Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1907-09-25
WALHALLA, 8. O.: .,.s.
"WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 25, 1907.
I'm Memoriam
DRESDEN AARON SMITH.
None Knew Him But to Love Him,
None Named Him But to Praise.

1t is with profound sorrow we an
nounce the death of Dresden Aaron
Smith, our comrade, partner, and
friend. This melancholy event oc-
Cured at his home in Walhalla on
wednesday. September is, 1907, at
1885 p. m, after lingering illness,
IN the sixty-sixth year of his age.
For three months he had been con-
fined to his room and bed, but his
suffering, intense at times, was borne
with patience and fortitude. Know
Ing full we'll the malignant character
or his disease, and what the end
must be, yet he was cheerful and
hopeful, ever thoughtful and consid-
crate of the comfort and welfare of
those near and dear, who watched
and waited in constant vigil at his
bedside. His was the calm conf
dence of an humble believer who
knows that though his earthly house
or this tabernacle be dissolved, he
has "a building of God, an house
not made with hands, eternal in the
heavens"
He was born February Sd, 1912,
about three miles below Pendleton.
in Anderson County, South Carolina,
on the waters OF Three and Twenty
Creek. His father was Whitaker
Guyton Smith, and mother Maria
Elizabeth Smith, nee Lewis. He was
the eldest Of eight children, five sons
and three daughters. His father was
q celebrated teacher OF ante-Dellum
days, who spent his life in the school
room. He taught many flourishing
schools In Anderson County, and in
them 1T was that the subject OF this
sketch became we'll grounded in the
rudiments Of an English education.
But, like many country boy, he also
learned the art Of handling the hoe.
the plow, the rake, axe, maui and
wedge. So proficient did he become
In the use Of these tools that it was
an easy task to cut and split his
one hundred rails per day. Working
on the farm and going to school al
ternately, at the age of sixteen, years
he found himself sufficiently ad-
Vanced to enter upon an apprentice
ship In the printers trade. Accord
ingly in 1858 he began work in the
Office Of the True Carolinian," a
weekly paper published at Anderson,
edited by John V. Moore, and pub
lished BY Pagan e. Martin For four
years he served faithfully and well.
In 1859 the True Caroiinian" was
purchased by Seb Symmes, who
moved 1t to Pendleton and published
1t as the "Pendleton Messenger"
Here 1T was that Dresden" served
as the printers devil and carrier
how For
the paper each week to the subscrib-
ers In town, traversing hill and dale
in historic old Pendleton. After
about two years the paper was moved
TO Hartwell, Ga, and its publication
continued under the name Of Hart
well Messenger" Here the appren-
tice3hip ended after about a years
residence in Georgia, and he returned
10 South Carolina on April 4th, 1852.
lt was then stirring times, things
were at fever heat, the spirit of war
was raging, and the conflict of arms.
which was to last fer fo,'r long and
bloody years. began. He offered his
services as volunteer along with
three brothers. He was rejected on
account OF physical disqualification.
HIS brothers, Jesse Lewis, Roswell
Calhoun, and Nimrod Scott, however,
were accepted. They went to the
'front.', but never returned, one being
Killed in battle and two dying from
disease.
In the fall Of 1862 he accepted a
position on the "Chronicle and Con-
btltutionaliSt. published at Augusta.
Ga. He remained with that paper
during the four years OF the war.
working at the case along BY the
late lamented Patrick Walsh, who
afterwards became a DISTINGUISHED
Journalist, and died few years ago.
soon after his election to the United
states Senate by the people OF Geor-
gia.
After the war he returned again
10 his native State and accepted the
position OF publisher of THE Phoe-
NIX, daily paper at Columbia,
>. u, owned and edited by Julian A.
Selby. He held this position until
octoDer, 1876, when he resigned in
oTder TO acquire an interest in The
keowee Courier ana locate at Wal
halia. While on visit to his parents
ana old home near Sandy Springs in
July, 1876, the reunion OF Orr's Regi-
ment was held at Walhalla in the
grove near Wieben's Springs. Well
does the writer, who was then q
small boy, remember the occasion.
The survivors Of this famous regi-
1nent were then more numerous than
tney are to-day; many answered the
roll call that day whose names were
only memory at the reunion at /
Abbeyille last week. But the re- 1
union at Walhalla In 1876 was we'll
attended, n lar crowd was present |
and the late William c. Keith, then
In the zenith OF his powers, brilliant, |