USA > South Carolina > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield county, South Carolina > Part 3
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occasions, when full of military enthusiam and good brendy, would don his continental uniform, mount his war steed, end followed by Fortune, his body guard, would ride up and down the main street of Winnsboro, to the admiration of old Whigs end the patriotic youth of the town.
Some years afterwards, the Captain converted to Methodism by "Thundering" Jenkins, a stalwart prescher of the day, abandoned the unholy ways of his youth , and with William Lewis and Major Henry Moore, nuilt the old square brick Methodist church in Winnsboro. In passing, the writer will state that in a copy of Ramsey's History of South Carolina, which was in the town library about 1848, he read in penciled notes, on the battle of Stono, made by Mejor Moore, that he himself menned one of the cannon at that bettle at which time he was ensign. The old Mejor lived near Winnsboro, and died in 1840.
Ceptein John Buchenen possessed high ability and character conjoined with much personal dignity. He wes precise in his manners , and cereful in his apparel. His portrait which hengs in G.H. McMester's perlor is said to be e fine likeness of him and has the appearance of an old style first class Methodist tishop. He, to the close of his life, wore knee breeches, stockings, und silver buckles on his shoes. He held severel importent Federal offices , end was judge of ordinary during his life. John R. Buchanan, his nephew, a gentlemen of grest worth and piety, succeeded him es ordinary, end held it during his life. Capt. John Buchanan kept a house of entertainment for some years and in 1805 he turned it over to his brother, Creighton Buchenen, and returned to s brick house which he built on the hill. Early in the century he induced his brother William's femily to emigrate to Winnsboro, consisting of the widow, her son, John R., one daughter who married Jemos McCreight, one (sic), the Rev. Wm. Carlisle , whose sons, Prof. James H. Carlisle and Capt. John Carlisle, now reside in Epertentures and a Dace
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who married John Lewis.
He had no children. He married Sallie Burrey Milling, the widow of David Milling, whose two daughters, Sarah and Mary, married Thomas and John Means, two young men from Massachusetts, but of Irish parents, whose descendants in Fairfield have been honored for their ability, courage, kindness of heart and hospitality. Capt. Hugh Milling, brother of David Milling, was another noble soldier of the Revolution.
Capt. B. died in 1824, aged 74. His remains rest near the church of which he was the chief founder.
GEN . JOHN BUCHANAN,
the eldest son of Creighton Buchanan, was born on Little River , near Buchanan's Ford, in 1790. He received his academic education at Mt. Zion College, end graduated at the South Carolina College in 1811. During the War of 1812 he was adjutant of e regiment in and around Charleston. His first uniform was spun, woven and made by his sister, Rachel. The wool sheared, was then woven and the suit made in one week. This time, except in rare instances, all articles of clothing were the product of home industry among the people of Fairfield. After the declaration of peace, Gen. Buchanan taught school at Sillisonville, then returned to Winnsboro, studied law with Capt. Clark , and was his partner for some years.
He afterwards held the office of commissioner in equity. He inherited considerable property from his uncle, Capt. John Buchanan, and combined planting with the practice of law. As a lawyer he stood for years at the head of the bar. He was a good student and had one of the best libraries - legal and miscellaneous - in the up-country. His style of speaking was entirely argumentative. He had no rhetorical flourishes or graces of oratory, but such was the confidences in his spotless integrity that he was generally successful in his cases.
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The War of 1812 renewed the military spirit which had begun to wane after the Revulotion, and there was great ambition among young men to attain military honors. The young captain was full of the military enthusiasm of the day and was soon promoted to the highest military position of Major General, which he held to the end of his life. His competitor was General Blair, of Camden, the Congressman who subsequently committed suicide while attending a session of Congress. When General Buchanan first went to the bar at Winnsborough (as it was then spelled), there were very few men in the district who had the advantage of a college education. The only graduates of colleges af that time in the district were Samuel C. Barkley, Datid, Robert and Thomas Means, John B. McCall and E.G. Palmer, Wm. Woodward, Robert Barkley and N.P. Cook, who left college before graduation. General Buchanan came into public life a few years after the great senatorial contest between Samuel Johnson , whose supporters were Scotch-Irish , and James Alston , the father of Wm. J. Alston, whose followers were the Virginians and the country born.
Party spirit ran high , but the Scotch-Irish and their descendants sent Samuel Johnson to the Senate.
