Contents

Growing Up 1795 - 1803

BUNCOMBE COUNTY, NC 1803 - 1810

ASHEVILLE, NC 1810 - 1816

Music Schools at SHOOKS and SANDYMUSH, NC 1817 - 1819

VILLAGE CREEK, JEFFERSON CO, AL 1819 - 1820

Across the CHEROKEE NATION 1820

Family Life in BUNCOMBE COUNTY, NC 1820 - 1825

Visit to HABERSHAM COUNTY, GA 1825

Last Years in BUNCOMBE COUNTY, NC 1825 - 1826

HABERSHAM COUNTY, GA 1826 - 1830

Visit to MEMPHIS, TN 1830

Life in HABERSHAM COUNTY, GA 1831 - 1836

Bad Health and Leaving HABERSHAM CO, GA 1837 - 1838

CLAY COUNTY, AL 1838 - 1844

BLOUNT COUNTY, AL 1835 - 1847

A New Life in LEE and SHELBY COUNTIES, AL 1847 - 1871

Diary of Reverend REUBEN PHILIPS 1871 - 1872

Life in Letters COOSA COUNTY, AL 1871 - 1887

IN MEMORY OF ... 1887

GROWING UP 1795 - 1803

I was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina in A. D. 1795 on the 4th day of December, twelve miles S.E. of Charlotte on Crooked Creek. My grandmother on my father's side was a Welsh Lady. My Grandfather on my mother's side was an Englishman, and a clergyman of the Baptist Church. My father and mother were both members of the Methodist Church, but my mother always retained strong preferences in favor of baptism by immersion.

My father settled in the bounds of a Presbyterian Congregation and being inconvenient to the knowledge of his own church he became a subscriber in the support of Mr. Barr the Presbyterian Minister and communed with his congregation, he and mother, and received pastoral visits and had his children regularly catechized by Mr. Barr.

When I was four years old, my father taught a small neighborhood school and when the weather was pleasant he took me with him. On seeing the other children learning, I became anxious to try. My father made me letters on paper and pasted them to a paddle and I soon learned them all... I now think in one day! He then gave me a Dikes Spelling Book and I was allowed to say a row in the short words as often as I could learn them. I would say some forty or fifty lessons per day and by going to school a few days I was enabled to learn at home, so I soon could read in the testament and shorter catechism which was required of us all that could read at all. The first verses I ever memorized was in Dikes Universal Spelling Book as follows:
"A town besieged they held consultation which was the best method of fortification. A grave skillful mason gave in his opinion, that nothing but stone would save his dominion. A Carpenter said, that was very well spoke, but better by far to defend it with Oak. A currier wiser than both these together said, try what you please, there is nothing like leather."

I was at this time about four years of age and loved my book very much. I soon memorized the shorter catechism and was examined by Mr. Barr, and received encomiums for so early learning to read. I can truly say as did the Apostle to Timothy that from a child I knew the scriptures.

My father was poor and could not board me out to school and there being no English school within reach I was not permitted to go to school any more while we lived in that country. There was a German school not far off and on being with the Dutch boys I learned to spell and read easy books in that language, and also read a little in the Dutch Testament. All that I can now remember of religious exercises was that my father kept up family worship and took us to church on Sabbath. We had a pew in the Presbyterian Church where Father and Mother and all the children sat during divine service. We were kept under close and ridged discipline at church and during the Sabbath. I also remember when I was baptized. A Methodist Minister called at my fathers by the name of Gazaway. He was an old itinerant minister whose circuit came within some twelve miles of my fathers. Hearing my father was a Methodist, he called on him to learn his situation as to his soul. While there he baptized all my father's children that had not been baptized. Though I was only in my fifth year I remember after baptism that he laid his hand on our heads and talked about us. As he laid his hand on my head, I had strange feelings something like tremors. As my mother was greatly affected during the exercises, I felt my heart ache, but do not recollect that I felt any guilt for sin as I was unconscious of any law except parental prohibition and injunction.

In my sixth year I remember feeling the first alarm from any danger. While at play with my little brother and sister, near where my father was at work with some flax a huge rattlesnake crept into our midst and my sister younger than myself was playing with it as it was at full length. There appeared no disposition on its part to harm us. As she put her hand near its tail it drew itself up into a coil and began to rattle. My father then suddenly told us to run, being greatly frightened and then cut off its head with a hoe. When he explained to us the great danger we were in and our merciful preservation I then trembled with fear.

BUNCOME COUNTY, NC 1803 - 1810

In the year 1803 my father moved to the mountains and settled in the western part of Buncombe County and lived one year in the neighborhood of Turkey Creek and as he rented land we had a hard year. In the fall of 1803 he purchased a piece of land unimproved on the beaverdams of Hominy Creek and we moved to it on the 10th of March 1804.

There being but few inhabitants we had no church, no school, and no Sabbath except at my fathers. He still kept up religious exercises in his family and was able to govern his family on the Sabbath. Gradually the older children formed association with the youth in the county and, there being no church, all began to retrograde in morals.

In the year 1806, Daniel Asbury came to my fathers as a Missionary and I remember how thankful he and mother were to see one more minister of the gospel. He being Presiding Elder of the district adjoining that county had a tour to see whether a circuit could be formed. At the request of my father he left an appointment for the preacher that was to be sent. Accordingly, a Brother Jesse Richardson came and preached at my father's house and formed a society which prospered greatly. My father became Class Leader and if I remember correctly Brother Samuel Mills succeeded Brother Richardson and as he was a great revivalist many were added to the church and my mother became greatly stirred up in religion. She had a regular hour for secret prayer and kept her testament all the time where she went morning and evening for prayer and meditation. She often came home shouting from her place of secret prayer which was a large hollow chestnut tree where she resorted every day. On one occasion she took me with her and told me she wished me to assist her in putting some bushes around the tree to make it more secret and to turn off the evening sun.

While we were there she said to me that I might recollect when she was dead that she had a place where she regularly prayed in secret. Before she left, she took me into the tree and prayed for me and talked with me about my soul. Here I felt the first impressions to save my soul and the first moving of the spirit. I was truly concerned and did make solemn promises to seek religion. I had not as yet learned the ways of sin, but I was thrown into bad company and saw and heard wicked boys talk of things that I am sorry until now that I ever heard. I was not wickedly disposed but in changing nights with other boys I thought that what was told me was true. I therefore lost confidence in almost everybody on finding myself so badly deceived in some that were making great pretension to religion. I became disgusted with the usages of the church, especially classmeeting because so many had gone back to wickedness that had been so religious in classmeeting. I should have become an infidel even at so early a period but for the regular religious life of my mother and her prayers for me. I went to church and delighted very much to hear good preaching but my impressions about my soul became weaker and I became more careless.

It was my regular business to attend to the stock and bring them from the mountains [where they wandered many miles]. I found it necessary to carry my gun to protect me from the vermin that I might be exposed to. There were bears, panthers, wolves, and catamounts in abundance. Being fearless, I often camped out at night alone, and in those solitary regions I thought a great deal on religious matters. One of the leading members of the society had become a subject of many censures and was called a notorious hypocrite, altho he made unusual pretensions and was prompt to duty, it was said that if he was not a hypocrite there was none. I watched him faithfully to be convinced of his sincerity. He also followed the mountains in search of game. On one occasion I had wandered so far as to find it necessary to camp out and being some eight or ten miles from where any person lived, I rested badly that night. The wolves were howling in different directions.

In the morning I left camp and crossed a large mountain quite early and when going down on a headwater of Mills River I heard a human voice at some distance in the cove below. I thought at times it was a sound of distress. I drew nigher until I could hear the words of prayer and praise. I ventured quite up and found my old friend walking without his hat with his face turned up towards heaven. He would clap his hands and shout and walk to and from and then he would sit down and be quiet for a short time and then burst into loud hallelujahs. I stood and looked on for a long time, knowing that he was unconscious of any person being within ten miles of him. All my infidel temptations left me and I fully gave into the truth of religion and that he was one who possessed it. I at length approached him which at first surprised him. On being informed how I came there he was so happy as to shout aloud. I in my heart felt that I wanted such religion as he had and set a determined resolution to seek for it. This was in the fall of the year 1808. I was remarkably small for my age being not quite 13 years old. I knew but little, only to hunt for stock and kill game which I was fortunate in doing.

My father and mother at length became alarmed for the welfare of their children, there being no school to which they could send their children so my father sold out his farm and purchased a situation some 20 miles east near Asheville. In the fall of 1809 he moved the family leaving me to winter the stock. During that winter a school was opened by a good teacher, so I went to school two months and studied arithmetic and worked through the rule of three [today called proportion]. I made fine improvements in writing and as I was alone most of the time I had a fine chance at night. The school terminated. I was very sorry. It cost my father nothing as I worked for my teacher in the days and fed the stock at night. In April my father came and took his stock all home.

ASHEVILLE, NC 1810 - 1816

On the way home an application was made to my father to let me teach in a small neighborhood. My father consented on the condition that three of the principal people be trustees and guard my interests. On the first Monday in May 1810 I commenced my first school on the Swannani River. Jeremiah West, Francis Sluder, and Cornelius Sale were my trustees. I weighed precisely sixty pounds. I had 22 scholars - a mixed school. I mustered the boys every day according to Duanes Military Tactics. At the end of three months our examination was largely attended and general satisfaction expressed by all involved. A new school was made up for more scholars than I ought to have had. That school was made for twelve months and I taught for fifty cents per month, two thirds in trade. I closed that years school at Christmas in the year 1812. I then spent the winter at my fathers and assisted him in making some improvements on his plantation and in removing some buildings.

I also assisted in making a crop the next summer which was the year 1813. In the month of January 1814 I left home to go to school and commence at the single rule of three and in seventeen days I went through the square and cube root. I arranged to pay my teacher $10 to teach me the art of mapping and surveying with plane table and compass and went thirty days in all and then broke up. I could not help showing my disappointment but having learned to survey, my teacher took me to my own house and in two days I learned the use of the quadrant and how to find the latitude, so I paid him for everything.

I returned home and some two weeks after that I came back to see him and we took a tour into the mountains to gather Fir Oil from the native fir tree called Balsam. We went up the east fork of Pigeon River passing Mount Pisgah which was an exceedingly high peak so high so as to be seen all over the surrounding country to the distance of thirty miles. This mountain lay in a Southwesterly direction from Asheville and we circled it, leaving it on the east and Northeast of us. We next ascended the Shining Mountain which lay in a south direction from Mount Pisgah. We made our camp near The Star which was an uncommonly large rock as white as snow and crystallized as clear as transparent flint. It could be seen at a distance of 15 or 20 miles like a star of great magnitude!

We returned home, rested on the Sabbath and parted, never to meet again. His name was W.G. Berry and he very soon moved to Indiana.

I then returned home to my fathers near Asheville and commenced school on the 14th day of July 1814 some 18 miles from home in the neighborhood of Newfound Creek on the west side of French Broad River. I taught one session of six months and closed up at Christmas. At this examination we had a treat given by the principal employers, and my school was full to overflowing. [There were] some 40 scholars and on that day there were a great number of persons in attendance. There was sweetened brandy and cakes and pies in abundance. Some of my small students became intoxicated. From this time I resolved to never allow any spirits at an examination over which I had any control.

On the first Monday in January (1815) I commenced again at [the French Broad River] for twelve long months! I had to teach a night school for persons who wished to study arithmetic three nights in the week until 10 o' clock. In order to keep up the copybooks and copies on paper I went nearly every morning at four o' clock, made fires, warmed up the house and set copies in readings for all the day. A cold breakfast was sometimes sent to me by some of the scholars and if not I done without until dinner. This was a charming school.

I was envied by a Mr. Silas Green who was a school teacher. He tried to break up my school, as I was so young and a poor scholar. My friends stood by me to a man and when we wrote against each other, the judges gave it in my favor. He became so enraged that he left the country.

