The Robesonian from Lumberton, North Carolina • Page 85

Parkton Churches Grew Up At Turn Of Century PARKTOlt-- Facts reveal that ol churches was quite late in the chronology of the town. This can partly be explained by the fact that Lumber Bridge had a strong Presbyterian church in those days; Sandy was not so far away as. a Methodist group; and to the tast there was a then thriving church of Baptists at Green Spring! too. It was easy to have Sunday school altogether. Cashwell Pioneer fhe pioneer in definite church organization was, none other than Jesse Cashwell.

In 1897 he moved into town from the Green Springs community. He was front) a family of Baptist preachers and before the year was over a Bap- 'tist church was set up in.regular order. Records are. scanty, but a- frame building forty feet wide and fifty feet long w.as erected where the 'home of Harry McMillan, now stands. It had a posts down the center and for years it was propped up with poles to keep it from, toppling over.

Cashwell, Cobb, the. Beards, the Thames, the Perrys, and others this scribe's brain is too feeble to conceive, worked and sacrificed to gather a. flock, together for constructive work. People of all faiths claim that Jesse Cashwell and his noble family withoui doubt made the most vital, religious impact on the community his day. He was a plain carpenter and just-a hard-working man, but life and labors none have ever forgotten.

old Baptist structure i mained in use for more than fifteen yean. About 1914 Henry McMillan, big-hearted Presbyterian, sold the church the lot on which the present plant was to be erected. "Now Is The Time" After quite a while Collier Cobb came out the old church and said, "Men, if we are -ever going to do. anything now is'the time." A storm had threatened to throw the old frame building down on the ground, and Cobb felt it was time action. Olin Stanley recently come from Mt.

Pisgah said, "How many bricks will you give to start this thing?" Ace Perry chimed in and said, "I am not going to give any bricks for weeds to grow in," But Cobb, Tom McNeill, Thames and others agreed to give a thousand apiece. Bricks were $5 per thousand. The bricks came and the weeds never'got a start. The heroism with was contagious. had little money but they had time.

They put their best into the work. They got to the top and lack of caused them to stall. Money could not be borrowed from the bank because a church had no credit. Henry McMillan sensed the situation and whispered with his wife. In a few minutes he returned and said.

"Never let this work stop," and with that he NEILL ARCHIE McMTLLAN McMillan Had First Eastern N. C. Station PARKTON--The first 24 hour service station in Eastern North Carolina was "Midway" at the intersection of the old Parkton and Lumberton-Fayetteville highways. It was built by Neill Archie McMillan in 1920 upon his return from World War I and was operated by him for several years. Mr.

McMillan's friendly nature attracted many people of all ages. The older ones came to buy and pass away the time of the day while the young came because Midway afforded the best'meeting place for miles around. They found there a man who was friend to all. He did a flourishing business until the State Highway commission decided to hard-surface the road and In shortening the road, it was moved! away from the station. The sta-' tion was abandoned and from then until his death Mr.

McMillan was I engaged in tho as and oil business! In the town of Parkton. He died! Early Presbyterian Church handed a loan with which to cov: er the church. The story of sacrifice and perseverance be related now, but those connected with the movement contend that the cash outlay on the present beautiful plant was $3500, The noblt leader in that period was Pastor J. L. Jenkins.

In 1918 the Baptist church, under the leadership of Pastor C. R. Sorrell, built new pastorium. Other pastors of this church, so far as we can ascertain include: Cashwell, E. Pittman, D.

P. Humphrey, B. J. Harrell, Ballard, T. J.

Baker, Doctor Dunaway, Turner, C. R. Sorrell who built the parsonage, J. L. Powers, W.

T'. Baucpm, HI K. Mastellar, John M. Gibbs, T. 'Paul Deaton and Tom K.

Walters; A commodious Baptist hut went up in 1949. It is thoroughly furnished. PRESBYTERIAN BEGINNINGS In 1901 July 5, with Dr. P. R.

Laws acting as moderator, Parkton Presbyterian Church was organized. The services were held in the school building which was then called the academy: The church continued to use the school as a place of worship. Proof of this is brought out in the fact' that old timers still remember, that in 1902 a baptismal service was held in the school. Ed MeRainey's father' brought the youngster forward and his long dress, a fashion in those days, dragged the floor. Soon a frame structure was erected the present church stands.

The present edifice was begun in 1918. It is larger and far more substantial' aria leads itself to expansion. The church upon its organization drew members from Lumber Bridge, St. Pauls and Rockfish churches. Their long list of able pastors include the following: Pastors George.

T. Pace, V. G. Smith, Robert Grant (supply), J. M.

Forbis, J. B. Cochran, J. E. Berryhill, W.

McMillar, J. K. Hall, V. G. Smith (second Pastorate), D.

L. Jones (supply), C. E. Clark, Neill Mclnnis, D. D.

Wilkerson (supply), T. A. Guiton and W. A-. Brown, just resigned.

In 1911 Presbytery met at Parkton. A lovely new manse was completed by the Presbtyerians five JESSIE CASHWELL years ago. It is built of brick, and has ample room. Rev. W.

