Page 11 - Robeson Living Spring 2020

About 1825, the old Raft Swamp Church burned, and all records mules as cheaply as one?” Patterson in a speech answered with
were lost. Soon people began to assemble at a “stand” on a hill “Yes, if you work them properly, three mules will pay better than
overlooking Raft Swamp itself. This “stand”, a raised platform, one.” An election was held June 6, 1920 the matter to divide the
was near a bridge over the swamp on the mail road from Fayette- county failed even through Rowland, Parkton, Maxton, St. Pauls
ville to Cheraw, S.C. This is the present site of Antioch Church. and Red Springs voted heavily to divide. the matter was taken to
In 1832 Hector McFayden sold to the trustees of Antioch Church a county wide vote. The past century has seen no more efforts to
five acres of land for five dollars. Soon a building was erected divide The State of Robeson and so we remain the largest county
on this tract of land. The building is described as having a pulpit in North Carolina.
about four feet above the congregation and facing east. A gallery
ran across the rear of the church for the as many as thirty slaves Editor’s Note About Author:
that were church communicants. Growing up in North Carolina, Blake Tyner was surrounded by
history and great Southern cooking, spending countless hours
In Spring of 1880, the present sanctuary was begun some one with his great-grandparents. The busy kitchen and large family
hundred feet west of the existing building. Members subscribed dinners gave a perfect settling for hearing about the people of
to the building fund in sums from one dollar to two hundred and the past. As he learned the history of the area and her citizens,
fifty dollars for a total subscription of $1,767.83. The subscrip- he developed a craving to bring the people of the past alive and
tion was paid in cash, supplies, or labor. The account book (on share their stories.
display in the historical room) starts 6 Feb. 1880. According to
the entries someone was paid $.35 for digging up stumps and He has published four books as well as numerous articles in
another was paid $.30 for cleaning out under the church and the regional newspapers and magazines. He served as Executive
account book closes 6 Dec. 1882. Director of the Maxton Historical Society and the Robeson
County History Museum. More of his writings and projects can
An advertisement for Antioch Academy appeared in the February be found at blaketyner.com.
13, 1847 issue Fayetteville, NC newspaper The North Carolin-
ian. The academy was under the supervision of William Nelson a
graduate of Hampton Sydney College in Virginia. The term was
for five months. Tuition for the elementary depart was $6 while
English grammar and geography was $8. For $10 Languages and
mathematics all requiring payment in advance. Boarding at the
academy was $5 with half being paid in advance. The ad went of
the say the academy was in a heathy location on the stage road WE WELCOME ALL PAST LIFEWAY CUSTOMERS
between Fayetteville and Charleston. In addition to Nelson was WITH NO SHIPPING COSTS INVOLVED
another alumnus of the same college Ferdinand McLeod and Mrs.
Nelson who taught the primary grades and music. The academy
here was built by a joint stock company, the land being purchased SCHOOL
from Mrs. Margaret McFadyen. Rev Hector McLean who served
as pastor of Antioch Church for 50 years was the first president INSTRUMENT
of the board of the academy with attorney N.A. McLean as sec-
retary. The academy closed and in 1911 a modern Antioch High RENTALS
School was built to serve the education needs of the area.

Establishing Hoke County didn’t stop other efforts to divide the LOCAL, AFFORDABLE, CONVENIENT
remainder of Robeson County. In the 1911 efforts to fight the Hassle-free rentals. $28 covers first month.
creation of Hoke County Maxton lawyer and former US Con-
gressman Gilbert Brown Patterson was one of the leaders. So, it https://www.musicarts.com/rentals?aid=4065
is surprising that just nine years later in 1920 he was the leader • Jewelry • Art • Gifts • Instruments • T-Shirts
to divide Robeson into three counties. In his proposal Lumberton
would remain the seat of Robeson County, Maxton would be the • Bibles • Books • Cards • Bible Covers
seat of Liberty County and St. Pauls would be the seat of LaFay- • Garden Flags • Wind Chimes
ette County. Those in favor of the division used the same argu- Church Supplies Available in Store or Special Order
ment used so many times in the past that a county the same size
as the state of Rhode Island was too unwieldly. Those against the CHRISTIAN
division argued that the cost of new county courthouses and jails
as well as all the new county employees for the two new counties BOOK STORE of LUMBERTON
would be extremely expensive. Robesonian editor J.A. Sharpe
backed the county remaining together and in one of his editori- 4321 Fayetteville Rd, Lumberton
als asked “Is it going to reduce taxes? How? Can you feed three (Between Sears and Cakes & Pastries)
(910)738-7193
Robeson Living ~ Spring 2020