John McNeel built the White Pole Church

 

John McNeel built the White Pole Church to express his gratitude for finding a home in Pocahontas County. The early settlers of Pocahontas County, primarily of Scotch-Irish descent, placed a high value on religion. 

They were seeking a place where they could freely practice their faith and establish homes based on Christian principles. However, the challenges of frontier life, along with a shortage of established religious institutions, caused a decline in religious practice for some settlers.

 Despite these difficulties, some individuals like John McNeel remained dedicated to their faith. McNeel's decision to build the White Pole Church reflects the lasting importance of religion in the lives of these settlers.

The Challenging Context of Religious Freedom: You mention that the Scotch-Irish settlers sought religious freedom. The source material provides broader historical context, stating that “The pioneer Scottish Virginians... were remote from the seat of the colonial government, poorly provided with means of defense, and were exposed to all the troubles arising from the long and bitter struggle between the French and English for supremacy” (p. 12). This highlights that their desire for religious freedom wasn't just an abstract ideal but was directly connected to the challenging realities they faced on the frontier.

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• Dr. John Craig and the Legacy of Religious Defense: Your passage highlights individuals who maintained strong religious practices. Consider connecting this to the story of Dr. John Craig, a prominent figure mentioned in the source material. It states, "Dr Craig was Master of Arts by graduation from the University of Edinburg, Scotland... when Indians were troublesome would carry his own trusty rifle along with Bible and" (p. 13). This example reinforces the dual roles of religious leadership and physical defense that were often intertwined in this period. You could draw a parallel between figures like Craig and the individuals mentioned in your passage.

• The Complex Relationship Between Frontier Life and Religious Decline: You mention the decline in religious practice among some settlers due to the challenges of frontier life. The source acknowledges this tension, stating, "While, therefore, the pioneers of this region came from such an ancestry... it should not be considered strange the temptations of frontier life and the comparative destitution or neglect of religious ordinances resulted in much irreligion, and consequent immorality" (p. 99).

  Consider exploring this tension further in your passage, highlighting the competing forces that shaped the religious landscape of the time.