Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

f -j.J. C. JEFFERIES,4- i GREENVILLE, S. C. )Tnty and Counsellor at Law. Practices in All the Courts. Collections a Specialty. Will Be in Gaffney on Saturdays and Mondays. The Ledger To Reach Consumers in this Section Adver tise in The Ledger. A Newspaper in all that the Word Implies and Devoted to the Best Interests of the People of Cherokee County. VOL. IV. NO. 8. GAFFNEY CITY, S. C., THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1897. 81.00 A YEAR. CANVASSING CHEROKEE CO. J. L. STRAIN TALKS OF HER PEOPLE AND PRODUCTS. White Plains, Goucher Creek, Thiclj- ety. Maud and Other Places Get a Share of Praises from the Sage. (Con cepondence of The Ledger.) Err A J axe, April 1.— \fter a silence of a few weeks I proceed to redopm, in part at least, my promise to “write up'’ my travels over the new County of Cherokee, and give as far as prac tical my observation as to its people and its resources, both natural and artificial. So far as the Union section or “cut off” is concerned it is not necessary to say very much about it now, and I will speak only of the other sections of the new County which it was my pleasure and privilege to visit, and bring our home folks in later. White Plains township is peopled with a generally thrifty and prosper ous people, and many extra fine farms are lying within its bounds. Its peo ple are in well-to-do circumstances and up-to-date in agricultural pur suits. I regret to find so much dis content among those good people In regard to their being situated in the new county against their will. This is perfectly natural with them. We are much disposed to choose our own surroundings—and if that is not left to us we are naturally inclined to kick. I don’t blame those people. I notice with pleasure that my old friend and neighbor Wheeler Fowler, of the Goucher Creek neighborhood, is getting along much better than he did several years ago when he lived in tills section. Nothing lias come over him more than that his children have grown up and are able to help him. Home of them are married and gone to keeping house for themselves. At Goucher Creek church Miss Ad- die McArthur, daughter of Prof. .Mc Arthur, of Gaffney, isteachingschool. r A.l met quite a number of her scholars and was impressed with the idea that they, as a general'rule, were the chil dren of well-to-do farmers, all polite and well-behaved, and bore remarka ble evidence of good training, both at home and school. This was one matter which aroused in us that de gree of local pride which naturally attends a man who loses his hopes on the young and rising generation, and otherwise lias the best interest of his country at heart. lieyond doubt the country immediately around Goucher Creek church is one of the tinest farming sections in Cherokee county, if not in the Slate—both in regard to its people and its soil. The linest timber, the best water, undone of its notable features is the culture and hospitality of its citizens. The land is not washed into gullies, nor the timbers needlessly destroyed. Immense piles of wood awatt suitable weather and roads to rush it into market at the factories nearby. There is hickory timber enough in fhat sec tion to supply all the spoke and han dle factories in the country for years to come. It is an immense source of wealth to its owners, if properly util ized. Tall, straight, large and sym metrical in growth, hundreds of cords of it cun be procured without a knot or blur in the wood. Like all other similar institutions, * Goucher ('reek church and country, and also the school house, are an in dex to the people of that section— that they have respect for the dead uh well astheliving. My tripthrough this section led me into the neighbor hood of the Clifton’s. All along the way I found small well-worked farms, good water, and plenty of it. The land is generally poor but l^vel, and well adapted to agricultural purpo ses. It is in excellent condition to improve with fertilizers, both home made and commercial. The fanners through that section are apparently industrious and economical, and pride themselves on their avocation. They have good roads—can’t well have any other kind on land which lies so well as it does in White Plains. I met with quite a number of the yeomanry, most of whom have a purpose in view, and that was to make a living outside of politics or political influ ences. I made my acquaintance with many of the best men and women of that section, but did not get to see them all. Hope to do this later. Returning I crossed Thickety Creek at Hlue Branch, and went in the di rection o? G iffney. Hpent the" night with my friend .Mr. J. L. Spake, tand his interesting family. Here I was shown all the courtesy that his well- furnished model home could bestow. His farm is