The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-12-20
- co ANDERSON, S. G, THURSDAY. DECEMBER 20 1877
THROUGH NORTHEAST GEORGIA.

THROUGH NORTHEAST GEORGIA.
What q Rambling Andersonian Saw and
$780, Heard.
Mr.. EDITOR Recently we enjoyed the
pleasure of a trip to the, State of Georgia,
on visit to married sister, living. near
Hickory Flat, in Cherokee County, aud
to an only brother living in Polk County.
TO say that we were pleased with the trip
does not express the,ides. We were de-
I lighted. A widowed sister, of Oconee
County, in this State, accompanied US
on our visit, and added much to our en-
| joyment.. And wherever we journeyed
in! that noble State we found old Caroli-
mans, who greeted us with the utmost
cordiality. Many anxious inquiries were
made after the political condition Of the
mother State, and real joy evinced at the
]: GLAD tidings of happy deliverance.
, ~
r. FRANKLIN COUNTY.
As we cleared the river at Knox's
Bridge our feet pressed the soil of Geor-
gia in Franklin County. We soon
reached the site of the ancient and ven
erable County town, Gainesville. Four
miles of this place on the east we passed
the farm of Mr.. Robert McWhorter, born
and raised in Pickens County, s. G. We
were glad to learn that Mr.. McWhorter
is regarded as one of the most successful
farmers in that partof the country. He
owns a naturally productive farm, and
under his skillfuf management is yield
Ling profitable return for the labor en-
\ ployed. His cotton would compare ia !
vorably with the best.in Anderson Coun-
ty, and his bottom lands were ladened
With bountifal corn crop.
Before reaching Mr.. News. we passed
the ancient residence of Mr.. Samuel
Knox, long since deceased. 1t stands on
beautiful plateau Of ridge lands, max
ing up from the river, and was once the
very personifcation Of. thrift and indus
| try. But, alasl what sad changeI
Dilapidation on every side. The widow
with single daughter still lives at the
old homestead, unwilling to turn their
backs upon the spot of such tender asso-
Citations in the past. How many such
desolate homes are now scattered all
over once prosperous and happy coun-
try. Mr. Knox in his lifetime invested
his earnings largely in valuable lands
Lying along the banks of the Tugalo
River, and still further on in the inte-
irior. His children are now enjoying the
benefit of his sagacity and enterprise>in
this direction. One of his sons lives
directly on the Gainesville road, just be-
yond the old homestead, on beautiful
and valuable farm of 1900 acres, so said.
He has recently erected a neat but
unique cottage on the road side. These
large plantations, owned by single indi-
viduals in many portions of the State, is
a serious drawback to the prosperity of
the country. Better, far better, cut said
farms up into small tracts, and sell or
lease to good citizens on the most favora-
Bile terms than to retain them as so much
dead capital, producing nothing for the
benefit of mankind.
/ Passing on rapidly we reached at
night-fall the hospitable home of our
old Carolina friend, Mr.. G. E. Hamilton.
he lives six miles beyond Gainesville on
/ the Gainesville road. Some FIVE or six
years ago Mr.. 81. disposed of his lands
on the Six-and- Twenty, and re-invested
in valuable farm of over 800 acres, in
a beautiful section Of country. The
landsgare remarkably level and produce
about as well as the ridge lands of An
derson. The place had been we'll inn
proved before Mr.. H's. purchase, so that
we may safely conclude that Mr.. 81.
possesses g location where he may hap
{ PLY pass the evening of a well-spent life.
| All but one of his children have married
| and are living near BY. Rev. MI. Ramp
ley, formerly of Anderson, lives near
GAINESVILLE, and is the largest taxpayer
but one in the County.
| BANKS COUNTY.
I As we approached the town of Homer,
in Banks County, the country became
more rolling and billy. We passed a
fine set of mills called Quillian's Mills.
The lands along the route are generally
thin, interspersed with occasional tracts
of very fine lands. Here we met with
another old Carolina friend, Mr.. Joshua
lOwens. He lives three miles from
Homer, on the Hudson River. He
urged us to spend the night with him,
but we could not do 80. Mr.. Owens
stands high in the, confidence of his
fellow-citizens. Very many of the
old South Carolinians from the Three.
and-Twenty removed to Banks County
some years ago, and, 80 far as we could
learn, were doing well. Mr.. Eli Moofe.
one of the number, and we'll known in
the Shutdown country, died about a year
ago.
! We spent the second night with Mr.
Merritt, who lives in four miles oi
Gainesville. His mother was Garvin,
and his father emigrated to that country
some 80 or 40 years ago. The son is now
living where the father first settled. He
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