Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1915-04-14

nah river, which separates III IRON
Georgia, and had an area of fifteer
hundred and forty square miles. i
is bounded on the north by Saluds
river and drained by the sources ol
Edisto and little Saluda rivers. The
surface moderately hllly, the sol
productive, the staples being cotton
Indian corn, wheat, oats and sweet
potatoes. In 1920 the quantity OF
corn and oats were the greatest
raised by any one district in the
state and the quantity of cotton
was not exceeded by any excepting
Abbeville. Among the earliest
preachers in Edgefeld district we
find the name of John B. Mitchell,
He was of the Methodist denomina,
tion, and preached for fifty years OF
his life. He was a soldier of the
Revolution, who, being captured
and made prisoner by the British,
probably in New Jersey, accomna
MED their armies to the south as a
servant to ole of their Off An
other was William Eddins, who
early became the subject of convert.
ing grace, being received into the
communion of the Baptist church.
He was from early manhood until
1916 a most acceptable minister,
not only in Edgefeld, but in other
parts of Sou,h Carolina. About this
time he removed to Tennessee,
where he died in 1887. William Ed
dins was also soldier of the Revo-
luton, entering the service from
Newberry county at the early age
of h6. Not long after his service be-
gan he was taken prisoner, and with
other prisoners sta tied under a
guard for Ninety Six. His horse
was taken from him and assigned
to one Of The guard. On their way,
his guard, who had possession of
his horse dismounted to take a
wee DROP of dram and placed his
musket againsta a tree. Young Ed
dius was allowed to halt with him,
he drank and repeated, until the
rest of the guard, who, with the
prisoners, among whom was Ed
din's father, had preceded them
some distance, young Eddins OBJ
serving that his keeper had become
careless, seized his musket, mounted
his own horse, escaped. He returned
home to inform his mother of lis
escape. He had the prudence to hide
his gun in a hollow log. After NIGHT,
and after the family had retired to
bed, the Tories paid them a visit.
William and his brother secreted
themselves between the bed and the
wall; but the prying rascals, who
were engaged in the search, dis
covered the feet of the boys, and
were in the act of dragging them
out when the mother said. Do let
the children alone" For wonder
they desisted, and after short time
left the house. William Eddins re-
mained with lPickens till the close
of the war and then entered upon
life without money or means of any
kind. While resident of Edgefeld
district he was engaged in the cul-
ture of tobacco as we'll as ministe-
rial work, and the first crop Otto
bacco he made without horse, but
preserving industry overcame all
difficulties, and during his residence
in Edgefeld he realized quite a
comfortable fortune.
One of the oldest houses now
standing in Edgefeld county was
built by Stephen Tillman, a soldier
of the Revolution in 1850. The tall
white chimney at the end Of the
house bears this date. This house is
at present owned and occupied by
Mr.. S. L. Roper, Confederate vet
eran of II years of age. The two
Oldest churches in Edgefeld county
are Little Stevens Creek church, a
little off the old Cambridge road,
and near Meeting Street, built about
the year 1875, and Horns Creek
church, about five miles south. of
Edgefeli, on the old stage road,'' .
leading to Augusta, and built about
1892. Tradition states that the dedl-
cation services of this church were
attended by persons from various
parts of the state, and that parties,
including ladies rode horseback
from Charleston, distance of about
one hundred and fifty miles, to at
tend these services. Both of these
churches are of the Baptist denomi-
nation and are built near the banks
of Stevens. Greek and Horns Creek,
respectively, from which the church