The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1891-05-07
OLD PENDLET0N, S. C.
atlanta Consultation.

atlanta Constitution.
What hallowed associations does the
name Of this old village conjure up, how
often in thought do we wander back there.
Old landmarks and many reminders are
still to be seen, but the kindly faces aud
precious souls have nearly all gone across
the bourne. We hope to meet them again
in the better land, and if admitted into
the eternal realms of bliss, and as time
rolls on in her endless cycles, we feel
that, now and then, ne should still feel
constrained to spare moment to peep
down upon the old familiar spot, where
our first fond hopes on earth aspired and
INDUCED in many bright anticipations,
which have never been realized.
Fifty years ago old Pendleton was the
fairest town in upper South Carolina, q
community of wealth, intelligence, refine
ment and religion, and the home of the
best people it has ever fallen to our lot to
know. A resort of giant minds who would
do honor to any age Of the worlds histo.
ry, such men as John G. Calhoun, Lang
don Chevis, Daniel Huger, Warren R.
Davis, John Taylor, David z. Hamilton,
the Pinkneys, Haynes, Earles, the Gene
rails Pickena, Anderson, Blassengame; !;
the Colonels Warren, Allston and Bonlon,
and the homes of Barnard E. Bee, the
Stevens Bros. of Charleston gunboat fame,
of Confederate times, the home of John
and Pat Calhoun, the well.known young
6nanciers of to-day and from those old
hills cane our astute ex-senator Joseph
E. Brown, and Atlanta's brainiest man,
DR.. d. V. Miller; General Rush, of
Texas, mighty power in his day Gov.
ernors Perry and Orr, Commissioner
stribling, of the navy, and hundreds who
have left their impress upon this new
world, and in their day and time helped
to lay the foundation and build up this
great country, and host of others whose
honorable names and useful citizenship
would challenge the world for compsri-
son. Such WAS the status of old Pendle-
ton fifty years ago when the full tide Of
her prosperity, splendid Piedmont cli-
mate with fertile lands and under the old
slave regime, and then the wealth resided
in the country, and agricultural pursuits
were regarded second to none other as an
occupation of honor and profit, and we're
conducted with an intelligence and ad-
yancement scarcely surpassed today in the
South.
Old Pendleton was famous for the
beauty and gentleness of her women, as
veil as for the high tone and pluck Of her
men. Old Pendleton district vas then
about the size of the State of Rhode Is
land, and the good old town was the
grand center of both society and trade,
and, indeed, was one of the foremost
pioneer towns of the South.
1t was in the streets of old Pendleton
that her indignant citizens kindled the
frat bonfire that consumed in its flames
the first incendiary papers and letters
sent South by the abolitionists to stir up
strife and discord among q happy peo.
pie.
One of the first female high schools in
tho South was conducted there by the
Misses Bates and Billings, from Vermont,
who taught the young ladies etiquette and
French, graceful attitudes and highfalu-
tin notions, modern manners, to walk
daintily, and to scream fashionably at a
bug or mouse.
One of the first military academies
where the boys were drilled daily,
wore gray uniforms and had brass buttons
on them.
Ny frat recollection of a Sunday school
was there in the Baptist Church which is
still standing. Uncle Tommy Sloan, and
Mrs. Fanny Mays were The managing
and leading spirits. We had little thumb.
cstechisms, and the first and second ques-
tions were, Who made man? Ofwhat did
God make man?
The first cooking stove ever heard of,
my father bought, and was describing its
excellencies to Uncle Tommy, and among
it's other advantages he said, "Why,
Tommy, it will save half the fuel" when
he replied, "Well, Billy, why not
get two of them, and save all of the
fuel"
One of the frat cotton factories was
established there, and run with great
success and profit for many years, and up
to his death, by Major B. F. Sloan and is
still in operation by the Sittons.
Pendleton had her agricultural society,
fairgrounds and race track, and some of
her exhibitions would put to blush some
of the fairs Of the present day.
Pendleton had four aourishing
Churches, two hotels, and who Of her old
citizens do not remember the long ball
room in the old Tom Cherry hotel, and
the beautiful young girls who once
skinned like swallows over those we'll
waxed floors, and the stately matrons,
who, as chaperons, patronized with their
presence those delightful occasions, and
gave dignity and respectability to the
ballroom? The old debating society
held in the old Farmers hall, and eve,
.graced by a full attendance of the fair
sex? The magnificent coaches and the
elegant spans of horses that whirled up
the dus. in the streets of the old town
What old citizens heart is not made to
throb at the recollection of thrilling notes
from the stage horn, borne over the hills
to notify of its coming; how the people
would gather around the hotels and the
postoffice as the great rocking, ponderout
vehicle came rolling, and swaying over
the rocks, drawn by four or six horses
dashing in at gallop, into the center Of