Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1898-04-28
INCIDENTS At PRESBYTERY.
EDITORs KEOwEE COURIER:

EDIToRs KEowEE COURIER:
Rev. B. p. Reid, Chairman of the
Committee on Home Missions, was
assigned an evening during the
mcc:ing OF Pgesbytery, Mt Easloy, for
the purpose of hearing reports from
Edgeiield, Pickons and other points
OH the subject of homo missions.
isov. G. G. Maycs read q long report
on tho prospects of the church in
iidgciioid. These prospects arc not
very encouraging, although Mr..
Mayes described the field most cheer
fully.
Elder Julius e. Boggs reviewed
the field in Piokens. His treatment
was heroic. lie impressed tho SEN
tentious 2antcnco of Cato in refer
onco to Carthage, "Carthago dclcnda
est" upon his hoa,crs. Pick
ems must be mustered into the ranks
of Presbyterianism.
We happen to know something
about the people of Pickcns, espe-
cially from Eastatoc to Oolenoy.
Our friends, the Baptists, are very
much in evidence in that section,
with just enough AIethodists and
Presbyterians to p,ove the fact.
There are four Prcsbytcrian churches
in pickens.
Mr.. Reid called for report from
Oconcc, but there was no response
We will supplement that call now as
best we can.
Unlike Edgcficld and Pickcns,
Oconeo is the home of Presbyterian
ism in the up-country.
The celebration Of the centennial
of the Stone church occurred several
years ago. Anterior to that time
services Of the church were held in a
wooden building at the same place.
This church was known, in the early
history of the same, as IIopewell-
keowec. Years aftcrward Presby-
terian church was erected at PcnCllc-
ton, two or three miles from the
Stone church. 1t was known from
its inception as IIopcwell- -Peudleton.
From that time the mother church
was known as the "Old Stone
Church," leaving it without a regular
pastor, and The building to be occu-
pied by all denominations at their
pleasure.
Gen. Andrew Pickcns, who resided
at the lIopewcll plantation, nearby,
the Reeses, with others, were instru
mental in erecting IIopcwcll-Kcowee
and organizing the church. Rev.
MIR. Reese was the first pastor, and
was also the first to be laid TO rest in
the cemetery 1T that place. lie was
also the first pastor at Carmel. Sub
scqucntly, Gen. Pickcns parted with
his valuable homestead, removed to
Tamassee, where he erected two
story residence, large for that period,
and unique in design. The rooms
in the dwelling were painted in diff
tcrcnt colors. This splendid planta-
ton passed into the possession of
Col. j. Ovcrton Lewis. lie sold it
to Hon. Elam Sharpe, the first State
Senator from Pickcns District, and
devoted Presbyterian. lie after
wards became a Presbyterian
preacher in Texas. The place passed
into the possession of Christopher
Jones, ESQ., whose family reside
there now. Gen. Pickens was a ma
tive of Pennsylvania, of Scotch Irish
stock; a gallant soldier in the Revo-
lutionary War, and Presbyterian
OF the "blue stocking" faith. lie was
patriot and leader of men in war
and in peace. His remains and those
of his family rest in the cemetery at
the cold Stone Church." His son,
Andrew, who distinguished himself
in the war of 1912, was elected Gov
ernor of South Carolina. Ills grand
son, Hon. Il. w. Pickcns, was Min
istcr to Russia, and also Governor of
the State in 1860.
Gen. Pickens, after his removal to
Tamassce, with others, were also n
strumcntal in the erection and organ
ization of the Presbyterian church at
Bethel, the oldest church of the de-
nomination in Oconcc.
Rev. William McWhorter, born
on the cast prong of Cane creek, in
few miles of Walhalla, was educated
for the ministry, and spent a long
life i'll advancing the cause of the
church in Oconcc. Only Il short
time ago his widow, aged nearly one
hundred years, followed hor husband
into the land beyond the river.