USA > South Carolina > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield county, South Carolina > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7
1
Ga 975.701 F16e
M. L.
Gc 975.701 F16e 1173287 1
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
1
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02300 7971
lease bind in
History of Fairfield County, South Carolina
T
Villiam Ederington
2
EDERINGTON 'S HISTORY
OF
FAIRFIELD COUNTY
SOUTH CAROLINA
1173287
A manuscript history published in the News & Herald , a newspaper of Winnsboro , Fairfield. County, South Carolina, in installmenta, on the dates as indicated with each installment herein.
The original newspapers file containing this history may be found in the SOUTH CAROLINIANA LIBRARY, Columbia, S.C. " At this time they are very fragile, and some parts of the papers are missing. So far as I know, the complete file › does not exist elsewhere, and soon these will be too old to handle. If by typing and binding these records I have preserved for posterity data that might otherwise be lost to them, then I am amply rewarded.
.
Mrs. B.H. Rosson, Jr. Compiler, RICHARD WINN CHAPTER, D.A.R. Jenkinsville, S.C.
Mrs. A.H. Maybin, Chapter Genealogist, R.F.D. Whitmire, S.C.
Mrs. G.D. Foxworth State .Genealogist, Marion, S.C.
Original copy owned by Mrs. B.H. Rosson and copied by W.T. Castles, Jr., New York 1, N.Y.
WILLO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Post Office Box 284 Tuscaloosan Alabama
CONTENTS
Introduction
PAGE
1
Ordinaries and Probate Judges
9
Clerks of Court
8
Sherman's Army in the Rocky Mount Section
11
David R. Evans - Richard Winn
14
Revolutionary Soldiers - Lewis, Pickett, Gaither
16 - a
Sherman in Winnsboro
19
The Lyles Family
22
The Buchahans
28
Creighton Buchanan
33
W.W. Boyce
35
The Feasters & Colemana :
Installment # 1
38
Installment # 2
45
Installment # 3
53
The Ederington Family
55
Various Fairfield Families
62
Some Prominent Fairfield Families
70
The Woodward Family
78
INDEX
82
***
*
From News & Herald, Winnsboro, S.C., Friday, May 3, 1901.
FAIRFIELD HISTORY
Representatives in Congress and in State Conventions - County Officials -- Other Interesting items.
From EDRINGTON'S HISTORY
To the present and succeeding generations of Fairfield County I respectfully dedicate this little volume as a duty I owe to them in perpetuating the memories of a few of their ancestors, and as a token of my love to my native county.
The Author.
Willo Puli. Co _$10.00
INTRODUCTION.
" Old people tell of what they have seen and done; children, of what they are doing; and fools, of what they intend to do."
As I am now perhaps the only one now alive. who knew some of the first settlers of Western Fairfield and a few of their immediate descendante, I may be pardoned for undertaking the ardous task of preserving for posterity the meagre knowledge I have retained of them from memory, besides what I can glean from "Mills Statistics of South Carolina," and "Woodward's Reminiscences." I am well aware of the fact that my homely phrasealegy will not bear the inspection of the hypercritic, but as I write for the masses, I shall be well compensated if I can please them. The time has past to compile a complete historical biography pf Fairfield District, as important material has been lost by the death of the old settlers and no record kept of important facte. The reader will pardon the meagre account given of some men and families, as my knowledge of them being limited personally and historically. Where I have given full biographies, my correspondente furnished the material, or I knew them personally, or recieved my information from history. As I was born in the extreme Western portion of Fairfield and my correspondence limited in the middle and eastern portion of it, the reader will pardon the omission,
2.
in this work, of any mention being made of persons fully entitled to a record in history. The author will take pleasure in yet giling them a place in an appendix to the little work. But for urgent solicitations from friends I should not have undertaken this book at my advanced stage of life, and hope the readers of it will pardon any errors or omissions. The friends to the work have been very kind in furnishing material for it. I will here state that during my ilness I was greatly indebted to a young friend, a descendant of two prominent families spoken of in this work, for the interest manifested in copying my reminiscences, and letters from correspondents, relative to my book.
