Along the Jefferson Davis Trail
Rev. R. Y. Russell of Blairsville recorded in his diary, President Davis, with an escort, passed my house on the preceding Friday [April 28]. The Confederate government crossed the Broad River at Pinckneyville Ferry while the cavalry escort crossed farther north at Smith’s Ford. Here, the rear guard of the Confederate escort ran into the 12th Ohio under Palmer. A brief fight ensued in which the Federals captured ten prisoners.
Jefferson Davis in S.C. by Sam Thomas, 1998 the Palmetto Conservation Foundation
“A mover and shaker in the ARP church and Sharon Community.”
City Directories and History: The Rev. R.Y. Russell, one of western York County’s outstanding religious and
community leaders lived here at the time he served as minister of Sharon A.R.P. church. This mid 19th century house was once an elegant rural estate and as one local citizen stated, “as a boy, I saw people having lawn parties on the front lawn.”
This home does not show individually on the postal map of the Blairsville community but rather as a dot on the map next to the home of Sam Blair. Reverend Robert Young Russell arrived in America in 1801, as a year old infant in the arms of his Mother and Father. He did not become a naturalized citizen of the United States until December 28, 1833. At the age of fifteen, R. Y. Russell became keenly aware that he was a lost and helpless sinner and for the next two or three years, the Holy Spirit continued to work conviction into his heart, bringing him to surrender under the preaching of Reverend Dr. R. B. Walker at a Bethesda Camp-meeting. He was also at the time convinced that he was to be a minister of the Gospel and upon his return to Bullocks Creek, he joined the Independent Presbyterian Church and enrolled at the Salem Academy in 1820 in Union County. From Salem, he went to Yorkville and studied under Rev. Robert M. Davis.
In 1826, he and his wife of two years (Mary A. Burris, died in March of 1843) moved to Mt. Tabor in Union County where he taught school and organized a church. In May of 1829, he returned to Bullocks Creek and became the church’s pastor for the next thirty-seven years. In 1832, the Great Revival fell upon York County, and it is said that vast crowds flocked to God–believers rejoiced in their salvation and sinners cried aloud for mercy. Many were attracted to Reverend Russell’s eloquent preaching. Toward the end of his ministry, his health began to fail and he had to take a sick leave from the pulpit which disturbed his sense of duty. His journal tells how he attempted one Sunday morning to go to Salem Presbyterian to preach but had to turn back due to a lack of strength. After two months of sick leave, Reverend Russell died–his last sermon was entitled, Christ In You, The Hope of Glory.
In January of 1855, Reverend R.Y. Russell, for $400.00, purchased nine acres of land from Dr. James C. Hicklin, “…Lying on the West side of the Great Road a short
distance South of the junction of the York and Quinn’s Roads at Crosby’s store…”
On this tract was a four-room house constructed with two rooms up and down with a hall and stairway in the center. An outside kitchen sat about forty feet directly to the rear of the house and remained standing well into the 1950’s. It was here that Reverend Russell, after thirteen years of widowhood, brought his second wife, Sarah N. Lewis, whom he married in December of 1856. In 1856, Reverend Russell hired Andy Hefner (Hafner), a local carpenter, to do some repairs to the house; Mr. Hefner’s services cost $56.00 and Mr. Russell boarded him and his horse for three weeks at the cost of $24.00. His records show that he purchased lumber, nails, glass, shingles, and door locks for a total of $50.00. Repairs were also made to the smoke house, wheat house, flour house and kitchen and a new well was dug for $100.00. Rev. Russell’s records show a total cost (including the price of the house) of $1,045.83$. In 1899, his son, James, added an el to the rear of the house which had a porch running its full length; and large columned verandas to the front.
In the early 1950’s, Perry S. Russell (Reverend Russell’s grandson) remodeled the house to its present condition. For some years now, it has been traditional to say that the house was built in 1832 by Dr. James Cloud Hicklin; but the chronological order of Dr. Hicklin’s life makes that highly improbable. The tradition may have arisen by a newspaper article done by Elizabeth Reed in the 1950’s when she made the statement that the house was built by Dr. Hicklin. But Dr. Hicklin was born in Chester County in 1819, and he would have only been thirteen years old in 1832. He was the son of Zachariah and Sarah Cloud Hicklin and married Sarah Rebecca Douglas in December of 1847. He was graduated from Mount Zion School in Winnsboro and attended the College of South Carolina prior to his marriage. He sold his home in Blairsville in 1855 and moved to the Clay Hill ‘area of our county and continued his practice until his death in 1874. [Information provided by J.L. West]
From the Western York County Gazetteer: Reverend Robert Young Russell arrived in America in 1801, as a year old infant in the arms of his mother and father. He did not become a naturalized citizen of the United States until December 28, 1833. At the age of fifteen, R. Y. Russell became keenly aware that he was a lost and helpless sinner and for the next two or three years, the Holy Spirit continued to work conviction into his heart, bringing him to surrender under the preaching of Reverend Dr. R. B. Walker at a Bethesda Camp-meeting.
