Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1916-05-10
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J. DLD pItKENS OF LONG AGO. !.
!. OCONENi XIIElsIFES. IL
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Editor Keowco Courier: After the
division OF Old rickcns District, in
1865, into OcOncc and Pickens coun-
ties, the court house and Jail were
torn down, and tho material out OF
which they were constructed divided
between tho two counties. Tho hotels,
business houses and nearly all the
best residences were taken either to
Pickcns or Walhalla. their owners
going elsewhere. leaving the place
where once was most beautiful and
thriving town. leaving the appear
ancc OF Il "Dcscrtcd Village" indeed.
There arc only Il few OF the houses
now standing which were there prior
to 1868:
rhc elegant building, Il few hun
drcd yards above the iron bridge. on
the western bank OF Kcowco river
erected nearly ono hundred years
ago by Pleasant Alexander, now
owned. with a large and fertile farm
adjoining, by j. Bennett Hill, OF Wal
halla
The stOro room and dwelling com
bincd, on the crest Of the hill, where
stood the court house. now the prop
erty OF Edward CAN'T.
The residence Uf Col. Elliott NJ.
Keith. deceased, talented lawyer
and brother OF the distinguished w.
c. Keith, is still standing in Il state
Of good preservation. and. with
nice farm. is the property Of James
Craig, OF GrGcnvillc.
The home dwelling OF Col. w. l..
Keith ttirst and for twenty-cight
years Clerk Of Old Pickcns DistricD,
was destroyed BY fire few years ago,
and has been replaced with hand
some residence by j. ID. NJ Whitmire,
who owns the premises.
Then there Is the home Of the late
lamentcd Judge Isaac Wickliffe, now
owcnd by Carson White.
Just one mile from the site Of the
old court house stands magnificent
brick building, the home Of the late
Capt. Miles NJ. Norton. who fell NOR
tally wounded on one OF the bloody
battlcfields OF Virginia and gave his
life for his country. lie was the ia
ther OF the pure and immaculate
Judge Joseph J. Norton, Il sketch OF
whose life will appear later.
Another handsome brick building,
built nearly scvcnty-live years ago.
is the Presbyterian church. on an
cminencc overlooking the meander-
ing waters Of the crystal Keowcc.
Nearby is large cemetery. where
sleep many Of our former citizens
awaiting the resurrection OF the
dead. Splendid monuments. touching
cpitarhS and beautiful flowers adorn
many OF the graves. I'm passing
through this "city Of the dead the
most touching inscription | saw was
the following epitaph upon the tomb
OF departed young wife by her be-
rcavcd husband:
"Early. bright. transient chastc as
the morning dew
She sparkled, cxhaled and went to
Heaven"
Oconen's ShcriiiS.
The first Sheriff of Oronee county
was James II. Robins. who was sue
Gee t:lcd in office by the following gen
tlcmrn Tor terms varying from one to
two: Himself: then ". \. Craig. de-
ceased; Samuel Brcazcalc. deceased:
II. a. II. Gibson. deceased: Warren
w. Moss. deceased; B. Frank Douthit.
Boone r. Moss. w. NJ. Kay, and the
present incumbent. John w. Davis
all GOOD and true men. faithful and
efficient officers.
There never has been lynching in
Oc"nrc county. and. | believe. hut
one legal execution. which was the
hanging. by Sheriff Robins, or Frazer
ton"iand a ncgrO, for the murder OF
w. j. ilnnnicutt on his way home in
the night time from Walhalla. in
company with his little son, who was
badly wounded Ivy the brutal assassin.
This Was indeed sad tragedy. 1t
deprived the county Of good and
noble citizen. drought Il worthy wo-
man to sorrow and mourning, and
rendered iathcrlesS a number OF chill
drcn \. B. Cary.
SCcnCa. May >, l1lG