News from Oconee Rural Communities 1888-1909

By John Ashton Hester

This book--the fourteenth in a series of books containing news reports from the Keowee Courier over its 170-year history--consists of news from rural communities from throughout Oconee County during the years 1888-1909. It does not include any news from the three largest towns--Seneca, Walhalla (including West Union) and Westminster, because they have all been featured in previous books in the series. By the author's count, the Courier received reports, at one time or another, from 81 different rural communities during the 22-year period covered by this book. The reports were sporadic. For instance, a community might have a faithful correspondent for a while, who would submit a report nearly every week, but then he or she would quit, and there might not be another report for weeks, or months. There was one subject that nearly every report from every part of the county would include: the current status of the crops in that community. Reports also nearly always included information about church and school activities. . .This book will give the reader insight into what day-to-day life was like in rural Oconee County during the late 1800s and early 1900s.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jul 23, 2020
• ISBN: 9781664120082

John Ashton Hester

Early in his career as a reporter, photographer, and editor for the Keowee Courier, ASHTON HESTER became fascinated by the volumes containing issues from past years of the paper, which was founded in 1849. He began compiling a weekly column containing news highlights from the corresponding dates 10, 20, 30, 40, etc., years ago. He first titled the column From the Past but eventually changed it to Looking Back, which is also the title of this book and six previous books which highlighted different years and contained different stories.

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Copyright © 2020 by John Ashton Hester.

All rights reserved. No part of this book MAY be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

The front-cover photograph is of the Bear Swamp school house. The date is not known. The photo was provided by the Oconee History Museum.

Rev. date: 07/23/2020

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CONTENTS

Preface

Fair Play/Townville/South Union/Tertia/Reeder’s Ford/Fant’s Grove News

Oakway/Tokeena/Mount Pleasant/Retreat/Cross Roads/Providence/Rock Hill/Duo/Harbin’s/Broyles/Allen’s Store News

Tugaloo/South Union/Chalmer (Chalmers)/Crawfordville/Seven Islands/Sheldon Mills News

Long Creek/Brasstown News

Oak Grove/County Farm News

Holly Springs News

Cleveland (Ben Cleveland)/Madison (Fort Madison)/Old Liberty/Toxaway/Deaton/Stony Point News

Earle’s Mill/Cross Roads/Tokeena/Pine Grove News

Ramsay’s Creek/Pleasant Hill News

Tabor (Mount Tabor, Mt. Tabor, Taber, Mount Taber, Mt. Taber)/Pleasant Grove News

Hopewell/Chauga/Blackjack Grove (Black Jack) News

Battle Creek/Pulaski News

Barton’s Creek/Long Nose News

Conneross (Later Spelled Coneross)/Conneross Creek/Bear Swamp News

Richland/Clearmont/Bounty Land/Poplar Springs (Poplar) News

Return News

Newry/Corinth/Shiloh/Friendship/Cherry’s (Cherry)/Reedy Fork/Lawrence Ford/Speed’s Creek (Speed Creek)/Stone Church/Maxwell’s Ferry/Hepsibah/Jordainia/Rock Hill Academy News

Salem/Whitewater/Talley/Stamp Creek/Jocassee/High Falls/Flat Shoals/Fall Creek/Fall Branch/Danville/Birch News

Tomassee (Tamassee)/Cheohee (Cheohee Valley)/Bethel/Toll Gate/Wayside News

Old Pickens/Norton News

Little River News

Wolf Stake (Wolfstake)/Flat Rock News

Keowee/New Hope/Ebenezer/Fairview (Fair View)/Crooked Creek/Cane Creek/Beulah News

Mountain Rest/Double Springs/Whetstone/Village Creek/Russell/Bellmont (Belmont)/Mount Dale News

Picket Post (Pickett Post)/Red Hill/Oconee Station/Slater Valley News

Neville/Zion/Seven Hills/Rich Mountain/Midway/Slater Valley News

PREFACE

Back in the Keowee Courier’s heyday, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, it was Oconee County’s dominant newspaper. A major feature of the paper was that community correspondents from throughout the county would send reports to the Courier telling about the goings-on in their community.

Some correspondents would send a report nearly every week; others would only do so when something had happened that they considered newsworthy, or perhaps when they were not busy with other things. Occasionally there would be a report that began something like, Mr. Editor, I haven’t seen anything in the paper from this section for a while, so I’m sending you a few dots.

This book contains some highlights from the reports of correspondents from rural communities from all over the county during the years 1888-1909, excluding the years 1891 and 1894-97, which are unavailable in either the Keowee Courier’s current files or the Chronicling America website—my two sources for compiling the book.

By my count, there are reports from 110 rural communities during that 22-year span. (There were also regular reports from Seneca, Walhalla, West Union and Westminster, increasing the total number of communities to 114. However, they have been the focus of previous books in the Looking Back series and therefore are not included in this book.)

The reports were sporadic. Sometimes a community would have a faithful correspondent for a while, who would send in a report nearly every week. Then he or she would quit, for whatever reason, and there would not be another report from the community for a long time.

Most chapters of this book contain reports from multiple communities, which are located near to each other and share social bonds.

This is the 14th book in the Looking Back series. All of them contain information derived from the Keowee Courier during its 170-year history which began in 1849 and ended in 2019.

All of the books are on sale at the Oconee History Museum in Walhalla, and also at internet sites. They are also all available for chek-out at the Oconee County Public Library in Walhalla.

Old Couriers, 1849-1921, Available Online

My Looking Back books only contain a tiny sample of the information about Oconee towns and communities that is contained in the old Keowee Couriers. Anyone who would like to see the complete papers, from the first issue in 1849 through 1921 (with some gaps of missing issues) can do so on their computers by going to the Chronicling America website, created by the United States Library of Congress.

(The Keowee Courier is one of numerous historic newspapers from across the nation that were chosen for the Chronicling America project.)

To access the website just Google Keowee Courier, and one of the top results will be Chronicling America. In the upper-left corner of the website will be a menu of years, from 1849 to 1921. Just scroll down to the year you wish to access, and calendars for all 12 months of that year will appear. Click on the date of the paper you wish to see and all of the pages will come onto the screen. Click on whichever page you wish to see, and you can enlarge it to readable size by clicking on it or scrolling over it.

You can move around the page by dragging the control box (outlined in red) in the upper-right corner.

Ashton Hester, July 7, 2020

FAIR PLAY/TOWNVILLE/SOUTH

UNION/TERTIA/REEDER’S

FORD/FANT’S GROVE NEWS

MARCH 8, 1888

(Item from Westminster Correspondence by E.): A fire at Fair Play last week destroyed the blacksmith shop of Mason & Marett. The contents were saved and the business of the shop goes on in the open air while the new building goes up.

*     *     *     *     *

JANUARY 3, 1889

(Item from Westminster Correspondence by P.): Dr. W.W. Cornog, a promising young M.D., who has spent the last year with us, has moved to Fair Play for the purpose of practicing his chosen profession.

