William Elford "Dr. Bill" Edens

William Elford “Dr. Bill” Edens (my 3rd Great Grand Uncle & Brother of my Great Grandmother Mary Ester Sutherland) was born in Pickens County, SC on January 8th 1800, He married Mary McClure and raised 11 children with her in a 2 story log home he built, They lived in this home until near the close of the Civil War. Dr. Bill died January 17th 1871 and is buried at the Oolenoy Baptist Church Cemetery in Pickens County, SC

During the Civil War, They lived in the Pumpkintown, South Carolina community. The story was that General Sherman and his men were marching across the country setting fire to homes and crops as they went. The Yanks were shooting all the Old Men as Rebels and burning everything in sight. In 1864 you could see that they were on their way by the clouds of smoke during the day and the glow in the sky at night. Seeing this and knowing what it meant, the older men were afraid and would plan to hide when they had word the Yanks were coming.

While passing through Pumpkintown, SC the Yanks turned their attention on William Elford “Dr. Bill” Edens. Dr. Bill had his hiding place picked out. It was a deep hole in the Oolenoy River with a cave in the bank screened with bushes and cane. When Dr. Bill heard the Yanks coming, he went down to the river and buried himself up to the chin in the water, leaving his wife Mary and son Samuel with the house. The soldiers asked where the old man was, but Mary refused to tell. They began searching for him and actually came along the river bank right by him, he moved his head back into the cave in the bank and they never saw him. When they couldn’t find him they went back to Mary and said they would burn down the house if she didn’t tell where he was, she still refused to tell.

Mary was ordered by the Yanks to feed them, she prepared a meal for them, and to show their appreciation, they lit a torch and set the house on fire. Dr. Bill, from his hiding place, could see the house, as he watched their home go up in flames and listened to his wife begging and screaming. The soldiers moved on leaving Mary and son Samuel to watch their home burn to the ground.

Dr. Bill, his wife Mary, and son Samuel were left to start over, they had to move in with their children who were married and had homes. Dr. Bill promised Mary that he would build a house that could not be burned. With the help of Meredith Looper, and Matthew Hendricks, he kept this promise. He used clay on his farm to make bricks, and built a house made with these bricks. The chimney was built in as part of the wall, the joists and timbers were hand hewn.

This house still stands. It is located about one-half mile west of Pumpkintown, SC on Table Rock Road.