USA > South Carolina > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield county, South Carolina > Part 2
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Mrs. Evans had her old English ideas as to manners , and was unpopular on that account. She was known to order a visitor to clean his shoes before entering her house. I know very little of the early life of D.R. Evans, Jr. He married first a daughter of General Winn. She died in 1806 , and was buried behind the house in the garden. The tomb is still there, as well as the graves of two of Dr. Bratton's children, he having also married a daughter of General Winn.
D.R. Evan's second wife was a daughter of Parson S.W. Yongue. There were no children by either marriage. His second wife is buried at Jackson Creek. He died about 1845, and was buried behind the Aiken house, where his mother and father were buried. He had only one brother and one sister - Josoph, the father of a large family, of whom only Mre. R.A. Herron survives, John Evans having fecently died. Joseph's wife was a sister of
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Colonel Jesse Davis.
An incident worth mentioning is as follows: About the latter part of the last century, a man named Baker had several wagons running, probably to Camden, which was then a considerable town. Baker got into a lawsuit and employed D.R. Evans. The other party employed a lawyer of Camden named Brown. Baker lost the case and was offended at something Brown said, and on his passing out of the Court House, cursed Brown for a "damned saddle-bag lawyer." Brown , being a samll man, could not fight Baker, but on going to his tavern he wrote Baker challange, which was referred to him by Evans for advice. Evans told him he would have to retreat or give Brown the satisfaction he demanded. Baker would have preferred a "fist fight", but finally accepted the challenge. The duel took place at Rock Creek Springs. Both were killed at the first fire. Baker was brought up and buried on his farm, two miles from Winnsboro . Brown was buried at Camden.
David R. Evans was a member of Congress in 1813-1814, Capt. Hugh Milling took charge of his affairs and physiced his negroes when sick. The old captain was severe on Generals Hampton and Wilkinson and others in regard to their conduct of the war with the British, saying that they could speculate in tobacco better than command armies. D.R. Evans was a venerable , gray haired man. I think he was about 75 years old, as I remember him, when he died. His only sister married Minor Winn, who was a son of Colonel John Winn. He was an unprincipled man, and Mr Evans induced his sister to separate from him. Mts. Winn and her daughter taught school for some years on the General Winn lot, then owned by Mr. Evans. He at that time lived in his plantation where Mrs. Dr. Furham now lives.
Winnsboro was named for Colonel John and General Richard Winn. Col. Hohn Winn was a high toned, honorable man. Col. John Winn owned most
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of the land around Winnsboro and lived at the south end of the town where Dr. Hanahan now lives.
General Richard Winn held the rank of colonel in the Revolution. He was a true patriot, and perhaps fought as many battles in the Revolutionary War and with as firm a heart as any man living or dead. He filled a seat in Congress of the United States for many yesrs .
General Winn's family were not considered smart. Mrs . Winn'e maiden name was Blocker, an Edgefield family. One of their daughters caused some merriment among her young lady acquaintances , who asked her where she got a fine shell comb she was wearing, by replying that "her father bought it in Congress" .
Mills in his statistics of South Carolina, in writing of eminant men of Fairfield, says, "Gen. Richard Winn was also a native of Virginia." At the beginning of the Revolutionary struggle, he entered into the regular service of this state. Having acquited glory in the battle of Fort Moultrie, he was sent to the Georgia frontier, and commanded a company at Fort St. Illa. The service was a most perilous one and he was selected for it on account of his superior merit as an officer. Shortly after his arrival at the fort, he was attacked by a strong body of Indians and Tories. These he beat off for two succeeding days; on the third, he surrendered with honorable terms to Major General Prevost. at the head of a considerable regular force, suppered by his allie. (sic) General Winn returned to Fairfield after his defeat , if it can be properly called one, and to his command of a regiment of refugee militia. He was in several battles, and the success of the affair's of Hook's (Huck) defeat in York, and the Hanging Rock in Lancaster, greatly depended on his herpic evertions. At the latter place, said the great and good General Davis, who commanded a regiment of cavalry, when the firing became pretty warw, Winn turned and said, "Is not that glorious."
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He was wounded here and borne off the field about the time the enemy effected his retreat. On his recovery , General Winn continued to afford General Sumter his able support and ceased not to serve his country whilst a red-coat could be found in Carolina. He was a true patriot, and perhaps fought as many battles in the Revolutionary War , and with as firm a heart as any man living or dead.
General Winn moved to Ducktown, Tennessee in 1812, and died a short time after. And Colonel Winn and family , I think, moved to Georgia.