During this 18 months I boarded among the employers, going where I choose and as often as I chose. The people were mostly Baptist of the old school, now called Hard Shell Baptist. Their pastor was an old man by the name of Thomas Snelson; very ignorant and bigoted. I attended his ministry once a month on both days of their meetings. In this church I heard the old pastor preach a sermon on the text Nine and Twenty Knives that were used in Solomon's Temple. Altho I had been somewhat concerned about my soul I must confess his sermon on that subject was not profitable to me, but rather amusing and disgusting.

In the fall of the year, the old pastor sold off and moved to Missouri. I do not remember that any person was baptised that year. The church elected another pastor by the name of Moses Freeman who preached the doctrine of Particular Election and Reprobation and the church members with whom I boarded were mostly of that belief and from hearing the doctrine preached so much and the people vindicating the doctrine, I became wretched in my feelings and disgusted at the whole gospel system

During the fall, Lorenzo Dow preached in the country and left a tract called his chain which was a complete answer to all the system of Calvinism. I read one of them over and over, and being so well pleased with his doctrine I betook myself to composing pieces. At length I wrote a poem on the subject of Calvinism which in part has recently been published by the Elyton Times. This I read to some of the prominent members of the church and they ceased to annoy me any more.

At the close of this term an application was made for me to teach in an adjoining neighborhood near old Thomas Forrester's. In January 1815(1816?) I commenced teaching for twelve long months (with) some thirty grown scholars. I had some fifty regular scholars. I was exceedingly busy and but for teaching a night school, I could not have managed at all. I remained all night at the school and very often caught up the writing on copybooks that were behind.

In the spring of that year the wife of Alexander Starrett died. I attended the burial and my heart was unusually affected on seeing one of her daughters (a twin) whose name was Ruth jump into the grave when her mother was let down. The little girl lay on the coffin and could not be prevailed on to get out until she was taken by force and carried away until her mother was buried. The father married again within two or three months and the children were all scattered, but I took the twins into school and the oldest single daughter and on my own expense gave them as much as I could well teach; Ruth and Polly in particular.

I spent the most of my Saturdays at Esquire James Gudgers, writing in the Register's office, recording deeds for which he gave me one dollar per day.

HAYWOOD COUNTY, NC 1816 - 1818

That year I purchased a farm from William Eaton in Haywood County on the head of Hominy creek. I let my brother Elisha live on it as he had just married and had no farm, we united our interest as one; he farmed while I taught school and our interest was as one until the year I married and he still lives on the place and raised some seventeen children.

In the year of 1816 I took a school in Haywood County. I taught in a Baptist Church called Locust Old Fields. The Reverend Humphrey Posey was the pastor and I enjoyed myself remarkably under his ministry. He was a Missionary Baptist and preached free Salvation for all. He was a great revivalist and many were added to the church that year.

I taught one year at Locust Old Fields and then took a school for six months on the beaver dams of Hominy Creek near my brothers. The neighborhood was so dissipated that I taught in that place only six months commencing a few days before Christmas. For the first time I was barred out at Christmas and it proved a serious matter. My employers collected and demanded the house and those within refused to give it up. The parties were armed and ready to engage in a general Rain Countre. I at length went to the place; dismissed all and returned home unmolested; so the trouble ceased.

During the winter we engaged a Mr. Moses White to teach a music school in the school house. I was a scholar. He taught six or seven days and gave it up, so I only got to know the rules and a few tunes in the different parts. I was truly sorry as I had a good voice to sing and a talent to learn.

In the fall of that year I commenced a school on Sandymush Creek in the west part of Buncombe County near Colonel James Lowrey. The neighborhood was composed of about forty families and no church but the Methodist and an excellent community. I enjoyed myself very well and being anxious to learn music I applied to the same Mr. White to come over and teach for us. He accordingly sent articles and the school was made up. He employed me to make the manuscript books. The school commenced. He attended and taught two days and at the close of the second day he informed us that he could not teach any more so the school was done. The young people had a meeting and resolved that I should take his place and that they would sustain me. I concluded to try, so I commenced in good earnest, only knowing four or five tunes in the parts. [I] appointed the next Saturday for the first day. I soon memorized the rules and practiced some more tunes on Saturday. The first Saturday in October 1816 I commenced my first music school. I taught on Saturdays only and sang on Sabbath gratuitous.

The young people that were the scholars at Newfound 10 miles east of my school hearing that I had commenced teaching music and was succeeding very well came over by numbers and applied to me to give them a school. I agreed to do so and I alternated one Saturday and Sabbath at each place. My reading school continued the following season which embraced the year 1817. I still kept my music schools and got old Brother Nathan Harrison to preach on the Sabbath at both schools.

Music Schools at SHOOKS and SANDYMUSH, NC 1818 - 19

My good success was published all over the county and a petition was sent from Locust Old Fields where I had before taught school for me to teach a reading school and a singing school for them. I was violently opposed by the community of Sandymush but by getting me to promise to return to them they gave up, so I opened a school at Locust Old Fields on the first Monday of January 1818 and a music school also for Saturdays and sundays gratuitously.

Old father Shook came to hear us sing and was so delighted that he proposed his house [five miles west] for me to sing in. Old Father Shook had a fine house and in the third story he had a room 40 feet square well finished for preaching for the Methodist. I made a large school at that place some fifty scholars and had the assistance of my old friend Humphrey Posey who was an experienced music teacher. This school drew together a vast concourse of young people from both schools.

I felt this year the great necessity of religion and did seek for it, but being opposed to the doctrine of the Calvinist and the Altar Exercises of the Methodist, I was unable to obtain religion.

Towards the end of the summer my friend Posey and Parson Byers requested that we should call all the Sandymush and Newfound music scholars for a three day singing - two at Father Shooks and on Sunday at Waynesville five miles further west. We had over 120 singers; the greatest singing ever witnessed in that county. On Sunday we went in procession to the muster field where a stand was erected for preaching. The hymn was sung that effects my heart. I was so overcome as to be scarcely able to stand on my feet. The hymn was commenced "Oh tell me no more of this worlds vain store etc."

Just as prayer was closed a runner was sent to tell us that Mrs Welch who had been sick was dying. This produced some confusion for a few minutes until the doctor and the relatives got away. There remained a congregation like a Campmeeting and we had a most extraordinary good sermon from the text in the psalms "He sitteth between the cherubims, let the earth be moved."

This day humbled my soul and I was truly anxious to obtain religion. I wept and sobbed under preaching and felt some tokens of joy, but would not excuse that faith which brings salvation. This ended up our schools for the music line but I carried on my reading school until Christmas and then returned to Sandymush for the purpose of opening a school according to promise.

In 1818 I took a singing school in the north end of Buncombe County after the schools at old Father Shooks was done. This school in Buncombe was the hardest task I ever undertook to perform as it was fifty miles from Locust Old Fields where I taught my reading school. In performing the duties of this school, I left my Reading School at 3 o'clock on Thursday evening and rode 25 miles that night and rose next morning at 4 o'clock and rode 25 miles by 10 o'clock and sung until 3 o'clock Saturday and on Monday morning. They paid me well for all my trouble as I had 60 scholars and prompt pay.

On the first Monday in January 1819 I commenced teaching. I had a splendid school as I only engaged for nine months intending to travel in the fall. During this school, Elizabeth King attended as a scholar. She was 26 or 27 years old I thought she would suit me for a wife. Her widowed mother lived in the state of Virginia. She had one brother in the neighborhood who had a family, but she made her home at Robert Bell's Esquire. After she quit school I contemplated the matter prayerfully and as I seldom ever kept female company privately I determined to propose to her my hand and heart. I sought an opportunity and without much ceremony told her my determination. In a few weeks I called and she gave me her hand and we solemnly covenanted to be true to each other though I was to travel first. No mortal was to know of our engagement but ourselves.

During the year 1819 a public controversy took place between Humphrey Posey and Allen Turner the traveling Methodist preacher on the subject of Wesley's Testament. Posey said the scriptures were altered and for the worse; Turner asserted to the contrary. Dr. Coffin of Green County, Tennessee and Francis H. Porter of Asheville, Buncombe County were referred to on the subject of translation; they being Presbyterian Ministers and linguists it was thought proper to refer the matter to them. Both decided in favor of the translation of Wesley's Testament as being a better translation than our present version. It was soon ascertained that Daniel Witt and Thomas Wear the book agents of the Methodist Episcopal Church had taken the translation out of Wesley's notes and bound them into a testament and sent them out as Methodist books, without the knowledge of the book committee of the General Conference. This matter made a great stir among the Baptist and created much hard feelings between the two denominations. At length the best informed Baptists became reconciled with the translation except where it related to baptism by immersion. The preposition from the water in our saviours baptism was never reconciled. The copy used in debate is now in the library of Thomas W. Sadler Esquire being retained by myself until Elisha Philips was licensed to preach when I gave it to him. He sold it with other books to T. W. Sadler Esquire. I felt greatly grieved that a difficulty should take place with my old particular friend and the people among whom I was teaching, and it was carried on in my school house. The Reverend Posey preached from second Timothy 3rd. 16th "All scripture is given by inspiration of God". The Reverend Turner preached from a passage in Job "I will also show mine opinion". The day was taken up in this controversy. The Sabbath following the Reverend Joseph Byers (Now of this county) and Stephen White answered all the controversies at the house of Mr. Mason a citizen of the same neighborhood, so the fire went out among the common people and much excitement ensued and no real good that I could ever see. And I must confess it was calculated to harden my then tender feelings about my soul. Altho I had determined to seek religion that year, these circumstances did me no good in obtaining that good blessing.

VILLAGE CREEK, JEFFERSON CO, AL 1819 - 20
(today Elyton a southwestern subrub of Birmingham, AL)

After I finished my schools and made some collections I purchased a splendid horse and began to prepare to travel. [Thomas Siler, a young man who lived about six miles away agreed to go with Reuben]. We traveled only two days, being in the first part of October and my horse took the sore tongue. We lodged at Jacob Calers on Jonathans Creek; he was an old friend of mine, and had been sent to school to me at Newfound my second school, so I had to stop until my horse could travel. My companion went on to Macon County where he had brothers living; it was still Indian lands. He waited there some ten days until I caught up with him. We rested one day and then on October 15 we started on our journey. We soon got into the Indian settlement but had good luck and struck Alabama at Wills Creek and from there to Jones Valley. We came to Village Creek four miles Northwest of where Elyton now is. Siler was anxious to teach school somewhere, and the people finding out that I was a teacher solicited me to take a school. I went with [Thomas Siler] to Tuscaloosa. It was a town mostly built of clapboards. We went to McCowans Bluff where he made up a school.

I returned to Village Creek and drew up articles and Jonathan and David Prude rode with me to make a school at Frog Level ... The people set to work; built a schoolhouse and I commenced first Monday in December, 1819, with only seven scholars the first day [as I] had Parson Owens influence against me. My school so increased that on Monday morning of the second month there were 40 scholars and Old Parson Owen came over and put under my care his little son William. This was the first Monday in January 1820. I boarded among the scholars and taught a night school three nights in the week and was kindly treated by all the people.

Biography of David Gardiner Phillips(probably unrelated)
Then there were no electric, gas, or even lamp lights. We had tallow, sometimes molded, candles, but more often simple "dips". Our main dependence for light at night was a pine knot blaze. Our three months winter schools of that day, the only schools we had, would have put Goldsmith to the blush.

We made no cotton in those days, but we made plenty of everything [we needed] and lived comfortably. We had no money, and no opportunities except those of laboring country boys. I had never seen a buggy, a railroad, a pistol, or a playing card.

At night by pine knot fires I had made myself a fair English scholar. With my mother's assistance I had mastered Dilworth's Speller, Pike's Arithmetic, Woodbridges Geography, Kirkham's Grammar, Obey's Philosophy and had become a good scribe.

