Fort Hollingsworth-White House

Send to Fred McCaleb about his Ancestors

Fort Hollingsworth-White House is located in the community of
Hollingsworth, on Wynn Lake Road, about two miles off US Hwy
441 between Baldwin, Ga. and Homer, Ga.

Hollingsworth Fort was first shown on a map of the Defensive Plan
Western Frontier, Franklin County in 1793.

Georgia's boundaries in the 1700's can best be described as the
wild frontier. Between 1782 and 1797 various treaties were made
with the Indians to define Georgia's boundaries. Forts were built
to protect the settlers who lived on the frontier. Indians were
likely to be incited by misunderstandings. Horses and farm animals
were frequently stolen, and families had to be protected in fortress-
type buildings surrounded by wooden fences.

The first settlers of Franklin County whose lands granted by the
State of Georgia between 1783 and 1788 lay north of the Indian
Boundary fixed by the treaty of 1785. These lands were granted
under the impression that they lay south of the agreed Indian
boundary line. When this line was surveyed it was found that
these lands lay north of the boundary line and in the Cherokee
Nation, which demanded their removal.

William W. Wofford and Jacob Hollingsworth both moved from North
Carolina to Franklin Co., Ga. before l792. Wofford's fort appeared
on the map in 1792 and Hollingsworth's in 1793. This area was known
as Wofford's Settlement.

When Col. Wofford found out that their settlement was considered to
be in Indian territory after the line was surveyed, he along with
the other settlers in this area petitioned Georgia Governor James
Jackson to have the line re-run or to take such other action as
would protect them and the possessions of their homes.

Legend has it that he mounted his horse and rode to Washington to
talk with the authorities about his land holding in Georgia. This
resulted in the "Four Mile Purchase" of 1804 when the Indians ceded
a strip of land 4 miles wide (from the Habersham and Banks County
line on Baldwin Mountain to the Line Baptist Church on Hwy. 441)
and 23 miles long (extending from Curahee Mountain to the head waters
of the South Oconee River) which included the Wofford Settlement. It
was originally marked by a line of felled trees at least twenty feet
wide which became a sort of no man's land. The United States agreed
to pay the Cherokee Indians $5,000 and $1,000 per annum for the
property rights.

By about 1796 the Indian troubles were about over and the need for
the string of frontier forts was no longer pressing. The forts,
after the need for defense subsided, became log farmhouses.

The Wofford's and the Hollingsworth's traveled together to new
frontiers in the west using passports to travel through Indian
territory. As the years passed many of their descendants would
pack up their belongings, taking wives, children, slaves and
animals and move west, as genealogy records show. Fort Hollingsworth
was left on these vacant lands.

In Habersham County Inferior Court setting as a land court May
Term 1855, William B. Wofford, son of Nathaniel Wofford, grandson
of William W. Wofford, petitioned the court for a head right warrant
for vacant lands. He received a grant from the state on Oct. 2,
1855. He sold this property to Col. Robert McMillan on April 18,
1857. Fort Hollingsworth was on this property.

Col. Robert McMillan came from Ireland in 1831. He put his heart,
soul, and money into the Confederate cause and raised and commanded
the 24th Georgia Regiment. Although nearly sixty years old he was
noted for his bravery. When General Thomas R. R. Cobb fell, mortally
wounded at Fredricksburg, Col. McMillan was placed in temporary
command and would have been made Brigadier-General but his health
failed and he came home to die.

On March 1, 1861, Robert McMillan sold the property to John Lane.
He had owned the property little more than a month when the Civil
war started. He went off to the war, Co. D-43 Regiment-Ga.
Volunteer Infantry-Army of Tenn. CSA-"Middle River Volunteers",
and never returned. He was shot by his own men as he returned
from getting water from a spring in Tennessee. Until this day
no one knows where he is buried. He was killed in the summer of
1862. He never got to live in the house, in life, but his ghost
still haunts the place. He has been seen by those who have lived
in the house and they all describe him in the same way, a somber
face and dressed in clothing of the 1860's. Canon blasts are
heard occasionally that rattles the windows. His property was
divided among sisters.

