Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1922-11-29
CAPT. DENDY WRITES REUNION
ut COnoross - Delight
full Occasion Held Annually.
Editor Keowee Courier:

an invited guest, to participate in the
festivities Of the recent annual re-
union Of the Alexanders and other
friends and relatives, to be with
them on the 27th of October, on
which day they always assemble.
Just to think-in the 40's and SOS
as we turn the dusty leaves Of the
Old time calendar, for 70 years or
more, most wonderful to think
This Alexander reunion has occurred
at the original old and memorable
homestead, which is now moro than
one hundred years old. It was my
great pleasure, when a barefoot boy,
in 1852 and 1858, with my old Blue
Back Speller Call had at that time)
to attend school at the old log school
house with the Abbotts, Alexanders,
Reeds, Adairs and other boys and
girls in our happy school days Of the
long, long ago.
The old Alexander home, which is
standing to-day as the silent sentinel
and an aging marker Of the builders
| of that longago time, Is covered with
evergreen, clinging vines, which still
| cling to the old rustic chimney as IL
erasping lovingly the sacred memory
of The past and the loving hands that
first planted them there
sometimes sit and wonder, as we
pack life's fruits away,
And hoard them in the cellar, for the
bleak and wintry day,
When the mind Of man has never
tried to store a stock Of cheer
In the cellar Of his memory for the
barren time Of year.
In The year Of 1852 or 1S53-in
August Of that year, spent my first
night in this memorable old pine log
house. | was going to school at the
old Josh Perkins old field school
house. My schoolmate, John H. AL
eXander, was my chum. Tle was 4
man over six feet tall, about 25 years
old, and | a boy Of eight years. We
were always fast schoolboy friends
John a. would have mo to go homo
with him, as school boys used to do
u was quite long walk, and John,
in the goodness Of his kind heart,
backed up near an old stump, and
! said, Sam, climb up on my back and
will carry you some." | did so, and
he had me astride Of his shoulders
as though / was a Confederate sol
dier's knapsack. We slept together
in that old pine log house, as school
boys used to do. He was fine and
handsome man-yery black hair and
blue eyes and complexion fair. THAT
fall, or the next, hc went to Missouri,
lived there a number Of years, took
California gold fever, pulled oul for
that State, and lived and died there.
lie never camo back to his native
state Of South Carolina. He left, as
| learn, two fine daughters. who 4re
nd 70 II rf
which l am glad to know.
I went to this old school house a.
Coneross with Miss Marth, Lovey
Newton and Joseph Alexander. The
only ones now living, as I learn, are
Mrs. Martha Alexander Gibson and
Newton Alexander. My brother, w.
Fl. Dendy, taught this old Coneross
school in 1853 and 1854. Others who
went to this school at that time were
Mrs. George Leathers, who was a
daughter Of the late Alfred Adair
and Rev. w. w. Abbott also went to
this school, and the writer.
A large crowd had assembled to
| commemorate this annual reunion
There is long rustic, old-time table
which was most bOuntifully supplied
with fruits, flowers and all tho good
things to eat thai men and women
could assimilatc. learned that there
were present five generations Of The
original Alexander family. ] am glad
to say that they arc very prolific,
which is to the uplift Of Stale and
church and school and society. May
they forever continue thus.
1T is a thing Of variegated beauty
al this time Of tho year, to stand now,
as did in the years gone by. and see
the beautiful old-gold Of the forest
| that has TO some extent been spared
| by the great modern steam roller Of
| civilization.
Perhaps my niece, Mrs. Julia d.
Shanklin. and | were the only ones
present at this grand convOcation
who were not directly related to the
! Alcxandcrs and their descendants
although 1t would have appeared that
we, too, were related, from the un-
limited, unstintcd, kind-heartcd hos
pitality bestowed upon us. She and
| most respectfully thank them all
for such loving remembrances as
were extended to us.
| While we all enjoyed this fine and
congcnial gathering, must say that,
when realized the fact that many OF
my lifelong friends and Confederate
comrades have passed away, my
throbbing heart aches with sadness
and sorrow. | weep with hose who
arc in distress: rejoice with the
young and merry. ] am so constitut-
cd by my Creator. So please allow
mo to add a verse or two:
When tho goldcn-rod has withercd,
and the maple leaves are red;
| When the robins nest Is empty and
! tho crickct's prayers arc said,
| In the silence and tho shadow Of the
swiftly fastening fall