Branohvillo as it Was and as it is.,
Tho4?il6wmg'iiistoiical ?sketch of
our thriving little sister town, Branch
* ville, was prepared and read nt the
laying of the corner stone of the
Methodist Church at that place by
Rev. Dr. Thomas Raysor, He said :
Seventy years , ago the: place whore
Branchville now stands^-pulsating
with life and: trade?"Was a dismal
swamp, known by the not very ctt
phoneous na.mo of "Matchet's Pond."
Through what is now Main street,
flowed the ?wators of this pond to
?'pen branch;" und on to the Kdisto,
made famoUs in history by Carolina's
dis^ngui^hcd. son^, Willtypi .Gilropre
Simras, Esq., who lived ten miles
above here, near Midway on the
Charlestori r?ntt.' The people at this
period were hardy and self-reliant.
Their wants were few and simple.
They lived mainly, .in pole houses,
covered with clab- boards, and exer
cised a groat ,deal in the open air.
To walk three or four miles to
church, or indeed to any gathering,
and tout the baby, with the crop-ear
ed, stump-tail dog behind, was con
sidered no big job. It was of common
occurrence. A large portion of the
time was spent in fishing and hunt
iug, attending corn-.sbuckings and
quiltuxgs, wrestling, jumping, shoot
ing, and "wearing the thimble," what
over that was. These wera days.of
peaco and plenty?mince pies, float
ing islands, sick headaches, heart
disease and dispepsin were unknown.
It is said the first dour that F. VV,
Fairey killed was routed whore now
Stauda the store of A.k F. IT. Dukes,
a prominent and successful merchant
of the place. After running through
aligator hole, whose lives tho quiet
and modest Dr. Grisset, he ran out
by the squire, near where his mill
pond now Stands, and was shot down.
Tho squire has always Hve'd near
BrakufelMw ,?ndd|ujiiaJq_e| Ma|^l^stelJ^
associated with the history, of the
place. lie lias gathered considera
ble wealth, and is to-day still ener
getic and enterprising. James Ben
ton B?rry, Esq., another veteran, still
lives undcViho shadow of the town,
of which he has owned a considerable
portion. | He enjoys a green old age,
and furnisnes the data that rescues
Branchville from oblivion. To-day
he is seeing the beginning of what
has been the dream aud ambition of
his life; to wit: A Methodist church
on one of his lots in the town of
Branchville. Edward Myers, a quiet
and peaceable citizen was the profes-'
sional hunter and angler of the place.
The first house built in Branchville
wua a double log pen, built by .Tames
Cooner for the railroad company.
This;was about the year 1830. The
railroad track was laid at this place
about 1831 by Mr. George Walker
and Col. Thompson, gentlemen from
Collcton County, who had the con
tract for building tho road from Fif
ty-eight to the Kdisto river. The
first train of cars ran to this place in
November, 1832. Tradition has it
that when the first train nrriyedVfl.|
large number of persons, white and
colored, were present to see the great
sight. When it approached, like a
thing of life, squirting water and
belching forth volumes of black
smoke, the men turned palo and the
women screamed. An old woman is
said to have exclaimed at tho top of
her voice, "It is the devil?see the
fire and brimstone." Amid the great-1
est consternation she left, and when
she reached her home fell exhausted
at the gate. On this train carne an
enterprising Frenchman whose name
was Philip Shartrnnd and his body
servant, Fortune, lie arranged with
the company to open a hotel in the
double pen Ik use, where he did busi
ness until he I uilt a larger and better
house on the South side of the rood
for hotel aud store purposes for him
self. Here he did business until he
built the brick house which now
stands between the Columbia and
Augusta tracks, aud having recently
been thoroughly renovated is an or
nament to the place. The name of
bhartrand issynonimous with Branch
ville, indoed he gave it this name,
the ?rst being Gdoct1 Stoac. Mr.
Shartrnnd., after accumulating con
siderable wealth, died here in 1858.
The first store bouse was out up by
Mr. \Vm. Faircy, the father of W. F.
and J. D. D. Fairey, on the lot where
now Btnnds tbe store and dwelling of
J. D. D. Faircy. Tbis store was
rehted and opened by an Irishman
from Charleston, whoso name was
McMastor. About this period Mr.
James Grimes says .wJiisKp)" was in
great abundance, and was sold by th?
drink at 6 1-4 cents. Drunkenness,
, horse-racing and gnni.bliilg wer^. fre
quent occurrences. It was the cus
tom about this lime when a man mar
ried to have vonson at tho supper or
dinner. He was'considered on "un
lucky dog" wkocaino to bis marriage
feast without having venson to cat.