"When I remember all The friends, so linked together, I've seen around me fall Like leaves in wintry weather; I feel like one Who treads alone Some hanquet hall deserted, When lights are fled, Whose garlands dead, And all but me departed! "
I shall begin by giving a few extracts from Simm's Geography of South Carolina.
"Fairfield was first settled by emigrante from Virginia and North Carolina. It derived its name most probably from the grateful appearance which it made in the eyes of wanderers, weary with long looking for a resting place. It is bounded on the north by Chester District, on the south by Richland, on the west and northwest by Broad River, which devides it from Union, Newberry and Lexington; aon on the northeast by the Wateree and Satawba Rivers, which sepatate it from a part of Lancaster and Kershaw. fairfield is on an average 32 miles in length and 23 in width.
"The soil is very veriuos, combining the best and the worse of the up- country. The lands on the water courses are rich and inexhaustible, cotton of the short staple variety, is much cultivated. The emall grains grow well in Fairfield, wheat and oats in particular. The main rivers are the
3.
Broad and the Wateree, both of them containing fertile islands, some of them in cultivation."
Fairfield has an inexhaustible supply of the finest granite for building; several quarries are now in successful operation. A branch railroad has been built from Rockton, a station three and one half miles below Winnsboro, on the C. C. & A. Railroad, running out about five miles in a westerly direction, to the quarried owned by Major T.W. Woodward, Co. James Rion , and Col. A.C. Haskell.
There is a remarkable rock not far from the railroad to Columbia, four miles below Winnsboro, called from its appearance, "Anvil Rock." The population of Fairfield County in 1880 was 27, 765, the number of acres is 454,757.
Winnsboro is the seat of justice and the town of most importance in the county. It is a healthy and pleasant stop, thirty miles from Columbia. and one hundred and fifty miles from Charleston. It is on the dividing ridge between the Broad and the Wateree Rivers. The town stands on an elevation of more of five hundred feet above the ocean. The lands around are fertile , undulating and greatly improved.
By an act of the General Assembly, 8th of March, 1784, John Winn, Richard Winn, and John Vanderhorst were authorized to have it laid out as a town. It was incorporated December 20, 1832. Tarleton says that Lord Cornwallis, after learning of the defeat of Ferguson at Kings Mountain, selected Winnsboro as a place of envampment in October 1780. It presented good advantages for supplies from the surrounding country. He remained there until January 1781. His marquee was near the oak in front of Mt. Zion College. After inquiry , General Sherman in February 1865 placed his marquee on the same spot. During the Revolutionary War, a large military hospital was located on the premises now occupied by George H. McMaster and was
4
used by both armies in tur. Tue Britis buried in what is now the front yard, and the Acmriste in the muor, Mt. Zion College had its origin before the Revolutionir ur chorder . grlated on the 13th of February 1777, by the General Assembly hen in session in Charleston, to John Wynn, Robert Ell: n, W = Strother , and others. The School was discontinued when Cornwallis occu ded the town in 1780-81. In 1784, Rev. T.R. McCaule, of Salisbury, N.C. : mE charge o the school and a new charter was obtained in 1785. In Jini the foundation was laid for a large brick building, 44 x 54 feet, n = storied high, and cabins were built for the accommodation if boarders. "Afterward, during the administration of J .W. Hudson , under whom, Cryw 1834 to 1838, the institution acquired a reputation so extensive ithin the limits of the Southern States, the building was greatly Merged . First a three story brick building was added to the rear and thin similar additions were made to the north and south side of the main building. This splendid structure was destroyed in May 1867 by an accicontal ilre, greatly to the grief of the community.
brick
A one story/building was soon after erected on the original foundation , at a cost of about 3,500 dollars. In 1878 a public graded school was established by the consent of the Mt. Zion Society , under the able management of R. Means Davis. This has been continued under his successors to the present time. In 1885 , just one hundred years from the granting of the original charter, it was determined , if possible , to revive the collegiate feature of the instituto and in connection with the graded school to furnish to the youth of our county ite opportunity of obtaining a complete, practical education at home ( inima cost. After various plans had been discussed and abandoned , jelit eting of the Mt. Zion
5.
