Cornelius Keith was born in 1715 in Loch Lomond, Scotland. When he was still a child, he came with his parents to Virginia and settled on the Roanoke River, Brunswick County. He married Juda Thompson.

In 1743, like many other new settlers, he was anxious to move on and explore new lands. With his wife and small child, he started southward along the Blue Ridge mountains in a narrow-gage covered wagon pulled by a pony with two other ponies hitched to the back of the wagon.

We can only imagine the load of that wagon. There must ha ve been clothing, bedding, dishes, dried vegetables and fruits, and breadstuffs enough to last for months until more could be made. Then, there must have been grain and other seeds for planting. A wheel also had to be in­eluded for spinning. Tools such as axe, frow, adze were included. Mauls for driving wedges were made of wood. As was the custom in early days, the iron pots, kettles, ovens, and buckets were tied to dangle from the side of the wagon and beneath it.

Being Scotch highlanders, they naturally followed the Indian trails and blazed the way close to the hills of the Blue Ridge Ra nge. They came down into the Carolinas and finally stopped in what is now the Oolenoy Community in Pickens County, South Carolina. When he came to the point where he could see the grandeur of Table Rock Mountain, he looked up as if unto the Cliffs of Scotland and said, “This is our home.” For protection from weather and wild animals, he quickly built a brush harboron a flat-top hill overlooking the Oolenoy River Valley and the surrounding mountains. It is a satisfaction that Miracle Hill Mission School now has this hill and has erected their high school and Tots' build­ings on the same ground with a plaque memorializing the original settler.

Before they were settled, the Indian warriors from their village on Uwharrie Mountain sighted them and immediately bristled for action, for this was the first white settler that had ventured into their territory. Led by their war chief Uwharrie they went to investigate. But when they came near, they were amazed at Keith's ponies and began to scheme to get them. However, Cornelius Keith knew how to deal with the Indians since he had dealt with them in Virginia. Indian Chief Woolenoy bantered Keith to trade Indian trinkets for the ponies but Keith knew he would need his ponies. He also knew that he must have land to cultivate and that he must be able to fish and hunt game for food. He told Woolenoy he would trade one pony for land and asked how much land he would give. The chief showed that he would give all the land Keith wanted. So, Keith traded the pony for a big wedge of what is now Pickens County consisting of the entire lower half of the Oolenoy River Valley and for the privilege of hunting and fishing. This trade was clinched according to the Indian custom of binding a treaty -- by the ceremony of smoking the peace pipe. This was the beginning of the Oolenoy Settlement.

The first Map of Pendleton District, published in 1820, has the word Keith on the spot where Keith built his first hut. When the bargaining for land was concluded, Keith began to prepare logs for building a hut. At first, he built one room with a dirt floor and stick and dirt chimney. The cracks were chinked with mud to keep out the cold. Long boards were rived from choice trees of the virgin forest for the roof, door, and window shutters. Later, a puncheon floor was added and an ample shed room.

But now, he must clear some land on which to grow food for the family and ponies. He planted grains the first fall. The soil was so new and fertile that the grain had a luxuriant growth by winter. Deer slipped in at night and ate the grain down pulling most of it up. This was a sad blow for this was their dependence for bread to tide them through their first year in the Cherokee land. Keith learned that if he grew grain, he must enclose his grainfields with a high fence. Legend has it that this was the origin of the rail fence in this part of South Carolina.

Two brothers, one a minister, came soon after Cornelius but they became discouraged and went back to Virginia. When his family increased and he felt the need of better living ar­rangements, he built a large log house which was considered a mansion in this new country. There were two large rooms with open hall between. Steps went from this hall to two upstairs bedrooms. There were also two shed rooms at the back. The chimneys were of field rock with mud mortar.

In this house were reared twelve children, each a leader in his time -- three of whom served in the Revolutionary War although the Cherokees were in sympathy with the British.

Cornelius Keith died in 1808 and was buried in Oolenoy Church Cemetery. His monument was patternedafterthat of an Indian chief -- a mound of field rock with a small soap stone head rock. The inscription was simply, Cornelius Keith, Born 1715, Died 1808. In 1956, his descendants erected a monument which contained a bronze plaque with the Keith Coat of Arms and the following inscription:

CORNELIUS KEITH

Born in Loch Lomond Scotland of Royal Lineage

1715 Died 1808

Original pioneer of Oolenoy Settlement started about 1743 - married
Juda Thompson - Reared twelve children; one son was Colonel Cornelius
Keith, Revolutionary War hero whose wife was Mary LaFoone.

As the veil was lifted from the monument, a host of descendants sang:

"Faith of our Fathers! living still
In spite of dungeon, fire and sword;
O how our hearts beat high with joy
When e'er we hear that glorious word!
Faith of our Fathers I Holy faith !
We will be true to thee till death !

Head of the Keiths assembled here
Father of all the Keiths hold dear.
O how our hearts beat high with joy
Keith, pioneer of old Oolenoy.
Cornelius Keith thy strength, thy faith
We will revere thy name till death.

The dedication prayer was given by Dr. John L. Plyer, a descendent of William LaFoone Keith's daughter, Eliza Ann Keith Earle.