IN MEMORY OF DANIEL WHITE McGOUGAN
ROBESONIAN (Lumberton, North Carolina) - April 6, 1911 Issue Contact: Myrtle Bridges
Daniel White McGougan, the subject of this sketch, was born in the year 1828 near Lumber Bridge, where he died March 12th, 1911. His parents, Duncan McGougan and Annie White, raised a large and interesting family, 5 sons and 5 daughters. Three brothers survive him; Dr. J.[John]M. McGougan of [Whiteville]Columbus county, Rev. C.P. McGougan and J.[James]A. McGougan of Lumber Bridge. D.C. McGougan died in the civil war. Three sisters are living; Mrs. D.B. McGougan, Mrs. J.[John]D. Malloy and Miss Mary A. McGougan. The other two, Mrs. Ed Currie and Miss Margaret McGougan have passed on the glory land. He was named for his grandfather Daniel White, a Scotch Baptist preacher who came from Scotland and settled at Spring Hill, then Richmond county about the year 1808. Brother McGougan joined Providence Baptist church (now Lumber Bridge) at the age of 20. (This church is where Elder John Monroe, one of Daniel White's converts, preached his first sermon, 2nd Sunday in May, 1825.) For almost 60 years he was superintendant or teacher in the Sunday school and as many years a deacon and clerk of this church. He was clerk of the Cedar Creek Association for a long time. At that time it was composed of parts of Robeson, Bladen, Sampson counties and all of Cumberland. Often it was necessary to travel 50 miles by private conveyance to the place of meeting. He was also a member of the executive board and was always present. When the Robeson Association was organized he was its first clerk. By trade he was a mechanic. Many of the staunch old farm houses found in the upper end of Robeson were built by him. In those days there were no railroads or undertaker shops and perhaps he made more coffins and helped bury more people than any other man in the county, and not a cent would he have for his service. In politics he was a Whig to the close of the war; from then on he voted the straight Democratic ticket, casting his las ballot in November last. When a small boy he was accidentally kicked in the face by a horse, causing the loss of an eye, but near the close of the war, though he was busy making spinning wheels and looms for the soldiers' wives, the demand for men at the front became so great that he went to the army and fought the battles of his country until the surrender. About 1870 he was raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason by Galatia lodge in Cumberland county. Soon thereafter he joined King Solomon lodge, Lumber Bridge, and for a number of years was its efficient secretary. Bro. McGougan never married. He loved his home, his friends and especially little children. He never saw a child that did not love him. He was no ordinary man. Words fail to express his worth. Men are not made now like Dannie White McGougan. He lived for others, a pure soul filled with the spirit of Christ, true to his God, his church and fellowman, true to everything that was for the honor and glory of God. He did not have an enemy in the world-How could he? As with all good men, his last days were his best days, ripe, rich, full. He wrought well. Our heads are bowed with sorrow, our hearts are sad. Will his place ever be filled? This we know, his life was victory. How will it be with each of us? Dr. J.M. Dunaway, his pastor surrounded by the church, his lodge and a large congregation, preached his funeral, then lovingly we laid his body away to await the coming of his Lord. The stream is calmest when it nears the tide And flowers are sweetest at eventide And birds most musical at close of day And Saints divinest whey they pass away. J.W. Cobb, Lumber Bridge, March 29, 1911
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