Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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1 * -*J. C. JEFFERIES,*- GAFFNEY, S. C. Attorney jnd Counsellor at Law. Practices in All the Courts. Collections a Specialty 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. IY GAFFNEY CITY, S. C., T1IUKSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1807. $1.00 A YEAR. OLD SOLDIERS’ REUNION. GREENVILLE TREATS THEM ROYALLY. The Sagt of Etta Jane Gives a Full and Complete Account of the Doings of the Old Veterans. (Correspondence of The Ledger.) Ktta J am:, Aug., 5!0.—The space at my disposal precludes the possi bility of my giving anything this aivl next week except ti report of the Con federate lleunion at Greenville which many ox-Confederates will look for. 15y far the most notable social event of the season in upper South Carolina was that of the Confederate reunion in Greenville on the th'Ah and 2(5th insts. For months we have been looking forward witlr a great deal of hopeful expectancy which did not fail to materialize and which, if anything, fur surpassed our expecta tion. We left Gaffney cn the 25th in company with a number of friends and comrades bound for the reunion. The ride was devoid of any special interest until wo were joined at Spar tanburg by the Union contnigent, thus swelling our crowd both in num ber and noise. As we sped on to wards Greenville every station con tributed more and more to swell our company. At Duncan’s an old vet eran by the name if Wingo of the 13th regiment joined us. With him I divided my seat and made him us comfortable as possible. As we sped on “Harp” Vinson, who was in the front coach came through and with that Teutonic grasp with which he usually expresses his gladness to see a friend he gave my hand a squeeze from which my little finger hasn’t yet fully recovered. Harp had evi dently struck an “original package” and after he left, my comrade (Wingo), of Camp Dean, asked me if that man was not a IVa Ridger. to which I replied affirmatively. When wo arrived in Greenville we found that magnificent city all aglow with flags and hunting, and the streets full of visitors and veterans from all parts of Hie state, and sev eral other states too were represented. Tc this vast assembly of southern manhood ami chivalry wo might add that the beautiful women of our state were humbly represented by the sponsors and maids of honor who came to do honor to the occasion. Among them we might mention without offense Miss Beona Wood, of Gaffney, Miss Ethel Hames. Jones- ville, Miss Fannie Douglas, of Union, Miss Mary Joe Witherspoon, of York- villo, Miss Louise Sherfesce, of Rock Hill, Miss Agnes McMaster, of Co lumbia, Miss Helen Davis, of Char leston, Miss AdeieHayne. of Chester, Miss Susie White, of Fort Mill, Miss Maggie Rice, of Ninety Six, Miss Jessie Jennings, of Winnsboro. Miss Salla Jordon, of Greenville, Miss Alice Little, of Clinton, Miss E. M. Smith, of (ilenn Springs, and I might ' continue this list until I had given sixty names, representing that num ber of camps, but these are sufficient to show that the occasion was not a failure; and that our section of the State was well represented but not as fully as it ought to have been, Camps Hart and Jefferies each ought to have had a sponsor there. The convention met in Beattie’s hall, corner of Main and Washington streets,.and was cal.ed to order by Col. Hoyt of Greenville. Upwards of 1200 ex-Confederato veterans were registered, while several hundred more were in| readiness to do so. Rev. S. P. H. Elwell, chaplain of the S. C. Division U. C. Veterans opened the proceedings with prayer. It was a significant sight to see several hun dred gray-headed veterans assembled with asjmarymore of their sons and daughters in front and on the plat form, while the veteran minister with his armless sleeve dangling at his side, while he presented the occasion to the.Throne of Grace and Mercy. In all the fervency of prayer he besought the God of battles to remember them in the amazing fullness of His mer cy, and that He would lead them on to victory through Christ. That-the God of Davis, Lee and Jackson would forever be their God, and that they would continue to honor Him as the God of their salvation. That He would continue to be their hope for the years to come as He bad been - their strength in days gone by, and to Him, and Him alone will we ascribe endless praise throughout eternity, and that so long as life shall last, may we never cast a stain upon the glorious history of the past, and the deeds of their noble comrades will ever prompt us to cherish their mem ories and emulate their example. In a few appropriate remancs Col. Hoyt introduced ex-Lieutenant Maul din, chairman of the Committee of Arrangements, who welcomed the veterans in behalf of Camp Pulliam, . U. C. V. In the course of his re- ' marks, ho in his happy and impres- | sive style, referred to the days of the sixties, in that, what we then thought to be right, now we “know to be.” Our meeting in without a parallel or precedent. No history recounts such events—that the crushed or conquer ed after thirty years will meet to re count the incidents of the past, and cherish their memories. The record must be kept clean and clear, it must be entombed. There was a decided Union sentiment in