Winnsboro is remarkable for having been the headquarters of Lord Cornwallis in the Revolutionary War , efter the defeat of Ferguson at Kings Mountain , where he retreated from Charleston. I was shown that part of the house in Which Cornwallis was quartered , by Mr. John McMaster, who was then the owner of it. I was told by my friend, Dr. G.B. Pearson, many years since, that some of the most eminent men of South Carolina graduated at Mount Zion College.
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS - LEWIS , PICKETT , GAITHER
William Lewis came from Virginia before the War of Independence , and settled in the vicinity of Rocky Mount , Fairfield County , where he continued to reside up to the time of his death , which occured at an advanced age , about fifty years of age . He was twice married and left a large family of children. For a number of years he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church . Ha and some of his neighbors, Picketts , Jacksons, and others , erected a rude log house to Worship God "according to the dictates of their own consciences ", after having been informed that if the Methodists continued to hold meetings at Shady Grove Meeting House, (not far from Flint Hill9 , they would be mobbed . A comfortable brick house of worship has taken the place of this rude hut , and Methodism still "lives , moves, and has its being " in this vicinity , and is the only church near Rocky Mount.
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Mr. Lewis' record is good in the Revolutionary War. He was at
Gates defeat near Camden , was at Rocky Mount , Sumter's Suprise at Fishing Creek , Hanging Rock, and other places.
Some Tories had stolen a number of fine horses , and on a dark rainy night, encamped on the bank of Big Wateree Creek , on the plantation now known ag LaGrange , and owned by Mr. John G. Mobley . William Lewis and a few others surprised them and captured the horses . The thieves had divested themselves of their clothing , save their shirts , and had them hanging around a fire , trying to dry them . They jumped into the creek , in this plight , and betook themselves to the woods.
On another occasion he chased a Tory and captured his horse and two sides of bacon which he had taken from a poor woman.
Reuben and John Pickett were Virginians , who settled on Wateree Creek. They aided William Lewis in some of the raids and skirmishes in which he engaged.
Richard Gaither came from Maryland , and settled in Chester County on Little Rocky Creek, but spent the greater portion of his life in Fairfield, where he owned a large estate of land and slaves. Much of the land still remains in the hands of his descendants . He died about sixty years ago (1826), at an advanced age , and his remains rest in the family burying grounds. We had no cemeteries in those days.
Mr. Gaither was also a Revolutionary soldier. He was confined at one time by the British in Camden , until he was nearly eaten up by vermin. His daughter , Rachael , obtained permission to take him some clothes . After accomplishing her mission , she and a neighboring lady who accompanied her, started on their homeward , a distance of førty miles through an unbroken forest. But the had not gone more than half the distance when a party of
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mounted Tories, who had no regard to passes , commanded the weary travelers to halt. As soon as Miss Rachel aseertained it was her horse they wanted , she bestrided the back of her fleet-footed animal , using her whip to good advantage, and after several miles of racing. she made good her escape . Her more timid friend gave up her horse and trudged her way homeward on foot.
On another occasion a squad of Tories came to her father's house and ordered a meal prepared for them. They were informed that nothing could be kept in the house for the British and Tories. Rachel's mother, after they had threatened her, told her daughter where she could find some coarse meal , and to prepare some bread and milk for them. When ready, she sat it before them , the milk in an old style pewter basin. After they had partaken of the bread and milk , Rachel told them that if the basin were melted and pourad down their throats , it would be the desert of all others that she desired they should have. The lady has many descendants living in York County , - Bradshaws, and others.
