Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-01-19
EDGEFIELD COUNTY.
Notes From The Field.

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journeying over Edgefeld countT
in company with Pastor G. w.
Bussey. The weather was bad
part of the time, the hills red and
sometimes rocky, and the old field
pine forests lonely, but my COM
panion was host within himself
and our entertainment in the homes
of his various friends was cordial
and abundant, SO we travelled with
much satisfaction and COLI
tentment.
Edgefeld county is a COM
paratively old civilization and Bro.
G. w. Bussey, though yet youthful
in appearance, has spent a pastoral
life of more than twenty years
among Edeg6eld Baptists; so l had
a good environment to beget refec-
tions and a good companion to
help interpret them. Until
recently Edgefeld was the largest
county in the State. 1t is now
smaller; but after having impaired
the flavor of it's characteristics to
Saluda and Greenwood counties,
it yet has an interesting IN
dividuality of it's own.
The characteristic Of Edgefeld
men which first impressed me is
their courage. In say ing this do
not mean to cast any reflection on
the courage of the men of other
sections, nor do I mean that every
Edge6eld man goes around with a
chip on his shoulder, daring you
to knock it off. In times
past this bravery manifested itself
nobly in the defence of home and
country and honor. The old county
furnished her full quota of soldiers
for the memorable days of '61-'65,
and the very thought of Edgetleld
was enough to trouble the slumbers
of the subsequent carpet-bagger,
temporarily dominantin Columbia
Instances can also be cited, to be
sure, where this fearlessness went
to seed and exhibited itself IL
recklessness and disregard for
human life. There is ever a danger
that this noxious rust will talnlsh
the fair name of a brave people.
These be peaceful times and the
exhibition of their sires in
Edgefeld1ans is not so patent to
the casual observer. But let him
who thinks it dead, first look
keenly into the unfinching eyes
of the men he meets in a Journey
over the hills and through the pine
forests of that section. Let him
also observe the composed but
firm lip and the well-set chin.
After such observation be will
probably come to the conclusion
that the Edgefeld men who fought
capabilities. If he still feels any
doubt as to the correctness of his
diagnosis he might venture on
some personal tests-I did not
care to try any.
This spirit of the Edgefel dians
probably exhibits itself, at the
present time, as much in their
political leadership as in anything
else. When there is political
battle to fight South Carolina is
not unaccustomed to seeking a
leader from among the old pine
fields of Edgefield.
Some people think Edgefeld a
county of poor lands. This is a
mistake. In my cross-country
movements with Bro. Bussey,
aggregating nearly one hundred
miles, I saw thousands of acres of
good farming lands. And in large
sections four ffths of is lying in
old pine fields, with only an
occasional vine-covered pile of
stones to in licate that where now
the owl boots and the breezes
mourn through the great canopy
of pines, once was heard the cheer
full song of the cotton-feld slave.
There are moro visible evidences
of the ante-bellum civilization IN
Edgefeld than ! have seen in any