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.usgwtombstones.org/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."