Abbott's Creek Church and the Raper Family

              Sunday, September 16, 1928
THE HIGH POINT ENTERPRISE—Piedmont Center of Industries— HIGH POINT, NORTH CAROLINA
PAGE 3

LOCAL AGENCY GETS FULL RECOGNITION OF ASSOCIATIONS
Bennett - Williams Company Has Record of Fine Growth and New Is Given Official Recognition
High Point now has the distinction o£ being the home of the only fully recognized advertising agency in North Carolina. The Bennett-Williams Company of this city, one of the oldest and largest North Carolina advertising agencies, was established here nearly seven years ago as a one man organization with a volume of business less than ten thousand dollars a year. Today this company does well over one hundred thousand dollars annually and operates in the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.
The official recognition of the American Newspaper Publishers Association, Southern Newspaper Publishers Association, Associated Business Papers and the Agricultural Publishers Association is the stamp of approval given to signify an organization's advertising ability and financial responsibility. It is granted only after an agency has proven itself successful from professional and business standpoints. Of the several thousand advertising agencies in the United States only a few hundred come in the class fully recognized and it is this distinction that has been granted to the local company. In its seven years of operation the Bennett-Williams Company has endeavored to do a constructive job in Southern advertising. Most of its business today is done with concerns whose advertising it has fostered from small beginnings into sizeable accounts. It has helped locate new inndustries in the state, it has helped to bring new people into the community and in general, taken an active part in the development of this section of the south.

Fish Goes "Manning"
LAKE WALES, Fla.—An attack by a huge black bass resulted in a broken rib for "Dad" Gray, commercial fisherman. The bass, entangled in the meshes of a seine, knocked Gray down and he had to be taken to a hospital.

THE FOUNDATION OF PERFECT HEALTH
Showing the First Steps Necessary to Get Rid of Disease.
Like a crumbling wall, my health was failing, said Mr. W. F. Mock, bricklayer, living at 216 West End Boulevard, Winston-Salem, N. C.
I was suffering from indigestion. My stomach was out of order all the time. Fearing distress, I hardly dared eat anything. My body was under-nourished so that I was steadily losing weight. My starved nerves were on edges so that I could not rest. On rising I felt worn out and often so dizzy that I would not stoop over to lace my shoes. Frequently I would have spells of sick headache lasting several days until by a drastic purging I got myself to feeling better.
These attacks became more frequent until I felt badly about all the time and lost ten or twelve pounds in the last six months.
[picture of Mr. W. F. Mock]
MR. W. F. MOCK
After many medicines has failed to fix me up I began to study my case just like I would have if I had been called upon to repair a crumbling wall.
I saw that the first thing to do was to clear away the waste—get down to a clean sound foundation and build on that.
I had heard of this treatment by nature's products Herb Extract, formerly called Herb Juice. Because it is made of herbs I felt that it might do what other medicines had failed to do.
It proved to be just what I needed—the first bottle convinced me that it was working. By the time the second was gone I felt better than for months and now after five bottles I feel like a new man. My system cleansed of poison, my nerves at ease, I sleep soundly and rise refreshed, hungry, ready to eat and without fear of distress. Have gained five pounds in weight and am feeling stronger and better than for years.
For sale and recommended by The Hart Drug Company, next to the Post Office, and all leading drug stores and dealers in medicine everywhere.

Meeting of Members of Raper Clan
[picture of reunionists]
In this group of reunionists taken at Abbott's Creek church In Davidson county are caught a number of High Point faces. For instance, Judge Lewis Teague, of the municipal court, is of the family and in the picture. These interesting members of a big family heard the address on the Rapers delivered by Dr. W. T. Whitsett.
Abbott's Creek Church
—and—
The Raper Family
(Historical Address Before the Raper Family Association at Abbott's Creek church, High Point, N.C., September 9, 1928)
By DR. W. T. WHITSETT, Whitsett, N. C. 4—

Certain Names and Places Associated
   It is remarkable how certain names and places become associated in our memories. Some instances of this may be of interest: Wordsworth, Coleridge, and Southey, English poets of the Romantic period of literature, are known everywhere as the Lake Poets. Wordsworth was educated at Hawkshead, in the beautiful lake region, and spent the last fifty years of his life in his beloved region of lakes, at Grasmere and at Rydal Mount, with his sister, Dorothy. Here the sun, moon, stars, and forests, and lakes were his daily delight. No wonder that he hears:
"Among the solitary hills, Low breathings coming after me, and sounds
Of undistinguishable motion."
