2015 Anderson County Museum Hall of Fame inductees announced
September 1, 2015
Joseph John Fretwell and Anne Kennedy Hamilton to be inducted November 10th
ANDERSON, SC — The Anderson County Museum (ACM) Advisory Committee announced Anne Kennedy Hamilton and Joseph John (J J) Fretwell were selected as the 2015 Hall of Fame Class. A ceremony and reception will be held in their honor at the Museum on November 10th at 6 p.m. The reception and ceremony are free and open to the public.
Hamilton and Fretwell were chosen by the Hall of Fame committee of the ACM Advisory Committee who are appointed by the Anderson County Council. The committee made their selection from 28 applications. Nominees must be deceased at least 10 years before they are eligible to be nominated. Hamilton was nominated by Julia Barnes and Fretwell by John Tucker, Jr.
“This year we have the pleasure of inducting a strong Revolutionary War heroine in Anne Kennedy Hamilton and a notable Anderson business man in Joseph John Fretwell. It is so exciting to share their accomplishments with younger generations,” said Executive Director Beverly Childs. “Since 2003 the Museum has inducted 30 deserving individuals into the ACM Hall of Fame in recognition of their contributions to Anderson County and South Carolina.”
Anne Kennedy Hamilton (1761-1836): Revolutionary War heroine Anne Kennedy was hailed for her bravery and patriotism. Born in Browns Creek, Union County, South Carolina, Kennedy lived in her father’s household during the war years. Young Anne was said to have informed American Commanders of British plans and troop strength in spite of the eminent threat of raiding Tories.
In November 1780, these loyalists invaded the Kennedy home looking for Anne’s father and brothers. Anne’s cousin, who had been severely wounded in the recent battle of the Black Stocks, was the only man they found. The enemy force assumed he would die of his injuries and decided not to kill him. However, they did plunder the house, taking jewelry, tearing up featherbeds, and even stealing the bedclothes. Anne’s mother hoped to save the last blanket by sitting on it, but one of the men seized it anyway.
Anne lost her temper. She grabbed him by the arm and literally kicked him out the door. The soldier turned to shoot but his captain intervened saying she was too brave a woman to kill. Still fuming, the soldier attempted to burn the house down with a flaming stick from the fireplace. Anne expelled him again before he hurled the fiery log at her, horribly breaking and burning her hand. After the conflict, the family moved Cousin William to the woods in fear of another raid. Anne nursed him to health in a makeshift shelter over several weeks, though her hand would be crippled permanently.
Local ladies composed a message to General Morgan in Pacolet Springs which called for protection from such raids. With no men available to deliver it, Anne volunteered to ride horse back some sixty miles allegedly hiding the note in her stocking.
On Christmas Day 1782 Anne Kennedy married Thomas Hamilton, a Revolutionary War veteran with whom she would have twelve children. Among the early settlers, they built a house on land granted by the state in what became the Pendleton District, and later Anderson County. Well-known and active in their new community, the couple helped found Carmel Presbyterian Church where Thomas served as an elder for more than fifty years. Anne Kennedy Hamilton died March 24, 1836, and was buried in a family cemetery near Carmel Church. Thomas died May 2, 1856, and lies in the Carmel Church cemetery. Their original home was recently disassembled and placed in storage, where it awaits reconstruction.
Joseph John Fretwell (1850-1938): Business, agriculture, education, healthcare, philanthropy — Joseph John Fretwell was outstanding in nearly every aspect of life. He began life as a farmer, working on the Anderson County land acquired by his father and grandfather.
At the age of seventeen, during the uncertain time of Reconstruction, Fretwell moved into town to make his own way. He gained a position with Sylvester Bleckley in his successful Anderson store. Although his first tasks were to sweep the floors, clean out the storerooms, and generally do whatever job he was assigned, within five years he was made a member of the firm. Three years later, he was made a co-partner. In 1879 he married Bleckley’s second daughter, Mary Catherine. Fretwell was actively in charge of the business and the New York buyer for the store for many years.
At the same time, Fretwell developed a business as a livestock dealer, specializing in horses and mules. It was very successful, with headquarters in both Anderson and Atlanta. His sons took over this enterprise in 1910 when Fretwell retired.
Real estate was another business in which he excelled. Fretwell acquired extensive farm lands and had homes and barns built on them. He worked with young tenant farmers so they could buy the properties and become homeowners. Fretwell also owned four mica mines.
Mr. Fretwell was the organizer, chairman/president, or director of several other Anderson businesses: The Peoples Bank of Anderson, Anderson Hardware Company, Peoples Furniture Company, Peoples Oil and Fertilizer Company, Issaqueena Cotton Mill (in Central), and Anderson Cotton Mill. He was also involved with the Hotel Chiquola and the Anderson Hospital.
In 1910 Fretwell was a member of the committee selected to present the offer of funds and property to the South Carolina Baptist Convention to establish Anderson College (now University). He was elected to its first Board of Trustees and in 1920 contributed funds for twenty scholarships.
The Fretwells had eight children. Their country home near Anderson, called “Sunset Forest” was a large and lovely place, enjoyed to the fullest by family and friends.
Joseph John Fretwell died on September 25, 1938. A newspaper tribute praised his “long, useful life with a record for progressive activity that few here have ever matched” and said “later generations” would be “immeasurably indebted” to him.
Applications are now available for the 2016 Hall of Fame at the ACM or on the ACM Website www.andersoncountymuseum.org. The Anderson County Museum is at 202 East Greenville Street, in downtown Anderson. The Fred Whitten Gallery and Museum store hours are Tuesday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Wednesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Roper Research Room is open 1 to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and by appointment with the Curator. ACM is handicap accessible and admission is free. Donations are always welcome. For more information, contact the Museum at (864) 260-4737.
Past Inductees
Class of 2014
Moses Holland
Manley McClure
Class of 2013
Barnard Elliott Bee, Jr.
Claude Richard “Red” Canup
Class of 2012
Jane E. Hunter
John C. Taylor, Sr.
Class of 2011
Richard Wright Simpson, Sr.
Class of 2010
William Law Watkins
Robert Emmett Ligon
Class of 2009
General Andrew Pickens
Samuel Lander Prince
Class of 2008
Albert Mauldin Carpenter
Waller Hunn Nardin, Sr.
Class of 2007
James Lawrence Orr
Caroline “Callie” Stringer Rainey
Class of 2006
Robert Anderson
James Rogers Young
Class of 2005
Thomas Rucker Gaines
Virginia “Jennie” Kramer Gilmer
Class of 2004
Annie Dove Denmark
Wilton Earle Hall
Olin DeWitt Talmadge Johnston
Elliot Crayton McCants
Olga Veleria Pruitt
George Fredrick Tolly
Class of 2003
Pearl Rodgers Cochran Fant
Ellison Adger Smyth
Corporal Freddie Stowers
William Church Whitner
Anne Austin Young
