<>mey aud died without issut~; olde~t sou of Peter, married Mrs. Mary Franklin D. represented Lincoln county Finger. and resided in the shadow nf St. in the Honse of <.;omm•)ns, four tirne:>, Mattnews. and their names appear upon 1844, '4.G, '48, and '50; ba married Martha the church roll at its org&nizasion. Pt:rkins, and ltobt. P. Raiuh!lr•lt of Their chik'reu, Susan. Levi, Solomon, Catawbu i1:1 their $On: on the :;atoe page llenry, l'"ranklin and Sullie. (now the of the church records I note Lese bap- "idow of Maj. Hi raw Furney) were nur­ti~ms: tured and reared in the fellowship of

·•Franklin Reinhardt and wife )[artha Saint Matthews. Levi Shrum jotned -l~obert Pmkney bnru lOth January, June 31"(1, 18138, and has spent his long 18H. baptized 18th April by Rev. J. H. life in si~ht uf the church. He IS yet Cr.awford." vigorou$ for a man more than four score

·•Jacob .l:tamsour (M. W.) and wife yenr.::~ of age, ami bas retained ameml:ler­M~try-sn~au Darbara Elm1ra. born 11th ship nt St. l'Jatthe,vs for more than half of July UHO, baptized. August 29th, by 11 ceo tory-a longer period of time than tbe J:tev. D. Vrookt!." any of the present membership.

These baptized infants in the conrse of John Shrum, a brother of Da01ei'R, time became Ioven;, mao and 1~ifc, and an 1 his "1fe Catha rile, (a dAughter of the bearls or a family . .Tacub Finger.) were alt!O emolled among On au.>tner page is this n:conl. ·'Sidney the firet member!.'; aud, when they cross­.\Jicbael Finger t.on of Oaoit-1 Frnger and ed the dark vulley their mortal remains wife was born the .2-Ub 1>f May 1837 and were lnicl to rest among their kindred 10 was baptized on the 25th of November the city of the dead bard-by the church. 1837, by the .l:tev John G. FritcheJ." SOLO?tiON RUDISlLL, Reflecting on incidents hke the~e movec.l li..-ed ou Leeper's Creek, about eight Maj . .l'inger to say:-"Tbi:s church to m les from St. M'ltthews; be was one of Wllny of os \vho still live 1~ sacred. It it, honored elden;, a tent-bolder and the i:s sacred not only becant~e it is a te~mple lust of the orig10al members to pa~:~:s erected to the worship of Almighty God: away. His remains rest bes1de his wife, bot al:s becau~e it is the cbnrcb in Mary Finger. at St. Matthews. His son, which we and our fatberil nucl mothers, Jobu C. R.udi:~Jil, is one nf thtl present

our grauclfathel"<l and graochnothers members. At the orgauiz!'tiou ot St. worshiped Him. It is the place in which Matthews Solomon Rudisill was its most many of us were instroctecl in tbe Holy distlmt lllember. Coristian I"diginn as coohtined in the JA<.:OB CROOKS. Heidelvurg Catechism by faitnful past was reured in St. Matthew's church aud tors. It is the place in W"ICh Wtl were llll\l bE>en t"vr many years one of its <!lclers. confirmed by the laying on of bauds and Ue re>.1des at !be old homestead of his so made member<~ of the Christian chnrcb father. Rev. Dav1d Crooks, between the tban which there ie no grt-ater honor." lJ.Iaod Ford road and Ulark's creek. bit$

THE srmu~.ts . res1dence staniln.g within a few fed of a Among tbe early settlers of l.iucoln refresbrng spring. Mr. Cr<>Oks served

.~

20

tbe congregation many yeara as clerk, and k1ndlv placed 1n my bands the orig­inal church record which contnins its history down to 1855. I also am indebt­ed to him for other valuable nJater•al and assistance in the ISketcbes.