On December 9, 1862, Joshua White bought the "Upper Leather Tract",
from the John Lane estate, and he and Katharine Lane White made the
fort their home. They built the addition to the two story single
pen that had been the fort and made it look like any other farm
house of the mid 1800's. The addition was linked to the original
structure by a covered walkway, known as a dogtrot. Dogtrots
allowed the inhabitants to work outside in pleasant weather and
protected the entire house from burning if one side caught on fire.
The air flow through the dogtrot helped to cool the house in the summer.

The old wagon road ran through the yard of the fort, past the barn,
down through the fields and across Mountain Creek. It continued on
to the old Hollingsworth Store (which was across the road from where
Irvin's Store now stands) and crossed US Hwy 441 near Harmony Church
and continued on to the Wofford Fort on Broad River. It is still
visible today, in places.

Water was always a problem on the site. Several wells were dug
but had to be filled in because of caving. Water was carried
from a spring located southwest of the house. Water flowed into
a stone bowl just deep enough for a bucket.

Also, located near this spring was a wash place. Laundry was carried
from the house to the water instead of carrying the water to the house.

Across the branch from this wash place was a hole in the bank that
contained pure white clay. It was called the white mud hole.
This white clay was used to polish the fire-places during spring
cleaning. It was also used for the chinking between the logs in
the fort.

Near the spring was an Indian ceremonial ground. This area was de-
stroyed in the 1930's when timber was cut and dragged across the site.

March 21, 1903 - The Fort-White House was passed to the children of
Joshua & Katharine Lane White.

The Hollingsworth Fort/White House looks very much today like it
did in the 1860's. Beacher White who acquired the house in 1936
knew the historical value of the fort and would not allow it to be
painted or changed much. He wanted to preserve it as much as possible.

Due to beacher White's foresight, it is still possible to see the
tiny window in the side of the house which was used to watch for
Indians, the original fireplace mantels, and the 18 inch baseboards.
It is very easy to imagine what life must have been like in those
early days of Georgia.

In 1980 the Fort/White House was passed to Beacher & Mellie Segars
White's children. They too recognize the historical value of this
property and wish to share it with the public. Efforts are currently
underway to restore the Fort/White House. The Friends of the Fort
organization has been formed to manage the house and its preservation.

Funny Observations

Send by Fred

The paradox of our time in history is that
we have taller buildings, but shorter tempers;
wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints;
We spend more, but have less;
we buy more, but enjoy it less.
We have bigger houses and smaller families;
more conveniences, but less time;
we have more degrees, but less sense;
more knowledge, but less judgment;
more experts, but more problems;
more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, and laugh
too little, drive too fast, get too angry to quickly, stay up too late, and
get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.
We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life;
we've added years to life, not life to years.

We've been all the way to the moon and back,
but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor.
We've conquered outer space, but not inner space;
We've done larger things, but not better things;
We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul;
We've split the atom, but not our prejudice;
We write more, but learn less;
We plan more, but accomplish less.

We've learned to rush, but not to wait;
We have higher incomes, but lower morals;
We have more food, but less appeasement;
We build more computers to hold more information to produce more
copies than ever, but have less communication;
We've become long on quantity, but short on quality.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion;
tall men, and short character;
steep profits, and shallow relationships.

These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare;
more leisure, but less fun;
more kinds of food, but less nutrition.

These are days of two incomes, but more divorce;
of fancier houses, but broken homes.
These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers,
throw away morality, one-night stands, overweight bodies,
and pills that do everything from cheer to quiet, to kill.

It is a time when there is much in the show window and nothing in
the stockroom; a time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a
time when you can choose to make a difference

Fred's Letter to Clancy & Tom

Nov. 29, 1995
Dear Clancy and Tom,

I received your letter last week and never got around to answering it. We had
our Boswell daughter and husband and grandkids from Thursday night until
Sunday morning. They seemed to enjoy themselves here. Bradley read most of the
time. I guess he acted sort of like your Steve did when he was young and
visited here. If reading will help, maybe he will turn out to be some sort of
genius. Eric seems to have more ordinary intelligence if he will use it in the
long run. He seems gifted in mathematics, and can multiply big numbers out in
his head. I let them have a cedar for a Christmas tree. I don't know how it
fared at 75 miles an hour on top of the car for 750 miles.