an ideal one. We hud some splendid music by his accom plished daughters, who showed ex quisite skill with the organ as well us an understanding of vocal music If made a tour of the section be tween Gaffney and Thickety, south ofjfie railroad. Some line lands Ue in tlW section, hut it is rather hilly, compared with the White Plains sec tion. jFurmcrsJiuve paid apodal at tention to terracing their lands, and [ with few exceptions, it is in a high i state of cultivation. Most of the i cribs have a year’s supply of corn in j them and the barns are full of prov ender. Taken as a whole the most inter esting and desirable section of Cher okee County is that north of the Air- Line Railroad, and west of Uroad riv er. I must confess that 1 was agree ably surprised when I traveled over this section of the County. The lands are in the main level and rich. Immense treasures ofj monazite abound ia many places. The section between Grassy Pond to Macedonia church (except where the creeks in tervene, causing abrupt hills to jet in towards the creeks.) is one unbroken fertile plane dotted here and there with small well arranged farms. The owners, in the majority of cases, are independent, with neat farm cotta ges, and well-arranged out barns. The water is good and abundant. The timber’is unlimited andof thechoicest kind for fuJ and building purposes., I spent the night with one of my pu pils, Mr. Jonas Blanton, who is one of the leading men of his section and one of the most progressive fanners in the county. Jonas has a fine farm with plenty of everything about him. He has a family of smart girls who are not afraid of work. Just at the close of the Ku Klux war, in 1871, Mr. Blanton settled down where he now lives, in the woods with only a few acres of land cleared—and that was very poorly adapted to farm work. He married a Miss Welchell, and ii' and his wife went to work to make the best of life they could, and to-day his farm and general surround ings speak for their success, lie has reared and educated his children, and his is among the best families in that or any other section of the Htate that I have visited. My friend Govan Black i found well supplied with this world’s goods. A crib of corn and smoke house full of home-raised meat, with some fine hogs for the next killing season. He has also a curiosity shop, if I may be allowed to call it such. It consists of the tools and grindstone of his fath er John Black, who run a public shop at Wilklnsville, several years before the war. The grindstone was bought in Columbia long before the day of railroads in this part of tho State. It is nearly six inches thick, with an old-i'ashioned crank put in it by his father. The draw knife is the work manship of his futiier too. He made it out-and-out. He has in his pos session u gold coin picked up on the “old Peeler place," near Gilky’s mountain. It is very old, I have for gotten the date, but think it over 1<>0 years. The greatest curiosity, or the one around which the fondest recollec lions cluster, is a single-barrel pistol, made by his father, John Black, and taken to the war by him. at its break ing out, or soon thereafter. The bar rel is smoothly turned, and the stock made of horn s'ith an old-fashioned lock. After Mr. Black’s death the pistol was turned over to his Captain, J. Felix Walker, of the 18th South Carolina regiment, and it was on his person when he received his death wound at the battle of “Second Ma- nasses," August 510, 1802. I insisted on Mr. Black turning this interesting relic over to the Confederate museum where it will be kept safely for all time to come, and returned to him or his representative when called for. In this section I found several of my old neighbors from Union county, among them George Elmore, James Mason. Thomas Welcbel, J. V. Wel- chel, Goven Black, W. J. Jones, Smith Poole, Mrs. Win. Byars, W. H. Vas- sey, Jos. Burgess, James Sparks, with others in different parts, I can’t think of just now. They, however, are all doing well, and are much plcugcd with their new honors and surroundings. They are some of our best citizens. I went into the Maud section and attended the first campaign meeting there. I met quite a ^umber of the voters and most of the new county candidates at that precinct. This section lies along the extensive northern boundry of Chero kee county, and contigious to North Carolina. There is in this section, an abundance of original forest; the land is rather hilly in places, with rich deposits of monazite along the branches and creeks. I spent the night with my old friend and neigh bor, Mr. Kliphus Horton, who resides on the old family homestead. He has hirflt him a very neat cottage on the ground near the spot where hi« mother and brother were killed with lightning many years ago. The stump of the walnut tree that