MEMORIES OF McPHAUL'S MILLS
A Noted Place in Former Times-Beginning of McPhaul Family in Robeson
Reminiscences by Snyder
Written for the Robesonian.

Contact: Myrtle Bridges December 9, 2016

	One of the most noted places in former times in upper Robeson, now Hoke county, was McPhaul's Mills. In the early days of the 
settlement of the county it was the chief place of meeting of the people. Years before the Revolutionary War it was a noted place. 
It seems from all the facts that can now be gathered that the McPhaul family was the first Scotch family that settled on the Reft Swamp, 
as all that region was then called. There was no ford then on the Raft Swamp and unless they headed it, it was impossible to cross it. 
A widow, Ann Perkins, had already built a mill and owned a farm there. She was of Indian extraction and owned other property in the 
neighborhood. John McPhaul married her and his son Neill married her daughter, pretty Mollie Perkins. This is as far as we can learn, 
was the beginning of the McPhaul family in Robeson county.
	It was for a while the preaching center of the upper end of the county. McPhaul kept a store and grog shop. The late John Gilchrist, 
familiarly known as Lawyer Gilchrist, organized a Sunday school here, which was afterward organized into a church at Antioch. McPhaul's 
Mills was the polling place for all the upper end, and remained so for several years after the war. It really seems a pity that such a 
prominent place should fall into desuetude. There is not even a mill there now.
	I have heard and seen a great many amunsing things occur at this place. Cider was plentiful in those days and was dispensed with a 
liberal hand. There was generally a hog pen down in the edge of the swamp, and we remember that it was usually 15 or 20 rails high. On 
one occasion a difficulty arose between two men. One of them was a very small man but he had fight in his eyes, and would jump up and 
knock his heels together twice before hitting the ground. On the grounds was another man, (we are sorry we can't call names, 'twould be 
much more interesting to the reader), who was very tall, a head over everybody else. Well, he seemed to be frightened at the little man 
and getting on top of the fence, he exclaimed, "Look out, men, the this is-he is-dangerous!"
	We remember once witnessing a horse race. The distance was a quarter of a mile, and the bay beat the grey at least fifty yards. The 
friends of the owner of the grey were condoling with him on his defeat when he exclaimed, "Boys, my mare didn't run very fast, but 
she ran mighty constant."
	Those were good old times when friends and neighbors met together and drank cider and exchanged anecdotes and reminiscences. They seldom 
met together, and had something to say when they talked. They were of different types and were original and not all of one type, as we 
so often see men in our day.
	When I think of McPhaul's Mills, a hundred anecdotes and reminiscences rise up before my eyes. Red Springs, N.C 
Source: The Robesonian. volume (Lumberton, N.C.), 03 Sept. 1917