The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1880-10-01
BranohYiIIe as it Mas and as it is.,


vile, was prepared and read at the
laying Of the corner stone of the
Methodist Church ut that place by
Rev. DR.. Thomas Raysor. He said e:
Seventy years ago the place where
Branchville now stands,-rpulsating
with life and trade-was dismal
swamp, known by the not very Gu
phoneous name Of '"Matchet's Pond."'
Through what is now. Main street,
flowed the waters of this pond to
''pen brahoh;" and on to- the Edisto,
made famous in history by Cardinals
distinguished! son, William Gilmore
Simms, Esq, who lived ten miles
above here, near Midway on the
Charleston road. bnThe people at this
period we're hardy and self:relian:.
Their wants were few and simple.
They lived mainly in pole houses,
covered with clab. boards, and exer-
cised q. great, deal in the, open air.
II a. 4
To walk three or four miles to
church, Or indeed to any gathering,
and toat the baby, with the crop-ear-
ed, stump-tail dog behind, was con-
sidered no big job. 1t was Of common
OCCURRENCE. a large portion Of the
time. was spent in fishing and hunt
ing, attending corn: shuckiugs and
qpiltings,, wrestling, jumping, shoot
ing, and t.wearing the thimble," what
ever that was. These vera days of
peace and plenty-mince pies, float
ing islands, sick headaches, heart
disease and dispepsia we're, unknown.
Itiis said the first tlopr that,F. w,
Fairey killed was routed where now
stands the store Of A, F. Fl. Dukes,
a prominent and successful merchant
of the place. After running through
alligator, hole, whe, G lives the quiet
and modest DIR. Grisset, he ran out
hy the squire, near where Ills mill
pond now stands, and was shot down.
Tho squire has always lived near
BraheIMlle .iand Ibis tiaipe .isl closely
associated with the history, of the
place. He has gathered considera-
BILE wealth, and is to-day still. ener-
getic and entcrprising. James Ben.
ton Berry, Esq, another veteran, still
lives under the shadow OF the town,
of which he has owned considerable
portion. 4 He enjoys agreen old age,
and furnishes the data that rescues
Branchville from oblivion. To-day
he is seeing the beginning Of what
has been the dream and ambition Of
his life; to wit: A Methodist church
on one OF his lots in the town of
Rranchville. Edward Myers, quiet
and pcaceable citizen was the profess
sional hunter and angler of the place.
The first house built in Branchvile
wan double log pen, built by James
Cooher for the railroad company.
This was about the year 1880. The
railroad track was laid at this place
about 1881 by Mr.. George Walker
and Col. Thompson, gentlemen from
.Colleton County, who had the con
tract for building the road from FiC-
ty-eight to the Edisto river. Tie
first train Of cars ran TO this place in
November, 1882. Tradition has it
that when the first train arrived, n
large number OF persons, white and
colored. were present TO see the great
sight. When it approached, like a
thing OF life, squirting water and
belching forth volumes Of black
smoke, the men turned pale and the
women screamed. An old woman is
said to have exclaimed ut the top Of
her voice, 1T is the devil-sce the
fire and birthstone" Amid the great
est CONSERVATION she left, and when
she reached her home fell exhausted
at the gate. On this train came an
entcrprising Frenchman whose name
was Philip Sha-trand and his body
servant, Fortune. He arranged with
the company to open hotel in the