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SHERMAN IN WINNSBORO March 8, 1901 News & Herald
On Monday, the day before Sherman was expected in Winnsboro, the citizens met and appointed a committee to meet the army beyond the limits of the town with e white flag in order to surrender the town. On this committee were Rev. Dr. Lord, Rev. J. Obear, James McCreight , and Dr. Horlbeck. The enemy came in early Tuesday morning , and Dr. Madden says he was near the town hall, and the Yankee soldiers seemed to rush in and suddenly fill the town. Their hands and faces in many cases smeared with sugar and syrup. One man stered in his face and said, "What do you think of our president now ?" On the farm of John McMaster, one mile below Winnsboro, the negroes were on the watch in the direction of Columbia for the Yankees , intending to hide out , but as they said, the whole face of the earth was suddenly filled as it were , by pits-ants as they said , so as to cut off any chance of escape. While standing near the town hall, Dr. Madden saw an officer mounted on a small gray stallion ride up and just then some soldiers brought up to him old Dr. Horlbeck, who explained that he had fought the soldiers and resisted an attempt to burn his house. The officer only said, "Speak quickly - talk fast," and rode off and replied to a question asked him, "Yes, I think all of the cotton will be burned , but it will be rolled out." Soon after that, fire was set to McCully's cotton warehouse , which swept Lauderdale's house and everything down to Levenstreet's brick building and crossed to the west side of the street and burnt from Odd (Old) Fellows Hall to the brick bank building. An officer said to Dr. M., "Why don't you assist in saving the movable property ?" He replied he thought the soldiers would not permit him to do so. All the houses in the tract of
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the flames were emptied of their contents which were moved to the lots in the rear. Three soldiers were standing near the court house yard talking. One said to Dr. M., "Do you know the lady who set fire to this town ?" Dr. M. replied that he did not know that a lady had done so. The soldier replied, "Yes, a lady did do so, and if we could get her, we would hang her to the highest limb of that tree." As two of the men walked off, the one remaining said, "You need not believe a word those men say. Nobody set fire to this town but our own soldiers. I'll tell you there are ten thousand men in this town who would take pleasure in burning every house in it." An officer on a large black horse rode up and said to Dr. M., " I am utterly opposed to this burning from beginning to end. It must stop." Saying, "I am General Williams." At that time fire was beginning to appear on the roof of the law offices in rear of court house. It was immediately extinguished . About noon on Wednesday, the 17th Corps under Jeff Davis entered town, and the Pennsylvaniane lined the street of the northern end of the town. Some of them prized off the planks from the shutter of an outhouse next to Dr. Boyleston's residence, where a few bales of cotton were stored, and soon the flames burst forth and burned Dr. B's house, Miller's and John N. Cathcart's. An officer ordered soldiers to save the next house (Alex Chamber's house ) and they ascended the roof and "aved it, but the soldiers hurled imprecations upon them, crying out, " Remember Chambersburg ! " The cotton in rear of Charles Cathcart's house was next fired und by great exertions his house and that of Mrs. McMaster were saved. Dr. Madden says the soldiers expressed surprise at the great quanity of food supplies they found in Feirfield, saying it was the most bountiful county they had ver seen. They destroyed or carried off nearly everything. Many smokehouses
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were some inches deep im molasses where they had destroyed the barrels and other vessels that contained it.
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THE LYLES FAMILY March 15, 1901 News & Herald, Winnsboro, S.C.
I quote a paragraph from Mill's Statistics: " The first settlement of Fairfield District took place about the year 1745. Colonel John Lyles and his brother , Ephriam, were among the first settlers. They located at the mouth of Beaver Creek, on Broad River. Ephraim Lyles was killed by the Cherokee Indians in his own house; but by a wonderful interposition of Providance , the Indians went off and left Lyles' seven or eight children and his wife in it, after killing a negro on the outside. The Lyles were natives of Brunswick, Virginia, but removed to this county from Buis County, BUTE North Carolina."
By sone it was believed that Ephraim Lyles was shot by Tories, not Indians.
Colonel Aromanus Lyles was the eldest son of Ephrain Lyles , and inherited all the land on which his father had located, by the law of primo- geniture which was in force in South Carolina and other states until after the Revolution. He was a partisan officer during the war and fought in many of the battles. "Little Ephraim", as he was called by way of distinction, told me of his and his brothers being in the engagement at Fish Dam, where General Sumter commanded. and of other battles which I have forgotton , except that all of the Lyles, who were old enough, fought in the battle of Eutaw, which was one of the hardest contested conflicts of the Revolutionary War. I think Col. Aromanus Lyles first married a Valentins , afterwards a Means , a sister of Colonel Thomas Means (she died childless); and last, a widow, Mrs. Kinnerly, in the year 1816. He died shortly after , in 1813. He had sim sons and one daughter, viz: Ephraim, John , Valentine. James , Aromanus , Thomas , and Rebecca. Ephraim married a Miss Foot and
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removed to Chester District , on Broad River. He was captain of a militia or a rifle company before he left Fairfield. He was a fine looking gentlemen, even when he had ceased to be a young man. He had daughters , but no sons. The eldest daughter married a brother of Chancellor Harper ( ?) ( papre torn and part missing here ). After his death, she married Thomas Bookter , of the same county, by whom she had an only daughter , who died early in womanhood. Rebecca married Blanton Glenn. The youngest daughter married William Worthy , of Chester District ,who soon after died , leaving one daughter , who married Capt. Thomas Bynum , who died in July 1884, at Glenn Springs . His widow and her mother are still living near Newberry Court House.
