Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1910-12-21
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W sONIE RECOLIIECTIONs or j.
OLD RICHLAND. j.
4. o. s. X. Dendy, sr. I.
Observation-Disclosures. .Ss.S..S.3..S.ss..3.sS..j

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( Editor Keowee Courier. j have
been requested to write a history
OF the old Richland homestead, old
school house and church. This re-
quest comes from the younger pupils
of this historic section who held a
school reunion on the oath Of Au-
gust, 1910. In writing this history,
however, feel that | shall fall far
short of being able to give this his
toric old place justice.
The old Richland homestead was
first owned by Matthew Mcdonald.
My father, James Hogan Dendy, be-
fore he bought the Richland home,
| might say In connection with this
article, was born in Laurens District,
South Carolina, March 13, 1888, and
died July Ia, 1846. He was buried
at the old Richland family burying
ground. On his tomb Is Inscribed:
"He lived and died Christian" His
ancestors, SO far as we know came
from Virginia and later settled in
l.aurens District, South Carolina. We
find that he came to this part Of the
state some time early in 1900. I
have had the records of old Pendle-
ton District carefully gone over by
my old comrade and friend, Dr.. r.
f. Diver, Of Anderson. He finds
first on record in these books the
following:
David Humphries to James H.
Dendy-deed of gift. In considera-
ton of love and affection l give to
my loving friend, James H. Dendy,
all Of that certain tract of land on
Greer's Greek, near where Scott &
Gannt's store house did stand" This
is gift, as there Is no specific num-
Der of acres. The deed was made in
1916, which Is 81 years ago.
On next page
David Humphries to James II.
Dendy--A deed in consideration Of
the sum of one hundred dollars: All
that certain tract of land on Greer's
Creek, Of Tugaloo river, containing
800 acres, bought originally from
James Martin, whose original grant
Is dated 1887. James Martin got the
land from the State Of South Caro-
lima In getting and giving the
above records have some idea as to
when James Fl. Dendy should have
bought. old Richland. have not
yet found the records Of deeds from
Matthew Mcdonald to James II.
Dendy, but would suppose it was
some time about the years 1920 to
1925. This 800 acres on Greer's
Creek, for which my father paid one
hundred dollars, sounds very cheap
to us now. He paid at that time
33 1-3 cents per acre, and | am in
formed by my friend, Crayton Wal
ker. who lives on or owns lands on
Greer's Creek, that are worth to-day
$40, $50 to 500 per acre. This
shows how times have changed dur
ing these years.
My father, while in his teens, went
to Charleston, going to school there,
and alscNstudied surveying, as | find
quite number of old land papers,
ueedssa and plats surveyed by him in
,.the ye'tS of 1897 to 1910 and up to
1919. 8, died soon after that time.
His lahN leeds, plats and all papers
were kept fn a neat, legal. and bust
ness-like form and were Written In
most legible hand. The reason T
have not given the births and deaths
OF the rest of The Dendy family Is
that my old friend and Richland
neighbor, Col. r. II. Jaynes, request
ed me to let him include them all in
his historic article read on August
Gath, which did with pleasure.
My father was the first Ordinary
OF Old Pickens District and held this
Office for some fifteen years, resign
Ing In order to remain home In quic-
tude, peace and pleasure. His health
was not good at that time, and he
died not long thereafter could
give much more history Of old Rich
land home, but time and space COM
pei me to be brief in my few re-
marks.
In order to give a correct history
OF old Richland school must Of
necessity give a history Of the first
old church, which was often used as
a school house as we'll as the house
of God. | will give the exact words
used and copied from the old "Ses-
sion Book loaned me by my vener-
able and loving sister, Mrs. f.. F..
Hughs. This is what find in this
sacred old book, written and agreed
to by these grand and highly respect
ed Christian citizens Of Richland
community:
eve, the inhabitants of Pickens
District, South Carolina, and living
in country granting federation to
every system Of religion not subver-
sive Of social order and civil liberty,
and having honest and conscientious
preferences on this most important
of all subjects, have jointly and sew
orally agreed to constitute ourselves
into regularly organized church.
We call ourselves Presbyterians, and
as such adopt and accept the Confess
sion Of Faith of the Presbyterian
church In these United States as
embodying that system Of faith and
practice taught in the Word of God.
we whose names are subscribed be-
low, entertaining the above views,
nave met this day to constitute our
selves, and we are, by the subscrip-
tons OF our names, hereby solemnly
constituted, into q religious society