The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-11-11
THE STORY Of ROSENlOVT
Written by H. L. Watson and Reprinted From The State
OF June IL, 1900.

or Of this vast estate and the husband
of Nrs. Louisa Cunningham, was a
gentleman CT education and literary
taste. He read law with John c. Cal
houn, and was one Of his f>vorite
pupils. But being possessed Of q very
large fortune he abandoned the law
and devoted himself to planting. He
served the people Of Laurens county
twice in the legislature. In speaking
Of the fact that MS ancestors were all
loyal 70 the crown during the Revo-
.lution, he said to Col. Y. c. Preston:
"History does not accuse them" His
reference was certainly to his father,
Patrick the builder Of Rosemont, and
his uncle, Robert. It is stated by Gen.
.McCrady that Mr.. Robert Cunningham
would have allied himself with the
colon;sts in an attack against the
Cherokees, who became threatening
during the Revolution, but the men
under Capt. Williamson, to whom the
cffer was made, resented it, and upon
the advice O. Williamson, he retired
to his home at Island ford, and re-
NAMED there until the close Of the
war.
The only ore OF the name against
whom history does make accusation IS
William Cunningham, known as
Bloody BIZ. Bloody Bill was dis
tant cousin of Patrick Cunningham, the
builder Of Rosemont, and although
Bloody Bill visited his cousin at Rose
mont, he did not live there and had
no interest whatever in the estate.
He was said to be handsome man,
and was known to be dashing. His
cousin presented him with the famous
mare, "Ringtail.' But We have to
do only with Rosemont and its family.
Of the three male members of the
Cunningham family in old Ninety-SiX
district, Gov. Perry says that Hon.
Samuel Earle Of Greenville, who was
a gallant Wing officer in the Revolu-
ton and knew every landho!der above
Columbia, said that there were not
three more worthy and respectable
gentlemen in the upper country than
the three Cuninghams above men
toned, Patrick, the builder Of Rose
mont, and his two brothers, Robert Of
Island ford and John.
Miss Ann Pamela Cunningham.
Miss Pamela gives the following ac-
count Of the birth OF the idea to pur-
chase Mount Vernon. In the summer
of 1853, on bright moonlight night,
a steamer was passing down the
broad Potomac, and as it crossed the
shadow of Mount Vernon, its bell
tolled out the customary requiem to
the immortal hero in his last resting
place. On the steamer was Mrs. Lou
isa Cunningham, the mother Of Miss
Pamela, and as the tolling Of the bell
died away across the hills she reflect
ed sadly on the desolation which was
inevitably creeping over the sacred
spot. All at once an inspiring and
God-given idea seemed to take pos
session of her mind that if the women
Of America could own Mount Vernon
it might be preserved to the nation
forever. Al this time Miss Gaming
ham was in South Carolina at Rose
mont, her old ancestral home, con-
fined to her room as confirmed in
valid, but within her frail body burn
ed the fires of enthusiasm and intel
lactual ability and a sympathiziag
and indom:table spirit which would
accept Of no encouragement or re-
buff. When her mother wrote her of
her proposition in regard to Mount
Vernon, her enthusiastic ard ;nvin-
icible spirit aroused itself and from
her invalid's couch she said: u will
do it" And she did. Al iirstt he" tim
idity ard her mcdesty compelled heI
to use in her letters to the press the
name OF the Southern Matron." For
"a long time her identity was conceal
ed, But at length it came out. She
could not work always in this way.
There Wee other things to be done
besides writing for the press. Think
Of the task she had, to raise the enor-
nous sum of 100000, the necessary
sum for the purchase money. Nor
itheyn papers soon began to notice the
work OF the Southern Matron" and
declared that the project must not be
confined to the southern women, but
that the whole nation should be al
lowed to aid in the plan. Miss Gun