THE SUMMEROWS

have been closely identified w1th ~>lint Matthew<~ frow i~ inception to the prel;­ent; and, J~t the great protracted meet­ings une witnesses qmte a reunion of this connection as they co111e toaether frow ft>r and near.

Henry Snmwt>row came to Lincoln frotu Burke abont I he eloseof theAIU(~l"­

ican l"o vulnt1on. He acquired large bod1N1 ot land along Clarkt'':s and Loclc­hardL's 01·eeks and sowe ·· pllle hlllllH." .I:Ie settleo neur the junction of 1 h(·~e cr~eks. AtuonR:" the older rcc·>rda awl on tho fawily lllOnmuent.-! tho uume ia spelled Summero-u-r. He tnarr1ed Eliz­abeth, the daughter of Henry Whit .. uer, one of the fir:st settlers on the npper wu· ters o( tbe ~otb Fork, and the first wb;te UJan to view the btlaotiful vallf ys of the Benry aud Jacob'::; rivers. Jl.em·y !:;nuwwrow't~ mArriage l;ond bP>II"<! dnte l:lth Ottoher. 1784. To thew were boru ':!Ieven cb1ldren :-

1. Henry. and 2. John; to these t eit· father conveyed the lauds ou Jacob's river given to tlleir mother uy .l:itmry Whitener; they sold it a-cd removed to Georl(ilt.

at the old Killian mill place on Clarke'S creek; the .!:!:manuel .Poovey homestead hes next above Geor~e Snmmerows on Clarke'::; creek; (g) M11rgaret w•!e or Noah Dellinger; N. Monroe Deli.Jnger, Crooks Dellinger·. auu Mary. wife of Ed ney Huover, are her children.

4. Jacob Summerow manied Barbara, s!stt"r of Wilt>y Hallln~~u ; he was called 'l'upster Ja<:ob. Tho church records testify taat be and bis f111uiJy were de­voted to Saint Matthaws. lt<sue, five daughters: (a) Racbel. wiclow of the late Milton Ca!Dt>bell. 11 Wllrlll ~c-upporter of ~t. Mattbew~, a tent-holder. aud trustee Cb) Adalme, marr1ed Willutttl H.lwne,·. (c) Susan. liHm·ircl Elcarwh Hurtzvge; Elcauah Hal·tzt>ge wa .. a d!·Votcrl IIIPUl­

bt!r of Saint i\Jatthews, 11 telll-bolc!L·r :utd trn,tee: ou the UJiunte book i~ I be bup­tiSHI of his sou. Samuel Fun·. bom 21st Match. 1846, baptized by Rev. D. Crook:.<; he became a Confedtlrato ~oldit"l" ami diect in the service; Fr!lnc:s, wife of John 1''. Raynes, is a daughter or Elcaouh Hurtzoge; Elcauah Hart:o:oge was one or t.velve brothers the son~ of Paul fiart­zoge. a Dntcb settlet·. (d) Rosanuab, tttllrried David Holbrooks; ahA and her two Hm:>, William and J ... cob, at·u m~m­ben• of Saint M 'I tthew~; sbo lives at bet· falhel"t! llvrue~Steud. near the site of the uncestral llollle of Henry Sutnnlerow. (f') M~:~rgaret. wife of .ltufu~> Self.

Jacob Snrumerow died ':'th June, 1880, aged 79 year;~, a mouth!<, and 21 days. Be was a good citizen, with many frieul!s and no enemies. He was laid to rest ut Saint .Matthews, the luneral ser­vices bemg conductecl by Dt·. Cl~tpp.

S. Daniel married Elizabeth Gilbert in 1809. ltiSne: (a) Solomon; (b} Henry; (c) Dan1t>l; (o) t7eorge; Lt> yet lives ut his home on W~tit !'ide Clarke's ~o:t't>t-k, and, is now, more than four score years of agq (t) Sallie, manied Fran~lin Gilbert; (I) Mary, •uarried Emanuel Poovey; their sou Sidney anu his two eisters live

5. Cathariue, wife of Tapster Daniel Iriuger.

6. Mary, UJarried David Finger; and,

J

21

after nis death she married Daniel Sbrnm. 7. Susannah married Jonas Finger. 8 Barbara. married Wiley Hallman.

