USA > South Carolina > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield county, South Carolina > Part 4
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one of the most successful planters in that section. Sarah married John Simonton, a brother of Dr. Christopher; he laao moved to Florida, where he soon died . The fourth and youngest daughter married Colonal Lee McAfie, (Colonel LeRoy McAfee, according to his tombstone in Concord Presbyterian Church Cemetery. WTC), of North Carolina. She was one of the prettiest women of the land. She and her husband died early, leaving an infant aon, who was reared, and now resides with his grandmother of the old Cameron homestead. Out of this family of eleven children we how have living the old mother, her son Alex, and five grand-children.
Andrew Feaster's second son, Jacob Feaster, married a Kennemore, and died without issue, leaving a good solid estate to be divided between brothers and sisters. One of Andrew Feaster's daughters married E. Wooley, who removed to Edgefield, and thence to Cass, now Barton County, Georgia, where he died, leaving one son, Colonel A. Feaster Wooley. Another daughter married Rundley McShan. They had several children, all of whom removed to the west. The boys Ferdinand and Andy, to Mississippi and Arkansas. One of the daughters, Judith, married Isaac Coleman. She died a few years since in Union County, this state (South Carolina) at the home of one of her daughters, three of whom have married in that county, one to William Tucker; she is not a widow; one to William Jeter, and another to John Jeper. Isaac Coleman atill survives. Another daughter of Andrew Feaster married Moses Cockrell. There are only tow children now living, John Feaster Cockrell and Margaret Stone, who married a son of the old Revolutionary soldier before mentioned. She is now 85 years of age. Of the stepson, Adam Cooper, all of his descendants moved to Mississippi. His son George, the crack rifle shot of his day, married a Triplet of Chester County. His children all now live in Winston County, Mississippi. Adam Cooper's daughter, Margaret, married Captain William E. Hill, a brother of Simeon Hill, and here the old election, it was called Hill's bok, afterwarda Feasterville, and it was then said that as the Hill box
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goes, so goes the county, and it verified, to the disappointment of many who had run well elsewhere; but Hill's box gave them "Hell" ., as the expressed it, and this was so often said that they gave it the name of "Hell's Box." This same Simeon Hill was "one of the old-fashioned , plain , honest" men of the day of whom nothing could be said except in his preise.
David R. Coleman, the Pstriach of the Coleman family in Fairfield, was born in Halifax County, North Carolina, May 19, 1765, and died March 25, 1855. His father, Robert Coleman, married Elizabeth Roe. Robert removed to this country when David was a small boy. His wife gave him 14 children. David Roe, who lived and died on the land first settled by his father when he came here, is still in the possession of descendants of the same name. John R. Coleman moved to Greene County, Alabama. Robert Roe Coleman lived and died where his son, Johathan D. Coleman's widow now lives. Wiley R. Coleman married a Ragsdale, of Chester County, and raised a large family, of whom William Buck was the oldest, and H.J.F.T. Coleman is the youngest. Out of this family only one is now living, H.J.F.W. Coleman, and all except him went west and lived there. They are numbered among the best citizens.
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THE FEASTERS AND COLEMANS
Installment # 2, from Edrington's History of Fairfield. Winnsboro, News and Herald, May 21, 1901
Allen R. Coleman married a daughter of Charles Coleman, a cousin; settled, lived and died on Rocky Creek, in Chester County. Here I will mention something out of the general order: Alleni R. Coleman's wife presented him with twin daughters, and one of his neighbors, by the name of Gladden, had twin sons, and when these twins grew up, they married. John Gladden married Rebecca, and James Gladden married Betsy Coleman. They both raised large families from whom there is many of the name in both Chester and Fairfield Counties. Griffin R.
Colemen moved west and all sight of him has been lost. So, of William R., Sarah and Elizabeth, first and second daughters of Robert Coleman, married and went West. Solomon R. Coleman's children ell moved West. He married a distant relative, a daughter of Stephen Coleman; Francis went West, Zerebable died young; Henry Jonathan wes the 13th child, next to Ancil, the baby of the femily, 14 in all. David Roe Coleman married Edith Beam in 1787 or 1788. Robert F. (Tow-Headed Bob) as he was called, married the eldest daughter of John Feaster and raised Two sons end four daughters; the eldest married William Coleman, son of Solomon. The second married Atkins; he died, and she then married Andrew Hancock. They moved to Randolph County, Georgia. The third daughter, the present l'rs. Mayfield, has been married four times; first, to Martin Coleman, and then to James Branon, by whom she had one child. Next she married John Q. Arnette. There were four children by this marriage. Dr. R.C. Arnette is the only surviving child.
