After a few years, he abandoned his trade and became a successful farmer. He owned a good many slaves, but was not wealthy. He was a leading spirit in his county, taking a lively interest in all public and social enterprises. He took a high stand in favor of uprightness in all the social relations and intercourse. He was a member of the Methodist Church. He died Apr. 27, 1844. As death approached and he knew the end was near, he frequently said: "The way is clear." The remarkable good sense and sound judgment and the splendid virtues of his noble wife, Aunt Betsy, as she was called, enabled her, after the death of her husband, to direct the destinies of the family, the business enterprises which he laid down, and all the domestic concerns, in a wonderfully successful manner. She carried on the farm, managed the slaves, accumulated money, encouraged her chil- dren to reading and study, sent them to school, and, above all, maintained in her family a high standard of morals and dignity of thought and purpose. She placed truth, honesty, and justice above everything, and made no compromises with falsehood or dishonesty in any form. Her example and teaching was not confined to the white members under her control, but the slaves were also the recipients of her care and teaching. She is dead; the grass for many summers has grown green on her grave. but the footsteps of her family and those who were brought under her influence are to this day directed bv her example and teaching. She was so sound and convincing and firm in her advocacy of right that her influence was irresistible. It is now thirty- five years since the writer of this brief memorial left her at the dear old home, vet he feels as sensibly the influence of her life as if she were, in her emphatic way. this moment speaking to him. He professed religion at her knee when he was quite young. This was to him an appropriate place to be delivered from sin and its influences, for he always felt that no sin or impurity would dare approach her presence. If there are any virtues which her descendants possess, I cannot consent that they should be accorded them in this volume without placing on its pages some account of the character of the noble mother who so faithfully instructed and led them in the ways of all truth. She was a member of the Methodist

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