this section up to, and before the war. but when war was declared it was a unit in making a glorious history. It was not his province to dwell upon the past but to welcome all. To have been a Con federate soldier was a badge of honor and any soldier was welcome to the hearts and homes of our veterans. Mayor Williams, a veteran of the IGth regiment, welcomed the audi ence in behalf of the city. Among other things he said: The greatest privilege that could be given any community, was to entertain the veterans of the Confederate army. The scenes before him was such as to unfit him to speak. This is the grandest day in Greenville since the sixties, when the news came “Lee lias licked them again,” He did not like to surrender but would to such brave visitors. After calling the roll Major Gener al Walker read his report of the work during the past year, which was quite lengthy. The work of organizing the Con vention was then entered upon, Adju tant Holmes having charge of the rolls. This is too lengthy to speak of here. Suffice it to say, there are now JIS camps in the State, but a few of which failed to report. Adjutant General James G. Holmes read his report. It will occupy more space than we have to give it in full. Upon the motion of General Car- wile, commander of the second brig ade, it was decided to receive the re port of the committee on the propo sition to build a monument to the Confederate women, at the night session. During the proceedings some fel lows who had perhaps imbibed freely of “original ^package” or palmetto “bug juice,” would call for Wade Hampton, General Butler, Evans, or some one else, only confusing the audience rather than securing a hear ing himself. A committee from the Sons of Vet erans arrived in the hall about this time, and A. 8. Furman introduced L. W. Simpkins as their spokesman. In a brief, though pointed manner Mr. Simpkins spoke and said, the Sons were anxious to carry on their work their fathers had begun, and also to cherish their memories. By such work he said, they showed that they had nothing to regret, but to feel proud of the work their fathers had begun. No matter what might be said of of the States’ improvement in the industrial and metal line, three was to-day no higher code of morals, manners, spirit or loyalty, than that which actuated the soldiers of the Confederacy. (Applause.) Major ( Hart moved that a committee be ap- pointed to return the visit of the Sons of Veterans and extend their congratulations and best wishes of the veterans. Major Hart, Col. McMaster and Capt. Rice were appointed as such committee. Right here I will say, that Capt. Rice was an offiwr in James’ battallion, and is the man who during the night session empha sized the proceedings with u hearty “Amen” every now and then. The night session met 8-JOD’clock, at which time the sponsors appeared in the hall and upon the stage. As they appeared at the head of the stairs G.n Walker said: “Comrades, here comes the inspiration of our deeds—the noble women—rise and receive them,” The veterans stood in solemn si lence, while about sixty of the fair daughters of South Carolina, beauti fully dressed, filed in column of twos, and marched up the also to the plat form, where they remained seated throughout the proceedings of the evening. As they took their seats the band played “Dixie,” which elic ited shouts of applause from the Vet erans and Sons on the floor. Gen. Walker then welcomed the ladies on the part of the veterans. He was frequently applauded from the floor of the Convention. In behalf of the ladies Gen. M. L. Bonham replied eloquently, eulogiz ing the Confederate Soldiers. But though great was their achievements and privations they had aeounterpart in the heroism of the noble women of the confederacy. Who could ade quately picture their sullering? said he. If there ever 'conies m time (and God forbid that it ever should) when the remains of the Confederate war will be dimmed by neglect—if it ever becomes possible for that time to come the noble women of the South would revive and brighten them. The speaker was frequently applauded by the veterans. Gen. Butler, who was seated on the stage, was fre quently called for, ao was Col .Conard and'others. Wade Hampton was not forgotten, neither was Col. A. C. Haskell, and not unfrequently would some fellow in the roar who perhaps was under tha influence of “John Barlycorn” would call out: ‘‘Hurrah for. John Gary Evans, McLaurin, Irby or some other name which was uppermost in his mind and foremost in ins heart. This was all well and good humoredly taken by the crowd that was invested with the best of feelings. Every now and then our enthusiastic captain would cry out “A—meiij” This was followed with a hearty laugh by tho occupants of both stage and floor. None enjoyed it better than the ladies themselves. The crowd was finally quieted when it was promised that Gen. Butler would speak later. Rev. Mr. Elwell, chairman of the Ladies’ Monument Committee was absent and (Ten. Cacwell read the re port of tile committee. Col. Mixon, of Columbia, moved the adoption of the committee’s re port us a whole. Motion was inter rupted by frequent calls for Gen. Butler to speak, which he at last consented to do. Gen. Butler made an excellent speech which I regret I am notable to give in full. The Chaplain then spoke, pathet ically picturing the return of the Con federate soldiers and how the women were unconquered and cheered up the old soldiers. He quoted Corporal Tanner, Federal soldier who was at Richmond last year and said :“ Had it not been for the women of the Con federacy we would have whipped you in one year.” We ought not/he said, do less than building a monu ment to the women of the South. About $300 was pledged by the camps including*$150 by sons of veterans. j. L. s. • (TO HE COXTINrEI) NEXT WEEK.) Spr.ng Hill News. (Correspondence of The Ledger.) Spuing Hill, Aug. 31.