Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-09-21
RELICS OF OLD HICKORY.
Effort to Get Them Together For
Charleston and st. Louis.

1t may be truly said that the Charles
ton exposition Is now being talked
about all over the country, says Au-
gust Kohn in a letter to The News and
Courier. Recently, while in Norfolk,
hundreds of people asked me about the
exposition and indicated their purpose
to go to the exposition. The literature
on the exposition was eagerly taken
and the desire seemed to be for all pos
sible information.
The people Of South Carolina seem
to be less concerned about the exposi-
tion than any others and more interest
seems to be taken in the undertaking
outside than can be imagined.
There Is great deal Of inquiry about
the hotel accommodations that will be
offered in Charleston, especially as to
rates that will be charged and facili-
ties that are to be offered. Publicity
on these lines will help.
South Carolinians seem to be the last
ones to recognize their own historic re-
sources. No one here seems to have
thought Of an Andrew Jackson feature
for the exposition; but the idea comes
from the st. Louis exposition and 1t
can well be used at Charleston and
then the exhibit may be taken to St.
Louis.
The following. letter from Mr.. Jesse
T. CAN'T, Of the secretary Of states Of
flee, will be of especial interest and
fully explains the matter:
September IA, 1901.
Chas. M. Reeves, Secretary Commit
tee on State Exhibits, Louisiana Pur-
chase Exposition, st. Louis, Mo.-Dear
Sir: am in receipt Of your favor Of
18th instant, in which you say that
my attention has been called to the
fact that Jackson's birthplace was in
little log cabin, near Florence, s. c..
a photograph of the house is now in
my possession. I believe it would be
an interesting feature to have this
cabin brought to st. Louis as part Of
the South Carolina exhibit at the Lou
isiana Purchase Centennial exposition,
ut st. Louis, 1909"
l am Informed by gentleman who
visited the birthplace of this rugged
old hero several years ago, that little
now remains of the log cabin in which
he spent his boyhood days but the
chimney. 1t Is located in the Wax
haw neighborhood Of Lancaster coun-
ty in this state, but so close to the line
Of Union county. N. c.. that residents
Of that state claim 1t to be across the
line.
However. all doubt that may have
existed as to the nativity of General
Jackson was removed beyond question
when. in his famous notification proc
lamation. he appealed to his fellow cit
liens Of his native state" and when,
in his will. he directed that "the large
vase presented to me by the ladies Of
Charleston. s. c.. my native state, with
a large picture representing the un-
furling Of the American banner, pre-
sented to me by the citizens Of South
= %n ha
cepted by the United States senate, I
leave in trust to my son, A. Jackson,
Jr., with directions that should our
happy country not be blessed with
peace-an event not always to be ex-
pected-he will at the close Of the war,
or end Of the conflict, present each Of
said articles. of inestimable value, to
that patriot residing in the city or state
from which they were presented, who
shall be adjudged by his countrymen
or the ladies to have been the most val
liant in the defence Of his country or
our country's rights"
Jackson's boyhood days among the
Waxhaw patriots were pathetically
tragic and doubtless did much to shape
his mind to the stern mould which 1t
afterward acquired. His partizanship
there learned it's first lesson. That he
always turned with love, in spite Of
the after conflicts, to these people Of
his youth, many circumstances prove.
They have always delighted to honor
his memory and would, am assured,
cooperate with the EFFORTS to preserve
the relics which still survive. The re-
construction and preservation OF the
old log cabin, with the original chim-
ney and such tirnbers as still remain,
could be easily accomplished and would
prove of exceeding interest-an inspi-
ration to the youth Of the land, whom
it would teach the reward of duty re-
lentlessly followed; and 1t would be
deemed a hallowed relic by the Ameri-
can people.
The parents of Andrew Jackson are
said to have emigrated from Ireland
to the WaXhaws in 1764, and were Pres
byterians. The emigrants, who at that
time were rapidly peopling the up
stern, simple people, with few desires
and less riches. The log cabin was
the sole possession of the future pres
ident of the United States, and the
death of his father soon placed the
burden of responsibility upon the wild
owed mother. Buford's defeat by the
British fired the patriotism Of Andrew,
who was then but 13, and was attend
ing the school III Mr.. McColloch, and
an elder brother, Robert. The two
boys enlisted under Sumter, and at the
brutal massacre Of the assembled pa
triots at the Waxhaw church by Tar
Teton. were taken prisoners and car
ried to Charleston. Another brother,
Hugh. had also enlisted and was kill
ed in battle. The agonized and widow
ed mother followed her two sons to
Charleston, and finding that they were
confined ahOa r6 a DriSOn shin. sought
to relieve their distresses. If the ac-
counts which come down to us can be
trusted, this noble woman, inspired by
the sight of the privation and illness
she found among the prisoners, volun-
teered as a nurse, and became minis
tering angel to them, providing the
naked with clothing from her Scant
means and nursing the sick with de-
voted tenderness until she herself was
stricken with fever. Attempting to
return TO her home in the Waxhaws
she died at the quarter house, six
miles from Charleston.
The proud spirit of the two brothers
was sorely tried while prisoners in the
hands Of the British, Andrew having
been stricken down by a British Of
ficer and narrowly escaping death upon
his refusal to obey command to per-
from a menial service, while his BROTH
err Robert, died from the effects Of a
wound received under like circumstan-
ces while a prisoner. How fully he
avenged the degradation at New Or
leans!
Left an orphan, without relatives at
the close of the war he entered the shop
of Mr.. White. a harness maker, who
lived in the Waxhaws. After SER