Society and the citizens of the town was held , at which it was determined to issue bonds of the town to the amount of $75,000.00, for the purpose of erecting such additional buildings as were needed. Accordingly , on the 25th of May, 1886, ground was broken for the foundation of the large and well arranged brick building , This is just completed August , 1886, and contains eight large well lighted and well vonalated school rooms , furnished through- out with improved seats, desks and all necessary apparatud. The Board of Trustees have recently elected Professor W.H. Witherow, of Chester, principal of the school. He was still principal in 1898.
As the Ordinance of Nullification, passed by a convention in Columbia, S.C. , in November 1832, is a matter of history, I speak of it. It is said that there never was such an array of talent in our State before as was assembled in that body. Jas. Hamilton, Jr. was then governor of our State. Some of the members of the convention were Robert Y. Hayne, Chancellor Harper, Job Johnston, George McDuffie, Robert J. Turnbull, F.H. Wardlaw, Armistead Burt, Stephen D. Miller , John L. Wilson, Daniel E. Huger, John B. O'Neal, C .J. Colcock, John S. Richardson. R.W. Barnwell, R.B. Rhett, B.F. Perry, R.J. Manning and F.H. Elmore. The ordinance as to go into effect March 1, 1833.
There was widl excitement all over the State. The Buckhead troop of cavalry, of which I was a member, commanded by Capt . Thos. Lyles, who was afterwards promoted to the rank of Major, was ordered to be in readiness at a momente warning, to aid in carrying out the provisions of that ordinance. President Jackson issued what was called his "Bloody Proclamation" for the purpose of forcing our state to submission. Gov. Hayne issued one in defiance, declaring the State a sovereignty and calling on all good patriots to sustain him. It was fortunate for us that Henry Clay offered in Congress a compromise of the tariff act, which was accepted , reducing gradually for 10 years the
6.
duties on all imports to 20 per cent ad valorem. It was violated , and remained so ever since. The delegates to the Nullification Convention elected from Fairfield, S.C. , November 1832, were William Harper, J .B. McCall, E.G. Palmer, D.H. Means , and William Smith.
The reader will naturally feel a deep interest in all that pertains to the late great Civil War. I will give a brief account of the Secession Convention and record the names of the members from Fairfield County who signed the ordinance. The Secession Convention met in Columbia early in December 1860, but :. smallpox appearing in that city, it adjourned to Charleston. The Convention passed the Ordinance of Secession December 20, 1860. The delegates to it from Fairfield were William S. Lyles, John Buchanan, David H. Means, and Henry C. Davis, men of firmmess, sound eense and tried fidelity to the interests of their State. The first mentioned died April 1862, the second , the same year. Col. John H. Means was killed at the Second Battle of Manasses, and Colonel Henry C. Davis died of heart disease , Aug. 27, 1886, near Ridgeway.
There was a meeting in Columbia of the Secession Convention in September 1862, and in the election held to fill the vacances occasioned by the deaths of William S. Lyles and John Buchanan, William J. Alston and William R. Robertson were elected. The latter introduced in that body resolutions of regret, saying, "Since you all met together, Gen. John Buchanan, Maj. William S. Lyles, and Col. John H. Means have paid the last debt of nature and passed to the Great Beyond. The two former in beds of languishing, the last only a few days since on the plains of Manassas, on the field of battle, at the head of his command. All three of the deceased were natives of Fairfield District
7.
and gentlemen of marked character. Each of them filled posts of honor and distinction and had contributed to the social, moral , and political prestige of Fairfield." Col. Means had been killed so short a time before the meeting of the convention that there was no one sent to fill hie place.