—A very heavy wind storm passed through our section Monday evening, though the damage was very slight. Sam Gaffney killed a genuine hoop snake a few days ago. It was about 30 inches in length with a horn about 2A inches in length on his tail. This snake is the first of his species ever known in this section. Instend of striking with his head like ether snakes he would strike viciously and rapidly with his tail. It is reported that hail fell in our section as large as guinea eggs. Fod der is almost a total loss—riddled by the hail stones. Sam Gaffney killed a bird closely allied to the Eastern bird, which Stanley describes in Ijis works of The Dark Continent. This bird’s beak was about 8 inches long and of an oval shape,and its legs about 24 inches in length. It was a water bird. John M. Gaffney says he counted 324 small terrapins on one sand bar and a few adjoining rocks by actual count. Fruit drying in our section is the order. Cotton is opening fine and corn is looking well. <• Eugine and Miss Parthema Mettze were visiting Mrs. Myra Gaffney a few days ago. John W. Ross is in very feeble heath at this writing, though we are glad to hear that he is some better. Big Bov. Cowpens Locals. (Correspondence of The Ledger.) Cowpens, Aug. 30.—Jack Blanton’s cotton is opening. It will average twenty-five pounds to the acre in stead of twenty-five hundred pounds. R. C. Thompson is sick instead of Thomason. Rev. Mr. Cowan is carrying on a protracted.meeting at Clifton No. 3 instead of Rowan. Miss Laura and SaHie McRainey, two of Charlotte’s charming young bells, visited their cousin Mrs. Taney Waters of this section last week. They came in on Tuesday and re turned to their home Saturday where they are engaged in the laundry business. T. E. Waters is building a cotton house and shediug it all around for his convenience. Gil Fetchkt. Trashy Medicines. Many such flood the market. Bo tanic Blood Balm is a conscientiously compounded medicine, the result of forty years’ practice by an eminent physician. It is the best blood pu rifier ever offered to the public, and is guaranteed to cure if given a fair trial. Try it for all skin and blood diseases, including catarrh and rheu matism in its worst form. One bot tle of it contains more curative and building-up virtue than a dozen of any other kind. Price $1.00 per large bottle. HOW IT STANDS AT HOME. Our retail demand is such that we buy Botanic Blood Balm (B. B. B.) in gross lots. It sells well and gives our customers entire satisfaction. Our sales have increased 500 per cent, within a few months. We attribute its rapid sale to its size, price and merit. We are selling four or five bottles of it to one of any other preparation of the kind. It has failed in no instance to give entire satisfaction. Jacobs’ Pharmacy. Per Fred B. Palmer, M. D., Atlanta, Ga. For sale by Cherokee Drug Co. JOHN EDWARD JEFFERIES CHEROKEE’S FIRST CLERK CF COURT. Born cf Well-to-do Parents in Old Union County—Probably the Youngest Clerk in the State. John Edward JefTerie.*, Cherokee county's first clerk of court and the subject of this sketch, was horn at Star Farm, formerly Union but now Cherokee county October 22nd, 1870. His farther John R. Jefferies, had the honor to represent Union county three terms. He died about three and a half years ago. At the time of his death he was a member of the State Legislature, State Lecturer for the Farmer’s Alliance and a trustee of Clemson college. It will be observed that the elerk of tho court is named John Edward but he is familiarly known as J. Eb. Jefferies. The Jefferies’ is one of the most numerous families in this sec tion, the present owners of the Jeff eries estate having in their posses sion the original grants of lands deed ed the family more than one hundred years ago. There are several J. E. Jefferies and in his early boyhood the associates of the youth who was af terwards to be honored with the first clerkship of Cherokee county nick named him J. Eb. in order to better .i. i:n. .i kite it iKs. distinguish him from the other J. E. Jefferies'. Mr. Jefferies attended the common schools of his neighborhood, and al though his father was well off at the time young Jefferies was the right age to attend college and he could have done so if he hud desired, he pre ferred to go into business so he ac cepted a position with Carroll & Car penter, of this city. After being with this firm about a year ho was made assistant book-keepe:- This was during the big stir in alliance circles and the firm did a tremendous busi ness as merchants to the Farmers’ Alliance. In 1890 he held his first public office, being appointed by the Census Bureau at Washington to take the census of Gaffney. After taking the census he