The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-10-03
The OLD Stone Church.

stands the Old Stone Church, IL building
unique III its structure ";i;, ;,r0i,ii;,
winch ;Hc cntwincd the memories of
more than century. 1T was originally
called llOpcwcll, but '.itttrly that name
Is forgotten and "Stonc Church" is the
only name it is now known by. The
building is of rough stone collected
nearby, built up square, the roof and
gables being of wood. 1t is about fifty
icct long by thirty wide, and the walls
some eighteen feet high. In the north
west corner and about two and Il nal:
feet from the ground there is one stone
little smoother and larger than it's
fellows, wherein is carved in quaint
Old figures, now dim with age, 1874.
Could these stones speak they would
tell us that they were laid in place and
ccmcDtcd there by John Rusk, sturdy,
stalwart lrlshman, who sc son after
Texas in the United Sta"s Senate.
They would tell us also of the Andcr-
sons, the Pickens, the Calh0uns, the
Keeses. the Cherrys and many other
INDUSTRIOUS names who had worsIiDpcd|
within those sacred walls in the daysl
vi ions ago. THEY w0ii;. tel. ;;s,
moreover, Of the grand preachers who
nau, at dlftercnt times for hundrSd
years, proclaimed the "glad tidings Sf
6AOdC Joy 1IOIII ILS lOlty DuIDlC.
This ancient cdificc, while originally
a Presbyterian Church, is no longer
used by that denomination exclusively,
the organization which formerly cx-
listed here, having been transferred to
PendletOn. Preaching services are had
here occasionally by different dcnomi-
nations. Sometimes Union Sabbath
School is kept up. Notwithstanding
the interest which this old Church
awakcns, probably there is even more
attr3ctlcns, in the. city of the dead
many OF them famous in the history Of
this State and country. The Rev.
Thomas Reese, y. d., is believed to be
the first person buried here. lie was
the pastor of the Church and died i'm
lI9; at the age of fifty four. The we'll
meritcd degree of ID. ID. was conferred
on him by Princeton College in rccog-
nltion OF eminent ability and scholarly
attainmcnts. In those days such Il
degree was high distinction. There
IS Il cluster Of graves. enclosed by q
brick wall three and half feet higll.
among which there is one worthy of
more than Il passing notice. II is
marked by Il plain white marble head
stone, less than three feet l::yII, upOn
which is the following inscriptlcn:
''Gcn. Andrew I'ickcns
was born
18th September, 1,:,J,
and died
l1th August, 1871.
lie was a Christian,
a Patriot & Soldier.
His character and actions
are incorporated with the
history of his country.
F'lllal affection and respect
raise ih:; S.nne
to his memory
And this all there is to tell to gcncra-
tions to come that this is the last rest
ing place of the hero of many hard
fought battle OF the war of indcpcn-
hcncc. Not to speak Of his eminent
regions round about. While towering
monuments Of bronze or stone have
been erected by the government to tho
memory OF many who did far less for
heir country than did Gen. Pickcns.
L has failed to do its duty to this |
chieftain. Within two miles |
,f where he sleeps he contaminated a
Ireaty OF peace in IL, with four pow
,rful tribes of In,lians-the Cherokccs,
creeks, Chlckasaws and Ch0ctaws-
having all four tribes encamped at ono |
inc about his home on the banks of |
he beautiful Seneca River. This de- |
'lrablc end was not attained, however,
Ill he had severely punished them in |
several battles. On the heights over |
oOking the river he had his residence
or many years after the wnr. The CID |!
,aks and other marks are there yet to
how the place where his house stood. |
We are told that in this same grave
ard there lies buried the secret of the
'Junius Letters that stirred England
rom palace to hoycl. John Miller was
he printer through whose hands these
cttcrs passed to the reading public
md III the cndeavor to discover the
writer tho pressure became so strong
IS to nccessitate Miller's leaving Eng
and. lie came to Charleston, where
lc remained few years, and from
here he removed to PcndlctOn, where
'c published fOrscveral yearsn weekly
'apcr called the Pendleton Messenger.
here he died at ripe age, always re-
using to divulgc the name at the
uthOr OF the famous letters. and here
he secret lies buried with him in this
Id graveyard.
At the lower side of the grounds
here are two huge pine trees about
even or eight feet apart towering far
bovc the surrounding growth. They
re the sole monuments to mark the
rave of Turner Bynum, who was kill
10th were brilliant young lawyers of
irccnvillc and editors of rival papers,
'erry being editor Of the Patriot
nd l5ynum having charge of the South
III Sentinel. Their controversy be-
anne so hot during notification times
$ to bringOn duel, which was fought
18th pistols on an island in Tugaloo
liver, just below ilatton's Ford. Perry
as only slightly wounded, while
al, i,,f l,o l. |
Il. His body was brought to Stone
hurch and buried by torch light OH
ark and stormy night. There is n
ladition that the poles upon which the