I had been partially seeking religion for several years but was unsuccessful up to that time. I invited Parson Lockhart of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church to preach every round in my school house and Matthew D. Thomason and a Mr. Rennoc Circuit Preachers of the Methodist Church also preached every two weeks. Soon after the circuit commenced, M. D. Thomason had a fight and left the work. Ebenezer Hearn came on the circuit or Mission. I was pleased with his company. He advised me how to seek religion and I made it a rule to remain every evening that I could until sundown and wright for the school and invariably attended to secret prayer before I left. I became very anxious on the subject of religion and visited old brother Miles the class leader. He was an experimental Christian; this was what I desired as I was well versed in the theory of religion.

I also formed an acquaintance with Parson Hosea Holcombe a minister of the Baptist Church and formed a music school in one of his churches, called Ruhama some six or seven miles up the valley. But I could not profit much by his conversation as he invariably lugged in the doctrine of baptism by immersion and as I had been baptized and felt satisfied on that subject, it became rather irksome than otherwise to me to talk on that subject. And in the meantime some things were reported among which was that he would take spirits too freely at times for a minister of the gospel. I received but little spiritual information from him altho we were very friendly socially speaking. At length I opened my true condition to old Sister Prude who was an acquaintance of my parents and who was a good Christian. I kept my washing at her house and also had my horse kept on her farm. I found her a practical Christian and a constant bible reader. My heart was affected when I prayed, often I went to church and read the scriptures and on the 14th of February 1820 about sundown while I was engaged in secret prayer in my school house, I verily thought I saw a storm of wrath coming down upon me. I felt as though I was lost forever! But I prayed fervently and cast myself wholly on the mercy of God and looked with an eye of faith to the atonement. I felt that God was reconciled with me for what Christ had done for me. I felt an inward peace and the gathering storm turned to a sweet calm. My heart melted down into tenderness and thankfulness. I fully believed my sins were forgiven and I claimed the mercy of Christ as mine. I could not leave the place for a time; I sat calmly down and wept tears of joy I did truly wonder why I had been so unbelieving. I had felt for years in prison that God intended me to work in his vineyard somewhere. I there promised to take up the cross and try to do all that I felt enjoined on me to perform, whether it pleased the world or not. I went down to Colonel John Browns who lived but a few hundred yards, to spend the night. He was from home. His wife was a good Christian woman of the Baptist Church and very diffident on all subjects but that of religion. She would talk freely on that subject. I told her what I had just experienced. She wept and laughed and talked and thanked the Lord, so I went to rest that night for the first time in my remembrance free from guilt and fear.

The next Saturday I had singing and on Sunday we all met for singing and no minister present. My old friend Miles was not in attendance that Sabbath who always prayed when I called on him and I felt it impressed on me to close the exercise with prayer, and I proposed to take a vote whether we would invariably open and close our singing with prayer, and begin that evening, and when put to a vote it was unanimously adopted. I accordingly made an attempt for the first time in my life publicly. I told them of the great change that I had experienced and it had a similar attempt on them. There being a great many in attendance, the word went out every where around the neighborhood and from that time forward when I visited religious families, they asked me to hold family worship. I did so, but it proved the greatest cross I had ever experienced as I was not gifted in prayer; in fact I could scarcely pray at all, but being determined not to yield to temptation, I continued to try. Sometimes I felt happy in the attempt; at other times I felt miserable, but having a music school in Cahaby Valley and in a pious neighborhood, I received great assistance. A young gentleman by the name of Joseph K. Sparks who had taught music some came into school and on seeing my plans, and hearing me lecture made himself known to me as a Christian. We talked much on the subject and as neither had joined any church we showed no sectarian feelings, but became like Jonathan and David, in love.

At the close of one session he proposed a partnership in teaching one more session and it was soon made up. We taught together and loved God and one another as Christians. I still kept up prayer and moral lecturing, and in this way satisfied my feelings as to public exercises. My music school went on alternately and having a great many grown scholars in my reading school I proposed to them to spend every other day with them in singing at recess, and it was adopted in the room of common play. So I made little manuscript books for the whole school and we had the best music that had ever been had in the valley. Old Parson Owen came in to hear us at noontime and was so well pleased to see and hear the infant voices mingling with the larger that he seldom failed to be there on the days when we sung. This excited others and we often had room for as many as would come, and we invariably stopped at the minute, and all but the school left, though sometimes very reluctant. We had a pleasant school, no difficulty whatever, but the Devil was uneasy and at length did us harm. Elyton as is now, was then called Frog Level -- nothing but a pair of race paths and some of the citizens made a horse race and the sum was some thousand dollars and a great excitement prevailed. The time came, and I prevented the young men and boys from going to the race. They were angry but obeyed my law, and when the race was run, one of the horses flew the track and threw the rider leaving him lifeless for a long time. The other ran through and claimed the money. The parties and their friends engaged in a riot and many fought, some with weapons, some with knives, and so great evil resulted to the assembly. When my young men learned how things turned out, they returned to me and expressed great thankfulness to me for having kept them away as it was their relatives that were in the fight. This circumstance gave me many friends among the religious and parents.

I closed my reading school last day of July, but my singings were not out by something over a month. It was proposed that I would teach one month and let all sing that would and end all my schools at once as I was going to return to North Carolina. That month [on the seventh of September] I had over 50 scholars in attendance [and] I closed. Old Parson Owen preached a sermon and I left for Cahawly Valley the same day.

Across the CHEROKEE NATION 1820

When I closed up my last school in Alabama, many wept at our parting. On closing up in Cahawly Valley I met with the Reverend Francis K. Porter, a Presbyterian Minister. He was going to North Carolina and we gladly accompanied each other as he lived as a neighbor to my parents. We set off on Monday September 11 and soon got among the Indians. He preached at Lassleys to a congregation of Indians. This was the first Indian congregation I had ever seen. He next preached at Major Ridges a native Indian. There we read several letters from John Ridge and John Ross who were then in Cornwall College in Connecticut. These were interesting letters to me. We then turned up the Oustanella River to Charles Nixes. He was a religious Indian. I heard him read and explain the Bible and to my mind made it plain that the Cherokee Indians were descendants of the Jews, from the custom of sacrifices of the first fruits of all they raised from the earth and from the manner of burying the dead.

From thence we went to Spring Place, an old missionary station. Old father Gambold was the minister and teacher and his lady. They were Moravians and they received us cordially. We spent the Sabbath at that place and I heard the preaching to the Indian school and heard them read in their own tongue. I felt like I wanted to stay among them, but we went from thence to Talena, a missionary station by the Presbyterian; Thomas Butrell was the missionary. Here we found John Arch, a native Indian who had been converted and professed to be called to the ministry. We took him along with to North Carolina and he was of great use as a linecaster being acquainted with both languages. We all went together to the Valley Towns Missionary Station. Humphrey Posey was the minister and teacher. We remained only two days and then struck for home and found all well.

Family Life in BUNCOME COUNTY, NC 1820 - 25

I called on Miss Elizabeth King and found her rather impatient as I had been gone so long and still had to go some two hundred miles below to pay some money, but at the time when I would have singing in the neighborhood we would consummate our intended union. That Sabbath after singing I rode a few rods with Elizabeth and told her that I would go on by where she lived and ride with a brother that was going home and return at sundown and we would be married before supper. The gentleman and lady (the Bells) with whom she lived were still ignorant of the whole matter, but when I arrived I found it necessary to give him notice as we intended him to celebrate the rites, as Justice of the Peace. I asked him to take the book of discipline and select the place and I informed his wife, and the company and we went upstairs and she accompanied me down to the hall where we were married (October 20, 1820). The news spread that night all over the neighborhood.

Next Morning we started to the State of Virginia to see her mother from whom she had been separated for seven years. On the day we reached her residence my wife appeared all day to be in a melancholy frame of mind as she said it was strange to think she was so near her mother. It was an interesting sight to me to see them meet. Her mother did not know her, but on being informed that it was her daughter she was quite overcome, but on recovering from the excitement we engaged ourselves very well for a few days, but as the time of parting drew near our pleasure was very much mingled with pain, as my wife's mother was old and no reasonable expectation that they would ever see each other any more.

I contemplated to move to Alabama. On Thursday morning on the first day of November we started back to Buncombe County, North Carolina. On our return we were induced to move to my fathers on Swannani River and I had a room in my fathers house and we boarded ourselves.

On the first Monday in January 1821 I commenced a reading school at Alexanders, four miles from home, and also carried on a music school on Saturdays.

Reuben Philips taught school at Alexander's again this year and began building a house on his father's land. Schools at this time often had no floor but the earth. In the center burned a fire under a cat and mud chimney supported by four posts placed about six feet apart and about three feet above the floor. Around this in a hollow square were backless benches (half logs). If there was a window, a split log was placed under it for a writing desk. There was a shortage of paper, but what writing that was done was with goose quill pens and homemade ink made from pokeberry leaves, oak galls, iron rust, and inner bark. Later the school would have a puncheon floor and a fireplace at the end of the room. Spelling was often the main object of the lessons. Advanced students read in the New Testament.

Reverend Reuben. In the Month of September on the 9th day we were blessed with the birth of our first child, a daughter. We called her name Clarinda, and as we had not as yet joined any church, I felt it my duty to dedicate our babe to god in the ordinance of baptism. I accordingly went as soon as my wife was able to a small church east up the Bull Mountain and gave myself and child to the Methodist Episcopal Church and my heart to God. Brother Malcolm McPherson was our circuit preacher and his first year as a Christian and a minister. He was exceedingly uncultivated and ignorant, so much so that many societies in the circuit rejected him and would not go to church, but I thought him a good man so I gave him my hand in church and my house as a resting place. He made great improvements and became a powerful man under God. [He] was Presiding Elder for many years, wore himself out and died happy and to Heaven.

On the 27th of September I commenced to build myself a [good] house on my father's land and conditionally purchased 100 acres from him and here I built a good house.

When I finished my school at Alexander's the people were so well pleased that a proposition was made for me to take the English school at Asheville in the Academy. I felt inadequate to the task and dreaded it as no man could govern the aristocracy of the place, so I took a winter school on Sandymush, 20 miles from home. I had a very good school, but many boys had grown so large as to trouble me greatly. There were 27 distilleries in the neighborhood and the boys had taken to drink and were so hard to manage that I had to resort to measures of punishment so disagreeable to my self that I returned home in the spring. I succeeded so well in conquering the boys at Sandymush that my old friends at Alexanders sent me an article filled with subscribers and instead of making a crop myself, I hired a young man to work my crop and I went to teaching at Alexanders again. I engaged only for nine months.

I engaged in a music school at the Academy [in Asheville] during the summer and also at Big Ivey some 20 miles north of where I lived. This employed my Saturdays and Sabbaths. I managed the young people of town so well that the parents of the youth determined to have me try one session in the English department. Mr. Porter was still teaching in the Academy; had only ten or twelve scholars and discouraged me so much I felt it hazardous to undertake. He was anxious to have me connected in the same house with him and cordially gave up one of the rooms, he occupying the other. On the first Monday in January 1823 I opened a school in the Academy. It was an excellent brick house well furnished for school and also for church services... There were in attendance 30 scholars the first day and very soon the school increased to 45 and some of the summer session I had fifty scholars. I had to go four miles to school, but I was punctual, and gave my whole attention to it.

I had gone the fall before to East Tennessee and brought my Mother-in-law to live with us. She was old and had been a widow 23 years and my wife being her youngest daughter, she gladly made my house her home, as she had not kept house for many years. This circumstance was attended with a great blessing to her and ourselves. She was devoutly religious and read much, and my wife and her enjoyed life to equal any I have before or since known. I being away so much in the day time they were company for each other. I also kept a man hired to make my crop. On the 8th of March, my first son came. We called his name Elisha after my brother next older than myself, with whom I had a partnership for many years, but dissolved it at my marriage. Inasmuch as my mother-in-law lived with us, I lost no time from school. Also my own mother lived within 300 yards of us and my father spent a great deal of his spare hours with my wife. They were all religious and Methodist of the old stock and great Bible readers; many bible conversations had they.

