The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1873-04-09
Miscellau:ons.
From Our Monthly.
LITTLE RIVER CHURCH.

IItttc ElVcr Churcn. situated
originally in the upper part OF
Newberry County, takes its name
from the stream flowing near it.
According to DR.. IIowo's History,
it was organized by Rev. James
Creswc!I, il 17G4 ; and its first el-
ders were, Col. james Williams.
who lcll ~ Kings Mountain, All
gus Campbell, and James Burn
side. \ Mr.. William Caldwell. 9
noted surveyor in his day, donated
the land upon which the building
was erected. The original grant
contained twenty acres. bnt the
elders thinking this more than
necessary, gave fifteen acres back
to Mr.. Caldwell. The land now be-
longing to the church is about five
acres. So far as is known, tho
framing timbers Of the present
building are the same that were
first pat up, so they must be up
wards Of Il hundred years old.
Judging from the size ofthc pieces,
we would say, there were ''men
in those days, and Judging from
the manner in which one piece is
secured TO another, we would say,
they were honest men, because
they did good work, and benevo-
lent men, because they labored for
postcrity. The house has several
times been re-weathcr boarded
and covered. Rev. v. Tcunout
preached in this house in 1775, and
after the sermon, harangued the
people for two and half hours on
The interest Of the coantry with
him came William H. Drayton, on
a mission to stir up the people
(sce DR.. Howe). Not far from
this church, but in Laurens County
is the place known as Hays Sta
ton. The scene Of ono Of the
most murderous acts Of the "biood7
Bill Cunningham" commander OF
"the bloody scout
A grandson Of Col. Williams of
Kings Mountain fame, informed
the writer, that Dir. Howe was.
mistaken, when be said that
Col. Daniel Williams and young
Joseph Williams, murdered here
by "BIoody BilI'' were brothers Of
Col. Williams-they We're not the
brothers, but the sons Of that
hoGored man. On the site OF this
tragic scene, a beautiful monument
was erected to the memory Of the
"tallen braves" Last summer,
one year ago, this monument was
damaged either by stroke Of
lightning or by the ruthless hands
of those who seemed TO envy the
peaceful sleep and honored name
of the noble dead. For a full de-
tail Of the history Of Little River
Church, up to the beginning Of
1900, the reader is referred to Dr..
Howe's History Of the PresJyte-
rian Church, in South Carolina,
pages 339-'4O, 525-'27, 528 and 6l7.
Father John B. Kennedy began
to preach in this Church in 1896
(sce DR.. Howe) and some think he
supplied this Church, at different
times, covering q space Of nearly
forty years. Ifthis opinion is cor
rect, his last laborS mere must have
been near about the year 1886.
No sessional records Of Little Riv-
er are extant. until August, 1871.
From the year 1900, up TO August
1871, nc very accurate information
can be obtained from those now
living around the Church. The
religious complication Of this com
munity has been very much chan
ged. Presbyterianism has been on
the decline in respect to number.
The Church has now 70 Session,
and so far as the writer knows,
there is but one male member liv-
ing in the bounds of the Church,
and he very aged and infirm.
Maj. John Black, Robert Gray,
and John Burnside, were ruling
elders in this Church previous to
1871. Mr.. Burnside and Mr.. Gray
having faithfully served their gene
ration fell asleep in Jesus-the
former in 1882 and the latter, date
unknown, Dr. J. ". Simpson was
also as elder ip tbjs Church, but