When this ocourratl ,tbo rocn would
make: witty remarks and the old
women, adjusting their spectacles,
would say, "Poor Sal; she is given
to have a hard road lo travel." iMr.
James Grimes Bays he bad the honor
of killing the buck that graced tbe
marriage table of Jatnos Ihm ton
Berry, Esq. In the year 1750 there
came a large colony from Mecklen
burg, Germany, and settled in New
York. With this colony came the
Ott family. A part of tbe family
came to South Carolina, and some.ol
them settled near Branch Villen and
the nanoo has gone into history
in connection with the place.
Col. Ott, the: father ?f the?Doctor,
who was prominent in Branchville
aliuirs at this'time, was. a man of
commanding presence, remarkable for.
firm sense and business sagacity. Pre
vious to tbe year 1811?how long be
fore we do not know?the Alcthodists
worshipped in a little pole bouse one
and a half milps northwest of Branch
ville. Of its history but little, is
'Known,, It was built by N. Byrd,
.the parent . stock of a lorge and re
'?s^CaliTe'f^faW of tl'nt'hamb in
and around the place. Diviston was
caused in this church by one William
Ilomd organizing a singing school in
tbe church. Tbe result of tbis di vi
sion was that on the SOth day of Jan
uary, 1811, a lot ws8 bought from
George Ilarlsog for 81, where now
stands Sardis Church, one mile north
east from Rrauchville. The first
church was a small frame building,
which gave place in 1872 to a larger
and more sightly one. The trustees
of the first church were Rev. Jacob
Barr, John Uboad, Jessie Fairey,
Robert McAlhancy, John Felder,
Joseph Hare and John Thompson.
Uf these, not one is living. In 1825
the first Sunday School was organiz
ed in Sardis Church by Jacob Pooser.
lie continued at the head of tbis
school until 1850, when J. B. Berry
became the superintendent; in 1874
it passed into the hands of B. P.
Izlar, then J. W. Fairey, now E. E.
Bruce. In 1825, says Mr. James
Grimes, the Baptists built a church
two and a half miles from Branch
ville. near where Mrs. Ann Dukes
now lives. This church was called
Orange. Thomas Adams was said to
be its first pastor. Tbe church was
built and organized in the town in
1858. Rev. R. J. Edwards was its
?first pastor. Branchville had but
little trade, small population and n
rather dwarfed existence until tho
close of tbe late civil war. Several
causes conspired to this: First, the
railroad owning tho land near the
track would not sell lots for building
purposes, and, second, tbe place being
low and swampy it was thought it
would be sickly. Since tbe war the
lots have been sold, the place has
b^en very thoroughly drained and
Branchville has gone up, as if touch
ed by a "magician's wand." A lady
very much interested in the place
said to the writer, not mauy years
ago, that now the place was very
healthy, though the people were in
clined to be sick. To-day Branch
l ville has 17 stores, 1 hotel, 2 bonrd
ing houses, 1 carriage shop, a town
hall and a guard house. Tho trade
is good and the population about
700. pr. Ott, born and brought up
near tho place, aud whoso nnmo is
closely associated with it, is the lead
ing physician. ITe moves about
among us with his flowing whito
beard, having the confidence and es
teeni of tlio community.' The promi-,
ncnt merchants are A. F. H. Dukes,
J. D. Rhoad, Burns Myers, F. Ai
Bruce, D. D. Myers. J. Louis Berry,
&c. Tho pasters of the churches
are Rev. Tbos. Raysor? Methodist,
and Rev. Arthur Buist, Baptist. The
depot and telegraph oflioe is under
the direction of Mr. J. R. Ligon, a
model officer. The express olllcc is in
|chargo pf^Ir. James .(primes, a man
remarkable for honesty and integrity.
\V. H. Reedish, Esq., a capable, ac
commodating and popular officer pre
sides over the mail bags. Within the
corporation is a steam saw mill, also
a grist mill and gin run by steam,
owned and worked by Messrs. Smoak
& Byrd?two energetic and enterpris
prising men. The wheelwright busi
ness is under the direction of S. S.
Walters, a capablo workman. W. B.
Reeves, a true son of Crispen, works
efficiently iii leather. While Dr. R.
Cruro, our resident dentist, makes a
eomfortablo living picking his ucigh
bois'a teeth. To-day, Sept. 8, 1880,
we stand iiuro in tho presence of a
large audience to lay tho corner stone
of the Methodist church?whose light
meeting ami blending with tha light
that shines from Hie Baptist Church
on the opposite hill?will, under God
we trust be 'lie conservative influence
and element that is to keep Branch
ville from the fato of Sodom and Go
morrah. Here we pause. What will
bo the record of seventy years to
come?'- ...
