Dr. Timothy M. Drake presented the program “Andrew Pickens: Soldier, Partisan, Patriot, and Statesman” at the Feb. 18, 2012, meeting of the Hudson Berry Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution.
Pictured(l-r): LuAnne Foster, Dr. Timothy Drake, Hudson Berry Regent Linda Cushing.
The chapter is named for Hudson Berry, Revolutionary War hero who is buried in Greenville County at Fork Shoals Baptist Church., but meets in Anderson, SC. This program was presented as a feature of the DAR’s recognition of February as American History Month. Dr. Drake, a descendant of General Pickens, discussed the Pickens family from their migration from Europe to the Americas. Pickens served in the Cherokee War in 1760-61, moving in 1764 to the old 96 District. In 1765, he married Rebecca Floride Calhoun in the Waxhaws area near Lancaster. One of his greatest achievements was the victory over the Cherokee in 1776 with the “Ring Fight,” near the present day Oconee Station. His victories in the American Revolution included the 1779 battle at Kettle Creek, Georgia, and in 1781 at Cowpens, South Carolina. He ended his life peacefully, dying as a widower on Aug. 11, 1817, under a tree in his yard at his home “Red House,” near Tamassee, South Carolina. The presentation included a display of family items which have passed down through the family to Dr. Drake. Program coordinator LuAnne Childress Foster and Chapter Regent Linda Cushing presented Dr. Drake a copy of a book which he had been desiring to find, and the ladies had located as a surprise “thank you” gift. Chapter member Julia Barnes, who is also Piedmont District Director of the South Carolina Division, United Daughters of the Confederacy, invited all chapter members to a June 9 tour of General Pickens’ home Hopewell, located on the campus of Clemson University. The trip is sponsored by the Belton Chapter 1843 UDC and will include a luncheon in Pendleton.