A. Brown was the first occupant. The pastor who led in the last building program Was J. K. Hall.

The. church has been recently redecorated, installed and many' -physical improvements made. The church has a marvelous organization, and looks to the future with courage. METHODIST ACHIEVEMENTS local Methodist church had its beginning some time before 1904. Charlie Williamson was a most devout Methodist, and, though the Methodists were worshiping with the Presbyterians, wanted" a church of their own.

The Methodists got permission from the Presbtyerians to conduct a revival in their church and secured the help of Rev. E. R. Welch. They had a good meeting with many accessions.

They were desirous of forming a Me.thodist church. The Presbyterians were not so sure about having a Methodist church organized, but. Henry McMillan, an elder, came to their rescue. He rose and said, "My brethren, this church was erected to the glory of God and if the Methodists can glorify God by organizing a church, I am in favor of their going It is the opinion of this writer that this church with their system of placing pastors has had' the most regular services through the years. The Methodist building was erected, just as it is today, in 1905.

It has gone through several redecoration jobs but the house on the outside bears its original appearance. Their pastors appear below with their respective years of tenure in parenthesis: T. Dailey, T. H. Sutton (2) E.

L. Stack (parsonage built) (4), Pegram (2), H. P. Porter (4), W. L.

Maness (4), R. F. Munns (2), J. C. Humble (2), J.

J. Boone (2), J. E. Blalock (4), R. G.

L. Edwards (3), C. T. Thrift (1), C. P.

Womack (2), M. C. Ellerbe (2), K. F. Duval (1), A.

E. Brown (5), W. B. Cotton (4), and I. J.

Strawbridge (incumbent), The three pastors that had marvelous fellowship were J. K. Hall, J. L. Jenkins and W.

Maness. These had a pastors' Conference, and many details of community church work were carried out. Parkton Got Phone In 1905 PARKTON--The telephone accommodation had its date of origin in 180o. That was the year that Dr. D.

S. Currie came to Parkton. Realizing the handicap of no communication except by horse and buggy or walking, the idea of a telephone set-up was conceived. Doctor Currie built lines to Lumber Bridge, Sandy Grove and Rex. John G.

Hughes joined in the movement by building another line to Tobemory. There were phones placed in Hughes' Store, in the office of Doctor Currie and the central was placed in the residence of Doctor Currie. Later a stock company was formed and extended the service to many homes. This organization was not permanent, for about 1912 the firm went to the wall. A committee of three was appointed to arrange for a sale.

A party from Fayetteville bought out all the stock and did little but collect the rent and tolls for one month and dropped the matter. One member of the committee to sell was John Daniel McRainey. Things were getting into' a JOHN D. McRAINEY muddle fast. The operators had not been paid and they were on the verge of quitting.

Mr. McRainey paid them and kept things going for a while. Realizing that bne man could handle the matter more efficiently than many, he bought out the business and he kept it until his death. Old Parkton Street Scene Thin la street in Park ton about 1906. It Is looking I from tht Atlantic Coastline Railroad toward tlie Melhodht church.

I Early Mail Service Was Each 2 Weeks service oi the early days was the ITU lest type. The post office in the early days was Briar Level, located near I he present intersection of highway 71 and 30 J. Mail was carried once every two weeks to and from this office and Wilmington, N. C. The post otfice stood on land now that is owned by Billy Britt, but it was formerly the property granted by the king to Jamfs McNatt, -jorn 1709, and grandfather of McNatt, one of Parkton's men.

Wife Carries Mail. James McNatt had many slaves on various farms. Ann Drury, his wile, was a great lover of horses. One of her routine tasks was to ride from their home miles away and get the mail in her own mail pouch, sort it out and ride the plantation over and deliver levers where they belonged. When the trains came, the mail problem was greatly simplified.

It could be cairied with more speed and with more frequency The community, later known as Parkton, carried the name of Forest after the name of the school. The mail had to be hauled all the way from McNatt's Station. The man who did this work was George Amroons. In later years the mail was carried by his son Henry. Girl Carries Mall.

A very interesting story is told that at times a young girl was seen carrying the mail from McNeils. That little girl was Mabel Johnson who in her married life is the wife of Dr. D. S. Currie in Parkton.

Another very interesting feature of the mails was the coming of two brothers, Charlie and Buck Williams who were the first rural rr.ail carriers in this part of the state. J. Q. Parnell Builds Trade In Parkton Q. PARNELL PARKTON--J.

Quincy Parnell, business wizard of Parkton, grew up in the Raft Swamp area. He went to school at Raft Swamp school and boarded with his sister while he attended Lumberton high school. He went to Buies Creek and King's Business college in Raleigh. During all of World War I he was in postal service. In the fall of 1909 he resigned to go into business with Collier Cobb in the firm known as Cobb-Parnell Company.

After a few years he sold his interests in the stor to N. A. McMillan in order to accept the position as sales manager in eastern North Carolina for the F. S. Royster Fertilizer Company.

Later a plan to move him to Wilmington to be near the new factory failed and he remained in Parkton. At the invitation of John G. Hughes he went into business with him. In 1930 this partnership was dissolved and since that time he has operated the firm known as J. Q.

