Edgar Halfacre

A few posts ago, I stated that Edgar Halfacre may have served churches north of the Mason-Dixon line. To which

tica9 responded that

Edgar Halfacre served churches in Pensylvania in the 1920's, possibly bit earlier also. That may be where my grandmother knew him as she was in Penn at the same period.

Which is exactly what state that I had found a note about him preaching in. Thanks so much for the that. I would be happy to hear what else you may know about him.

Burried in the Clayton Memorial Unitarian Universalist Church cemetery in Newberry SC. yes, buried in the half acre of Halfacres. He was born to Perry and Hassy Halfacre on March 24, 1881. Graduate of Newberry College in 1907. Ordained as a Universalist minister in 1913. Living still in Newberry in 1918 (where he called himself a "minister of the gospel" on his draft registration form. He was described as medium height, slender built and blue eyes. by 1930 he was back in Newberry, preaching at the family church and farming. He remained single and in 1930 was living with two of his sisters and an Uncle.

thanks again

Memorial Day

So what southern Universalist ministers were in the military?

Good question, let's start off by nick-picking to begin with....
... what do we mean by "Universalist ministers"? ;-)

let's be lose in our defination, so we can include Giles Chapman, who wasnt an Universalist minister, but he preached the same doctrine and at the same church as did his replacement Elijah Lynch, who was an Universalist minister.

Giles Chapman, contiental soldier in the Virginia line (Revolution)
D. B. Clayton, private from Mississippi - (War of 1860s)
A. J. Strain, Lt from Georgia (War of 1860s)
W. C. Bowman, chaplain from NC (War of 1860s) - Methodist at this time
Joshua Inman, pvt? from NC (war of 1860s) POW
Lyman Ward, officer from ?, (war of 1860s) moved south after war
Leonard Prather, ----- from Mississippi (ww2)

These are the ones off the top of my head, I'm sure there are plenty of others.
the "war of 1860s" was just a name that came to my head as I was writing this. You know how us bloggers are.........

Manford's Monthly

Manford's Monthly ran monthly (gee) from 1859 to 1895.
During most of it's run, it was a two person publication - mainly Rev and Mrs Manford (atlhough after his death, she ran it for awhile before she sold it. The new owners kept it going for around 3-4 years or so).

It was very much a one family show (and the only Universalist magazine with the editor's name on the cover), and I suspect that what wasnt by the editors was taken from other publications.
It has fiction - incuding some by Dime Novelist Sylvanus Cobb Jr, articles by other Universalist ministers - including the man who saved California for the Republic: Starr King, and articles on Manford's debates and preaching.

A little on southern Universalism (he had ideas about preaching down south), but not much.
So not something I generally talk about here.


Currently I own about 4 years of this 36 year publication - in about two weeks I will own 16 of the 36 years. Looking at holdings at some libraries, I dont see an archive with more than what I will have.

Will i be the owner of the largest collection of Manford in the nation? and if so, what should I do with it on my (hopefully not soon) demise?

SC Convention 1847, Simmons, N. P. Walker

"Bro. S. M. Simons received letters of fellowship as a preacher of the gospel, at a convention recently held in Fearlaville [actually Feasterville], S. C. Bro. S. had previously been ordained by the Baptist denomination, but could no longer conscientiously preach the doctrine of endless misery. He has embraced a better faith, and we trust he will zealously labor in its dissemination."

"Bro. N. P. Walker was ordained at a convention of Universalists, recently convened at Fearlaville [actually Feasterville], S. C. Sermon by Bro. Fuller. Text: "Preach the World."

Universalist Miscellany Volume 4 #5 October 1847 Boston and New York
edited by O. A. Skinner and A. P. Cleverly


This is information is a breakthrough, both for slightly more knowledge on Simons (who lived near what is now Aiken), but more importantly on Walker. Walker is an important person in SC history - because of his founding of the South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind (still in existence) two years later. Walker is generally considered to have been a Baptist minister, and I dont suggest (at this time) that we wasnt prior to, or post the 1847 date.

1847 (early Fall) ordained Universalist minister
1849 (Jan 22) founds School for the deaf at Cedar Springs (a former resort) near Spartanburg SC
1855 hires teacher to teach blind students
1856 State of SC buys school and 157 acres
1860 school moves into new building (now known as Walker Hall)
1861 dies from Measles - wife takes over school

Newton Pinckney Walker

Too much living in the past?

On on way to the Universalist Convocation - and stopped at a restaurant in downtown Parkersburg, WV. I notice picturesof the owner's family - and one mentioned a family member (in the early 1920s?) living in Shinnston. I immediately start talking to the significant other about a resident of Shinnston, the Rev. Q. H. Shinn.....
Luckily I didnt have too much to say about Shinnston, and sure dont know if the restaurant family knew Rev Shinn...
... but it did suddenly occur to me, that this might be a case of knowing too much....
If one has to ask "am I boring you" then one probably is.....
... so I will keep my Universalist stories to my blog - and hopefully prevent anyone from talking about my long suffering significant other...