History: Columbia County. Gen Stephen Drane, William and Cassandra Drane, Dr James S Hamilton, Peter Crawford, A. W. Avary, Dr Collins, Jack Williams, Issac Ramsey, Abner P Robertson, Wm B Tankersly, Gen Jackson, Homer Virgil Milton, Lyman Hall, Col. Jno Milton, Miss Burch, Mrs Dr Wm A Martin, Peter Early, Tom Miller, Ben Adams, Judge Wm Holt, Susan Hambrick, Wilson. Reminisces of Dr. H. R. Casey ======================================================================= USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store this file permanently for free access. This file was contributed by: Stephanie Harrison info@conquestmusic.com ======================================================================= 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 7, 1883 GEN STEPHEN DRANE Is the son of William and Cassandra Drane, who were originally from Maryland. They left that State in 1786, and settled in Columbia county, then Richmond first buying a small farm near what is now Dearing, on the Georgia Railroad. Here these two good old people lived and toiled and accumulated property. At the death of Mr Drane his farm had increased to 1500 acres. It is now owned by Dr James S Hamilton. Here the old man Drane died at the good old age of 81 years while his wife, Cassandra survived him 10 years. She lived to the advanced age of 91 years. I knew them both and knew nothing of them that was not their credit. And on dying they left no line which they would wish to blot from the memory of those who were to come after them. If the reader will trouble himself to examine into the nativity of the earlier settlers of the county, he will find. I think that about seventy percent of them came from the "Old Dominion" the mother of States and of statesmen--twenty percent from Maryland and the rest from the Carolinas, with one, now and then, from the North-- With such population Columbia's prosperity was developed. The subject of this sketch was born on his father's place in 1798. He grew up to manhood with the only rudiments of an "old field education" but Stephen Drane had in min all the elements of a man intellectually and physically. Standing six feet four inches in height, erect and straight as an Indian, with no surplus flesh, but of strong muscular developments. He was a Magnus Apollo of a physical man. Though without the benefit of an education, yet that nature had lavished him gifts of mind as well as body. A mere glance at his record from 1836 to the present times gives simple evidences. The first years of his majority were spent on the farm then in the school room as an instructor of youth in the elementary branches of an English education, then as one the Justices of the Inferior Court and a civil magistrate for many years. He was always prominent man in politics, belong to the Clark party and subsequently was the great "war-horse" of the unterrified, old, iron-ribbed Democracy. He was quite a figurehead and prominent man in the days when Peter Crawford, A. W. Avary, Dr Collins, Jack Williams, Issac Ramsey, Abner P Robertson, Wm B Tankersly and others were upon the stage. I said he was the also the "old war horse" of the Democracy; he was also the old race horse," but he always ran just fast enough to come in second best. He served under Gen Jackson in 1818 as First Lieutenant and was promoted to the rank of Major with Homer Virgil Milton who was Secretary of State, as Colonel when Lyman Hall was Governor. They say there is nothing in a name but it "peers like" there is a "mighty heap" of poetry in the name. But if so he was a fighting poet. Col. Jno Milton, who married Miss Burch of this county, a sister of Mrs Dr Wm A Martin. Drane was at the surrender of St Marks, Florida and was at the battle of Suwanne. Then holding the rank of Major, he was highly complimented by Gen Jackson as an accomplished and ready soldier. He was made Brigadier-General for the counties of Richmond, Columbia and Warren and promoted to Major-General for the Division of Columbia, Richmond, Warren, Greene, Hancock and Taliaferro. His first military commission was from old Peter Early in his first military evolutions were performed is a part of the plantation now known as the Steiner place, once, I think, owned by Tom Miller of Augusta. Gen Drane was for several years, County Surveyer and was an excellent officer. He handled the Jacob staff as dextrously as he had done the sword. He was Deputy Sheriff under Ben Adams, and was complimented to Judge Wm Holt as being the most efficient and best Sheriff in his Circuit. From 1820, I should say (but my memory, Mr Editor, understand me, runs not back to that date) but from early manhood up to within 15 to 20 yearsm General Drane with his regimentals or his bright Damascus blade glittering in the sun and mounted on a gay charger and I doubt if any other county could show a finer looking officer. But age is now telling on this once active minded and physically strong man. Now far advanced into the "sere and yellow leaf" of life. An octogenarian, with his converted into the plough share and his Jacob-staff into a long walking stick, which he uses to support his feeble frame, this once active and useful old man may be seen with slow and measured step walking about and overlooking his little farm and even performing some of the drudgery of the husband-man's life. Having been for so many years accustomed to an active industrious life, he finds it difficult to be idle. What a commentary it is upon many of the young men of the present day! Think of it, ye who are wasting the days of your lives in inglorious ease. "As the twig is bent, the tree inclines" Cultivate a line of indolence and laziness in youth, it will stick to you through life, just as the case of Gen Drane is the opposite. Industrious in early manhood, the same in middle life, he feels now in old age that so long as he is able to totter along he must be doing something. To use a homely phrase "to make the pot bile" or to get something to put into it for Susan Hambrick to cook. Gen Drane has been married twice. His first wife was a Wilson, one of the oldest citizens now of McDuffie county. HIs second wife was Susan Hambrick of Wilkes county. He is now in his eighty-first year. He speaks of building on another part of his plantation which will put him again in Columbia county and heartily will welcome his return. Through all these long years he has always borne the character of "an honest man, the noblest work of God".