The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1880-02-27

| s"So" Droao anu cnoree Rivers, In the southern
section Of Union County, were Of different reli-
sious persuasions. 1t is sertain that some Of
these were Presbyterians As, for instance, the
Ottsrsons, Hamiltons and Gordons, ON Typer
river, about Hamilton's Ford; tho Savagcs.
Hughesss, Brandons, Kenncdys and Younes.
about Browns Greek and Broad river. Samuel
mcJunkin, Esq, settled on Tinker Creek, Dec
100 James Otterson was on Tiger river the
same year. (see MoAdcn's Journal in Foot's
IlHC.J ------------- W W
The 6rst place Of worship used by Presbyte-
teriaDs was Union church-so called because
used in common by Episcopalians and Presbyte-
rians before the Revolution-siuated about
five miles eastward Of Union C. H. Soon after
the war the Presbyterians erected house Of
worship known rs Browns Greek, two and one
half miles from the Village, on the Pinckney
road. OF this church Samuel McJunkin, Joseph
McJunkin, VIM. Kennedy, Thomas Kennedy,
Christopher Brandon, Abram McJunkin and
John Savage are known to have served a. Elders,
and perhaps others.
Tho Presbyterian population along the Emo
rec and Tiger rivers had place Of worship below
Goshen Hill, known as Grassy Springs Church.
No Presbyterian Pastor is known to have set.
tied in Union County before 1904, when the Rev.
William Williamson became the Pastor Of the
Fair Forest church. In addition to his services
in that congregation he also supplied the Browns
Greek and Grassy Spring churches to greater or
less extent. Before that period the people were
dependant for gospel ordinances upon occasional
supplies. These supplies were mostly by
preachers sent out from the North by the Synod
Of New York and Philadelphia, then the highest
judicatory of the Presbyterian church in the
country. As population advanced ministers set
tied in adjacent counties, prior to the Revolu-
ton, as, for instance, the Rev. William Rich
ardson in Lancaster, Rev. Joseph Alexander, d.
D., in York and the Rev. John Simpson, in Ches.
ter. These ministers were not only active and
jealous in their respective congregations but
were kind Of general missionaries in all the
settlements westward Of their fields Of labsr.
Among others who settled between the Broad
and Saluda rivers was considerable commu-
nifty Of Friends, or Quakers. Their settlement
was made at very early period, and extended
across the country from Fish Dam ford to the |
names conspicuous am6hsh ard IL ipa uere
therc-as the Friends have been generally
everywhere-an industrious, orderly people,
They built two houses Of worship-Cane Creek
and Paget's Creek. About the end Of the last
century they hegan moving to Ohio. They dis
liked some Of the laws and usages Of this csun.
try and they moved off pretty much in body.
early in this century, to Ohio and Indiana.
The building called Cane Creek church, was
10 o1o nj hy Gpsu
O view to its removal for o barn. An arrange
ment was made by sundry citizens to buy Glenn's
right and let the house remain as place Of wor-
ship, which was effected. The men concerned in
this transaction, principally, were Major Samuel
Otterson, James Dugan, Esq, probably Elders
Of Grassy Spring Church, Major Joseph Nc.
Junkin, Abram McJunkin, Elders Of Browns
creek church, James Jeter and William Hobson.
It was presently occupied by several denomi-
nations-each setting up claim of right. This
state Of things continued till some twenty five
years ago, when referees decided that the Pres
byterians were the legitimate owners Of the
property
Whether Presbyterian church was ever for
mally organized at Cane Creek 10 to me unknown.
The more probable supposition is that it grew
into existence as m organized church, rather
than SO constituted by Presbyterial action.
As has been before stated, the Rev. Mr.. Will
Hanson preached to the nearest churches. He
removed from the Country In 1904 or 1905. He
was succeeded at Fair Forest by the Rev. Daniel
Gray, who also ministered at Browns Creek and
Grassy Spring Churches till his death Ia 1915.
He was succeeded by the Rev. Joseph Hillhouse,
who, also supplied Browns Greek aud, perhaps,
Grassy Springs. In the time Of the services Of
Mr.. Hillhouss, q house was built in Unionyille
to take place of Browns Creek. Mr.. Hillhouse
ieft Fair Forest church and places connected
with It, probably in 1922. After his removal,
Fair Forest was supplied by the Rev. Mr.. Por-
ter, whose residence was at Cedar Springs, in
spartanburg He probably was very little in
Union below that church.
About that time, Mr.. Chesney, . Licentiate,
probably Of some Presbytery in the middle States,
came to Unionyille, and engaged in teaching !;
also in preaching at Unionville and Cane Creek
churches.
His reputation was very high for scholarship
and pulpit eloquenoe; but seems TO have been
very defective in common sense and moral sta
bility. He studied Law and was admitted to
practice at Union. He was somewhat intemper.
ate In his habits and was soon repudiated by the
Church. He went TO Alabama aud rose to omi-
nence at the bar and ON the bench.
just about that time the CAUSE Of religion was
greatly injured by the social custom Of drink.
to0 0na rointstor Aonoaad f-oro A IA r,;u