Chapter Twenty Two

March 23, 1939

Mr. Baxter Long lived near the old Piney Mountain road and near Brittain church. When Mr. Long was a young man he went to California during the gold rush in that section of the nation, and was in the mining business for sometime, I don’t know how long he stayed in that country. At any rate he returned to North Carolina (just like nearly every body else who leaves the state) and married a Miss Long and settled down on the farm on Cane Creek. He was a hard-working man and was among the best citizens of the county. He was a very successful farmer and was noted for his honesty.

He lay two days on the battlefield before he was moved and was thought to be dead.Mr. Long was wounded during the War Between the States. He was shot through the head, the ball striking him center in the eye and came out at the back of his head. He lay two days on the battlefield before he was moved and was thought to be dead. But some soldiers passed by and saw him still alive and made the remark, “Why, here lies Long still alive,” and Mr. Long said “Yes, I don’t aim to die if I can get some help.” He was then carried to the hospital and recovered and lived to be about eighty five years of age.

We now cross Cane Creek. Mr. Joe Hampton lived just on the east side of the creek, and was a prominent citizen and made his living by farming. Mr. Jeff Hampton lived just on the west side of Cane Creek. He was a twin brother of Joe, mentioned above. He was a man that had lots of friends and everyone liked him. He always seemed to be in a good humor and friendly to all and appeared to enjoy life. I never saw him when he seemed to be “blue” about anything.

The next place of note on this old road was Logan’s Store post office, where Henry Carson now lives. At this place is held the elections for Logan Store township. I cast my first ballot at this voting precinct, in the year 1890. Then in 1892 I cast a vote for prohibition and I have voted for prohibition three times since then. I went to the election here in 1884 and I have never missed an election since.

There was an old gentleman by the name of Hassel Cash who voted at this precinct, and he would never vote until late in the evening. He always wanted to see which side would give him the most, so at the election of 1888 when Grover Cleveland ran for president the second time they had what was called the Cleveland hat. It was a high white churn hat about ten or twelve inches high. So on that election day Mr. Cash waited until late in the evening to vote. So when he left for home he had one of these Cleveland hats and it was about half-full of coffee.

Many good men of both parties cast their votes at this polling place. Quite a number of men would go to the polls early and stay all day. Both parties worked hard for votes, but done it fair and in a lawful and honest way. There was no absentee voting then.