The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-08-24
HISTORY BIC CREEK CHURCH.
Big Creek Records from 1901 to 1850.
Editors anderson Mtezzigencer

It is difficult to find out who were
the 6rst settlers in almost any neigh
borhood. The territory that now
forms the Counties of Greenville, An
derson, Oconee and Pickens was ceded
to South Carolina by the cherokee
Indians in 1777-one year after the
Declaration of Independence. But
this section of country was sparsely
settled before this cession was made.
In the woods, not far from Wilson $
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 sunken
places in the earth. At Big Greek
Church there are great number OF
graves. One tombstone is marked
ssS. R. 1872" AS I walked over this
cemetery some time ago, I heard an
old man say to his full grown grand
son, ssJohn, take this bucket and hoe
and put some sand on your great
grandfather grave. So we see that
this has been burying place for sew
eral generations.
When the lower Pelzer dam was
built there were faint signs Of an Ole
chimney near the western end Of the
dam. This small pile Of stones mark
ed the place where the house Of Moses
Holland stood. The place is still
known as Hollands Ford The
road that leads to the power-house
used to be a public road. Perhaps
Mr.. Holland was attracted to this spot
because the river could be forded here,
Of by the spring that still bubbles
from under the hill. Moses Holland
was born in Virginia, and served in
the Revolutionary war. He was pres
emit st the surrender Of Lord Cornwall
lis. Mr.. Holland was a Baptist, and
through his influence ssBig Creek
Church was constitutional in the year
Of our Lord 1788." To us young peo-
ple that year, 1888, seems to be in the
long ago. ESouth Carolina adopted
the United States Constitution IN
17ss, and it was April 80 Of the next
year that Washington took the oath
Of Office as the first President Of the
United States.] In 1872, Mr.. Hol-
land and Elisha Bennett could not
agree concerning some business trans
action. the amount in dispute being
Eve dollars. Bethesda Church seem
ed to take sides with Mr.. Bennett and
sent a letter to Big Greek asking that
TIE matter be settled. The Associa-
tion would not allow Big Creek 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 ssout 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, I repent, thou
shalt forgive him." Two years later
ssBrother Holland offered for fellow
ship and was received without dis
.sentiug voice." Mr., Holland served
Big Creek from the time of its foun-
.dation to the time Of his death in
1829-a leriod Of nearly forty-two
wears. BE served the Association as
Moderator twelve times, and had a
place on it's most important commit
tees. A log Westinghouse was built
sbout half mile below the present
Church building. After some years,
a framed house was built near the site
Of the present brick Church, but q
little nearer the public road. Still
later, an 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. I. Holiday and is now used
for a barn. The newer part Of that
same building may be seen just in
front of Mr.. Frank Welborn's, where
it is used for wheat-room and gen.
eral storehouse for the farm.
The early records Of Big Creek Bap-
tist Church are lost, but the records
from 1901 to 1850 furnish some inter
esting reading. Some of the quota
,bo-uo como of the nues-