A Printer's Dream.
A printer sat- in Ins office chair, his
boots were patched, his coat thread
bare, while his fnoe'looked weary and
worn with care. ,)Yhile.'.sadly think
ing of business" debt, old Morpheus
slowly round him crept, and before he
knew it he soundly slept; and, sleep
ing, he dreamed that he was dead,
from trouble and toil his spirit bad
lied, and not even a cow bell tolled
for the peaceful rest of his soul. As
he wandered among the shades, the
smoke and scorch of lowerj Hades
he shortly observed on Iron door, that
creakingly hung on its hinges ajar,
but the entrance was closed by a red
hot bar, and Satan himself stood
peeping out, and watching for travel
ers thereabouts, and thus to the pass
ing printer he spoke, and with growl
ing voice the echoes awoke ; "Come
in, my dear, it shall cost you nothing
and never fear; this is the place where
I cook the ones who never pay their
subscription sum, for though in life
they escape they will find when dead
it is loo late ; I will show tho place
where I melt them thin, with red hot
chains and scraps of tin, and also
where I comb their heads with broken
glass and melting load, and if of re
freshing they'only think there's boil
inf water for them to drink j there's
the red-hot grind stone to grind down
his nose, and red hot rings to wear on
his toes, and if they mention they
don't like the fire I'll sew up their
mouths with red hot wire ; and then,
dear sir, you should sec them squirm
while I roll them over and cook to a
turn." With these last words the
printer awoke, and thought it all a
practical joke ; but still at times so
real did it seem that he cannot believe
it was all a dreair, and often he thinks
with a chuckle and grin of the fate of
those who save their tin and never
pay the printer.
An exasperating debtor at Red
wood Falls, Minn., was hanged to a
tree by a party of his creditors.
When he was nearly dead, they low
ered him and asked if he would pay.
He feebly nodded his head ; but on
recovering breath enough to speak he
said that ho had no money. Then
they pulled him up again, and came
nearer to killing him than before.
This timo ho did not hesitate, hut im
mediately satisfied their claims.
' n! iAn Illinois Social Event. i _
Chicago, Septmber,, 20.-*-One.dny,
last week a negro named Sam Monroe
was married at Galesburg, 111., to
M isa Nettie Cbaso, a bigbly educated
daughter of the lato Dr. Chase? r,ec
lor of the Episcopal Church ufc this
I place. Monroe bnd aut,ed as coach-,
?man for the young woman's mother,{
and by some means exerted such in
fluence; over the girl as to persuade
her tO'become, his wife. The couple
departed from Galesburg and were
found, in a negro's cabin about ten
miles distant from that town. The
girl was taken care of and the negro
was locked up on a charge of larceny.
Excitement ran high in tho town for
scvtjral days, as the girl's brothers
and sisters moved in the highest cir
cles. This morning Miss Chase's
brothers undertook to remove her to
Peoria preparatory to sending her to
a distant .State. Monroe, who was
on ball, and who had freely boasted
of his conquest, appeared at the depot
and demanded an interview with his
wiieJy Approaching one of her broth
ers, "whom lie addressed as "Brother
Horace," he was promptly knocked
down.. Mouroe then drew a revolver
and somebody in the crowd then plac
ed a similar weapon.in the irate bro
ther';; -hands.. Chase shot first and
the negro fled.: , Another bullet fol
lowed him, grazed bis cheek and pas
sing jLbrough the arm of a by-stander.
Chase was then . arrested, the, nogro
escaping anharmed. The Chases
went to Fcoriaon the next train, but
when'tuebrothers return uMKexpec
cd Hint the trouble will be'-renewed!?
Neri'York WorXd. s 1 ? ' ' ' '?
? I_L.
A Thin Dodge. .
A' prominent merchant of this city
received a.day or two since a letter
from a reputable and lending Arm in
Nc"v Yoek asking if he had any Con
federate bonds for sale.
The letter went on to offer 1-8 of 1
percent., and stated that in the opin
ion of tho writer the bonds would be
worth 1 per cent., on the day that
Hancock is elected, and would rapidly
appreciate after that. It is unneces
sary to say that Hie writer was a Re
publican.
The Atlanta merchant at once saw
that the lctlhe was a trick, and replied
in proper strain. He said that be
would not be guilty of selling a thing
that he knew could never have *nny
value, and that the owuers had long
since made up tbeir minds to lose.