worked in the census office of this district, which was situated at Spartanburg, until the numeration of the census of the State was complete. After that he held an important position with the Singer Sewing Machine Company, being the traveling agent and check er for the State of South Carolina, afterwards being made manager of a district office for tho same company at Newberry having several counties and a number of men working under him. In 1892 he accepted his old position with Carroll & Carpenter where he remained until 1894, when he resigned on account of the death of his father. He was made adminis trator of his father’s estate and evi denced his ability in settling up the affairs of the estate which were very large, and which were further com plicated by being insolvent. He set tled up everything satisfactory to the creditors, saving nothing Irom thq estate. His mother has been fortunate enough to win a number of dower cases in court since the death of her husband, which leaves her In fairly good circumstances. In the fight for Cherokee county Mr. Jefferies was among the leaders. Although a young man he had con siderable influenc, In bis section and he exercised that influence to what he believed to be the best interest of the whole people. When Cherokee county became a certainty he an nounced himself a candidate for the position of Clerk of Court, being so licited by friends to do so from the inception of the campaign in behalf of the new county. Mr. Jefferies bad as opponents some of the best men in the county and the manner in which he has conducted the office since being installed is ample justifi cation to his supporters. He is among the youngest men to hold the position of clerk in South Carolina, if not the youngest in that office. An announcement that will be inteestingr to the ladies is the fact that Mr. Jef feries is unmarried, lie is of medi um size, weighing about 150 pounds, blue eyed and supports a flowing blonde mustache. We understand, however, tlyit be contemplates mat rimony. At the time of his election to office he was successfully conducting a farm at Star Farm. He was also postmaster at that place and a notary public and did considerable writing of legal papers for the people of the neighborhood. — ■ ■ -• BLACKSBURG BUDGET. A Jokey Marriage—Coal Discovered— A Letter from Reese—Marriages. (Correspondence of The Ledger.) Bl.ArKSiH KG, August 30.—Some time ago a very han'dsome and at tractive young lady came hereto visit friends. ()uite an attachment was formed between her and a young man engaged in business here. One even ing, in the presence of some friends, she and the young man expressed the desire and intention of marry ing. Suiting the action to the word, they stated to the friends present that they would take each other as man and* wife. There the matter ended for the lime. However, a short while afterwards, the young man sev ered his business connections here, and sought employment elsewhere, while, it is rumored, the young lady became engaged to a young man from a neighboring town, and set time for the marriage. Further, that the young man who had gone through the ceremony of marriage above re ferred to, heard of the engagement and at once appeared upon the setme, with the statement that he, had con sulted a lawyer who said that the marriage was a legal one—hence she could not again marry without lay ing herself liable to a prosecution for bigamy. Consternation reigned su preme, and the young lady’s friends are wondering what she will do. It is understood by those close to her that she will treat the ceremony above referred to as a joke and will marry at an early date. Talk of the famous Reese-Luckie- Anderson case was revived here week before last by the taking of testimony by special referee G. \V. S. Hart, of Yorkville, in a suit brought by Dan iel Luckie for the foreclosure of a mortgage. After the reference, it developed that the party against whom the mortgage was to be foreclosed, had, about three weeks before, received a letter from Reese. It was of the most offensive character, postmarked Atlanta, Ga., and dated two days be fore its delivery. Ever since Reese and Luckie’s es cape from the York county jail, sev eral here have maintained that it would be simply a question of time before one or both would be caught. This belief has been strengthened by the above stated incident, as well as by the further fact, that others have received letters from him. The Rev. Philip Elams, who found coal in the vicinity of King’s Moun tain, N. 0., a short while ago, has been spending some time here look ing for the same thing. He claims to have found a vein crossing the old Chester road near the place of Dr. John G. Black. Also a vein on the land of Dr. D. S. Ratnseur, on Doo little Creek, and crossed by the Gutt- oey branch of the 0. R. & C. R. R. Also three veins running through Whittaker Mountain. Specimens of the coal found have been burnt and left the same kind of ashes as left by the finest coal. Thursday a week ago J. B. Cash- ions, of the O. R. it C. shops, at this place, was married to Miss Alice Dun- cun, daughter of Mr. M. F. Duncan, at Mt. Parran, by the Rev. Mr. Ham rick. The same day Berry Martin was married to Miss Byars, at the same place, by the same minister. K. A. T. Catarrh Poisons. Catarrh