September 30 Edition

^"25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe."  - Proverbs 29:25 KJV

Prayer list includes: the family of Jody Trammell.

Birthdays this week include: Debbie Sanders - Sept. 29, Teresa Thompson-Brown - Oct. 2, Gail Crater - Oct. 4, Allan Rippy - Oct. 4, Larry Briant - Oct. 5, Kathy (Norris) Spence - Oct. 5. Happy belated birthday to Otis Clary - Sept. 26.

From The Centennial History of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. 1803 - 1903. Prepared and Published by order of the Synod. Charleston, S. C. Presses of Walker, Evans & Cogswell Co., 1905, Pages 576, 577: 

"Shady Grove, in Cleveland Co., Ark., was organized by Rev. J. P. Marion August, 1872, in a small log church about half a mile from where their church now stands.  Twelve names were enrolled.  W. T. Carmichael (Carmical), lately from White Oak, Ga., and W. H. Ware, were elected elders. 

They soon began work on a commodious frame house of worship, which was completed ten years later.  Mr. Marion supplied them half time until the close of 1875.  In doing so he submitted to great hardships.  This church was small, and he received no supplement from Synod.  He supported his family chiefly by cultivating the soil.  They were supplied by Rev. J. L. Young in 1876, Rev. H. M. Henry in 1877, Rev. J. S. A. Hunter in 1878 for half his time.   Twenty names were signed to it.  He was installed Nov. 28, 1879.  The faithful pastor met many and formidable difficulties-vexatious cases of discipline and bitter opposition from without.  But the church increased in members and influence.   His pastorate terminated with Dec., 1887, when he went to Mexico as a foreign missionary.  

Rev. T. G. Boyce came to them in July 1888, and was installed pastor in Dec.   There were 42 names on the church roll at that time.  This was a happy pastorate and prosperous period in the history of the church.  In Feb., 1893, when the relation was dissolved the church had 64 members.  That year Rev. W. A. M. Plaxco supplied them.  Rev. T. B. Stewart was pastor from May, 1894, till Oct., 1899.   

The church was suffering losses from removals, and its forces weakened by death.   They were supplied half time by Rev. A. H. Griffith in 1900 and 2, and half time by Rev. E. B. Anderson in 1903.  They began holding regular services in 1901 at New Edinburg, a railroad station five miles northwest from the church.  Shady Grove has a S. S. and L. B. Society."

 If you have items you want to see in this column, get them to me before Monday for inclusion in that week's edition.  Go Eagles.

September 23 Edition

"3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." --- Romans 5:3-5

Birthdays this week: Linda Warner (Sept. 22), Barbara Chance (Sept. 23), Melvin Jackson and Judy Simmons (Sept. 26). Happy belated birthday to Avery Skelton (Sept. 17) and Ashlyn Skelton (Sept. 19).

Fall is here.  Despite rising temperatures, we got a cool spell and 4.5 inches of hard rain last Friday.

New Edinburg's Spook House is gearing up for this October at the West Saline Community Center.  More details as they arise.  The attentive reader may remember from last year that it was rated higher by tourists than any others in the surrounding area, and the organizers are planning bigger and better things.

Another blast from the past courtesy of Goodspeed's History of Arkansas: "Alex L. Ross, merchant of New Edinburg, Ark., is an example of the success attending hard work and honest dealing. He was born in Henry County, Tenn., September 23, 1827, and is a son of William and Sarah (Frazier) Ross, natives of Kentucky and North Carolina, respectively, the former's birth occurring in 1801, and his death in Yell County, Ark., at the age of seventy-four years. His wife's birth occurred in 1805, and she also died in Yell County at about the same age as her husband. They were married in Henry County, Tenn., and made that State their home until about 1829 or 1830, when they moved to Gibson County, Tenn., and in 1856 settled in Yell County, Ark. They were successful farmers, and the father was an Old Line Whig in his political views. Their family consisted of thirteen children, of whom Alex L. was the third, but only five of this large family are now living. Alex L. Ross spent his early school days in Gibson County, Tenn., and at the age of twenty years began farming for himself, and on coming to Arkansas located in Red Land Township,

Cleveland County, where he was successfully engaged in tilling the soil until 1888. He then formed a partnership in the mercantile business with A. A. Ross, and  this enterprise, like his farming operations, has been attended with excellent results. He has always been of an enterprising and energetic disposition, and is a very popular and highly esteemed man in the community in which he resides. He has always been a Democrat in his political views, and in 1880 was elected magistrate of Red Land Township, and at the end of two years was elected for two more years. January 18, 1818, witnessed the celebration of his nuptials with Miss Mary W. Stone, a daughter of Nicholas C. and Celia Stone. She was born in Robertson County, Tenn., October 10, 1833, and their union has resulted in the birth of the following children: Mary L. (wife of John T. Harris, a farmer residing near New Edinburg), Paralee W., Albert A. (who is associated with his father in business), William T. (who is with Lockridge & Buster, of Kingsland), Anna (wife of Llewellyn Jeffries, a farmer of Cleveland County), Louis C. and James U. Zilpha J. died when eleven months old. Mr. and Mrs. Ross are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and he is a member of the Masonic order. "

If you have stuff you want in this column, please get it to me before Monday for inclusion in that week's column.  This column will appear on the internet at http://WeAreTheEagles.blogspot.com.  Go Eagles.

