HISTORIC OCONEE COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA Subject: THE OLD STONE CHURCH Version 1.0, 15-Dec-2002, H-12.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. THE OLD STONE CHURCH There is no more sacred spot in upper South Carolina than the Old Stone Church and its adjoining cemetery where many of South Carolina's most distinguished dead lie sleep- ing. The old church stands as a silent tribute to the piety and heroism of our first settlers, many of whom came over the mountains from Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina to make their homes in this beautiful but savage wilderness. As was the custom with the Scotch-Irish, as soon as they were settled in their new homes, they banded them- selves together for public worship and immediately set about the establishment of a church. Following the church, there was a school; for with them religion and learning must go hand in hand. The old church has stood for more than a century and a quarter, and its gray walls have recorded the hardships of the sturdy pioneers and the march of progress. Some of her worshipers followed Pickens into the battles of Ninety-Six, King's Mountain, Cowpens and Eutaw Springs. The accurate fire of these men with their flint and steel rifles drove fear into the hearts of the British. The sight of the coonskin caps which these men wore made them quake. It has witnessed the early days of the new republic, the tramp of the feet of an invading foe and still continues, although without regular services for almost a century to witness for God and the right. On October 13, 1799, a people on Seneca appealed to the Presbytery of South Carolina to be taken under its care. In compliance with this request the Rev. John Simpson of New Jersey was sent to preach one Sabbath in the month. In 1790 he was installed as pastor of the log church which stood about 80 rods from the dwelling of the late Ezekiel Pickens on the north side of the road. A tablet now marks the spot, though doubtless overgrown with brambles. The growth of the congregation soon made a larger and more commodious church necessary. The foundations of the present church were laid in 1797 on 16.94 acres of land given by John Miller, the printer. The church was completed in 1802 and stands as an en- during monument to the workmanship of John Rusk, father of the late United States Senator Rusk of Texas. The church was built by public subscription and the session book records that the principal contributors were Gen. Pickens, Gen. Anderson, George Reese, William Steele, Capt. McGriffin, Hardy Owens, Messrs. Whitner, Calhoun and Earle. The seats and pulpit were of walnut and were contributed by Gen. Pickens individually. Unfortunately the interior of the church was destroyed by a forest fire many years ago. The church was named Hopewell-Keowee for the home of Gen. Pickens, only a short distance away. The Rev. Thomas Reese, a distinguished scholar and patriot, was installed as pastor in 1792. He died in 1796 and was said to have been the first buried in the adjoining cemetery. The cemetery is enclosed by a substantial granite wall and passing through the iron gate we pause at his grave. Ramsay, the historian, said of him in part: "That his admired essay on the Influence of Religion in Civil Society is an honorable testimony of the literature of South Carolina in 1788." His arduous pursuit of his studies short- ened his life. He was the first South Carolinian to receive a degree from Princeton. John Miller, the publisher of the famous Junius Letters, and many of his descendants lie buried in the east corner. A native of London, England, he knew well the writer of the famous letters, but carried the secret to his grave, settling first in Charleston, he published the South Carolina Gazette and Advertiser which he sold and moved to Pendleton where he began the publishing of the Pendleton Weekly Messenger, using the old printing press of Gen. Nathaniel Green. His sons, John and Crosby Miller, were faithful members of the old church. His descendants continue to uphold the honor of the family. The family of one John Miller has furnished two foreign missionaries, one outstanding home missionary and two splendid physicians. SOLDIERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION In an enclosure overshadowed by crepe myrtle, rests the remains of the intrepid and valiant officer, Gen. Andrew Pickens. What Marion and Sumter were to the low country, Pickens was to the upper part. On his tomb we read these significant words: "A Christian, a patriot and a soldier, his actions and character are incorporated in the history of his country." But for high water, the remains of Gen. Robert Ander- son, Revolutionary hero, and the man for whom Anderson county was named, would rest here. George Reese, a lieutenant