He denounced the attempt of the Re
publicans to frighten the Northern
voters by parading the Confederate
bonds, as the weakest trick yet tried,
and be knew that the bonds would
never he paid unless the Republicans
bought them up at a nominal price,
and then made the government pay
them to fill their own pockets.
There is no doubt, however, that
the Republicans in the desperation
that has seized them since the Maine
election, will bring these bonds for
ward as the last resort. We have
nlrpndu nrintoriu disn.ileti in n?h;2}? if
-j ,-?-y -
was said Uioy would soon be quoted
on the stock board in Cihcago.?At
lanta Canstitulion.
Why should any one, after reading
tho returns from Maine?from Maine
that formerly gave the Republicans
20,000 majority?why should any one
doubt bow Indiana is going in Octo
ber? Look at the facts, and cease
all doubting. In 1870 the Democra
cy of Indiana elected a Secretary of
State by a majority of 5.5GG votes.
In 1872 the Indiana Democrats elec
ted a Governor by 1,337 votes. In
1871 the Democrats of Indiana elec
ted a Secretary of State by 17,202
votes. In 1876 the the Democrats
carried Indiana by 5,084 votes in the
October election for the governorship,
and by 5,515 votes in November for
the Tilden electors. In 1878 tho
Democracy of Indiano elected a Sec
retary of State by 11,113 votes and
this is the latest census of the voters
of Indiana.
Next to a wife the easiest thing for
* poor man to get in debt.
An Honorable Man.
We me informed,'?n good authori
ty, tbm last week a number of rich
men waited on Gen. Hancock, and
told him they would raise a quarter of
a million dollars towards-* the legiti
mate expenses of bis election if lie
would permit them to name the Secre
tary of the Treasury should he be
elected President. .
Gen. Hancock was told that while
the Republican.') wore raising and
spending vast sums of money in the
campaign, and it was proposed bo
raise a million dollars by private sub
scription to insure the election o(
Garbek! the Democratic committee
had no fuuda to speak of, and is oblig
ed to depend upon the spontaneous
enthusiasm of the people for contribu
tions.
Gen. Hancock listened to their
statement with respect, aud courte
ously replied : "Gentlemen, I must
decline your offer. If elected to the
Presidency I must lake the office un
pledged." That was . tho proper an
swer for a patriot. It was the decis
ion of an honest man. Garfield gave
himsolf away for $329, and sold the
hand that held "the purse strings of
tho nation." for a 85,000 fee. Gener
al Hancock refused to mortgage a
single scat in his Cabinet for $250,
000 even to insure his election to the
Presidency. It requires no spectacles
to see the difference between the two
candidates.
Tho Republicans arc carrying on
their campaign with money. They
have wrung every dollar they can
press out of 100,000 Federal officers
and employes. They are trying to
raison million more to buy votes in
Ohio aud Indiana. Marshall Jewell
declared before the Republican con
ference in New York that,he abound
conduct this campaign "on cash prin
ciples." This is Republicanism.
The Democratic committe has no
funds to meet this expenditure of
monoy'by the Republican managers.
It depends solely on the intelligence
and patriotism and piinciple of the
American peopLo for support. And
General Hancock, the Democratic
candidate for President, the hero
statesman, refuses to barter a single
ollice for $250,000, even though it
might securo his election. Clay
electrified the country by saying he
would rather be right than President.
It was lefr for Winfield Scott Hancock
to refuse a quarter of a million dol
lars, and declare, "I enter the White
House unpledged} or I cater not at
nil."
It is a subject not strictly speaking
within the scope of journalistic dis
cussion, but we think it proper to
place on record an emphatic condem
nation of the conductor Mrs. Haz
zard, of Illinois. Tho dispatches on
Tuesday announced that she had pre
sented Mr. Hazzard with five young
Hazzards simultaneously. While
commendiug the ambition evidenced
to increase the census returns of her
native State, wo think we voice the
sentiment of evejy Jiead of a family
in the land when we say that Mrs.
Hazzard went entirely too far. We
are sure that this is the opinion of Mr.
Hazzard could it be ascertained. It
is not by sucli extreme methods that
a country is made free, happy and
glorious, for moderation should gov
ern in all things. Should any gener
al disposition bo manifested in this
Stnto to imitate Mrs. Hazzard, we
shall certainly advocate some string
ent statutory enactment on the sub
ject. This portion ot the Republic is
certainly not prepared for any such
innovations.?Greenville Neivs.
