Lincoln Times-News from Lincolnton, North Carolina • Page 1

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II. LINCOLNTON. C. TUESDAY. OCTOBER 13, 1908.

No. SV State library eOLN sooner or later come to each of us, tory retain their primal import: Address By Mr. Nixon, Delivered at the Birthday Celebration at Mr. Peter Keener's Oct. 7th, 1908.

creek. From the family record I learn that Peter Keener was born October 7th, 1823, and is eighty-five years old today. Mrs. Fannie Keener was born August 22nd, 1821, and is now in her eighty-eighth year. They were united iu marriage March 9th, 1848, and together have journeyed along the pathway of life for sixty years.

To Peter Keener and Fannie Keener have been born four sons and two daughters. The oldest, Marcus LaFayette, is a boy approaching his sixtieth birthday. He lives in the far away state of New Mexico, and is not only a father but the grandfather of issue children. He is here today and bears a striking resemblance to his father. I think it good of him to make this long journey to see his father and mother, and look after the welfare of their declining years.

the sickle, then saw it laid aside for the scythe and cradle, and these in turn for the mowing machine and harvester. The horse rake has taken the place of the hay fork, and the threshing machine has succeeded the flail, and I suppose you have seen the grain tramped out by the foot of horse. It is not long since I followed the bull-tongue and bar share, and dropped corn and cotton seed and sowed wheat with the hand; now the crop is planted, cultivated and harvested with labor-saving ma "Therefore the Lord God, sent him forth from the Garden of Eden to till the ground from whence he was taken." under the penalty. "In. the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread till thou return unto the ground." When the great civil war came on tne ii.eeners eniistea in me Southern cause and were good con federate soldiers.

Among the veterans here today is our host, Peter Keener, and his brothers, Daniel and David. Mr. and Mrs. Keener were born in this community within a couple miles of each other, and here their long lives of peace, industry and honor, mingled with joys and sor- sows, have been spent, and in this land dwelt their fathers before them. In 1750, the "skirmish line of civilization," in its ever westward march, had crossed the Great Catawba, and established its outports in the primal wilds of I what was then Anson county, now the old county of Lincoln.

Among the bold spirits of the adventureous pioneers was Gaspen Keener. The touch of time has obliterated most of his history, but the dates of his land grants assuredly give him place among those who encountered the dangers and hardships incident to frontier life, and entitles his name to be treasured among the honored heroes who subdued the foes of husbandry in a wild, unsettled region. That he was not only one of the path finders, but a path-maker is evidenced in an early grant to John Boyd on Lock-hart's creek, for a body of land including in its boundaries "the fork where Keener's path crosses, running up both sides of the creek, including a deer lick." Gasper Keener's extensive grants passed to his son, Abraham Keen er. These lands lie on the waters of Leeper's creek, the first water course to the east. The stream on which our good friends live, and which the people of Lincolnton call the "four-mile branch," was known to the older people as "Lick Run," taking its name from saline earth at some place along its bank where deer and other ani mals resorted to lick.

In a deed from Abraham Keener to Peter Finger of date 23rd May, 1778, he recites the land conveyed was granted to Gaspen Keener, the father of Abraham Keener, 25th May, 1754. The will of John Keener, son of Abraham Keener, bears date 11th July, 1822. -1 am of opinion, that the present Keener family of this section trace their descent from this John Keener, the son of Abraham and grandson of Gaspen, the pioneer. I deem it appropriate on this occasion to mention two of John Keener's sons, Michal and Adam. Michal Keener married Catherine Shrum and one of their sons is Peter Keener, th husband and tatner we nonor on tnis occa sion.

