Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-06-07
SttistelIameuns &eadiug.
For the YorkvIlle Enquirer.
AN INCIDENT OF THE OLDEN TINE.

| For the Yorkvle Enquirer.
AN INCIDENT OF THE OLDEN TIME.
..a.. CHARLEY POLK.
Among the families that came South from
the northern colonies, was one by the name
of Polk. This family bore conspicuous
part during the Revolutionary war 1t is a
somewhat general opinion that the Polk fam.
ily, or families, settled in what is now Meek
lenburg county, North Carolina. This ad-
mits of a doubt 1t is true that for sometime
previous to the commencement of actual hos.
tilities, several of the Folks had been residing
in what was afterward called, very appropri-
ately, the "Hornet nest region" They took
an active part in what is known as the "Meck'
lenburg Convention" movement. Thomas
Polk was a member of the "Mecklenburg
Committee"
1t is more than probable, after all, that the
Folks first settled in York county, South Car
olina, in what has, for more than century,
been known as the Bethel settlement. We
take it that the Folks were Scotch Irish, or
at least, in some way linked up with the
Scotch.Irish settlers of Mecklenburg, North
Carolina, and the Bethel settlement in South
Carolina. Here, it may be said, that the
Bethel settlement once was very extensive.
It embraced nearly the whole of the present
county of York, north of Yorkville. 1n fact,
it extended below Yorkvile. From the Ca
tawba, it extended westward to the spurs OF
Kings Mountain.
On the road leading from Yorkville to
Kings Mountain, nine miles from the former
place, Ezekiel Polk once lived. The land
now belongs, in part at least, to the heirs OF
William McGill, deceased. Traces of the
old homestead are still visible. 1t is in a
cluster of pines to the right Of the road, four
or Eve hundred yards north of the residence
of Thad. McMackin. Col. Thos. Polk lived
on Fishing creek, in York county, the precise
spot We have thus far been unable to ferret
out with accuracy. Another of the Folks
settled in the northwest corner of York coun'
ty, on Buffalo.
Amongst the Folks, there was one called
Charley. What relation he bore to President
Polk, or rather what relation the President
bore to him, we are unable to say, nor does it
matter very materially. Possibly, had the
President known Charley, it is very probable
he would have denied that they we're related
at all. Charley was known all over the COM
munity by the ugly name Of "Devil Charley"
However rough and uncouth this name may
sound, it was, if all accounts of Charley are
true, very appropriate.
One, and only one, incident in his life will
be given to justify the wisdom of those who
nick named Charley. On one occasion Char
lev and an acquaintance we're walking
along the road, engaged in social conversation.
Soon a traveller was seen a short distance
ahead, meeting them. The gentleman was ri.
ding in what was then called gig-a vehicle
resembling modern sulky, but more roomy
and more clumsy. Charley, on getting q
glimps of the man approaching him, said to
his companion, II am going to make that fel.
low get out and dance" "Do you know
him9" inquired his companion. "No," was the
reply, "but am going to make him dance
any how" "Oh l would not. Let the man
go on" expostulated his friend. "No," said
Charley, II said 1 would make him dance,
and will do it."
By this time the traveller had arrived with
in the distance when meeting travellers salute
each other. The gentleman spoke very po-
litely, and so did both Charley and his com.
panion.
"Stop," said Charley, to the man in the
gig. II said l would make you get out of
that gig and dance, and now am going to do
it."
The gentleman, in pleasing and cour.
teous manner, begged that he might be per-
mitted to continue bis journey.
NO." said Charley, "you shall dance, and
the sooner you get out and 60 at it the better
it will be for you"
"Well" said the traveller, 81 am in hur.
ry and am a poor dancer, and, besides, l
see you have no music; but if you will per.
NIT me to take off my heavy shoes and pat
on a pair of slippers, have in the seat of
my gig, will crafty you"
Unthoughtedly, Charley told him he had
no objection to bis putting on his slippers.
Charley now felt as man feels on the eve of
grand triumph. He began to laugh with
in himself at the ludicrous sight in prospect
a man, with light pair of slippers on, dan.
cling with all his might, without music, in the
middle of the public highway.
The gentleman got out of his gig and qui-
etly raised the seat of his vehicle, and instead
of taking out pair of light slippers, he took
out pair of heavy pistols. The eyes of the
mild.voiced stranger now flashed with ven
geance. Charley and his companion were
unarmed. The stranger saw this, for both
were in their shirt sleeves. The stalwart
frame of "Devil Charley" Polk began to
tremble He saw that he had made fatal
mistake.
"Now," said the stranger, "you dance, or l
will blow your brains out"
Charley discovered, by the fire Of the stran-
gers eye and by the vehemence of the tones
of his voice, that he was not in fun. He
meant every word he said. Charley never
stopped to parley or make excuses, but that
he might prevent the stranger from putting
his threat into execution, went to skipping
about and shaking his feet as briskly as if he
had been at Christmas frolic.
II