Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1909-09-22
OAIlWAY AND SOUTH UNION.
Mr.. Wright Finds "Thc Garden of
Eden" of OcOncc County.

Editor Keowee Courier: 1t was
my intention to write q long letter
this week about the good people, the
fine crops and the beautiful flowers
in this beautiful section; but l am
reminded of the fact that | must
make it very brief for lack Of space.
From Thomas Bibb's to South I'm.
ion, on the Fair Play road, corn and
cotton are fine. Mr.. Bibb thinks he
will make bale of cotton to the
acre. His acre Of prize corn is
good. The man who beats Tom will
be the winner.
We spent Monday night with
Berry Moore, Tuesday night with
John r. Zachary, Wednesday night
with Joe McJunkin, Thursday night
with j. A. EuDunks, and Friday
night with the Duke Of Oakway, An
drew Bearden. We took dinner with
w. w. Bearden. He has one of the
best houses in Oakway.
r. Fl. King was fifty years old last
week, and we were honored as one
of his guests on that occasion, and
oh, what a good dinner they had,
and how every one enjoyed himself.
This is the fifth time that I have
been in Oakway. / have been there
in mid-winter, spring, summer and
fall | have always found the peo-
pie Of Oakway kind-hearted and
true. They live on what they make,
and there never was a more hospita-
bic people. ] wish ! had space to
tell just how kindly l was treated at
each place l stopped. But | will say
that there are a lot of good farmers
in Oakway and South Union, and I
clad fO nnta thnt oil
house had an instrument of music,
and lot of beautiful hot-house
flowers. Mrs. McJunkin has the fin
est assortment Of ferns that | ever
saw. 1t has been said by one of the
great poets that where music and
howers fdd and bloom, peace reigns
in the home.
Passing through South Union I
came to the river hill. John w. She
lor's home is on the top Of one of
those hills. Here one has beautiful
view Of both South Carolina and
Georgia, and can behold the king
doms Of the world in a moment Of
time.
The people of Oakway and South
Union, l found, live on what they
produce at home. They don't live In
tin cans and paper bags.
But let me tell how Andrew Bear
den farms. Gle told me lot that
| would like to write, but we are
limited.) He has in his individual
farm from three to four acres that
he plants in corn and gathers each
year from 70 to 80 bushels. He has
been selling on an average each year
since he has been farming (since the
war; one hundred bushels OF corn.
He has never bought a pound of
bacon for his own use; he now re-
quires all Of his renters to plant
enough corn and oats, potatoes, etc.,
Tor their own use. Mr.. Bearden is
one of the most industrious, practi-
cal farmers | know of. He has
place for everything, and everything
is at its place; hence we call him the
Duke Of Oakway.
We found only one "snake-hunter"
in all our trip. He could not see
good In anybody or anything; could
not even hear the hum OF the bees
or smell the honey.
James Brown has nice home and
splendid farm, and he is a fine
farmer. We walked over part of
MS cotton crop. If any man makes
a ba e of cotton to the acre he will.
He Is a hustler He and his good
"i'N hiio" just lloW 10 MAKE q
stranger feel free and at home.
| met Grundy Hill, of Horse
Cove. at Oakway. He Is Mrs. w. w.
Bearden's father. He was with us
In the COS. He carries a letter of
nobility upon his person. 1t was
written there with a grape shot.
Truly, the farmers Of Oakway can
aford to say
We envy not the princely man,
In city or In town,
VINO wonders whether pumpkin
vines
Run up the hill or down.
We are the favored ones of earth:
We breathe pure air each morn;
We sow, we reap the golden grain,
We gather in the corn.
We toll; we live on what we earn,
And more than that We do
We hear Of starving millions round,
And gladly feed them, too.
We sing the honor to the plow,
And honor to the press
Two noble instruments Of toll,
With each power to bless
The bone and nerve Of this fast age,
True wealth Of humankind
H.. a a.