When we look backward into the distant past, it is hard to place people and events into their proper perspectives. Early settlers who came to America were lured by reports of a new way of life, freedom to worship their God and freedom to own land and build a better life for their families in a land of boundless resources.

They came from England, France, Germany, Wales, Spain, Ireland and Holland. By ship, by wagon, on horseback and on foot they came. Those who settled in the lower part of Edgefield County included Paces, Mealings, Scotts, Laniers, Ropers, Hammonds, Glovers, Townes, Shaws, Currys, Butlers, Stephens, and many more.

However, we are more particularly concerned with the Curry family and its relationship to the Sweetwater section and the part which this family played in its educational progress.

Distressed by the lack of schools in the vicinity, a petition had been presented to the legislature of South Carolina requesting that a system of public schools be established in the area.

As a result, the Edgefield Academy and the Long Cane Academy had been established. Others followed as the need arose. Among the last of these was one at Sweetwater in Merriwether District.

Children from throughout the county were sent to these schools. Some of the more affluent families sent their daughters to Anderson Female Johnson Seminary. When the Rev. Samuel Pace Gitzen [sic] carried his daughter Sarah to that school, he obtained the plat upon which that school was operated.

He saw no reason why the Sweetwater citizens could not have a school of the same high order. He discussed the matter with Joel Curry and suggested that a place near Curry’s home would be a good place of location.

Joel Curry was the son of Lewis Curry and Sarah Phenix of Virginia. Lewis, born in 1781, and Sarah, born in 1801, were among the first settlers who braved the long covered wagon ride down the old Philadelphia Indian Trail.

They had planned to go on to Georgia but had to stop at Sweetwater so that Sarah could give birth to their first child. The sandy pinelands and the warm climate pleased them so much after the Virginia coldness that they decided to settle at Sweetwater.

The family prospered but like others in the community, they were distressed by the lack of public schools. So when the Rev. Pace revealed his school plan to Joel Curry, who had a family of his own by then, Mr. Curry was heartily in favor of an academy. His own parents were well-educated and the family had acquired considerable land. So he was more than ready to cooperate.

Following discussion in several of the local churches, a picnic at Sweetwater was held to enlist community endorsement. A crowd of between 1200 and 1500 attended. All were enthusiastic. Capt. A. J. Hammond was orator of the day.

It was quickly decided that the new school should be built on Joel Curry’s land and that a sum of $50,000 be subscribed. Joel Curry donated $2000 and 1000 acres of land for a site for the academy.

In quick order, Col Lanham, Capt. Merriwether [sic], Samuel Gardiner, Thomas Reece and the Rev. Samuel Getzer [sic] subscribed $1000. Others gave $500, $100, $50 and on down. The name of Curryton was approved as a name for the new academy. Listed as trustees were Robert Merriwether, George Boswell, Samuel Getzer, Joel Curry, A. P. Butler and Andrew J. Hammond. Dr. Hugh A. Shaw gave freely of his support to the academy.

The Rev. Wm. Christie was selected as its first principal, assisted by Mrs. Christie and Miss Mabel Montgomery. Other teachers were Pickens Butler and Miss Sarah Getzer. Professor Theodore Softe taught music and Mrs. Softe taught French. Students were enrolled from Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Florida. The school was divided into a male academy and a female academy.

An advertisement in the Edgefield paper in January 1857, announced: "Good Board at 8 to 10 dollars per month. Two sessions, five months each. "The names of J. C. Porter and H. A. Shaw had been added to the list of trustees.

Other teachers came and went. Professor A. S. Townes taught longer than any of the others. The list of students includes the names of many throughout the area but is too long to give here.

A few who were perhaps better known throughout this area include: Judge James W. DeVore, Mrs. Corrie Strom Pattison and her sister, Mrs. Ida Strom Byrd, mother of Dr. James S. Byrd, Benjamin E. Nicholson, and Mrs. R. W. Nicholson. Most of the boys boarded with Mr. H. E. Mealing who owned the home later owned by Miss Ellie Mealing. This home was formerly owned by Mr. Joel Curry.

Other students were Willie Butler, Charlie Norris, Will McBee, Walter Cheatham, Charles Cheatham, Annie Lewis, Hattie Lewis, Sunnie Mays, Dora Mays, and Chesley Wells. In 1888, a high school opened in the old building. Among those students were George McKie, R. L. McKie, W. Townes, Dr. H. H. Townes Jr., J. G. Hoard, J. P. Nixon, Arthur Medlock, D. J. and J. P. Mealing Sr., S. L. Medlock, J. B. Shaw, W. H. Ryan, Mrs. Georgia Harrison, Mrs. J. C. McKie (formerly Miss Lizzie Shaw) and Miss Mary Mealing.