MAY 9, 1889

Spanish Coin, Dated 1788, Plowed Up

(Item from A Voice from the Tugaloo by B.F.K. of Tugaloo Home): Mr. F.M. Dowis, of Fair Play, plowed up a Spanish coin having the date 1788, with this inscription on one side: Hispaniarum rex; on the other, III dei G, Carolus, 1788.

MAY 23, 1889

(Item from the Keowee Courier’s general news): Prof. N.W. Macaulay was in Walhalla on Tuesday, taking in the firemen’s pic nic. He is in charge of the flourishing school at Townville.

MAY 30, 1889

‘Lost Boy’ Carried Away by Wrong Train

(Item from A Voice from Tugaloo by B.F.K.):

The most painful sensation that has ever befallen this section is the lost boy. Mr. L.L. Jarrard, of Fair Play, carried Mr. E.C. Marett’s oldest son, a lad of 10 or 12 years old, to Charleston with him. On his return Mr. Jarrard had some business in Augusta and left Keels Marett in the train and told him to remain while he attended to business. But before he returned the train was shifted to another track and was gone!

Mr. Jarrard wired to different stations but failed to hear from the receding trains, and up to to-day (Saturday) conflicting reports say the boy has been heard from at Millian, Ga., while others say he turned up in Charleston. His mother is almost crazy over the affair.

(Book editor’s note): This story had a happy ending, as B.F.K. added a note at the end of his column reading, P.S. - Mr. Marett found his little son in Augusta, Ga., having been returned from Selma, Ala.

Altercation Over Dog Leads to Two Arrests

(Another item from A Voice from Tugaloo by B.F.K.): An altercation between Jim Singleton and Willis Glenn took place at Fair Play. Jim killed Willis’s dog for sucking his eggs, and struck Willis on the head with a hoe. They were up before trial justice Earle, and Jim compromised the case by paying $10.

JUNE 20, 1889

Fair Play and Pine Grove Schools Visited

(Book editor’s note): A Teacher’s Column appeared on the front page of the Keowee Courier each week during this era, submitted by S.P. Stribling, School Commissioner for Oconee County. Mr. Stribling had been reporting on various schools he had visited, and this week he reported on the Fair Play and Pine Grove schools. Following are some excerpts from those reports:

Our next visit finds Mr. S.M. Vandiver, a native Georgian, and a son of North Georgia Agricultural College, together with Miss Ella Davis, another Georgian, in charge of the Fair Play school. This community is noted for its devotion to the educational interests of its children. These teachers were actively engaged in hearing the pupils recite.

Leaving the Fair Play school, the next point is the Pine Grove school, taught by Mr. G.N.C. Boleman, a self-made, wide-awake teacher. Mr. Boleman has taught successfully for a number of years. He teaches his pupils from a standpoint of reason and uses text books in a proper sense.

JUNE 27, 1889

Jones Chapel Celebrates Children’s Day

(Item from Fair Play Locals by Z.):

Last Saturday was celebrated at Jones’ Chapel as Children’s Day. We were entertained with a number of recitations from little boys and girls, with music between each recitation.

I will mention a few who acquitted themselves well: Keels Marett, Edgar McCurry, Larry Richardson, David Jarrard, Bulah Whitfield, Ada King, Alma Whitfield, Hattie Wright, Pearl King, John Jarrard, Nina Harbin, Daisy Wright, Sallie Jarrard.

AUGUST 15, 1889

Overnight Visit to Fair Play Enjoyable

(Item from Our Westminster Correspondence by J.D.S.):

A hurried trip to Fair Play showed that the crops are beyond a doubt much better than they have been since 1882.

I spent the night at the residence of the hospitable Mrs. Ellen Barton. I was very much pleased at the way which she managed her forage and pea patches. If you want the inner man supplied with substantials or delicacies when you go to that place, call on her.

AUGUST 22, 1889

Commissioner Visits Townville School

(The following report is from Teachers’ Column by S.P. Stribling, School Commissioner for Oconee County. It was the latest in a series of reports Mr. Stribling had been providing the Keowee Courier regarding his visits to schools throughout the county):

Continuing our visits to the schools, we find Prof. N.W. Macaulay, a son of Erskine and a teacher whom many of our people know favorably, at Townville, in charge of a fine school composed of intelligent girls and boys. We were very much impressed with the discipline which the teacher enforces and which the students seem to obey from a standpoint of pleasure as well as duty.

Leaving Townville, our next point is New Providence, a new school house erected in consequence of Old Providence being torn down by the cyclone of 1883.

*     *     *     *     *

MARCH 24, 1892

South Union Hosts County Teachers’ Meeting

(Item from Here and There by Adelphos):

The teachers’ meeting, which convened at South Union, we understand, was an entire success. A good turnout and much interest manifested in the cause of education.

Professor Macaulay (*) was at his post.

(*) - Professor N.W. Macaulay was the School Commissioner (a position that later became known as Superintendent of Education) for Oconee County. He was elected to that position in 1890.

Thieves in the Night Active in Fair Play

(Another item from Here and There by Adelphos):

Stealing seems to be all the go around Fair Play. During last week bee gums were stolen from Mr. Thomas Keese, Mr. Thomas Harris and Mrs. Andy Marett. Turkeys and chickens also fell prey to the human night-hawks.

Some of the parties are being gotten close after.

JUNE 23, 1892

(Items from Fair Play Items by R.A.E.): Dr. W.F. Austin, who has been practicing dentistry with great satisfaction in our midst, left for Liberty, S.C., several days ago. (*)…There has been a great deal of sickness in the community within the last few weeks…Divine services were conducted in the Methodist church last Sabbath. The pastor, Rev. J.N. Wright, failing to be present, brother Whitaker preached in his stead.

(*) - During that era there were dentists who would go to a town and do all of the dental work needed, and then go on to another town.

Picnic at Shelor’s Ferry Enjoyed

(Another item from Fair Play Items by R.A.E.):

A party of our young people attended the picnic at Shelor’s ferry last Saturday. We crossed into Georgia and there witnessed a gay crowd who had assembled on the banks of the Tugaloo. Some were fishing in the water, others on dry land. Don’t think either side met with great success.

Dinner was announced and all hastened to partake of the bountiful feast. We were all enjoying the dinner heartily when down came the rain in torrents. There was a rush among the crowd, all eager to seek shelter.

Notwithstanding all this there was a calm after the storm, and several were heard to say, Let’s have another picnic at Shelor’s Ferry.

(Book editor’s note): For another account of this picnic, see an item in the Tugaloo News for June 23, 1892.

JUNE 30, 1892

(Items from South Union Correspondence by W.A.D.): The exercises of the school at this place will be resumed Monday, June 11th, and Miss Fannie Sheldon will reopen her school at Bethel on the same date…I have heard it stated by observant persons that the acreage in sorghum is considerably larger than for some years, and that the potato crop is also larger than formerly; I heard, too, that some of our farmers are growing tobacco as a money crop. These are steps in the right direction…Our people are entering upon extensive preparation for the approaching meeting at this place of the Beaverdam Association, which will be held on the 9th, 10th and 11th days of August, and the large attendance expected may be assured of royal entertainment.