September 16th Edition

"Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; ² And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour." Ephesians 5:1-2 KJV

 

Birthdays this week include: Linda Knight and Tony Atkins - Sept. 20, Paula Splawn - Sept. 21.  Happy belated birthday to Nita Beth Hall - Sept. 12 and Austin Grice - Sept. 13.

Chapel Hill Baptist Church will have revival services Sept. 22-24. Sunday morning services will begin at 11am and the evening services will begin at 6pm. The Monday and Tuesday services will be at 7pm and Brother Rocky Goodwin will be the evangelist.

Mr. Jerry Warner and Mrs. Linda Warner honored their daughter Princess Warner and son-in-law Melvin Jackson with a wedding reception held Saturday evening at the West Saline Community Center with about 200 family and friends in attendance.

The New Edinburg Cemetery Association asks that anyone with family or friends in the NE Cemetery please help with the cost of upkeep through donations.  Donations made be made to Rick St. John, who is the treasurer.

If you have stuff you want in this column, please get it to me before Monday for inclusion in that week's column.  This column will appear on the internet at http://WeAreTheEagles.blogspot.com.  Go Eagles.

September 9 Edition

^"4 And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you."  --- Isaiah 46:4

Birthdays this week include: Vester Thompson - Sept. 9, Charlene King - Sept. 10, Nita Beth Hall - Sept. 12, Austin Grice and Sharon Davis - Sept.13, Beth Rippy and Sierra Paul - Sept 14.

Short column this week as it's too hot for anyone to be up to much.

The New Edinburg Cemetery Association asks that anyone with family or friends in the NE Cemetery please help with the cost of upkeep through donations.  Donations made be made to Rick St. John, who is the treasurer.

Congratulations to Tim Jones and Barbie Trammell who were married last Wednesday and honeymooned in Hot Springs. Congratulations also to Melvin Jackson and Princess Warner as they were married last Saturday.

If you have stuff you want in this column, please get it to me before Monday for inclusion in that week's column.  This column will appear on the internet at http://WeAreTheEagles.blogspot.com.  Go Eagles.

September 9th Edition

"1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
² For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." -  Romans 8:1-2

Birthdays this week include: Marshall Wilson and Jackson Perry - August 29. Buddy Parker and Don Pennington - Sept. 2, Mark Emerson Sept. 5, Floyd Brown and Jennifer Herring - Sept. 6, Rachel Beard and Donna Martindale - Sept. 7.
I hope everyone had an excellent Labor Day weekend.

New Edinburg Fire Department responded to a fire on the Farm to Market Road last Friday, and County Line Fire Department fought a fire on Hollis Special Loop early Labor Day morning.
The family of Lottie Hardaway met at the West Saline Community Center last Sunday for their annual reunion.
Someone asked me a few days ago about the legend of Union soldiers from the Battle of Marks' Mills being dumped in a well... specifically as to the location of the well.  I'm not necessarily a Civil War expert; there a couple of guys around here who are way ahead of me on that... my area of history is what's referred to as "modern American history" which is 1890-1950... but I do know a few things about Marks' Mills. Local legends build up and become "fact" but there are some false stories floating around.
First, the Union dead were not dumped in a well.  They were buried in a mass grave in the apple orchard behind the Marks houseplace.  After the war, the Union army came back through several battle sites such as this one and retrieved the bodies.  The Union dead were re-interred in what's now the National Cemetery in Little Rock.
Second, many people have claimed over the years to have found the buried gold that was on that wagon train. I can say they definitely did not find the Yankee gold because there was no gold on that train.  Even Yankees aren't dumb enough to drag gold through Rebel held territory.  The Union army paid its soldiers with greenbacks.


Thirdly, the granite marker at the battlesite, while beautiful, gets only two details right: who won and when.  Everything else is completely wrong.

Once upon a time, historians were revered elders in the villages because they held the history and lore of their people.  These days, we have to shout to be heard.
If you have stuff you want in this column, please get it to me before Monday for inclusion in that week's column.  Go Eagles.