I had never had the measles and they were in school. I took them about the 25th of March and not thinking what was the matter, I went to school and during the day they came to the surface. I was advised to go home by my friend Mr. Porter. I started home very sick. Unfortunately for me I was overtaken by an alarming storm of rain, hail, and wind. I got very wet and cold and the measles disappeared from the surface and I verily thought I should die that night. Every effort was made to drive them out, but all in vain. When all gave me up, old man William Gudger came to see me and brought a bottle of peach brandy. He proposed to give me of it assuring me that it had been instrumental in saving his life a short time before under similar circumstances. I commenced using it with great reluctance as I was a sworn enemy to the use of ardent spirits. I continued to drink freely of it during the night; still it had no inebriating effects on me and by sunrise next morning the eruption came to the surface partially...I felt so much relieved as to astonish all my friends, and Elisha King my brother in law in particular.

In 1823, Reuben continued teaching at the Academy in Asheville. He was given a house on the grounds.

In the latter part of the summer of that year, Mr Porter closed up his classes, but having never studied English Grammar, I was greatly at a loss to manage those more advanced, but as those who had been studying grammar had passed over Orthography in a superficial way, I found it important to instruct them in that department which I found myself very capable of doing, to the entire satisfaction of my patrons. I was quite successful in my reading school and also in my singing schools. I finished the term Christmas week and commenced another session on Monday after New Years day.

The winter of 1823 / 1824 was cold and disagreeable.

Reverend Reuben: A few days after the school commenced one of my scholars,[the daughter of Brannon Patton] took sick and died. Mr Porter was now moved away [so] there was no minister at the burying. Her grandfather, Colonel James Smith, asked me to sing and pray and, if I would, make some remarks on the subject. I did so and in addressing the children there was much excitement and her grandfather was seen to shed tears freely which he had scarcely done on any occasion. I had felt for some time a powerful impression to exercise in public and this case aroused in me new convictions and as it was my first attempt I was encouraged to believe that God intended me to labor in his vineyard somewhere. As others thought so, likewise I continued to pray in public at my schools and in my family and elsewhere when called on.

It so happened that in a few months old Colonel Smith died also and among his requests to his family and friends he requested that I should perform the religious services at his grave. This was a trying time as he was a wealthy man and his relatives of the first class of the rich in that country, and he also requested to be buried with honors of war being an old Revolutionary officer. This circumstance drew together an unusually large assembly among whom there were several ministers. I tried to evade the service, but could not as it was his particular request. His children insisted in my making the attempt. I must confess that the drum and fife and solemn procession did sink my feelings very much, but before the firing of platoons commenced we were all marched around the grave in military order and I was called on to hold forth. I accordingly opened my mouth and truly God filled it with suitable words. I now suppose that I never up to this time have made a more successful effort.

I had not yet been licensed to speak in public and after all was over a brother reminded me that I was breaking the rules of the discipline. This mortified me very much, as I could not think of asking liberty to exhort for I felt no impressions to exhort, but I did to preach and I saw no chance for me to do that. So I lay still, satisfying my conscience by admonishing the youth committed to my care. I however named the matter to our preacher and he told me to go ahead when called on. I soon had to perform on occasions of death for the burying ground was near my house and almost invariably I was called on to perform the burial service.

I at length found my school to be burthamsome in my house and I purchased a farm from my brother in law Joseph W. Pharr lying near my brother Elisha in Haywood County. He had a distillery and was to pay several hundred gallons of whiskey that winter and could not give possession that year unless I would take the corn and distillery off his hands. I consented to do so and about the first of September I moved to my farm and commenced operating and preparing to make the whiskey. My brother lived within half a mile and he assisted me some and at it I went. Day and night I attended to that Devil's Tea Pot; made the whiskey, paid the debt, sold the distillery, and got out of the whole arrangement.

In 1824, Elisha Phillips moved onto a farm which had been bought by Reuben Philips. They formed a partnership by which Reuben would make money teaching and Elisha would farm. The school building Reuben was teaching in caught fire and burned to the ground, and he had to teach the scholars in his own house on the grounds.

Brother David Cummings was sent as our preacher that year from the Holston Conference and he traveled the French Broad Circuit. He soon found I was on background and learning all around his circuit the feelings of the people with me he used great efforts to get me out from the encumbrance. At length he brought me several singing schools already made up round his circuit. I was persuaded by my wife and brother to go to teaching music again. I hired a man to make my crop and I turned out to teaching. I took one at Hominy Creek, one at Mills River, one at Davidsons River, one weeks work every day singing. I took a school also at Newfound, one at Rims Creek, one at Big Ivey. This was another weeks work. I sing at all these schools one in two weeks alternately. All these schools were in Buncombe County.

On the third day of January, 1825, my wife had her third child born. We called his name Ewell Petty for one of our circuit preachers. He was a remarkably cross child and so troubled his mother that she was well nigh giving over any further business but to attend to him. Her nights were nearly sleepless, and I being gone so much, she was left with a great task, but she had her mother to help. Ruth Starrett was still with us and Jane Clark was a hireling and with us to gain her health, so my wife had company overflowing, so to speak.

Brother David B. Cummings was our circuit preacher and traveled pretty much the same route [as that] of my schools. Learning that I was very useful among the youth where ever I went in every way, he in my absence asked the society to grant me license to exhort. Accordingly on the 11th of August 1825 my license were recorded on the church book of the circuit steward and he handed them to me and told me to go on doing good and let the church feel my influence.

I could not pick any conscientious scruples about being called to work in the church in some way, but thought if I could do anything it would be to preach as I was inclined to systemize, and to order. On his next round, Brother Cummings asked the society where I lived to recommend me to the district conference to be held in East Tennessee where I might be examined and licensed if worthy of the calling.

They readily granted me a recommendation and I wound up all my schools and in company with Brother Cummings, Brother Jacob Weaver, Brother McMahon, and Brother Andrew Pickens started to the district conference to be held at Clear Creek, Green County, East Tennessee. There were a great many ministers in attendance and there were 14 candidates in the class that I was examined in, and we all passed readily except those who had slaves. There was hard debating and rough sailing before they could be licensed at all. On hearing the arguments for and against the subject of slavery, I became disgusted and moved to withdraw my application. As I had no slaves and there was no objection tome, I was persuaded to hold on. My Brethren Weaver and McMahon both had slaves and were the subject of debate. We had with us an old traveling preacher Brother Andrew Pickens, who was a member of the General Conference when the rule on slavery was adopted, so he at length settled the matter much to my notion and we were all licensed and left the meeting with good feelings.

On my way home, I called at old Brother Forsters on Turkey Creek and attended church on Sabbath and found Brother Andrew Hamil an old Presiding Elder of the South Carolina Conference who was resting to regain his health. At the close of service he appointed a meeting at old Father Silas at candle light and, said he, "Brother Philips will preach."

This was like a clap of thunder to me, having no arrangements made to preach, but not being disposed to back out, I made a choice of the Psalm " The Lord hath established his throne in the heavens and his kingdom ruleth over all." I of course made a poor sermon as the subject did not suit my congregation and but little good was done on my part, but old Brother Hastus Harrison followed with an excellent exhortation and we closed with a good meeting. I have never tried to preach from that text since.

Visit to HABERSHAM COUNTY, GA 1825

I arrived at home and found my brother (Eli A.) anxious to look for a better country. He persuaded me to accompany him to the new part of Georgia. We set out and traveled as far as the Nachoocha Valley on the Chatahoochi River in Habersham County. Here we found a man by the name of Samuel Farris who informed us that he owned a quarter of a section of land on the head of Soquee some twelve miles back that would suit our notions being in the mountains and fine range, but we could not see it as the next day was Sabbath and we wanted to return. He proposed to go with us on the next day and if we liked it we could remain until Monday. He gave us the price and payments on Saturday evening and we started back Next morning he came and we rode over the land; it being all in the woods except an Indian Hut and patch. We were much pleased with the land and the price. How to do it was the tug. There were several men along and all wicked but myself. All intended that we should draw the writing there on Sunday as it was, rather than ride 12 miles back, but I remonstrated and would return. So we went back to his house and remained until morning. I was cursed by some of the company for a Damned Methodist. This I bore. However, General Wafford applauded me for my constance. My own brother insisted to have it arranged on the land, but I arose at daybreak on Monday morning and before the family was up I had the bond and notes drawn and we all assigned them by sunrise and we returned home.

I mentioned this circumstance to show how important it is to do right, for when I moved to the place and set out an appointment to preach, Samuel Farris was with his family to hear me, and was a constant hearer and when I raised a society at Claytonsville in Rabun County where he then lived having moved from Nauchoochy, I had the pleasure of joining into the church his wife. He then told me that if I had consented to draw and sign the papers for the land that he never would have had any confidence in me as a Christian and also that the course I pursued gave him confidence so he required no security for his money not fearing that he would not get his money. His wife became a bright and constant Christian and raised a religious family. All of this as she said was from the firm stand I took on the side of God and Religion. She has since died a happy Christian and gained her reward in Heaven. Amen & Amen.

Last Years in BUNCOME COUNTY, NC 1825 - 1826

After our land trade we returned home and intended to move but times were hard and we could not sell our lands. My brother (Elisha) proposed to take the new place. I turned out to make the money by teaching. I went back to my old neighborhood on Sandymush and took a winter school, but found the young people grown up under the influence of whiskey so that I could scarcely govern them at all. In the spring I turned out to music school again. I taught nine schools that summer mostly in Buncombe County: one at Mills River; one on Davidsons River, One at Glouster, high up on the French Broad River near the Blue Ridge.

There I became acquainted with a fashionable and interesting family by the name of Pageton, all wicked, but polite and wealthy for that country. I was solicited to visit the family and as I preached every other day at the close of singing, the gentleman got to hear me at singing. I told him I would like to preach at his neighbors and his family when I visited him. He was pleased to have it so.

On my next round I went to his house four miles up the river. The evening was very inclement and when the hour for preaching came on, no person came out. I proposed to him to call his servants in as he had a goodly number and they scarcely ever heard preaching at all, and collect his family and I would try to preach to them. I felt impressed to preach. He complied rather reluctantly, as there were no neighbors in, however, he being a polite gentleman, all were seated. I took as a text Hebrews 2 verse 3, "How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation." I had unusual liberty. His lady and a servant boy were deeply convicted. She spent the night in walking the floor and wringing her hands and praying.

Next day I was to preach at the close of the school hour as was my custom. She went to the appointment; a thing not common for her to do, as she was a fashionable lady and had few associates in that country. I preached from 1 Peter chapter 4 verse 18 "If the righteous scarcely be saved etc.". This was well adapted to her situation. I did not know how deeply her heart was broken up, but saw her greatly concerned. Her husband informed me that he thought her almost deranged. I on parting with her tried to comfort her with the promises of God, but when I returned I found her at the singing, soundly converted and the servant boy. Mr. Pareton was the most thankful man I have ever seen to be a wicked man. This terminated in the salvation of the entire family with a few exceptions.

I wrote a letter to my brother-in-law, Elisha King impressing him of my contemplated move to Georgia, and as he had no family, he came to see us in September with the intention of seeing his mother safe to our new home. He and my wife went the last round with me to my singings. He was not religious but much of a gentleman and appeared to be much interested in the closing exercises of the different schools, but not convicted as he had rather settled down on the Unitarian Doctrine and rather taken with Universalism, but was very prudent and careful not to say anything offensive to myself or his sister or his mother.

HABERSHAM COUNTY, GA 1826 - 1830

As soon as possible after our return we made arrangements to move to Habersham. My brother who had always been so friendly and with whom my interest was connected so long (Elisha) made an effort to keep me from moving in that he baffled me in taking my place as we had contracted but did at last take it when he found I was resolved in moving. We had some very bad weather and on getting to our place we had some difficulty as a man had settled below me and would not suffer me to go through. I made a call on my neighbors and they gathered in and we soon dug a way around the hills to his great astonishment.

