The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1909-11-25
A Visit to Bamberg.

We take the following from the
Southern Christian Advocate of last
week, written by Rev. NJ. NJ. Brab-
ham, of Lancaster:
Twenty-seven years ago, while
pastor at Allendale, l performed the
marriage ceremony for Miss Nettie
Ogilvie and Mr.. William R. Meri-
wether, the latter of Edgefeld coun-
ty, and the former daughter of the
late DR.. J. W. Ogilvie and his wife,
Mrs. Sallie Moye Ogilvie, the last
named having been from the old Bu-
ford's bridge neighborhood of what
is now Bamberg county, and cousin
of the mother of this writer.
On last Wednesday evening, the
10th instant, in the First Methodist
church of Bamberg, l performed the
marriage service for Miss Willie R.
Meriwether and DR.. Furman B. Nc
Crackin. This bride is daughter of
the first mentioned bride, who twen-
ty-seven years ago became Mrs. w.
R. Meriwether, and who is now Mrs.
A. McB. Speaks, of Bamberg.
Through all these years 1 had not
met the "Nettie Ogilvie" whom I had
known as a stately and handsome
girl, and whom I had married to her
first husband, and it is needless to
say that 1 appreciated greatly the
compliment rendered in having me
to perform the same Office for her
pretty daughter.
In addition to this special pleasure
I found it quite agreeable, after an
interval of ten years to mmgle
again with the good people of Bam-
berg-the place speak of as my
home town. Here I found many
changes; changes that indicated busi-
ness prosperity, and in some respects
suggestive of the transition from
town to city appearances. Good busi-
ness houses, imposing school build
ings, handsome churches, and many
attractive homes, together with
water works, electric lights, etc., all
show Bamberg to be abreast with the
business spirit of the times. An
other thing specially noted by an in
frequent visitor is the growth of the
trees. What ten years ago were COM
paratively small trees are now, many
of them, handsome and widespread
ing shade trees. l saw also num-
Der of tall and well-fruited pecan
trees.
However the most interesting
changes observed are those found in
the people. Many of these have
crossed the flood to the eternal shore.
Others bear the marks of time, and
show infallibly that we do indeed
fade as a leaf" However, the
Younger generation-those who were
tots when 1 left Bamberg (then my
home) twenty-eight years ago-these
are now in the prime of young man
hood and womanhood. AS I look in
to their faces, and those of others
younger still, and saw the stamp of
good breeding and indications of
noble purposes, l could but feel that
the older generation were commit
ting their town into safe and trust
worthy hands.
From Bamberg l went to Buford's
Bridge, the home of my childhood,
and now called Olar, from the -four
ishing little nearby town on the Sea-
board railroad. This old community
is almost entirely changed from what
it was. Most of the farms are oc-
cupied by negroes who either rent
the lands or farm them on shares.
1 visited the only two very old sur
viving members of the Kirkland
Brabham family, that fiourished here
in ante-bellum days. These vener-
able men are DR.. N. F. Kirkland and
Mr.. R. C. kirkland. They are first
cousins, and both are first cousins to
the father of this writer. Since my
earliest recollection the one has been
a leader in the Methodist church,
while the other has been, all along,
a prominent Baptist. l found them
both bright and trustful, patiently
awaiting the summons to the home
where changes never come. In all
probability l bade them goodbye for
the last time; and yet as l said fare
we'll l was inspired with the holy
thought that in the not-distant years
l should meet them and the long
line of others already gone before to