He was also at the time convinced that he was to be a minister of the Gospel and upon his return to Bullocks Creek, he joined the Independent Presbyterian Church and enrolled at the Salem Academy in 1820 in Union County. From Salem, he went to Yorkville and studied under Rev. Robert M. Davis. In 1826, he and his wife of two years (Mary A. Burris, died in March of 1843) moved to Mt. Tabor in Union County, where he taught school and organized a church. In May of 1829, he returned to Bullocks Creek and became the church’s pastor for the next thirty-seven years. In 1832, the Second Great Awakening fell upon York County, and it is said that vast crowds flocked to God–believers rejoiced in their salvation and sinners cried aloud for mercy. Many were attracted to Reverend Russell’s eloquent preaching. Some of the Standard Presbyterian Church came over to the Independent Presbyterian Church because of Mr. Russell’s oratory delivery. Toward the end of his ministry, his health began to fail and he had to take a sick leave from the pulpit which disturbed his sense of duty. His journal tells how he had to turn back due to a lack of strength. After two months of sick leave, Reverend Russell died–his last sermon was entitled, Christ In You, The Hope of Glory.
In January 1855, Reverend R. Y. Russell, for $400.00, purchased nine acres of land from Dr. James C. Hicklin, “….lying on the West side of the Great Road a short distance South of the junction of the York and Quin’s Roads at Crosby’s store….” On this tract was a four-room house constructed with two rooms up and down with a hall and stairway in the center. An outside kitchen sat about forty feet directly to the rear of the house and remained standing well into the 1950’s. It was here that Reverend Russell, after thirteen years of widowhood, brought his second wife, Sarah N. Lewis, whom he married in December of 1856. In 1856, Reverend Russell hired Andy Hafner, a local carpenter, to do some repairs to the house, Mr. Hafner’s services cost $56.00 and Mr. Russell boarded him and his horse for three weeks at the cost of $24.00. His records show that he purchased lumber, nails glass, shingles, and door locks for a total of $50.00. Repairs were also made to the smoke house, wheat house, flour house, and kitchen and a new well was dug for 1l00.00. Rev. Russell’s records show a total cost (including the price of the house) of $1,045.83-l/4. In 1899, his son, James added an el to the rear of the house which had a porch running its full length; and large columned verandas to the front. In the early 1950’s, Perry S. Russell (Reverend Russell’s grandson) remodeled the house to its present condition.
For some years now, it has been traditional to say that the house was built in 1832 by Dr. James Cloud Hicklin, but the chronological order of Dr. Hicklin’s life makes that highly improbable. The tradition may have arisen by a newspaper article done by Elizabeth Reed in the 1950’s when she made the statement that the house by built by Dr. Hicklin. But Dr. Hicklin was born in Chester County in 1819, and he would have only been thirteen years old in 1832! He is the son of Zechariah and Sarah Cloud Hicklin and married Sarah Rebecca Douglas in December of 1847. He was graduated from Mount Zion School in Winnsboro and attended the College of South Carolina prior to his marriage. He sold his home in Blairsville in 1855 and moved to the Clay Hill area of our county and continued his practice until his death in 1874.
But concerning the house: After the death of Allen Crosby, William Clawson was directed by the County of Equity to dispose of Crosby’s estate in the case of James S. Hemphill and Dennis Crosby vs. Nancy M. Crosby, Dennis Crosby and others. Part of the estate was exposed to public sale on October 4, 1847; it was at this time that Dr. Hicklin purchased nine acres of land including three acres of a house tract for $189.00. The deeds record this as “the Davis land” and described it as being bound on the North by Dennis Crosby (formerly lands of Allen Crosby), on the South and Southwest by James R. Gillespie and on the South and Southeast by Dennis Crosby. (Book O, Page 582). In January of the following year, Dr. Hicklin purchased 272 acres of the William Jamison Esquire’s (deceased) plantation which adjoined the above tract and was situated on Quinn’s Road (Book O, Page 490). In March of 1856, Rev. Russell paid $200.00 for half of “the Jamison tract”.