Rainy Weather Causing Farmers Trouble

(More items from South Union Correspondence by W.A.D.): We have had rain nearly every day for the past ten days, and as a result the crops are getting very grassy and the farmer is wearing a serious miem…Considerable wind accompanied the rain that fell Saturday afternoon and blew down a large quantity of fine oats on Mr. John W. Shelor’s farm…Mr. S.V. Harbin was experiencing some trouble last week in harvesting his grain crops, owing to the oft-occurring rain, but I have not heard that he suffered serious loss…It is fortunate that so far the crops on the creek and river bottoms have escaped serious damage from overflow.

Honor Roll for Townville High School for JUNE

(Item from the Keowee Courier’s general news):

HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT: Gracie Thompson 98.8, Annie Compton 98.4, Lutie Mahaffey 97.8, Emma Farmer 97.3, Lizzie Grant 96.8, Gertie Mahaffey 96.3, Kate Sharp 95.1, Cora McCarley 95.1, John Wright 95.0, Jack Harris 94.0, Lillie Grant 93.7, Edgar Farmer 93.5, Janie Benjamin 91.5, JV. Johnson 91.4.

PRIMARY DEPARTMENT: Eula Compton 97.5, Pearl McCarley 97.5, Ovaline Sharp 97.0, Lida Johnson 96.7, Lela Wright 96.7, Mary Ligon 96.6, Clara Harris 96.5, Lillie Wright 96.4, Fluvie Boggs 96.2, Claude Sitton 95.9, Nora Tribble 95.8, Dock Boggs 95.7, Lela Thompson 95.3, Winfield Sharp 95.2, Eloise Harris 93.1, Edgar Smith 91.8, Varina Smith 91.0.

JULY 7, 1892

(Items from Here and There by Adelphos): The school at Fair Play will open on the 18th of July. Many of the schools intending to open on the 4th will not open until the 18th, owing to the recent rains retarding farm work…Mr. M.C. Barton, of Fair Play, began his school in the upper part of the county on July the 4th.

JULY 28, 1892

(Items from Here and There by Adelphos): Mr. Monroe Hayes got his shop burned last week with all its contents. About one hundred and fifty dollars worth in all…Dr. E.B. Webb, of Fair Play, has bought him a fine pair of match horses and is having a jolly good time.

Lightning Rods Not Selling Well

(Another item from Here and There by Adelphos): The lightning rod men think it is a good time to sell rods since there has been so much rain; but as the lightning has done no damage in our section the people are not buying much.

(Book editor’s note): Could lightning have been the cause of the fire that burned Mr. Monroe Hayes’ shop? (See above item.)

AUGUST 18, 1892

(Items from Fair Play Dots by Amicus): News is very scarce, but as it has been some time since I have read a line from our Fair Play scribe, I hope what little I shall say may safely escape the waste-basket…We have a few cases of sickness in the community, but hope with the skill and careful assistance of our good physician, Dr. Webb, they may all be restored to their former health…The Beaverdam Baptist Association, which convened at South Union, was largely attended. Many able ministers were present who entered heartily into the discussions of the day’s proceedings…Politics are all the talk now, but I will not say anything about them at this time.

(Book editor’s note): Amicus also reported a number of visitations that had taken place in the community.

AUGUST 25, 1892

Crops, Politics and Religion Abound

(Items from Here and There by Adelphos):

After some delay I will try to write a short letter.

The weather is warm and dry down here. Cotton is beginning to open and fodder is mostly pulled. This part of the State makes her own provisions, and consequently is one of the most prosperous sections. Large, fat hogs can be seen in many places. The cotton crop is fairly good where the rain did not interfere too much with the working.

Politically these people are alive, but their politics is subordinate to their religion. While we were in protracted meetings twelve days there was not a political discussion at the churches.

(Book editor’s note): The main subject of political disagreement was Governor Ben Pitchfork Tillman, who was elected in 1890. Oconee County, and the entire state, were sharply divided among those who favored him and those who opposed him.

SEPTEMBER 8, 1892

(Items from Here and There by Adelphos): The good people of Cross Roads have their house of worship nearly completed except the painting…Friday night a series of meetings at Cross Roads church were closed. Twenty-five were added to the membership…Saturday we were kindly invited to attend the closing exercises of the Bethel school, under the charge of Miss Fannie Sheldon. The children acquitted themselves with much credit to themselves, teacher and parents…There is very much influenza through the country…Mr. C.C. Simpson, of Mt. Tabor, is sick with fever…Mr. A.P. Marett, of Fair Play, is convalescing and soon his friends hope to see him entirely well.

SEPTEMBER 22, 1892

(Items from Here and There by Adelphos): There is considerable sickness throughout the country in the form of typhoid and pneumonia fever. Some few cases have proven fatal…Good rains have prevailed and the turnip crop, though late, is making rapid strides to do something before winter approaches…Prof. Moss, of Lavonia, whom the people of Fair Play were aiming to secure as their teacher for another year, died on the 12th instant, and they are without a teacher. Any experienced teacher would do well to send his application to the trustees at once, if he desires a first-class school…Quite a number of Baptist churches are left pastorless. Rev. J.H. Stone has been called to Return church for the ensuing year…Rev. G.R. Shaffer is carrying on a meeting at Nazareth this week.

SEPTEMBER 29, 1892

(Item from Here and There by Adelphos): The time of my departure is at hand and I must go to pursue my studies. While these pleasant associations must be severed we hope others will be formed for both parties.

(Book editor’s note): The above comment came at the conclusion of this week’s column, which was dominated by a lengthy commentary alleging how poorly girls and women were treated in India. Adelphos did not reveal where he planned to go to pursue his studies, or what his studies involved. From comments in his past columns he was a devout Christian, so he was likely going to study for the ministry.

*     *     *     *     *

MARCH 2, 1893

(Items from South Union Correspondence, writer not listed): The farmers have done very little work so far because of the frequent rains…Our farmers use a smaller percentage of commercial manures than formerly, and Mr. F.M. Barton speaks of abandoning them altogether…We hear less talk of tobacco culture than was common last spring and infer that the experiment will not be prosecuted further. The secret of success and profit in tobacco growing lies in curing the crop…Mr. John W. Shelor has sent his celebrated horse, Seneca Bismarck, to Sparta and other points in Georgia (*)…Mr. Joe McJunkin is preparing to build a handsome residence…Miss Reedie Cromer, who is teaching in Anderson county, spent Saturday and Sunday with her parents.

(*) - Mr. Shelor, who had a horse farm in the Tugaloo community, placed advertisements in the Keowee Courier, offering Seneca Bismarck for breeding purposes.

