The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-10-07
HISTORIC ABBEVILLE. .
Story Of u Visit 10 the Place of Birth
and Death Of the Southern COnfed-
eracy-The Home of Many of South
CarOlina's Greatest Men.
T. Larry CAN'T in Spartanburg Herald.

CarOlina's Greatest Men.
T. Larry CAN'T in Spartanburg Herald.
During my recent tramp abroad l spent
the most delightful day and night In ApDe'
willie, 5. c., aud met on every hand WIN inc
most unbouuued Kindness and hospitality.
| am native OF old Abbevile county, my
maternal ancestors being among llS earliest
settlers.
1t has been something over thirty years
since l last visited Abbeville court mousse
and which was then one ofour small country
towns, ike apparently too many places, NV
Ing on IN memory OF Tie past aud slowly per-
ishing with the dry ROT. But IL is SO no
longer. The spirit of twentieth progressive
ness has seized upon the old town ana ~ ih
now busy hive OF industry. l do not know
q city In upper South Carolina with bright
er or more promising future than ADoeVllle,
or which Is founded on more solid ana anu en- ,f
during prosperity. The machine shops Oh
the Seaboaro Air Line railway IL located at
Abbeville, aud add to the population OF the
place large number Of Spiendlu cltlLehS
and high salaried mechanics, many OF whohi
have bought homes in the town. Then there
is a new SS0J0O0 cotton mill, equipped win
the most improved machinery. THIS Is
new enterprise, but 1t IL now on paying
basis, and will add much to the wealth anu
prosperity OF the town. Abbevlle also boasts
one of the mort complete furniture factories
In the South, and which is turning out SUITS
that would ornament any home. Inc Eure-
ka, Aobe~ille's beautiful and commodlous
new hotel, Is equipped throughout win
homemade furniture. And while on this
subject, must not neglect to eudorse the
Eureka, at which house | stopped, ana lS
under tn @ management OF Mr.. w. L. Mctall,
most genial and popular gentleman. The
Eureka would do credit TO city many times
the population OF Aobevile.
To w. 2. Greene, Esq, and DR.. u. \. Neul'
fer am l indebted for an evenings drlHe
over Abbevile and its epvirons. MIR. Greene
is q prominent lawyer, OF tho firm or Parker
L. Greene. as also secretary and treasurer OF
A IA r0ttnn mill and President OF the
Eureka Hotel Company. DIR. Neuner Is
leadip pg physician 1.-THE city.
Abbevllle is rich in historic interest, oelns
one OF the oldest settled places In the up.
country. Its Inhabitants were typical South
Carolinians, and her soldiers figured gallant
ly in every war our republic has ever seen,
from the Revolution down 10 tne SpaniIsh y
American skirmish. The tocsin for onr laie
great civil war was first sounded In Aboeville
and had pointed out 10 me Secession Hill,
now covered with handsome residences, ana
where at public meeting, the hrSt ueclar-
alton of southern independence was made
This historic spot is romantic wooded knoll,
near the Greenville depot, and ~ visited py
all tourists. A sister.in-law OF Senator Lat
inner now owns this historical spot, and her
handsome residence crowns the summit III
was al the beautiful old Southern mansion
OF the late Armistead Burt President Davis
and his cabinet held q meeting, ana there
decided upon an abandonment OF the war
and retreat to foreign shores. Their 'nphl
meeting, however was held at the nome of
Gen. Heard, in Washington, Ga, and from
that place our Confederate leaders dispersed,
and Mr.. Davis while making his way to'the
aeacost, was captured in Irwin County, Ga
| But II was undoubtedly in old Abbeville that
the abandonment Of our Lost Cause was de-
cided upon. and that tragic event took place
| in sight OF the hill from which the nrst de-
| claration OF Southern Independence was
| made. So Abbeviile town Is indeed the
alpha and omega OF the Souths great war lot
| independence.
The people Of Abbevlle have ever been in;
tensely loyal TO the South. Its cause, and
It's traditions, and while they we're the first 10
advise tax ing up arms in defense OF our IN
| stitutions were The last TO yield. Even after
the surrender, Presbyterian minister was
expelled from his pulpit for praying for the
President of the United States. His congre.