H e llRSJsted in the erection of Saint Mnt· thews, •tud he and bis wife were among the origin11J members. Is~oe: (H) An:J. wife of Lev1 Shmu:; (b) Mamie. married L<-vi Tucker; (c) l 11ubella, marriea <.Je­pba,; Keener: he died in the war, leav· ing two ~ous. Wiley nne! Marion; she then nu~rried Albert Kirksey, aud they nvw live ut her fatb!'l 's bome>'teurl; (tl) Snnth. "ife l>f Giles Bllll l. of G Pstoui»; (~) ,June wife of Robert Bllhck; he wa:> the son of Ambrose Bolick. wbo lived near S<lint Matthews. uml wa>< oue the early u1embeJ :·; (f) Miles; (!() AH•ed; (h) Fn111klin. (>) Fauur. wiftl of Solouwn .!ringer. Tile late Danid li111lrwm. who liVed at Saint Matthews cbnrcb wa!:! a brother of W1ley liallmau.

0 Elizubetb; 11nd, 10, Sallie died Yibt>n suud l. 11. Anme rnarl'lecl Lewi!! Keener.

Issue:·William A., Susan, wife of An­drtlw Link. and 1\lary, widow of !'11. A. GoAisou. Tl10 lute No>lh Snrum•·n•w uf Nt:wtou was ht>r ~on.

licitlY ~tll ll ln~ww'r~ will l.war .. d11te 4tl1 Jnnt:, l tlll5, probated iu till! e11rly part of 1836, tbttt! iuclicatinl( about t he tiute of his dcntb; John Carpenter 11ud R obert Btaci<IJu•·n nre thto ~tlbscribing witues~;e~:> . and J..>aniE-1 Sbrnm und Heury Flll~<:er the ~xt:Ctlton;.

H .. ury Sorlllll~ruw wu~ hu·gely his own executor; both his will, nncl varions decos eltccuted by him bear witnt'SS tbat be lvviugly pwvilled mo:;t of bi~ chll­drt-n ·•wu11 a good tract of Inn~ ar11l oth­er propt:rty" m hi:, hfe tillrtl. He tlt:vi~ed to .James and l'tel.ecca tbe ~bare of tbt~ir liJ.otber, Elizabeth.

~HCIIA"L SU~DI~:now. I tul<e it !llrcllntd ~tlrnutt:row W:.lli a

trrotber or Henry. I find a deed from Henry to M1cbat:l of date 14th January, 1787. His will also bears date, 1835. In th1s be mentions tbe following children: 1. E hzabtltb; ~. Sally;

3. Peter, married Elmyta Ramseur, a si~<ter of tbe Jat6 George and David Ram­sour; he died 1100n lifter tlleir tuan·i.t~e; they bad but ono child tbe late Pet er J ., Suuuuerow; and be bas left but one child James Snmmernw.

4. Jacob: 5, Andrew, futber of Frank­lin. 6. Henry. removed to Tennessee; 7, ~vtiobul; 8, David, manied Mary Ann, sister of the Jate Solomon Rudisill; chil­dren: 1\llrt!. G eorge Hine~. Henry Suw­lnt'r(lw, or Stanley Creek, ltufns and other~; 9. J oh::..