APRIL 20, 1893

(Items from News from Townville by F.T.): Prof. Rice, assisted by Miss Olive Brown, who was educated at Greenville and Vassar College, New York, is just closing a very prosperous session of the Townville High School…Our people have been agitated for some time on the subject of holiness, and so intense is the feeling that schisms in the several churches are likely to result…The Rev. T.C. Ligon, pastor of the Presbyterian church, is attending the spring meeting of the South Carolina Presbytery at Honea Path.

*     *     *     *     *

APRIL 14, 1898

(Items from South Union Chat by Miller): The little children had a nice time hunting Easter eggs last Sunday morning…We wish the farmers would plant more corn and less cotton. Times would not then be so bad…Mr. J.L. Burriss has planted sixteen acres in corn, and has not finished yet. Mr. Burriss believes in making plenty of everything for his consumption…Mr. J.M. McGuire has radishes, lettuce and onions for table use…We were told last week that Mrs. Add Freeman has pea blossoms…Messrs. Dowis and Shelor are having lumber sawed to build on their land near the church.

Teacher Thwarts April Fool’s Prank

(Another item from South Union Chat by Miller):

Our school closed last Friday, April 1st, under the management of Prof. M.C. Barton. He was loved by all his pupils and no doubt he will gain success wherever he goes. He will teach again in the summer.

Our school boys fooled their teacher on Friday afternoon, April 1, by shutting him out. But the fun of it was, he pried the door open and got in. Ha! We think the boys were fooled the worst at last.

MAY 5, 1898

(Items from South Union Chats by T.): Forest fires have been entirely too numerous in this section. On last Sunday fire was raging in the woods of J.L. Burriss and Col. W.H. Sheldon…S.H. Maret, Esq., seems to be an expert at tying a matrimonial knot. His services have been demanded several times within the past week or two…Chopping or thinning cotton will soon be in order. Corn, too, is up in a good many fields and is looking well…South Union Sunday school still flourishes. The secretary reported over eighty present last Sunday…The pic nic season was opened on Long’s Hill Saturday. Several young people met there and spent a very pleasant day…Fried chicken and pic nics will soon be ripe…Prof. J.L. McWhorter, the efficient and popular teacher of Fair Play, and his nice little wife, visited kinfolks at Retreat recently.

MAY 26, 1898

Blue Ridge Rifles Recruiting members (*)

(Item from South Union Chat by T.):

Lewis Knox is recruiting for the Blue Ridge Rifles. He told us Sunday that he has obtained several recruits.

Blue Ridge Rifles was the name of one of the best companies in Lee’s army. It was Company F, Orr’s Rifles, and was commanded by the gallant, intrepid Capt. R.A. Hawthorne, who was killed in the first engagement in front of his men at Gaines’s Mill.

We hope the present Blue Ridge Rifles (if they have the opportunity) will emulate the original.

(*) - Elsewhere in this issue of the Keowee Courier there were reports of naval battles in the Cuban and Philippine waters, as the United States prepared for ground invasions to drive out the Spanish forces. The War Department was preparing to issue a quota of volunteers for each state.

(More items from South Union Chat by T.): There were three preachers at South Union last Sunday—Revs. McGuire, Leathers and Marett. The former preached a strong and forcible discourse. He had a cap to fit every sinner in the audience, except your humble servant…Miss Frankie Sheldon, the accomplished, indefatigable teacher of Oakway school, left last Saturday on a visit to Anderson, Newberry, Laurens, Greenville and Pickens…Crops are real promising. The fruit crop is good only in certain places. On elevated positions there is plenty, while in low places there is none.

AUGUST 4, 1898

(Items from South Union News by L.): The protracted meeting of South Union will close to-day. Nine happy souls received the ordinance of Christian baptism at the hands of the pastor, Rev. J.M. McGuire, this morning…Crops are flourishing…The weather is hot.

Black Diamond Railroad Meeting Held

(Item from the Keowee Courier’s general news):

The meeting held at Townville last Saturday in the interest of the great Black Diamond Railroad (*) was very well attended, and considerable interest was aroused. Major G.W. Maret, who has always taken a deep interest in railroad matters, presided, and speeches were made by Messrs. J.L. Tribble, P.K. McCully, J.E. Breazeale and J.M. Sullivan, of Townville, and R.E. Mason and A. Zimmerman, of Westminster.

The object of the meeting was to arouse the people to the importance of raising their proportionate share of the money needed to defray the expenses of the preliminary inspection of the route.

The ladies were out in full force, and the spread of dinner was bountiful, rich and varied.

(*) - The Black Diamond Railroad was proposed to connect Charleston and Cincinnati, and pass through Oconee County. Needless to say, it never materialized.

NOVEMBER 10, 1898

(Items from Fair Play News by M.): The election is in progress, but a light vote will be polled, as the clouds look threatening and the farmers have a large proportion of their cotton yet in the field and are working hard to save it…Our school is small yet, but is steadily growing. The school house is being made comfortable, and a complete set of language and reading charts has been purchased by the trustees, who are determined to keep their school abreast…Our farmers are well prepared to winter their stock. An immensely large quantity of forage has been safely housed—hay, molasses cane and pea-vines. Sweet potatoes are abundant and fat hogs are not scarce at all…But little grain has been sown as yet…Rev. W.W. Leathers has accepted a call to Beaverdam Baptist church. This is his third year at that church. Ex-Auditor W.T. Grubbs is superintendent of the Sunday school…Some of the young men are attending college. Mr. Keels Marett is in Georgia. Some of our Baptist boys are attending the Baptist school in Westminster.

NOVEMBER 17, 1898

(Items from Fair Play Dots by M.): L.J. King, who is canvassing the cotton belt with his improved cotton planter, paid his family a flying visit last week…Corn is much better than it was expected to be after so much water…Seneca and Anderson divide our cotton…Miss Ella Davis has been elected assistant for our school for the winter…Partridges are plentiful.

NOVEMBER 24, 1898

(Items from Fair Play Dots, writer not listed): We hear very flattering reports of Prof. Jennings. We do not doubt that he is an acquisition to our teaching force…Mr. Chas. Grant, formerly a merchant in Fair Play, expects to take up his adobe in Walhalla this week. His friends, while they will miss him, wish him a prosperous business and a pleasant residence.

DECEMBER 1, 1898

(Items from Fair Play Dots by J.L. M’W.): Thanksgiving day was pleasantly spent by our people. Several gentlemen went partridge shooting, but found the birds scarce. Several good messes were brought in, though…The event of the night was a largely attended party given by Mr. Robert Keese at his father’s home. Dancing was the chief amusement. Excellent music was furnished by Mr. John Lee, Jr., and Mr. Dave Silverman, of Anderson…There will be no services at Jones’ Chapel on the second Sunday, the pastor being absent at the annual conference.

Mortgage Sales Reflect ‘Hard Times’

(Another item from Fair Play Dots by J.L. M’W.): Mortgage sales are plentiful. It is a sad commentary on the conditions of our people, when their crops are not adequate to pay the bills for food and clothing used during the year, and their household and kitchen furniture (what little they have) has to go for their debts.