The War of 1812 fused _ll the discordant elements , and General Buchanan, a young soldier and a graduate of the State College, and liked by his numerous kinsfolk and connections, most of whom were well-to-do farmers and substantial Presbyterians , soon came to the front , and in 1832 we find him a leader in the cause of nullification . He maintained his great popularity for a longer period than any other man has ever done in Fairfield District. For more than a quarter of a century he represented his people in the State Legislature. He was a splendid electioneerer. He would ride in his sulky from house to house, stop with his friends,
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and discourse on subjects that were generally instructive. His talks were frequently illustrated by references to books of learning. His historical al -- and apparent knowledge in its departments , combined with a dignity which never forsook him, gave him a reputation of being wise and profound. Indeed, when his habit of drinking seemed to threaten his usefulness, it was frequently remarked by his friends that they would rather have the old General in spite of his failing, than any other man in the district.
His conduct in every other respect was exalted . No one ever heard a profane word from his lips , and he had the greatest contempt for any one who related a vulgar ancedote. His standard of duty was elevated, refined and without reproach. He had a supreme disdain for the arts which is the chief stock in trade of most politicians of the present day.
General Buchanan married Harriet Yongue, a daughter of old Parson Yongue, who came to Winnsboro from North Carolina in the last century; taught at Mt. Zion, and preached at Jackson Creek and Wateree churches. His eldest son, John M., lives in Texas; Samuel, his second son, died at 25 years of age. He was an excellent gentleman und a superb orator. When Hon. W.C. Preston heard of his death , he exclaimed, " The Commonwealth hus sustained a great loss ."
General Buchanan's third child was Ann, who married Rev. Edward Palmer, who is now a Presbyterian preacher in Louisiana. His youngest son. William Creighton, graduated at the South Carolina College in 1852. He was brave, kind hearted and true. He studied law, went to Kansas to engage in the prospective fights with the Free Soilers and spent two years there. When the Confederate War broke out he was made adjutant of the 12th South Carolina Volunteers and fell , mortally wounded in the battle of Chantilly in 1862. General John Buchanan was a great advocate of learning, a strong supporter of Mt. Zion, and lavished money in bestowing upon his children
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the advantages of a high education. He died in 1862.
CREIGHTON BUCHANAN
was too young to accompany his brothers , john and Robert , to America before the Revolution.
He with his wife Mary Millikem, settled in 1789 , on land belonging to his brother John , now owned by Ed. Robinson , near Little River. In 1795 he moved with his wife and children , John , Rachel and Martha , to a place neer Jackson Creek church; the church at that time was being built of rough unhewn stones. His mother , who lived with him, died and was buried on the west dide of Jackson Creek below the Milling burial ground. He afterwards bought the farm on Little River , now owned by T. Harden. In 1805 he removed to Winnsboro and bought hic brother John's tavern. Capt. Hugh Milling and Capt. James Phillips, uncle of Creighten Buchanan, lived near by on the east side of the road, leading from Belle's bridge to Columbia. General R. Winn lived on the place now occupied by W. Turner.
Jas. Phillips was a loyalist, though a Scotch-Irishman, who almost universally were rebels. A large proportion of Marion's men were Scotch-Irish, and the history of the county is illustrated by their deeds. The captain had the good fortune never to meet any of his kindred in battle, who were all rebels, being assigned to command at St. Augustine, where he remained during the whole war. He lived in Charleston, but after 1776 his wife with her sons, Smith, Robert, and James , moved to Jackson Creek among her kin. James lived to a good old age , and was a school-master and county surveyor.
When Capt. Phillips returned home after seven years absence. his wife. for a time , refused to be reconciled to him% The Captain being a gentleman of culture and of high moral character, soon mitigated the hospitality of his neighbors and lived for many years highly respected. He, Gen. Winn and Capt. Hugh Milling were boon companions and met almost
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daily at each others houses to read the newspapers and discuss literary and political matters. His elder brother, Colonel John Phillips, also being a Tory, was put in command at Winnsboro when Cornwallis left. He was a just and humane man. At different times he saved the lives of Whigs who were about to be executed by the order of Cornwallis, among them being Colonel John and Minor Winn , and he always endeavored to check the rapine and cruelty of his followers.
At the close of the war, he learned that one of his daughters was about to marry a Mr. McMullin at a church in Charleston where he lived. He rushed to the church, forcibly took his daughter, and with his family went back to Ireland. Colonel Phillips was a man of Wealth and education , and on his return to Ireland, he was appointed a pension officer and held it for life.
