Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1901-06-05
THE CHERRY MANSION.
Mr.. W. A. Dickson Correots Col. James. r
Bacon--aen. Plckens' Principally.
GColumbia State. ]

| lSOlumUla oAle.
| The interesting character of Col. Jas.
4. Baoon's letter to The State which
appeared few days ago is spoiled by
inaccuracy in 80 far as 1t rolates to the
Cherry mansion as the old home of Gen.
Andrew Piokons. The Cherry house,
constructed of hewn logs, and weather
boarded and oeiled, was not built by
Gen. Ptckens, but his house, (Hopewell)
erected soon after tho oloso Of the Revo-
lutionary war, stood fow hundred
yards to the north of tho Cherry house
and Immediately at tho river (Seneca).
The sito was at the termination of an
elevated ridge which drops off precipi-
tously at tho river q hundred foet below.
The river is denooted by this ridgo
and doubling around leaves perfect
horseshoe In its course. 1t is o romantic
spot, and. with the largo body of lowland
skirting tho river above and below and
with the big blue mountains looming up
In the not far distance makes charming
prospect.
Mounds of earth and stono and brick
bats as hard as stone--thoy mado hard
brick In that day-a depression whore
tho collar was aud giant oak is feet
around throe feet from tho ground, arc
the only markors of tho historic spot.
Under those oaks tho trunks of other
monarchs of tho forest lie around,
treaty was made with tho Indians, so
tho tradition goes.
Certain it is that treaty was effected
at IIopowoll in 1884 Or '95 and that Con.
Pickcns with two other commissioners
acted for tho general government.
Representatives. of tho various Indian
tribes in South Carolina and to tho
wostward-the Chorokoos, the Choctaws,
tho Greeks, tho Chickasaws and probably
othors-journeyed hithor and oncamped
along tho river pending tho negotiations.
But Con. Pickens did not remain hcro
worry long. lIo had u leaning for tho
Indians rs noighbors, it is said, whom
ho could ovorawo by his presence or
whip into subjccton as occasion might
demand and 80 ho took up his abode
somo Is or 20 miles further back on
Tomassoo Knob, which stands in tho
midst of largo tract Of flno bottom
land on Littlo River, an aflluont of tho
Seneca. This situation was ovon moro
enchanting than 1iopowoll was and tho
old warrior ondod his days horc in 1916
or 1917. His body was Inferred at tho
Stone church, which ho had boon largely
instrumental in organizing and building
and which ho served till tho close of his
lifo as ruling oldor.
Ono Of his sons, Col. Andrew Pickons,
who had served in the United States
army on tho Canadian frontier in tho
second war with Great Britain, and
later at tho head Of regiment in this |
State, was elected Governor in 1910.
| do not dispute Col. Bacon's state
ment that Gen. Pickons gave tho lowor
portion Of his place to his son Ezekiel |
Pickcns, but my information has boon
that this farm belonged to his son,
Andrew Pickens. know that about tho
year 1907 tho Legislature granted to
Andrew Pickens, Jr., charter for a
ferry across tho river in this farm, which
supports tho idea that he owned tho
place. A fine old ante bcllum mansion,
o'o'iiiS "iiiu ~ "otitl vi PFobt CCuar on
this farm, is fast going to decay
David Cherry, tho grandfather of Miss
Mary Cherry, the fair young proprietor
of tho estate, whose wifc was n daughter
of ltcv. Thomas Rooso, ID. d., tho first
pastor OF tho Stone church, who was
characterized for deep picty, great pull
pit power and thorough scholarship, did
not acquire tho IIopcwell place directly
from tho Piclonsos. Tho Cherry place as
1t is to-day comprises somo two thousand
acres and is probably tho most valuable
plantation in upper South Carolina. Mr..
Harvey Cleveland Routh, grand
nophcw Of Col Bon. Cleveland, tho
Revolutionary hero, q man of strong
business ability and mucl forco Of char
acter, has charge of tho farm.
There is not much old furniture in tho
Cherry house and not all of this, if any, is
colonial. Tho Colonial spinnot" upon
which Col. Bacon whackcd ragtimo
music for the walters is a second hand
piano Of tho kind in uso % to 80 years
back, which Mr.. Routh bought year or
80 ago for his little daughter to learn
tho lick with. w. A. Dickson.
Cherry, s. c., Juno L.