Adam Keener married Mary Finger, and one of their daughters is Fannie Keener, whose name marriage did not change, the wife and mother who shares an equal portion of the honors of this day. Their courtship and mar riage is a sealed book to me, but their acquaintance extends back to the earliest memories of childhood, Mary Keener, your grand moth er, the wife of John Keener, and the mother of Michal and Adam, was a daughter of John Finger, the son of Peter Finger, another pioneer settler. Peter Finger lived on lands purchased from Abraham Keener, when the great road, Sherrill's Ford, passing near here, crosses Leeper's creek, on what we lately knew as the Good son and Loftin plantations. His grave is yet pointed out on the North Bide of the road, beyond the to every home and every person; and that neither the pride of wealth, the charms of beauty, nor the bloom of youth can elude his grasp. Therefore, the great first business of this life should be to "Lay hold on eternal life." I close with the comforting words of our blessed Savior: "Let not your hearts be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so I would have told you. go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am there ye may be also." IN MEMORIAM. After an illness of only a few days with typhoid fever, Mosie Larkin, tha little eight year old son of Mr. Luther Hovis, died at his home near Salem church Tuesday afternoon, October 6th, 1908.

His immediate death was caused by heart failure. Mosie was an un-usually intelligent, sweet and affectionate child, and was loved dearly by all who knew him, especially his teachers and school mates He loved to attend Sunday School and was never absent ex cept when prevented by illness He frequently expressed his desire to meet his mother and other loved ones who have preceded him to the better land, and expressed his willingness to die any time. Everything was done that could be to keep him, but God knew the sweet flower was too tender for this world, and gently reached down and transplanted it above where all is sunshine and troubles have no abode The funeral was conducted by Rev. Johnson, of Lincolnton, in Salem church. The beautiful white casket was borne from the church to the cemetery by four of his schoolmates, followed by about twenty-four lit tle boys of the Sunday school, who carried the flowers, thegrave being completely covered.

The bereaved family have the sympathy of the entire community in this sad bereavement, and may the Father who doeth all things for the best, comfort and console them. Mosio baa left us, why did he goT Why, precious darling, we loved you so. Sad are our hearts, lonely our home, Yet we know thou art safe with dear Jesus to roam. We never dreamed thro all the years That life was fraught with such bitter tears, Never knew till thy sweet voice was still IIow much we should miss thoe thy placo none can fill. May we strive to live, as from example he taught us while here To be patient, unselfish, gentle and sincere.

We know we can have him here with us no more, But sometimes; when God wills it, on the unseen shore, We'll clasp his dear hand and behold his sweet face, More radiant than ever was seen in this place. Ood help us, we ask as we journey alone Be our strength and our guide, lead us where he has gone. Fain would we have kept tho we know all is well, Thou'hast giventThou hast taken, where thou dwellest he dwells. A Friend. Lincolnton, Route 6, Oct 8, 1908.

AHtalthy Family. "Our whole family has enjoyed good health since we began using Dr. King's New Life Pills, three years ago," says L. A. Bartlet, of Rural Route 1, Guilford Maine.

They cleanse and tone the system in a gentle way that does you good. 25o at K. L. Lawing's drug) store. STATE WIDE The Audubon Society says the quail are more scarce this year than previously, owing to the heavy rains.

Since the organization of this society, insect-eating birds have increased under its protection from 120 to 200 per cent in 5 years'. The Southern Railway, has of- fit 4-r t1 T7 oil rlnmiirana by the citizens of Spencer as a result of the explosion of their powder magazine at that place last week. This is a very generous proposition on the part of the Southern. A party of 40 native North Carolinians and descendants of North Carolinians traveling in a special car, arrivedjin Greensboro from Indiana Friday, to attend the home coming week. Another party was expected to arrive from the same State Sunday.

W. Fletcher Stafford, fourth victim of the Spencer explosion, died at the Whitehead Stokes Sanatorium, Salisbury, Friday morning. Stafford was a railway mail I 7 I I cierK, and a popular young man. Miss Sue Woods, of Meridian, died at the Presbyterian Hospital, Charlotte, Thursday night Miss Woods had been in ill ltstnl1. 1.

i- not until a few weeks ago was her case diagnosed as An automobile and a carriage uau a Hiuusuup iu vv lustou-oaiem last week. The two horses were badlv iniured. the auto broken up and the four occupants of the injury. TO CELEBRATE FIFTIETH AN NIVERSARY. Appropriate Exercise Will be Held in First Presbyterian Church Beginning Saturday Celebrating Fiftieth Anniversary of its Organization.