Creighton Buchanan spent his last days on his farm, now owned by McCants, near Winnsboro. He was a quiet , intelligent and devout man, and was much respected by his neighbors, He left surviving him by his first marriage, Gen. John Buchanan, Mrs. Rachel McMaster; Martha, a brilliant young lady , had died at 18 years of age. The children of his second wife were Eliza, who married J. Mckinney Elliott; Robert, who is now a retired physician residing in Winnsboro, and Calvin, who removed to Texas in 1844. Creighton Buchanan died in 1823, aged 63.
** **** ****
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W.W. BOYCE From Edrington's History of Fairfield. News & Herald, Friday, May 10, 1901
John Boyce, grandfather of W.W. Boyce, came from Ireland. In 1765 he settled in Newberry County, South Carolina. He had one brother, Alexander Boyce, who commanded a company of artillery in the Revolutionary War, dying gallantly in the service of his country during the siege of Savannah. He was a merchant of Charleston. The Boyces went to England at the time of the conquest; they afterward settled in the north of Ireland and were staunch Presbyterians.
William Waters Boyce was born in Charleston, South Carolina, October 24, 1818; his parents were Robert Boyce and Lydia Waters, both nativea of Newberry. The Boyces are of Norman descent and came to America from Ireland. The first Waters who came over, came in the "Mayflower." Both Boyces and Waters fought bravely in the Revolutionary War. The mother of Mrs. Lydia Waters Boyce was Ruth Llewellyn, who claimed descent from Griffith of Llewellyn, the last of the Welsh kings.
William W. Boyce studied both at the South Carolina College and Virginia University, at both of which he ranked with the talented young men. In October 1838, he married Mary E. Pearson, daughter of Dr. George B. and Mrs. Elizabeth Pearson. He began the prectice of law in Winnsboro, South Carolina in 1841. He served in the South Carolina Legislature on term, 1846 and 1847. In 1850 he was prominent as a co-Operationist in the famous secession contest of that year. He was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1853. .. December 1860 (part of paper missing) -- always listened to with marked attention by both sides. He wes the most conserative Southern man in Congress. Fis report on Free Trade, he being chairman of the special committee to which it was referred, created a worldwide sensetion.
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Richard Cobden , the great English Free Trader, thus wrote of it: "I can conscientiously say that I have never before enjoyed the pleasure of reading so condensed and yet so complete an armment in favor of Free trade and Direct taxation." 1173287
lir. Boyce always regretted secession, but went heartily with his State. He was never sanguine of the success of the Southern cause, though es a member of the Confederate Congress he always urged active measures. He grieved over the sad spectacle of his sorrowing country, the precious lives lost and general financial ruin. In the autumn of 1864, he wrote and published his letter to President Devis on the subject of peace. A storm followed, but he was sustained by an inner consciousness of duty performed and the sympathy of men from all sections of the Sputhland. Within the past year a very decided letter from General Lee on the same subject was made public for the first time. This letter was written in June, and that of Mr. Boyce in September, 1864. Mr. Boyce possessed more moral courage than eny public man in the South during that troublous time. He had convictions. and courage enough to express and maintein them. Had he lived in a wiser age, he would have been more appreciated.
The ending of the war left Mr. Boyce impoverished, most of his best years were devoted to the public, and his own affairs neglected, consequently, he was forced to begin life anew.
In December, 1866, he left South Carolina, accompanied by L'rs. Boyce, and settled in Washington, D.C., for the purpose of practicing law , but owing to the "test oath", it wes several years before he was allowed to appear in the courts, during which time he assisting in editing the National Intelligence, corresponded with several other papers and assisted General Caleb Cushing in his practice.
There was something quite pathetic in his struggles at this time ,
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but throughout he was cheerful and industrious, At last a brighter day dawned, and restrictions were removed, and Mr. Boyce began his practice befroe the commissions and United States Courts, .nd although he has not amassed wealth, he has a competence and is forced to work no longer. He lends leads a quiet, uneventful life at his country home in Fairfax County, Virginia. His household consists of Mrs. Boyce, her sister, Mrs. Herbert, his son-in-law, Richard W. Gaillard, and only daughter, Frances B. Gaillard.
***** ****** ***
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THE FEASTERS AND COLEMANS. (From Edrington's History)
News and Herald, Winnsboro, S.C., May 17, 1901.
