BUILDING A FOUNDATION

By Cynthia L Blackston

Matt and Mary Henricks

His name was Matthew Hendricks, affectionatcly known its Mr. Matt. He now rests in the "hills of home," a place called Oolcnoy, which his forefather claimed as his land four generations before him. He was a sturdy, handsome, and generous man, who achieved much. For example: he had an extensive war record which won him recognition throughout the South, he created and built buildings for our community, and he also built many of our first roads and covered bridges. Because of these many accomplishments, he was proudly referred to as a well-known Patriarch of Pickens County. Although he has disappeared from our existence, since 1944 at the age of 102, our lives will still be enriched and illuminated by what he gave to his community, our community, Pickens County.

Matthew Hendricks was born Oct. 4, 1842 in Pickensville. He was the son of Col. J.E. Hendricks and Rosa Keith Hendricks, both of pioneer families and both descendants of men who fought in the Revolutionary War. Their families came to Pickens Countv in 1784 from Virginia, and Matthew Hendricks inherited the hardy, robust, and patriotic traits of his forebearers, which enabled him to live a long and useful life (Pickens Sentinel, May 1944). At the age of 20, Matthew Hendricks entered the Confederate States Army in 1861, at Pickcnsvillc. At the outbreak of the Confederate War, he enlisted in Captain R.H.Y. Griffin's Company, better known as Company H. 4th Regiment of Infantry. He stayed with this company for one year until it disbanded. He then enlisted in Brooks Artillery formed by A.B. Rhett of Charleston, Se. He remained with this outfit until near the close of War, when he was placed in Company H. of Calvary, South Caroina Battalion. The following is a list of the battles Matthew Hendricks fought in:

1. First Battle of Manassas, at Bull Run, July21,1861
2. Battle at Gaines Mill, June 27,1862
3. Second Battle of Manassas, Aug. 29-30, 1862
4. Battle of Antietam, Sept. 17,1862
5. Battle of Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862
6. Battle of Gettysburg. July 1-3,1863
7. Battle of Cold Harbor, June 1-3, 1864

General Robert E. Lee surrendered to the Union Forces on April 9, 1865. Hendricks was paroled April 12, 1865 at Salisbury, Ne. He was at that time a member of Company H. Regimcnt of Calvary Practically all of his services during the Confederate War were in the Army of Gcneral Robert E Lee (Service Record). Matthew Hendricks was present when General Lee gave General Jackson the name of "Stonewall" during the first Battle of Manassas (The Pickens Sentinel, 1944).

Of all Matthew Hendrick's accomplishments, Pickens County loved him most as a Confederate soldier. This was typical of the character of the Old South. He fought hard and long for what he believed. in, the South, and when he was through, he was ready to conic home. He was ready to begin to build a foundation never to be forgotten.

While stationed in Manassas. VA, Matthew Hendricks was housed in or near a sturdv farm house of generous proportions. He grew fond of the house and took measurements of every part of it. He told all the men he was stationed with that when he returned home to South Carolina, he would build him a house by that exact plan (Reece, 30). He did! The house is named Wisteria, and is located on a gentle knoll nine miles north of the town of Pickens, in the Oolcnoy Community. The home looks across green fields to the massive formations of Table Rock ... powder blue in the distance. The knoll, on which the home is located, was first selected by Matthew Hendricks' grandfather, Allen Keith, who built his log home about 1820, on the very same spot (Reece, 30). Matthew Hendricks was married in 1866 to Mary Jane Looper. That was when he decided he was ready to begin to build his family foundation.

The construction of Wisteria began about 1870. At that time, there were no saw mills in the area big enough for sawing large timbers and lumber for a large building. Matthew Hendricks then heard of a circular saw mill for sale near Augusta, GA. He and James Benjamin Hester, an owner of an "up and down" saw mill (too small and insufficient for Matthew Hendricks' project), soon went for the Augusta saw mill and located it where the Oolcnoy Community Center now stands. The finest of trees. long-leaf yellow pines, were then cut and hauled to the mill on an oxcart. The lumber had to be kiln dried and hand planed for the weather boarding and for the planks for floors and ceilings. This was a long and tedious job with an old jack plane, but in time, was accomplished by Mr. Matt and by then, his young sons: William Franklin, and James Allen. A few former slaves, who chose to remain with the family, helped with the labor also. They lived nearby in a place called Liberia, lands given by Mr. Matt to his former slaves.

At first, two chimneys were built with a third one being added later. One was made of four sizes of brick, which were molded on a neighboring farm. Red clay was used for mortar. The kitchen chimney was made of field rock and clay mortar. The foundation was estimated to weigh 2,000 pounds. The wrought-iron crane in the kitchen fireplace was made by Matthew Hendricks in his shop. He also designed and made the porch posts, mantles, and some doors (Reece, 30). As builders today rely on plans drawn by architects and materials brought from lumber stores, Matthew Hendricks' home belongs to no known school of architecture. It grandly represents the man who built it...the sturdy, handsome, and generous man, with nothing for show or pretense, but built to stand the storms as he stood four square against all the winds of fate (Reece, 30).

