MOUNTAIN REST COMMUNITY CLUB, Oconee County, SC Legends Version 2.3, 1-Apr-2003, MR-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 . : Linda Flynn at ke8fd@@bellsouth.net.com in Apr-2003 DATAFILE LAYOUT : Paul M. Kankula at kankula1@innova.net in Apr-2003 LEGEND TELLS HOW INDIAN MAID OUTSMARTED DESOTO At the old village of Keowee, among the Indian legends which still live in the woods of Oconee is that of the Lady of Cofitachiqui, an Indian maiden who outsmarted DeSoto in his own race for riches. It is said that, when DeSoto crossed into what is now South Carolina from Georgia during his 1540 expedition, he came upon the province of the Siouan Indian tribe. The Chieftainess of Cofitachiqui, as the province was called, showered him with gifts of corn and pearls. DeSoto remained in the province long enough to sack it for treasure before he continued his explorations. As a parting blow, he carried off a beautiful Indian maiden, who was the niece of the Chieftainess. The journey northward began on May 3, 1540, with the captive Lady of Cofitachiqui serving as a guide, and leading the expedition on foot. The explorers stopped for two days at the Siouan village of Towns Hill, which was located in the High Falls area. On May 25, 1540, the journey north was continued. The Lady of Cofitachiqui led DeSoto and his men into the town of Keowee and beyond. When the Spaniards left Keowee, the Lady of Cofitachiqui led them toward the mountains and the famous Winding Stair Trail, and it was here that she took her revenge on the greedy DeSoto. Filling a basket with unbored pearls, she ran away from the Spaniards and hid in the woods until they gave up searching for her. Then, carrying her booty of pearls, she went back down the trail to Towns Hill, where she became the wife of a runaway Indian slave [The Seneca Journal, August 24, 1970]. LEGEND OF MARY JEFF If you have ever walked down to the "Big Bend" on the Chattooga River, you may have noticed a few old timbers from a cabin long collapsed. Legend has it that many years ago a woman by the name of Mary Jeff suddenly appeared on the river and lived in the cabin with her small child. No one knew where she came from, but the legend goes that she had a lover who came from Columbia to visit her from time to time. As all women in legends, Mary Jeff was exceedingly fair and had magical powers. Once when a little boy was sick at a neighbor's house many miles away, Mary Jeff suddenly appeared and administered medicine which cured the child. Once several neighbors decided to call on the mysterious lady and find out about her. When they approached the house, they could hear her beautiful voice engaged in song; but as they opened the door, the song suddenly stopped, and no one was there. A bird flew out and swept up the river. No one ever saw Mary Jeff again. If you would like to visit "Mary Jeff," go north on Highway 107, and turn off on the dirt road near Cherry Hill; go to the end of the road. (Be prepared to hike the last 1/2 mile.)--[Lowell W. Ross, Oconee Legends, August 14, 1972] DID YOU KNOW . . . ? That "Oconee" is an Indian word which means "the land of springs"? That yellow root, easily found in abundance in this area is one of the most commonly used home remedies? It can be boiled in water for a tea and used for various stomach ailments, sore throat, and other aches and pains too numerous to mention. The root can also be chewed, as I am told, to ward off some ailments that might be felt forthcoming. That prospectors once searched for gold on Dog Hill near Jerry's Creek? That Oconee County School records in 1882 and '83 list the Liberty Colored School, Chattooga District, with Timothy Grant as the teacher? That in 1926 Juan W. Fowler, Sr., bought a new Ford touring car for $310.00 cash. That when the Japanese surrendered, ending World War II, Sam Fowler was in the barber shop in Harland, Kentucky? That former South Carolina Governor Benjamin Franklin Perry was born on November 5, 1805, in what is now Oconee County, on Chauga Creek? His parents were Benjamin Perry, a native of Massachusetts, and Anne Foster, of Virginia. When the Civil War was over, and the difficult task of reconstruction lay ahead of the state, President Andrew Jackson, aware of Perry's strong belief in the Union, appointed him provincial governor of South Carolina. He served from June 30 to November 29, 1865. That the J.L. (Buck) Blakely family was among the first in Mountain Rest community to own a television set? That on December 28, 1935, it snowed 17 inches at Mountain Rest? That on March 25, 1983, it snowed about 11 inches in Mountain Rest? That the last water-operated corn mill in the Mountain Rest area was closed down some time in the 1950s and was known as the Verner Mill, operated last by William Hamilton? That Leroy Brown built a modern dairy facility (Mountain Rest Dairy) about a mile north of the post office that was operated first by the Ed Hunter family, the Campbells in the 1950s, and the Douglas Jacksons in the 1960s? That there was once an Oconee Lodge located on Highway 107, owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. George Perry Lord? That Ross Road got its name from the Ross family who owned property and lived on it? That in the early 1960s there was a Camp Pondarosa owned and operated by the Relton Vissage family, on Highway 28 near Crystal Lake? That in the 1930s the Virgil Ramey family was one of the first to get a radio in the Whetstone community? It was a Philco and required two batteries, a dry and a wet cell. They bought it at the C.G. Jaynes store in Walhalla. Neighbors would visit on Saturday night to hear the Grand Ole Opry. That Baylus "Boz" Cobb of Whetstone Community died in January 1951 and was born some time in the 1840s? That a family of Mortons had a hotel near Turnpike Road above the Lombards around 1900? That once there were cattle, sheep, and turkey drives from eastern Georgia and western North Carolina area that came through Mountain Rest on their way to Clemson and Anderson, South Carolina, to market? Two local men, Simon and Bob Hunt, helped with these drives. Fred Chastain remembers when he was in school at West Union, the teachers dismissed classes for the children to watch as the animals went by. That Ben Rogers was manager of Tri-State Fishing Club for many years and said he killed an average of 135 snakes a year? That Charlie Bonner, while camping with some of the local boys on Chattooga River, could not swim but walked across the river on the bottom although the water was much over his head? That a few years ago Miriam Dawson won the Walhalla Sertoma Club Service to Mankind Award? That William Henry Land of Mountain Rest was a Confederate soldier and a member of Company "M" of the Palmetto Sharp Shooters? That at one time the bootleggers on Whetstone were almost as numerous as fast-food restaurants are today? At times it seemed they had to sell to one another to stay in "business." That Chattooga, or Chatuga, is an Americanization of the Cherokee word Tsatugi, which means "he who drank by sips," or "he has crossed the stream and come up on the other side." It may also mean "rocky waters." That in the mid-1970s there was a bluegrass band called Whetstone Sanitary Landfill? Members were Benny Queen, Sam Moyle, Richard Phillips, and Kathy Rogers of Walhalla.