New River Vignette

By Myrtle Aldridge
Submitted by Fred McCaleb

On Sunday August 4 (year unknown) a series of meetings began at the New River Church of Christ. Curtis W. Posey is doing the preaching, and the public is cordially invited.
This must be at least seventy five times that an event sililar to this has taken place on this same spot. The original building was incorporated into the present one when a remodeling job took place a few years ago.
1886 has been given as the date of organization. Mr. John Tyler McCaleb owned a large farm near by. He gave the land and financed the building of the house except for $18 which was donated by Mr. Jim Wade. Mr. McCaleb was an elder from the time of the organization till his death August 13, 1918.
One of his young daughters was first to be buried in the church cemetery. She was Sarah H. McCaleb Reed. June 13, 1868 to Oct. 13, 1888. She left a small son, Luther, who was reared by his grandfather.
Another daughter, Medora S. Haley, 1866?-1890, also left a small son Wilburn who was also reared by his grandfather McCaleb.
Mr. McCaleb was twice married: first to Elizabeth Susan McDonald whose dates are 1847-1894. After her death he was married to Mattie Drucilla Lee whose dates are 1860 to 1940.
Mr. McCaleb was highly respected by all who knew him. A man once came to him to buy a turn of corn. Mr. McCaleb was busy and told the man to go to the crib and help himself. The man said, "But no one will be with me to check on my honesty." "Oh you are mistaken" replied Mr. McCaleb, "The Lord will be there."
Needless to say, the man could not have then been dishonest if he had had any inclination to do so.
Mr. McCaleb was also known for his generosity. Mr. Huse Haney tells me that during a big meeting he had seen as many as forty saddles on the fence at Mr. McCaleb's home.
Papa Aldridge told me that as a young man, he often visited in this home. On one such occasion, several pallets had to be made down. The next morning Aunt Silla said "Well where did Wilburn sleep last night?" To this her young stepson, Joe McCaleb, replied, "The last time I saw him he was standing in a corner with a quilt over his head, like a tent."
From 1899 till 1911, Mr. McCaleb served as postmaster of the New River Post Office.
Some ministers who have served this churchS: Jeremiah Randolph, whose dates are 1807 to 1894, his son Virgil, whose dates are 1847 to 1908,Green Haley, Joe Halbrooks, C.A. Wheeler, W.A. Tipton, Samuel B. Carson, Howell Taylor & others.
Uncle Joe Holbrooks lived at New River for a period of 16 years. He preached there, in adjoining communities and counties. At the time he was considered a very scholarly man, for he had attended Mars Hill Bible School near Florence.
Some of the older members of this church today are Mr. & Mrs. Bill Hollingsworth, Mrs. Lucy McCaleb and Mr. Oliver Davis and wife.
The morning I visited this cemetery, a gentle rustling of the leaves, bird calls, the flutter of butterflies wings in an ancient crepe myrtle, were the only sounds in this tranquil spot. I was reminded of a poem by Mrs. Ruth E. McCaleb as I stood by l
her grave, in which she described the land which her husband loved, the acres of fine corn through which the wind passed and "Came to rest, with a sigh, at his tomb."