The reader will pardon me for saying I was a Nullifier and a Secessionist from Principle. I was a strict adherent of the doctrine set forth by Mr. Jefferson in his Kentucky resolutions, and an adherent of Madison's and John C. Calhoun's States-Rights Doctrines. We fought, but fought in vain, and though our banner may never again be unfurled, "He that complies against his will, Is of his own opinion still."
Fairfield is now entitled to three representatives in the Legislature and one Senator. This county has furnished the State with one governor, John Hugh Means .
The congressmen from this county have been Richard Winn, William Woodward, D.R. Evans, J.A. Woodward and W.W. Boyce. They served before the War. In 1884 Gen. John Bratton was elected to fill the unexpired term of John H. Evins, of Spartenburg, who died whilst a member from this congressional district.
MEMBERS OF THE STATE SENATE
S. Johnson, Samuel Alston , David B. Evans, A.F. Peay, J . Buchanan, N.A. Peay, E.G. Palmer, John Bratton , Henry A. Gaillard. and Thomas W. Woodward.
The Representatives in the Lower House of the Legislature before the War were: P.E. Pearson, James Barkley , William Bratton, John B. McCall, A.F. Peay, William Brown, J. Havis, Thomas Lyles, David Montgomery , I. Bonner, G.B. Hunter, T. Player, B.B. Cook, J. Buchanan,
8.
J. D. Kirkland, J.A. Woodward, D. McDowell, D.H. Means, J .J. Myers, E.G. Palmer, J.D. Strother, W.J. Alston, 0. Woodward , J .B. Means, J.R. Aiken, S.H. Owens, W.W. Boyce, J.T. Owens, W.R. Robertson, D. Crosby, H.H. Clarke, J .N. Shedd, R.B. Boyleston , W.M. Bratton, J.B. McCants , Henry C. Davis, and T.W. Woodward.
At the session of the Legislature in 1860 which called the Secession Convention, Edward G. Palmer was in the Senate and R.B. Beyleston, T.W. Woodward and James B. McCants in the House of Representatives. Of the Senators and Representatives who served before and during the Civil War, there are now but three alives W.W. Boyce, now of Virginia; S.H. Owens, of Marion County, Florida, and T.W. Woodward, who is now Senator from Fairfield,
During and since the Civil War, Thomas Mckinstry, Bayliss E. Elkin, W.J. Alston, J.R. Aiken, H.A. Gaillard, T.S. Brice, R.C. Clowney, A.S. Douglas, G.H. McMaster, John W. Lyles, C.E. Thomas, Charles A. Douglas, Hayne McMeekin and S.R. Rutland have served in the House of Representatives.
After the war, in 1886, Gen. John Bratton was elected to the Senate; in 1880, Mr. Henry A. Gaillard, and in 1884, Major T.W. Woodward.
These three have also been consecutively county chairman of the Democratic party since 1876; Major Woodward succeeding General Bratton in 1878. They have also been delegates to numerous State conventions. Major T.W. Woodward was for several years president of the State Agricultural and Mechanical Society; he was a delegate to the National Democratic Convention of 1872. Also, to the Taxpayers Convention, which made an ineffectual appeal to President Grant to relieve the State in her hour of dire distress.
CLERKS OF THE COURT AS GIVEN FROM THE RECORD
John Milling, from 1785 to 1793 , 8 years David Evans, from 1793 to 1797, 4 years
9.
