Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1919-07-16
N. Ii. CARY WRITES AGAIN.
Bits Of History in Connection with
tho High Falls.
Keowee Courier:

Editor Keowee Courier:
In my last article had something
to say about the High Falls and the
great improvements which have
been made on the ridge above there.
along the road leading from Old
Pickens Court House to Jocasscc.
but neglected to state some things
in relation to the Falls which may
be OF interest to some Of your
readers
Tragedy OF GriSham House.
According to the best information
| can get, this valuable property was
first improved by Rev. Joseph Girls
ham by the erection Of a handsome
two story building. near the falls, in
which he lived for many years, and
which withstood the ravages Of time
until the great June freshet of 1903,
when this house, with others, was
swept away by the raging waters.
The main 0nruSh Of waters came
suddenly, in the night time, when
the occupants of this building-five
colored people, husband, wne and
three children--were asleep; and
the house, not torn asunder, like q
miniature ark, noated down the
stream with its human freight. The
negro man said when he awoke he
looked through an aperture in the
roof and the whole earth seemed to
be covered with water as he rush
ing downstream. He managed to
get on the roof, and as he noated
under bending tree he caught it
and swung there like coon or pos
sum until found and rescued. He
is still living, but not fully recovered
from the shock. The wife and chill
dren were drowned and their bodies
Except one) recovered. The house
was torn to pieces and the fragments
drifted on towards the ocean. So
far as can be learned from the old
est people and tradition, Keowee and
Little rivers have never been so
high, nor has such damage ever been
wrought.
Two more tragic events happened
at the Falls within my recollection.
One was the killing Of Major Gibson
by Van Buren, Hammett. The diff
Guilty occurred about dog. Ham
nett was tried and acquitted on the
plea of self-defense. Later on Ben
Wilson was accidentally killed by
the falling Of Il piece Of timber on
him while working on the bridge.
Col. Grishan,, Pioneer.
Col Grisham was among the pio-
neer settlers of this community, was
Il minister Of the Gospel. a useful
man and public-spirited citizen. Hc
lived at the Falls for many years and
engaged in business there, but moved
from there to West Union, where. |
think, he spent the remainder OF his
useful life. lie was the father of
Mrs. Miles NJ. Norton. the mother Of
the late learned and spotlcss Judge.
j. j. Norton, and also the father of
the wife Of Ex-Governor Joseph f..
Brown, Of Georgia. | am told the
Ex-Governor and his wife were
married in West Union Our own
late Col. w. S. Grisham was his son.
ana 100 well known to your readers
to need any description from me.
4 Hundred Years Ago.
One Joseph Burnett, nearly a hun
drcd years ago, was owner of part
OF the Falls property. and as far
back as | can remember somebody
operated a store. grist mill and tam
merry there. Mr.. Burnett was sole
owner of the tanncry and for many
years-in fact. as long as he lived
he tanned hides and sold leather
there. He was a Woodworking. in
dustriOus man and accumulated con
siderable property, but. unfortu-
natcly for him, in the last years Of
our Civil war. he disposed Of his
property for Confederate money,
which became worthless on his
hands. Thus the labor OF long
life was swept away. as it were. in
the twinkling of an eye. How true
1t is that "richcs takes wings and
fly Mr. Burnett came here from