I tiud u very intere:<ung deed, iu the public rE'cords made by Ilt'nt·y Rallruao and w.f~ .Elizabeth to Henry ~urornarow of tbe connty of Bnt·ke 11ud the State of North Carolio11. The de~cription IS in the wordo:~und figuw!:! tb11t follllw:

l.St>giuuiul:{ 11t 11 white oak on Clarke'~:~ creek. auu t'UU>I uorth 70 degrees t:a11t 160 put t> .. to a r~:~l Uilk; thence north 200 poles tu Luckh11rdt'o~ cret>k; rhem·e down the creek 11::1 it m .. uudt-r~:~ tn Clark'!:! creek; lllenctl uowu <.;Iarke'::~ cret:k to the first t~l11tion. couhtining 200 acres. uml being p11rt of a tract granted t11 S11umel Bea!!On l1y p!itf!nt beadug thtte 30th SepteUiber, 1749; aud by hun conveyed to John .Ramseur 18lb AIJri l, 175<1; and by David 11nd Jacob Rau1sour, h!lirs a1,1d legatees said J ohn Ramsour, cleoeased. as it ap­lJeat·s by his la:~t will and testament, conveyed to the above namE'<I Henry lla.lmau, 21st Novewber, 1767.

Tb1s 1~; ono of the nldest grants in Lin­coln; its location i;; li:o~:t'd >\t tho jauotion of Lockb>lrdL'<~ uud Clurk's creek~: It fix e::~ the dute Ileory ::5tlnJtuerow curue to

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Lincoln from Burke; contains facts of interest to the .Ramsour family; ou tbis tn\Ct Henry Snmmerow settled and it is £'t ill owned by his descendants.

The heirs of Henry Summerow 19tb July 1836, ::onveyed to Daniel Snmmer­ow 90 acres of tbis tract. Bt>giuuing at a l'nrclt on tbe t>a.st side of Clark's creek Jacob ummerow's corner and rnunmg various lines ·•to a maple ou the South bank of Lockhardts creek; then down Hlld cr~:ck as 1t meanders to ib1 junction with Clarke's creek; then down ClArki!'!! cret>k a11 it meanders to 1 he beginning." This bect~me Daniel's bome:.tead; aud 10 his last \-;- ;11 Nnd testament wos devised to his son Solomon . lind is wht>t·e ::>olo· ulllu'l:l widow and child ren; Pink, Ew111a, Tbomas nod Lola uow reaide.

TH..; BEASON GRANT

The original grant to Samuel Bt'asou Wll8 for • ·320 acres on the north t>ide of the South Fork, on the t>ast side of Clarke's creek, below Beaver Dam: Be­ginmng Nt a white oak and rous north 76 east 160 poles to a re<l oak: thence nortb 400 poles to a white oak; thence t:outb 76 Wllllt 100 poles to a hickory on the creek; and dawn the crel'k to the first sta tion-80th S~:~ptember . 1749.'' Hl'ury Ballman conveyed to R"'my Snmtuerow that portion of thi~< grnnt contuining 200 acres lying south of Lock­bardt's crc.~k . Alfred Hallman now lives opposite ::>olomon Snmm .. row'to vu tbe uorth s1de of Lockbarilt's creek, on 1 he npper portion of the B~a~Oil grant. l:iaumel Bta~on's home tract also lay on Clarke's cret>k. but on thll west sicle.

CAPTAIN CLARKE.

I am indebted to W .M. R~1uh urd t ,

'Esqltire, for tba followiug very iu ler ... ~:-t­itJg account of !btl first sE-Itleutt:tlt uu