John Lyles married a daughter of Reuben Sims , near Mabinton, Newberry County. He had five sons and one daughter . The eldest, Benjamin, married Katie Rook; another son, Thomas Jefferson , first married a Mise Richarfs , of Union County , and had only one daughter. He afterwards married a Miss Harrington , of Newberry. His third and last wife was q Miss Earle , of Greenville. He died not long since, and was much loved and respected. His widow is still living , and married McGhee of Greenville. John, the youngest son, also died not many years ago. Eliza, the only daughter of John Lyles, amrried Golding Ederington in December, 1822. He died the following fall. and she married William Lyles , called "Carpenter Bill". He died not long after , leaving an only daughter . His widow lived until 1883. Valentine Lyles also married a daughter of Reiben Sims, and moved west. Capt. James Lyles married widow Goree . She was Drucilla Lyles before her marriage , a daughter of Little Ephraim. She had one daughter born to Goree , at the time of her second marriage, wh died in 1828. Capt. James Lyles was much respected by all who knew him he had
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three children, Ephraim , John and Drucilla; all are now deceased. He was a consistant , useful member of the Baptist Church for many years before his death. which took place in Mississippi, the state of his adoption. If not out of place , permit me to relate a story I have often heard years ago, to which Col. Aromanos Lyles was a party. It was that he was riding past a new ground. where an old Dutch woman named Margaret Godfrey was splitting rails. The Colonel, addressing her as Margaret, said: " Margaret, what in the devil are you doing ?" She replied, "I'se mauling" . The Colonel responded, "Thunder couldn't split that log." She rejoined , "By G-d, I'se wus dan dunder." It was said to have been a gum log.
Thomas Lyles was the youngest son of Col. Aromanos Lyles (eldest son of the first settler of that name) and lived a short time after his marriage on Mill Creek, then moved to Wateree Creek, thence back to Broad River, where he was born, and settled on his father's plantation , where his father died in 1817. He next bought William Fant's place on the Columbia Road. and settled on it in January, 1821. He was a man of untiring energy and fixed purpose, of more than ordinary mental calibre. fond of mills and financial enterprises. With a large planting interest, he combined a mercantile enter- prise and associated with himself John Smith, of Wateree. He commanded as Captain the Buckhead tropp of cavalry at the time our state passed the Ordinance of Nullification , and I was cornetist. We were all ready to march to Charleston to whip "Old Hickory", and would have done so , or tried , had it not been for the timely and fortunate modification by congress of the tariff act of 1832. I have ofter thought of the whipping we would have re- ceived had it not been for "Clay's Olive Branch", as it was so truly called. He was promoted to the office of major in 1832. Afterwards he was commissioned by Gov. R.Y. Hayne in 1832 as lieutenatn colonel of the 1st squadronn of cavalry organized within the 6th Brigade of South Carolina Militia. He was a true patriot. At the beginning of the late civil war , although he was seventy- five years old, he equipped a young soldier and sent him to fight in his place Major Thomas Lules was a man of undaunted courage. At the time of Sherman's
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raid, he was confined to bed with a dislocated hip. One of the raiders, (perhaps thinking that he was feigning disablilty) approached with a lighted torch saying, "Unless you give me silver and gold, I'll nurn you alive." To this the old hero replied, "I have not many years to. live any way , burn and be d --- d." The Yankees , surprised at this characteristic speech, ordered a negro to remove the torch from under the bed, remarking, "You are the bravest man I have seen in South Carolina." Major Lyles re- presented Fairfield in the Legislature for eight years. He married Mary A.C. Woodward in December 1810. They had only two children, Thomas M. and William S. Lyles. His wife died in 1855. He lived at his home near Buckhead until his death, which took place on the 19th of January, 1874 at the advanced age of eithty-seven.
"Life's labor done, Serenely to his rest he passed, While the soft memory of his virtues yet Lin er, like sunset huse, when that bright orb has set."
His older son, Thomas M., married Eliza R., the youngest daughter of Colonel Austin F. Peay. They were the parents of seven sons and six daughters; two of the daughters died in childhood. Mrs. Lyles died in 1897. William Boykin, the oldest son, was married to Sallie W. Strother soon after he returned from the University of Virginia. She lived but a short time. Two years later, he married Georgianna C., daughter of J .M. Dantzler, of Orangeburg District. He was one of the first to respond to his country's call in the late civil war, and went from home as a first lieutenant of the Buckhead Guards to the attack on Fort Sumter in April, 1861. At the reorganization of the 6th Regiment, South Carolina Volunteers, in Virginia, he was made captain of the company and was killed at the battle of Suven Pines May 31, 1862 , while gallantly leading his command to the charge, aged twenty-six years.
