The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-02-24
AN INCIDENT In REAL LIFE.
THRILLING STORY OF THE EARLY SET
ELEMENT OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

a The Marriage OF Worthy YOuni
, PeOple..-Their Successful Career.
! The Husbands Prolonged All
Scnce-..The Wife's Extreme Anx
t iety---Her Sleepless Nighis..-l
Stranger in the Guise of ~ Frien'
---lais Departure---The Breakin;
!, of Her Window ut iShf-..Th
Bull Dogs Courageous Deed---Th
Dead RObDer--.Fhe Husbands re
turn-.-The Saved Treasure.
, The first settlements made in the Sta lie
, South Carolina were In the southern pari
ana within u short distance from Charleston
For more than one hundred years after tin
landing of William Saylc and his little col
ony, there were only few persons living il
the region north of Columbia, the presen
capital of the State. In l772 Il number of fam
iies from Ulster Province. Ireland, landed a
Charleston. These Joined other families O
the same nationality who had formed settle
ments In various portions OF the upper par
of the State. at several times before unt
during the first years Of the revolutionary
war, these settlements were nearly broken ~
ilants of the country were killed: and The
property of all OF them injured. These trial
were horne with great patience. These dar
! ing pioneers united, and with some aid fur
niShed by the other colonies, drove the In
| dians out OF the State.
In few years, by industry and persever
ence these hardy adventures found them
selves surrounded with an abundance OF the
absolute necessities of life. Their children
married and went to work for themselves
1t is true that the war between the Colonies
and England began before these back kwoOds
men, as they were called. had time to accom-
pliSh much. But 1t was not until lTS0 thai
! the Revolutionary war becnme reality, seen
and felt, to the Inhabitants of the northern
section OF South Carolina. They sent, at The
very beginning OF hostiities, their quota Of
men 10 fill up the ranks OF the Colonial army
then fighting the battle for freedom in the
north. At home all was peace, except here
and there a tory. These tories often banded
together and did much injury by driving of
| the cattle OF those who were gone to the war
leaving women and children frequently IN
very destitute circumstances.
| In l7S0 the war became a living reality, seen
and felt by all the Inhabitants Of The State ol
south Carolina.
Charleston. then the capital and the only
town of any importance in the State fell into
the hands of the British early In May, 1850.
The whole State was in the course of few
months overrup by British soldiers and
carry Il gun Joined the American forces. The
women aud children undertook the manage
ment of the domestic affairs. Such was the
condition 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 track OF country visited by Corn
wallis and Tarleton found their homes des-
olated. their stock all gone, and their provis-
sions all stolen. But they were not dispirlt-
ed. The soil was productive and they had
few wants and these such as were easily sat
lsfied. 1t was only few years until the
hardshlps of war were forgotten In the joys
of happy peace. The yonng people began
to WOO and wed, us their fathers anu mothers
happy nunber were John Leslie and Ann
Stevenson. Both these young people prided
themselves in being able TO trace their geneal
ogy back to ancestors who followed Cameron
~Sfh and hN tnH IN 1in.r ~
rants.
The British soldiers who had made an un-
successful effort 10 rivet the chains of slavery
upon the Colonies had scarcely reached their
were, 10 the glory Of all interested, declared
husband and wife, This was In the first o.
nuary. 1854.
II riches he estimated by what persons
have, then John Leslie and his wife were
poor. Each Of their fathers had been in the
army aud John himself had In the spring Of
l7S0, when II boy OF sixteen, accompanied his
father and Mr.. stevenson to the camp OF COL
onel Lacy. These three followed Lacy, and
Sumter and Morgan and Green. until peace
came.
worlds goods, John and Ann Leslie began
the world poor. IF the estimate however Is
made with respect to what they were, they
were Itch. Both were healthy. strong and
vigorous. John was twenty years old and
Aim eighteen Both had learned TO work
and both were am bilious.
Land in those days WAS cheap. In fact In
many instances IL cost nothing except the en-
pense OF taking 1t up as II was called.
and this was mere tritie. The father and
father-inl law agred TO Fay the expense of TAX
ing up tract OF land on large creek now
within The bounds OF York County. The
plantation was some distance from the set
Llement, but it was otherwise favorably situa-
ted and was thought to be productive.
|. A few days after the young people had been
made happy by being made one, the whole
m, "a Sptt1anpnf pnl1Pptpn
at specified place Some had axes, and
some had grubbing hoes and the small boys
had baskets filled with provisions. When
the spot was reached which had been selected
for the house, the men threw Off their coats
and went TO work. Some began 10 cut logs
with which to build the walls of the house,
which to cover it, and others set about the
clearing Of patch OF ground near the house.
Within less than one week the house was
compete and ready for its intended occu-
pants, and a field OF several acres was cleared,
fenced and the brush burned.
In those primitive times the rendering OF
such assistance was called, and properly too,
a frolic 1t was not regarded as labor. The
men run races in their work. Usually The
first thing which was done was for two indi-
viduals, who, by common consent, were en-
titled captains, to choose sides and then the
race began and continued until the work was
completed.
The house builded for John and Ann Les
lie was constructed out of post oak logs hewn
on the two opposite sides. The size of the
house was thirty feet long and twenty wide.
Through the middle OF the house and parallel
! to the ends there was Partition also made OF
logs. In the one end was the chimney and
cross partition, also OF logs, was built In the
other end thus cutting IL into two bed rooms.
Into each Of these rooms door opened from
the room in which was the fire place. The
| floor was constructed out OF puncheonS, that
IS out OF logs split and notched down on huge
sleepers. The chimney was constructed out
OF split timber and then Ill danbed with NOR
ter, the part exposed TO the fire being lined
with stones. In the whole structure there
was not single nail except IN the doors and
! In the window shutters which were attached
| 10 the windows in the end OF the bed rooms,
Two bedsteads and Il dining table were made
| The only tools used i'll their construction
being a Telling axe and Il two inch auger.
On the first Monday OF February 1884 John
and Ann Leslie went to their home. Johns
iatner gave him IL three years old colt which
had not been broken to work, and AIMS faith.
er gave her u COW and calf and feed for the
COW and colt for the first year.
| In those primitive times what we. OF the
present day, would regard but tile money
was great deal. There were no factories in
the country. Every family made all that it
consumed. Nothing was bought eXcepta lit
tie coffee and less sugar. Every industrious
man had an abundance OF The absolute neces.
stiles Of life and no one had any OF the lux
ures. The only market town in the State
was Charleston, distant near two hundred
lilies. John Leslie work ed hard and his wife
was IN the fullest sense hepmeet for him.
Each year brought II change for the better
One little onvenience after another was add
ed. Their stock began TO increase in number
and the size Of their fields were enlarged, anu
although there was no home market, John
Leslie had always more of the necessities o.
lite than was necessary for the comfortable
support OF his own household. With the de
sign OF bettering his circumstances In the
world and turning 10 good account the sur
plus product of his little farm he began, al
iirSt to exchange corn and whc It for young
f.tI For Sfranye a IT, NAV aDpeur. There