Previous to my leaving North Carolina, I had promised Thomas Stringfield, my Presiding Elder, that I would go with him and make out a circuit on missionary ground. On Wednesday I landed and on Friday up rides Brother Moses E. Kerr, the man who was sent to travel our mission. We had no house but an Indian hut with part of our plunder laying out, but my wife and brother-in-law insisted that we should go out and form the mission.

We started on Saturday morning and during the next week we formed some 18 appointments, and he went back and commenced preaching and rest. It was some four miles to the nearest preaching place and that place belonged to the Georgia Conference. I was childish enough to have a preference for the Holston Conference and altho I had my membership in the Georgia Conference, my family all joined the class at home, and we had a good society raised at my house. The Holston preachers attended to Class Meeting regularly, and the society prospered and the appointments were largely attended. My wife and mother enjoyed the meetings much to their comfort.

Soon after we settled down, I visited Clarksville, the county site, sixteen miles from home. It was a village of not many years settlement, and as new places are generally dissipated, so it was. There was no society of any kind, but a few members in the place of the Methodists, Baptists, and Presbyterians.

The Baptist had a church one mile northwest of the village and on the road I traveled. I proposed to preach on the Sabbath of my first visit and form a respectable congregation. I then proposed to preach once a month provided the citizens would see that the groceries were closed and order preserved on the days when I attended. The citizens were to turn out and bring their children and when they ceased to do this, I was to quit. So we went on. Finely all denominations and classes came to church on my appointments. I had to preach in the courthouse as there was no church in the place.

In like manner I went to Clayton, the county site of Rabun county fifteen miles Northeast of my residence and I stipulated with them in the same manner and alternated my Sabbath appointments for two Sabbaths in each month. An application was made very soon that I should preach monthly at Nacoochy where there was a good society and old Brother Jesse Richardson as supernumery preacher and a citizen. This was a feast to attend as there were no societies at either of the other villages.

I then filled the other Sabbath at Soquee near where I lived. This filled up my time.

It was soon found out that I could teach school and I called the citizens together (at their request) and we entered into an agreement to have a school five months in every year embracing the winter and fall seasons, so I could make a crop in summer.

I employed my brother in law (Elisha King) to build me a good house, kitchen, smokehouse, and stable and I hired a young man to clear the land. I went into school the first Monday in January 1827 two miles from home toward the meeting house so as to unite a part of three neighborhoods. They in a few days put up a good hewed log schoolhouse and we had a splendid school [with] some fifty scholars (some boarders) that winter. It was proposed to have a music school in the schoolhouse on Saturdays. This was largely attended and we raised a polemic [debating] society one night every week. This did extraordinarily well; we had some fine debates for a mountain county. We raised a Sabbath school in the schoolhouse and with everything I was at that house every day.

My first reading school was only for three months as it was late in beginning, but our arrangement annually was to commence the first Monday in October, which I did for many years. The noise of my schools soon got out and my manner pleased all the villages [so] that I could scarcely get to stay at home in the week for attending places where I was called upon for extreme cases.

Applications were made for music schools at Clarksville, Clayton, Nacoochy, and Mossey Creek [in the spring]. I commenced early in the month of May teaching and preaching as I formerly did in North Carolina. I went over to Tennessee Valley North Carolina and raised a school at Franklin and Clayton. This was one weeks work, and the other three schools was another weeks work and I also preached every other day at the close of school and filled all my Sabbath appointments. After preaching a funeral at Franklin, I was exceedingly troubled about preaching funerals.

I here stop to mention one occurrence, the school at Brittains. My old friend Humphrey Posey had moved to that neighborhood and his family was in school, also old Brother Stephen White a hard shell Baptist Minister had his family in school. One afternoon while singing the words of a tune newberg, there appeared some seriousness and I made some remarks concerning the verses we then repeated. While singing there was considerable weeping among the youth. I then gave a short exhortation and felt so much impressed that I proposed that if any desired that I should pray for them to manifest it by coming near me. The first was Jane White, the daughter of the old hard shell preacher. She made an attempt to come but fell prostrate on the floor and cried loudly for mercy. At least half the school came forward. I prayed and then another brother prayed, and we tried to restore the school to order but could not so we turned over school into a prayer meeting. Jane White struggled hard and at length rose shouting - happily converted. Our meeting lasted until sundown. Next day was my appointment to preach and it was like a campmeeting. The people ran together like those in Jerusalem in the day of Pentecost upon hearing of the conversion of Jane White. Here was my old brother Posey and old Brother White and two other preachers! The singing was shortened by request and I tried to preach from the text of 2 Corinthians 5:11 "Knowing the terror of the Lord we persuade men". I did not have liberty to preach but old Brother Posey being a great revivalist followed with a powerful exhortation and a great work commenced. Some dozen of my scholars were converted and many others; over fifty dated their convictions from that school ,It was thought by many that I should wear myself out that year, but I held on and with one exception there were revivals in all my schools.

My business went on finely at home. My brother-in-law built me a splendid house and I made money enough to pay him and my cropper and to clothe myself decently and some to spare. On the 22nd of July my daughter Juliann E. Philips was born. She was more feeble and puny than any other of our children, but my wife was an excellent nurse and had the assistance of her mother and Ruth Starrett. Ruth made my house her home and was an excellent girl, but sickly.

My wife's brother was also a great help to her in my absence. I was very desirous that he should be religious and I was careful to always demean myself as a Christian in his presence and had his entire confidence. He would go to church and was a great bible reader and critic. He saw how we all enjoyed ourselves and he commenced seeking Religion and being an eccentric man I could not tell how to approach him. He took a great liking to old Brother Richardson and I think by his preaching Elisha was conducted through the rocks and quicksand of Cameletism to the knowledge of atonement and sins forgiven.

I wound up all my schools in time to rest and get ready to commence my reading school on the first Monday in October. My oldest daughter Clarinda [started] school that fall. I had a splendid school and we kept up Sabbath singing and our weekly polemic. A goodly number of married men attended night school. The Soquee neighborhood was envied all over the country for their high privileges... My health was excellent and I could do a great deal at night in way of improvement. I may truly say that these were the days of my greatest enjoyment. I was able to teach a five month session without the loss of a day except Christmas day and that day old Brother Richardson came up and we had a gracious meeting.

The winter of 1827/1828 was a mild winter. Reuben Philips raised a crop and taught schools in Northern Georgia. A typical house might be in a single room, twenty eight by twenty five feet in area with no ceiling as we know it, but open to the roof above. There was a large fireplace on one end and a door on each side --no windows at all. Two bedsteads, a spinning wheel, a packing case, which served as a bureau, a cupboard made of rough-hewn slabs, two or three deer-skin seated chairs, a Connecticut clock, and a large poster of patent medicine, often constituted all the visible furniture either useful or ornamental in purpose.

Reverend Reuben. I closed my school on the last day of February 1828 and commenced for a crop. By the middle of April I had so many applications to teach music in [Hall, Franklin, and Jackson Counties] that I concluded to hire a man to make my crop and I turned out. I took a school at Shoal Creek, one at Gainesville, one at Hebron in Jackson, one at Ocona in the Presbyterian Church, [and] one at Borden Meeting House; Baptist. I was resisted by the church at first because I would preach to the youth, but a revival was commenced soon after my school was started and some thirty or forty were added to the Baptist Church at that place and a goodly number to other branches of the church. I went around to the fork in Hall County and to Couley's Meetinghouse, and to Mossy Creek. I had nine schools in operation all at once and only taught two days at each place once in three weeks and preached every other day, and filled my appointments at home all but one.

This was a great year for me in religious enjoyment. I may truly say that in all my schools there were revivals and the people flocked out by hundreds especially on the preaching day. In winding up my services that fall, there was a camp meeting appointed at a new place and I attended it. There were some 70 or 80 converted... The last night it was proposed to open the door of the church and I was appointed to do it and 68 joined the church that night and 53 of that number were my scholars! There were some complaints by other denominations that an undue advantage was taken in putting me forward as I was popular among my scholars.

This summer I earned enough money to pay up for my house and [for] clearing ten acres of good land. [I] wound up all my schools at the Presbyterian Meetinghouse, where I was succeeded by a campmeeting by the old Presbyterians. I remained and preached four times for them and trust [I] was instrumental in much good. This was the 20th of September.

I then went home and prepared to go to my annual school. I felt some worn out from the unusual labor I had done. Our own neighborhood had erected a campground and arbor on Soquee at the church and our campmeeting began on the 25th so I barely got home in time to assist my family to move to the campground... Great good was done at this meeting and I was able to commence my school on the first Monday in October.

My Brother in law, Elisha King, still lived with us and had joined the church and Ruth Starrett had long been a member so they concluded to form a matrimonial connection, and on the first of March 1829 they were married and settled within four miles of us near the campground and he became class leader.

I had closed up my winter school and prepared to make a crop myself. I only took two singing schools that I could go to on Saturday and return at night, but I had so many calls at a distance on funeral occasions and two day meetings that I had to back fires at night and hoe corn so as to keep my crop clean and gain Saturday. I made a splendid crop that summer and preached a great deal.

We had rather a poor campmeeting that fall as there were many backslidings and some difficulty in the church. I had to hire some help to gather in my crop before I could commence school, and having small grain to sow it was an unfavorable fall. All my neighbors concluded to put off the school till later and to have only a three months session that winter. It was a very hard and cold winter so our school fell far short of doing the good that was usual.

Next year I commenced my crop and had leased some land to old brother William Daniel who had boys to help him and they cleared up some fifteen acres of good land. He lived with me three years and whenever he could see my light at night he would invariably come to me and would hoe as many rows as I did, saying that he could not preach, but could help me preach in that way. I worked hard, preached hard, and lived well. I owed no man anything, loved my neighbors and brethren and had a fine time to read. I attended meetings on Sabbath [except] when I had to go off at a distance, and this was frequent. I made plenty of everything to live on, and had some money at interest.

About this time gold was discovered on Dickey Creek and the people were so aroused on the subject that many appeared to forget their religion and then only showed their unsound principles by being tempted to act mean. There were hundreds and I might say thousands flocked into the country of the wicked and low classes and our congregations changed in number and in quality so it appeared that all ministerial labor was lost. The Sabbath was violated; groceries opened all through the country; gold hunters out all week and Sabbath too. I became greatly disappointed with my situation. I however became more accustomed to the matter. I found it had been a means of drawing in many literary men and a goodly number of ministers, and in short time a discovery was made of gold in the Cherokee Nation and in Hall County, so the rabble soon left us and went in that direction and left us a better society.

Visit to MEMPHIS, TN 1830

I was called on in the fall of that year to go to Memphis, Tennessee to Collect some money that I had in suit for Dr. Askew by the foreclosure of the Equity of Redemption on a mortgage deed given by a man Hargess to said Askew for loaned money being now collected. I started on the 7th of December and was hindered by high waters and also by hunting up Alexander Starrett who lived near Troy in Obion County Western District. I had claims on him in behalf of his orphan sisters whose money he had got and used as kind brother while single but after marriage he left the country and wandered off, proved insolvent, and swindled his sisters out of their money. I found him and his family living in poverty and worse than all, no disposition to remunerate his sisters even if he had been able.

I remained one day and two nights with him and then made my way to Memphis, crossing the Obion Lake which had been made by the shaking of the earth in 1810. An eruption took place and threw up the earth across the mouth of the Obion River some 15 miles below where I crossed it. I could see the tops of the trees the water had backed over. Here I was greatly astonished at seeing the boatmen as they crossed the lake catching the flying fish by suspending a hook and line with a small bit of scarlet skimming the surface of the water. The fish would rise out of the water and take the hook; they caught numbers as we crossed. I crossed the Michigan Lake also. It was not so large. I saw a great many earth cracks occasioned by the shake above named, some so large that they had to be bridged where the road crossed them. It was strange to see the white sand thrown out on the black soil in so many places.