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Robert Coleman's fourth daughter married Dr. S.W.B. McLurkin, by whom she had three children, and died soon after the war. John J. and Andrew E. Coleman moved West and married there. Both are now dead. Wiley F. Coleman married a Miss Elam, of Chester County (Nancy Elem), and died near Halsellville. His widow moved to Chambers County, Alabama, and died there several years ago, leaving one son, Colonel D.R. Coleman. He is an enterprising farmer of that county. David H. Coleman married a Miss Franklin and lived and died in Green County, Alabama, where he removed soon after his marriage. Wilson H. Coleman also moved to Alabama and married a Miss Johnston there, and died, leaving several children.
Isabelle, first daughter of D.R. Coleman, married Squire Jake Feaster; Elizabeth married Isaac Nolen, tmoved to Indian Springs, Georgia. After her marriage she rode from her father's to Indien Springs on horse-back, there being no rail- reads in those days, and very poor dirt roads. What would the average woman of today say to taking a horse-back ride of 300 miles or less. She was the mother of ten hildren. She is now living in Smith County, Texas, at the advanced ege of 80 years. Sarah, the youngest daughter of D.R. Coleman, died early. The Colemans and Feasters were long lived and splendid types of physical manhood, the average weight about 220, and the most of the Colemans over six feet tall. Among the early settlers on Beaver Creek and McClures were the Wideners, Beams and Dyes, all of whom moved upon the Chinquapin lands on the line of Chester and Fairfield, where most of their descendants live today. The land they then gave up is now owned by T.M. Lyles, J.C. and T.D. Feaster, and D.P. Crosby, and is considered the best section of Fairfield County.
The Needors lived on McLines ( ?) (might mean McClures) Creek. They, the
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Hills and the "Cage" and Cullen branch of the Mobley family owned, with the exception of a few small tracts, all that whole country. Dr. W.M. Meador. and his boys, Dr. Lem and John Meador, representatives of the last named families, own a portion of the land lying on Beaver Creek and between McClures Creek and the river and north to the Chester line. In this section lived the Nevetts, Jenkins, Sheltons, Newbles, Chapmans, and later, Andrew McConnell, who bought the plantation now owned byJF.V. Legg from Major William S. Lyles. McConnell was a poor boy, but when he died was the possessor of thousands of acres of land and more than 100 sleves. J.F.V. Legg married his widow and now lives at the old homestead. Further north we had Meredith Poole Meador, who owned the place occupied by Laurens Feaster. Allen (Alben ?) Boulware owned a large tract of land on Broad River. Stephen Crosby lived near the line and owned land in both Chester and Fairfield counties. His oldest son, Thomas, married a Miss Parks, and their son, Charley Crosby now owns nearly all of the land that was his father's and grandfather's. The next son, Coleman Crosby, married a Miss Walker, of Chester County. He was the father of Mrs. Dr. Estes and W.W. Crosby. William Crosby married a Thomas and raised a large family of children. Davis Crosby was quite populer and represented the county in the Legislature. Stephen Crosby married Frances, the oldest daughter of Cornelius Nevitt. He bought from the lete Gov. John H. Means the place now owned by his only child, Mrd. D.P. Crosby. It is orie of the prettiest places in the up-country. One of old Stephen Crosby's daughter married Charles Douglass, who lived and died near Alston. Richard Crosby, Uncle "Dack", as he was called, married e Conway, and lived to a ripe old age. He and Jacob Stone, his hearest neighbor, were called by the wags of the neighborhood, the "Siamese Twins" . They always wont to Chester and Columbia together, and re- turned home with jugs full. They were thrifty and enterprising farmers. It was said by the wags that they did not know what Andy Feastor Colvin's boys would have done for wives if "Uncle Dick" had not raised so many pretty girls. All
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of the Colvin boys married Crosbys, except one or two.
David Henderson, a brother of old Thomas Henderson, wo lived on Broad River, was considered the ugliest man of his day, and was called "Pretty Dave" . He always kept one eye closed and gave as a reason that he did not wish to wear them both out at the same time. There are many quaint sayings and laughable anecdotes told of him which will live here as long as the memory of man liveth, for they are handed down from father to son. He was a man of considerable education for his day and time. Had it not been for whiskey he would have been a useful member of society, but as it was, everybody liked "Pretty Dave" . Once when he and his brother, Tom were returning home from Columbia, they met a stranger who looked at Tom in amusement ("Pretty Dave" was lying in the wagon drunk) and said, "You are the ugliest man I ever saw." Tom replied that he would " bet him $5.00 that he could show him an uglier men than he was." The bet was good, and Tom called to his brother, Dave, to look out. The stranger gave him the money, saying that he "had honestly won it."