Andrew Feaster (the name was then spolt Pfister, 1740) emigrated to this State from Bucks County, Pennsylvania. His father, Peter Feaster, died on the road end was buried somewhere in Virginia. From his was descended the present family of Feasters on the Beaver Creek section of the county, better known as the Feasterville township. He had a cousin, John Feaster, who came at the same time and settled in Edgefield County . He was the great-grandfather of Laurens Feester of the "Dark Corner" section .
Andrew Feaster was twice married; by the first wife only one daughter, who married William Colvin, of the Sandy River section of Chester County, now know as the Halsellville township, near where John Simpson now lives. She moved with some of the children to Greene County, Alabama, and lived to be quite an hundred years of age. His second wife was Margaret Fry Cooper, who had by a former marriage , two children, Adam and Eve Cooper, both of whom lived to be quite old. Eve married Jacob Stone, whose mother was Ruth Lyles, a member of the Chester branch of that family. Jacob Stone was a soldier in the Revolution and drew a pension as long as he lived. Andrew Feaster's children by the second marriage were: John, who married Drucilla Mobley, daughter of Samuel Mobley. She died 1806 (actually Drucilla died April 15, 1807) . John's children were: Jacob, better known as "Squire Jake", Andrew, Savilla, Susan, Nary, Ch ney, and John M. Savilla married Robert Gregg Cameron, and now lives neer White Oak. John M. married Keziak Pickett. He now( 1886) is living in Florida, on Indian River. Jacob, son of John, married Is: belle Coleman, daughter of David P .. Coleman, than whom a better man never livod. Jacob Feaster lived end died ner Buckhead. His children were: Jacob F., who married Elizabeth Stone. Moses C. Fenster is the only living child of that marriage.
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Edith D. married Henry J. Lyles. They had four children, three of whom are now living. John C. married Miss Sallie Lyles, youngest daughter of the late Col. William S. Lyles, by his first marriage to Miss Woodward. Susan E. married S.". Simons, of Lexington County, South Carolina. David R. married Miss Victoria E. Rawls of Columbia, S.C., by whom he had sevorel children. His first wife died in January, 1877, and in December, 1878, married Mrs. Hattie E. Coleman, nee Porter, a daughter of Rev. C.M. Porter, of Ridgeway, South Carolina. By her former marriage she had five children. By hor marriage to D.R. Felster, she had four. They have one of the largest families in the county. Sixteen children and six grandchildren. There were two girls younger than D.R., Isabelle and Mary N., both ofwhom died quite young.
Andrew Feastur, John Feaster's second son, married Mary Norris of Edgefield County, by whom he had eleven children, 5 sons and 6 daughters. The youngest son, T.D. Feaster, is now living near the old homestead. He is the only one of this family now living in this county. The eldest son and daughter are living near Columbia. The fourth son, Elbert H., was blind from infancy, and was educated at Boston, Mass. He was a remarkable man. He knew every one by their voice. Once having been introduced and conversing with the verist stranger, he would ever after know him by his voice, no matter where he met him.
Nethen A. Feaster, second son of Andrew, was thrice married; first to Marie Louisa Rawls, of Columbia, by whom he had one daughter, who married John G. Wolling, of Feasterville. His second wife was a Miss Brown, of Anderson County, a sister of Col. Newton Brown, by whom he had one daughter, who is now the wife of e Mr. Tribble, of th town of Anderson. His third wife wee a Miss McClanahan, of Greenville County. There are two children by this marriage now
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living in Greenville, a son and daughter. Jacob N., Andrew's third son, was twice married, and is now living in Florida. The eldest daughter married Dr. T.J. Rawls, of Columbia. The doctor is dead, and Mrs. Rawls and her only child, B.A. Rawls, are now living in Columbia.