In traveling down the line of counties to Memphis I was so near the river I had to swim the bayous as the waters were very high. I rode all day on Christmas day being the wettest day I have ever witnessed. I however succeeded in getting to Memphis and got my money and started for home on the first day of January 1831. On my way home I came very near being drowned in Little River in the Cherokee Nation. I swam it after night and was washed below the ford but miraculously escaped. Before going into the water I tied all my money in my handkerchief and around my neck so that if I was drowned it might be found on my person. Through great mercy I got home safe, found all well, and though I lost my school that winter I made $150 by the trip and prepared for a crop.

Life in HABERSHAM COUNTY, GA 1831 - 1836

On the same day I left Memphis for home, being the first day of January, 1831. My wife had a fine son born. We called his name Lafayette. This year I worked on my farm and made a fine crop, had everything in plenty, and time to read and go to meeting. I commenced school in October and my school was so large that I had to employ an assistant. I procured the services of Carter Jackson an old experienced teacher, and we taught a splendid school. My boarders came from the village. In the spring I quit teaching and left the school to him as many boys had to quit to go to work. I made a crop and improved my farm and enjoyed myself better than usual. I was still out of debt and lived quite happily. I taught a four months school with Carter Jackson during that winter and then abandoned the school and made a crop.

I had in the month of August, 1832, been ordained deacon by Bishop Hedding in the city of Augusta. I was out of debt and had many friends and few enemies.

My Brother Hiram B. Philips visited me from North Carolina and persuaded me to unite with him in purchasing a store three miles below that had been carried on for some two years by Richard L. Powell, and Powell kept spirits to sell and did our community much evil. My brother expressed great desire to live near me and ... pledged himself to be a temperate man. I refused time after time, not wishing to engage in any speculation that would involve me with the world. He then commenced with my wife and so impressed her mind with the prosperity of my joining him and we could put down a grocery and do well. He was to manage the whole concern and not trouble me with it. I at length consented (a fatal day and deed for me) on the 19th day of December 1832.

Soon my brother proved treacherous, involving me greatly in debt and I was soon broken up and my religious enjoyments ruined. He became my enemy and continued to dissipate. At length he married a Miss Nancy Vaughn of Clarksville; threw the whole concern on my hands with heavy debts hanging over it and moved to Clarksville and commenced the practice of medicine. I purchased at a dear rate his interest and went behind the counter myself. My friends then came to my rescue; gave me their patronage until I sold out the entire stock, but before I could do this effectively I had to replenish with a few salable goods which caused me to create more debts, and the debts created before I took it into my possession amounted to something over four thousand dollars and [of] the debtors to the concern, large numbers were unable to pay money and many were insolvent. In winding up I found myself involved in an amount that I could not pay without selling lands. Although my land was of a superior quality, yet it lay in the mountains and so out of the way of trade that I could not sell to profit. I however managed to pay all but two thousand dollars and I knew I would have to sacrifice my farm to pay that.

During the winter of 1833 my mother visited me and spent the winter with me. Most of the time she remained with me at the store as my family was at the farm. While she remained on the 13th of November the day was exceedingly clear and calm and the sky was uncommonly dark and blue. The weather was a little cold as there was some snow still lying in places. About 3 O' clock in the morning I rose from my bed to attend to one of the little boys who was disturbed in sleep and on opening the door I saw an unusual appearance in the heavens, like stars shooting in every direction. I awoke my mother and children that were with me. We were much astonished at the wonderful sight and altho the meteors appeared to be within the atmosphere of the earth when they exploded or disappeared there was no noise to be heard. I remained up until daylight and the number greatly increased and also in magnitude. The whole canopy appeared in wild confusion and even after the sun had risen large meteors could be seen descending to the earth in a miraculous manner.

Many people came to see me before daylight and inquired of me what these things meant. I was myself at a loss to account for the unusual phenomena, but inasmuch as there was great uneasiness among all classes, I appointed to preach that night at our church and we had a truly exciting time. A great number came to the mourners bench that had never been concerned about religion before. Some continued to seek religion until they obtained it. Others as soon as the panic wore off returned to drinking, swearing, and to dancing again.

I remained at the store all the winter and in the month of March I moved my family down near the store, leaving young William Daniel to carry on my crop and take care of my house and what furniture we had left.

1834 was a severe winter. There was a spell of very cold weather in February and there was an early frost in September. It continued cold into January and February of 1835, with temperatures below zero.

On April 4, 1834 Virgil Philips was born to Reuben and Elizabeth Philips. Reuben took his mother Hannah home and never saw her again.

This year was attended with some difficulty as I was absent from my farm and had a heavy crop of small grain and corn. While harvesting my small grain I super-intended it myself and we had a great deal of grain exposed to heavy rain and I so exerted myself as to inflame my liver which brought on acute inflammation and I barely succeeded by powerful means to reduce the inflammation so as to live at all. The disease at length assumed a chronic form and continued threatening for two years.

In the late fall, I sold out all my goods that could be sold without replenishing. I sold the whole concern to R.S. Powell, received a credit on my note from him and I went home again to my farm. I hired four men to assist me in my next crop as I had a great deal of cleared land and my own boys [to work]. We made nearly three thousand bushels of corn and small grain. In proportion my stock greatly increased so that I sold in the fall and winter two hundred dollars worth of beef cattle, three hundred dollars worth of hogs, and some sheep. The whole amounted to nearly $1000.

My corn was greatly injured by an uncommon early and hard frost that came the 18th of September; killed vegetation, and so injured my late corn that I lost a great deal, but still had a quantity to sell as the frost had ruined the country [below] so much more than it did me as I lived high up in the mountains. I held up my corn until spring and learned that the Cherokee Indians were perishing for [want of] bread. I sent word to them and they came by hundreds and carried off my corn and paid me cash except for a few charity cases. This relieved me very much and I was enabled to pay a good deal of my debts.

I lived at home the ensuing year and made a crop, and in the fall of that year the Georgia annual conference proposed a rule that every county in the state should be a circuit, and that they would send a preacher to every county who should take charge of appointments and then add as many others as he could find suitable places to establish preaching. I was then recording steward, and urged our preacher, David Bauloo to go out and serve the Curry Lee Mountain people, but he refused. At the first quarterly meeting I entered a complaint and they handled him quite roughly, but he would not go out after any more work.

Brother Isaac Boring was then our presiding Elder and he was deeply impressed to have our preacher go among them. I told the conference that I had been among them the two years I taught music in the counties below and knew them to be approachable. After the meeting closed our Elder urged me with every consideration to take the county into my hands and that he would assist me all he could.

So we settled the matter and on Christmas Day, 1836 I commenced the work. I visited and preached at the different precincts of Habersham County and at the first quarter meeting I had formed twenty six new preaching places. My Elder was astonished to hear that none of those appointing were within seven miles of each other. I was measurably released from the old appointments for the next Quarter and the local preachers agreed to fill them. I preached every day and sometimes two or three times a day so as to go round every three weeks. After the second quarter meeting I went around once in four weeks. I still had no rest days but two and those I filled up in teaching two singing schools every round a day at each place. This injured my lungs as the youth of the country had never been taught music and parents and children all attended.

This quarter my congregation so increased as to make it necessary for me to preach the most of the time in the woods, as there were no churches but three in the bounds, two Baptist and one old Methodist church house long abandoned. I commenced reading the discipline and found the people of the area so much pleased to find our doctrine so different from what they had been told by the Baptist and others. I also distributed gratuitous a number of disciplines and tracts so the prejudices of the people gave way to a great extent and I commenced opening the door of the church for old members where there were any and many joined, I now think about fifty that Quarter! While I went around and returned to the place appointed, I found great exertions had been made. They had built a very good house and I received into the church on probation that day seventeen members!

I had joined into church some hundred members by the third quarterly meeting and my Presiding Elder was so astonished at my success expressed a great desire to see that section of the country and the people. He instructed me to make known to my congregations that he would be with me on my last round before the fourth quarterly meeting which was to be in early September. During this time, my congregations increased so as to make it necessary for me to preach out in the woods at more than half the places.

The people also finding that I was the old music teacher that had taught below some years before pressed upon me to take up schools as there had never been any schools in that part of the country. I consented and on every round I sung two days one at each school and preached at the close of singing. This called out the people to an astonishing number and was the cause of may coming out to hear preaching that never would otherwise.

In 1837 there was a depression in those days called a panic. Teachers might earn from twenty to fifty dollars in a three month term, but the pay was often in trade - meat, corn, oats, potatoes, homespun yarn, home woven rag carpet, furs, horse shoeing, tire setting, hauling, labor, clearing, plowing, hoeing, wood chopping, fence building, or other services.

There were as yet, no sawmills nearby, and sawed lumber was not available. The floor of the little church was made of split logs, hewed and finished with the broadaxe. Seats were backless benches. The pulpit board was split out with wedges and a heavy hammer and roughly dressed with a jack-plane.

Most likely there were two doors, one for the men and boys and one for the women and girls. Seats were also segregated, females on one side and males on the other with a gallery for the slaves. In winter it was cold, as no stove was allowed. No matter how bad the weather, the preacher would always come, even if he had to walk when his horse was sick.

Reverend Reuben. I now became anxious to know the results of my preaching. I read our doctrine and rules all round and commented on them and opened the door of the church at all the places advising all to wait until they were fully convinced and satisfied with our doctrines and discipline. I invariably opened the doors of the church every round and before my Presiding Elder came I joined some 200 members on probation.

The last round before the last quarterly meeting the Presiding Elder came and preached every day for two weeks with increased interest and we joined that round into the church thirty five members; he having to preach out of doors most of the time came near wearing himself out.

At length we reached Clarksville, the place for the last quarterly meeting. I preached four sermons during this meeting as it was protracted until Wednesday night. Old Colonel Brannon joined the church at this meeting and several other prominent citizens in the village. Brother Boring, My Elder and I became fast friends, which friend-ship lasted until his death.

I rode to Claytonville in Rabun County and preached at night. I was on my way to preach the funeral of Sister Polly Henly who was an old scholar of mine when a child and to whom I imparted the first knowledge of the alphabet and all she ever learned in the neighborhood of Newfound Creek. She was the youngest daughter of old brother and sister Silas and when grown up she married Brother John S. Henly a traveling preacher of the Holston Conference and had located and moved to Clayton and while there she died and all of her relatives lived in North Carolina. A stand was erected and seats prepared and such a congregation met as had never been seen in that part of the country.

Leaving HABERSHAM COUNTY, GA 1837 - 1838
The wind rose from the north west and it continued to get colder and the place selected was in a low gap of the Blue Ridge. I was somewhat worn out in my lungs from excessive preaching. I found it difficult to preach, but could not disappoint as many had come from a great distance. I proceeded to preach. I must confess I could scarcely go through. The wind blew so as to make me hoarse and I only preached one hour and was followed by a brother Roan. After dismissal I rode home 25 miles and was late in the night getting home; cold and sick. My expectoration was streaked with blood, but having to preach at Nauchoochy church that day I set up and preached to a fine congregation which turned out to be the last sermon I ever preached to them or at that place!

I rode next day to Dickeys Creek Church and preached and baptized some adults and children. This was Wednesday and my lungs still pained me very much. I next day rode to Dalonaga and preached at night to a large congregation. I was accompanied next day to a camp-meeting near Knucklesville by two persons. I was called on to preach that night. I did so and called for mourners and both my traveling companions came forward. In the act of kneeling down, he professed religion. He was a physician, and he shouted and praised God and the people seeing him so happy they ran together in wild confusion and he exhorted his village companions and we prayed promiscuously. I must confess I never wanted physical strength more in all my life.

Next morning I was scarcely able to be up, having hot flashes followed by chills which threatened me with inflammation. I remained however during the meeting and did all I could. On Thursday I left and took up my appointments. Having to preach two funerals that week, I found that I should sink under it as Sabbath the sixth was quite wet and I exposed to the rain. I at night rested but little. My disease grew worse on Monday. I tried to preach in an open house and did myself much harm. Tuesday I preached a funeral of a good sister in high standing and it was largely attended.