I took your advice before I got your letter on extra tests concerning what the
Dr. in NC thought was a TIA. The Dr. here, since I have very good insurance,
had a brain catscan run and also audio echo tests done on blood flow to and
from head and on heart condition. From these tests he said there was no sign of
my ever having a TIA. He said my heart condition was equal to one in a much
younger age group. He supposed I must have had some sinus congestion or
something like that. At least he made me feel good. Fayette hospital has the
modern test instruments to extract the most money from Medicare and Bluecross,
so I didn't have to go off somewhere to get tested. Anyhow the Brevard, NC Dr
got me well by taking a few extra aspirin, so I wasn't dissatisfied with what
he did. I guess I will just die off with nothing wrong but old age and
meanness. I had eyes checked in early summer. That Dr. was ready to operate the
same week. I told him I was "gunshie" of eye operations; since having a sister
and a brother with not much success with eye operations, and that I would wait
until I went blind first. I can still see the leaves on trees 1/4 mile away and
see the road good in daytime, so I guess I will hang around a while before
trying to have my eyes improved. My eyes seem to me to be in about the same
shape as in 1936 when the Navy recruiter in Bham. told me to get out of the
recruiting office, that I couldn't see. I suppose they never have been too
good, or too awfully bad, so I will just try to be satisfied with what I have.
The female eye Dr. at Ft. Belvoir said I had unusual striations in my eyes. The
Dr. here saw nothing unusual, but was eager to make a dollar.
I have been compiling a little Church of Christ history here lately. I found a
church in Morgan County, Al. where the Nick Hackworth family went to church.
His Dau. Sally married Philemous Morris. Phil was the Morris that wrote the
diary while living near Berea Church, and was the grandson of Sally Hackworth.
Sally's sister was Mary Hackworth. She married John McCaleb, the preacher son of
Hugh and Elizabeth Holbrook McCaleb. So I deducted that the Hugh McCaleb family
must have lived somewhere near the old Log Church where Sally and Mary were
baptized. The Randolphs were up in Morgan Co. also. The Randolphs and John
McCaleb were instrumental in establishing Berea Church. Jim Wade, a Primitive
Baptist turned C. of Christ after marrying Leah Catherine McCaleb ( dau of
Andrew and Leah C. McCollum), Was the most loved preacher at Berea. He didn't
charge for his preaching (a prim. bap. principle), Ha! Virgil Randolph married
Martha McCaleb. So everywhere I turned there was a McCaleb woman married to an
Early C. Of Christ preacher and McCalebs and McCollums donating land for Berea.
Nick Morris started the Morris cemetery where daddy's brother Franklin is
burried. It may turn out that I know more Church of Christ history than any of
the members around here, and me not even a good member. Should I give them a
copy of what I have? I also have Killingsworth Baptist. Grady Randolph wrote up
the Randolph contribution to the Church of Christ. He lives in Atlanta, and is
the grandson of Virgil and Martha McCaleb Randolph. Would you like to have the
full amount I acquire on the Church of Christ?
Guess I better quit for today. We seem OK at present. Have had greens from
garden. The noise of Thanksgiving has died down. I hope you and Tom are OK.
Glad to hear Tom and Bill are getting out of cow business. Too much work for
old fellows. Maybe Tom hasn't got old yet. I hope he stays young for a very
long time.

With love,
Fred

Fred's Letter to Clancy & Tom

Nov. 29, 1995
Dear Clancy and Tom,

I received your letter last week and never got around to answering it. We had
our Boswell daughter and husband and grandkids from Thursday night until
Sunday morning. They seemed to enjoy themselves here. Bradley read most of the
time. I guess he acted sort of like your Steve did when he was young and
visited here. If reading will help, maybe he will turn out to be some sort of
genius. Eric seems to have more ordinary intelligence if he will use it in the
long run. He seems gifted in mathematics, and can multiply big numbers out in
his head. I let them have a cedar for a Christmas tree. I don't know how it
fared at 75 miles an hour on top of the car for 750 miles.

