Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1907-07-17
Reunion OF william Rowland's Family.

oh iLi1tie NiVer, near NeWry, ana II
might be truthfully said that he was
raised in that immediate neighbors
hood. Reaching years of manhood
he was married to Miss Floriede
Reese, great-granddaughter of Gen.
Andrew Piokens, of Anderson coun-
ty, somewhere near Pendleton. To
this union fourteen children were
Lorn. After living near Pendleton
for number of years he purchased a
home in the upper portion of Oconee,
at the Toll Gate, on the Turnpike,
where he opened boarding house,
with doors swung wide open, for the
accommodation of pleasure. seekers
and friends, who, during their vaoa-
tions in the summer months, would
visit different points of interest in
the mountains, noted for fine scenery.
AS he was always found to be
genial and generous.hearted man, he
became widely and generally known.
He and his good wife have long since
passed away, but are not forgotten. A
short time back some of his descend.
ants suggested a family reunion,
which met with hearty approval from
all. Next in order was the most ap-
propriate place for the occasion and
the most suitable time for each and
every member of the family. Finally
the site was selected, it being the
noted picnic grounds at the Davis
mills, near the birthplace of their
ancestor, and where he had spent 80
many hours of pleasure in his boy
hood days strolling over these hills.
After some consideration July 4th
was the day appointed. The day
having dawned unusually fair (no
appearances of storm or disagreeable
weather), about 10 o'clock vehicles
began to arrive at the grounds,
loaded with families and we'll. filled
baskets, from the surrounding coun-
try, and from Seneca, Walhalla, Cen
tral, Greenville, and even Georgia.
You could hear congratulations on
all sides, "Howdy," "How are you"
81 am so glad you came," "I have
not seen you in 80 long!"
The four surviving children were
present: Car Rowland, Mrs. Jane
Nicholson, Mrs. Mary Davis, Mrs.
Net Hawkins. There were also pres
ent, one daughter-in.law, Mrs. Caro-
line Rowland, (who was a Miss
Smith), widow of Henry Rowland,
and two sons-in-law, w. Stephen
Frasier, who married Susan Row.
land, and T. p. James, who married
Carrie Rowland, and 81 grandchil-
dren, "a great-grandohildren, a niece
and nephew, and Mrs. Warren Davis
"a cousin) and her family, besides
several friends of the family.
After all had arrived, and some
time was spent in talking, a table
was arranged in the shade of large
trees. l will not attempt to tell
what all was spread on that table,
but will say anything could be found
there--from sour pickle to a cake
of any taste or flavor you desired, ice
cream, lemonade, ice tea, ice water,
or pure water as it gushed forth
from a cold spring near by.
After everybody was supplied with
all they could eat and drink, it ap-
peared that enough was taken up to
have fed another crowd of equal
number. The regular program, talk
ing, singing, etc., was then taken up.
The writer, not being connected
with the family, in looking on pro-
nounced this group to be as interest
ing and intelligent gathering of de-
scendants as could be found in any
county of the State, and thought Mr..
and Mrs. Rowland left a legacy to
Oconee county that she can Justly be
proud of. NJ.
Seneca, July 16.