Richsquare Memories
The
Richsquare Friends Church and community have always been very special
to me. I have fond memories of Sunday School classes with Raymond
Johnson as teacher, and how he was able to explain some of the miracles
written in the Bible so that a ten-year-old boy could understand.
Also
high on my list of memories were the church parties and social affairs
whether held at the church or in someone's home - how much fun we had,
especially some of the pranks that were carried off, naturally with the
help of some of the older people. My memories especially center on
Everett White, a very talented and capable young man, whether on the
farm or in the church. He developed a magician bit where I was his
"straight." My part was to inadvertently betray to the audience how that
trick was done. The ideas of the tricks were his, of course, as he was
eleven years my senior.
My favorite church song has always been "The Church in the Wildwood" and I always think of Richsquare whenever I hear it.
Our
family history at Richsquare dates back to the early 1830s when widow
Sarah Johnson and her five children settled in Franklin Township in
Henry County and built a home near the Richsquare Friends Church
location. We now call it the "Joel Johnson homestead." Joel became head
of the church and was on the governing board at White's Institute at
Wabash for a number of years. He and many other members of our family on
both sides lie buried in the cemetery as well as many members of the
families who came from Virginia with them, as well as from North
Carolina, i.e. the Butler, Whites, Stewarts, Parkers, etc.