stood in the yard when the bolt came down is there yet. The history of this sail affair is well known to many of the old petfdc of that section, as well us otherslu other parts ef the county. It is an old settled place with one of the fhiesl springs of water in the county, in 50 yards of Hie house. The location is several feet higher Uiun Uw ground upon which Galmey city stMids. i made quite a numbur of acquaintances in the Mau l neigh borhood. They are mostly farmers, and all appear to be good livers. They are thickly settled in this neigh borhood in places. There you will find a long stretch of wood land with out u field or farm house in sight, — nothing but original forest of pine, oak, hickory, dog-wood, ash and pop lar, with no end to the granite in places. I spoke of the hickory tim ber in the Goucher creek neighbor hood, but it surpasses the Maud sec tion only in that particular. Maud has a greater variety of original forest timber than I found anywhere glse in the new county. The farmers around Maud are in good condition and appa rently were sati died, though at first they were nearly solidly against the new county. The Horton’s the Hum phries, tho Hunnicutts, the Ruppe’s, the Rays, the Godfreys, the Brights, belong to the most numerous family connections. For one thing I must commend the people of Maud and Ezell’s, and that is their sobriety. I did not see but one or two men at either of these places that I consid ered under tho influence of liquor, and that was no doubt taken there by some candidate or his friends. This whole section is within an hours' ride of tho North Carolina still houses where thousands of liquor can be had at almost any time. The chief mineral of this section is monazite. Could we only induce Congress to throw the proper protec tion around it, it would be an Im mense source of wealth to this sec tion, and especially to Cherokee coun ty. where it abounds more than in any other section of the union. ./. L. s. (To be continued.) « -«•*- * — Buffalo Briefs. (Correspondence of The Ledger.) Bfffalo, April 5.—I feel sorely grieved over the fun 1 poked at our anti-newcounty man in my letter last week. I feel as if I have done him an injustice. I honestly confess that I know comparatively little of the his tory of our country during tlie period of reconstruction, A friend has told me that the circumstances surrouud-' ing the incident mentioned last week was entirely different from what I hud been previously informed, and 1 am very sorry, indeed, that I made any mention of it. But it was done in a spirit of mirth and no reflection was meant on a secret organization that once existed in this country. My father and a large number of my best friends as well us the very best citizens of the State belonged to it. Now since the election is over I wish to impress our senator and rep resentative-) with tho nee-'-sity <-f creating another office for our sew comity. It should he a superintend ent of elocution whose duty it should be to collect material for campaign thunder and have them on hand ready before our next election. Is it not a lamentable fact that so many candidates owe their defeat to a lack of eloquence and offices—two rare gems of creation. Our farmers have been staunch reformers from the very inception of the reform movement, but they have no sympathy with populism, or at least they do not travel in the mid dle of tho road where they have been recently worked and thrown up in a bed. Evidently they prefer side-ditjh democracy to “middle of the road populism." States that are carsed with populism, are even in a more deplorable condition than our pnttli# roads. Let us cling to our democra cy and macadamize our roads. A Sabbath school was organized at Buffalo church yesterday, with W. I). Gaston us superintendent. I will contribute my part to it* success in good wishes. I can’t get my dishes washed on Sunday mornings in time to attend. Can anybody inform me where I can get a first-class patent dish-wash er? I would certainly like to pur chase—am willing to pay a fair price and a profit on a good one. We ought to feel very thankful that the earth was not drowned, nor wash ed away by the big rain yestouday ebening. If the wet wedther contin ues a while longer, twelve months from to-day, we will be saying, “Our Father who art in Heaven, give us this day our daily bread," for we will have none of our own. When a man wants that part of the Lord’s prayer applied to himself, he is will ing to comply with the balance of it- and forgive us he wishes to be for given. Bachelor. Old Father Time Whispers May is coming! Nearly twelve months have Hushed by, since in procession Gaffney paid floral tri butes to her honored dead. Noble sires and sons, who sucrUiced their lives, their all, fur home an# «0tui* ( try. Memorial day is