History:  Columbia County.  Nelson "Neb" Benton, Dick Jones, Edward Harrison 
Reminisces of Dr. H. R. Casey
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	 This file was contributed by: Stephanie Harrison
                                  info@conquestmusic.com 

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Articles written for the Columbia Sentinel in 1883.

Permission granted by the Columbia County News and transcribed by 
Stephanie Harrison.

The articles were written in 1883 by Dr H. R. Casey for the Columbia 
Sentinel. He writes about many of the early pioneers of Columbia County 
who arrived in Georgia in the late 1700's and early 1800's.


March 28, 1883
Nelson Moore Benton
or as he was familiarly called "Net" Benton, was the third son of 
Nathan Benton, who immigrated from Maryland about 1790 or 1795 and 
settled in Columbia. Nathan Benton married Susannah Crawford, sister of 
Peter Crawford, (he married 2nd Nancy Tinsley 31 March 1806) on the 6th of March 
1796. Nelson Benton was born Feb 8, 1800 and lived with his father until he 
was 16 years old, on the farm then and now known as the old Benton 
place, on the left of the Court House road to Augusta, and about 3 
miles from Appling. This land is now in possession of one of the 
numerous family of Smith's and owned by one who claims that popular 
given name of John. It has been in cultivation for over four score 
years and the travellor to-day, from Appling to Augusta, will observe 
that it has renewed its youth, with a fair promise of liberal harvest.
When only 16 years of age, Nelson Benton left the paternal roof to
enter upon the broad theatre of the world. He obtained the position of
Clerk in Jas. Cary's store in Appling where he continued for 3 or 4
years and by good management and business tact, with a yearly increased
salary, a large portion of which he saved, he was enabled to open a
store of his own, and drove quite a flourishing business up to 1821 or
1822, when he sold out, went to the country and bought and settled the
Dunn place, lying between the Jones and Heggie Places and near to 

FAMOUS HEGGIE ROCK
And here I will drop biography for awhile, and fiet on the firmer
and harder subject of "rockology". I will call public attention to that
popular resort in the good old times. At the base of a gentle slope,
upon which stands the old Heggie homestead, now belonging to the estate
of the late Dr McLain and still in good repair, the traveller suddenly
steps from arable land to a rock platform, so to speak, which stands in
bold relief a hard denture on nature's face. It is of solid, beautiful
blue granite and covers an area of about 100 acres. Upon a certain part
of this rock, in the olden times, our citizens young and old, big and
little, Christian and worlding, were wont to congregate, to while away 
a pleasant day in the innocent amusements and festivities of Bacchus 
and Momus, with now and then a tip of the "light fantastic toe". These
amusements were never indulged to excess and I honestly believe that 
the only souls of our shoes.  Those who, had no taste for the dance 
would go down to the lovely crystal streamlet that meandered around the 
base of this huge formation, and fish with the patience if not the 
success of old Izack Walton. Here and there might be seen couples 
seated on the green moss, under the shadow of the trees, talking "sof 
non-sense," as it is sometimes called, but which often resulted in that 
most important step which man and woman are called upon to make.
The hour of 12 arriving all would gather around the dainty spreadout of 
delicious viands, which Columbia ladies knew so well how to select for 
such occasions. The lover of nature, her Flora and Fauna on this rock 
in spring time, with turkey or chicken, or good old home-raised ham in 
one hand and a slice of nice light-bread basket while his eyes could 
take in the evergreen cedars, festooned with the sweet scented yellow 
jasmine and the deep green holly and under and above them are to be 
seen the beautiful lichens in many varieities, with the delicate little 
flowerets adding additonal charms and beauty to the lovely spot.

DICK JONES
Was a character well known to and much liked by the people of Columbia
county. He was a citizen of Appling when I moved to the county and was
Sheriff, which office he held in the first or second degree for twenty
years. He was an excellent officer; and although he was quite aldermanic in his 
figure, his Falstaffian proportionss did not interfere with his locomotive 
powers, being very active and glib of foot. He was admitted to the bar; and 
while he had mind enough to have succeeded at anything he did not have much turn 
for books. He preferred to feed the sensual appetite to the neglect of the 
intellectual. He and Gen Drane were boon companions and a history of their 
exploits, supplimented with that of Jack Harris, Sr, would have formed an 
entertaining sequel to the famous Georgia Scenes. And even now, through the dim 
vista of a quarter on a century of years--years of trouble, of revolution, of 
woe, and of dark clouds of adversity, I can see jolly Dick mounted in his "stuck
back" gig, and with his gray, bound for the "Piney Woods" on errands of
fun and business combined. Dick was a good conversationalist for those who could 
withstand temptation, but for the young he was not a good example. A devotee at
the shrine of Bacchus and Momus , his thoughts and words were generally
in that channel. He was a jolly fellow, and played the violin with a
master's hand, and could cut the pigeon wing with ease and elegance. I
knew him well and like him much. He meant no harm in anything he did. 
His hands were always open to deeds of melting charity, and the milk of
human kindness flowed out in all his acts. But I have seen his temper a
little ruffled when the boys would take out their knives and use his
chairs for cutting-sticks. Often I have heard him, on such ocassions,
say to them, though in as pleasant a manner as he could, "I suppose
those are Congress knives?" This gentle reproof would generally elicit
a reply like this: "Excuse me, cousin Dick; I was so interested in
your conversation that I really did not know I was cutting your chair." 
There are two things or debts rather, that we all have to pay--death and
taxes and Dick Jones has paid them both. He died about 1859, I think,
at the residence of his kinsman, E. S. Harrison, aged about 50 years. 
His death was much lamented.

SULLIVAN HARRISON
or "Swill Harrison", as he was called, was born in Columbia near Pine
Grove Church in 1790 there or thereabouts. He lived to a good old age
and was a great favorite with all who knew him. He was a widower for
man years previous to his death and his house was a liberty hall with
the string of the latch always on the outside. His motto for his many
friends; was, Come as often as you please, but be sure and stay too long
sometimes worn thread-bare by too long a tarry. Swill used to say
jocularly, "If you stay too long I will order no sugar in your coffee". 
Thirteen of em, you know said they'd take sugar in their'n. Well,
thirteen too often repeated, will soon empty both sugar dish and jug. 
But Swill Harrison was a kind jovial, hospitable gentleman. He
accumulated a handsome estate and died at a good age, surrounded by
friends and neighbors who mourned the death of this honest man.
Swill Harrison, left I think one child.

EDWARD HARRISON
who inherited the old homestead the broad acres and numerous slaves of
which the father was possessed at the time of his death. He became the
owner of two plantations, one on either side of Germany creek. He has
recently sold the one on the East side to Nick Evans, who has
successfully proven that farming can be made to pay. I have known Edward S 
Harrison long and intimately. Known him as a young merchant at Cobbham, as a 
married man and a farmer. Known him as a husband and a father, a friend and a 
neighbor and as an attache in my office during the long years of the "late 
unpleasantness" and I have known nothing of him that did not indicate the true 
and clever gentleman. He married in early life Miss Eugenia Jones, daughter of 
Mr Wat Jones, formerly of this county, but many years dead. They raised
six children--four sons and two daughters--all of who are now living. 
By the division of this county, this family has been cut off from
Columbia but we will feel that they are part and parcel of us.