CATION argued that as the new constitution OF
The United States had not been ratified, it
was that pastors duty TO have prayed lot the
President OF the Southern C9nieaeraScyy: rae ::
| This loyal old church Ia still standing, ana is
| q grand and imposing ecifce.
/ was shown Seceder church. and Whlch
denomination descends from those sturdy
and uuconquerable old Christians the Cove
nanters Of Scotland, and which could not be
crushed or subjected by the dragoons of Claw
! erhouse, or the tortures inflicted by klng
James and other Prosecutors. Ihe Presoyte.
rians, l tn Ink, sprang from the Seceders, onlV
| the latter still observe all the creeds OF inc
mother church, and are strong believers in
| predestinaton. The Seceders are sincere,
consistent and fearless Christians, ana l
honor them.
| Abbeville has produced some OF the great
| est men Of the South. / think. that boln
John c. Calhoun and George McDutfie were
| natives Of that county; Col Armisteaa
Burt, Foster Marshall, Judge Wardlaw, Judge
| Cothran, Gen. MCGOWAN and many other OF
South Cardinals grandest statesmen ma mil
| itary leaders lived in Abbeville. EX-Gov.
John Gary Evans, Senator Latimer, Hon.
Frank Gary, Judge Ernest Gary, and other
| leading gentlemen who have lately conhpic-
uously figured in politics are natives OF Ab-
| hot 10 ~ nr n n0llnfv
has been noted for centuries for its great men,
and from the bright eyes and expanded
| brows you see in her young men, IL is easy TO
predict that this proud prestige has descend
| ed from sires TO sons, and that In future gen.
| erations, as in the past, whether upon the
| forum or In the forefront OF battle, you WIN
find the sons Of old Abbeville leading tue
van.
am indebted 10. Mr.. Hugh Wilson, OF the
Press and Banner, and to Gen. Il. H. Hemp
hill, of the Medium, for many courtesies.
gans of which she can well be proud, and
that growing city owes largely her prosperity
10 their work and efforts, For more than
thirty years the Press and Banner aud Me
dunn have been rival papers, published In
the same town, and the kindly relations that
have ever existed between them Is an exam
pie tor the press OF our Stale. Their editors
realize the fact that the field Is large enough
for both journals, and the official and other
patronage is.equally and equitably divided I,
without any attempt on the part or one 10
SUDDldDI tD6 OlDeT. lulS ndppy COuuIllOu 10
due TO the fact that both Messrs Wilson and
Hemphill are South Carolina gentlemen 10
the manner born.
1t has ever been the proudest boast of my
life that was born In Abbeville county, and
believe that this feeling is peculiar 10 every
native OF that county. While ! moved from
there when mere boy, my heart has ever
thrilled at the word Abbeville and the flush
OF pride mounted my cneek. 1t was Win
pain and sorrow that I saw that grand old
county dismembered, although her bright
young daughter, Greenwood, reflects pride
and credit upon the soil from which she was
taken.
During my stay at Abbevlle met with the
most unbounded kindness 90 every hand.
and was made 10 feel that indeed were l
among friends and Kindred.
That there Is a brilliant future ahead for
Abbeville even a blind man should see. II is
In the centre OF one OF the finest farming Rec-
tions OF the south, peopled by brainy, pro
gressive and intelligent planters. But a short
distance away flows the Savan nah river with
It's unrlvalled and undeveloped water powers.
which at comparative slight expense can be
enchained and brought over electric wires
and used to propel enough spindles and other
machinery TO support population OF quar-
ter OF u million souls.
I have still many relatives living in Able
Vile, but only met few. Among the num-
Der was the genial Bob Hill. Bob Is what we
called him in the days OF ultra Tillmanism
rank tankerous, dyed-ln-the-wool anti; but
recognizing the fact that blood Is thicker
than politics, Bob said he would risk contain.
ination and SO gave me an old-iashioned Alb.
beville welcome.
could write columns about old Abbeville
and It's big-hearted, hospitable people, did
time and space permit. | am glad that |
have formed; another link in the chan that
binds me to AbbeviIle by my youngest son
marrying an Aobeville born and Abbeville
raised girl.
And just here let me rise to remark that
Abbevile has ever been noted for its qucenly
and beautiful ladies, and from the iair and
her homes, can report that her fair daughters
OF to-day maintain the enviable prestige
nal