Families from Afar Search for Roots in Saluda County
The Dozier/Richardson Reunion Tour
It was the first of its kind for Saluda County.
On Saturday, August 8, 2009, eighty African-Americans from many different states toured sites in Saluda County. They were interested in their Dozier, Richardson, Graham, and Abney families – who had once lived in Saluda County.
Leonard Smith (from Johnston, SC) contacted the Saluda County Historical Society to arrange the tour. Meade Hendrix and Dr. Bela Herlong agreed to set up the itinerary, to secure guides at each of the four churches the tour would visit, and to provide information packets about each site.
The Tour
The tour began at the Saluda County Historical Museum, on the Court House Square, and then proceeded past Red Bank Baptist Church. This Church once had many black members who, after the Civil War, formed Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. Using their packets, the travelers could look for their ancestors on the list of the names of Red Bank’s black members.
As the group drove east on Highway #378, Meade and Dr. Bela discussed Allen Stokes Dozier and the group proceeded past Riverside and Rosenwald Schools, the Dozier cemetery, then past the Thomas Green Clemson monument, receiving information about each place of interest.
The first stop was Bethlehem Baptist Church. Everyone was welcomed inside to hear the history of the church, the cemetery and those buried there; and, most joined Dea. Curtis Gantt in song.
Next they drove past Sardis Baptist Church, the home where Tennie Ruth Dozier Lott was raised, and the home where Andrew “Free Andy” Valentine once lived. In 1850, Sardis Baptist Church had more black than white members. Once again, the visitors could check a list of those 1850 black members for their own ancestors.
Next, on High Point Road, the group saw a very old tenant house which had once belonged to Mr. Valentine.
The next stop was Mt. Moses Methodist Church, where they learned of Henry Dick Moses, who began the church in a brush arbor.
At Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, once again the visitors learned the history of the church and the church’s cemetery and about particular church families who had belonged to Pleasant Hill. Many on the tour had ancestors buried there.
After Pleasant Hill the group went to Lockhart Baptist Church, on Fruit Hill Road, to learn of its history and the history of the cemetery. While there, Dr. Bela discussed the Faith Cabin Libraries and Richardsonville.
The travelers returned to the Museum and Theater for a break and to learn more about the Saluda County Historical Society and Saluda Theater.
The day concluded with lunch at Mig’s, Saluda newest restaurant. Mig’s handled the group efficiently, and the group was pleased with the food.
At each stop the tour received a friendly Saluda County welcome.
Many expressed appreciation for what they told Meade and Dr. Bela had been the “best reunion tour” they’d ever taken!
Their only complaint was that there was no time to go into the cemeteries to look for their ancestors’ graves.
If your group would like to arrange a similar tour, visit our “Reservations” page, or contact Meade Hendrix, Executive Director, at the Saluda County Historical Society, at 105 Law Range, Saluda, SC 29138 (864) 445-8550.