HISTORIC OCONEE COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA Subject: Early Commerce Version 1.0, 12-Jan-2003, H-27.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 Jan-2003 DATAFILE LAYOUT : Paul M. Kankula at kankula1@innova.net in Jan-2003 HISTORY WRITE-UP : Unknown Author, Keowee Courier Newspaper in Jul-1962 A description of the early history and commerce of Oconee county was the topic of an article written shortly after the Civil War by Col. Robert A. Thompson, a former editor of the Keowee Courier, was printed and distributed by the Pickens County Historical Society. The print pointed out it is from "the Isundiga collection", and that it was preserved for many years by W. P. Nicholson and presented to John R. McCravey. Here is this portion of the sketch: We had gold, granite, timber, water power and marble in Oconee. We had in our early history hamlets, but no towns. The hamlets were Fair Play, Bachelors' Retreat, West Union, Whetstone, Jocassee Valley, Cherokee, High Falls, Bounty and, Pulaski. Hon. Frank Burt, of Pendleton, was an early resident of Tamassee. He erected in that delightful valley a handsome residence and spent his "honeymoon" there. He practiced law successfully, with Col. Henry C. Young, of Laurens. In 1859 he was appointed provisional governor of Nebraska by President Buchanan. In those troublous times he accepted the position and took upon: himself the responsibilities of the office. He died in a short time and his remains were brought back and buried at Pendleton. Governor Burt and his brother, Armstead Burt, were members of the Constitutional Convention of 1832, better known as the Nullification Convention. In our early history the district of Pendleton was divided, and the districts of Pickens and Anderson were created there from. The commissioners appointed for that purpose assembled and located Pickens Court House on the banks of the Keowee. The actual surroundings were not very prepossessing, but a town was born. Communication by water with Augusta and later with Hamburg were considered favorably. Rafts were constructed and cotton sent down the Savannah river. But this mode of transportation did not last long. The railroad from Charleston to Augusta gave us a nearer market. For years previous tobacco in hogsheads had been rolled to Charleston by horse power. But steam had steeled effectively the markets in these respects. We sent our produce to Augusta and Hamburg, a distance of about one hundred and thirty miles, instead of the much longer trip to Charleston. The completion of the Greenville and Columbia railroad put Hamburg out of business and paralyzed Augusta somewhat. The uses of steam and increased population caused Walhalla to arrive in its strength and power. It also infused new life into West Union and the various hamlets in Oconee. The building of the Blue Ridge Railroad, the division of Pickens district and the building of the Southern Railroad through Oconee gave us the flourishing towns of Seneca and Westminster. We had Tunnel Hill, of fifteen hundred inhabitants before the war, but the town has practically ceased to exist. The population of Oconee has increased largely since the war. We also have cotton manufacturing establishments, oil mills, banks and flourishing free schools. Our population has increased largely and as a result we are increasing in capital and beneficent enterprises.