Old man Simeon Free lived at the head of McClures Creek years ago, but he and all of his children moved to the west. The children of Wiley and Hiram Coleman own all of the Henderson and Free land.
Uncle Tom Williams was a carpenter, millright, etc. He was considered the best man physically speaking in the county. His wife was Dorcas Halsell, whose mother was a Wagener, after whom Fort Wagener was named, that was erected on Beaver Creek. We then had the Gwinns, Weirsn Yongues, Mindocks ( ?) (probably Murdocks) . and Macons.
General Ed. Taylor of the "Dark Corner" has been honored by his fellow citizens to every office that he has asked for - first Captain, then Major, then Colonel, and lastly General of the State Militia. He is yet living, and his eyes are as bright, and his step apparently as firm as ever .
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John Feaster, son of Andrew Feaster, was the founder of Feasterville Academy, and donated 72 acres of land to Liberty Church, and 52 acres to the Academy. Tradition says that John Feaster had the first glass windows in the township. Thomas Coleman lived and died on the premises now occupied by D.R. Feaster, and was the owner of the first brick chimney north of Beaver Creek. The Chapmans were a numerous and prominent family on Mcclures Creek. They have all left except Giles Chapman and the widow and children of John Chapman, who owned the old Halsellville property, just beyond the line in Chester County.
Cornelius Nevitt, of whom mention has already been made, had three sons, two of whom are now living. Cornelius now resides at Brooksville, Florida; Joseph K. is living near the old homestead; Jack was killed at Knoxville, Tennessee, in December, 1863; Frances, his eldest daughter, married Stephen Crosby. Precious Ann married Frances H. Ederington, and Brooks married Lanson ( ?) Withers, then Oliver Waters , then Rev. Mrs. Moore, of North Carolina. Mrs. L.R. Fee is her daughter by her first marriage. Laura, the youngest, married William Mcwhorter, and live in North Carolina. Charles Waters, her eldest son by her second marriage, married Miss Fannie D. Kerr, daughter of William Kerr, who resides near Shelton, S.C.
On the headwaters of McClures Creek lived old Henry Tynes. Of the "Cage" (Micajah) , Cullen, and Isham Mobley families, their name was legion. The Crowders were from North Carolina and were as numerous as the Mobleys, Notly Mobley was the "bully" of the precinct. Big John Cockerel was the "bully" of the White Oak section. He determined he would try manhood with Mobley, but Notly was of a slow and sluggish disposition and had to have coals of fire heaped upon his back before he would move. Cookerel told him he came there to whip him or be whipped. Uncle Isham Mobley could not stand it any longer, and
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said as much to Notly. When Cockerel turned to him and asked him if he took it up, -- "Yes, by God, I do," was the immediate reply, and at it they went, and John Cockerel went home badly whipped, so he said, and not whipped by the "bully", but by a much smaller man. Such acts as these were not infrequent at that time, and each section had its "bully", and he was honored and respected as such. Robert Mobley, who lives neer Woodward, C. C. & A. railroad, is the only one of this branch of the Mobley family living in the country.
Old Bolin Wright come from Virginia and settled about a mile west of Liberty Church, where he died. He was a Revolutionary soldier. The most notable of his children were William Wright, a Baptist preacher of the old school, and Uriah S. Wright, who was noted in his day and time as a "home doctor" and was called by nearly one Dr. Wright. His practice was not con- fined to Fairfield, but to Chester, Union and Newberry counties, demanded and had his services. He was eccentric, erratic and generous. He was a great fox hunter and what he did not know about fox-hunting was left out of the spelling book.
