The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1901-03-20

1lor6 were GQOS6 WuO GolO ouo Do3
lieved that the old minstrel after his
death returned at periods to the
church, and brought sweet strains
of music from the old pipe organ
then in use.
Who will say after this that We are
not rich in legendery lore!
Among the descendants OF the
Dreher brothers are some of the best
people who have lived in the county,
and under different family names are
still rejecting on an honorable an
cestry. While the sister, Mrs. Kins-
Ter, who acted herself with conspic-
nous bravery in the sortie OF her
courageous brother, and who after
wards married the gallant Major
Gabriel Friday, was the grandmother
of the Kirs.er brothers of Congaree
township, who were strong and in
huential and two of whom served the
county efficiently in the House OF
Representatives. The venerable Mrs.
George Kaigler of Sandy Run town
ship is of the same honored Image.
A nephew of Godfrey Dreher, who
worthily bore the name of his hon
ored uncle, became soldier of the
Cross, and for many years was earn
est, useful and efficient in the Gospel
ministry. The writer hopes at some
subsequent period to be so placed as
to be able to say much more Of this
excellent man.
It is we'll known that there were
many Tories in the State during the
Revolution, and while they were nat
urally regarded with i'll favor, truth
compels the statement that there
were among them some of the more
intelligent and wealthy men of that
day.
Doubt as to the chances of success,
and the fear of the confscation of
property and of the possible danger
to their persons in the event of failure
caused many to refuse their aid to
the struggling colonists. Some, too,
were pets and ofdceholders under the
King, and it is told also that the
British government was partial and
indulgent to the Carolinas. It is also
true that affronts, real or imaginary,
estranged those who otherwise would
have joined the patriots. Bloody Bill
Cunningham" was among the last
named class. 1t is told that he vol
unteered in the American army. He
was young, handsome, intelligent and
popular. He was first disappointed
in the promise, or at least, the conf
dent expectation of preferment. He
became irritated, then reckless, des-
perate and at last insubordinste.
Punished, it is said, under the lash
for his offences, his proud spirit re-
volted and he became the bitterest
and bloodiest of the Tory leaders.
It is easy to see that it required
nerve and courage and disinterested
patriotism to impel the brave men Of
whom We write to devote their earn
est and self-sacrifcing efforts in de-
fence of their liberties. Godfrey
Drehes! and Johannes Kinsle,! Hail!
and farewell!
The writer hesitates to indite the
closing sentence of this paper with
out paying some small tribute to the
memory of his friend and co-laborer,
Major Edward Kinsler, grandson of
the Revolutionary hero. His contem-
poraries are still here and we all
know that the simple, uuexaggerated
story of his spotless life is all the
panegyrie needed. He served his
country faithfully and with urques-
toned purity of purpose. He was
cultured gentleman of the old school,
having graduated from the South
Carolina College in his young man
hood.
Always quiet, unassuming, gentle,
modest as 8 woman, his sense of
honor extremely acute, he was en-
tirely incapable of any act which
savored of dishonor. He was elected
to the House of Representatives in
1882 and performed his official duties
with earnestness of purpose, with
entire disregard of self interest and
with the sole object OF advancing
the interest of the people and the
State. 1t was his rule which was
never broken, to support any meas
ure which he believed to be wise
and right whether to do so would
render him popular or otherwise.
Duty was his watchword and he
performed what he believed to be his
duty ''uncaring consequences"
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