The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1916-12-13
Lone, Long Ego
ROBERT R. HEMPHILI, IN "THE MEDIUM" JUNE Is, 1899

II \
III ROBERT r. HEMPHILL, IN
About two years ago a citizen OF
this county, an acquaintance Of years,
remarked to us that he thought we
were born in Ohio. He was surpris-
ed to know the truth and many who
read this will no doubt get fact that
they never cared enough about to
inquire. However, It is always pleas.
ant to think Of ones birthplace and
we are in q reminiscent mood since
we visited the place last Friday and
attended the funeral Of hon. ]. II.
Morrah. 'ia ,t*%',,a 't5-2'% -
+ We were born in. the house that
now stands on the Watson place on
the left Of the Snake road Just this
side Of the ten mile post from Abba-
vile. The building was constructed
Of logs and afterwards covered with
plank. Last Friday we took two Of
our boys along and had photograph
taken o. tbs place as II now looks
It has been fifty years since WI
moved s~eV from Long Cane Shd
time has changed the appearances snf
the country greatly, 50 that 1t is dif-
fcplt, to fill out, the old picture I'M
pressed upon .opr bo9hood's mind.
The no fenee 1aw sha3 not sSysa tie
timber on the route from Abbeville.
Miles Of beautiful trees have been
cut down md dasttnyed Z and the
landscape is hare to; what il once Esa,
SO thatlit H. hard to Be sure about
locating many! points. Last Friday
was q bright day but the heat was IN
tense. We drove, slowly, and whled
away the time telling the boys what
had happened along the road both In
recent years and long ago. p. On the
Blue Hill where the road forks and
goes by the Sondley house we point
ed out the spot. where Romeo, q col
ored boy, lay In, the snow one morn
ing frozen to death. The day before
he drank adulterated .whiskey and
fell asleep on the roadside. Just this
side Of Mrs. 'Drennan's the grove In
which>candidates made their speeches
il gone. We pointed out to the boys
as well az we could the place where
Ed. Stevenson sat down under . tree
while attending barbecue and died.
Farther down the road and on the
left we found trouble in showing the
boys the tree upon which q negro
was hung more than q half century
ago. He killed another negro about
his wife at Jordan's Mill, not far from
Little Mountain. Our father went up
oiisthe. day OF. the hanging TO preach
q sermon but he said he would not do
so again. There was d great multi
tude present and gingercake and
cider were on sale. The sermon did
not have much impression on the
crowd. g., s%.grN. -i.4
Just below Clatworthy's cross roads
Mrs. John Patterson lives and her row
Of currant bushes will attract any
one. She was q Miss Free apd first
married o Wilson and afterwards
John Patterson. Our father perform
ed the first ceremony and we remen-
Der we'll that he married another 'cou-
pie several miles below on the same
night. He rode grey horse, a re-
markable PAGER from Indiana. .i.'.s
A little farther on, to the left Of
the road. and over q hill. once stood
the log school house where we learn
ed the alphabet. James Martin was
our teacher. Amnog the; girls who
went TO school with US we only re-
call Martha Jordan, now Mrs. VIII
liam Neel Of Florida; Margaret Nc
Clane, now Mrs. w. P. Kennedy OF
Due West and Cleopatra McCaslan
now Mrs. DR.. Millwee Of Greenwood
The girls. all wore sunbonnets kept
in shape by pasteboard splits. Tom
and Sam Link, Alb. Stott, Tom Clat-
worthy and William McCaslan were
among the boys but they have all
wandered away or have died. Just
this side Of the Watson house Is clear
ed ground that was covered with great
chestnut trees perhaps twenty in
number when we were boy. In
those days there was a beautiful grove
in front Of the house but only few
of the trees are now standing but
with very little foliage and seeming
to be struggling against decay. We
drove into the yard and found the
place occupied by L. s. Burnett, a col
ored Methodist preacher and his fam
ily. Everything was clean and neat
and but little change to be observed.
In rear of the house at the corner
of the garden is walnut tree planted
by our mother and an elm tree in
front that was also planted by her.
Another deep well is near where the
first well was sunk. In the back yard
two great oaks still stand and we re-
called that under their shade we
fought a Mexican battle with our
brother, John. He was Gen. Taylor
and we were Santa Anna. Our am
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