Samuel W. Yongue, from 1797 to 1828, 31 years James M. Elliott, from 1828 to 1846, 18 years A.W. Yongue, from 1846 to 1850, 4 years
O.R. Thompson, from 1850 to 1858, 8 years G.W. Woodward, from 1858 to 1865, 7 years S.B. Clowney, from 1865 to 1877, 12 years
W.H. Kerr, from 1877 to 1886 (present date)
ORDINARIES AND PROBATE HUDGES
D. Evans, from as far back as 1789, then John Buchanan from about 1800 to 1825; then J.R. Buchanan, James S. Stewart, G.W. Woodward and James Johnson. William Nelson was made Probate Judge in 1870, then J .J. Neil. O.R. Thompson was elected in 1876. J.R. Boyles was elected in 1878 and still holds the office.
John Milling is supposed to have preceeded James Muse as sheriff, then John Barkley, James Barkley, Hugh Barkly, Archibald Beaty from 1820 to 1824, William Moore to 1828 , A.W. Yongue to 1834, Hugh Barkley (sic) to 1838, D.G. Wylie to 1842, J. Cockrell to 1848, Richard Woodward to 1852, R.E. Ellison to 1856, Richard Woodward to 1860, E.F. Lyles to 1864, E.W. Olliver to 1868, L.W. Duval to 1875, Silas W. Ruff to 1879, J.B. Davia from August 1879 to December 1880, John D. McCarley from 1880, now in office.
It may not be amiss to here mention the hanging of Shadrach Jacobs. In the year 1809 or 1810, Ezekiel Wooley, a constable, had a state warrant to arrest Shadrach Jacobs, and while riding with Capt. Andrew Feaster towards and near Jacobss residence, Capt. Feaster was killed by a rifle ball fired given by Jacobs. The account/and proved in court in 1829 or 1830, twenty years afterwards, when Jacobs was tried and convicted of the murder, was that Jacobs had ahot Feaster thinking he was Wooley. It seems that Wooley asked Feaster to change horses not long before the latter was shot, and
10.
it being near dusk in the evening, Jacobs could not discriminate between them, Feaster riding Wooley's horse. Jacobs absconded to the wilde of Georgia soon after the act was committed, and his whereabouts was dis- covered twenty years after and he was arrested and brought to Winnsboro, convicted of murder and hanged in 1829 by Sheriff Moore. In this instance was verified the truth of the lines translated from the Germans "Though the mills of God grind slowly, Yet they grind exceedingly small; And patiently he stands waiting, Till with exactness grinds he all." Although it was evident that Jacobs killed Capt. Feaster through mistake, yet his purpose was murder, and besides, his general character was that of a villian, and at the time of trial there was a requisition for his body from the Governor of Georgia.
**********
11.
From News & Herald, February 8, 1901
SHERMAN'S ARMY IN THE ROCKY MOUNT SECTION
The writer who tells of Sherman's march through South Carolina has a prolific as well as a sorrowful theme. Several days before the arrival of the army at Rocky Mount, February 22nd 1865, the southern heavens were covered with the smoke of burning buildings. Each day the smoke appeared nearer and nearer, and the hearts of the people beat fester. Next came a throng of fugitives , fleeing from their homas, endeavoring to save their stock and a few valuables. Then came straggling soldiers with many tales of woe and horror. Next was heard the skirmish near Gladdens, Then the smoke of the neighbors' buildings was seen in black columns ascending heavenward, then came the sound of the taps of the drums. The Yankee soldiers dashed up to the doors, gold and silver watches and silver plate were demanded, and whether given or not, the homes were throughly searched and everything they wanted stolen. Often when they did not wish the articles themselves, they took them and gave them to the negroes.
