The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-03-10
AN INCIDENT IN REAL LIFE.
Thrilling Story OF the Early Settlement OF
South Carolina.

Ihe nrse settlements maQe IN tne State
of South Carolina were in the southern
part, and within q short distance from
Charleston. For more than ono hun
dred years after the landing of William
sayle and his little colony, there were
only few persons living in the region
north of Columbia, the present capital Of
the State. 17?2 number of families
from Ulster Province, Ireland, landed
at Charleston. These joined other fam
lilies of the same nationality who had
formed settlements in various portions
of the upper part of the State. At sew
eral times before and during the revo-
lutionary war, these settlements were
nearly broken up by the Indians. Many
of the white inhabitants of the country
were killed and the property of all of
them injured. These trials we're borne
with great patience. These daring pio-
neers united, and with some aid fur
nished by the other colonies, drove the
Indians out of the State.
In few years, by industry and per-
sevefsnce, these hardy adventurers found
themselves surrounded by an abundance
of the absolute necessities of life. Their
children married and went to work for
themselves. 1t is true that the war be
tween the Colonies and England begaa
before these backwoodsmen, as they
we're called, had time to accomplish
much. But it was not until 1880 that
the revolutionary war became reality
seen and felt, to the inhabitants of the
northern section Of South Carolina
They sent, at the very beginning ofhos.
tilities, their quota of men to fill up the
ranks of the Colonial army thea fight
ing the battle for freedom in the north.
At home all WAS peace, except here and
there 6 tory. These tories often banded
together and did much injury by driving
off the cattle Of those who were gone to
the war, leaving women and children in
very destitute circumstances.
In 1880 the war became a living re-
ality, seen and felt by all the in
habitants of the State of South Caro-
lima.
Charleston, then the capital and the
only town of any Importance in the
State, fell into the hands of the British
early in May, 1870. .fhe whole State
was in the course of few months over
run by British soldiers and theiving to-
ries. Every whig who was able to carry
gun Joined the American forces. The
women and children undertook the man.
agement of domestic affairs. Such was
the state of things until the close of the
war and liberty won.
The men, whom the casualties Of war
had spared, came home. The majority
of those living in the tract of land Wis
tied by CORVALLIS and Tarleton found
their homes desolated. But they we're
not dispirited. The soil vas produc-
tive and they had few wants and these
such as were easily satisfied. 1t was
only few years until the hardships of
war were forgotten in the joys ofa hap.
py peace. The young people began to
WOO and wed, as their fathers and moth.
ers had done in the northern psrt of Ire
laud. Of this happy number were John
Leslie and Ann Stevenson. Both these
young people prided Themselves in be
ing able to trace their genealogy back to
ancestors who followed Cameron and
Cargil and who died in opposing ty-
rants.
The British soldier who had made an
unsuccessful attempt to rivet the chains
of slavery upon the Colonies had scarce.
" reached their homes when John
Leslie and Ann Stevenson were, to the
glory of all interested, declared husband
and wife. This was in the first of Jan.
uary, 1854.
If riches be estimated by what per-
sons have, John Leslie and bis wife
were poor. Each of their fathers had
been in the army and John himself had
in the Spring of 1880, when boy Of
SIXTEEN. accompanied his father and
Mr.. Stevenson to the camp of Colonel
Lacy. These three men followed Lacy,
Sumpter, Morgan and Greene until peace
came.
Estimated by what they possessed of
this worlds goods, John and Ann Les.
lie began the world poor. If the esti.
mate, however, is made with respect to
what they were, they were rich. Both
were healthy, strong and vigorous.
John was twenty years old and Ann
eighteen. Both had learned to work
and both we're ambitious.
Land in those days was cheap. In
fact in many instances it cost nothing
except the expense of taking it up" as
it was called, and this was mere triae.
The father and father-in.law agreed to
to pay the expense of taking up tract
of land on a large creek now within the
bounds of York County. The planta.
tion was some distance from the settle.
ment, but was otherwise favora5ly stu.
sted, and was thought to be produc'
tive.
A few days after the young people had
been made happy by being made one,
the whole male population of the settle
ment collected at a specified place.
Some had axes, and some had grubbipg
hoes and the small boys had baskets
filed with provisions. When the spot
was reached which had been selected
for the house, the men threw of their
coats and went to work. Some began
to cut logs with which to build the
walls of the house, others undertook to