Clarke's creek. Some yeal'l.l before the Pennsylvania Dntch came into tha vine­clad bills, and rich vales of the !:ioutb F .. rk ~tnd its tributarie~<, Caotain Clarke, with his woodrnau's axe and trusty r ifle crv~lled the great Cat!lwba at the TuckaSE'E'!J.\'ee Ford, and following !In Indian t rai l north-west. passed over the plateau on which Lincolnton is bmlt, and came to lbf' ~ontb Fork r1ver; be did not follow the main strt:am but went np tb~tt hranch who:;a fertile valleys 11nd ~lnggish w11ters were forever to perpet­nate bis nume. Fonr miles from tbe river be erected a cabin. and ~>ngaged iu huutiog. trapt>ing and fi ~>hiuf.t. Tbe t>ite of bis s~ttlt>ment wus on tiH\t poruon at tbe Beason G-nmt ~on tb of Lc.cl<hal'dt's cretk that's pa~>J.ed to I he SnmnJE:rows. Bc:a!'ou Jocatt•d bi11 grunt below a "beav­er dam," aud tbe ottnr, buffnlo. dt>er, elk and otbt:r wild animnl<~ nbouudl'<t. There wa.s no otber pale face we:.t of t be Ca · tawba. and the red mer: tovt:clantl feure<~ bim. Wben he would ucc·unrnlate u sufficient qunnhty of furs he bu·ed friendly Indians to as&h>t bnn to corw. y them to ~ome ensteru tnrdiu~ pomt, and wou ld return laden with t-lli•Piie>! >nor! n1erchandise for the lndiuu tmd e. Be made a ~mllJI clenring well lwowu to the early settler., as "Clarke's old field," and tbe site of b1s cabin WitS nl:'ar the Henry Summ~row residence. l\lr. ReJD­bardt. wbc:u a boy, re11d 11 pamphlet written by <.apt. Clnrke. dt>t>criphve of bis tr11velb and the country, fro111 wJ•icb be acqnireei wncb of thi;~ ~; tvry, aud snme of our pioneer <Jerman 11ncestors noay have b.-en attt·n,aeo by this paru­pb let.

UENRY IIAI.I, MAN

wut~ •.he accE-stor of tho Ballman flllm ly. lia was a Gutuau, a large lnud-owuer,

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and a promment c1tlzeo in coloma! days. Re W!l>' one d tile first jucticcs of Tryon county, appointed l•Y his Mnjesty in 1768.

RODE&T ULACKBt:llN, BSQ01RR, from whom tile Blackbtun's are de­scended was a surveyor, and Jn,.tice of tile P~ace of Tryon county. Tie was 1.1 prolllinl'ut uncl nseful wan in bis <thy, enjoviug tbe confluence of his neighbors, and ruost of 1 h1-ir wills and deeds were written by llitn. He was oi ::3cutcb de­scent an<l ::.upported tho: colonists in their struggle for liberty.

WJI,LIA)l HINSON. William HnlSOil marned l:'l<~llie, daugb­

tl:l' ot T~tpster Dame! Finger, aud they t·esided near Saint ?l'utthew;~ chmcu. 1\'lr. HmRon was long 1.1 member. onicer, and supporter or Saiot Mattbews. He W!IS the son of Lazarus Hm~;on who marr•ecl Ehztthetb, daughter of George Lowe. Tbe <tate of their ruarriage bond, 26t!J Jnue, 181G. G~::orge Lowe, lived near Iron Station and owned the lands on which the ::ltntiou is buil L; be IS btmed in tbe graveyard in front of the l)J'Pseot depot. There waa once a bap­tist church here called Sharon, and when the railroad was bu1lt, :::>!Hu·on was lh'l first ::ame of the statiou. After the war the uawe was cbaug{'d to Iron on account of the iron works nearby.

PlmSONAL 1\!P.NT!ON. lleujllwiu Norl'it>, &:c•·etary of the first

tu• ~•.10g at Micha~:l Finger's. liVed at ti.Je F.tcuuab Hartzogu place. and wus au tU· fillt!lltitll C•lizt:n iu tb~ COUIUl\lUity.

.3laj. Hmun Forner, long identified w1tb :::>uiut .Matth~:w!!, was a member of thu well knvwu Forney fam1 ly of east Liucotn .

Philip E. <.:ampb~:ll, oue of the present officers 1s a son of the late .Andrnv <:amp-

bell long a member of Saint Matthews. In tbe records appear the nawes ot

Icard, Boyd, Smoyer, Wilson, Hoke, Reediclc, Loretz and others, descendants o£ the early setll,..rs of tbi~ section.

THK J>gNNSYl.VA.'IIA DUTCH.

