Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1912-12-23

Editor Keowee Courier: Will you
please allow me space in the oldest
paper ever published in the old Dis
trict of Pickens and the first in Oco-
nee, the old "Keowee Courier" to
givea few "reminiscences?
have been requested by friends
to pen few more recollections Of
Old Richland and what am now
writing is history of this section and
locality as handed down to me from
the oldest and first settlers and from
their descendants to the third and
fourth generations. I wish to write,
as best I can, short history Of the
old "Richland Artillery Company,
one Of the oldest militia companies
in the (then) old District OF Pick
ems. AS you know, the old district
was named after and in honor Of
thnt grand patriotic Revolutionary
soldier Gen, Andrew Plckens, whose
mortal lpmains now rest In the Old
stone Church (Presbyterian) ceme-
terry, near Pendleton, and adjacent
to Clemson College, the old home
stead off John C.iCalh0un. -E':'+
The records Of this famous old
company have long been lost. In the
latter part of 1900 and very early in
1900 there was in this section an or
ganization known as "Patrolmen, I"
or "Night-Watchmen" or Guardians
of Peace and Good Order" They
knew their metes and bounds and
well did they guard and protect this
community; and from this first or
ganization of those old settlers,
(most Of them born in the years Of
1900, came the Lamp Lighters"
and the Road Blazers" the very
first organizers Of peace, protection
and good citiZenship-and their good
works do live after them. Many Of
their descendants still live in the
Richland section.
Some time later on (I don't know
just when) these same forebears
formed this historic old militia COM
pany, and from the "Patrolmen"
came the Richland Artillery Com
pany. They called themselves the
cold Richland Malish." The van
guard of this old company would
meet at Richland cross roads at
night and would form, five or six in
a squad, and go in all directions to
safeguard that entire section. They
always carried, as side line, five to
siX-foot hickories. Should they
meet or come in contact with any
suspicious person, thing or "Bull
Moose" they would then and there
give said person, thing or animal a
fair and impartial trial, they being
both judge and jurors. If said per-
son or thing could give good, clear
account Of him or itself, all we'll and
good; If not, then and there they
called attention to tho fact by apply
ing to his personality 80 true and
tried lashes, and would tell him or
1t, to "git to Georgia" at once. They
always got, too.
This former organization was the
foundation Of the splendid old militia
company. have no exact records as
to when they first made up the old
artillery company. My old friend,
comrade and neighbor, Daniel S. Hull,
who Is now we'll past 80 years, says
that when he was small boy his ia
ther, James Hull, was then going to
muster at Richland. He says he
asked his father what they did and
his father told him they mustered
at Richland, but he, was too young to
know what 1t meant.
Some time early in 1900 this COM
pany was organized. or course the
old League or Patrolmen was the
first organization known in this Sec
ton. The muster ground was donat-
ed to this company by my father,
James II. Dendy, 1t being on the old
home place. The first muster-ground
was some 800 to 400 yards east OF