Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1919-03-26
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. .3..S..s..s..s..s..s..s..s.
j. ItANISAY'S CREEK i.
J. IN DAYS OF YORE. !.
...'...t.S.S..t..s. Observation-Disclosures.
Westminster, r. +. D. 4,

March 18, 1919.
Editor Keowee Courier:
Since my last article appeared in
your paper several have asked me
to write again, so here goes for Il
biography entitled "Ramsay's Creek
in Days of Yore."
There were no land owners on this
creek during the Colonial period
that is, prior to l776. Creek and
Cherokee Indians lived here in con-
siderable numbers $50 years ago.
The silent Indian maid with dark,
dreamy eyes and long, paven hair
4 child Of nature-occupied much OF
her time in dense cane brakes, max
ing baskets. AS her eyes followed
every manipulation Of her hands in
their cunning work, she little
thought, perhaps, that tho pale
faces were fighting desperate bat
ties on nearby fields to determine
who should be ruler Of this land.
Our first landowner. Alex Ram
say, was also the first settler. Ho
owned not so many acres, but so
many square miles. OH the lower
boundaries of the creek and extend
ing to the present town of Westmin-
ster. Incidentally we say that If
a man owned Ramsay's land and
timber to-day he could step as high
as Vanderbilt!
A century and quarter ago Sam
uel Lotion obtained u grant" for
200 acres of land where the writer
now lives. The old State grant
shows the visible marks Of age. 1t
bears the signature of Hon. Thos.
Mcultrie, and was dated ut Colum-
hia, January IS, 1898.
Just after the Revolutionary War,
VIM. and Hannah Dickson came over
from ireland and took up much valu
able land in the central section here.
They also owned cattle and other
stock almost without number; also
slaves. Their farm of a more recent
date came to be known as the David
dickson place. Their sons--John,
Robert, Simp, Andrew, David, and
one daughter, Linnie--married, and
nearly all raised large families
"Uncle Simp" settled on Choa
creek, and nearly all the people by
this name in the lower and western
part Of our county are descended
from him. "Uncle Bob established
himself in Rabun county, Georgia
and multitude of people there can
look back and call him great-great.
EfaudVal ono ut Inc iuuugc one
remarked 70 me thgr ne had move
BnowN or roard Of d pslson by iNh
NnMc iN talk" uY nuu*. .uDG VII
the county sheriff. Such Il record is
one to be proud OF, indeed.
Uncle Barnck Sanford was also
an old timer, whose little earthly
paradise was on the west side OF
the creek. He sleeps with his form
er friend and ncighbor near the old
home. The above and others knew
how good old bear meat tasted. The
bark Of the wolf, the scream OF the
oHnlHcF anu DuSfl ol tnc Wllu nOB
could be heard nightly in those days.
II was during the ante-bellum
period that Capt. VIM. Steele pur-
chased the Ramsay lands as men
toned elsewhere in this article. He
selected an elevated ridge overlook
ing the public road, one mile east of
the creek, for building site.
Forests were cleaned for the choicest
material for the erection Of the
house. The building was an oblong,
three-story structure, containing
some twenty rooms, besides re-
ception room and basement at the
rear-in fact, residence that was
closely in keeping with certain fam
cns old Virginia mansions Of the
Colonial period. Capt. Steele's prop
crty holdings were very great. 1t
was a fact, almost, that he owned
the cattle on thousand hills,
hosidcS large numbers Of negroes
and other property. Perhaps the
most beautiful parts Of his residence
were the four stately rock chin,-
ncys. displaying a blue granitc-like
appearance: the large oaks. pretty
tower gardens, and shady walk
ways, and last, but not least. the
unboundcd Southern hospitality
which greeted and entertained the
visitors within. This family soon
came to be the most prominent peo-