in Lincoln's Brigade^ is buried near his brother, Thomas. He and his pious wife, Anna Story Reese, reared a large family of representative sons and daughters. The majority of whom removed to Georgia and Alabama. Joseph Whitner, a native of Germany, when a lad of 18, joined the patriots and fought under Gen. Francis Marion, but was later detailed to upper South Carolina. A com- patriot in arms, Col. J. C. Kilpatrick delighted to tell of him that as a commander "He never sent his men into battle but always led them." Alexander Ramsay, John R. Rusk, John Garvin, Charles Story and doubtless others did their part for American Independence. WAR OF 1812 Col Andrew Pickens, afterwards Governor of South Carolina, 1816-1818. INDIAN CREEK WAR 1815-16 Jesse Payne Lewis The United Daughters of the Confederacy have erected a suitable memorial of native rock in honor of the men who followed Lee and Jackson, of whom more than three score lie buried here and the blood of others stained the battle fields where honor lay. Among them we note the grave of the brave Col. F. W. Kilpatrick, killed at Lookout Mountain, Tenn. His brother-in-law, Col. J. W. Livingston, wounded at Gaines Mill; Dr. Oliver M. Doyle, brigade surgeon, and many others that time forbids our mentioning but who fought for the cause that they believed was right and laid their all on the altar of their country. WORLD WAR A beautiful granite monument has been placed in mem- ory of John Milledge Gordon, who saw service along the Mexican border and made the supreme sacrifice in Argonne, France. There are others who did not fight on battle fields, yet who were empire builders without whom the nation could not carry on. The Rev. James McElhaney, D. D., who once lived at Clergy Hall, afterwards Fort Hill, was the pastor of Hope- well-Keowee. Rev. Thomas Livingston McBryde was a missionary to China from 1839 to 1842. He was also a teacher. "George R. Cherry," quoting from an article by W. A. Dickson, "was a successful planter and legislator." He was commissioner of the poor during the war between the states and in the dark days following, and discharged his duties with the utmost fidelity to a sacred trust. Mr. E. B. Benson, merchant of Pendleton, is the honored antecedent of the Carters, Bensons and Harrisons. Andrew F. Lewis was a signer of the Ordinance of Seces- sion. John Maxwell also signed this ordinance. Perhaps one of the first graves to be sought by the casual visitor to the Old Stone church is that of Turner Bynum, duellist, who was killed by B. F. Perry, afterwards Governor Perry of South Carolina. Mr. Bynum was a young man of brilliant attainments, an ardent nullifier and follower of Calhoun. Perry was a unionist and the quarrel was a political one. He fell at Hatton's Ford on the Savannah river and died Aug. 17, 1832. The Hon. James H. Hammond, his second, in writ- ing to Bynum's mother after his death said: "I feel the full weight of the affliction. His country has much to lament, for his talents were rapidly ripening into eminent useful- ness." Tradition says he was buried at midnight in the rain. Two tall pine trees formerly marked the spot, but these have been replaced by a neat stone. Another victim of the Code Duello lies buried in this cemetery in an unmarked grave. Sidney Reese, son of the Rev. Thomas Resse, a graduate of Princeton, had a diffi- culty over a trivial affair with a man named Michie. They could not be reconciled and a duel followed in which Sidney Reese was killed. He was said to have been very handsome and unusually brilliant. Mr. John Taylor acted as his second. A small stone marks the grave of a child. Osenappa Reese, who was said to have been named in honor of an Indian chief, Osenappa, who was kind to the settlers in this vicinity. The Old Stone Church and Cemetery Association was formed in 1893. Capt. Miles Pickens and Dr. 0. M. Doyle were largely responsible for calling the first meeting. Dr. W. B. Cherry was its first president. It was through the splendid work of Dr. R. N. Brackett, of Clemson College, that the Old Stone church book was published for the bene- fit of the association. It is to be regretted that this book so full of local history is out of print. The late lamented Mrs. P. H. Mell, also of Clemson, did much valuable work along this line. There are many elect ladies who are buried here and while all unknown and unsung made homes for their men in the wilderness and deserve a large place in the builders of nations. Recently the association has erected a Stone House, in perfect harmony with the old church, as a residence for its caretakers. This is an important step in the preservation of the church and cemetery. "There is grandeur in graves, There is glory in gloom; For out of the gloom future brightness is born As after the night comes the sunrise of morn."