   His name will forever be associated with Nation, and "all her stores unrolled."
In 1811, Sir Walter Scott bought the estate of Abbotsford on the Tweed, and in nine well-known novels such as Waverly, Marmion Lady of the Lake, The Heart of Midlothian, Old Mortality and others, Scott reviewed the chief points of Scottish history so well that its heroism, its clannish loyalty, and its unbounded faith, all live with such vividness that when we travel over those scenes today we speak of passing through "Sir Walter Scott's country" so closely is his name associated with that section of Scotland.
   The mention of Shakespeare suggests Stratford-on-the-Avon; Robert Burns, the peasant life of Scotland; Samuel Johnson, that famous literary club in London which attracted Pitt, Gibbon, Burke, Goldsmith and others of the most famous men of that time.
   In our own country we always associate the name of Emerson with his Concord home; Hawthorne with the House of Seven Gables; Longfellow with the old Cragie House; Poe with the cottage at Fordham; Washington with Mount Vernon; Jefferson with Monticello; and Andrew Jackson with his home, "The Hermitage" near Nashville, Tenn. Names and places thus become intimately associated in our minds.
William Raper and Abbott's Creek Community
   For more than a century and a half the name of William Raper has been associated with the section known as the Abbott's Creek community. Let us examine for a moment this name — Abbott's Creek. Rev. C. B. Williams tells us in his history of the Baptists in North Carolina that Shiloh Church, Camden county is the oldest Baptist church in the State established 1727. In 1765 Rev. Henry Abbott, son of John Abbott, Canon of St. Paul's in London, went to Shiloh Church as pastor- Now in 1755 Rev. Shubel Stearns, came from Virginia and established a Baptist church at Sandy Creek, and in 1758 established the church at Abbotts Creek It is a logical supposition borne out by many evidences that the name Abbott was selected because of the reputation and success of Rev. Henry Abbott of eastern Carolina. Abbott was so popular that he was a member of the Halifax Convention, 1776, and served on the Committee to prepare the Constitution, and is said to have prepared the clause which guarantees religious liberty in North Carolina. He served in the Convention in 1788 that ratified the Constitution of the United States. Here doubtless, we find the source of the name Abbott as applied to the church and the creek of Davidson county.
   Some claim that Rev. Shubel Stearns was indirectly, not directly the cause of the establishment of Abbott's Creek church, and in his history of the Liberty Baptist preacher was preaching at Abbott's Creek; and that Marshall met with so much success that he was made permanent pastor until he left some years later for Beaver Creek in South Carolina. Beyond doubt, Abbott's Creek was the first church that sprang off as a result of the splendid work at Sandy Creek under Stearns. When the Sandy Creek Association was organized in June 1758, it was formed of Sandy Creek, Abbott's Creek and Deep River churches; this was the fourth body of its kind in America.
   In 1817, now more than a century ago, we find in the records that "our deacon, William Raper" is appointed as "our Trustee" to receive contributions, and to correspond with such missionary as may be appointed for the Sandy Creek Association. Thus, early begins the intimate association of the name, Raper, and Abbott's Creek, which continues down to this day.
   We do not know how long Rev. Daniel Marshall served at Abbott's Creek, but it was several years, and after him the first pastor we know was George Pope who served about thirty years. He began in 1783, and we have this record preserved: "North Carolina, Roan (Rowan) county, Jenevary (January) ye 4 day, 1783. For the Baptis (Baptists) church in Abets Crick (Abbott's Creek.)" In 1825 portions of Sandy Creek and Pee Dee Associations met at Liberty Church, and organized the Abbott's Creek Union Association and Abbott's Creek church joined this, remaining until 1832. Here amid the delightful groves, history has been making for all this time. The records give us only the names of Daniel Marshall, George Pope, and Ashley Swaim for the first seventy-four years. Like many of us of today, there were but few in the older days that looked carefully after the preservation of records, and hence, much that would be of interest and importance today has been lost with the passing years. If the records were kept with care, each community would find that its life and story would be a small section of the full life and story of the world of its day. It is remarkable, indeed, to find how much of the history of the world itself is to be found in a careful study of community history; for from each community there run out lines connecting it with all the activities of the world at large. Political turmoil, religious disagreement, and even state and national strife, write themselves in indelible words upon local community life. An epitome of the history of the world may often be found written in the "life story of one man in a community We cannot be too thankful for men like Elder Henry Sheets who gathered together twenty years ago the available information of Liberty Baptist Association, embracing this particular Abbott's Creek church, and gave it to us in his history. It is invaluable to the student of this particular part of our state. Each church should have its historian, and each family should have some one to gather and preserve family records, and such valuable data as bears upon human history and progress. Here in the South, where we have made so much history; we have been all too careless as to its preservation with the result that often historical facts are challenged, and called into question, by those who would gladly snatch from us the just need of praise that is due.
