Mr and Mrs Casual Hampton Presson With them lived their eight children on a small farm in the 23rd Civil District of Carroll County, Tennessee all working for a common cause, making a living and enjoying a good home life. Casual Hampton Presson, 1875 - 1937 was born in Benton County, Tennessee, son of Samuel Tomer Presson and Ellen Bruce Presson. The mother, Sarah Adeline Cooper Presson, 1879 - 1949, was the daughter of Columbus Franklin Cooper and Delila Ann Keith Cooper also of Benton County. Mrs. Presson was the daughter and granddaughter of Methodist ministers and also great niece of a Cumberland Presbyterian minister. Mr. Presson came from a talented musical family. The couple moved to Carroll County around the turn of the century and reared their family there. Their children were Felix, Creighton, Albert, Ellen, Edna, Malcolm, Gilman, and Warren. C. H. Presson could well be called the "Father of Gospel Singing" in Benton, Carroll and Henry Counties - in these counties are legions of people who attended his Old Fashioned Do-Ra-Me singing schools taught by Mr. Presson. His children were taught the musical notes by the time they knew their ABC's. Many nights after a long hard day's work in the fields, after all the chores were finished and a good country supper had been eaten, the father would say, "Come on now and let's learn some new songs". All would gather around the "pump" organ with Ellen, (the oldest daughter) playing, they would do just that - learn to sing new songs. On Sunday mornings the family loaded in the car, before the days of automobiles, it was the wagon, and made their way to a nearby or faraway church to sing for an "All Day Singing - Dinner of the Ground" affair. In the earlier years the Presson Quartet was Mr. Presson, Felix, Ellen, and Albert. As the years went by, some married and moved away and the second quartet was formed. This was Mr. Presson, Edna, Malcolm and Gilman. The youngest son of the family, Warren, grew up loving Gospel singing and has had several quartets of his own and still enjoys making the "rafters ring" Malcolm is a former member of Long Rock Church, and has been a member of the choir at Huntingdon First Methodist Church for about forty years. Only one son, Creighton, was never interested in singing; outdoor life was more appealing. Mr. Presson was many times over elected President of the Carroll County Singing Convention - consisting of all the singers in the county. Since Long Rock was the Church home of most of the Presson family, in the late 1920's and 30's Mr. Presson taught many singing schools there. His charges were $1.50 per person, or $3.00 and all the family could go. Lessons were taught on Saturday afternoons and congregational singing was enjoyed on Sunday afternoons. At the close of the schools, "All Day - Dinner on the Ground" was held. All the singers far and near were invited and came and joined in the song feast. It was a common site on many occasions like this to see the whole area around the Church covered with horse drawn vehicles with a sprinkling of automobiles. Looking back now at those occasions you are made aware and are made to appreciate the contribution Cas Presson and his family made to the community, providing enjoyable fellowship, developing good friendships, forming an all-round togetherness which has lasted throughout the years, provided entertainment for the younger people when there was no possible way of traveling far for outside pleasures. After the death of his father, Gilman stepped into his footsteps and carried on the same traditions at Long Rock. Many other fine young men and women have joined hands and made the church a "Bright and Shining Light" in the community. The church suffered a sudden and distinct loss in Gilman's death in 1974. However, the indwelling Spirit of their fore-fathers still exists and the church continues to go forward. Mr. and Mrs. Presson enjoyed many years of happy married life together although, like everyone, they experienced some sadness and sorrow. Mr. Presson died in 1937 and Mrs. Presson died in 1949. They were laid to rest in Long Rock Cemetery. Cappie Wilcox Presson