is capable of changing all the life-giving secretions of the body into scalding fluids, which destroy and inflame every part they come in contact with. Applications to the places affected by catarrh can do lit tle good save to soothe or quiet dis agreeable symptoms. Hence it is gargles, sprays, .atomizers and inhal ants only serve as temporary relief. Any medicine to effect a cure must be taken into the system. So long as the irritating secretions of catarrh continue to be formed so long will the membranes continue to be inflamed, no matter what treat ments used. There is but one reme dy that has this most desirable effect, and that remedy is Pe-ru-na This remedy strikes at once to tho root of the catarrh by restoring to the cap illary vessels their health elasticity. Pe-ru-na is not a temporary pal liative, but a radical cure. Send for Dr. Hartman’s latest-book, sent free for a short time. Address The P e-ru na Drug Manufacturing Co., Colum bus, Ohio. WHAT OTHERS THINK OF US. “RAMBLER” IN THE ATLANTA JOURNAL. He Telis Thousands of Readers of the Enterprice and Thrift of the Pride of the Piedmont Section. [Rambler in the Atlanta Journal.1 Just 22 miles northeast of Spartan burg on the main line of the South ern railroad, is located the thriving little city of Gaffney, the county seat of the new county of Cherokee. Gaffney is one of the liveliest little cities in the south, having more than doubled its population within three years. In 1892 Gaffney had a population of 1.2U0 and today between 4,000 and 5,000 people claim Gaffney as their home. There is not a vacant store room nor a vacant residence in the town. Fifteen or twenty buildings are now in course of construction and withal the town displays an unusual amount of life, thrift and enterprise. During the past five years thare has been no let-up of enterprise, growth and general development, i’he town has grown steadily. The streets have been extended and im proved. Factories aand stores have been enlarged and new enterprises are being constantly launched. When the new county of Cherokee was formed Gaffney became the natu ral county seat and a magnificent town hall was turned to the use of the county officials, and it makes one of the prettiest court houses in the state. The people of Gaffney are wide- *awake to every interests of their thriving community and the watch word is “onward! forward!” From a mere way station Gaffney lias gone forward in a few years, un til today her taxable property foots up to more than a million dollars. The O. R. it C. railroad is building a branch line from Blacksbourg into Gaffney welch will be in operation i« the fall, and Ibis, connecting with the Seaboard Air Line, will give Gaff ney two big competing lines of rail road. ’ Mr. L. Baker, secretary of the • Young Men’s Business association, tells me that Gaffney offers the finest fields in the country for a big cotton seed oil mill, ice factory and fertilli- zer factory all combined, and he be lieves the right man could secure substantial encouragement for the establishment of such an enterprise at Gaffney. Mr. Baker says also that the business men of Gaffney would subscribe to a stock company for* the purpuspose of erecting at Gaffney a firstclass hotel, and the right man would do well to corre spond with him on this subject. Mr. Baker is an extensive builder and contractor, ex-mayor of Gaffney and clerk of the city council. Mr. Thomas B. Butler, the city at torney, is an interprising citizen and a young man with a brilliant future. He made considerable reputation by bis vigorous fight for the formation of Cherokee county before the state senate last winter, and is highly es teemed by the people of Gaffney and the new county. He came here from Union one year ago and he is a lawyer of wonderful force. The Gaffney cotton mill is one of the most successful cotton factories in the state. It was established in 1893 and has paid its stockholders (19 per cent, in dividends during its first four years. The capital stock, lias been increased from $150,000 to $700,- (XXI, and to-day the mill operates 51,110 spindles and 1,100 Draper looms. A. N. Wood is president: H. D. Wheat treasurer and general manager, .and J. G. Wardlaw is sec retary. Mr. Wood is also mayor of Gaffney, banker ami variously interested in other enterprises and institutions of the city. He is one of the strongest business men of the county and has been closely indentified with the growth and development of this sec tion of the state. He is a native South Carolinian and has conducted a banking business in Gaffney since 1887. Mr. J. A. Carroll is another of Gaff ney’s livest and most foremost citi zens. It’s an old saying here: “If it’e in Gaffney Carroll is in it.” Hla name and his money is a part and portion of nearly everything in Gaff- and—well there’s Mr. F. G. Stacy, president of the National Bank of Gaffney, Mr. R. A. Jones, the mer chant, Editor DeCamp. of The Week ly Ledger, Father Lipscomb, of ho tel fame, and a score of others—all pulling together for Gaffney, ready to subscribe their montfy and give their moral support to any all new enterprises and institutions for Gaff ney. And so Gaffney continues to grow divy by day and month by month and so it is that the great Piedmont re gion is beginning to bloom and blos som as a rose.