Our German ancestors left tbe vater­lanrt in search of CIVil and religious free­d<' II I. '!'hey came to Pennsylvania, thea migrated southward. The early settlers of this section came from Yorlt aud Lau­CIUster counhes, Pennsylvania. They culled thew:~elves "Peousylvania-Dutcb" and t~eir I u n g u age "Pennsylvanta· Dntch." They were a tht·Hty, upright people. noted for their love of home and the Cllrh;tiau t·eligton.

REmN1SC&NT.

My first time to be tu this section \VIlS m February, 1883. It was on a suryey­iug tour wbeu I spent some tiwe at Emanuel Poovey's on ()Iarke's creek. aere 1 met Solomon Summerow and re­~;eiyed my first impressions ot the Penu­t:>ylvanin Dutch and we ~eununed friends as long as be lived. I surveyed a tract ot laud for Mr. Summerow in the "pine woods," au,) this wa~ tile first time I beard the expression "pine land." Tnis term applies to the pine bell extending it• a nor\ h·east d1rectiou between the Is· laud Ford alll.l Buffalo :::>bonis road~, and eyt>n beyond them. l.\1anv farmers owned h·acts or these pine lauds. These were convenient to get au occasioualload of pire for light wood, or Sll\Y·Iogs for lum­ber. IL is not far back when tht>y sold at one dollar per acre if a purchaser coulo be found. In ncent veara they huve risen in value to ten, fifteen and even twt:nty dollars per acre on account or ~ben· valuuble limber::; aud the EOJ l it! btcowiog recog01zed as good for agri-

cultural purposes, and is fns t tilling up w!tb tbri!ty farmers.

A Dutch farmer also owned n small trian~-tulAr tract on tbe creek; and, when be rec111Cstecl me to survey tbis httle V fo1· bim, be asked me to"wt-y a little wee !or ban," aod I still sometimes us:~ist in 'widmg land.

Except this use of thew for tbo v, one now bears but little ot the accent and idtom of tbe lingo known as tbe Penn~<yl­vania Dntcb. even when conven.ing with older people who kuew no other language in childhood . A friend once told me be went to school witb sorue Dutch boys and tbl' teacher uctlllllly ttsed the switcll in bit~ vain cndf'llvor to persuHde them to giv(' to the letter v ito proper sound. Another mnrk of tbe Penusylv.tuia Dutch, now fade 1 aw11y is tbe sound of t for d . and b for p. This is seen in Ban~le and Pangle, really the same name; likewise in Boovey and Poovey, and Tarr and Parr; David Darr . was called Tavy Tarr; this name is now spelled and prononncM lJerr. It w1~ the custow of au ola Dutch elder in a stster cb 11 reb to step to the dtJor w bon the utini :~ter ascended the pulpit nnd prodaim '·De beoples will now collie iu -te breaching is reaty."

Another fritlud wbo was never t1tugbt to understand tbe Dutch. inforlll:~ me that be bas a most vivid l'('Collectiou of it. Wbeu the conversation arcmnd the fireside. ic his cbildboocl. was carrtecl on in tbts unknown tongue. his mind at once reverted to some UJJ ~concluct. and at its conclusion he was sure to get a whipping.

MOl!t of the Dutch farmers hnrl sotoo trade beside the farm . There were mauy small tanneries iu this sect1on some oi which have bet-n nwutiontcl;

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these gave tbe shoemaker work and El­cauah Hartzoge, Willinm Hillson and others 'vere shoemakert~ . One ot the las t W>lgon mnkers was tho !ale Maj. Joseph Ulackburn. At tbe lJamel Shrum place may yet be Reen in position the great \VQ.lden wbeEJl, dt·tveo O)' horaes to furnish n10tive powe1· for lhe fiat!. I have spent many d11ys drivicg horses to one of these at a cotton gin.

LEWIS KE"NER.

