The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-07-15

patriots to this day. A true patriot, a
consistent Christian, profound ju-
rist and statesman, his memory will
be pcrpctuated in tho annals Of our
State SO long us she is republican, as
well as in tho hearts Of his country
men.
will now relate an incident in our
Revolutionary war, which was told mo
by Ephraim Lylcs himself. when O
neighbor from lS23-'29. 1 should not
give it to your readers, but for the fact
that Judge O'Neale, in his annals of
New6erry, awards the feat to Noah
Bonds. He was most absurtlly misin-
formed, as have heard others affirm,
The act is only remarkable for the dis
tancc. Little Ephraim, by way Of dis
tinction from Maj. Ephraim Lylcs who
married my aunt, was stationed rs
one Of scouting party on tho New
berry side of Broad River during the
Revolutionary war, while the Tories
would occasionally show themselves
on the Fairfield side at Lylcs' Ford.
lie told nc the Tories frequently men-
aced the Wings by using obscene Ian
guage toward them across tho river, u
fourth of a mile wide there, aud by
other indecent acts, when they came
TO the river side to wash and get wa
tor. lie said he knew he owned as
trusty a rifle rs could be found then in
the war or for hunting deer or bears.
skill with it ct tho Tories, next morn
ing when they came down again a
steep bank to tho river. He accord
Nd II, Il L.
hind log for a rest for his rifle. They
soolf appeared, and as six of theIn
rcturnednp the steep bank single file
foremost Tory's head, and buried his
ball in the thigh Of the hindlnost. |
think lie said he fell. This was con-
sidcred doubtful by some, but the fact
was well authenticated by the Tories
and others at the. time, and was never
discrcditcd when heard it often told
by Ephraim Lyles himself and others.
Tho rifle then used could not bear up
u ball further than ono hundred
and fifty or two hundred yards; but
nc said lie noticed after the explosion,
the water disturbed in direct line,
and no doubt the ball struck the sur
face Of the water and rcboundcd.
y
he was the father Of twcnty-onc chill
drcn, some Of the descendants Of whom
arc living not far from this writing,
noted for their responsibility and use
tulncss. l had almost forgotten Mai.
Ephraim Lylcs, cldestso Of Col. AFRO
manus Lylcs. lie removed to Ches-
ter county on Broad River, was Ordi-
nary for many years of that county,
and died near Maybinton ut an advanc-
cd age at the house Of his daughter.
John Lylcs, also his brother, lived
many years near Lyles' Ford, n respcc-
table citizen aud planter, removed
about 1925 to NcWberry county and
settled on Tiger River, whore he died
at a green old age.
l. have neglected to mention three of
my old classmates at Monticello Acad-
| cmy in 1S22-Dr. James b., William
Il. and DR.. Il. r. Davis, SONS of Col.
Jonathan Davis. They all made rapid
progress in their studies, and graduat-
cd, / think, in the South Carolina Col
lcge. These are so we'll known to a
few Of your readers, need pass 10 GU
logy OH either. d. b. Kirkland, Esq,
was one of my schooimates at Monti-
cello in 1921, and was cndearcd to me
by our carly association. lie was n
practical planter and civil officer, and
useful citizen. He died recently near
Monticello, as many Of your readers
know.
AS these sketches may he rather
stale to some Of your readers, + beg
pardon of others, while | relate by
way Of variety, an anccdotc of ye old
eli time, between Col. Lylcs, called
Old Pclt. and course and vulgar
Dutch woman, by name Margaret
Godfrey, whom he found in her new
ground trying to split log, which it
was said was q gum log. The Colonel
accosted the rail splitter Gas womcn of
that age did mems work) by asking
her, "NIargarct, what in the D. are
YOU doing hcrc?' She replied, "I'zc
mauln'.' The. Colonel said to her,
"Margarct, thunder couldn't split that
log" She says to him, "Bei Gott, I'Zc
wns dan dundcr." This will do to
close on.
We have had no' rain, but a shower
| or two, since the Sd Of May. and this is
the case from Rock Creek Church TO
within Il mile of Aston, q distance of
ten miles in length by four in width in
Fairfield, and the same on the New
berry side Of Broad River. The late
planted corn may yield we'll, but the
early is nearly or quite exhausted.
Cotton is also materially injured by the
drought. Gardens arc in the same
condition. wrote part of this in per-
feet sketch style, sitting Oh log--oll
Oft on my knee. w. T..
p. S.--Plcasc correct three typo
graphical errors in my sketches, viz:
You make me to say the Rev. Robert
Means bought and settled on a planta-
ton / sold him in 1887. 1t should be
1927. Also. in my last, for Chester,
read Charleston; again for Lancaster,
read Laurcns. These are important
corrections, as do not wish to be mis-
understood. Dates and places are I'M
portant in narratives. w. Il.
srx..<s.snraa,a,szsr<s-.-.v1z
E,JOCKIN(, IVI' TEEEJfTrr nv ~ cio