There will be services in the i a i morning at eleven o'clock, and Sunday morning and evening, to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary ot the organization of the First Presbyterian church of Shelby. There were nine members then. and since that time, the town and county, bearing the names of two rresoyienan eiders, neroes ot King's Mountain, have a people Of their spiritual lineage. During the eight years of Kev. R.

Z. Johnston's ministry, the church was dedicated and a per manent ounday school organized. Dr. E. P.

Davis, in 1883, became a resident pastor. A manse and three acres of land were purchased And the manse was improved through the liberality of Mrs. E. B. Jennings.

Under the leadership of Rev. Wm. P. McCorkle and Dr. T.

M. Lowry, and Rev. W. R. Minter, the Shelby church became a missionary centre for Presbyterianism.

The church has always been a harmonious one, and all of its pastors look back, with the greatest satis faction, at their work among such a loyal and efficient congregation. Saturday morning, Rev. R. Minter, Rev. R.

A. Miller, and Dr. E. P. Davis, will speak.

Sunday morning, Dr. Davis will preach, and Sunday night, Rev. Wm. P. McCorkle will make an address.

The public is cordially invited to attend these services. Cleveland Star. Reid Hardware Co. are giving free a handsome set of ware, well worth $7.50. See advertisement in thU paper.

It is a great pleasure for mo. to be here on this occasion, and make one of the number to greet this aged couple on the 85th anniversary of the husband and father. Their lives have been long, honor' able aud peaceful. They have attended strictly to their own affairs, and been strangers to turmoil and strife. They have been good citi- friends.

It is good and beautiful in their children and grand-children, brothers and sisters, kindred and friends to lay aside, for the day, the toils and cares of life and greet this aged couple with the visible aud tangible manifestations of friendship and good will. I believe in doing this we are lengthening the chords of our own lives. In the presence of death, and when great calamities and sorrows befall a neighbor, we gladly give the helping hand and from generous hearts whisper words of comfort and sympathy, and in this do well. We bedew the cold sod covering the remains of departed friends with our tears and bedeck their last resting places with the flower and evergreen, and this is dutiful and right But I say unto you pluck the flower aud the bud from the pathway of life, place them in the warm nanas 01 tne living, while in the enjoyment of health and strength, aud not withhold the words of loving kindness that adds so much to the joy and happiness of this life I commend you for your thoughtiulness in cheer, this aged couple, I believe in enjoying the good things of this life in getting the best out of it oa -ma rtr alnntt fnr at. ifd lfmorpsf, the span of life is short, and the time when its brittle thread will snap is uncertain.

You represent a type Of people fast disappearing. Your wants have been few and simple. It has never occurred to your minds that they were to be Bupplied other than by the fruits of your own la- linr Vnn Sir. havn Tllowed the I. soil and Dlanted the seed iu due season, cultivated tne growing crop and with patience and faith awaited the harvest.

You, Madam, in the endless round of household a A A ntv rtof i A iifiao a rra lionn faithful wife and loving mother and performed well your part in making this home; home, the dear est, sweetest word and place in this world, for there is no place like home. Each of you diacharg ed the duties of life as it was given you to see them. By your quiet, peaceful lives you have contributed to the sura of human life and hap piness, and are enjoying the blessings of the promise that they that do with faith that which ii appointed unto them, shall go to their "Father's in peace and be IU CV lfgM --7- have seen 'more ana greater cnanges, uuui auyuue that ever lived in any other period of the world's history. You have lived in an age of invention and discovery. I will name a few.

Your memories run back to the time when people lived by hand, they now live by the use of ma oViinprT. You remember when th only mode of travel was by the horse and ox now we have the bicycle, the locomotive aud the automobile, You, Sir, have cut the wheat with Ambrose Theodore, their second sou, is a resident of Oklahoma. William Keener, their third son, is dead. I knew him well. He was much like his father in person and manner and was to him a companion and comfort.

