Produced by hekula03, David E. Brown, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive) Pioneer Colored Christians BY HARRIET PARKS MILLER “The primitive order with its picturesque types, has passed with the days that are dust. The mirthful banjo is mute, and the laughter, songs, and shouts of the old plantation quarters no longer float out on the evening air.” [Illustration] CLARKSVILLE, TENN. W. P. TITUS, PRINTER AND BINDER --1911-- TO THE READER. In the busy rush of life, the virtues of single individuals too often escape notice, or make but slight impression on the minds of their contemporaries. It is in after years, when the actors are dead and gone, that their virtues shine forth, and speak from the silence, through the pen of some one who catches them before it is too late. No history is richer, or more beautiful, than that written of lives led by wisdom, and goodness. The writing of this little book is inspired by a desire to perpetuate, as examples, the lives of such people. While the trend of my thoughts will center around one special family,--the Carrs--I shall not omit honorable mention of other colored citizens, who walked upright among their fellow men. I shall also make mention of leading white people who befriended the colored race in its early struggles for religious liberty. I write with the hope, that what I say, will have a tendency to deepen the sympathy, and kind feeling which should ever exist between the two races living together in the South. THE AUTHOR. Port Royal, Tenn., July, 1911. CONTENTS CHAPTER I. Interview with Aunt Kitty Carr, September, 1901, in which she tells of her birth in Virginia, 1815. At six years of age, she was given by her mother to Mrs. Edmond Winston, who one year later, brought her to Tennessee. Marriage in early life to Rev. Horace Carr. She was free born; effort to deprive her of her birth right. By the assistance of kind white friends, she is enabled to legally establish her freedom. Reading of Prayer Book. CHAPTER II. Rev. Horace Carr. His birth in Spring Creek neighborhood, in 1812. Belonged to Aquilla Johnson, and was sold for a division of the estate. Bought by Mr. James Carr, of Port Royal, Montgomery county, Tenn. After master’s death, he hires himself from his mistress, and locates on a retired spot near “Horse Shoe Bend” of Red River, by permission of Mr. William Weatherford, its owner. Mode of making a living. Joins Red River Church, and is ordained to preach. Invitation by Mr. E. L. Fort, to preach on his premises. CHAPTER III. Worship of the two races together, in antebellum times. Department in white churches for colored worshippers. Civil war brings changes, and they have churches and schools of their own.