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The enemy occupied the field next morning , and our men, sent under a flag of truce to recover our dead, were refused permission to enter the lines; hence he was buried on the field of battle.
"But Freedom's young favorites sleep as sound, On foreign soil aa native ground."
Captain Lyles possessed a warm and genial disposition, and was brave and generous to a fault.
"When hearts whose truth was proven, Like his, are leid in earth, There should a wreath be woven To tell the world their worth."
He left a widow and one little daughter, Sue Boykin, who grew to lovely womanhood; married J. William McCante in. 1882, and died six months after. They were not long severed, for he passed from earth November 1, 1885. Their mortal remains are interred in the cemetery of the M.E. Church in Winnsboro, there to lie till the resurrection morn.
Capt. Thomas M. Lyles had five other brave sons in the Confederate army, - Thomas, Nicholas, Austin, John and Belton. Austin was twice wounded, first at Dranesville, then at the Second Battle of Manassas, and was killed near Petersburg, Va. in June 1864, aged only twenty-one years. The four remaining brothers returned home unmaimed. Nicholas served through the whole war and was slightly wounded once of twice. Nicholas was sheriff of Marengo County, Alabama, ; died 1899. Thomas is living in Louisiana. Nicholas, who married Lou Poollnitz , of Alabama, moved to that state. John W., who married Sue C. Morris, is a practical farmer and was a member of the Legislature from this county one verm. Belton married Rosalie MoMeekin end James , the youngest son, married Cora Irby, who died. They all engaged in planting. Of Capt. Thomas Lyles' daughters, Sallie E. married Lieut. E.A. Poelinitz, of Alabama; Mattio P. married A.E. Davia , of Monticello; Rebecca V. became the second wife of Major T.W. Woodward, of Winnsboro; and Corrie E. married J. Feaster Lyles of Buckhead.
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Old Major Thomas Lyles' second son, William, was a man of fine intellect, with a warm heart and generous to a fault; and like his father, represented Fairfield in the Legislature. He was an enthusiastic member of the Secession Convention. He died April, 1862, much lamented. He was twice married, forst to Sallie P. Woodward. They had several sons who died in childhood, and two daughters, Mary C., who married Colonel S.D. Goodlett , of Greenville, and died in January, 1877, leaving a son and daughter. Sallie P., the youngest child, married John C. Feaster, and resides at her grandfather's old homesteed.
In May, 1846, Major William S. Lyles married Sallie A. Haynesworth, of Sumter Court House. There were five children by this marriage, Sue H., who married C.B. Pearson, and died in 1868; Fannie Hortensai, who died in childhood; Fannie Eliza, who died in her fourteenth year. William H., the only son, removed to Columbia, and married Miriam M. Sloan, of Anderson. He is engaged in the practice of law and has also been a member of the legislature from Richland County. The youngest child, Florence, married Mr. M.L. Kinard, a popular clothing merchant of Columbia, S.C.
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THE BUCHANANS
March 22, 1901, News & Herald, Winnsboro, S.C.
Captain John Buchanan and his brother, Robert, came to this country from Ireland a few years before the Revolutionary war. Robert resided in Charleston and taught a classical school. He, with eleven others, secured the charter for Mt. Zion College in 1777. He was a lieutenant in the war and was captured at the fall of Charleston and died on a British ship.
Capt. John Buchanan raised a company in Fairfield, probably from the Scotch-Irish settlers; served in the battle of Cowpens and other battles of the Revolution. He was stationed at Georgetown, and at the landing of LaFayette, was the first American officer to welcome and enter- tain the gallant Frenchman who did so much to schieve the liberties of our country. He had the honor of presenting LaFayette with a fine horse. Capt. Buchanan had a body servant named Fortune. His name is attached to a spring in a fine grove near Winnsboro, where Fortune cultivated a rice patch. When LaFayette visited this country in 1825, Fortune went to Lancaster to see him. The sentinel at first refused to admit the old African, but he persisted , und was admitted by order of Gen. LaFayette, who recognized him and was rejoiced to see the servant of his old friend, Capt. Buchanan, though near fifty years had elapsed since Fortune had blacked his boots. This is not the only time Fortune appeared in public. It is said that during the French Revolution, the Captain inspired by gratitude towards France, and dislike for England, sometimes on public
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