I took your advice before I got your letter on extra tests concerning what the
Dr. in NC thought was a TIA. The Dr. here, since I have very good insurance,
had a brain catscan run and also audio echo tests done on blood flow to and
from head and on heart condition. From these tests he said there was no sign of
my ever having a TIA. He said my heart condition was equal to one in a much
younger age group. He supposed I must have had some sinus congestion or
something like that. At least he made me feel good. Fayette hospital has the
modern test instruments to extract the most money from Medicare and Bluecross,
so I didn't have to go off somewhere to get tested. Anyhow the Brevard, NC Dr
got me well by taking a few extra aspirin, so I wasn't dissatisfied with what
he did. I guess I will just die off with nothing wrong but old age and
meanness. I had eyes checked in early summer. That Dr. was ready to operate the
same week. I told him I was "gunshie" of eye operations; since having a sister
and a brother with not much success with eye operations, and that I would wait
until I went blind first. I can still see the leaves on trees 1/4 mile away and
see the road good in daytime, so I guess I will hang around a while before
trying to have my eyes improved. My eyes seem to me to be in about the same
shape as in 1936 when the Navy recruiter in Bham. told me to get out of the
recruiting office, that I couldn't see. I suppose they never have been too
good, or too awfully bad, so I will just try to be satisfied with what I have.
The female eye Dr. at Ft. Belvoir said I had unusual striations in my eyes. The
Dr. here saw nothing unusual, but was eager to make a dollar.
I have been compiling a little Church of Christ history here lately. I found a
church in Morgan County, Al. where the Nick Hackworth family went to church.
His Dau. Sally married Philemous Morris. Phil was the Morris that wrote the
diary while living near Berea Church, and was the grandson of Sally Hackworth.
Sally's sister was Mary Hackworth. She married John McCaleb, the preacher son of
Hugh and Elizabeth Holbrook McCaleb. So I deducted that the Hugh McCaleb family
must have lived somewhere near the old Log Church where Sally and Mary were
baptized. The Randolphs were up in Morgan Co. also. The Randolphs and John
McCaleb were instrumental in establishing Berea Church. Jim Wade, a Primitive
Baptist turned C. of Christ after marrying Leah Catherine McCaleb ( dau of
Andrew and Leah C. McCollum), Was the most loved preacher at Berea. He didn't
charge for his preaching (a prim. bap. principle), Ha! Virgil Randolph married
Martha McCaleb. So everywhere I turned there was a McCaleb woman married to an
Early C. Of Christ preacher and McCalebs and McCollums donating land for Berea.
Nick Morris started the Morris cemetery where daddy's brother Franklin is
burried. It may turn out that I know more Church of Christ history than any of
the members around here, and me not even a good member. Should I give them a
copy of what I have? I also have Killingsworth Baptist. Grady Randolph wrote up
the Randolph contribution to the Church of Christ. He lives in Atlanta, and is
the grandson of Virgil and Martha McCaleb Randolph. Would you like to have the
full amount I acquire on the Church of Christ?
Guess I better quit for today. We seem OK at present. Have had greens from
garden. The noise of Thanksgiving has died down. I hope you and Tom are OK.
Glad to hear Tom and Bill are getting out of cow business. Too much work for
old fellows. Maybe Tom hasn't got old yet. I hope he stays young for a very
long time.

With love,

Descendants of John Lowry?

by
Fred McCaleb

Generation No. 1

1. John Lowry1 ? was born in Ireland?. He married Unknown.

Child of John ? and Unknown is:
+ 2 i. John2 Lowry, born Abt. 1700 in Ireland; died Bet. 1761 - 1762 in Augusta
County Va. Rockbridge will nov 26 nov 1761.


Generation No. 2

2. John2 Lowry (John Lowry1 ?) was born Abt. 1700 in Ireland, and died Bet.
1761 - 1762 in Augusta County Va. Rockbridge will nov 26 nov 1761. He married
Elizabeth Moore?, daughter of Andrew Moore? and Elizabeth Baxter?.

Children of John Lowry and Elizabeth Moore? are:
+ 3 i. William3 Lowery, born Bet. 1732 - 1741 in Augusta County Va.; died Bef.
1778 in Stokes County, N.C.?.
4 ii. David Lowery, born Abt. 1744.
5 iii. Rebecca Lowery, born Abt. 1734.
6 iv. Robert Lowery, born Abt. 1738.
7 v. Jannet Lowery, born Abt. 1740.
8 vi. Elizabeth Lowery, born Abt. 1742.
9 vii. James Lowery, born Abt. 1746.
10 viii. John Lowery, born Abt. 1748.