In 1860 Major T.F .. Woodward was a candidate for the Legislature, and stopped with a relative who lived near the "Corner", and on inquiring for the names ofthose living around, he was told to call on old Wright by all means. "Old Uriah is a fox-hunter, and I am sure you (the Major was a fox-hunter, too) can talk enough about dogs to secure his vote." "Well, give me some points about the pack," said the Major. "Ring Smith is his best strike and Jolly Wright his coldest trailer, and Molly Clowney his swiftest runner." The Major having ob- tained a description of these dogs, so there would be no difficulty in identifying them, made it convenient to call on old Uriah the next day about dinner time. 01d Uriah hed just come in from ploughing as the Major rode up to the gate. 'This is Dr. Wright, I suppose," said the Major. "What is what Johathan D. and the boys around here calls me." "My name is Woodward and I am a candidate for the
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Legislature, and being a young man on my first political legs, I am going around to see and be seen, if not by everybody, certainly by the most prominent and influential citizens of each section." "Git down, you a monstrous likely man, and I'll take you to see Pinkey (his wife), and we will see what she has to say about it." The Major descended and was going into the house to see "Pinkey", the while discussing the crops with old Uriah, when he paused a moment and turning in the direction of some hounds who were lying around in the shade, he said: "Dr. Wright, I am a very peculiar man. I love the ladies dearly, it is true, and yet, I hope, sir, you will pardon my weakness, -- a fine hound dog comes nearer perfection in my eye than any earthly object." "And what do you know about dogs ?" asked old Uriah, turning from the house and following the Major who had gone in the direction of the dogs and was already seated at the foot of a large White oak, with the whole peck around him. He had little difficulty in selecting the dogs of note from the description given him the night before, and after some gereral somment on dogs, he said, " That is the name of this dog?", "Ah ! Ring Smith, you say ? An uncommonly fine dog he seems to be - if there is any truth in signs, he ought to be a mighty strike." "Good strike, did you say? If there were four thousand dogs here, I would bet a million dollars that Ring Smith would open three miles ahead of the best hunter in the bunch, and you might go before a magistrate and swear that is was a fox when he opened," was old Uriah's reply. The Major was now intently examining a large pale black and tan dog which filled the description of Jolly Wright - the coldest dog - feeling his nose and walking around he eyed him intently. "Dr. Wright," said he at last, " I think this one of the most remarkable dogs I have ever seen, just look at that head and feel his nose; I Honestly believe this is the coldest dog I have ever seen."
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"Coldest, did you say? Why he can smell 'em when they have been gone three and four weeks, and if the fur ain't good, he wont open on 'em then." Molly Clowney had been easily recognized and now came in for her turn. "Here ought to be the very apple of your eye," said the Major, "for if I do not know any- thing about dogs, this is unquestionably the fle test footed animal I have ever met; tell me now truthfully, can't she out-run anything in these parts?" "Run, did you say? No, she can't run a bit; but there ain't a crow, nor a turkey-buzzard that ever crossed 'the corner' that san hold a light to her a-flying; I have seed her tried against many of 'em. Dinner is about ready and I want Pinkey to meet you." The Major was taken into the house and introduced to Mrs. Wright. "Ain't he likely, Pinkey? Just look at him!" and the old man led him around like a fine horse at a Fair. "And smart! Why he has forgot more than all the other candidates ever knowed. I am sure he must be close kin to old preacher, Billy Woodward, for I heard my daddy day he was the smartest man in the world, and he knowed what he was talking about ."
After dinner, the Major having promised to introduce a bill for the benefit of tired dogs, providing that ho fence should be over five rails high, was in the act of leaving when "Old Uriah" called Pinkey to bring his fiddle, saying, "Hold on 'till I play "The Devil's Dream" for you." When he finished his peice, "One good turn deserves another" said the Major, "I'll play a tune for you before I go," and taking up the fiddle , he rendered "Hell Broke Loose in Georgia" , with such spirit and skill that " Old Uriah" jumped up , hugged Pinkey, and cut the pigeon wing all over the room.
It is needless to say that the Major got "Old uriah's" vote.
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THE FEASTERS AND COLEMANS
Part # 3 News & Herald, Winnsboro, S.C., Friday, May 24, 1901. Concluded
David Wright moved off to Jug Tavern, Ga., where he died. William Wright married a daughter of "Cage" Mobley. (Gemimah Mobley) . His oldest daughter married Jonathan Mclane.
Many of the Hills were known by nick-names, such as "Varment Dick", "Stump Bill", He was a Mobley, "Londee Bill" Hill, "Ly-down", etc. These names were given from certain peculiarities of manner, character, or habits of the man. Where Moses Clowney now lives (and he, Moses, was not an old-timer, is now one of the staunchest citizens of that township, ) there lived years ago William Robinson, known as "Boiled Meat Billy." His house was a great resort for those who loved to dance and enjoy themselves. Four of his sone lived here after they were grown, Billy, Willis, Nat and John. The eldest girl married "Guber" Dye; one married John Hancock, and the youngest, Rebecca, married James Gaston, but did not live long. Mr. Gaston then married a daughter of Nathan Parrot. There were then several families of Shirleys. Hatter John or "Lying John" as he was called when he would tell an unaccountable tale, and when doubts were expressed by anyone, he would defend himself by saying, "If it is a lie, Ned Means told it, for he told me." Ned Means was noted for his veracity, and Shirley thought no one would doubt for a moment what he said. "Sugar" John Shirley was just the opposite. He was a miller and shoemaker. His only son was killed in the war. Martin Beam, who is a grand- son of his, is now overseer of Feasterville Grange. Mirron Shirley was not bright, and he used to create some amusement by his sing-song way of telling things.