At night I rolled over and over with hot flashes and profuse sweating followed by cold chills and bloody expectoration. This was the trying moment with me. I found I must die or stop and my last appointments ahead of me were interesting,... but my friends told me to go home. This was the ninth of October, having preached on the eighth my last sermon. I turned my face for home and arrived at Clarksville that night, having rode 35 miles. I lodged with Judge Trippe that night and sent for Doctor Rusk. He came and after examining me pronounced it fatigue! Next day my old friend Dr. George D. Philips hearing of my situation called on me and pronounced me in a dangerous situation; sent for a carriage and took me to his residence, one mile from town. That night he bled me four times and covered my breast with ointment; tarter emetic. I remained there one week. My wife hearing of my condition came to see me and finding me so very sick was much troubled. The doctor told her that my lungs were inflamed, I had inflammatory bronchitis and only one chance in a hundred to live at all.

This alarmed my wife very much. I was not alarmed but with the assistance of the Doctor recounted my work from Christmas up to the eighth of October and found I preached 300 sermons, taught two singing schools and scarcely rested any. Using his own words: "My God this would kill any man!" I made my way home and carried with me medicine. I lived sixteen miles Northwest on Soquee River. I discontinued all operations and commenced battling with my disease and found it inveterate and almost unyielding, but counterirritants, blistering etc did me much good.

In the meantime my physicians advised me to go south. I exchanged my land with Brother John L. Richardson taking one thousand dollars worth of land in Alabama [on a claim from Doctor James Simmons]. I strove hard, sold off and gave away all my plunder, bought a wagon with four good oxen, filled in what I could of our most valuable furniture, and with two fine brood mares and one Indian pony , we started on the 12th of January 1838.

My oldest son Elisha was a good driver. I lay in the wagon most of the way and we on the 29th reached the Hillabees where I stopped a day or two and then proceeded to Doctor Simmons where I was to have land. The Doctor proposed to me his place including his buildings and 120 acres of land some 40 acres cleared. We agreed on the price at 800 dollars but I could not get possession until after another year. I was compelled to live in a hut a few hundred yards from the Doctors family. I got however land for my boys to tend and we made our bread.

The fatigue of traveling and the excitement so relapsed me that I was confined to my bed most of the time until August. Doctor Simmons kept me on a weak diet of rice. I was constantly expectorating and at length became so weak as to scarcely be able to stand alone. At one time I supposed the time of my departure was at hand. My ears were roaring and ringing and my pulse down to 30 to the minute. I felt cold on my hands and up to my knees. All thought I was dying. I felt resigned to death but I regretted having to leave my family among strangers.

Doctor Simmons was sent for and he pronounced me to be dying. I was in my senses perfectly and on seeing a string filled with pods of red peppers I advised my wife to boil it quickly and rub me with it. This she did and applied French brandy without and very soon a circulation was restored to the astonishment of all who saw me. I then determined to eat whatever I wanted as I had a good appetite and digestion and was hungry all the time.

CLAY COUNTY, AL 1838 - 1844

I preached or lectured every Sabbath when no other minister visited us, and our school increased. At the commencing of the new year 1839 we had sixty souls living on the campground. The church stood in the center and the families lived in their tents on the lines. We all met every night and morning in the church for prayers.

Cotton at Wetumpka was worth from 11 to 14 cents; bagging 22 to 24; hams 15 to 18 3/4; sides 14, shoulders 11; nails 9 to 10; butter 37 ½; corn .75 to 1.00; coffee 16; molasses, 45 to 50; rice 8; sugar 9 to 10; whiskey 60 to 65.

In 1840 Reuben Philips taught school at Bethel in Alabama.

Reverend Reuben: This summer my boys and Franklin Stephens made a crop. Elisha appeared discontented having determined to be a scholar. Ewell was careless about school. In the month of November I went back to Habersham Georgia and found my brother in law Elisha King and [my son in law] A.S. Dorsey disposed to move. I made arrangements with them and brought them home with me. I settled A. S. Dorsey on 80 acres of land and rented the most of my farm to Elisha King for the coming year. He moved November 29, 1840. I also made arrangements for Mr. Diliach the Frenchman to move with me to my neighborhood. He married Elisha Kings Wife's Sister [Polly Starrett]. We all came on together and he settled near the schoolhouse on 40 acres of land where he continued until his death.

I opened my school early in the year of 1841. All my children went to school. Jane Simmons assisted me in the Grammar classes and we opened our Sunday school. I preached a great deal that year and our church and school done well. We had some revival of religion and our church soon numbered sixty members.

On February 27, 1841 Reuben and Elizabeth's son Lafayette died.

Reverend Reuben: My long session closed the last of July. The people of Hatchet Creek came in the form of a committee to see whether I would come and teach one session for them again. The people of Hillabees consented and I went with part of my family and lived in my tent. I left my wife and brother in law and commenced August first at Mizion.

The following transcript was entered in a bible presented to Elisha Philips by his father Reverend Reuben Philips:

In 1842, Reuben was Postmaster at Hillabee, Alabama. His son Elisha went to school below Tuskega. Reuben was Ordained Elder in the Methodist Church this year.

It took a strong person to be a preacher in those days. Not only did the early day circuit riders make several appointments across the area, but sermons were often prolonged, lasting two to four hours, with other preachers often preaching another hour to fill in. The children were kept quiet, but the women often shouted.

The service would break for the noon meal in the early afternoon, and a big meal was prepared on the grounds of the church. Typical fare might include fried chicken, smoked or salt cured ham, fish soaked in brine, boiled eggs, steak, corn bread, biscuits, homemade bread, beans, peas, melon, and other fruits and vegetables with tarts, pies, and cakes for dessert. After the meal, the horses were fed with feed brought in the wagons.

After church, the boys would take the girls out in the buckboard courting. Holding hands and kissing was not encouraged, since it might lead to further intimacy.

Reverend Reuben: About the 15th of February 1842 ... Judge Tarrent [from Mardesville] rode up to my house [and] told me [he wanted me to go] to Mardesville to take the Female school. He remained all night and [we] concluded it would be best for me to go. [I] commenced school in the Presbyterian Church near the public square on the 28th day of March 1842 with 48 scholars. I had to have my son Ewell and daughter Julian to assist me. [by] the ...second month we had 68 in school and all did well.

I closed this scholastic year the 15th of November and had time to attend my Hillabee farm and all my business so as to open school on the 23rd of January 1843 in the Male Academy near Mardesville. We intended to have a male school but all wanted to send their daughters and I by general consent received all . I had 78 students and with Mrs Hardy in the Sunday school we went on harmoniously and I preached a great deal that year.

Snow fell to the depth of several inches on the 23rd of March 1843, and it was cold for some time. This snow was extensive extending from Alabama into South Carolina.

In Alabama the newspaper Argus complained during part of this year about the scarcity of chickens, and the high price $2.50 per dozen. Turkeys both wild and tame were both plentiful and cheap ranging from 37 ½ to 75 cents. Fish were abundant and cheap, the traps doing well.

Turkey traps were built in the following manner: Pens made of rails and covered with a hole under the bottom rail of one side from the outside reaching to the inside were built. The trench leading in was covered on the inside by something such as boards or heavy sticks for some distance in, and the pen was baited with corn or other grain, and so was the trench leading into it. The turkeys that entered could not get out and would travel around the pen rails and not see the escape trench which they were walking over.

Reuben and Elizabeth Philips' daughter Juliann was married to Robert Hendrix in 1843.

Reverend Reuben: My son Elisha who had been going to school in Macon County came home and went to school to Mr. Finn. On the 4th Sunday in October I preached at the campmeeting at Hatchet Creek and it was cold weather. While I was preaching I felt something break near my heart and I suffered great pain. There appeared to be a collection of water in the pericardium. I was only able to get home and was confined. Doctors Watkins, Poe, and McKenzie all advised me to stop all public exercises and I sent for Elisha to finish my term. [After] two weeks he took a school for himself. I took medicine and was fortunate to recover my health so as to ride about.

Hiram Philips found Reuben a teaching position in Jefferson County, Alabama in Jones Valley in 1844.

Reverend Reuben: We landed at Brother Greens the sixth and found no house to go into and the school not ready, but a meeting was called and the house put in order and I commenced teaching on the second day of February 1844. I sent an appointment to Elyton at Colonel McAdories request [on the 25th] of February. I preached to a large congregation. My school increased to 45 and we had regular reviews once in every five weeks.

Brothers Green and Burwell ... proposed that I should preach a sermon on temperance. I proposed ... offering a pledge that day, but was opposed by Brother Green. I persisted and preached a sermon [to] a large congregation and joined thirty to the pledge, but Brother Green never joined. We went on until most of the youth had joined. We succeeded in forming societies at Cahawly Church, Hagood, Ruhamy, Bethel and finally at Elyton. Many persons who formerly drank to excess were influenced to forsake it entirely.

BLOUNT COUNTY, AL 1845 - 1847

As I could not support my family I concluded to visit Blountsville and on doing so I made a good school in the village and returned to Elyton and bought John at sale for $515. My wife, Virgil, and myself started to Elisha Kings in Coosa County and I preached at Ruth King's funeral on the ninth of November and returned home and moved to Blountsville and opened school on the 29th of December 1845 in an old log house.

School houses were built to face south so the door could stand open in fair winter weather and let the sunlight in. In winter there would occasionally be a wood cutting bee for the school. Older children were sent after water with a bucket and when they returned , younger ones would pass around the dipper. If the lintel caught fire, water was thrown on it. The teacher often had to whittle pens for his pupils from goose feathers.

My school so increased that at the close of the first session the people raised a subscription of $1100 and old Brother Hendrick undertook the building of a new academy and put my school in the Methodist Episcopal Church until the new house was finished.

Brother Thomas became my assistant and in three months we were put in possession of the new Academy. This was in the summer of 1846 and in the month of August my beloved wife was taken with Typhoid Fever and died August 26th. This event so affected me and disorganized my school that I dismissed the school to the care of my son Elisha for a time.

December the first 1847 I left, intending to spend the winter in South Florida, but on coming to Brother Greens, he and I in consultation concluded it best for me to call on the Widow [Caroline Owen] Sadler and propose a matrimonial connection. We were [married] on the 7th of December 1847.

LEE and SHELBY COUNTIES, AL 1847 - 1871

In 1848, Reuben had a slave John who he sold to his wife and no longer personally owned slaves.

In 1853, Reuben Philips moved to Salem, Lee County, Alabama where he became Superintendent of the Female Academy.

In 1857, overseer John Fields was dismissed and Reuben oversaw the hands which he continued doing on his wife's plantation in 1858. They had lost money in the Salem venture, but were still doing alright. In 1859, Reuben spent time in Jefferson County at Elyton where he conducted the service of Marriage for John M. Thomas and Margaret Emmaline Horton.

Reuben and Caroline employed Brother John Thompson as Overseer on the plantation in 1860. In 1861 Reuben visited his daughter Julian in Louisiana.

In 1862, Reuben made a trip to St. Andrews Bay to make salt, but could not make any because the "Yankees were there".

In 1865, Reuben Philips was living at Columbiana, Alabama and teaching school. The war had caused Reuben Philips to become poor. Yet, he had his farm, so he was not without food. He raised livestock, and likely hunted deer and wild hogs in the woods. It is likely that he raised bees. Watermelons were an important crop in Alabama, and Sweet Potatoes were soon profitable. Corn provided the most important food for man and beast.

At the close of the civil war the common cattle were Shorthorns and Devons. Ayershire and Jersey were being added. Hogs were Chester White, Berkshire, Jersey Red, Essex, and Irish Grazier(Now called Poland China).

In March 1866 Sweet Potatoes sold for $3 per bushel in Montgomery.

Diary of Reverend REUBEN PHILIPS 1871 - 1872

Monday night 26th June [1871]. Arrived at Meridian 10 O clock at night. Arrived at Columbiana Wednesday 28th 2 O clock. Left Columbiana Thursday 29th. Met Jasper McAdory at Childersburg. June 30 we got to Jaspers at 2 O clock. We were quite weary.

Sunday July 9th I superintended the Sabbath school. Monday 10th very warm. I am in unusual good health.

