The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1884-03-20

Scarcely q vestige OF the pristine for
eats remains. Alluvial sand and clay
have been spread over the low grounds.
and we do not exaggerate when we
say that four-fifths of natures pro-
fuse. gifts have been used up and de-
stroyed here the last seventy years.
Another notable feature in the changes
that have taken place, is the fee-simplc
of the land. Ten persons then owned
land and homes to where one does
now. Old house sites, with mounds
where the chimneyS were and dotted
but surviving apple trees are num-
erous. The dwellings and improve
ments are far more commodious and fin
ished now than then. No doubt in many
things the changes have been beneficial
and progressive, nor can we doubt
that in many things they were based
on mistaken theories, and have result
ed in great and permanent evil.
We will begin with those who lived
near the junction of Indian creek with
the river. On what is known as the
Gracy Place, Or lands of the estate of
P. w. Chick, lived family of Stacks.
OF them we know little. We know Of
no family now in Newberry by that
name. David Lavinder lived in the
same section. This name too is extinct
in Newberry so far rs we know. We
used to sec Il garden herb Of that name,
when the matrons depended as much
on herbs for cures rs they did on the
doctors, but it has! now been many
years since we have seen it. Mr.. Lay
.inder. reared a large family of children
right on the banks Of the creek. r
Venerable and shororetl friend. Mr.. .,e
Caldwell. once told us OF a mans rails
inc large family in the low lands of
Indian creek, and, though we have for
gotten the name he gave, we think it
probable it was Mr.. Lavinder. The
whole. family moved west except two
daughters. One of these married Jno.
Lyles and the other Robert Mars.
There also lived Thos Falcntine-hc
had two sons and two daughters-one
of the sons was named Jack-they al
removed west. Several miles up the
Enoree. on lands of Mr.. Brown or on
estate OF our lamented friend Capt.
McCarlcy, near where what is locally
well known as The Flanagan Shoals.
lived Dir. Reuben Flanagan who had
q mill where the shoals once we're.
The river is now filled with sand and
not 4 ripple is made on the water, by
the rocks that once formed a continu-
Gus shoal from side to side; for our III
formant tells of often crossing on the
rocks when a mill-boy, tifty-tive or six
ty yearsago. Mr.. F. was one Of the
good men of his day-had some prop
ertF-tiNe ervsiN Jhegroes, which was
considered wealth for those primitive
days. He took great interest in trees
both fruit and ornamental. The only
cypress trees we eve saw in NeWber-
ry, were pointed out to us by Capt.
McCarley, once when riding near his
old settlement. His wife. was an excel
lent midwife. and was called in those
homespun days Granny Flannigan."
'Tis said she would ride ten and
twelve miles in the night for $3.50.
Close to Dr.. F's. lived Billy Aber-
nathy, ne also had nice property-left
two sons and two daughters-William
and Clayton. We know OF no one
now representing his name, except q
grand daughter, Miss Jane; though
he has quite number OF great grand
children, of whom are Messrs VIM. and
n. S. Abraln'schildren, and the Boards
of Columbia. There too, near where
their worthy offspring still reside, lived
the Eppses. Jno. Epps, the great
grandfather of your most excellent
citizen who bears the same name, had
two sons, Daniel and VIM. VIM. was an
ESQ. Daniel was the father Of DR.. Jas
Epps and Geo Epps. Geo Epps left two
sons, Jno and James, called ''Paddy.'
These movedto some of the upper coun-
ties. o. Mr. Jas Epps and his family we
shall speak again. We will only II
mark here as the sailor did when asked
why he had q wooden leg and replied
that he had one--his father had one
that it ran in the blood; so it must run
in the blood for the Eppses to be
peace officerS-ior Jno. L. is the Judge
on the Mollohon circuit.
In closing this second article we de-
sire to comment on the fact that
though we have learned much not
known to the men of those primitive
times; yet we are forced to admit that
they possessed a vigor of manhood and
self-reliance that is now passing away.
Our most interesting problem and the
one we most assiduously study is ''how
10 control labor They and their
families did most of their own labor.
Ill fares the land, to fastening ills
a prey
. HWhere wealth accumulates andme
:.s decay" -. j. G.. M.