embalmed in too solemn and sacred memories for programs and plans, to be hurriedly and noisely arranged. Let us be up now, and doing. Beautiful and boun- tcous May promises to empty her lay of lovely flowers to adorm *hu ing pluses fef those to whom another life.” BucUcn’s Arnica salve. The Best Salve In the woeM flflf [Cuts, Bruises, Sores, L'lwee, $■§ Rhoum, Fever Sores, Tettur, Hands, Chilblains, Corns, and all Skin Eruptions, and positively cures Biles, or no pay required. It Js guar anteed to give perfect satisfaction or money refunded. Price 25 oent* per box. For sale by The Du Bn Hvqg . Co. PUBLIC PRINTER PALMER. THE-TARfFF BILL IS TURNED OVER TO THE SENATE. President McKiirtey Breaks His Rule Not to Appoint Men Who Held Office Under Harrison. Other Gossip. (Com spondence of The Ledger.) Wakhixgton, April, 2.—The House has finished its work on the tariff bill and sent the measure over to the Senate, where it will necessarily be dealt with in a manner differing widely from its treatment in a body having a republican majority and a cloture rule. There was less excite ment during the closing hours and final vote upon the bill in the House than was expected, although the proceedings were far from resembling a Quaker meeting. That many who voted for the amendment, which was adopted, making the duties imposed by the new tariff bill collectable upon all foreign goods ordered after April J, believing the amedment to bo un constitutional, is certain; but some of them say they were in doubt about it and felt justified in giving our own manufactures the benefit of the doubt, believing that it will result in almost entirely stopping the im portation of goods upon which duties have been materially raised until it becomes known what those duties will be when the bill passes the Sen ate. There was a decision by the Su preme Court in connection with the present tariff law affecting this very point, but it seems capable of being construed botfi ways. At any rate, it is being construed both ways. It is probable, however, that tho amendment will have the desir ed effect, as importers are likely to be afraid lo take the risk of mak ing large purchases when uncertain what duty tiiey will have to pay on them. Bresident McKinley’s appointment of Mr. Frank \V\ Balmer to the* pub lic “printer shows that it is more a question of “puli" than rules \7h*n it .comes to making appointments. Mr. Balmer held this position under the Harrison administration, and it was only the other day that Mr. Mc Kinley told an “ex" who was after his old office that he had adopted a rule not to’appoint men who held of fice under the Harrison administra tion, unlessjjthere was extraordinary reasons for doing so. The “extroadi- nary reasons" in Mr. Palmer’s case were the influential men who asked for his appointment, and every “ex" who can bring forward the same sort of reasons is likely to be taken care of, notwithstanding the Bresident’s rule. Senator Allen didn’t wait until the tariff bill got before the Senate to make a tariff speech. He made one this week of about un hour, on his resolution declaring it to be uncon stitutional to impose tariff taxes on the necessities of daily consumption in order to enrich certain favored classes at the expense of the masses. Mr. Allen’s speech was legal rather than political, as may be seen from the following extract therefrom : “I place myself on the solid and im pregnable ground that under our Constitution Congress does not pos sess power to tax the people to en hance the private fortunes of the few, and that the full measure of the tax ing power is reached when a tariff for revenue, with incidental protection, is imposed. Any other construction would lead to confiscation and inci dentally to enforced repudiation, the two worst forms of anarchy and dis order in a civilized state; and such a deduction, when carried to its legi timate length, would lead to the sub version of all order and the rights of persons and property. We cannot serve the people and the money power at the same time. Their in terests are deadly antagonistic. What is for the common welfare is against the trusts and pools." Even as genial and old gentleman as Uncle Sain objects to being made to appear as a side partner in a lot tery scheme, conducted by those who claim to be engaged in the bi*i- poss of procuring U. S. patents for inventors. The bill introduced by Senator Hansbrough, “to prevent inventors and others from being de ceived and .defrauded byjalleged pa tent atterneys", is a step towards clearing Uncle Sam of the suspicions of countenancing lottery methods af ter having driven tho big lotteries out of the country. It makes it Il legal for any person or firm engaged In procuring patents, under penalty of a heavy fine or imprisonment to oifter or award any gift or price