by Chef Eric Spigner
At the base of Calhoun County, right where the Low Country of South Carolina begins is the town of Cameron. Here in this small town lived a tribe of Native Americans called Kusso-Natchez Tribe also known as Edisto Indians. This tribe lived along the Santee River around the late 1600’s the land along this river was purchased by an Englishman named Alexander Cameron who owned a 2,600 acre plantation in Abbeville which was given to him for his services in the French-Indian War.
Alexander Cameron purchased this land currently known now as Cameron, South Carolina for its abundance of pecan trees and the soil was perfect for the growth of cotton. Alexander would have some of his slaves come from the Abbeville Plantation to work on his newly purchased land to man cotton and pick pecans. During their stay on the land the slaves started to hunt and fish along the Santee River. This is when they encountered the Kusso-Natchez Tribe who they befriended and began to have an interesting relationship with. Continue reading
