The Old Folks Meet - 1897

 

Crittenden Press, July 22, 1897

The Old Folks Meet

The old folks meeting at Sugar Grove Saturday was one of the most unique and joyous events ever had in the county.

The young folks frequently have their gatherings, but it is not often that the line is drawn at sixty years, and all beyond that mark "especially invited." Such was the gathering in the beautiful grove at Sugar Grove church Saturday.

While others were there, and welcome, too, it was the old folks’ occasion, and never did the light heart of youth beat with as sincere pleasure as thrilled the souls of these our honored friends whose silvery locks tell us that they, have been with us "lo, these many years," as they shook hands with each other Saturday.

It was a favorable day for the occasion and everything possible was done to make it a day pleasant and profitable to the venerable sires and matrons who should gather to enjoy the day. A very large congregation assembled, many more than could be seated in the beautiful and commodious church house of Sugar Grove.

At 10:30 a prayer service was conducted by W. T. Oakley, and the prayers had the old time ring of the days past and gone – prayers full of fervency and of pleading for the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.

At 11:00 the congregation enjoyed a very able and comforting sermon preached to the old people by Rev. J. T. Barbee, pastor of the church.

At noon an excellent dinner was spread of sufficient variety and excellence to satisfy the appetite of all the most fastidious. The old people all ate together and were amply supplied with that greatest of luxuries, excellent hot coffee. The noontide hours were delightfully spent in social chat in which the old folks recounted many striking reminiscences of the past.

The afternoon hours were spent in an old fashioned prayer meeting, conducted by Uncle William Hill.

It was a very interesting meeting. Several of the gray haired veterans of the cross led in prayer, the old songs were sung, several earnest talks were made, and the services closed with an old fashioned hand shake and general rejoicing.

Doubtless there were more old people present than been together for a long time. Quite a number testified that they had been Christians forty eight or fifty years, and they were not tired of the way. The day will be crowned with sweet memories by those who were present.

The following is a list of the names, and the ages of the old people who attended the Sugar Grove Old Folks Day" Saturday, July 17, 1897.

E. H. Porter, 66 

Rev. W. B. Crowell, 77 

H. H. King, 70

W. D. Givens, 70 

W. M. Brown, 67 

W. H. Asher, 70

J. D. Boaz, 67 

J. A. Jacobs, 63 

A. D. Crider, 62

W. J. Brantley, 74 

Field Brantley, 72 

R. C. Lucas, 73

W. P. Lamb, 76 

W. B. Crider, 64 

Joe Newcom, 73

F. M. Stevenson, 65

 L. B. Hunt, 64 

H. C. Gilbert, 76

J. C. Brown, 70 

Elijan Hughes, 65 

R. L. Wilson, 61

I. N. Cain, 62 

Jas. Btler, 72 

W. J. Bruce, 73

H. B. Stembridge, 62 

P. H. Woodsides, 64

 B. A. Enoch, -

M. A. Lamb, - 

Sue Pickens, 68

 Huldah Lamb, 81

M. A. Newcom, 73 

M. A. Steward, 70 

Mrs. E. Hughes, 61

L. E. Redd, 71 

S. C. Nunn, 64

 M. V. Beard, 61

P. E. Williams, 67 

M. M. Campbell, 78 

N. E. Wheeler, 65

Mary Long, 71 

M. L. Jacobs, 61 

J. Bugg, 68

(P.S. I wish they had used their full names instead of just initials)