The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1915-08-19
The Gilsrap Family Reunion

Inc GllStrap Family Reunion
The second annual reunion of
the Gilstrap family was held on
Saturday last, the 9TH of Au-
gust, at the old Hardy Giistrap
place, five miles northwest of
Easley. 1t was estimated that
there were between $50 and 300
of the descendants of John,
Peter and Bright Gilstrap, the
pioneer settlers of the family in
this section present, besides a
number of friends. The day
was spent very pleasantly in
the meeting and renewing of
friendships and talking over old
times.
Hon. e. f. Looper, of Pick
ems, gave very interesting his
torical sketch of the family.
From his remarks and from
talking with the older members
of the family present, we find
that the GilStraps were of Irish
descent. The three mentioned
above viz: John, Peter and
BRIGHT, came from Charleston,
where doubtless they or their
parents immigrated from the
"Ould Country" just after the
Revolutionary War and settled
in the upper part Of this. then
Pendleton District. They were
a strong hardy family and soon
gained foothold in this then
wild country. AS the Younger
members grew up, they inter
married with the other pioneer
settlers of the community un-
til members of the family were
settled on nearly every stream
in the upper part of the district.
Forty or fifty years ago some
of the older members of the
family were Hardy, Ephriam
and Ambrose Gilstrap, ali we'll
known citizens of Pickens coun-
ty. The family is noted for be-
ing kind-hearted and friendly
in disposition. Rev. w. Hardy
Gilstrap, of near Seneca, who is
a son of the late Hardy Gilstrap,
Sr., who was man of consid-
cradle means for his day, was
present and had on exhibition
couple of family trees that he
had made. One showing the
descendants of his father, Hardy
Gilstrap. Hardy Gilstrap, Sr.,
was married twice. First to a
Miss Crane, by whom he had
several children, and next to
Mrs. Haw thorne, widow of the
late Jasper Hawthorne, who
was killed in the Confederate
war, and whose memory is per-
petuated in the name Of the
camp of Confederate veterans
at Easley. Rev. w. H. Gil.
strap is a son by the second
marriage. He made nice talk,
urging the members of the fam.
lily to place their trust in Jesus.
He said, among other things,
that from the best information
he could get, the descendants of
the three pioneer members of
the family now numbered about
1900 souls. At the last reunion
there were about 800 present,
and that there had not been a
death or serious case of sick
ness among them the past year.
He has thirteen children.
There were several other talks
of a reminiscent character by
members of the family, all of
which showed that they were
alive to the progress of the times.
A splendid picnic dinner was
served by the lady members
from baskets and cloths that
were spread out on the leaves
beneath the spreading branches
of the large oaks is front of the
old Hardy Gilstrap homestead.
After the singing Of several
familiar hymns, the crowd dis
persed, all doubtless looking for
ward and hoping for many hap
pY reunions. .-Easley Progress.
Mr.. and Mrs P. P. Mcdaniel of
Easley. accompanied by j. H. G. Nc
Daniel, Jr., and Miss Grace Mcdaniel
of Pickens, have returned from trip