Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1907-06-12
0GONEE'S GRAND old MEN.
Gta.cE =. ss ;:a%aass :a%aassss @%Me HAVE pAssEn
the TIME ALLOTTED 70 MANKIND.

.tsrE ~ .st.si
We copy from The State, of june 9Th.
1907, the following interesting sketches
of the lives Of some OF our older oitizens
who are still in the land Of the living
and enjoying their usual health and
strength. The public IS indebted to our
townsman, Capt. w. a. Strother, for the
nioe r'rite-of these old gentlemen. We
trust ne will keep up these narratives
until he embraces many more of oconee's
prominent citizens. Capt. Strother
writes we'll and interestingly. Hear him:
"When we want something done how
often we desire to be another whom, we
can call to mind to do it in bon-ton
style. On thts occasion we wish we were
Zach McGee TO write up about SCORE of
men ranging In age from so to 60 years,
for we believe Walhalla can bring out
moro men Of this age than any other
place in the whole, common wealth.
Sometimes We like to look backward as
well as forward and some of these we'll
preserved old men can talk so interest.
ingly of things that transpired so years
ago.
"One of these gentlemen is Gen. w. f.
Erwin, who in short interview said he
was IS years old, was born in Williams.
burg county in 1922. The place of his
birth was near Charleston, the seat of
war for independence in South Carolina.
Gen. Erwin says he well remembers the
visits of the old Revolutionary war vete.
rams to his father, DR.. Robert Erwin, and
gives experiences; how interested he was
especially to hear the stories of his
ancestors and the part they took. His
great-grandfather, John Erwin, was a
colonel and his grandfather captain
and both fought under Gen. Marion.
His grandfather married q sister of
Gabriel Marion, whom the British slew
after he was captured. He also has a
pair of handcuffs worn by his grand
father while q prisoner. Cen. Erwin has
just completed new residence on Main
street into which he and Mrs. Erwin
have moved and apparently starting life
anew. Gen. Erwin has lived at Walhalla
SO years. a
"Anether Of these old men is Mr. J. e.
Hendrix, who was born in Lexington
county in 1923. He is 80 years old. He
married Catharine Rawl SO: years ago,
and has been an active merchant here
for 3S years. He served through the
war between the States, Mr.. Hendrix
says that both he and Mrs. Hendrix are
in the best Of health and spirits, his only
trouble being an occasional spell of nm
adulterated laztness.
"Mr. B. F. O'Kelley, who is IS, is still
able. to do anything that comes to hand.
He was born in this county in 1922,
married his present wife "a years ago
and has lived where he now resides "a
years. He served through the civil war
and took an active interest in the Hamp-
ton campaign of '76 as did the other
gentlemen herein mentioned. Mr..
O'Kelloy does not remember seeing any
OF the Revolutionary veterans, but calls
to mind very distinctly the old negro
servant who cooked for Gen. Ben Cleye-
land and had many long talks with him.
Mr.. and Mira. O'Kelley are in good health
and have the promise Of many more
years.
"Col. Robert A. Thompson, who ia in
his SOth year, was bora in Pickeps
county in 1927. He married so years
ago and both he and Mrs. Thompson are
enjoying good health. Col. Thompson
mas lived an active life as editor, lawyer
and farmer. He was connected with The
Keowee Courier for 45 consecutive wears: ::
was commissioner in equity for 20 years,
and is one of the survivors of tho Seces.
sion convention of 1850. He has also
represented his county in the Legislature.
Col. Thompson looks after his business
in Walhalla daily and is still alert in all
matters pertaining toEthe good of his
county and State.
"Capt. j. C. Neville, another of these
grand old men, was born in Oconee
county in 1925 and is so years old. His
grandfather was Revolutionary veteran.
Capt Neville has lived in this county all
his life; he served dis captain in the
war between the States, and like b. r.
Perry and Col. James L. Orr believed, at
the time, that secession was not advisa-
bic. He is very temperate man and
his sons follow his example. His eldest
son, DIR. w. q. Neville, is President of
Clinton college. Capt. Neville enjoys
the best of health and challenged the
writer few days ago for horse race.
MANY more of these old men could be
added to this from, we say, 80 to 30 years
old; they say 80 to 80 years young"
- a e"F~H a "A