DECEMBER 8, 1898

(Items from Fair Play Dots by J.L. M’W.): A large drove of mountain hogs are in town. We also had a drove of horses with us…Misses Bertha Vandiver and Leila Hanserd have opened a dress-making establishment. They have rented a room in the new residence of Rev. A.P. Marett…Mr. James Wiggins is selling out and getting ready to move to Newry, where he will be employed in the cotton factory…The sale of the personal effects of the late Wm. Isbell last Friday was largely attended.

House and Out Buildings Burn Down

(Another item from Fair Play Dots by J.L. M’W.):

The house, barn, crib and meat house, owned by Miss Cornelia Marett, and occupied by Mrs. B.T. Whitfield, were entirely consumed by fire Monday night.

One of the children carried a pine torch into a room where three bales of cotton were stored. A dropped coal did the mischief.

DECEMBER 15, 1898

(Items from Fair Play Items by J.L. M’W.): There will be an all day Christmas singing at Beaverdam Baptist church Sunday, December 25th. Prof. W.T. Grubbs will have charge of the exercises. The public is cordially invited to attend. Bring your friends and well filled baskets…Mr. L.J. King has returned from his tour of the Cotton States and will spend Christmas at home.

Bridge-Keeper Passes Through Town

(Another item from Fair Play Items by J.L. M’W.):

Mr. Robert Glenn, the genial bridge-keeper at Knox bridge, spent a short while in town on Tuesday on his way to visit his mother.

Everybody likes Bob, except those who try to beat him out of his toll. To such he is a terror.

He reports that suckers are biting and that he has a fine sucker hole which he keeps baited all the time. We are going fishing the first clear Saturday that comes.

DECEMBER 22, 1898

(Items from Fair Play Items by J.L. McWhorter): There will be a Christmas tree at the new school house beyond Mr. Thomas Keese’s next Saturday, 24th, at eleven o’clock in the morning, for the benefit of the children of that community We are told that there are little ones who are in dire need…A happy Christmas and a glad New Year to all.

*     *     *     *     *

JANUARY 12, 1899

(Items from Fair Play Items. by M.W.): Never, in the memory of our oldest citizens, has a Christmas been more orderly and quietly kept here than the one through whose merriment we have recently passed—no drinking, no boisterous language, though we had a largely attended shooting match…School is progressing finely, with a large attendance, and is growing every day. We hope ere long to hold the same position that we did last year, namely, second in point of attendance in the county.

FEBRUARY 16, 1899

(Item from Oakway Items by X.Y.Z. Carter Partner): W.M. Lemmons is bossing Mr. James King’s saw mill near Fair Play. Mr. King is wise in securing Mr. Lemmons as overseer.

MAY 25, 1899

(Items from Notes from Fair Play by Hegel): Prof. McWhorter’s school closed Friday, the 12th instant. Mr. McWhorter has taught two terms of the Fair Play school and has made many friends… Hickory is the name of the camp of the order of Woodmen of the World recently established at Fair Play.

JULY 6, 1899

(Items from Fair Play Locals by M.C.B.): A number of our citizens attended the barbecue at Seneca on the 4th of July…Our young people expect to picnic at the ford of the creek near Mrs. Jodie Reeder’s on the road leading from Fair Play to Westminster, Saturday, 8th instant…The Fair Play Lodge of Woodmen of the World will attend the unveiling of the monument to Rev. J. Walter Dickson at Smith’s chapel on the third Sunday in July.

AUGUST 10, 1899

Subscriptions for Cotton Mill Taken

(Item from the Keowee Courier’s general news): A meeting will be held at Fair Play next Saturday, 12th instant, at 12 o’clock, for the purpose of taking subscriptions to a cotton mill to be located at Hatton’s Ford, on Tugaloo river.

Flood Refugees Walk through Fair Play

(Item from the Keowee Courier’s general news):

Quite an unusual little family passed through our town (Fair Play) to-day (August 9), Peter Nickols, p.c., his wife and four small children.

The mother was pushing the baby carriage in which was a child a year and two months old and their small bundles. She was aided by two children, four and six years old respectively, pulling the front. The man walked behind carrying their baggage and cooking utensils.

They had traveled in this manner over four hundred miles. They were refugees of the Yazoo flood, from Holmes county, Mississippi, and are walking back to their native home at Plymouth Court House, Washington county, North Carolina.

SEPTEMBER 28, 1899

(Item from Fair Play Items by Brown Eyes): L.J. King and W.J. Knox left last Thursday with their cotton planter for Texas and other cotton States.

OCTOBER 19, 1899

(Item from Fair Play Paragraphs by Brown Eyes): After so much rain the farmers are glad to see the sunshine again.

NOVEMBER 9, 1899

(Items from Earle’s Mill and Tokeena by Walking Stick): Mr. W.E. Barton, of Fair Play, will commence his school at Cross Roads before long…Prof. M.C. Barton, Principal of the Fair Play High School, was in this burg Saturday on business.

*     *     *     *     *

JANUARY 4, 1900

(Items from Townville News by Walking-Stick): School opened again this morning with a good attendance. The new school building will be ready for occupancy in about a week. Then Townville can brag of having one of the best high schools in the State…Rev. J.W. Speak, of the Newberry section, and one of our old school teachers, spent the holidays in our midst and preached an instructive sermon at the Presbyterian church Sunday morning.

JANUARY 25, 1900

(Items from Townville Topics by Walking-Stick): Most of the visitors that come here speak well of our little hamlet. All that is needed to make us prosper is the Black Diamond (*)…Our little town owes to Mr. J.W. Shirley the credit for setting out so many nice water oaks on Main street. It is reported there will be more good work done on the streets. It is badly needed…The Eldorado Reading Club did not have their regular meeting Friday evening on account of bad weather…Rev. James Williams preached an instructive sermon to a large congregation at the Baptist church Sunday morning…Some of our political men in Oconee are cussing and discussing the road law quite extensively. It doesn’t make much difference to us what kind of law they have, for we generally go a path through the woods.

(*) - The Black Diamond was a proposed railroad that would connect Charleston with Cincinnati and pass through Oconee County.

FEBRUARY 1, 1900

(Items from Townville Topics by Walking-Stick): Hauling guano is the order of the day. We suppose this means a large acreage of cotton…The Eldorado Reading Club met last Thursday evening at Mr. Handy Harris’s. There were some fine speeches by the young men and nice essays by the young ladies, on different subjects…On last Friday the roof of the old school building was discovered on fire. The flames were making good headway, but by the rapid work of the boys the flames were soon extinguished…A large crowd attended the dance at Mr. J.W. McCarley’s last Friday night…Our esteemed friend, Mr. A.W. Singleton, has been appointed by the Beaverdam Association to attend Furman University at Greenville. We think the Association acted wisely in appointing him. He is a bright young man.

FEBRUARY 22, 1900

(Items from Townville Topics by Walking-Stick): School is on a boom. The new building is not quite complete, but will be in the near future…The Baptists are talking about building a parsonage on their church lot…The school boys did not go to cross bats with the Tokeena boys last Friday, as the teacher did not want his boys to play. But the Townville boys are always ready to play at any time.