After the Curryton Academy closed, the old building was taken under the care of an association of the Edgefield Baptist Association known as the Fifth Sunday Baptist Union. It was used as a high school and for public meetings until it was destroyed by fire in 1892.

One of the academies was located where the Old McDonald’s Fish Camp is situated at present. The other left only a large magnolia tree to mark its former location.

The academy always adhered strictly to the high principals of its founders and was a great attribute to the community.

The family burying ground of some of the Currys and their relatives, known as the old Curryton-Roper Cemetery, is about the only reminder left of this progressive family. It is said that the Curry family, as a group, moved to South America to escape serving in the War Between the States.

Members of the Merriwether family had joined a group who went to Brazil about that time to grow coffee, so they might have gone together.

Information for this article was gained from many sources, probably the greatest source being Mr. Claude Hill, genealogist and historian from the lower Martintown Road. He generously shared his information. Another similar source was Mr. Hammond Burkhalter of North Augusta. Mrs. Frances McClain Miller, a descendant of Professor A. S. Townes, had diaries and newspaper clippings referring to his long teaching tenure at Curryton Academy and some merit awards presented to him as a professor at Furman University after it was moved to Greenville from Edgefield.

Other information was researched from old wills and deeds and old newspapers, the "Edgefield Advertiser" and others. The papers of the late Miss Catherine Mealing and also the diary of the Rev. Samuel Pace Mealing and "The Recollections of Old Times" by Thomas Eugene Getzer [sic] were of much help.

The burial grounds of the Curry family and the related Roper family are perhaps the only remaining reminder of the Curry name.

It is understood that this cemetery is located on land which has become the property of the Bennet Thomas Associates and that the firm plans to establish a sub-division in this wooded area.

The Joel Curry home owned by H. Evan Mealing from 186_ until his death was left to his eldest daughter, Miss Ellie Getzen Mealing. I would like to know more about its history. I was told it was built about 1800. Mr. Curry married Miss Day, sister of Mrs. Lanier, whose husband was Clerk of Big Stevens Creek Church (Hardy’s) for many years. This Mr. Lanier was Mrs. Parker’s (Marie Hammond) great-grandfather. Mr. Curry’s first home was near Sweetwater Creek, about 100 yards from the rock spring, land owned by T. J. Briggs. Not far above this old home was what they called a furniture factory and turning saw where my grandfather said he went with his father, George Getzen of the Republican Church area, when he was 7 years old (1814).

They bought there the bedstead on which he died (1891). That bed was burned in a fire that consumed my brother’s (Drury J. Mealing) house. On an antique furniture hunt with Mrs. Tom Doughy of Augusta, I bought from Mrs. Prescott Lyon (Miss Robbie Jones) near Antioch Church, a bed exactly like it. My nephew, Dr. Henry G. Mealing has that bed now in his fishing lodge at the site of the old gin near the grist mill owned by Joel Curry. From this I would judge that the Joel Curry house in which my brother (D. J. Mealing, and were born, could have built about 1820.

My grandfather (Rev. S. P. Getzen) said the timber used was cut on the place, the bricks made at a kiln near the grist mill. A plasterer from New York did the finishing. In the yard of his House was Leslie House--two rooms with a large chimney in the middle when I first knew it--since has been torn down by my sister (Ellie Mealing). My father (H. Evan Mealing) went to school to a Mr. James Leslie at Currytown [sic]. Dad stayed with his sister. Mrs. John Bunch (grandmother of the late Dr. G. H. Bunch of Columbia).

Dad and grandfather said that the Joel Curry house was built about 1820 from timber sawed on the place, the bricks in the chimney made of clay on Sweetwater Creek, near the grist mill and cotton gin afterwards owned and run by Dr. Hudson. His wife was Mrs. Joel Curry’s daughter, Sade or Sarah Catherine Curry.

(Note: Rev. J. P. Mealing was for many years one of the most beloved and consecrated ministers in Edgefield. He was a friend of Dr. Luther Rice Gwaltney. These two were attendants at each union meeting when they lasted Saturday and Sunday--meeting two or more days these friends always met. They made a compact that at the funeral of the first one who died, the other would be invited to preside at his funeral. In the meantime, Dr. Gwaltney moved to Rome, GA, and Rev. Mr. Mealing had grown old. Travel was not so convenient as it is today, so that compact was not kept. They had known each other long years before the Confederate War and were close and devoted friends as such good and great men can be.)