known as "Tin Pot Ally." The first to be enrolled in his
Sunday School was the subject of our sketch.

After Rev. Thompson left Laurens our little hero went to
school to another veteran, Mr. Wright, who soon learned to
regard him highly. The late Rev. D. Gibbs now took charge of
the church, and our subject was the first to enter his
Sunday School. While the Rev. Gibbs was boarding at his
father's home, the seed of the Presbyterian ministry was
planted.

He now entered school under Rev. and Mrs. McDowell, and
began the study of the Shorter Catechism. A polyglot Bible
was offered for the most perfect recitation of the
Catechism, and he won the first prize. In 1874 he took the
examination and won the county scholarship for the State
Normal at Columbia. From this examination he was given a
teachers' certificate and taught his first school in the
country; at the close of this school he accompanied Rev. and
Mrs. McDowell to Statesville, N. C., and in November Rev.
McDowell had arranged for him to go to Biddle University,
Charlotte, N. C.

He returned home every summer and taught. So acceptable were
his services that scholars were offered to him and held
until his return from school. In 1877 on account of failing
health he remained out of school, and was chosen as the
principal of the city school at his native home. He was
always known as the "Mocking Bird" of Laurens. He was the
chorister in Sunday School and church. Returning to Biddle
University in the fall of 1878, was taken under the care of
Catawba Presbytery as a candidate for the ministry, and
graduated with the degree of A. B. in 1881. In October,
1881, he entered the seminary of Biddle University, was
licensed to preach the gospel in 1883, and was placed in
charge of the Pleasant View Church, Greenville County, South
Carolina, where he served so acceptably that he was desired
as a settled pastor. In 1884 he graduated from the seminary,
and was ordained to the full work of the gospel ministry the
next day after graduating.

He took charge of the work at Lincolnton, N. C., where he
served six years and six months, conducting both church and
school, and was then re-elected principal of the city
school.

The new church at McClintock was built under his