Farmers Work To Save Land from Ruin

(Another item from Townville Topics by Walking-Stick): The farmers have been doing a great deal of work this year in improving their farms. They are saving their land from ruin.

MARCH 1, 1900

(Items from Fair Play Locals by Hegel): Our patriotic young men have been setting our streets with young trees. These will take the place of the magnificent oaks that were once the pride of our citizens…A Bible Institute will be held at the Beaverdam Baptist church on the first Saturday and Sunday in March. The object of the meeting will be to study the four remaining Sunday school lessons of this quarter. Rev. J.R. Earle and Capt. Patrick are expected to be present and lecture on the lessons. There will be a morning and evening session each day.

MARCH 8, 1900

(Items from Fair Play Talk by X.Y.Z.): Mr. R.W. Blakley’s boys are the champion rabbit killers. They have killed 114 since December…We have preaching three Sundays in a month—the first Sunday morning at the Baptist church at 11 o’clock, second Sunday morning at Methodist at 11 o’clock, and the third Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock. The Presbyterian preacher is talking about preaching for us if the settlement wants it. We think it would be grand to have preaching every Sunday.

MARCH 15, 1900

(Items from Townville News by Walking-Stick): The Edwards reading club met last Friday night at Mrs. S.E. McCarley’s…Several of the young people have met recently and enjoyed themselves at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Johnson…The Cracker’s Neck (*) school boys and the Townville High School boys played a match game of base ball last Saturday afternoon. The Cracker’s Neck boys were victorious. The score stood: Cracker’s Neck, 11; Townville, 10.

(*) - Cracker’s Neck was a school in Georgia.

MARCH 29, 1900

(Items from Fair Play Items by October Day): We think Walhalla is doing the right thing in celebrating her semi-centennial. (*) Some of our older citizens say that our modest little town could easily celebrate her one hundredth anniversary and still have some years to spare…Dr. G.B. Moore’s father, of Cornelia, Ga., is visiting his son and family here…Miss Gertie Mahaffy is assisting in the Fair Play High School at present.

(*) - Having been founded in 1850, Walhalla was making plans to hold a Semi-Centennial (50th anniversary) Celebration in August.

APRIL 5, 1900

White Rock To Celebrate Semi-Centennial

(Item from Tugaloo News by L.):

South Union is right along with Walhalla, as the citizens have decided to celebrate the Semi-Centennial of White Rock Academy at South Union some time this coming summer, it being the fiftieth year since the establishment of a school there. (*)

They want to make it a re-union of all who ever attended school there—teachers and pupils. Notice of times, etc., will be given later.

(*) - Walhalla was planning to hold a Semi-Centennial Celebration in August, as this was the 50th anniversary of its founding in 1850.

APRIL 12, 1900

(Items from Fair Play Items by M.C.B.): There is a good deal of sickness in our community…There will be an all-day singing at Beaverdam Baptist church next Sunday, the 15th instant. There will also be taken on that day a collection for the famine sufferers in India.

APRIL 19, 1900

(Items from Fair Play Items by M.C.B.): There has been an epidemic of grip in this community, scarcely a family escaping. The sick are improving under the skillful treatment of Dr. Moore…Mr. Langston, of Walhalla, has been putting the road to Westminster in excellent condition here…There will be preaching at the Methodist church at 11 o’clock A.M. on the third Sunday of each month, instead of 3 P.M., as heretofore.

MAY 17, 1900

Picnic and Base Ball a Grand Success

(Item from Townville News by W.E.G.):

The picnic here on May 14 was a grand success in every particular, there being a good many from a distance (but no candidates), and all enjoyed themselves, especially the students of the high school. The school was under the control of Prof. R.P. Clinkscales and closed that day.

The games of base ball played that day on the Townville campus were very good. The first game was played between Seneca and Townville in which Seneca dragged the Townville boys’ colors in the dust by a score largely in the majority. In the afternoon, however, the tide turned and Townville was victorious by a score of 23 to 19.

(Item from Items from Maxwell’s Ferry News by Uno): Several of our young folks attended the picnic and base ball at Townville Friday and report a huge time.

JUNE 21, 1900

(Items from News In and Around Townville by Walking Stick): The farmers are very badly behind with their work. General green has captured the fleecy staple…The Sunday school at Pine Grove is in a flourishing condition…Rev. J.F. Mason preached a very instructive sermon at Pine Grove on last Sunday morning. Rev. C. Wardlaw will preach at Pine Grove on the first Sunday in July in the afternoon…Rev. James Williams preached an instructive sermon to a large congregation at the Baptist church Sunday morning.

(Items from News Around South Union by B.): The farmers have been busy cutting wheat and are now looking out for the threshers…Our Sunday school is moving on nicely…Miss Dora Reeder has gone to Walhalla to attend the summer school. (*)

(*) - This was the annual summer school for Oconee County teachers.

JULY 4, 1900

(Items from News Around South Union by Rose Bud): Rev. J.M. McGuire preached an interesting sermon last fourth Sunday…Messrs. Ottie Burriss, Jake Cromer and Fred Carroll, with the Cross Roads nine, crossed bats with the Townville nine last Saturday afternoon. The score was 17 to 18 in favor of the former.

JULY 25, 1900

(Items from News Around South Union by Rose Bud): As our big Semi-Centennial is over and we all had a nice time we will write again with more details…Miss Dora Reeder, one of our accomplished young ladies, opened up her school at Tertia to-day…The protracted sermons will begin at South Union next Sunday night. Hope all can come.

AUGUST 15, 1900

(Item from Townville Dots by Walking Stick): The Townville and Tokeena Base Ball teams crossed bats on the Townville diamond last Thursday, which ended 15 to 8 in favor of Townville.

SEPTEMBER 26, 1900

(Items from Fair Play Items by October Day): Mr. E. Marett has had the misfortune to lose several head of cattle recently on his Tugaloo farm. A veterinary surgeon from Clemson College was over on the 22d to investigate the cause of the trouble. He pronounced the disease Texas fever…The Fair Play High School opened on the 17th instant with a good attendance…Mr. Keels Marett leaves this week for Greenville, where he will pursue his studies at Furman University…Mr. Frank Keese, representing a hardware house of Atlanta, was in town last week; also Mr. John Jarrard, representing a dry goods establishment of the same city.

Severe Drought Devastates Crops

(Another item from Fair Play Items by October Day): Our community has the severest drought our oldest citizens have ever witnessed. The cotton crop will average about one-third. Scarcely enough corn will be made to fatten the winter pork. Very little hay and fodder have been saved. A good stand of turnips is reported. Rye is being sown for early winter grazing.

(Items from Townville and Tertia Dots by Midnight Star): We have had a good deal of rain and everything is green and growing (*)…Profs. Clinkscales and Ginn, of Star, are in town, looking after the high school which will begin the first of October…Dr. W.K. Sharp is putting up some first-class water works. The work is being done by Mr. Brissey, of Anderson…Mr. J.A. Wooten is making some additions to his residence for the convenience of boarders.

