The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1889-02-28
The Grave Of Marion.

SPARrANBURe, s. O., Feb. 1s.-The
grave Of Francis Marion, in which Mrs.
Cornelius Vanderbilt is manifesting an
interest, as we learn by reading the Green
vile News, is in every way an historic and
interesting spot, and some facts about it
are not out of place. The grave is situa.
ted on "Bell Isle" Plantation in Berkeley
County, on the verge Of the santee
swamp, and some fifty miles from Charles.
ton. 1t does not stand alone, but is sur.
rounded by a number of tombs Of those
connected with the plantation. The.
grave yard is square, and about one
hundred yards from the mansion house,
looking from the front righthand corner,
and within the same inclosure.
In thus placing the family burial
ground in full view of the dwelling the
earlier owners of "Belle Isle" followed
the habit of the country. The same
thing can be seen at many of the county
seats of that section. The custom is said
to have originated from the necessity
Of revolutionary times. People then
buried their dead where the graves could
be protected from desecration by maraud.
ing bands or hostile soldiers. Perhaps,
too, the danger Of depredations by wild
animals, and the scarity Of cleared land
when they frat began their task Of sub.
DUNG the forests increased the utility Of
such an arrangement. And in that
troubled time no doubt the tomb stones
of their dead were to these exiles the
companionship Of loved ones, as veil as
memorial of the dear old homes across
the water.
Marion's tomb has no headstone, but
has large marble slab laid fiat upon a
firm brick foundation elevated some FIVE
OF six feet and handsome in comparison
with those around it. The writer has
often visited the spot when boy. The
graveyard was we'll kept then, and latter.
ly the place is we'll nigh abandoned, and
tree falling upon the slab has shattered
it badly.
"Belle Isle" is itself place of rare and
romantic beauty. The style of the farm
house comports with the antebellum
residences Of the wealthy planters of that
neighborhood. 1t stands at the end of
an avenue about mile in length which
leads to it from the broad high road that
passes by old st. Stephens Church,
Pineville and Big Camp, and the many
plantations that lie in upper st. Johns
parish. When the writer knew the place
the house was shaded by live oaks, syca-
mores and cedars, while red birds autter-
ed in the Cherokee rose bushes, and the
whole scene filled ones idea ofa pictu.
rescue Southern home. The walks of an
ancient garden at the rear lead off into
The dense foliage Of the Santee swamp.
Then the place vas owned and occupied
by Walter Pe7re Deveaux, whose Inherit
ance it was; but the writer is given to
understand that Mr.. DeVeaux has since
removed, and no one lives there now.
The old homestead stands a monument
to the general desolation of country
where nature is lavish. Some of the
direct descendants of Francis Marion,
who still bear the family name, reside in
the neighborhood.
1t is of more than local interest to
know that General Marion had q summer
residence in this (spartanburg) county.
After the revolution he bought a place
near the present town Of Campton, where
he used to come to catch the mountain
breezes.
- It is good rule to accept only such
medicines as are known to be worthy OF
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