as an inducement for inventors to enter any Alleged competition, and to fux* ther protect the United States Gov ernment. it directs that the Commis sioner of Batonts shall prepare rules for the admission and disbarment of attorneys practicing before the U. 8. Patent Office. Representativelleatwoie, of Minn., has offered a joint resolution for the appointmant of a banking and cur rency commission, to be composed of four citizens appointed by the Bresident, two Senators to be appoin ted by the Vice Bresident; two Re presentatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House, and the Comp troller of tho Currency, the commis sion to report to Congress on the first day of the regular session, next De cember. Mr. Heatwole is a republi can but he does not claim to have been acting for the Bresident when he of fered the resolution, although it is generally understood that Mr. McKin ley favors the idea. A populist statement signed by all the Senators and Representatives of the party, issued this week, shows that they stand about where the sil ver republican Senators do on the tariff bill. They will endeavor to se cure amendments in the interest of their constituents, in the Senate, but to emphasize their belief Ahat no sort of a tariff will cure our troubles they may decline to vote at all when the bill is put upon its final passage. This adds to the certainty that there will be no trouble about passing the tariff bill when it reaches a final note in the Senate. - * - Wild Cat Clawing?. (Correspondence of The Ledger.) Wild Cat, April j.—We have had another good season and the ground now is as “saft" and mellow* as the fertile valleys of old “Yirginnie." This county must undoubtedly be the brainiest little county in the State. It seems that every voter within its borders is well equipped either with good mother-wit or plenty of brass to discharge the du ties of any office from coroner to senator. I am proud to live in a county where there are so many smart and useful men. I think by the next presidential election we can put out at least three candidates for that important office. We are in full blast at Wild Cat. Nobody sick and nobody dead. Mary Toby has the finest young baby in the county. It is a sixteen pounder. Frost has - killed all the forward fruit, and irish-potato tops are laid in the shade. I see that Mam’s Boy tried to throw oil on Batty Bare in one of you recent issues. He insinuated that he couldn’t afford to dispute with a female woman. Now if Mam’s Boy wants to live, do well and prosper he had better never corner on Batty Bace for she is my first last and only sweetheart. I really like and am very fond of this Thickety Mountain chieftain and would tip my cap at him on any occasion, save Batty Bace. The new county project has been agitated for quite a number of years, but never was brought to the front and put into actual existence until The Ledger took hold and talked it up. Long may The Ledger live and be our shield, helpmcte and guide. The people up here are all waveing their hats hollering for N. Lipscomb, saying, well done thou good and faithful servant, you have been suc cessful in your private affair, enter thou Into the duties of thine office in your usual graceful manner and all will go well. Next Saturday is the time for Jackey Tate to mount the rostrum, go down deep into historical events and belch forth the proper stuff. Three cheers for Brother Jack. What is the matter with the candi dates? They are not so friendly as they were two weeks ago. Oh I am so glad that Batty Pace has told Mam’s Boy to stay at home. That will probably save mo a prize tight. Limher Jim. —- -• — Th« United Confederate Veteran*. The various township chairmen of Cherokee and Spartanburg counties, of the United Confederate Veterans, met in session at Spartanburg, in the Court House, Monday the 5th to or ganize examining boards for pension ers. Chairman I. G. Sarratt repre sented Limestone township, Cherokee county. Hon. A. B. Layton was made tem porary chairman, and stated the ob ject of the meeting, after which a permanent organization was perfect ed by the election of I. G. Sarratt as permanent chairman, and Ephram Patton secretary. Dr. J. L. Wofford was elected county physicion to ex amine applicants, and Messrs. Rudi- aell, Sarratt, Hazier, and .McDowell, were elected examining tyoard. It was agreed that the various township boards should meet on Sat urday, April 24th. and applicants for pensions must appear before the board on that day to be examined. - - —•» —A — Two ytars age R. J. Warren, a druggist jtt Pleasant Brook, N. Y., bought a small supply of Chamber lain's Cough Remedy’. He sums up the revolt as follows: ‘ ‘At that time the goods were unknown in this sec tion; to-day Chamberlain’s Cough Remedy is a household word.” It is the