(*) - Note the contrast in the rain situation between Townville and Fair Play.

OCTOBER 17, 1900

(Items from Fair Play Locals by Hegel): Mr. and Mrs. F.B. Watson’s little girl, Thelma, has typhoid fever. She has been sick for ten days, but at this writing is improving slowly…Miss Eloise Duckett, of Anderson, has been selected as assistant for our school. Miss Duckett is a gradute of Greenville Female College…Mr. T.R. Harris is improving his house. He will have quite a commodious residence when completed.

Mule Rescued From Percarious Situation

(Another item from Fair Play Locals by Hegel):

One of our enterprising young farmers, Mr. Stephen Smith, had quite an interesting experience recently.

While crossing a bridge on Mr. T.R. Harris’ farm one of his mules became frightened and pushed the other one over the bridge. The mule was suspended in mid air, held by the collar and hames. The remarkable part is that the other mule held his footing until Mr. Smith cut the hame-string and let his helpless quadruped land on terra firma, feet foremost.

Mule and driver are doing well.

NOVEMBER 7, 1900

(Items from News from South Union by Rose Bud): Miss Allen gave the young folks a candy breaking one night last week. It was enjoyed very much by all…Rev. C. Wardlaw filled his appointment at South Union last fourth Saturday and Sunday. A large and attentive congregation was present…The two little children of Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Harris have been very sick, but are improving.

NOVEMBER 28, 1900

(Items from News In and Around South Union by Rosebud): School opened up here Monday with 30 scholars. Mr. Sam Dickson is teacher. The children like him very much…The Library of White Rock Academy is moving on nicely. A good many books were loaned out last Saturday…We are sorry to learn that Mrs. W.L. Thomas has a sore hand. We hope it will soon be well.

(Items from Townville and Tertia Dots by Midnight Star): Miss Kate Crayton, of Anderson, has charge of the Pine Grove school…Miss Nellie Harris has charge of the Tertia school…Mr. J.C. Spears has moved his stock of goods into his new store…Mr. J.W. Shirley is having some painting done, which adds a great deal to the looks of our little town.

DECEMBER 12, 1900

(Items from Townville and Tertia Dots by Midnight Star): We are having some fine weather for hog killing and the people are taking great pleasure in slaying the swine…A party of ladies and gentlemen from our little town went o’possum hunting the other night and captured a fine fellow…The dance at J.W. McCarley’s Friday night was enjoyed by all present…On the night of the 17th of this month Prof. Charles Lane, of Atlanta, will lecture in the school house at this place. He is the well know humorist. Admission fee: Adults 25cts; children, 15cts.

*     *     *     *     *

JANUARY 9, 1901

(Items from South Union Chat by Rosebud): Mr. T.D. Long entertained a number of young people with a dance Wednesday night of Christmas week. Several young ladies and gentlemen from Westminster were present…Mr. Glenn Shirley, of Georgia, is going to work for Mr. W.L. Thomas this year…The South Union Sunday school has elected the following officers for the ensuing year: John Harris, superintendent; John Crawford, assistant superintendent; J.L. Reeder, secretary; Mrs. Mattie Brown, organist.

FEBRUARY 20, 1901

(Items from News from Fair Play by Rosebud): The farmers are busy hauling fertilizer for this year…There are quite a number of pupils in the Fair Play high school. They have three teachers…Mr. Steve Smith has been to Anderson and purchased two fine mules. We wish Fair Play had a few more farmers like Mr. Smith…A pound supper at Mr. Tom Isbell’s last Tuesday night was enjoyed by all who attended.

Man Dies After Being Thrown from Mule

(Item from the Keowee Courier’s general news):

On Thursday, February 7th, Mr. Joe Thrasher, son of Mr. W.H. Thrasher, of Townville, who was employed by Dr. W.T. Hunt, of that place, was returning at night from his work when the mule he was riding became frightened and threw him. His feet caught in the harness and he was dragged about a half mile by the mule until it was seen by some one at Mr. James McCarley’s place.

Mr. McCarley ran out with a lantern, which blinded and stopped the mule. Mr. Thrasher never regained consciousness after the accident. He was about eighteen years old.

APRIL 10, 1901

(Items from Fair Play Items by Rosebud): Prof. Barton is teaching a large school at this place. There are forty-five pupils enrolled…The prayer meeting at the Baptist church is arousing interest and is well attended…The farmers are busy planting their crops…Mr. Steve Smith has his new house completed. We would suggest that he would do well now to marry.

MAY 1, 1901

(Items from Fair Play Items by M.C.B.): Our town authorities have recently made a much needed improvement on our streets. New side walks have been made, extending to the school house and the Methodist church…The measles seem to be spreading rapidly in our neighborhood…Our neighborhood is enjoying a nice selection of magazines which was sent to us through the Library Association at Seneca…The many friends of Mr. Keels Marett are glad to see him at home again. Mr. Marett has been attending school at Furman and his health was such as to cause him to give up his studies for this session.

MAY 8, 1901

(Items from Townville Topics by Annie Gordon Dickson): Dr. W.T. Hunt, who understands pretty well the art of keeping a good many irons in the fire, is now slaughtering beeves at the rate of three or four a week…Mr. W.E. Tribble, of Harmony Hill, Texas, who has been here on his first visit to the old home in twenty-four years, has returned to Texas…A good many farmers who planted cotton as early in April as was possible, had to plant again.

(Items from News from Townville by Walking Stick): Several people of this place attended the memorial of the old soldiers (*) at Old Stone Church and Pendleton last Saturday and report a very pleasant time…Rev. James Williams preached a very interesting sermon to a large congregation at the Baptist church Sunday morning…The base ball cranks of this place will meet in the park Saturday afternoon to organize. Townville is expecting to have a good team this season.

(*) - Confederate soldiers.

(Items from Fair Play Items by M.C.B.): Hon. A.C. Latimer’s son was in this section recently establishing the rural free delivery system…Farmers generally are through planting. Corn had to be planted over in some places. Cotton planted early is slow in coming to a stand. Small grain is looking well.

JUNE 5, 1901

(Items from Townville Topics by Annie Gordon Dickson): The telephone line, which has been in disuse between Townville and Anderson for some time past, is being restored…Major Elias Earle, of Clemson College, visited his parents Saturday and Sunday.

(Items from Items from Fair Play by M.C.B.): Rains have been abundant for the past two weeks, delaying farmers with their work, but Uncle Ned says things never got so bad but that they might be a great deal worse…Mr. J.G.B. Vandiver has purchased a reaper and will be prepared to cut and bind his neighbors’ grain…The measles and mumps have been very prevalent in our neighborhood for the past month…The strawberry crop was never finer. The old fields are crimson with the lucious fruit. Come down, Mr. Editor, and thee shall see more strawberries than thee ever saw before.