Generation No. 3

3. William3 Lowery (John2 Lowry, John Lowry1 ?) was born Bet. 1732 - 1741 in
Augusta County Va., and died Bef. 1778 in Stokes County, N.C.?. He married
Isabelle White? Taylor?.

Children of William Lowery and Isabelle Taylor? are:
+ 11 i. Elizabeth4 Lowry, born 1750; died 1810 in Stokes Co., North Carolina.
+ 12 ii. John Lowry, born Abt. 1759; died April 17, 1849 in Surry County NC..
13 iii. James Lowry, born Bet. 1750 - 1755. He married Jean/Jane.
14 iv. Mary Lowry, born Abt. 1757; died Abt. 1835 in Stokes County, N.C..


Generation No. 4

11. Elizabeth4 Lowry (William3 Lowery, John2 Lowry, John Lowry1 ?) was born
1750, and died 1810 in Stokes Co., North Carolina. She married Andrew
Mckillip, son of Hugh McKillip and Agnes Hannah.

Children of Elizabeth Lowry and Andrew Mckillip are:
+ 15 i. Hugh White5 McKillip, born Abt. 1770 in Stokes Co., North Carolina; died
1845 in Fayette County, Alabama.
16 ii. Jane McKillip, born Abt. 1770.
17 iii. John McKillip, born Abt. 1780.
18 iv. Ann McKillip, born Abt. 1780.
19 v. Margaret McKillip, born Abt. 1780.
20 vi. Elizabeth McKillip, born Abt. 1790.
21 vii. Mary McKillip, born Abt. 1790.
22 viii. William McKillip, born Abt. 1790.

12. John4 Lowry (William3 Lowery, John2 Lowry, John Lowry1 ?) was born Abt.
1759, and died April 17, 1849 in Surry County NC.. He married Hannah Vance
February 09, 1789 in Surry County NC, daughter of Samuel Vance and Aley.

Children of John Lowry and Hannah Vance are:
23 i. John5 Lowry, born 1798. He married Louisa?.
24 ii. Hugh Lowry. He married Ann Elizabeth Walker.
25 iii. Allen Lowry, born January 01, 1809. He married Lydie McNight February
05, 1844.
26 iv. James Lowry.
27 v. Samuel Lowry.
28 vi. Isabel Lowry. She married William Workman.
29 vii. Aley Lowry. She married Ferrel Crews.
30 viii. Sarah (Sallie) Lowry. She married William Warren.


Generation No. 5

15. Hugh White5 McKillip (Elizabeth4 Lowry, William3 Lowery, John2 Lowry, John
Lowry1 ?) was born Abt. 1770 in Stokes Co., North Carolina, and died 1845 in
Fayette County, Alabama. He married Elizabeth Holbrook August 13, 1803 in
Stokes Co., North Carolina, daughter of James Holbrook and Unknown.

Children of Hugh McKillip and Elizabeth Holbrook are:
31 i. Hugh White Jr6 McCaleb, born April 04, 1819 in N.C.?; died September 26,
1899 in Kimble Countyh Texas Buried Red Creek Cemetery. He married Mahala
Richards Abt. 1853 in Tuscaloosa Co., Alabama.
32 ii. Lavinia McCaleb. She married David Gibson November 14, 1822 in Morgan
Co., Alabama.
33 iii. Jane W. McCaleb, born 1803 in Stokes Co., North Carolina. She married
Robert Logan November 11, 1822 in Morgan Co., Alabama.
34 iv. John A. McCaleb, born 1805 in Stokes Co., North Carolina; died 1886 in
Texas. He married Mary Ann Hackworth December 24, 1844 in Morgan Co., Alabama.
35 v. Barbara McCaleb, born August 24, 1810 in Stokes Co., North Carolina; died
March 04, 1846 in Fayette County, Alabama. She married Thomas Lauderdale
September 30, 1826 in Morgan Co., Alabama.
36 vi. Andrew McCaleb, born February 03, 1813 in Stokes Co., North Carolina;
died July 02, 1899 in New River, Fayette Co., Alabama. He married Leah
Catherine McCollum March 08, 1838 in Fayette County, Alabama.
37 vii. James H. McCaleb, born November 1814 in Stokes Co., North Carolina;
died in Fayette Co., Alabama. He married Phoebe Hollingsworth May 10, 1838 in
Fayette Co., Alabama.