same in hundreds of communities Whereever tho good qualities of Chamberlain’s Cough remedy become known the people will have nothing else. For sale by DuPro Drug Com- P*3jr. Mockery at Funerals. (Correspondence ot The Ledger.) I have attended funerals at which I have observed outbursts of genuine sorrow. Dear, kind friends have been seperated, and the seperation has opened wide the gates of affection. I have known mothers who ♦ould not be comforted because a loved child was no more. The heart is made ten der at the exhibition of such sorrow, and the troubled ones find ready sym pathy. But I have been compelled to witness a sorrow that was nothing short of mockerv. I stood by an open grave, and while standing there the procession caiuc \>ilu the corpse, that of a woman, yes, a mother, the chil dren were weeping, especially a little girl. And as her mother lay in her coffin, the little girl with a friend, came up, and as she looked at her mother, Oh, said she, I have no one to look to now. I asked, is her fath er dead? There he is, said the lady to whom I spoke. He has been away from his family twa years. I turned to look, and there he was, with a hand kerchief to his face, kinder snuffling, and saying, so as to be heard, “I do wish I could have been with her in her last days." I said to the lady again—where has he been? She point ed just behind him, saying, “there she stands.” And this lady knew, being acquainted with the circum stances, that the tears were not shed because a loved one had gone. The poor neglected woman got no atten tion from him while living, did not need it then. It was all mockery. Now, this is by no means mere fic tion. It is occurring more frequent ly than any one knows. It is a fact, there is more kindness shown some times at death, than was shown all through life. There are many hearts aching now for a little attention, a kind word or friendly recognition, but will not receive it. perhaps, until the heart stops beating, and the lips are closed and ears deaf to everything. The dead mother does not know, nor does she care—there are flowers in her hand. The dead mother does not know, nor does she care if it should be said, “she was a kind, good wife, and mother—she was a mother, with all the love and feeling of a mother. What mockery! Bettor a thousand times, say your kind and loving things, while your friends are living. I want no one to say kind words of me when I am dead, who would not say them while Jiving. And now, how it saddens me when I look around and see but few people older than myself—then I feel that my life is short. But, Oh! when I come to the river, wayworn and weary, may I be caught up saying as I go. rest, freedom, and salvation. Mrs. R. Ann Waters. State Line Dots. fCorrespondence of Tho Ledger.) State Like, March 2f).—Mrs. Al fred Harris is having her neat cottage completed near State Line, “better known as Santuc." B. Green is now putting the finishing touch on the inside. Mr. and Mrs. John Smith, of Hen rietta, is visiting James Hambrick’s family. Mrs. Tom Petty visited Mrs. Davis, last week. R. G: Byars and family, of Gaffney, visited Mrs. Davis last Saturday and Sunday. The good people of this community gathered together at State Line church, last Sunday, and as the new* church is not completed, and the old one was full of lumber, the people were comfortably seated out doors, and while basking in the warm sun shine, Rev. Jack Tate preached one of his ablest sermons. Misses Lola and Talula Davis, and Vador Scruggs spent several pleasant days at Henrietta last week. James Ruppe and wife spent last Sunday with her daughter, Mrs. Mag gie Haines. Miss Talula Davis has gone to Gaff ney, where she will assist in mantua making—her sister Lola will be with her in two weeks. Miss Della Scruggs, of Ezell’s visit ed San.p Scruggs last Saturday and Sunday. Joe S. Ruppe’s infant child has been quite sick from teething. Sal Joe. Hays—Stack. Married, at the residence of Mr. Zinnerman, Miss Maggie Stack to Mr. Cliff Hays, both of this place. Only a few* friends and relatives were present, Rev. John W. Walker offici- atiug. They are well and favorably known and are quite a popular young cou ple. Their many friends extend con gratulations. Americans are the most inventive people on earth. To them have been issued nearly 000,000 patents, or moan than ene-third of all the patents issued in the world. No discovery of modern years has been of greater benefit to mankind than Chamber lain’s Colic, Cholera and Diarrhoea Remedy, or has done more to relieve pain and suffering. J. W. Vaughn, of Oukton, Ky.. says: “I have used Chamberlain’s Colic, Cholera and Diarrhoea Remedy in my family for several years, and find it to be the best medicine I ever used for cramps in the stomach and bowels." j For sale by Dupre Drug Company. tl