The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1916-06-23
GrindaI Shoals Annals
Full of Real Interest

laCe colonial Judge OF North Carolina,
all from Granville county. The gal
liant Col. Williams of Kings Noun
tain was first cousin to the Hender-
sons. Maj. John was a fine old char
acter, greatly beloved by all of his
neighbors. His wife was Mrs. Ais
ton of Halifax, N. C. The Henderson
house is still standing and when one
views it's very limited accommoda-
tions, one wonders where they stored
away all the guests who visited the
hospital old gentleman.
Adam Potter owned a beautiful
plantation on the south side above the
ford known since as Mott place. Mr.
Mitchell and Mr.. Hale, brothers in
law to the Henderson, lived nearby.
A Stout Old Whig.
Above the Potter place on the river
lived William Hodge and family
Hodge was an honest, brave Whie
who fought all through the war and
was at the battle of Cowpens. The
family suffered greatly from the ma
rauding, thieving, house burning To.
ries. This house was burned and
with it all the fami1y's possessions
The old place was still owned by one
of the descendants until very recently
The late Rev. James Hodge, Sr., OF
Fishing Creek church, Chester, was
related to this family. All of these
were of good old families with as
much education as the times afforded
and brought with them the courteous
manners, habits and tastes that be-
longed to an older civilization. Hence
the settlement around Grindal shoals
was always known as a neighborhood
of more culture than was often found
in the backwoods of Carolina. II
was really the cradle and nursery of
many who afterward filled high posi-
tions.
Wade and John Hampton in their
early youth were familiar characters
about Grindal, where they came to
hunt and trap for animals. These
youths were always the guests of Mrs
/ Beckham, her husband, John Beck
ham, being also fond of hunting
During the Revolution, John Beckham
was noted scout and was often en-
| ployed by Hampton to serve the cause
of liberty in this capacity. So the
friendship was kept alive. The war
over, Hampton had risen to high dis
tinction and was acquiring great
wealth but he still kept in touch with
his old friend, Jack Beckham, who
was "ne'er do WELL" Hampton gave
Beckham employment as trainer OF
race horses. Jack died at last and left
Mrs. Beckham with house full OF
daughters and very poor. In looking
over her husbands accounts Mrs
Beckham found that there was some.
thing due her husbands estate from
Hampton, so she resolved to visit
him and see what he could do for her
Welcomed by Hampton.
The family and friends advised hel
against this, saying that Hampton
was now a very rich and distinguish
ed man living in grand style in Co.
lumbia. The old lady, however, re.
piled that she would trust him. that
she had known Wade in his youth
that her house was then open to him
and she could not believe that he
would forsake her now. So she
mounted Derrick, her famous old
horse, and set off to Columbia all
alone. She made the trip safely, and
on her return the family gathered
around her, eager to hear the result
of the visit. Mrs. Beckham was exul.
tant. GLOW did he receive you ?" was
asked. Receive me-" she replied
che received me like I had been a
queen. Nothing in his grand house
was too good for Mrs. Beckham. And
child, was put in a fine chamber
with a great mahogany bedstead
covered with canopy, and so high
that there were steps to climb into
it and they were carpeted. He paid
me, and more than paid me-" sup
pose the dear old lady returned with
more money in her pocket than she
had possessed in many day. This
was told me by my mother who was a
great-niece of Mrs. Beckham, and
record it as illustrating the character
of the grand old men who made Car.
olina what she once was.
This new land, in it's sylvan beauty
must have been a paradise to the first
settlers, with fish from the stream
game from the woods, focks of wild
turkeys at their very doors, living
was certainly easy even for the poor
est.
From tradition / gather that this
old community was "convivial set
and enjoyed their gatherings fol
feast and revel. OF dancing | know
they were particularly fond. Maj
John Henderson and Miss Sally
Gaudelock, arrayed in blue silk and
diamond necklace, would lead off in
the stately minuet and doubtless
"slow step, coupe, sink and rebound
were as gracefully performed then as
now, and Mrs. Potter's agility in the