Farmer Ploughs Up Gold Coins

(Another item from Items from Fair Play by M.C.B.):

A field hand, who is working with Dr. Cornog on the place formerly owned by Mr. Wm. Knox, ploughed up a quantity of gold coins, amounting to something over forty dollars, last week.

The money is said to have been hid by Mr. Knox during the war to prevent capture by the Yankees. He afterward searched for the money, but not having been careful identifying the place, never found it.

JUNE 19, 1901

(Items from News from Fair Play by M.C.B.): Mr. Thos. Smith is the champion fisherman of this section, having caught four carp recently that would average ten pounds each…Mr. E.C. Marett has again been troubled with the Texas fever among his cattle. The fever is produced by ticks…The rust has injured the wheat crop materially. The continued wet weather has prevented harvesting, and it will be difficult to save the crop.

County Officials Enticed To Work on Roads

(Another item from News from Fair Play by M.C.B.):

The roads in this section are much in need of repair. We would like to inform some of our county officials, who seemed to be so fond of chicken pie last summer, that another crop is on hand—larger, richer and jucier than ever.

Early apples, peaches, plums and the never-failing blackberry, are now tempting the eye, and we invite our County Supervisor and our two County Commissioners to come down and share our hospitality. And then if we don’t have better roads we won’t invite them no mo’ till next time.

(Items from News from Townville by Walking Stick): Dr. W.K. Sharp has been doing some nice work in the harvest field with his new Ideal binder, and his neighbors seem to be well pleased with the work…The mail from here to Anderson has been cut off for several days on account of high water…Mr. P.S. Mahaffey will leave in a few days for a trip to Washington and New York. He will also visit the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo before he returns.

(Items from Townville Topics by A.G.D.): Messrs. Gaines, Shirley & Co. have bought an entire new threshing outfit, including a traction engine. They propose to thresh out the whole country, evidently…The rains, besides washing the lands badly and damaging the grain in the fields to some extent, have gotten the average farmer pretty badly in grass.

JULY 10, 1901

(Items from Townville News by Swamp Rabbit): There has been more small grain threshed in this community than for several years. The farmers at last realize the necessity of raising their bread-stuff at home…Major E.P. Earle left Sunday for Ithica, N.Y., where he will attend the commencement of Cornell University. He will also take in the Pan-American Exposition at Buffalo before he returns.

JULY 17, 1901

Townville To Play Two Base Ball Games

(Item from the Keowee Courier’s general news): Plese announce in your columns that the Townville base ball nine will cross bats with Tertia on the 26th of July, at Marett’s picnic. On the 27th Townville and Tokeena will play on the Townville diamond. Both games will begin at 4.30 o’clock. Some expert playing is expected.—Captain.

AUGUST 14, 1901

(Items from News from Townville by Walking Stick): We have had good rains in this section and crops are on a boom…The series of meetings at the Baptist church closed last Friday night. Three were added to the church by baptism…A protracted meeting is in progress at the Presbyterian church. Rev. Banks, of Cross Roads, and Rev. Law are assisting Rev. Hamiter at the meeting…Messrs. Ligon, Sharp, Giles and Jones attended the Woodmen picnic at Reeder’s Ford last Friday…The Townville and Tertia base ball teams crossed bats on the grounds of the latter last Saturday afternoon. The score stood 2 to 0 in favor of Tertia. On account of rain the game was called at the end of the fourth inning. Townville will play two games with Autun here next Friday and Saturday.

AUGUST 21, 1901

(Items from Fair Play Items by M.C.B.): Mr. Richard Grubbs is conducting a singing class at Beaverdam church…Mr. William Grubbs is the champion melon raiser in our section…A number of our young people are off on a trip to the mountains during these juicy dog days…Little Edwin, aged six years, the oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. P.L. Pullen, was buried in the Beaverdam cemetery Friday at 5 o’clock p.m. His almost sudden death was caused by that dread disease scarlet fever, he having been sick but two days.

(Items from Townville Topics by A.G.D.): The crop prospect is greatly improved since the rains, and farmers begin to count on an average yield…Miss Maggie Speares, after a sojourn of several weeks in the mountains, is at home.

‘Mother of Orr’s Regiment’ Attends Reunion

(Another item from Townville Topics by A.G.D.): A number of our people, including Mrs. Colonel Ledbetter, the mother of the regiment, (*) attended the reunion of Orr’s Rifles at Sandy Springs last week.

(*) - Mrs. Ledbetter was given the honorary title of Mother of Orr’s Regiment by the members of Orr’s Regiment of Rifles (Orr’s Rifles) during the Civil War. She was the wife of Col. Daniel A. Ledbetter, who assumed command of the regiment after its founder, Col. James Lawrence Orr, was elected to the Confederate States Senate and his first successor as commander was killed in action. Col. Ledbetter himself was then killed in action during the second battle of Manassas (Bull Run) in August 1862.

AUGUST 28, 1901

(Items from News Around Townville by Swamp Rabbit): It still continues to rain, and what little corn was on the water courses has been destroyed. Cotton has been damaged to some extent…The patrons of Townville High School met Saturday and elected as assistant teacher for the ensuing year Miss Addie Majors, of Belton. The school will open in October…Mr. Keels Marett, of Fair Play, was in our hamlet Saturday afternoon…Townville and Tertia base ball teams crossed bats at Townville Saturday afternoon. Tertia was defeated by a score of 9 to 3.

SEPTEMBER 11, 1901

(Items from Townville Topics by A.G.D.): Lumber is being sawed for the erection of the Methodist church, to be built here in memory of the late Rev. J. Walter Dickson…Prof. S.M. Mahaffey, who has been elected principal of the Townville High School, will move with his family to town on the 20th instant…Rev. S.M. Jones, assisted by Revs. J.W. Speake, of Greenville, and D.W. Keller, of Westminster, is conducting a meeting in the Presbyterian church here this week…Rev. O.J. Copeland, the pastor, ran a meeting at Oakdale Baptist church last week and received into the church fifteen persons by experience…Miss Grace Thompson has gone to take charge of the school at Fountain Inn, Greenville county…Mr. C.D. Giles will move back to his farm before long. He is one of Oconee’s best farmers…Mr. J.W. Dickson is taking a business course in a commercial school at Spartanburg.

SEPTEMBER 18, 1901

(Items from The News Around Fair Play by M.C.B.): Mr. E.C. Marett expects to overhaul his ginnery by putting in a new gin and section pipe. This is a much needed improvement and will be appreciated by the public…Mr. Richard Grubbs expects to leave for Dayton, Va., the 16th instant, where he will pursue his study in music. Mr. Grubbs has been conducting a singing at Beaverdam during the past four weeks, and has proven himself to be an efficient teacher…Uncle Bob Massey and family, who have been living at the Capt. Kidd place, near Pullen’s Ferry, for the last two years, will heretofore make their home with their relatives in Anderson. Uncle Bob has never entirely recovered from injuries he received in a fall last winter.

OCTOBER 23, 1901

(Items