Yards were cleared of dogs. In one instance a soldier presented his gun to shoot a dog which had fled to its mistress' feet for protection. Hed not an officer ordered him to desist, death might have been the result to the lady (Mrs. Robert Ford.) . Firearms were taken away and destroyed, a great many thrown into the Catawba River. The poultry was all taken. Bacon, flour, corn mond, corn and provisions of all kinds removed. Every locked door was forced open, gin houses and cotton burnt in every instance. This much was done by the first installment. Late in the evening they put pontoon bridges across the river and
12 .
a part of the army went over in the afternoon of the 22nd . It rained and the water rose and broke the pontoons. By the morning of the 23rd the encampment reached from Caldwell's Cross Roads on both roads, to Rocky Mount Ferry. The six days and nights that the army spent there was a time of much dorrow and fear to the ladies and few old men who were at home. Gen. Jeff C. Davis , of the U.S. Army, had his headquarters at the house of Robert Ford for twenty-four hours. He drove Mrs. Ford, her aged mother-in-law, and the children of the family from her room to an open portico to spend the night, an unpleasantly cold and wet one. He occupied her room, much to her discomfort. Gen. Davis travelled in a fine silver mounted carriage. srawn by two fine white steeds, stolen on the march. His meals were served on silver waiters.
Gen. Sherman travelled through this vicinity on horse back, and save the wanton distruction of property, did nothing to render himself obnoxious. He had burnt ten buildings belonging to Mrs. Robert Ford, among them a large barn and atable. Several secret efforts were made to burn the dwelling house , but it was saved through the efforts of an Indiana private soldier, whose name I would be glad to mention if it were known. The family of Mrf Ford had a steadfast friend in the chief of artillery. He found some Masonic articles about the house and asked Mrs. Ford if her husband was a Mason. On being answered in the affirmative, he had the house and yerd cleared of pillagere , gathered a few provisions and sent them in, and placed a guard over the premises. When he moved he left a paper which he hoped would be some protection , but here was but little left then to protect.
The Yankee soldiers shot down all kinds of stock, destroyed all farm implements and burnt the fencing. During the six days stay at Rocky Mount, they foraged the country for miles, going in squads of from
13
four to ten, sometimes without arms. Gen. Sherman's headquarters were near the Barkley mansion. He treated the ladies in this section politely. The neighborhood was so pillaged that the people for several days had to subsist on the gleanings from the camps. Mr. J.H. Stroud, of Chester County was very kind to the people in their dire distress. He sent an ox cart regularly with meal and flour. His name will ever be green in the memory of the unfortunate people of the Rocky Mount section. The good people of Bascomville, Chester County, and others also aided them. All aid received was from private persons. For two years the rations were mainly cowpeas boiled in water and a bit of cornbread. Without money, clothing or credit, there was real fear of starvation.
After the army passed, persons in the track of the march came and claimed all unknown stock and broken down and abandoned vehicles of all kinds. A few had some cattle left. They had to keep them under guard, or they would have been claimed and driven away.
Mr. Stephen Ferguson, of Chester County, an aged man, asked for a detatchment of Wheeler's cavalry, and came down and skirmished with the Yankees in the yard of Mr. Robert Ford and Dr. Scott's, which greatly freightened the ladies. Ferguson rode boldly up to the window and told them to stand between the chimneys. He captured a few stragglers and left. The army began to move actoss the river about ten in the night, seemingly in great excitement . Ferguson came with a large detatchment , but was too late. The army had crossed and the bridges raised.
********** **
14.
From: NEWS & HERALD, WINNSBORO, S.C. February 19 1901
DAVID R. EVANS ---- RICHARD WINN
(The following furnished by Col. Richard H. McMaster, 1661 Crescent Place, N.W., Washington, D.C., and is a re-write of Edrington's notes. The words underscored have been added by whoever edited the article, and may be of help to someone for further research.)
David R. Evans was the first lawyer in Winnsboro. He came to Winnsboro in 1784. He said that there were only three or four houses in the settlement; one, General Winn's , near where George McMaster's house now stands, the other a log college on Mount Zion Hill, Baker's Tavern, and perhaps one or two others. He was then fourteen years of age. His father came to this country from England, probably one or two years before they moved to this place. They lived in a house behind the one James R. Aiken recently laved in. He joined the Mouht Zion Society and was secretary and treasurer for several years. His son, D.R. Evans, succeeded him in that office.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.