Friday 14 heard Robert Nabors preach. I gave an exhortation and called for mourners. Sat. 15 I conducted the prayer meeting and preached at night. Sun. 23 I preached at Andrew Chapel with ease to myself. Sun 30 I rode 8 miles and preached at Sears Chapel.

August 1 I visited four families. Wed 2 went back to Sears Chapel preached one hour to a large congregation. Friday 4th I rode 8 miles on my way to Qr. meeting at Sylacogga. Sat 5 I arrived at Qr. Meeting. Heard the Elder Preach. I preached at night. Mn 7th I preached at 11 O clock. Heard Bro. Self at night. Tuesday 8th I preached at 11 O clock. I got home in afternoon. Rested well. Found all well but mother. She was again troubled with distressing symptoms in her esophagus. Thursday 10 I visited our community in preparing the Andrew Chapel church for our protracted meeting to commence. Friday night 11th I preached the first sermon . [ he preached daily for about the next week] Sat. 19th I preached at 11 AM and baptized 5 persons ... and received 11 members into the fellowship of the church, our preacher being absent. Brother Stewart preached at night and we closed up the meeting. Sunday August 27 I preached at Andrews Chapel and baptized Dr. Hindmans wife by immersion and two ladies by pouring and received 9 members into fellowship our preacher being absent.

Saturday September 2, 1871 - (at Rehobeth) preached and baptized Esquire Green and two young men and received them into the church. Sun 3rd I attended Sabbath school; baptized one infant. I am still sick from a cold I suppose from going into the water. Saturday (9th) I rode across Hatchett Creek to an old church to assist Brother Archy Kelly in his protracted meeting. I preached at 11 AM and returned home. Sunday 10 I heard the bible class in Sabbath school at Andrews Chapel and heard Brother Elbert Smith from Tuskega preach. Tuesday 12th I rode across the Coosa Hills 8 miles to assist Brother Rowland in his protracted Meeting. Took part in the exercises of the morning and night. Wednesday 13th I preached a long sermon and rode home in the rain. Sunday 17 I heard the bible class and also heard Brother Rowland preach a good sermon. Sunday 24 I attended Sabbath school Heard Brother W.L. Smith preach. Friday 29 Jasper and Eliza, Mary Miles, Brother and Sister Garnett packed up and started in their wagons. I rode on a mule. Saturday 30 We arrived [at the campmeeting on Hillabee Creek]. I preached at 11 O clock to a large congregation.

Sunday October 1 I preached again at 11 O clock A.M. Monday 2 - We started home. We had only cloth tents and it looked like rain. Friday (6) Myself and mother started in a buggy to visit T.W. Sadler. Got 25 miles making coffee on the road for dinner. I got my hand badly burned so mother drove. We staid all night with Mrs. Lawson received kind treatment and no bill to pay. Sat. 7 we arrived at T. W. Sadlers at night. Rested Well. Sunday 8 I went to Sabbath school to hear Brother Woodward preach, but preached myself at 11 O clock and heard Woodard at night. Saturday 14 Quarterly Meeting at Prattville. Sunday 15 - I went to Sabbath School. heard Dr. Mitchell preach and administer sacrament. Monday 16 I am at T.W. Sadlers all day and glad that they want family prayers attended to nearly all the time. Tuesday 17 - I wrote to Elisha Philips, P.J. McAdory, Flem(ing) Jordan & W.G. Cannon. Wed. 18 Our Mule ran away. Little Ollie followed it twenty miles but failed to get it. Friday 20th. I started after our mule. Went to Wetumka. Heard of him going up the river. I stayed all night at Billie Thomas. Sat. 21. I met a man riding my mule and he gave him up. Sunday 22 I preached at Prattville to a large congregation. Wed. 25. Brother Hazen furnished me with Darwin's book. I read it and disliked it very much. Sat 28th. I am at Toms all day reading Darwin's book.

Friday November 3, 1871 I am helping little Allie dig potatoes. Wed. 8 - wrote to Zac Hendrick, H. Jordan and Mollie. Friday 10th - I weighed cotton all day for Jasper. Sunday 12 Preached at Sears Chapel. Tuesday 16 I wrote to Penn Smith. Friday 17 White frost and ice. Saturday 18 I wrote to Ewell. Sunday 19 I preached to St. Andrew Chapel to 11 persons. Wed. 22 went and opened the mail. Sent letters to Brother Wetson, Bruce Harry, W.J. Cannon. Thursday 30 Brother Rowland and myself went to Thanksgiving. I preached and he gave a splendid lecture.

Monday December 4 This is my birthday. I enter into my 77th year. Wed. 7th Got letter informing us of W.G. Cannons great loss by fire. Sunday 10 A cold morning. I went to church and preached in Brother Stewards place as he failed to come. Women came to make preparations for a Christmas tree. Tuesday 19th. I was weighing cotton. A plank fell with a nail; struck my forehead; came near splitting my skull. Monday 25th We had a beautiful Christmas Tree. I addressed the people 40 minutes. Everybody pleased as the tree was in honor of our Sabbath school. Wed. 27 I am trapping for rats, being much troubled with them. Sat 30 I caught 5 rats last night. Sunday 31 I rode to Flint Hill 8 miles and preached in the place of a new preacher who failed to come.

Saturday 6, 1872 I caught 4 rats last night and one large mink. Sunday 7 - Professor Walker here. Sunday 14 - I preached for Brother Stewart. He failed to come. Sunday 21 - Brother Patillo preached his first sermon; a good sermon. Monday 22 I am at the Vincent place teaching Willie and superintending the work. Thursday 30th. We are at the Vincent place part of the day but could not work.

March 1, 1872 I planted two acres in corn. Thursday 7th We planted Irish potatoes. Saturday 9th Pretty day. Mother came and we planted peas and other garden seed. Sunday 10 I organized Andrew Chapel Sabbath School and preached on that subject. Tuesday 12 - I made a Bee Bench at the Vincent place. Bought two stands at $2.50 each; put them up. Friday 15 - Hens are scratching up things. Sunday 17th Brother Bell preached and administered the sacrament. Tuesday 19 I am all day in bed; high fever. Sunday 24 - I ventured to go to the Sabbath School as superintendent, but had to return before preaching much to my mortification being the first time in my life that I can remember. Tuesday 26 we moved part of our things to the Vincent place. Sunday 31 - I went to Sabbath School and gave a long lecture and gave directions for the teachers how to use the uniform lessons and magazine.

Tuesday April 2 - This is little Willie Curtis Cannon's birthday being two years old. He is having chills every third day. Wednesday 3rd - Mollie Cannon is very sick. Sunday 7 Jasper went for Dr. Baker for Mollie; failed to get him and Dr. Mathews arrived. At half past six O clock Mollie was delivered of a boy child all perfect. The child only lived five hours. Tuesday 9th I am going a-fishing in Hatchett Creek but caught nothing. Sunday 14 Eliza very sick. I bled her until she was sick. Monday 15 We sent for Dr. Baker. Mollies pulse sank down to 30 per minute. Tuesday 16 - Drew a blister on Mollie and she had never had a blister and could scarcely bear it. Sunday 21 - Eliza Worse, Mollie Better. Mother and I walked one mile to see Eliza. She is very sick. Monday 22 Eliza still very sick and Mollie also. Dr. Baker came to see Eliza and thinks she has measles. We all feel relieved. Sunday 28th. No preaching or Sabbath school. The people fearing the measles. Eliza much improved.

Wednesday May first - I got into a buggy and went eight miles. Got a girl to come live with me to do any task and we are all so far well pleased.

COOSA COUNTY, AL 1871 - 1887

In 1871 Reuben Philips was preaching in and around Coosa County, Alabama. The fire at Artesia caused William and Mollie Cannon to sell out.

In 1874, Reuben and Caroline lived with Jasper McAdory in Coosa County.

The physical features of Coosa County differ very much in different parts. Wetumpka lies on the floodplain of the Coosa River from which a high range of hills rises. These hills are rugged, nearly mountain-like, covered with trees and make a beautiful background for the town. This range of hills extends from Wetumpka to the Tallapoosa River though not so steep, and nowhere else so rocky. These hills have furnished a fine quantity of trees for lumber. The forests have been extensively logged and the logs floated across the Coosa to large sawmills. Pine was common in the eastern parts of the county with oak and hickory more abundant to the north. At Hanover, vegetation included long-needled pine, sweet gum, tuliptree, sumac, elderberry, sourwood, dogwood, and a variety of brambly berryvines.

To the north of this range of hills, and from a line nearly east and north of Wetumpka there is a gently rolling section of country, which at times is almost level. The soil here is light and sandy, with streaks of gravel. Some places it has a good loamy subsoil. All this was once covered with a fine pine forest. There is still a good deal of timber, but now it is second and third growth forest, overgrown with vines and bushes. There are many branches and small creeks of pretty clear water rippling over pebbly beds. Springs full of cattail abound along the streams, and their borders are rather marshy, heavily fringed with red bay, magnolia, laurel, gums, poplar, beech, water and post oaks, and with rich evergreen vines, passionvine, muscadine, and other creepers. In the spring many trees and shrubs are laden with blossoms that fill the air with fragrance, and are beautiful to look upon. In the dry seasons the water in the streams nearly dries up, leaving the bare sandy bottom open to lizards and snakes.

From this belt the surface becomes more broken, gradually the hills become steeper until in the northern part of the county and especially between Hatchett and Weogufka creeks they rise almost to the proportions of mountains. The soil is more varied in this portion, being generally more free from sand and of a darker gray color with a clay subsoil. There are streaks of red and brown soil, with occasional pieces of sandy pine land. This whole region has more or less rock, flint, granite, slate, and dark gray stones. The eastern part of the county is not so broken, and is more productive. Along the streams are some very rich bottoms and among the mountains are some very rich coves. The north sides of the steep hills are usually richer than the south sides. Streams are numerous and constant, fed by springs of water so cool that ice is not needed in summer to make them refreshing. The wells also of this section are likewise abundant in delightfully cold water.

Some of the rock is utilized in making fences, building chimneys, and sometimes houses, and is easily put into shape for use. These rocks render cultivation more difficult, and make the roads rougher, and more unpleasant in traveling. In this upper part of the country there was much very fine pine timber, but there was shortleaf pine in parts, and more oak of different varieties with hickory, poplar, beech, chestnut, walnut, and other varieties of hardwoods.

West of Hatchett Creek there is a country less broken, and the soil is good. Much of the soil is red and fine for apples and other fruits and grapes. Apples and peaches grew near Weogufka.

The cane which at first grew so profusely along the stream, and in many places on the uplands also, eventually died out, killed by the pigs and other livestock of the settlers. Up to the fifties, the settlers used to keep up the practice of burning off the woods in the spring... Keeping down the underbrush made it easy to ride through the woods and to see game or cattle at a distance.

Game was very abundant, both large and small, and the early settlers were able to keep their tables well supplied with the meat of bear, deer, and turkey. As late as in the fifties [1850s] deer were still right common and ever now and then, in the northwestern part, a hunter got a deer. Wild turkeys were sometimes common. Perhaps no part of the state had a better supply of fine timber both of the yellow pine and also hardwoods.

Reuben and Caroline were still living at the McAdory's home in Coosa County, Alabama in 1880.

Virgil Philips had served gallantly in the War of the Rebellion, but now, like many Vietnam veterans, he could no longer function well in society. At the time this condition was not known as an illness, and caused his father Reuben considerable grief.

This Post-traumatic Stress syndrome is treatable today, but it must have been much worse after such a terrible war as this had been, especially so since it was not known to be a psychological condition. We do not know the end of this story, nor what happened eventually to Virgil.

In 1881, Reuben was still preaching occasionally, and was writing his autobiography for his daughter Mollie Cannon.

Reuben's wife Caroline died February 14, 1884.

Reverend Reuben Philips died February 12, 1887 at Hanover, Coosa County, Alabama at age 91.

IN MEMORY OF ... 1887

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