| Notes |
- The following was added to the Ben Menees McFarland document (copy under Ben Menees McFarland)
The writer of the above history, Ben Manees McFarland, son of John McFarland who came to America from Scotland, was a brother of Rev. Arthur McFarland who moved to Louisiana from Tennessee in about 1820 to 1825. I do not know the exact date. He settled near what is now the town of Athens, Louisiana. He married a Miss Brinson and raised a good large family. The names of these children were James B. McFarland who lived and died in Claiborne Parish, Louisiana. He preached the gospel, being of the Baptist faith, as were all the others, except one, so far as I am informed. John P. McFarland, was also a minister of the gospel and a Methodist. He died in Red River, La. William McFarland moved to Farmerville, La. Where he raised several children, one of whom is now a resident of Baton Rouge, La., and the State Supervisor of Public Accounts. Uncle William died several years ago. Joseph F. McFarland, my Father, spent the larger portion of his life in Claiborne Parish, near Athens, La., where he died in March, 1905. He married Miss Sallie D. Hargis, daughter of Dr. R. A. Hargis who was a practicing physician and a minister of the gospel. Grandfather Arthur McFarland and Grandfather Hargis did much toward establishing some of the pioneer churches of the Baptist faith in North Louisiana. My father and mother raised a family of eight children, four boys and four girls. There were four boys, in addition to the above mentioned, who died in infancy or early childhood. All of the eight who grew to maturity are living now except sister Hollie, who died in Shreveport in 19__. Those living are, James R. McFarland, now living in Hot Springs, Ark., Mrs. Sallie E. Hargrove, who has one son, Jos. R. Hargrove, now living in Los Angeles, Cal. Where she too, has made her home for past two or three years. Samuel H., resides in Shreveport, La., Mrs. J. H. Thurmond, whom we know as "Lillie" is living in Mount Lebanon: Mrs. E. F. Walker, the youngest girl, (Lula), is living at Waelder, Texas. Walter Menees McFarland, is living in Houston, Texas. The writer of this sketch, J. F. McFarland (Frank), is living in Mansfield, La. The othe children of my Grandfather McFarland are Ben, the father of Bro. James' wife, Jennie. He fought in the Confederate army and was wounded in one of the battles, he was a flag-bearer at the time. I think Aunt Jane, whom I saw only on one visit that she made to North La. From Missouri, where she lived, was the oldest of the girls. She married a man named Graves. Aunt Elizabeth married Aaron Hice. She was the mother of Belle who married Dr. W. W. Culpepper a much loved physician who practiced many years at Athens. Aunt Loura married James H. Sommons. She was a very lovable woman and a beautiful Christian character. Aunt Rosa, the youngest, married a man named Hardy. They moved to Texas and I never knew much of her. All of these uncles and aunts were men and women of sterling integrity. The McFarland name in the community where I grew up was a synonym of honesty and integrity of purpose that made me proud to be a member of the family.
I wish to say, that last July (1924) a party of McFarlands assembled at the home of Mrs. J. H. Thurmond (Sister Lille) composed of all the living brothers and sisters except Samuel. We enjoyed the fellowship of being together more than any of us will ever be able to tell. In addition to the brothers and sisters, Mrs. I. N. Browning, the oldest daughter of sister Hollie, who I consider one of the finest women it has ever been my good fortune to know, was with us. Also my wife, Mrs. Mary Guy McFarland and my youngest daughter, Mary, completed the party. I should not forget, too, brother James' wife was present.
A party composed of Sisters Sallie Hargrove, Lillie, (Mrs. Thurmond), Lula (Mrs. Walker), Mrs. Browning (Minnie), Walter, and myself, made a pilgrimage to the old New Hope Baptist Church in Old Athens, to the Cemetery where our Father, Mother and many other loved ones are sleeping, and down to the old spring where we found the old baptistery still in a fair state of preservation. All of the scenes brought to our minds and hearts memories that are dear and sweet. In the old church house (there is no church organization left to hold services there) we sang some of the old sweet songs, read some of the wonderful promises in God's book from the old pulpit bible and tried to picture in our minds the dear folks of long ago who used to sit in those pews and worship God in the simplicity of the "faith of our fathers." From the church house we wended our way through the famous old Athens sand to the old home place. We found the old house still standing and in a fair state of repair, but unoccupied. The doors and windows were nailed shut so that we did not go inside. Of course there were but few things left to remind us of what the place had been to us-HOME, but some trees in the yard and near by looked somewhat familiar. We looked with tenderness on some parts of the old house that we know was put in place by our dear Father. We went fown to the spring, but the bushis and briars have grown up so thickly around it that it was with some difficulty that we were able to get to it. We scooped out a small bowl in the bottom, and when the water had cleared up we each took a drink of sweet water, where many times in the days long gone by we slaked our thirst. As we turned our backs on the old place where we grew up around which are clustered so many sweet memories of childhood and Mother's and Father's loving care for us, I am sure that each heart was lifted in thanksgiving to our heavenly Father for the many blessings that He has given us all along down the years since we went out from the dear old home.
J. Frank McFarland.
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1867 - 1960 (92 years)
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