Notes for James H. McCaleb:
James H. McCaleb was a member of the Home Guard during the Civil War. He and
Pheobe Hollingsworth had 10 children but only raised 1, Hugh Clark McCaleb.

38 viii. Elizabeth McCaleb, born 1825.
39 ix. Alfred Cowan McCaleb, born May 18, 1827 in Fayette County, Alabama; died
January 14, 1891 in Fayette County, Alabama. He married Mary Ann McDonald.
40 x. William F. McCaleb, born April 06, 1830 in Fayette County, Alabama; died
December 06, 1910 in Fayette County, Alabama. He married Caroline A. McDonald
in Fayette Co., Alabama.

Christmas Letter 2000

by

Fred McCaleb

I have been seeing or experiencing Christmases since 1916, or a total of 84 of
them. In my young years while growing up the most expensive presents we ever
got was a dozen or two of apples and about that many of oranges. At about the
time I was 6 years old my father bought a little red wagon for my brother and
I. We and the neighboring Hollingsworth cousins tore the wagon up in about a
month. My dad never bought another wagon Christmas present after that. He
allowed we would only tear it to pieces. He did continue buying the fruit and
sometimes 5 or 10 cents worth of peppermint candy. He did that until I was a
grown boy. Thinking back about him, that was all the gifts he could afford. I
don’t recall him ever making over $500 in any one year. It was all he was
able to do was to keep us fed with mostly groceries grown on the farm. For heat
in the winter at Christmas he burned wood cut from his place with a cross cut
saw with me pulling one end of it after I got big enough. When I was 15-17
years old we cleared the trees from about 10 acres of woodland on which to grow
corn. It is a miracle that I didn’t get killed doing that. After spending
spare time clearing each winter we had a log rolling to pile the logs in a big
heap for burning. We must have burned up several thousand dollars worth of
timber at present 2000 AD prices. At a log rolling the neighboring men come in
to help pile the logs and their wifes come to help prepare the meals. They had
a talking, hard working time on those days and got fed bountifully.

After the log rolling and the piles were burned came the plowing of the cleared
field. It was my dad and me for the plowing with a gee whizz plow. The gee
whizz had spring teeth to plow the ground with and the teeth were constantly
swinging back and forth while plowing. Sometimes you received a hard knock on
the leg or ankle with that plow. But I had to take whatever knocks came my way.
I wished I had a mechanical plowing machine to do the work, but machines that
ran on own power were only a pipe dream at that time for us on a poor farm.

We did have a Christmas tree after I was in my teens and maybe before, but I
don’t recollect the before. We would cut a little cedar tree and brace it up
in the front room. My sister Clancy would do the decorating. The decorating was
done with home made decorations at practically no expense. Cut up aluminum foil
and strung popped popcorn around the tree. Throw the cut up aluminum foil on
the sides of the tree and do other cheap things I have forgotten about. The
Christmases were just as merry then as they are now. We didn’t know how poor
we were financially. Everyone in the community was in same shape and didn’t
know the difference. We didn’t know we were disadvantaged by present
standards. My dad’s old farm, which I have today, has yeilded many thousands
of dollars in timber and gas royalty. I regret that my parents and young family
never got any benefits of that. The good timber on your place would sell for
about $200 back in those days. Today mature timber would sell for $100,000.
Money has gradually cheapened and is getting cheaper.
The water for the farm was drawn with a windlass and well bucket
For our water needs. Washed your hands in a common washpan and drank from a
waterbucket with a cheap dipper. Dippers were sometimes made from gourds and
the fanciest costliest dipper was a cedar one. No attention was paid to getting
germs. Sanitation and safety were on a primitive level.
In the 1930s president Roosevelt started dishing out government money to needy
families and the amount of the dish has been getting greater through the 1900s.
The country would be in sad financial shape without the welfare payments.
Farmers with sophisticated equipment are growing the food and grain products.
The mule farmers have vanished. It’s anyone’s guess as to what may happen
in the future if the US has financial reverses. But the politicians say nothing
like that can happen. Let us hope so. My Christmases have been better since I
went to Berry College in 1937 and obtained a starting job at US Steel in
Birmingham, Al. at $90 per month. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Fred and
Bettie Cline McCaleb

