Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1879-02-27
WRITTEN FOR TIE KEowEE COURIER.
"reminiscences Of Fair Play from
it's First Settlement to the
Present Day, January. 1879.
by WILLIAM p. CALHOUN.
CHAPTER VI.
1928 TO 1870.

1923 TO 1870.
From 1928 to 1910 very few changes
took place 10 Fair Play. The habits Of the
people had undergone very little change.
Samuel Brown moved to Fair Play aud
opened grocery about the year 1928 and
during the same year Benjamin and David
Slonn opened the first large dry goods store
here, although thoy sold various other
articles in u building which stood where the
old carriage shop now stands, owned by
DR.. j. il. McCuriy. j. II. Cox came with
them as cc,k. The firm did business about
three years, at the cod of which time Cox
bought them out and set up a store on his
own account Cox seems to have oontin-
ued in business longer than any other man
who lived in Fair Play. He erected the
storelousc aud dwelling owned by w. j.
iIix. The storehouse was put up in 1888
aud the dwelling in 1887. The post office
was established here in 1880 with Cox as
postmaster. Between 1928 and 1910
others Goved to this place. aud there are
other persons doing business, but l have
not been able to locate them. The prci-
plo trade was still carried on with ADDER
sonvilc and Hamburg, S. G., or Augusta,
Ga. Flour, chickens, &c, wcro carried
down Tugaloo or Seneca Rivers in boats,
similar to those used now farther down the
river for conveying cotton. 1t would take
boat long time to make the trip. This
means Of transporting freighs from here
has been abandoned long siucc. From six
to eight days would be occupied in going
frem here or Andersonvillc to Augustu, and
of course would occupy much longer time
in returning. So little cotton was raised
that the principle part of it was sold iu An
dersonvisla jn the seed.
Education docs not seem to have taken
any steps towards improvement. The
schools were conducted on the same old
plan. The only other tcncher's name that
| have been able to learn was Hamilton Ma.
ret, who taught here about 1889.
The principle part of the trade was oar
ricd on by barter. The people were very
sociabIe in their habits and the old custom,
during hurycst time of helping each other
IN gathering the grain was extensively on.
gagged in and the old men OF this oommuni-
ty like to talk about those times and to tell
OF the pleasant days and the merry parties
they used to have on those occosiuns, and
also how much more sociable aud neighbor.
ly the people were then than they arc at
tho present time. The harvestries were
conducted as follows, When one Of The
neighbours grain was ready for the blade
he notified tho community, and the whole
neighborhood would come ia and helm
gather the grain, and at night sumptuous
repast would be provided for tho harvesters
The beaux and bellies after supper would
have dancing and If that was forbidden thew
would engage in various games aud amuse
themselves 10 making love or any other
pastlme that was convenient, and this pro.
ccedipg was kept up until all tho grain
was harvested, going from one farm to
another. The females generally had
quilting on the same day of harvesting. It
was time of general joll6oation. But all
of this is now numbered with the tbipgs
of the past.
In lS4O find j. r. Cox still engaged in
the mercantile business hero, and also A.
p. Reader. From this date to 1874 nothing
transrired of Importance, but iu that yeur
the attempt to change tho name Of tho town
to Rockwell was made, and as 1 have re-
marked before, was unsuccessful From
l840 there seems to have boen considerable
Improvement in the educational linc-the
people manifesting moro interest and the
teachers better qualified to teach. During
l846 Morgan Loopy taught school here and
gave general satisfaction. Martin Mackey
taught in l847 and Q. II. Spears had n
good school in lS49, and gave, too, think,
general satisfaction. Bruce & Bruce erected
q carriage mandatory in 1850, and during
tho samo year John Benson was doing bus
mess horo The following persons taught
school in Fair Play during tho years follow !.
ing their names: Thomas Harbin, l851-52:
W. L. Cleveland, 1854; DIR. W. r. IIarbin.
1865; DR.. Jas. A. Johns, 1857-58-59; W.
I. Cleveland, 1860; Miss Lucinda Strib.
ling, 1868; Miss Carrie Dumas, 1854; Elias
Marct, 1865; 4. p. Harbin, 1866; Thomas
Crymes. 1867; A P. Harbin, 1858 -897O;
J. =. Wright, 1871; Miss Hannoh Seaborn,
l872-73; Mrs. r.. G. Bartlett, 1874; G. w.
Green, 1875. Mr.. Green was the frat
principal Of tho Fair Play High School.
John .. Hix, assisted by r. b. Pasm ore.
taught in l876-77; tho latter was principal
Of tho school. The school was taught by
W. p. Calhoun in 1878, and he still has
/ Il. 4