Parnell, Inc. He is a very modest man and is in no way seeking publicity. But the people of this entire section are aware that he has carried his part of the load in any undertaking the town has faced. He has been a friend to the school. He is loyal to his church, and he has contributed heavily to' others also.

Luther E. Hughes Is Parkton Leader PARKTON--Luther E. Hughes, a brother of John grew up In Shannon. At the first he was employed in the firm of McMillan and Hughes. He then went to Red Springs Military Academy.

For eight or nine he ran a store in Shannon. He was married and lived and did business in Georgia for about 18 months. Mr. Hughes came to Parkton In 1909 where for many he operated his own store. no longer runs his store, but he is very busy with writing all kinds of insuranct.

COLLIER COBB Collier Cobb Was Parkton Pioneer Cobb was reared not far from Parkton on the Cobb farm which is on the upper Rex road. In the late nineties he moved to Parkton and ran a store where the post office now stands. He had a most successful business there for a number of years. After a time he built and occupied the store to the east of what is now the telephone building. Mr.

Cobb was a loyal citizen and active in church, school and community affairs He married Miss Mary Hughes, daughter of Dr. Hughes of Shannon. THE ROBESONIAN HISTORICAL EDITION, FEBRUARY 19S1 Pigf Community Depends On Dr. Currie For Medical Care Forty-five Years PARKTON--As a prelude to the work of our beloved physician, Dr. D.

S. Currie, it is well to relate something of the medical service rendered in former times. Dr. Duncan Smith was the great, great undo of Doctor Currie- Dr. Smith lived on the farm now owned by Troy King north of St.

Pauls. The old house and office are said to be standing today on the south side of the new Parkton- St. Pauls highway. This beloved doctor died about 1890 after a long and helpful practice. After Doctor Smith passed on Doctor Stamps came to Lumber Bridge, and in him the people found a real doctor, friend.

Dr. D. S. Currie Sr. chose Parkton for his town forty five years ago.

No doubt he had expected to remain only a few years in this vicinity as he now says; but he continued, "I liked the people so well, and still do, that never a thought entered my head to move my abode." Naturally the county of his birth--Maxton being his home-and Parkton the home of his wife's people since, 1709 made a strong appeal to him. A Family Physician The Doctor has been a wonder- Cul family physician far and wide. His gifts as a physician makes the professional experiences natural and more simple. First, he loves people; second he loves his work and never tires of it. Service is his motto.

His type of a physician is passing He rather pioneered in the be- Dr. Currie In 1906 Above Is ft picture of Dr. S. Curile, made August 8, 1906. He is driviiiR a sorrel horse, named Patsy, who, it is said, had no low scar, but st.irled off in high DR.

S. CURRIE ginning. There were few accommodations; roads were poor. He had only horse and buggy to rely on and sometimes he had to resort to. horseback over bad places.

When the automobile came into use, his was among the first in the county. This was better than the buggy over better roads, but he says, "Nothing could beat the two g-ey horses I drove for getting over lots of places." Now, how much better the roads! with good cars the territory can be covered in much less time. To Dr. Currie his patients are individuals, not cases. His interest in everyone extends far beyond his professional care.

He has fun as he goes along. There is never a dull, "droopy" moment for him. He is alert at every detail. He is chairman of the school board purely because of his interest in children. He is a church man.

Members of his Bible class of men at the Presbyterian church are reluctant to miss a Sunday, It is strange to say, too, that as busy a man as he is, he ig present far more often than absent from his class. He has been an officer in his church for many years. Why Quit If Well He loves work. He says, "Why docs a man want to quit work if he is well? Why sit around and wait to die if he can do a good job? I have no intention of doing such a thing, so long as 1 can serve well and the people feel so." Wife Helps Those who know her say that Mrs. Currie is a real helpmeet and stays right in the game of service with her husband.

She is highly esteemed. The dedication to her in 1950 of the high school annual bespeaks full the life of a useful, Christian woman, mother and friend. To this couple were born three children: Mrs. John M. Harry and Dr.

Dan S. Currie, Jr. of Fayetteville and Mrs. Bion Sears of Whiteville, N. C.

PARKTON PARAGRAPHS (From The Robesonian, May 8, 1915.) On Monday night the Fayetteville district conference will convene in the M. E. church. Rev. J.

H. Shaw Of Dunn will preach introductory sermon. There have been about 120 visitors booked for our little town. Now this meaas something for a town the size of Parkton and the lodging committee is getting busy. J.

B. McCormick Parkton Pioneer PARKTON--J. B. McCormick moved to Parkton from Cumberland county. He was married to the very cultured daughter of Daniel McNatt.

He came to be of the great leaders in the affairs of the town. He was a most prosperous fann- er. He helped organize the Parkton Grocery company; he led in the securing of the Bank of Parkton in 1907; he operated a gin and sawmill and was a mighty factor all that was done for uplift of the community. j. B.

MCCORMICK RKTON IS PROUD OF THE IMPORTANT A IT HAS HAD IN THE BRILLIANT HISTORY OF ROBESON COUNTY. Congratulations To THE ROBESONIAN ON ITS SClli ANNIVERSARY TOWN Of PARKTON.