Letter of Adcice from Enoch Smith to his Children 1811

by

Fred & Bettie McCaleb

The following letter was written by Enoch Smith (b 21 June
1750,Stafford County, Va) a Revolutionary War soldier and early Kentucky
Surveyor and pioneer, who settled in Montgomery County as early as 1775.
Smith was a son of Henry Smith and Sarah Crosby. According to a history of
Mt. Sterling, Ky., 1792-1819 by Carl M. Boyd Jr. and Hazel Mason Boyd,
Smith who owned 1400 acres in the area, was one of four men who donated
land for the town of Mt. Sterling in 1792. He served as one of the town's
original trustees and helped found Montgomery Academy in Mt. Sterling in
1798. Smith is said to have been a friend of General George Rogers Clark
and Daniel Boone. He was a brother of U.S. Senator Daniel Smith of Tenn. He
married 1. Nancy Belfield Land and 2. Frances Wren(born 16 June 1766,
Fairfax County, Va.) and was the father of by first wife Nancy Smith b 21
Nov 1779,married William Reed, Joseph Smith b 31 May 1781, and married
Margaret Smith, Mary Smith b 18 Mar 1783, m Daniel Smith Lane and Sarah
Smith b 25 May 1786 and had 2 marriages Thomas Jamison and James Hardage
Lane. Children by marriage to Frances Wren were Susan b 1789, d 1848 m
William Ferguson 27 Nov 1807, Anna married Thomas I Garrett, Bettie,
Frances b 17 Dec 1797 m Josiah Ferguson 1812 d 31 Jan 1812, Enoch II m
Sallie Grimes, Sanford m Adeline Cammpbell 26 Feb 1829 and Franklin Smith.
Mrs Franklin is a ggggg grand daughter of Enoch Smith. No Changes have been
made to original text, with the exception of the inclusion of modern
punctuation.
(Bettie Cline McCaleb added the Children and marriages Will book c page82,
Montgomery Co Ky).
To my dear children, I am now 61 years old. I never expect to have
another child. Much of my time has been spent studying the nature and order
of things. Permit me therefore to give you council (sic) which perhaps may
be good and profitable to you when I am gone to the dust nevermore having
the opportunity of doing it.

First as you grow up be careful of your moral character, if this is
lost your usefulness and happiness is also lost. Have respect to the
Scriptures, it is the best of books and contains a fund of instruction and
knowledge. And when you read them do it with --attention; not only read but
think; look to Him that can give you the Spirit that dictated them and then
you can more easily understand them. From them I have got my religious and
political sentiments , with the help of Other Men's opinions which I have
been careful to bring to the Standard. And I now take the scriptures of
the old and new Testament for my rule of faith- and practice and lay aside
all Confessions of faith and religious creeds. They are works of Man and
imperfect. They Shakle Men's minds and when they see into inconsistences
they have been Tought (sic) by them, they cannot shake their fetters and
travel in more pure air.

If Soloman made use of the law of nature to find out who was the
mother of the live Child as mentioned in the first book of Kings 3 chapter
25th verse--surely it is good policies for all legislators to make now laws
inconsistent with the laws of nature. If they do, wil (sic) find them hard
to execute; amendments upon amendments follow, a set of Rapacious Lawyers
wil (sic) rise up among them from interested motives and will lead their
clients through laws; the management of the----and the command of the army
(are) two (sic) much power for any human being to possess. Aristocracy
according to the modern definition of the word is a government in the hands
of Nobles. But this government is more ancient than nobility itself. It was
an instinct created in human nature and it was an Aristocracy that Moses
instituted among the children of Isaac and it appears that the number
seventy composed the (sanctum?) of the Jewish nation.

Some politicians have been for choosing a Senate for life to attach
them to the government. Some think it more safe to have transient
elections. Others have thought that it would answer a better to; find the
choice in familys (sic). Others have gloried much in a good constitution
for a basis in government which may answer a valuable purpose to bad powers
of government divided. Those who are legislative to another, those who are
Judicial to another and those who are Executive to another. But I have
extended my ideas still farther and believe that it is a government that
has its existence in human nature and that self love in this body politic
is the Jenius (sic) that supports it in peace and prosperity, and on the
contrary, individual self love though a species of Aristocracy is the
abandon or destroyer of this government.

