Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1914-08-14
Hill Crest, The Old Anderson Home
stead.

The July number Of the Daughters Of
the American Revolution Magazine" pub
fishes an article on Hill Crest, the old
Anderson homestead. in Sumter county
South Carolina. This homestead is stu
ated on extensive grounds midst bower
of trees on a majestic hill and overl0oks
the old coach road from Charlotte, N. c.,
to Charleston. S. C. 1t is still in a good
state of preservation and replete with as
ISOLATION. relics and legends pertaining to
Colonial days, the War of the Revolution,
the War of 1912. the Mexican War and
the War between the States. We publish
the following excerpt believing it will be
interesting to the Anderson and Wallace
families in this county. and their large
family connection and many friends:
The Revolutionary owners were Thomas
Hooper, Esq., brother of William Hooper,
signer of the Declaration of independence,
and Mary Heron Hooper. his wife. Thomas
Hooper died in the year 1897. Mary Heron
Hooper in 1920. Their niece and adopted
daughter, Mary Jane Mackenzie, was the
daughter of Elizabeth Heron Mackenzie
and John Mackenzie, and granddaughter
of William Mackenzie and great-grand-
daughter of George Mackenzie of Scotland.
Her maternal grandfather, Benjamin Heron.
was for twenty years an officer in the
Royal Navy; his fine portfolio of maps
bearing the date of 1920 is well preserved
among the relics of the Anderson home
stead. At the time Of his death, which
occurred in 1910, he was one of His Maj
esty's Councillors Of North Carolina.
Mary Jane Mackenzie was married Janu-
airy 30th, 1918. to DIR. William Wallace
Anderson, who was from Montgomery
County, Maryland. He was the son Of
Col. Richard Anderson of Revolutionary
fame, and Ann Wallace, his wife His
descent traces back to a brother of the
heroic Scotch commander. Sir William
Wallace.
Dr. William Wallace Anderson settled
here. practicing his profession during
long and honored life. Here were born his
sons and daughters, among whom were
Gen. Richard Heron Anderson and DR.. viii
liam Wallace Anderson. respectively the
ranking officer and the ranking surgeon in
the War between the States.
Capt. Edward Mackenzie Anderson. a
third and only living son. was killed in the
bloody battle near Williamsburg. May 5th,
1862, while serving as aide to his brother,
Gen. R. II. Anderson.
Gen. Richard Heron Anderson graduated
from the U. S. Military Academy at West
Point July LIST. 1912. He was then sent
to the Cavalry School for practice at Car
Isle, Pennsylvania, where he remained
until 1843. In 1850 he married Sarah
Gibson. daughter of John B. Gibson. Chief
Justice of Pennsylvania.
DR.. William Wallace Anderson graduated
from the South Carolina College and later
from the University of Pennsylvania in
l849. In 1885 he married Mary Virginia
Childs, daughter of Brigadier General Thorn
as Childs. distinguished officer from Massa-
chusetts. descended from New England
patriots who had borne their part with
noble self-sacrifice during those early days
of struggle and adversely through which
the colonies passed. and in the War Of the
Revolution.
In this house died that eminent states
man, diplomat. scientist and bOtanist, the
Hon. Joel r. Poinsett. l.. l.. d., while on a
visit to his friend. DR.. Anderson, in the
year 1881. His remains and those of his
wife are laid to rest in the Anderson lot in
the beautiful old church yard near by. 1t
was he who introduced the poinsettia plant
into this country.
We dreamed sweet dreams in the Lafay-
cite bed. with its eagles and flags and stars
such a quaint old bed. upon which Mar
quis de Lafayette reposed when he visited
Charleston. He must have felt that the
people loved him whose national emblems
watched DER his slumbers. This bed was
brought here and remained in the house
many years. The servants called it 1.-THE
Kings bed
Each child in the family has slipped from
General WashingtOn's spoon and viewed
the candle. yellow with age taken from
the stores of Lord CORVALLIS after his sur
render at Yorktown. The small Bible. lost
by Gen. Childs during the seige OF Fort
Erie in 1874, and found at Fort Niagara in
1916. The gaily embroidered priests robe,
the Gift of grateful nuns for protection
during the Mexican War. The swords and
sashes and epaulets-rare ancient books
The size Of many tome would lead one
to believe that there were truly giants in
the brave old days of mermaids. erifiins,
sea-serpents and other monsters so charm
ingly familiar to writer's a few centuries
ago.
These things and more are gathered here.
mute tokens Of those who without fear and
without reproach came to the end of
perfect day and no longer tauy with us.
memories too superbly fine and sweet to
float away as the mists and fade into
nothingness.
This old homestead has been continuously
owned and occupied by the Anderson fami-
ly; from under its roof have gone forth
men and women bearing with them the
highest standards Of duty and Of devoted
service to their people and their country.
Alexander A. Gassaway.
In the death of Alexander A. Gassaway
Loaf 1.fi LII