The oldest member ot ~<tint Matthews ts Mr. Lewis Keener, who tu btt~ eig"ty­eigbtb year ts \{ell pre«uvt-o iu body and mind. Hi!\ long life ·, pa~tled iu tbt: vicin­ity ot his birlb. hll<~ hec•u cl~votecl to the farm . Ho: is a man ofiu<luRily. npt·igb 4

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ness aod g"o'~ ohecr, giwm to ho~pirality;

in tbe fear ot God be bao~ llveol iu peace and good fellowship wah hi<~.ft>llow ml\u. Mr. Ke~>ner. and bi~< ~:-on \\' llli>.w. saw service tn tbe Civil Wnr, tbe lather 10

the l:>elllur Re~l"rv.s. tht M •ll, in the • Juniors. lit• Kc.uer iM h.tcwt~e a con­nection of the Finger!', hiH ~raud fatbt-t·. John Finger. b~;ing 11 ~ou c1L Pett·r Fi ugt-r, the pioneer. I tunch ngrtt futlwg to see Mr. Keent-r. whill' '''tlliug thc~e sketcltes to gt~t the bit~tory of htt1 brauch t1f the .FingPl' fanlily. M 11y lba ~:vt-ui ug of ilia life be lengthened. aud hi:~ like in· crease.

This brief h1story of St. M~ttlbews was unpremeditated but C!llll8 as au inideut of the .Finger sketch. There are many names connected witb it:~ organiz>ttioo and subsequent histoty d~erviug special notice. · To say that ~t. Mutthews was establi'.lbed in a community vf superb citizenship. and itl:l founders were wen and wowen of of exemplary morals and btgh type of cbnstian oba.ra<:ter ill a plai.:l statement of fact. '£bey left a hallowed il;tluente. and H is botb pleasant aud

profitaula to dwell up(Jil their attain­ments and virtue::;.

TOE OlVJL WAlt. Many of the Finl(t!l'l> Wtll'tl c,mfademte

soldiers. Company B. of the 23rd Regi­IUt~nt, George Seagle, C!tptaiu, nfter its orgaoization. encamped for a month at Suint Matthews, drilliog for tbe regular t~ervtce, and, heno~ Ulauy of ~btl youn~ rutn around Matthew::; enlisted ~:~udtr the start; aud bart!.

PI>T&R FJNOI>R. SBNlOR.

l'he old pioneer and patrhu·cb. Peter Finger. wa.s born in GerrNlUV about the year 17:!0. Be came with his vareuts to thi::; r;ountry wbr~u a chilo, first t~tuppiog in Pennsylvania. and rbeo aluul{ with many other Gerrnaus stttli~.>g iu Liucolu county before the Revolntion. Durio~ the strnggle for Americau Indtlpeudeuce be was a whtg uncl toerv.:d on the patriot side; be died about tbtl year 1792, and W IIS bttrled on bill home11tead ou Lt'lepers t·reek. His grave it! yet pointed on the north &ide of tbe public road. It woulct be a work of filial rt>gard for hi::; many worthy descendants to suitably lllHr k tbil$ sacred "POt, thut a gratt:ful postenty way hold and perptltnute his nallle und memory in loviug remt:!mbrance.

CONCLUSION. I have no iuformation as to the daugh­

ters of Peter Fingl:!r, Senior, other thuu a marria~~:e bond of Eli Blackburn aud Barbal'a Fmger. o.t dnte, June 4th, 1798. This sketch. possibly contains el'tor, and Important omissions, bnt it bas been a. la bor of love to .uake t·ecord of s uch facts as I have been able to gather by pattent reseat·ch aud iuqnirv. Th1s has been so written that tbe yonug people. not mentioned. can ens11y trace their descent from the pm·ent stem, and con­nection with each other. It is a record

25

of 11 plniu, industrions people who dis­cbar~ed Lut!ll' duues to God, country aud society with fidelity, uud a careful study of their noble lives, 11nd spleudict v1rtue.::~ i$ comnteoded to posterity.

