Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1922-01-11
Some Early History of
Old PendIeton.
AS GRAPHICALLY TOLD BY Mrs.
LOUISE VANDIVER.
Eight Hundred and Eighty-Fivc
Acres of Land Sold for Is
Pounds Sterling.

ise Aver Vandiver for the Columbia
State:
Among the "cow punchers," farm
ers and laborers who lwere our piOn-
eer settlers, the type which has
opened always the westward path,
was one Isaac Lynch, carpenter.
who rook up land in the former
Cherokee country in the 18th cen
tury. The enterprisng carpenter
must have improved his property,
though he could not write his name,
for in 1890 he sold to commission
ers, or justices Of the peace, Andrew
Pickens, John Miller, John Wilson.
Benjamine Cleveland. William HOl-
bert. Henry Clark, John Moffatt and
Robert Anderson, or their success
sors in office, in trust for the county
of ,Pendleton. $50 acres Of land sit
uated il the District of Ninety-Six
and county aforesaid" the boundar-
les and location being definitely CIV
en- in approved redundant legal
phrases. for the sum Of five shillingS
current money. ITO him in hand
we'll and truly paid by the said,"
etc. The five shillings seems to have
been given as guarantee for the
future payment OF 25 pounds. The
deed further reads, "Yielding and
paying therefor unto the said Isaac
Lynch or his executors or admins
traitors the rent Of one barleycorn OH
the last day Of the said term, If the
same Shall be lawfully demanded"
In enumerating what went with
the land are mentioned gardens.
orchards. fences, ways, wells, water
courses, easements, profits, commod
tiles, advantages, emoluments, here
ditaments and appurtenances what
soever to the said plantation or tract
Of land" all Of that imposing array
sold for the site of the village Of
Pendleton, named In honor Of one
Of the most distinguished men Of the
dleton.
I,uiIt nf TN~s
lur uay step wp4 rAo aging oil
,nj nuu!v5rwg or ''a and streets.
una .H >nlmE Of u I.g court nous"
ou "ha,' Na~ Hu.~l os l0uylra
branch. The rude temple Of justice
stood just where the blue Ridge rail
road now has a culyert, at the inter
section Of the railway with the Old
stage road from Pcndleton from
Pickens
Among the earlier residents Of the
mill town was notable group OF
Revolutionary soldiers. Among them
were Gen. Andrew Pickens. Col.
Robert Anderson, Col. Benjamine
Cleveland. Samuel Earle. Samuel
Warren and Iiorse Shoe Robinson"
These were only few Of the best
known. There were number Of
others.
Most Of these immigrants were
Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, and with
them came the schools and churches,
the preachers very often being also
teachers, and in Il number Of in
stances they were graduates from
Yale or Princeton-men OF learning
and culture, which enabled them to
instill into their pupils an apprecia-
ton Of books and education
In few years the village among
the foothills became popular sum-
mer resort for Charlestonians and
other "low-country" people. some Of
whom were so enchanted with the
place that they made 1t permanent
home. so 1t happens that French and
English names mix with Scotch and
Irish in the annals Of Pcndleton.
That they were & people Of cul-
turc is shown by the early establish
ment Of a public library. In 1903
the Legislature passed an act au-
thoriZing and directing the commits
sioncrs to sell certain tracts Of land
in Pendleton and appropriate the
money to the establishment Of cir
culating library, and in 1881 the IL
brary was incorporated. The institu-
ton continued in operation until
1925, when by act Of the Legislature
II was converted into a male acad-
emy. The same old buildings arc
now used as public scho
Academy for Women.
In 1927 there was nourishinp
female academy in the town. The
building used had been the county