Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1902-06-18
A VOICE FROM OLD PlCKENS.
Brief Mention OF Some OF the First Settlers
at the District Court House.

Old Pickens, June 0.-Editors Kcowee
Courier: Among the earlier settlers of
Old Pickens the name of Robt. f. Nor
gan deserves mention. He kept the first
hotel here, and served for many years as
Deputy Sheriff and constable with great
credit to himself and to the advantage of
his country. He was a remarkable man,
plain and unaSsuming in his manner;
every word he said was full of sound
Judgment and good advice. He opposed
secession, like b. F. Perry and others,
but when the time came he wore the
gray, survived the war and died a few
years ago, leaving considerable prop
erty and number of children, all of
whom arc doing we'll. Among them are
Frank and JEFF, prominent merchants of
Centra', S. c., and j. d., a most success
ful business man of Seneca. Mr.. Nor
gan seems to have fOrcscen the results of
the war, and, being slave holder,
wisely sold his negroes and invested the
proceeds in valuable lands in Oconec
drcn, aggrcgating in value about $20,O 600
This large estate was peacefully and
amicably divided among nine heirs by
themselves, without the expenditure of
any part Of the same for Court costs,
lawyers fees, etc, all in pursuance of
the advice of their veneratcd father.
There was Robert Knox, a most wOr-
thy citizen and for n long time TAILOR of
the old District. He was an old man at
the beginning of the war and the father
of John and James Knox, both of whom
were killed in that bloody strife. Arthur
and Harrison, two younger sons, died
since the war.
Mrs. Catharino Boggs, widow of Mon
roe Boggs, deceased, now of Newry, S. G.,
and Mrs. Boyd, wife of Maj. James l..
Boyd, of Oconee, are his daughters.
There was younger son, Benjamin, now
deceased, who is survived by his widow
ana several children. In speaking of
Major Boyd it should be said he is one of
the oldest and most honorcd citizens of
this section, but is now in feeble health
calmly awaiting the close of q useful and
honorcd life. He was seriously injured
about one year ago by an accident on the
Blue Ridge Hallway and has never re,
covered. He has suffered much. but en-
dures it all with that Christian fortitudc
for which he is we'll known. In 1865 Inc
served as member of the Constitutional
Convention which was known as the
white Mans Conventions" The other
delegates from Pickens District I believed
were the Hon. Edmond IIcrndon, DIR. l..
Is. johnson and Alexander Bryce, Sr.
The constitution adopted by this respect
able convention was never ratified by
Congress.
The next State Convention, which met
In lS6S, was known as the "Ring Streaked
and Striped COnvcntion," and their work
being less distastcful to the Federal Con
gress, was approved.
Mattison llunnicutt, deceased, is re-
membercd by former residents of Old
Pickens as good man and prosperous
farmer. He was the fatheF of Warren
and Thomas IIunnicutt, both useful
citizens of Oconee, and Joe Berry, also a
citizen OF OcOnce, farmer and minister OF
the Gospel. The war record of all is
most honorable. William John, another
son, made good soldier and was an
excellent man. 1t will be remembered
that he was the victim of the saddest
tragedy ever enacted in Oconce county.
Kctnrning peacefully to his home from
Waihalla he was waylaid in the darkness
or the night and foully murdered, and
his little son Newell beaten to insensi.
biilty. BY this fiendish deed worthy
woman and an interesting family OF
bright children were bereft of husband
ana father. They are all living save one,
ana have succeeded well in the cruel
battle of life, being sustained by Him
VINO assures us that He is ALWAYS ga
husband to the widow and father to
the fatherless." The oldest son. I
breckenridge, for many years prominent
In railroad circles in Florida, deserves
high commentator for nlal devotion
TO his widowed mother and his untirino
interest in the care and education of his
orphan brothers and sisters. For such
conduct there is %n eternal reward "more
precious than gold and more durable
than marble" r.