The second daughter married William Williams, of Anderson County, and moved to Texas, since the war, and there died. Belle, the third daughter, married William Lonergan, of Charlotte, North Carolina, by whom she had several children, only one now living, the wife of G.W. Coleman. Julia, the fourth daughter, married Robert H. Coleman, who died at Augusta, Georgia, during the late war. Mrs. Coleman now lives in Florida. Sallie, the prettiest of all the girls, married George Butler, and died a without issue. Narcissa M. Feaster died a few years since, unmarried. Susan, John Feaster's oldest daughter married Robert F. Coleman, a son of the Patriach, D.R. Coleman. Mrs. Wesley Mayfield is the only one living of that family. The second daughter, Mary, married H. Jonathan Coleman, by whom she had sixteen children, cleven of whom lived to be grown, 9 sons and 2 daughters. Truly may it be said that Feaster- ville township was benefi ted by the issue of this marriage. It gave to the township three of the very best physicians, two of whom, Drs. Preston and Franklin Coleman, gave up their lives in Virginia for the "Lost Cause." Only two of the boys are now living, D.R. Coleman , of Feasterville, and G.W. Coleman, of Cash's Depot, South Carolina. Allen lost his life at Petersburg; Jacob died at Wilmington, N.C., in 1864; Dr. R.W. Coleman, better known as "Dr. Bob", was one of the best nurses that ever lived. He married Nancy McConnell, by whom he had several children. He was as game as a Ku Klux to. the day of his death, which occurmed in May, 1873. John Feaster, the eldest, married a Miss Gladden and died inFebruary, 1856. His wife didd April following, leaving six small
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children to the cold charities of the world. But the noble old Roman, H. Jonathan Coleman, was equal to the occasion. He and his married children took these orphans and raised them in their families as one of their own children. H.J. Coleman, Jr., died in May, 1874, leaving a wife and five children. Hia widow is now the wife of D.R. Feaster. Dr. Preston Coleman married a Mias Secreet of Lancaster. He was captian of Company C, 17th South Carolina Regiment and had hie leg shot off at the knee at the second Battle of Manassas. He and Dr. B.F. Coleman were educated at The Citadel Academy. Dr. B.F. was Lieutenant of his brother's company. He was
wounded and died a few months after at Winchester, Va., where his body now lies. D.R. Coleman had his eyesight impaired by a blast during the construction of the S. & U. Railroad. G.W., the youngest son, went to the front at the age of 17. Elizabeth married Beverly C. Mitchell; both living in Americua, Ga. Johnm Feaster's daughter, Chaney, married H.A. Coleman. There were eight children by this marriage, only three now living: J.A.F. Coleman is now living at the old homestead, a man of high social qualities and industrious habits. He is better known by the sobriquet of "Beeswax" ; David A. Coleman married Sarah A. Yongue, who survives him, he having died during the war. She has reared as noble a family of boye as there is in Feasterville Township. J.A.F. Coleman married a daughter of Samuel H. Stevenson, who lives in the hearts of his neighbors and friends, and everybody knows "Uncle Sam", and it will not be left to the future generations to do so, but the present one calla him blessed. Henry A. Coleman married Rebecca Youngo. He was wounded three times at the Second Battle of Manasses, and did not live long after, leaving an only daughter, now living with her mother in Winnsboro, S. C .; Robert C. Coleman, the youngest son of "Uncle Henry's" was drowned while bathing at Church Flats in 1862
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The eldest daughter married William Younge, son of Robert Younge. The second daughter married James Levy Hunter, of Chester County, but now of Powder Springe, Cobb County, Georgia. Isabelle, the third daughter, married Thomas L. Manning of Marietta, Georgia. The fourth daughter married A.J. McConnell, better known as "Dick." She died a short while efter her marriage. He was first lieutenant of Bailey's Company, 17th Regiment, and was killed the day of the "blow up" at Petersburg. John Feaster's youngest daughter, as has been mentioned before, married R. Gregg Cameron. She raised seven sons and four daughters; James, the oldest, emigrated to Florida to look after the interests of John M. Feaster, whose daughter he afterwards married. He died not long after, leaving a widow with one child. John married Mrs. Hoffman, noe Robinson. She did not live long, and John died in Columbia, 8 or 10 years ago.
J. Feaster Cameron was a man of education and refinement, a nobleman of the day. He was colonel of an Arkansas regiment, was twice shot and left for dead, but he was spared to be a living witness to the destroying power of ardent spirits. He was one of the best of lawyers, a hero of many battlee, that foll a victim to our nation's curse, strong drink. The second som, Dr. Andrew S. Cameron, married Susan T. Arnette, a daughter of Mrs. Wesley Mayfield, of Buckhead. He died soon after the war, leaving a widow and one child. She having since died, her son is living with his grandmother, Mrs. Wesley Mayfield. Robert Cameron died during the early part of the war. Alex, the only surviving child, resides near White Oak. He married the second daughter of James W. Younge, by his Crosby-Estes wife. The eldest daughter married Henry Younge, son of John I. Younge, from whom Youngesville took its name.
The second daughter married Dr. Christopher Simonton, a good man and first rate doctor. He moved to Florida, but lived only a short time. She returned to South Carolina with her two children, John and Robert. John, since arriving at manhood, returned to Florida. Tobert is at the old John Simonton homestead, and is
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