Keeping the date of construction constant at 1832 (Mr. Perry Russell says that was the date on the chimney), it is most likely that this house was built by Allen Crosby and was used as the homestead for the Crosby family. In 1834, Allen Crosby was appointed as Postmaster of Blairsville–just two years after the house was supposedly built; is it possible that it was the site of the local Post Office? We know for certain that it was last located in the right front room of the house with Sarah N. Russell appointed as Postmistress on January 17,1881. The Post Office continued until June 30, 1903 when it was consolidated with Sharon.
Rev. Washington Carothers (Independent Presbyterian) remarked in the Yorkville Enquirer, January 3, 1867, that Rev. Russell had attended school at Dr. Samuel Wright’s. Supposedly, he attended 1-2 sessions and taught there a short while. Greir Sherer in his work on early schools of the area believed Wright’s school was on Turkey Creek and operated from 1810-1815. However, Dr. Samuel Wright lived in the Hopewell area between Bullocks Creek and Beaverdam Creek. I further doubt that the school was owned or operated by Dr. Wright; first of all, it is impractical for a physician to operate a school. of education. Another incident upholds this theory; in 1847, Dr. Wright declined to serve as Elder of Salem Presbyterian Church because he felt he could not discharge the duties because of his large and extensive practice.
In 1819, Rev. Aaron Williams, pastor of Bullocks Creek accepted a call from Salem as well; his son tells that while he was pastor, Rev. Williams taught at Hopewell Academy, “later known as the Dr. Wright place where he lived then.”
The R.Y. Russell home was destroyed by a fire on 5.18.13
The Rev. Robert Y. Russell, mentioned above was pastor of Bullocks Creek Presbyterian Church in southwestern York County from 1829 to 1866. He kept an extensive diary which, along with other papers, is now housed in the archives of Duke University. Rev. Robert Y. Russell (18 Apr 1800-Nov 5,1866) was born in County Antrim, Ireland and came to the United States when he was one year old. Robert R. Russell, who studied under Dr. Samuel Wright at Turkey Creek, was always a good student. He thought of being a lawyer but attended a camp meeting at Bethesda Church and heard Rev. R. B. Walker. Russell changed his mind and joined the Presbyterian Church of Bullocks Creek where he taught school before entering Salem Academy in Union District in 1820. Russell left Salem for Yorkville where he continued studying under the Rev. Robert M. Davis. He joined the Independent Presbyterian Church. He married Mary A. Burris of Yorkville and, after delivering trial sermons, he was ordained. Crowds flocked to hear him. It was said that he caused “the sinners to cry for mercy”. In 1832 the Independent Presbyterian Church had a “great revival” that lasted about three years. Russell preached 3,854 sermons by his own count, and 1,863 people joined the church after hearing him. Russell’s wife died in March 1843. In December 1856 he married Sarah N. Lewis of Chester District. In December 1863, after a separation of 50 years, the Independent Presbyterians and the regular Presbyterian church reunited. Russell had worked for it. (Information courtesy of and from: YCGHS – The Quarterly Magazine)
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kim Burns says
Would love to have more information on Robert Young Russell. My very great grandfather I believed was named after him. I would like to know if he had children and maybe he was my very great grandfather’s grandfather. His name was Robert Young Russell Lackey the son of a Presbyterian minister in SC by the name of William G. Lackey.
rradmin says
HI,
Unfortunately, R&R does not have any genealogical data on Mr. Lackey. We suggest you forward a request to the Historical Center of York County on East Jefferson St., York, SC, 29745 and see if their genealogy materials might hold an answer. If you discover further information we would be pleased to post it on the website.
W.B. Fairey, Sr., Co-Founder
rradmin says
We did find this information on the Lockey family which may be of some help. Good luck!
Lackey, William G.
Clergyman. Jan 11, 1804-May 18, 1857. The son of Thomas & Jane Abbott Lackey. Reverend Lackey also was employed as a Mill Wright. He married Nancy _______ (1808-1884) Their children: Martha A. (1830-1863), rachel Belinda (Married _____Clark), Minerva (married _____ Roberts), Theressa (b. 1836 married John Moses Quinton), William George Washington (b 1837 married Mary Hannah Nunnery, she is the daughter of Henry & Sarah McFadden Nunnery), James (married Mary B.), Robert (b 1842, married Mary Judy Stevenson), and Mary.
Robert Born 1842. Son of Wm G. Lackey. Married Mary Judie Stevenson, daughter of Wm. Joseph & Esther Hephzibah Ferguson Stevenson
Kim Burns says
351 Blue Stem
2nd gate, back house
Kim Burns says
Sorry. My computer is acting up. thanks for the information.