SAINT MATTHEWS REI!'ORMED

CHUROH

OFFIORUS .AND l\tl!:MOERS

-1908-

--PASTOR--

REV. C. B. HELLER.

--ELDJl:R$--

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Cawpbell.J acob;!)aw pbell ,Eben; Camp­bell, Mr:~. Rachel; Campbell, l\1ary.F.C.: Oawpbell,Alice J a ue;Campbell,H.odolph L.; Campbell. Jeunie; Campbell,Siolney; Oawpbell,Laura; Camp . .Mrs. Lama;Car­peoter, Wm. T.; C>lrpenter, Edward; Carpenter. Mrs. Sarab; Crooks H. Jacob; Cruoks, Mrl;. Jennie E ; Crooks, L. Clydt-; Crooks, James A.; Crooks Murphy D.; Crooks. Pearl A.; Urvnnhmd, Mrs. Lol­lie L.; Fino:er, ThuuJH~< L.; Fiuger.Eliza­oetb; Finger, Susan l!J. ; Finger, D. F.: Finger, !{Obert; Finger. Mattie; Finger,

B. J. CROOKS LUTHER OA)IJ>BELI,, Mrs . Naunie H.; Hw~ou. P. D.; Hafner, Mr:~. G. W.; Holbrooks, Jacob; Hol­brook:., Willilnu L . ; Ho 1 brooks, Mrs. Rosanna; Holbrook, L u e y; Keener Lew i ~; Keener. W. M .;

GI\O.RGE BROWN, PEJH,JP CAMl'BELJ,.

--DRACONS--

Tao~tAS L . .FINGER, W. T. CARPENTER, Ktrksey, Jsaoella; Null, ::>arab .A.;

Da..."IEL C..uJPBET.L, Jouus L. SHRUM. Prop$t, Mary; Propst, Floyd; Propst,

PHILIP E. CAMPBEJ.L

--SKCRETARY--

H. J. CROOK:;

Allen, L. i\1.; Allen, :\1ary E.; Arm­strong, Mrs. C. J.; Bdal. :-iawnel .M; Brown, George; Brown, Mr.:. Jaue C.: Brown, Minnie; Brown, uract-: Brauch . .Mrs. Sarah; Cawpbell, Philip E.; Camp· bell. l.llrA. Catherine; Campbell, Emma; Campbell, Daniel; Oarnpoell, W. !:'. ; Campbell, Lurber B.; Campbell, Dav1d;

Acla; Propst, Juliu; Ru<.iisilJ. John U.; ::>elf, Margaret E .: Shrum, Len; Shrum, Ann; ::lbruw. l\lnry :U.; Shrum, Francis E.; Sbru1u, Julin>~ L.; Shrum, Ann ::>.; Sluum, Zeb J.; Shrum, Beulah; ::lhrum, H. S.; Sbrnw. Aclab; Shrum, N. W.; Stu·un1, ~arbara S; l:>hrum, l:iiram AI· bert; Sbrum, E~sil-'; Sllrum, .Mrs. Zeb; Sbrum, H. P.: Shrum, Mary; Shrum, Calvin; Sln·um, L11nn1; Sbuforct, Mrs. Della; Shuford, Sallie H.; Smttb, Francis B.: St··oup, Elizabeth; Su•omttrow, Luui6a; Summel'l)w, Emma; Smumerow, Lola; Summerow. Daoiel P.: Snmmerow, Tbos. h . .T.; Summerow, !'\Jary ,J.; Tboxntou, lJ. B.; Thornton, J\~. J.; Wituers, Marcus.

North C, · ·~ ,.., ! ) Librury

Re::! i h

ll

I GR 929.2 F497N

Nixon, Alfred, 1856-The Finger family of lincoln County, N.C

II II ~I ~~~~ 111111[1 1~ I I~ I ~ II ~I l l~ I ~II ~1!1 1~1 111~ 3 3091 00068 6311

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