Interesting Historical Events
For the story of the Colonial and Revolutionary history of Davidson county we must turn to Rowan county from which Davidson was formed in 1822, and named from Gen. William Davidson, who lost his life at Cowan's Ford on the Catawba river, during the Revolutionary War, on February 1, 1781. The early history of Western North Carolina is the history of Rowan county, which was former from Anson county in 1753. Wheeler says of this territory: "The prudence of the German, the sagacity of the Scotch, and the fiery ardor of the Irish, here united; and were fit materials to form an industrious, thrifty, and gallant nation."
   In 1847 we find William Raper serving as one of the Worshipful Justices in the Court of Common Pleas and Quarter Sessions which held four times each year, with sessions of one week each. Usually, the Raper family has not sought public office, but Paul R. Raper, was in the N. C. Legislature in 1925 as representative. Elisha Raper from 1870 to 1875 served as County Examiner, and Emery E. Raper was County Superintendent of Public Schools from 1885 to 1888. Of the 932 men from Davidson county of the white race who served in the World War we find the names of Cletus Raper, Joe Raper, William Raper, Julius R. Raper and W. E. Raper.
   The name, Abbott's Creek, is written boldly in the history of the county. One of the county's seventeen townships bears thi? name, and according to the recorded history, Abbott's Creek ranks as Davidson's oldest Baptist church The authorized history of the county ranks it as the wealthiest of Baptist churches in the country of this territory. Abbott's Creek church during its first three quarters of a century from 1757 or 1758 down to 1832 was served by Revs. Daniel Marshall, George Pope, and Ashley Swaim, so far as the revealed by the records; since 18 32 down to the present, of a full century, it has been serv-a period of only four years short ed by the following pastors: Revs. Eli Phillips, Josiah Wiseman, Enoch Crutchfield, Benjamin Lanier, William Hammer, William Turner, John Robertson, Amos Weaver, J. B. Jackson, J. B. Richardson, G. W. Harman, R. R. Moore, S. F. Conrad, S. H. Thompson, J. K. Stallings, J. M. Hilliard, Thomas Carrick, and the present pastor, L. F. Mumford.
The Stream Called Abbott's Creek
   In the History of Davidson County the claim is made that Abbott s Creek, has furnished more power to turn the wheels of corn, wheat and other mills than any other stream in the county, the number being, perhaps, thirty or more among the best known being Holmes, Howard, and Hoover; Young, Fritts, and Berrier; Green, Finch, and Wagner; Ward, Kennell and Haynes; Leonard, Kennedy, and Siceloff.
   Seven pages of the Centennial History of Davidson County, published in 1927, are given over to the "Ghosts of Abbott's Creek." In February of 1781, when Lord Cornwallis reached the Crotts Bridge crossing on Abbott's Creek he found himself encumbered with a barrel of gold and silver coin, and--the story- goes- that it was buried in the mud bottom of Abbott's Creek, and that from that day to this the ghosts have haunted that vicinity. Strange lights move about at night, hunters are lost in the woods nearby; the barrel of coin is heard to roll thunderingly down the slopes again and plunge into the water with a splash; dogs are unable to tree the oppossum of that section; and wierd ghosts ride behind frightened horse-back riders who have occasion to pass that way near the midnight hour. Doors are said to open and close touched by mysterious hands; keys fly from the nails on which they are placed and spooks scare frightened bathers from the cool, near-by pools of rippling waters. While these legends are not taken seriously today it is interesting to remember that they have clung to Abbott's Creek for nearly a century and a half, since Gen. Nathaniel Greene, pursued by Lord Cornwallis, passed through this section on the memorable trip in which the rising waters of both the Catawba and the Yadkin rivers saved Greene from being overtaken, and in alI probability overwhelmed. It was on this memorable trip that Mrs. Elizabeth Steele of Salisbury gave to Gen. Greene the purse containing her scanty savings that so encouraged him. From here the march moved on to Guilford Court House where on March 15, 1781 Greene struck Cornwallis such a blow that the surrender of Yorktown, Va., followed some time later. The local tales and legends that still survive are most attractive material for some future poet and writer who shall clothe Abbott's Creek with the halo that Irving threw around the Catskills by the witchery of his pen and his imagination. We have lost much by our neglect of many most interesting incidents that our history affords.