Two candidates for County Com
missioner recently met at a certain
bouee in Du ford township. One ol
the obliging fellows was seen skip
ping backward and forth on the front
piazza with a fretful baby in his arms
singing lullaby songs to the mother's
pet and the other manfully held tho
call whilst the old lady milked tho
cow.?Lancaster Review.
Advertise in the Democrat.
id s juinisurto '?.ngfanu, mia
j in tue mails, Im? juat been re
l, but ngco cannot take its point
Blaine a*4 Meine.
j', Never was there a more sensible
remark than that of Mr. Blaine that
if the Republicans are defeated in
Maine Hancock Will bo elected. Let
uo see what' was in bis mind. There
are 369 electoral votes. 135 elect tho '
President. Np fpir. man wRl will
deny,that Hancock, ia certain to re
ceive the Mlov/ing: ,.;,;!?
Alabama.............,..,...w ID,
Arkansas.............,.,...,..??M...,,...t .
Del o,'w'it vo. ................................
Florida.,..?...? ......4
Georgia....................:.r.:.V..i.Ti
Kentucky.il?iJftl?ttaSSif!?
Louisiana.v..
Maryland...IT
Missouri.....^......15
Mississippi..;...<..;.o..8
New Jersey.............j.l.* 9 i
New York...w......J......U.v?|j>/.$9 ?
North Carolina..;..^.f....:vlO i
South Carolina.... H
Tennessee....,......,.....?tRI ;
Texas..8
Virginia.
West Virginia..........
?. ? i i .1 (j! i; i i
Total.....?toi1
Which lacks three only of electing
Hancock, if therefore, California 5,
or Colorado 3, or Cnnnecti^t^ ^jbr^
Indiana.15, or Nevada 3, or Pennsyj- ,
vania 20, or Rhode Island 4, should i
vote for Hancock,1 he will be Presi
dent, But Maine, 7, ha? already
wheeled into the Democratic lino and
raado further votes unnecessary.
Therefore it was as Mr. Blaine said,
if Davis is defeated Hancock.is elect
ed. He understood tho case. t,.> . . .
-?-.; idfeiiduii
Supports Ha no o ok.
Tire following .letter, from, Hon.
Charles Francis . Adams,, President.
Lincoln's Minister ? to England, mis
carried
ceived,
away: ., . [o{nw Uty)
John McKcoriy Edward, fioopfir, and
others: e | l , ,-3 . ' ? r
Quitfcv^ August. 6, mOt]
Genti.emet : On my. rot urn fronten
excursion in Western New York I
?o4yper?,Qj ^^W^^f JafeVMRk^
me the honor to invite me to address
a general meeting of the Democracy
of the city of New York, assembled
for the purpose of ratifying the nomi
nations made by them for tUo highest
offices under the government of the
Union during the approaching 'term.
These nominations appear to va& un*
exceptionable, and I only hope that,'
if they should prbve to he ratified by
the voice of the people, they wilt sot
be again frittered away by fraud, t
have no more to say. ?. ? ) -Mr,-. - , .
Very truly yours, v , . ..
Cnas. Francis Ab*k?. ( t
That is what one of (he founders of
the Republican party bas tt> say of
the methods of the meh,Gar?ehi and
his followers, into Whose unclean
bauds that party has fallet. \, (/^J.
On the basis of the change in Maine,
taking the strength, shown.in 1876 es
a fair point of departure, the Republi
cans will be beaten in California by
12,000, in Colorado by 1,500, in Illi
nois by 35,000, in Nevada 1,000; Iii
New Hampshire by 4,000, in Quid b;
nearly 60.000, in Oregon jjy ZfiQQ^l
Pennsylvania by 60,000, andX? Wis
consin by nearly 2?,???, in the light
of their own claims made on Monday
morning they may expect, withV'?^re
mitted diligence and energy in tljeir
work from this day forth .to secure
57 electoral voles out.of.867 in No
vember, ''do i r>}*jf, -id)
-U\-u-.
About LaGrango, N. C, there is
not a word about Kansas and the
other place this fall, among tho dar
kies. Occasionally a refugee returns
and others write to their friends for
funds to help them back ; but we hear
none being sent. Tho darkies ill
North Carolina think it1 strange that
their friends went ontto get rich, ami
have got too poor to pay their way
back. Sam Perry, dieir leader, did
I not prove to be a Moses.
-1-i?f-i.. mm
Young man, if you want to oatob a
good fish in tho matrimonial line, put
the right kind of bait on your hook.
You can't catch a shinor with a but
on-hook. . ? '
Tho only honsowork somo girls do
is when they begin to dust around for
a beau.
i tfbuOJJ .Ui;.:l ?; vjI