If true it would be prudent in the choice of senators to consider
how much property they possess of what kind it is, and what kind of manners
they have. For great men are not always wise, though they have more to
attach them to government than the poor. But if the poor are justly dealt
with they may be divulged on by government. Also for the aristocratical
beast must resemble the face of a calf--a clean beast that chews the cud
with every member of the body--receives nourishment and strength by which
every member is protected and guarded with care. Even as in a natural
Aristocracy every body receives nourishment and strength, every member is
treated with care----his natural rights such as life, liberty and property.

A maze of expense delays and disappointments; and take it for
general rule, Nation that has two (sic) much law,has two (sic) much
property, held by the laws of society, and that nature or natures God
neaver (sic) designed should be so. Instance the Kentucky land law and
Slave law.


I believe there are four kinds of government, three of which have
their existence in human nature and one Divine government that rules and
over rules all things which four governments proclaim the Almighty to be a
holy Lord (See Revelations the 4 chapter 7&8 verses. Ezekiel the first
chapter. Zachariah the 6th chapter 5 verse).

As the first government Parential appears to be the Senior
golvernment and the jenius (Sic) that supports it is natural affection,
like that of a father to his children. If this is lost the foundation is
destroyed and the structure will fall to the ground and through the
Legislature, Executive and Judiciary powers of government are lodged in the
hands of the parent, which makes him resemble the face of a Lyon (sic),
that is, fear. It is right as should be so. As those that are to be
governed are not capable of exercising in their Infantile years their
reason and therefore it is the best government they can conceive.

The parents wish is the best of law to them until they are capable
of a better government and there is not much dainger (sic) of the Parent
abusing his power as long as he has natural affection for his offspring.
If government is executed by one void of natural affection he soon
degenerates into despotism. Power intoxicates him and makes him forget what
manner of man he is.

Though Kingly government has been much practiced, it has no
foundation in nature. Ignorance and wickedness have a natural tendency
when they cohabit together to beget Kings a mongril (sic) offspring, who by
their craft and cunning by which they derive their name, deprive their
subjects of their natural rights and plain diffinition (sic) of Monarchy
seem to be that of a state in which a single person by whatever name he may
be distinguished,is intrusted with the execution of the opportunity of
acquiring the property that is essential in a natural Aristocracy that is
better basis and---to attach and bind Mankind faster to government than
consolidation, metamorphising, altering the nature--thereof can do ;which
wil (sic) find (?)it on a foundation that is not to be found in nature.

Democracy and government in the hands of the people and by some
politicians held up with contempt to the world as having a natural tendency
to disunion and faction. Perhaps this is a natural consequence that flows
from their not being qualified to receive this government as being ignorant
and wicked for knowledge and virtue are the pillars of a Democracy and
whatsoever is reasonable is right in this government. Hence it is a
Democratic heart has the face of man and the jenius (sic) that supports its
reason; therefore in this government every citizen ought to be a well
informed virtuous man and then they may enjoy the government by Christ
himself is appointed(sic) for the Church. (See Matthew the 18 chapter).

Theocracy is a government superintended by God himself,which many
philosophers of Old believed in and the Scriptures abundantly testify of
it--Read Moses' Song, Deutronomy Chapter 22 which is a wonderful effect of
Inspiration no human being could have such exhalted ideas of God without
the assistance of his Spirit.

The man of God describes the dealings of God, providence to that
nation in language wonderfully striking as an Eagle. It stirreth up her
nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth (abroad?) her wings. So the lord
did lead him and there was no strange God with Him, which makes me believe
this Government has the aspect of an Eagle which flies high and by some
called the Heaven (circles?) sometimes out of our sight. So is providence
of Almighty God.

Now dear children, I know now how better to conclude than in the
words of the wise Man Solomon, let us hear the conclusion of the whole
matter. Fear God and keep his commandments for this is the whole duty of
man his whole interest his whole honor his whole happiness in short his
all. May God bless you all is the prayers of your affectionate Father.
Enoch Smith

Read this book and the book of Nature and become wise.

The way to greatness ought in a natural Aristocracy ought to be kept open
and as plain as the way to market.