Matt with buggy at Wistaria

Wisteria was the first framed building built in that section of Pickens County. The home was named for the mammoth wisteria vine that once grew at the well, dug by Matthew Hendricks. The wisteria vine had a circumference at the largest place of 65 inches. The wisteria was planted by his wife, Mary Jane Looper Hendricks. The vine has since been cut down (Reece, 30). His daughter, Mrs. J.1. Reece, occupied the home after his death. She kept the old handmade walnut cupboards, sideboards, plantation desk, clock, and other furnishings in their original place, which indicated Mrs. Reece's keen interest in the preservation of a gracious way of life. Upon her death, the home place was sold by her only son. The old furniture was passed to members of the family. For example, I now own a walnut bed frame and dresser that was hand-crafted and engraved by Matthew Hendricks. I also own a walnut side table he made. Although Wisteria has been sold to several different people since 1970, it still stands as a landmark on the countryside. It is a monument to by-gone days and a symbol for those who built to stand the test of time, and for their children's children.

In addition to Wisteria, Matthew Hendricks also was a builder of many other buildings belonging to our community. He built the first courthouse at Pickens without the floating of bonds (Centennial Program, 11). "He served at a time when economy was not only needed, but was a necessity," according to an earlier issue of The Pickens Sentinel, Of all the structural contributions he-made to our area, the courthouse was said to be the one he loved to build the most. Confirming this was his granddaughter, Cleo Hendricks Gill, presently residing in Easley (Interview, Cleo Gill). He also built and established West End School in Easley. The first West End School was a two-story wooden structure equipped with a hot air system (Recipes, 6). His road work was of a lasting importance, using chain gangs to aide with the development of our original roads. Also during this period of service, Matthew Hendricks built several covered bridges. Many of them were still standing at the time of his death in 1944 (The Pickens Sentinel, 1944). He was appointed as the first Pickens County supervisor. He was known for doing an excellent job. Matthew Hendricks built many "firsts" for our community. He set foundations for future growth to our area.

Matt at 100

Matthew Hendricks did live a long and useful life. Although wheel-chair bound and weak, he was interviewed at home just before his death in April of 1944. "I've been here for a long time, and I'm ready to answer the last call...but I' d just like to live till our boys come home from this bad war (World War II). I'd love to be here for the shouting ... to help them shout the songs of victory," He died that next week at his home in Oolenoy on April 26, 1944, at 6 o'clock (The Pickens Sentinel, 1944). He was the oldest man in Pickens County at the time of his death ... another "first" for Matthew Hendricks. He was preceded to the grave by his wife, Mary Jane Looper Hendricks, by approximately 25 years. He left his children behind to carry on his legacy: William Franklin Hendricks, Sarah Elizabeth Hendricks, James Allen Hendricks, Mrs. Rosa Emma Martin, Mrs. Martha Ida Chastain, Mrs. Lenora Batson, Joseph Matthew Hendricks, and Mrs. Bert Reece. He was a devoted member of Oolenoy Baptist Church. There, he had served as deacon, church clerk, and Sunday school superintendent. His death was mourned by many. James M. Lean's beautiful poem might well be given as his motto throughout his life and was a fitting and accurate epitaph recorded in his obituary:

Don't prate about what is you right
But bare your fists and show 'your might
Life is another man to fight catch as you can
Don't talk of life as scurvy Fate who gave you favors just too late,
Or luck who threw you smiles or bait before he ran
Don't whine and wish that you were dead.
But wrestle for your daily bread, And afterwards let it be said
He was a man." (The Pickens Sentinel, 1944).

He was an architect for our beginnings, .. a builder of our foundations. He was my great-great-grandfather. He will forever be a part of my past.

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1. Bergin, William E. "Matthew Hendricks' Service Record." Washington, 25, DC.
2. Ellison, Elizabeth. and Alma Lynch. Echoes. Easley: Pace Printing Inc., 1980.
3. "Goes To Reward." The Pickens Sentinel, 4 May 1944, sec. A: 1.
4. "History of West End School." Wcst End's "Ole" Time Favorite Recipes 1985ed.
5. "Matthew Hendricks ... Oolenoy Builder." Pickens County Centennial Program 1968.
6. "News of Mr. Hendricks." The Pickens Sentinel 27 April 19-1-4.
7. "News of Mr. Matt." The Pickens Sentine120 April 1944.
8. Reece, Bert Hendricks. History of Pumpkintown-Oolenoy, Pickens: Miracle Hill Print Shop, 1970.