Benjamin, the fourth son, resides with his parents. Martha Jane, a daughter, the wife of Charles D. Shrum, contributing to the pleasure of this happy day, is here. The other daughter, Mary, wife of Walter Donaldson, is dead. The Keener family is one of great longevity.

It is given to them to live unto great age. May the of this couple like- wise enjoy the blessing promised by God to the ancient Israel, in the beautiful iniunction: "Honor thy father and Jthy mother; that tky days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." Old age has always been beauti ful to me, and from my earliest recollection it has been a delight to me to greet the old, and sit at their feet, aud listen to their stories as they again live over their lives in the long ago in the good old times; for with most of us the good times seem to be in the past, and we scarce take time to appreciate and enjoy the blessings of God in the living present. This is a good and beautiful world, if we but look upon the bright side aud try to make it so; and the desire to live is natural and right. I shall never forget the time when stranded on a bed of fever, I was at deaths door, My life hung in the balance. How beautiful the world then seemed to me with its sunshine and its flowers, its friends and loved ones, aud how I prayed to be restored to health to enjoy their sweet companionship.

I once heard a- good man describe a picture. I see that picture now. The aged father sits in his home by his own fireside. His head is whitened by the frost that never melts; his manly form is stooped; in the other corner sits the wife and mother; on her once rosy cheeks can now be seen the furrows of time; their bodies are weakened with the weight of many years. But they are happy in each others society and the love of youth has grown stronger with the years door-Js partly, open.

Inside stands Cupid, the God of love, with anxious face trying to push it shut. Outside is the Angel of Death, trying to push it open; on his face is the determination that knows nothing but to succeed. My prayer is that the God of love may long sustain the door, that the evening ot your lives may be extended and happy, and the hour of your separation long deferred. But we should all remember that the messergcr of death will chinery. 1 is not long since pine knots, lard and candles were the main source of lighting houses; then men learned to make illuminating gas from coal and turpentine, to refine the carbon oil into keuosene, and to transmute the invisible electricity of the atmosphere into the incandescent and the arc light.

You have seen the old and trusty flint lock give place to the per cussion cap, and this to the breechloader and the automatic. You remember when on these hills and vales there were herds of fleet- footed deer and droves of wild turkeys and other game. When a boy I often started the morning fire by a spark from flint and steel, now lucifer matches are used throughout the world. You re member the goose quill and pen' knife: now. we have the ountain pen and typewriter.

Turn to the domestic circle. The cook sto ve and range have taken the place of the bake oven, but the older people insist their moth ers baked the sweetest bread and cakes. The knitting needle has been transferred from weary fin gers to the stocking factory. Did the hand-loom cause the arms of the farmer's daughter to ache, and the spinning wheel occupy all her recreation hours! and the needle ply its slow and tedious way from stitch to stitch! Today the spin ning wheel is a.curio of the past, the shuttle has been transferred to the power-loom ot the weaving mill, and thesewing machine, whether in the log cabin or the mansion is the necessity, the ury, the ornament of woman's household. Among the wonderful discoveries of moder times it is difficult to 6tate what is most wonderful.

But, perhaps, nothing can be more incredible than the now common practice of putting man in a placid sleep, and subjecting him without conscious pain to the most terrible surgical operation. The knife cuts through the quivering nerves, and the saw severs the bones while the patient sleeps in a dreamless Blum ber. The younger people here remember the introduction of the typewriter, the telephone, the electric light, the electric railway, the graphophone, the camera, smokeless powder," perfect dynamo, wireless telegraphy, the flying machine, and many other strange and useful things, that I will not trespass upon your time to enumerate. While comforts and conveniences multiply our wants increase xin the same proportion, and I expect in this age of rush and sharp competition we have to work harder for a living than did the fathers with fewer con veniences but fewer wants. The words of the Creator to our first parents in the twilight of his.