The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1900-04-12
BufOrd's Bridge BreezeS.

OLAR, April 9-Buford's Bridge was
once the garden spot of old Bamweli
county, when her lines extended from
Sandbar Ferry to the Collcton county
line, twenty miles below here. She is
still the garden spot OF the newer Bam-
berg, South Cardinals baby county.
The history of Bufords Bridge is Of the
past. The history of the country which
surrounds the onc-timc tlouriShing settle
mcnt is yet to be made.
Many of her brave sons donncd the
yrav when their country called them to
arms, and it can be truly said of. these
that whatever shall be-whatcvcr has
bcen--the South's glory, shall be 4 part
of their imperishahle fame. They fought
boldly and nobly for the lost cause, and
in all that great army of heroic sons
who waged war for liberty for four long
years, none displayed more heroism than
the boys from Buford's Bridge. Who re-
mains of these gallant souls to tell the
story of the Bridge rs she was in her
prime? Only very small number.
Bufords Bridges first settler was 4
man from whom the place took its name,
but the first settler to start an enterprise
there was Louis Malone Aver, who at the
time of his death owned about ten thous-
and acres of mother earth. To-day his
descendants have ownership in less than
4 thousand. MIR. Aver started rum
shop" as the bar-rooms of that day were
known. Following him were Matthew
Move, who emigrated from North Caro-
lima. He was on his way to Georgia, but,
being charmed with the virgin fertility of
the soil, decided to stop there. He fol-
lowed the same business as Mr.. Aver.
As years rolled on this nucleus gathered
other interests and industries about it,
and increased in population and impor-
tance. 1t was the trading point of the
country for miles around, and there were
merchants, blacksmiths, BARRIERS, boat
makers, tailors and barroom keepers. j.
j. s. H. Brabham, and Priester & Dickin-
son were the leading merchants. There
our forefathers spent many successful and
happy hours. They made plenty Of sill
yer and gold, but have long since ''cross-
ed over the river" and l hope are ''resting g
under the shade of the trees All that
remains Of the ancient town are the
crushed in roofs and falling walls of the
old houses-above them the nodding tree
branches, thick with festoons of funereal
moss. 1t is in fact & city of the dead, and
the rude forefathers" of the hamlet lie
resting there under the shadow of the
-draped trees, alike unconscious OF
the towns desolation, and of the newer
and more progressive settlements that
have sprung up at the nearby railroads.
A few of the neighbOrhood residents
old men and women-still love to gather
about their firesides on winter nights and
talk garrulously of the past. God forbid
that the old name shall ever pass away.
Philadelphia school has been closed
after run of only five months, and Miss
Florrie Brabham, the teacher, has gone to
her home in Bamberg. She discharged
her duties very faithfully and satisfacto-
rily. The free school system is a very
poor one. If the children had to depend
on it for an education they would 60
lacking.
Mrs. Thos. L. Virgins and children
have returned to their home in Bamberg,
after visit of two weeks in our midst.
Misses Lizzie Best and Ethel Brabham
visited Olar last week.
The Mormon elders, two by two, are
travelling over our neighborhood distrib-
uting their tracts of an interview in the
Atlanta Constitution, on the Mormon
faith, with Ben E. Rich, of the Church of
Jesus Christ of latter day saints. 1t is
true that the Mormons receive lot Of
encouragement in the Western and North
ern States, but they get cold comfort in
the South and East In addition to their
pamphlet they have two pages of what
leading men of the West and North say
about them. Some of our people in this
immediate neighborhood are SO ignorant
as to let them read their pamphlet and
occasionally let them preach. 1t is to be
hoped that they will never get any en-
couragement or foothold in our country.
Sam Walker, the noted negro thief,
made raid on the store of Mr. G. F.
Rizer last Saturday. Sam bought some
bacon and had it charged to another
negro. When he found out they were
about to catch up with him, he took to his
heels and escaped. His friends made it
up with Mr.. Rizer for ten dollars.
Mr.. Ben Best, formerly of this neigh
borhood, but for the past five or six years
of Benedict, Fla, has returned to his old
home, to the delight of his many friends.
Mr.. Josie Brabham, of this vicinity, has
gone to Bamberg to attend the graded
school.
Rev. John G. Beckwith preached to a
large congregation at Mlizpah church last
Sunday.
Mr.. H. L. Kearse, of Savannah, Ga,
has returned home, possibly to stay.
The farmers have had nice weather for
their work recently and they are making
use of it. Some are planting cotton.
Misses ESsie Creech and - Hair, of
the Slaytown section, visited the family
of Mr. John NJ. Brabham this week.
B. G. J.
Remarkable Cure of EIaumatiSm.
KENNY. Jackson Co. W Aa.-About