HISTORIC OCONEE COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA Subject: OCONEE STATION Version 1.0, 29-Dec-2002, H-07.txt **************************************************************** REPRODUCING NOTICE: ------------------- These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format for profit, or presentation by any other organization, or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Paul M Kankula - nn8nn Seneca, SC, USA Oconee County SC GenWeb Coordinator Oconee County SC GenWeb Homestead http://www.rootsweb.com/~scoconee/oconee.html Oconee County SC GenWeb Tombstone Project http://www.rootsweb.com/~scoconee/cemeteries.html http://www.rootsweb.com/~cemetery/southcarolina/oconee.html **************************************************************** DATAFILE INPUT . : Paul M. Kankula at kankula1@innova.net in Dec-2002 DATAFILE LAYOUT : Paul M. Kankula at kankula1@innova.net in Dec-2002 HISTORY WRITE-UP : Mary Cherry Doyle, Clemson, SC in Jan-1935 Dedicated To: Dr Edgar Clay Doyle FOREWORD In presenting these fragmentary facts that have come to my knowledge, it is my hope that they may prove helpful in preserv- ing the history of Oconee county for the youth of the land and all who are interested in the history of Oconee county for South Carolina. With knowledge there will follow a fuller appreciation of the great heritage that is ours. I wish to acknowledge a great debt of gratitude to Dr. J. Walter Daniel, an author- ity on Indians of the South. We are indebted to members of the Wizard of Tamassee Chapter S. C. D. A. R. and many other friends. MARY CHERRY DOYLE. January, 1935. NOTE: Since Mary wrote this book in 1935, historians have made progress in documenting a more accurate & complete picture of this historical station. OCONEE STATION The oldest building in the county stands at Oconee station in a remote section above Walhalla. From the early colonial history of South Carolina we learn that the outlying frontiers suffered from the depredations of the Indians from the years 1756-1760 and besought the government to come to their aid. Yielding to their entreaties England, in the year 1760, sent Col. Montgomery with 1,200 men who landed at Charleston where he was joined by a Scotch regiment, and at the Congaree his forces were still further augmented. With this force he marched into the heart of Cherokee territory carrying fire and sword, burning villages, killing eighty braves and taking forty prisoners, mostly women and children. He established three outposts but only this one remains The story handed down by the early settlers is that the rough stone house was the guard house of Col. Montgomery's military post and that soldiers were kept there until after the Revolution. Located on a hill overlooking the mountains is a building of rough plaster with thick walls, the windows are high, narrow and deepset. It consists of two rooms, roughly plastered with a large chimney in the center furnishing two huge fireplace. From one of the rooms a narrow stairway leads into a basement which is filled with an assortment of household utensils of a half century ago. On the walls hang bunches of life everlasting, boneset, mullin and jimsen, the latter to inhale for the asthma, festoons of onions and pep- pers, twists of golden brown home grown tobacco, dried apples on canes and a medley of peanuts, pumpkins and potatoes. It is so peaceful now where once was heard the tramp of soldiers' feet, the savage yells of the Indians in war-paint and feathers, the cries of the panther and the howl of the wolf. Hard by the guard house stands a substantial two storied brick house and into the wall of this dwelling is inserted a marble slab bearing this inscription: William Richards-1805. The early settlers tell that when the troops were re- moved after the Revolution that the three Richard brothers remained, living for a while in a house at the foot of the hill, later building the present house which bears the name of William Richards. The house was surrounded by an old English garden. Boxwood, euonimus and English ivy form an old-world setting for the daffodils, roses, lilacs and clumps of lavender and rosemary. No doubt the garden was lovingly tended by the English girl who came over to join her brothers, and the fragrance of her garden was like a breath of home in her wilderness dwelling. Her grave lies at the foot of the hill and on her tomb we read the following: "Margaret Richards who crossed the ocean for love of her brothers." ( Oconee County SC GenWeb Tombstone Project Reference: C142 Richards Family at Oconee Station ) During the years that followed the three brothers died and are buried in the same spot in unmarked graves. We are told that when the last brother died that a relative from England took over the property. The property was later owned by James Doyle, sheriff of Pickens District. His sons fought in the Confederate army and after peace was declared, all save one went to Texas where they made honorable names for themselves, but never failed to love their native state. The McWhorter boys, John, Lee, Will and Doyle, once called this home and later became merchants and heads of railways in other states Here the genial Henry F. Alexander and his bride, Rebecca, Doyle, set up housekeeping and their first child was born. After their removal, it seems that this property fell into the hands of Mr. Green who came with his large family from the mountains of North Carolina. Three of these kindly daughters still live here, Misses Parnecy, Tekorah and Victoria Green. For half a century they have tended their fields and made the cloth for their clothing. They will gladly show you their treasured quilts, representing years of patient toil, calling them lovingly by name, a young man's fancy, rosebud and Magnolia. May they long be spared, these gentle sisters of the long ago. They have since passed away.