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FIRST PREACHING.

     Perhaps the first preaching in the county took place in Stephen Dye's barn in the summer of 1806, by Rev. Mr. Carmel, a Baptist minister.  A company of twenty or more went from west of the river, among whom were James Orr and John Johnston, and Lucy Barbee, who was the acknowledged belle of the neighborhood.  Jimmy and John were

RIVAL LOVERS.

and neither dare ride with Lucy in the presence of his rival.  Coming home, upon one occasion, just as they arrived at Coe's Ford, Johnston's nose began to bleed, and he was obliged to get off his horse and wait till it stopped.  During his delay the company had all crossed the river.  The river was very high to ford, but having a large, powerful horse, he started in a trot.  In the center of the stream his horse broke down and landed him in the water.  The current was strong, and the river deep, and, being encumbered with heavy velvet wrappers, while he could rise to his feet, he could not navigate.  This seemed a favorable opportunity to Jimmy to get rid of his rival; but he was the first to ride in and assist him to the shore.  Rather an amusing anecdote is related by Mr. Tullis, in which John and Lucy were the principal actors, especially the latter.  It seems John had a very peculiar gait; stepped very short and quick, and worked his head and arms vigorously meanwhile.  One day when the old folks and John - who boarded there - were from home, and some young folks there, she, guided by the spirit of fun, and, without the fear of man, slipped to John's room, put on his clothes, came down into the yard, and began a series of perambulations in imitation of John's peculiar gait; while in the midst of the entertainment she met John face to face, which caused the show to break up in consternation, and she to retire to female habiliments again.

SINGING SCHOOLS

     Pretty soon after the Marshall and McCullough families came to the county, singing schools were introduced.  The neighbors east of the river did not fraternize with the other side in this enterprise.  The first school organized comprised some of the best singers, and was a success.  Among its members were, Peggy Marshall, since Mrs. Barbee, and her sisters, Lucy Barbee and sisters, the Misses Mackey, Miss Caldwell, since Mrs. John Stone, mother of Stephen, and several others.
     Mr. Marshall was a scientific singer and possessed a voice so peculiarly strong that, we are informed, he could be found "among the thousands at Cane Ridge camp meeting by his voice;" and yet it was soft and musical.  The arrangement was a little different than; the upper part was called treble, and sun by the highest female voices; the next, or counter, was sung by the soft female voices; the soprano was tenor then, sung by the loudest male voices, and the bass as now.  Perhaps the counter was better sung by a voice so low and sweet, than to give it the modern squall it now receives, and call it operatic.

WIVES FOR THE SETTLERS.

     In the settlement of a new country, as a general rule, there is a scarcity of females.  We remember traveling in South America for nearly a year without seeing the face of a white woman, and the effect was not at all conducive to our moral elevation.  We found our inclinations rapidly drifting towards the genesis of Darwinism.  Fortunately this county did not suffer in this direction.  Old Joe McCorckle, as he was familiarly called, came from North Carolina with four buxom daughters, who on short notice, were appropriated by Rev. Armstrong Brandon.  Maj. Leavel, a merchant by the name of Hearse, and the other by a man whose name is unknown to history.  Miss Polly Caldwell married Stephen Johnston, killed at Fort Wayne by the Indians.  Josey Coe, Mr. Hathaway and Mackey all had marriageable daughters, who were in due time disposed of.  Mr. Kyle, like the fox in the fable, took Lucy Barbee from her two contending rivals, and she never got to wear John's breeches metaphorically, as she had literally.  As the stock on hand was getting low, Old Robert, alias Long Bob Culbertson came in with four admirable girls, who soon entered upon a duel life with W. H. Gahagan, W. H. H. Dye, H. S. Mayo, and S. Worrel, every one an ornament to society.