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There was a large family of Moltons that lived on Beaver Creek on land now owned by James Turner. I should have mentioned while on the Meadow side of the township, Major William Seymore; he was a leading man, taught singing school when the old Southern Harmony was used. He was major in the militia, and came very near being elected sheriff at the time Emmett Ellison was elected. The Major was second best, and they had one of the very strongest men in the county as a competitor, James Johnston, who was Ordinary just as long as he wished to be. Seymore moved to Randolph County, Alabama, and he is now dead. His wife was a sister of Andrew McConnell.
I omitted at the proper place that Wiley and Henry J. Colemen were both hatters. They made such everlasting hate that it was impossible to wear them out; they had to be thrown away if you wished to rid yourself of them.
Liberty Church was built by those of the Universalist faith, and it was intended as its name indicates, for the use of any and every denomination that was disposed to worship in it. There were others who also contributed to the building besides Universalists.
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EDERINGTON FAMILY
News & Herald, Winnsboro, S.C., June 10, 1901.
Inasmuch as it is expected that the author of an work should in some degree be known to its readers, either personally or historically, I will endeavor to sketch a short account of my family, As to my ancestry, I have but meager knowledge, such as i recollect from my father's detail and one or two other sources. My Paternal Grandfather, William Ederington, emigrated from Wales in the early settlement of Virginia, and located in what what was afterwards called King George County. He later meved to Stafford County, Virginia. He married a Helm. He, or she, was related to the Metcalfs, Fitz Hughs, and other distinguished families, I have heard my father, as well as my Virginia correspondent, state, whose letters were destroyed with my dwelling in February, 1865, by Sherman's army. Our family furnished two governors for Kentucky, Governors Helm and Metcalf. My grandfather, as I heard my father say, was a member of the House of Burgesses in Virginia, before the Revolutionary War. He rode to South Carolina before the war and surveyed and entered a large tract of land on Rock Creek, Fairfield County, near Broad River, returned to Virginia, and not long after- wards he died. My grandmother removed shortly after his death, with several of her sons and daughters, and settled on this tract in South Carolina. My paternal uncles were all engaged in the Revolutionary War. My father being the youngest, did not engage in it until near its close. I heard him say that he volunteered at the age of sixteen under Captain Charnal Durham and encamped at Four Holes for some time awaiting orders, but soon after Sir Henry Clinton evacuated Charleston, and the corps was disbanded, and the soldiers all left
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for their homes and were nearly starved before they reached their destination, being afraid to call at any house or allow themselves to be seen, the country through which they had to pass being infested with Tories. Peace was soon after declared, Three of my unclos remained in Virginia until after the war, then moved to South Carolina and settled on the land their father had bought. My uncle, James Ederington, remained only a few years, then moved to Kentucky and many years after to Mississippi, and there died, upwards of a hundred years old. My father was the only one of five brothers who remained on the old home- stead, and his grandson, A.L. Ederington, is now living there. My grandmother married a second time during the Revolutionary War, John Davis, from York District, and her oldest daughter married his son, James Davis, who lived near Monticello and died there in 1822. One of my aunts married Ephraim Lyles, son of Ephraim, the first settler, near Lyle's Ford; another aunt married a Furney and another married a McManus. Two of my uncles married in Virginia, the others in this state. My father married Frances Crosswhite, of Newberry County. Her mother was a widow when she left Culpepper County, Virginia, and moved to South Carolina before the Revolutionary War, and settled on Little River in Newberry County. She afterwarda married George Griffin, who moved on Broad River near Ashford Ferry, where both died. My father moved to a plantation he bought for my brother, but exchanged his old homestead for it in 1821, and died there on Beaver Creek where his remaina are interred. He died in June, 1824, aged sixty years. His small plantation was devised to me after the death of my mother, but she allowed me to sell it and I bought land If Major Thomas Lyles in 1827 and moved to it, where seh died April, 1829, at the age of sixty-two. My eldest brother, Jease, married Elizabeth Webb in 1810, an estimable and piou lady. He and she both died in 1863. Their eldest
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