Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1888-03-07
a}tisftlIansous &eading.
"REMINISCENCES OF WESTERN YORK.
For the YOrkyille Enquirer.

"REMINISCENCES OF WESTERN YORK.
In about the year 1852, DR.. John
Kell bought the Barclay place and
began improving it. He built fine
residence that cost large sum of
money. The Haffners ere employ
ed to build it, and those readers who
remember the quality of the work
they did can better imagine than l
can describe what kind of a job it
was. 1t was, without doubt, one of
the most elaborately constructed
country residences within miles of
where it stood. DIR. Kell, when he
first moved to York county, lived
near Blairsville. In fact the resi-
dence he occupied was Blairsville
proper. Crosby's store was at that
time known as Blairsville. His Dr.
Kell's) children attended the Blairs-
vile school over which Rev. R. Y.
Russell, at one time, and Mr.. Mere
dith Shurley at another, were the
principals. His family remained
there until the building and other
improvements made their new home
habitable..
Baxter H. Moore, Esq, was a
student under Rev. R. Y. Russell, as
we'll as was DIR. Ed. McMackin. They
with Mr.. James A. Robinson board
ed with the venerable Robin Wilson
whose revolutionary record we mere
ly mentioned in a previous article.
This was a large school and many Of
the students were studying the Ian
guages. Hic, hec, hoe; cram, eras,
erat; sum, esse, fui etc. was monot-
onous except now and then Whack
over the shoulder or around the
shins of Some mischievous boy who
had taken advantage of his over
worked teacher to "cut up." Mr..
Russell would open and close the ex-
ercises of his school, morning and
evening, with prayer. He was strict
but not tyrannical.
Dennis Crosby, Qittle Denni9 was
just four days older than the writer
about the same size and in the same
class. His mischief knew no bounds.
1 have known him to slip to the door
during prayer and by the time Mr..
Russell had finished he would spring
out into the yard with a "whoo-peew
Mr.. Russell caught him one evening
and stopped long enough to admin
lister q good drubbing for his con-
duct. 1t didn't last long. Perhaps
the next day it was forgotten. Of
this l don't remember now. The
reader will not conclude that Dennis
was the only mischief in the school.
He had plenty of allies and we only
| mention his as a sample case.
POOR Dennis lived to become q
n--high-toned and honorable. He
volunteered in the Confederate army
and proved himself typical Amer
lean soldier. No better friend to the
writer ever lived or died outside of
his immediate family than "little
Dennis" Crosby. His memory will
always occupy prominent place in
our heart, and that friendship, born
of esteem and confidence will last
throughout life.
Our memory goes back to the pages
of unWritten history and calls many
pleasant recollections from the eter-
nifty of the past and plants them
afresh on the tablets of our memory,
while the gentle zephyrs of youth
watt their fragrance into the prison
house Of age and infirmity. AS we
stroll along the pathway of life to
the occidental side of its meridian,
we look back to the blue mountains
of youth and manhood and see the
elevations and depressions of i'm
proved and unimproved opportuni.
ties. A lifetime was then spread
out before us with all its vicissitudes,
its pleasures and pains, its joys and
sorrows, hopes and despairs. How
the mind loves to survey the elysian
fields Of the past and Gull the fragrant
flowers that bloomed on every side
is more easily imagined than de-
scribed.
We are growing old-how the thought
| will rise,
When glance is.backward cast
On some long remembered spot that lies
In the silence Of the past.
1t may be the shrine of early VOWS,
| Or the touch of early years;
! But it seems like a far-Oft isle to us.
In the stormy sea Of years.
- In 1850, and for sometime after
wards, Rev. William B. Davis was
preaching at Bullock's Creek Church.
There were at this time two church
es at Bullock's Creek. One was sup
piled by Rev. r. Y. Russell. These
faithful servants labored diligently
with their focks and held the su-
preme confidence of their followers.
For Christian fidelity and unswerv-
ing devotion to duty either of them
were models. Mr.. Davis was a very
small, lean man. He was prompt in
the discharge Of his duty. He had a
consumptive look and cough that led
one to conclude he was too weak to
undergo the arduous duties his pro-
fession called him to perform. Yet
he was never absent without the best
excuse.
He always had full house of at
tentive hearers. Possessing no great
oratorical powers yet he was a pro-
found reasoner. Everything he said
mea... something. He was very
plain NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. in every
sense of the word; yet bearing the
very impress of culture and refine
ment-a gentleman and Christian.
A large congregation attended his
church, among whom were the fam
lilies of the Sherers, Hemphills, PleX-
icos, Hoods, Goods, Smarrs, David
sons, Blairs and great many others
we might mention. Pretty ymuch the
same families madeup Mr.. RusselPs
congregation, as they preached on
different days.
Messrs. j. p. Hood, J. S. Hemp
hill and Givens Gallaher were the
elders at Mr.. Davis church. Mr..
Gallaher, in the earliest days of our
recollection, came near being killed
by a tree falling across his team
while he was driving it to Columbia