By Mrs. J. McK. Harrington
Some time ago The Pilot asked for sketches for its Historical Department from either written or reliable tradition of those who were prominent in the county administration in civil life, etc. Last week’s issue of Moore County History carried among the many men of prominence the name of Archibald McNeill from 1808 to 1815, as Representative to House. This led me to consult an old scrap book of mine in which I found the following clipped from the Raleigh Register:
“A correspondent from Franklin, Macon county to the Raleigh Register gives a long and interesting account of two North Carolinians who were with the first immigrant company that ever penetrated the Yosemite country. This was in 1849, and the two were Hon. Archibald McNeill, who was in command, and Mr. James M. Roan. It was a most daring and perilous journey of great distance, through an unexplored country and was attended with the greatest suffering. Of some 100 or more who began the journey, scores died on the way. The account is well worth reading, but is far too long for our columns.
“Mr. Roan still lives in Macon county to tell of the hair breaths escapes, and perilous escapes by fire and flood. McNeill, we are told, sleeps among the golden sands in his far away grave. The following brief sketch of him before he left his native north Carolina, will be interesting says Mr. C.D. Smith, author of the account:
“’Hon. Archibald McNeill was a citizen of Moore County who entered the house of Commons in 1808, was re-elected in 1809, was elected to the Senate in 1811, was again in the Senate in 1815, was elected to Congress in 1921, and served to 1923, and was again elected to Congress in 1825.
“’Major McNeill emigrated to Texas and took part as a brave soldier in the Texas war for independence. After independence had been achieved, and assured, he occupied several positions of honor and trust, of the particulars of which our narrator has no personal knowledge. When he (the narrator) went to Texas a mere stripling, he found McNeill there and their fortunes in adventure were closely identified for some time thereafter as we shall see. Major McNeill and quite a number of equally adventurous spirits, resolved upon crossing the plains to the California gold fields. Their purpose soon gained publicity, and others commenced coming in. Believing there were a sufficient number present, and feeling eager for the journey, by common consent they met early in April 1849, on the identical spot where the city of Austin now stands for the purpose of organizing, and to devise plans, ways, and means for the journey. They enrolled their names and proceeded to elect officers according to military resages(?). Major Archibald McNeill was elected Captain.’”
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The first court held in Moore county was held in the kitchen of Kinchin Kitchen, at Kitchen Spring, about three miles west of Cameron.
From the front page of The Pilot, Vass, N.C., Friday, August 21, 1925
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073968/1925-08-21/ed-1/seq-1/
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