Summary of Local History
   The story of Abbott's Creek Church with its 14 pastors, 6 church clerks, and 653 members is a most interesting one. The sketch given at the dedication of the present church building by C. H. Teague is valuable, he having served this church for thirty-three and one half years as clerk from 1882 to 1916.
   Saturday before the 4th Sunday of June, 1832 was a history-making day for this place. Then it was that Eli Phillips, Thomas Armstrong, and William Dowd, acting as a Presbytery, after prayer by Alexander Thomas consistuted 5 brethren and 8 sisters into a regular Baptist Church. These pioneer Christians were as follows: Alexander Thomas, William Dowd, James Evans, James Odell, Davis Raper, Hannah Thomas, Keziah Raper, Anna Evans, Elizabeth Payne, Elizabeth Brown, Phoebe Horney, Mary Evans, and Martha Teague.
   In Dec. 1832 William Raper was made deacon, Philip Horney and Davis Raper, clerks and Joseph Spurgeon, leader of singing. June 19, 1835 Eli Phillips preached the the first sermon in the new church from John 5:39, "Search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of Me." The church clerks have been Philip Horney, Davis Raper, John Teague, W. R. Hedgecock, W. B. Waff C. H. Teague and W. D. Spurgeon. In a church conference in Jan. 1926 it was decided to erect the present house of worship to better serve the present needs of the membership of more than two hundred. It may well bring a thrill of pride and deep thanksgiving when we recall the 170 years from 1758 to 1928, and remember that from the beginning of the work set up here by the labors of James Younger and David Marshall, assisted by Shubel Stearns we feel sure, this place has stood like a city set upon a hill, casting its rays of righteousness over a wide territory, and ever seeking to lead humanity to a higher and holier life. The worth of influence of Abbott's Creek church cannot be weighed in mere human scales of man's understanding and estimation. Eternity alone will reveal the glorious story of the souls that have found the way of life upon these hallowed grounds, through the devoted labors of the men and women who have labored in this vineyard of their Lord. Many of them have
passed from these scenes of earth, but "their works do live after them" and their deeds do "smell sweet, and blossom from the dust." We do not come today to exalt or unduly praise the Raper family, but because more than a half-hundred descendants and connections of this Raper family are at this time in the membership of Abbott's Creek Church this is an appropriate place to review the history of this family, with its traits of honesty, thrift, and sobriety; seeking through these long years to set a pattern of upright living and clean citizenship. As we gather the ancestral lines into a story for today, we trust that future generations may be so inspired by the past that an even finer story may be woven by them of genuine progress, and Christian citizenship. It is in this spirit of hope for a constantly increasing growth in life's finer elements that we come to this occasion.
The First Raper Immigrant
William Raper, born in Yorkshire, England, about 1725, emigrated to America in 1754 and in 1755 settled in what was then eastern Rowan county now Guilford county, N. C., five miles north of High Point, N. C. Yorkshire is a north-eastern county of England the largest in England, bounded on the east by the North Sea. This original William Raper of Yorkshire was descended from an ancient family of Normandy in France whose original name was del Ripa. Before leaving Yorkshire he had married, but the name of his first wife is unknown. His second wife was Rebecca Simmons of Rowan Co., N. C., a daughter of William Simmons whose estate was settled by William and Rebecca Raper, under date of May 6, 1772. His third wife was Elizabeth Hollingsworth, and the date of marriage was Feb. 2, 1793 His will is on record in Guilford county in Book A p. 313; it was written July 6, 1794, and probated in Feb. 1795. Following the custom of his day, William Raper was buried on his farm, his grave today is marked by a stone without inscription. William- Raper purchased 520 acres of land from William Churton for 50 pounds, Churton acting as agent for the King of England. A tax receipt for the year 175 6 still exists. William Raper died Feb. 1795. We have no record of any children either by his first or third wife, but the following are known:
Children of William and Rebecca (Simmons) Raper
1.	Christian who married Richard Glover,
2.	Elizabeth who married James Gray,
3.	Lydia who married Daniel Kelley,
4.	   Thomas
5.	   Jacob
6.	William born Dec. 30, 1771, died May 29, 1859; married Keziah Davis who was born Oct. 27, 1775 died May 27, 1851, being a daughter of William and Elizabeth Davis.
