Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-10-31
GFor the ADVERTISER.
NOW AND THEN.
The Old, Old Past, Though Lost
to Sight to Memory Dear.

the musings and "reminiscences OF
an old man may be acceptable tc
your numerous readers, this is sent
you.
In looking back to the thirties
we find changes so great and un-
usual, that the present generation
could hardly realize their exist
ence. Our dear old county, I sup
pose, was named after Edgefeld
in England (vide SCOTS Wood
stock) and not as is usually
thought from it's location on the
border of the State, and must have
had a goodly sprinkling Of Eng
lishmen as settlers. Of course
there were other good settlers, no.
tably German and Irish, together
with some French, besides num-
bers from other States of the Union.
However that may be, the result
has worked we'll, and we have at
present a population that any Sec
tion should be proud of.
Having been born and raised in
the village of Edgefeld, I remem-
ber the excitement incident to the
days of Notification, when Gen.
James Jones was distributing South
Carolina\ State buttons and when
every man and boy sported q
rosette. Gen. Jones was a lawyer
and lived where the family of
Cashier Minis now lives. Every
man and boy was most jealous and
even the women, bless them, SYM
pathized. Our great leader, CAL
houn, was a power in the land then
and up to his death in 1850; and
long may his memory remain with
a grateful people.
And then the Florida war, when
three companies went from Edge
field; namely, The True Blues
from the old Seventh Militia or
Bloody Regiment, one from Saluda,
Capt. David Denny, and one from
the Nineth, Capt. Hibler. The
Captain of The True Blues was
Capt. Jones.
Next, to the Mexican war we
sent the Old Ninety Six Boys,
Capt. Brooks, and then in our last
sad experience, the war between
the States, Edgefeld as usual, was
we'll represented, losing many
gallant souls and gaining much
glory, but nothing else.
AS forerunner in miniature
of the pomp and circumstance of
war, we now refer to the gallant
militia in the Saluda or 10th Regi-
ment, which met for muster at
Richardsonville, Mt. Willing, and
Towles; the 9th Regiment which
met at Red Hill, Shinburg, Loves,
and Spring; the 9TH Regiment
met and mustered at Old Wells,
Pine House, and Cherokee Pond,
at all of which places much fun
and pleasure was had, and where
many a hard battle, fist and skull,
was INDUCED in; when liquor, purer
and better than now, was to be had
almost without price.
And then our elections, where
the longest pole knocked down the
persimmon, where each aspirant
fannounced himself and depended
on merit or personal popularity,
where each candidate entered into
a general sweepstake, coming out
generally in good humor, whether
defeated or not. Those old times
I maintain, were better than the
present, more sociality and good
feeling existing, where each man,
as rule, thought and acted for
himself, some exceptions of course,
as is the case in all rules. In those
days it was almost a duty to turn
out to salesdays, to musters, and
to camp meetings, to the latter
where piety and hospitality went
hand in hand; where all the good
folks mingled, young and old /;
where much good was done, and
where many marriages were ar
ranged, and what harm was done
thereby? The good Book says
multiply and replenish the earth, "
and what better chance could be
offered than the camp ground for
counting when the Jealous preacher,
either country or town raised, were
men venerated and loved and when
our women were more respected [
fear than now. We may look
around US, and if disposed to be
just and fair, we will be compelled