The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-08-24
CLEVELAND AND PEIsR

"Of the Few, immortal Names that
Were Not Born to Die" Cleveland
the Pioneer and Soldier, Perry the
Patriot and Statesman.
DR.. Muench, OF Charleston, Is con-
trlbuting series OF sketches for the
Sunday News of that city, and the fol-
lowing tribute to Col. Ben Cleveland
and Maj. Ben Perry deserves a perusal
Fort Moore, which was situated ut the
confluence Of the Tugaloo and Chatuga
rivers In Oeonee County
Not very far from the site of the fort,
whereof the hand Of time has ,obliter-
ated every trace, stands the homestead
OF another participant in the same
war, the home Of Col. Benjamin Cleve-
land.
Ii any particular man werc to be
chosen as representative Of the noun
taineers of South Carolina as they
showed themselves in the Revolution
ary war, and as many Of their descend
ants even now are found to be, it is this
man. or extraordinary size, (his
weight nigh 500 pounds), Of a muscular
strength almost incredible, Of an en-
durance of toll, Of hunger and thirst
unequalled, he combined with these
qualities fearlessness and courage,
presence OF mind and directness OF
Judgment, q truthfulness and honesty
OF character, that in reading Of him we
verify believe to have tho picture of
Hercules presented to us. Though
having never in his life attended a
schooi, he managed by self-study and
application to acquire sufficient educa-
tlon to become land surveyor, and
later on, when elected Judge Of the
District Court at Ninety-Six, though
he had never read law, his decisions
were invariably marked by clear judg-
mont and correct legal views. He must
have been man Of great authority
and influence among his people, which
Is proven by the fact that, while the
names OF other contemporaries of his
are forgotten, not only his name, but
even countless stories about him live
even in the present time among tho
people. So In Wilkes County, where
he first settled, you can still hear of his
feats OF valor, of his fights with Ind
ians, Tories and wild beasts, performed
in his lonely wanderings over the
mountains in the pursuit Of his calling
as land surveyor; 80 also his speech,
addressed to his command before the
battle OF Kings Mountain, is the only
one of all the addresses delivered else
where during the Revolutionary war
that has been deemed worthy of pre-
servation by the Historian Ramsay,
as 1T is characteristic of the man,
on account of its terseness and elo-
qucnce.
In Oconee County, whittier the hero
emigrated about 1885, Col. Cleveland's
memory Is perpetuated in various sto-
ries about his judicial career, all point
| ing to his natural sense and his strict
administration OF justice, irrespective
OF lawyers and law books how. for in
stance, on one occasion he told the men
who brought q horse thief before him
and asked him what to do with the cul-
prit to take him out and hang him on
TIE nearest tree, which was according
IS done in the Colone's very yard how
he would often fall asleep during the
lengthy arguments OF tho lawyers and :,
In consequence of his obesity, snore
aloud, but when awakened, give his
decisions with as great q clearness
as If he had been the most attentive
listener to all the proceedings of the
Court.
While this beautiful spot on the
banks of the TugalOo with its extern
sive prospect over one OF the fairest
and most fertile valleys that can be
met with anywhere, and with it's back
| ground OF dark and bold mountains,
OF light and vivid cOlors OF the fore
ground. marks the residence Of the "Old
Roman" during his ripper years, and al
so has In its keeping his final resting
place, adorned by q modern monument,
another place further up the river, of
like loveliness and wealth OF rural
charms, is the birthplace and was for
, sixteen years the playground for the
childlike and youthful sports Of one
who has also and most deservedly re-
ceived that same surname, although
, he earned 1t In the course of life
, wholly differing from that we have
, just described "a life devoted TO the
, noblest and loftiest purposes of peace
, full times, 70 duty and right" ant
, characterized at the same timo Nv 9
, charm OF refinement, o love for literary
work, end especially for historical re
: search, 80 that while as to the former
. he was perhaps Cleveland's equal, al
: to the latter he was clearly his supe
t rior. 1t was
= EX-GOVERNOR B. T.. PERRY,
p who was born here November 20, 1906
r and lived here at his fathers farm un
o til his 10th year, when he departed
K from his paternal homestead to attent
school and afterwards to enter upol
i his life-career, the pursuit OF law, II
It the city ~ Greenyille. But, though