   The descendants of the original William and Rebecca (Simmons) Raper (1725-1795) became widely scattered, being found today in one half of the States of the Union.
Family of William (2nd) and Keziah (Davis) Raper (1771-1859)
1.	Solomon, married 1st Elizabeth Manlove, 2nd Asenath Miller.
2.	Sarah,
3.	William, married Anna Charles,
4.	Jacob, married Hannah Field,
5.	Sarah, married John Spurgeon,
6. Elizabeth, married William Welch,
7.	Joseph, married Elizabeth Mock,
8. 	Davis, married Margaret Mock
9.	Austin, married Martha Mot-singer,
10.	Keziah, married Elisha Charles.
   Seventy two grandchildren of William and Keziah (Davis) Raper have been traced
Descendants of William Raper, 2nd
   Solomon Raper and his wife Asenath Miller: -- children -- Richard, married Mrs. Rebecca Thornhill; William, married Amelia Hoggar; Martha married Iven Bartlow; Davis, married Martha Wyckoff; Smith, married Martha Stanley; Cyrus, married Emily Arvin; Mary, married James Wyckoff; Hallie, married 1st Frederick Weber, 2nd Fred Howe; Julia, married Henry Asher. These are scattered throughout Ill., Mo., Kans., Ore., Wash., Colo., and Okla.
   William Raper, 3rd, and his wife Anna Charles — children — Eliza, married Barnett Hedgecock; Sarah Raper, unmarried; Rebecca, married Abram Jones; Elisha, married Paulina Tesh; William 4th married Mary Motsinger; Madison married, 1st Jane Spurgeon, 2nd Eliza Teague; Lucinda, married Aquilla Watkins; Jane, married Levi Horney; Martha, married, 1st John Shields, 2nd James Motsinger.
   Jacob Raper and his wife Hannah Field —children — Louisa, married Rev. Isiah Spurgeon; Keziah, unmarried; Austin, married 1st Amanda Charles, 2nd Dora Field, 3rd Mary Perdue, Jonatha married Mary Petrass; Joseph, married Martha Petrass; Ruhamma, married William Spurgeon.
Sarah Raper, and husband, John
Spurgeon —children Keziah, married Andrew Clinard; Phoebe married Hudson Mendenhall; Elizabeth unmarried, Joseph unmarried; William, married 1st. Emily Clinard, 2nd Mrs. Elizabeth Clodfelter Clinard; Jane, married Madison Raper; Austin Spurgeon, married Ann Charles; Louisa, married William Robertson; Ann unmarried; Sanford, married Grace Payne
   Elizabeth Raper, and husband, William Welch — children Keziah married Jeffrey Horney; Sarah, married Harrison Montsinger; Mary King, married William Clinard; Elizabeth, married Henry Horney; Louisa, unmarried, Austin, unmarried; Alfred, unmarried; Pleasant, married, 1st Martha Davis, 2nd Margaret Bradley: Jasper married Elizabeth Pickett; Henry, unmarried; Julia, married Anderson Idol.
   Davis Raper and his wife, Margaret Mock, — children — Wesley married Sarah Smith; Pleasant, married Eliza Teague; Jasper, married Elizabeth McGhee; Milton married Emeline Hinshaw; Christian, married William Welborn: Keziah, married Eli Hine; Eliza, married Napoleon Pearce; Louisa unmarried.
   Austin Raper, and his wife, Martha Montsinger, children — Louisa married William Idol; Lavinia, unmarried; Martha, married Ed B. Wheeler.
