508                 HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

from fulfilling his ministerial engagements; no ordinary obstacle
daunted nor discouraged him in the least. His salary ranged from $40
to $130 a year, yet he was content. He was truly a pioneer and veteran
in the cause. No suitable monument to his memory has been erected
over his grave, which is known only by its being surrounded by a par-
tially decayed rail pen with notched corners and shaded by a clump of
paw-paw bushes. The conference of the United Brethren church at
one time appropriated $50 for the purpose on condition that the family
and personal friends add the same amount and plant a $100 monument,
which, however, was not done.

A Deer Park.
    For a number of years during the time of his residence on the
knoll a mile north of the pioneer town of New Brunswick, where John
Weatherwax now lives, Ransler Horton maintained a deer park. This
plat of ground, now in orchard, was on the south side of the old two-
story hewn-log house, which stood a little distance south of the present
frame dwelling, and was enclosed with a high double-staked-and-ridered
rail fence, to keep dogs out as well as to keep the deer in. This park
was an attraction to the population of the surrounding territory, espe-
cially so to the younger people and to new-comers, who had not seen the
deer in their haunts of the primeval forest. At leisure times parents
would gratify their children by accompanying them to “the show.” At
an early day in the history of “the south end,” on baptismal occasions
at New Brunswick, which were not infrequent, visitors and spectators
from “round about the borders” would improve the opportunity to
view in captivity the nimblest and fleetest of Nature’s handiwork.

The Banner Sunday School Celebration.
    Thursday, August 29th, 1878, was a gala day with the good people
of Clay county. On that day was held the Sunday School Jubilee in
the grove near Center Point, which won for Little Clay the distinction
of “Banner County of the State.” Robert Mitchell Hollingsworth, of
Knightsville, then president of the Clay County Sunday School Union
and vice-president of the congressional district organization, was the
leading, guiding spirit whose energy and enthusiasm in the cause inspired
the interest and co-operation which brought out such a gathering and
demonstration of the Sunday school people of Clay county as had not
previously been witnessed in any county of the state, From the hour
of 9 to that of 12 o’clock a constant stream of vehicles poured in upon
the grounds, organizations arriving from all parts of the country, some
uniformed in red, others in white, and still others in blue, with music
and banners unfurled to the breezes. The music on the ground was led
by the Brazil band, joined by a chorus of three thousand voices. Eight
thousand people were estimated to be on the ground. Among the many
delegations participating and contributing to the success of the jubilee
was that of the Martz United Brethren Sunday school, William H. Long,
president, Frank A. Homer, secretary. More than fifty schools were
assembled.
    After the dinner hour, W. H. Levering, ex-president of the State
Sunday School Association, was introduced as the speaker of the day.
There was also an array of local talent present, occupying the stand.
As a memorable event in the history of Clay county, none other takes
precedence over the jubilee of August 29th, thirty-one years ago.