The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-08-24


the first settlers in almost any neigh
borhood Tie territory that now
forms the Counties Of trccnville, An
dcrson, Oconce and Pickcns was ccdcd
to South Carolina by the Cherokee
Indians in l711-onc year after the
Declaration of independence. But
this section of country was sparscly
settled before this cession was made.
In the woods, not far from Wilson 5
Mill, there are faint signs Of an old
graveyard. Old people tell us that
there used to be several graves at this
place, but only four can be seen now
among the bushes and trees, and these
are recognized by slightly sunkcn
places in the earth At Big Creek
Church there are great number OF
graves. One tombstone ii marked
IS. Il. 1872 As walked over this
cemetery some time ago, heard an
old man say to his full grown grand
son. ".John, take this bucket and hoe
and rut some sand on your great
grandfather grave. So We see that
this has been burying place for sew
cral generations.
When the lower Pclzcr dam was
built there were faint signs Of an old
chimney near the western end OF the
dam. This small pile Of stones mark
ed the place where the house Of Noses
Holland stood. The place is still
known rs "Ilolland Ford. The
road that leads to the powcr-housc
used to be public road. Perhaps
Mr.. Holland was attracted to this spot
because the river could be fol dcd here,
or by the spring that still bubbles
from under the hill. Moses Holland
was born in Virginia, and served i'll
the Revolutionary war. lie was pres
cnt at the surrender Of Lord Cornwall
lis. Mr.. Holland was Baptist, and
through his influence "Big Creek
Church was constitutional in the year
of our Lord 1885," TO us young peo-
pie that year, 1888, seems to be in the
long ago. [South Carolina adopted
the United States Constitution in
1883, and it was April 80 Of the next
year that Washington took the oath
of office as the first President of the
United Statcs.] In 1912, Mr.. Hol-
land and Elisha Bennett could not
agree concerning some business trans
action, the amount in dispnte being
five dollars. Bethesda Church seem
ed to take sides with Mr.. Bennett and
sent letter to Big Creek asking that
the matter be settled. The Associa-
ton would not allow Big Greek to be
represented in that body on account
of this disturbance. A committee
was sent by the Association to inves-
tigate the matter This committee
decided against Mr.. Holland, and,
although Big Greek dearly loved and
reyerenced Mr.. Holland, he was finally
declared "out Of our fellowship At
the next Church meeting Brother
Holland requested information how he
should be restored to fellowship. "
Answered by repentance according to
gospel in Luke 18th and 4th, which
reads thus: "And if he trespass
against thee seven times in the day
and seven times in the day turn
again to thee saying, l repent, thou
sh:!: forgive him. Two years later
Brother Holland offered for fellow
ship end was received without dis
sentiug voice. MIR. Holland served
Big Creek from the time Of its foun-
,dation to the timo Of his death in
1829-a leriod Of nearly forty-two
years. He served the Association as
Moderator twelve times, and had
place on its most important commit
tees. A log meeting house was built
about half mile below the present
Church building. After some years,
framed house was built near the site
Of the present brick Church, but
little nearer the public road. Still
later, az addition was made to this
building. When the brick Church
was built in 1873, this old Church was
sold. The older part Of it was bought
by Mr.. j. 1. Holiday and is now used
for barn. The newer part of that
same building may be seen just in
front of Mr.. Frank Wclborn's, where
it is used for wheat-room and gen.
eral storehouse for the farm.
The early records of Big Greek Bap-
tist Church are lost, but the records
from 1901 to 1850 furnish some inter
esting reading. Some Of the quota
tions below show us some Of the qucs-