   Keziah Raper and her husband Elisha Charles, children — Lavinia, married Andrew Idol; Jane married Julius Ellison; Eliza Ann, unmarried; Julia, unmarried; Keziah, unmarried; Vetura, married Avery Walker; Addison, married, 1st Louisa Hiatt, 2nd Flora Pegg; Jennie, married 1st Thomas Carter, 2nd John Ballard.
   Solomon Raper and Elizabeth Manlove, children — Manlove, married Charity Thomas; William, unmarried Sarah, unmarried; Augustus, married 1st Caroline Parsons, 2nd Mary Cooper, 3rd Mrs. Susan Snorder; Jacob, unmarried.
   Without going further into the recent genealogy of the Raper family it is easily seen that any recent line of the family can be directly traced back to the original founder of the family; the family of William and Rebecca (Simmons) Raper who in 1755 settled near Abbott's Creek Church.
Tracing Individual Genealogy
   We have herein set up the first Raper immigrant to this section William Raper, 1725-1795, and given a list of his children, as descended from his 2nd wife, Rebecca (Simmons) Raper. We have followed this by giving the family of the 2nd William Raper and his wife Keziah (Davis) Raper, 1771-1859, and followed this by giving a list of his descendants. With but slight knowledge ot any one family line, this makes it possible to trace back to the original William Raper.
For example: the Historian of the family, Miss Pearl Idol, traces her line back through the family of Austin and Martha (Montsinger) Raper. Judge Lewis Teague of the High Point City Court would trace through his grand-parents, Keziah Welch who married Jeffrey Horney. Dr. Charles Lee Raper dean, Syracuse University, New York, traces through Solomon Andrew Raper, son of Manlove Raper, who was himself a son of William Raper, 2nd the father of William Raper 2nd being the original settler William Raper. Rev. A. S. Raper of Erlanger, N. C. long a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in this state traces his ancestry through Elisha Raper, a son of William Raper. Hon. Emery E. Raper, prominent attorney of Lexington, N. C., traces his ancestry also through Elisha Raper, as do his brothers, J. R. Raper, Linwood: Ed. E. Raper, Winston-Salem; and Rev. A. S. Raper, as above stated, also S. T. Raper of Lexington. Miss Eleanor Idol of the Class of 1928 High Point City schools, who has had two plays accepted by the Dramatic Association at the University of North Carolina, traces her ancestry through the family of Austin and Martha (Montsinger) Raper. Mrs. Loretta Carroll Bailey of Chapel Hill, N. C. who wrote one of the three plays which was presented this year by the Carolina Playmakers, and which was given first rank of the three, traces her line of ancestry as a great-great-granddaughter of Davis and Margaret (Mock) Raper. Other examples might be given, but these are sufficient to show the ease with which the family line of the Raper family of this section may be traced, after having secured by research the founders of this family and placed them on record.
William Raper (1775); Abbott's Creek Church (1758)
   When we recall that William Raper, the original settler, came here in 1755, and that Abbott's Creek Church was established in this community three years later, that is in 1758, it at once suggests a consideration of the influence and help that William Raper, the founder of the Raper family here, might have had in the setting up of this church. Knowing as we do the strong religious tendencies of the Raper family, and their love for all that pertains to religion and morality it is easy to imagine that William Raper welcomed the movement that gave to the community in which he had settled a church organization. Again, the fact that his descendants have always been willing and able helpers of church work, leads us to believe that this principle must have been an inherited trait. Unfortunately, we have no early records preserved to carry this full story; much is left to the imagination. From tradition though, we must conclude that William Raper gave liberally of his influence and his efforts towards this church enterprise, and in the minds of all who study this matter his name will always be associated with the beginnings of the religious efforts at Abbott's Creek. It must ever be a matter of pride with this family to have this church work in its very inception connected thus with the family name.
   "Long, long be my heart with such memories filled! Like the vase in which roses have once been distilled:
You may break you may shattter the vase if you will,
But the scent of the roses will hang round it still."
Thomas Moore.
     Lack of time forbids the tracing out of much interesting family-history in this immediate community: for instance the family lines of C. E. Spurgeon, and W. D. Spurgeon, of the Sarah Raper Spurgeon line; Ivey Orrell, E. E. Cridle-baugh, Arthur Hedgecok, and W. T. Hedgecock of the William Raper 3rd line; W. P. Welborn and Charles Raper of the Davis Raper line; C. L. Clinard of the Elizabeth Raper Welch line; and others that might be named.
Other Raper Family History
   In Pasquotank and Perquimans counties in North Carolina the Raper family settled in the earlier days, and some of the members took part in the Revolutionary War. It is believed that the original William Raper had two brothers who came over, also, at an early date and settled in Frederick county, Virginia. The records show three North Carolina Rapers as among the Revolutionary soldiers. The Census of 1790 lists 12 members of the family for North Carolina. In this particular section, William Raper is listed iu the Census of 1790 with his wife, one younger son, and two sons grown, also one slave. For the State the name of other Rapers in the Census are — Cornelius, Henry, Jacob, two Johns, Thomas, Robert, Robinson, Luke and Elizabeth. In the North Carolina Colonial Records we find Caleb Raper, Vol. 16, p. 1143; Henry Raper, Vol. 4, p. 518; John Raper, Vol. 16 p 1143; Robert Raper Vol 16 p. 1143; Henry Raper Vol 32 p. 353; Josiah Raper, Vol. 22 p. 353, and several others. Clark's Colonial Records speaks of William Raper signing a petition to Governor Mar tin asking that the county sear be not moved. As Gov. Martin from 1771 to 1775 these date fit in perfectly with the history of William Raper as we have related it.
   In his wonderful essay on His-Thomas Carlyle says: "History is the essence of immumerable biographies," and thus, nearly a century and three quarters of the history of this section is covered by the lives of those who have descended from William Raper who settled here in 1755.
   Lord Bacon in his essay on The Advancement of Learning gives us a fine insight as to how real history is rescued from forgetfulness. He says:
"Industrious persons, by a scrupulous and exact diligence and observation, out of monuments, names, words, proverbs, traditions private records, and evidences, fragments of stories, passages of books that concern not stories, and the like, do save and recover somewhat from the deluge of Time."
    The preservation of worthy records is a genuine contribution to the progress of mankind.

New Italian Stamps
ROME — Stamp collectors will soon have two new Italian issues to covet. One is to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the birth of Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy, the other the tenth anniversary of Italy's victory of Vittorio Veneto in the world war.
M. P. CONFERENCE MEETS AT WINSTON
101st Annual Session Will Gather At Twin City On October 31

LEXINGTON, Sept. 15.—Tha 101st annual session of the North Carolina Methodist Protestant Conference will convene in the First Methodist Protestant church at Winston-Salem October 31, it is announced by Rev. C. B. Way, of this city, general publicity agent for the denomination in North Carolina. The conference will be in session for six days, ending on Monday, November 5. Rev. J. H. Moton is pastor of the Winston-Salem church and will be host to the annual gathering of more than 200 ministers and laymen who, will be in attendance during the six days conference. The pastor and congregation of the Winston-Salem church will begin soon to make preparations for the entertainment of the conference which will be on the Harvard plan, providing lodging and breakfast in the homes of the Methodist Protestants and others in the Twin City.
   The coming conference will have a number of interesting features which the program, which is now in the making, will provide. On the first day of the annual meeting of the church body the annual message of the president, Rev. S. W. Taylor, of Greensboro, the conference sermon to be delivered by Rev. J. E. Pritchard, of Asheboro, and the election of conference officers will feature. The North Carolina conference of Methodist Protestants is the second largest in the entire denomination in the United States, there being 234 churches, with 84 active pastors serving a total of 94 pastoral charges. The church has a property valuation of approximately $2,800,000, including the property of High Point College.
   The conference at Winston-Salem is expected to be one of the largest and most important in recent years. Among the church dignitaries who are expected to attend the sessions is Dr. J. C. Broomfield, president of the general conference, who will be the honored guest of the conference. Other representatives of the general conference will attend and speak in the interest of the educational and missionary enterprises of the denomination.
   In addition to Rev. S. W. Taylor, president, of Greensboro, the officers of the conference are as follows: Rev. C. W. Bates, of Greensboro, secretary; Rev. P. W. Paschall, of Asheville, assistant secretary; Rev. H. F. Surratt, of Charlotte, statistical secretary; V. W. Idol, of High Point," treasurer; Rev. C. B. Way, of Lexington, press reporter; Rev. J. E. Pritchard of Asheboro, conference historian.