USA > South Carolina > History of South Carolina > Part 27
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Columbia has no more public spirited citizen than
Mr. Lillard. For five years he was chairman of the board of directors of the Columbia Chamber of Com- merce. That was a significant era in the history of the city, largely due to the plans and efforts ex- pended by the chamber of commerce. One unportant achievement was the securing of Camp Jackson at Columbia. Mr. Lillard has never sought political honors, but has steadily exerted his influence tor good government to the democratic party. He is a Methodist, and for many years has been treasurer of the Washington Street Church in Columbia. He is also a inember of practically all the local clubs.
June 29, 1899, at Knoxville, he married Miss Mary Frances Strange, daughter of John Q. and Alice Strange. Her father was for many years a travel- ing salesman, his territory being mainly the State of Tennessee. Ife was a fine example of the older type of traveling salesmen or "drummer." He was not only a good business man, but excelled in wit and humor, and a host of friends all over the state. Mr. and Mrs. Lillard are the parents of John W., Jr., Joseph E., Richard S., Charles Q., Sarah Frances and Ralph Willis Lillard. The two older sons are now students in the Bailey Military Institute at Greenwood.
JOHN HARRISON WYATT. A farm and plantation of ample extent with many well cultivated acres is the property of John Harrison Wyatt, and it has been in the Wyatt family for a long period of years. The Wyatt home is in Brushy Creek Township of Anderson County.
John Harrison Wyatt was born there Septem- ber 12, 1867, a son of William Franklin and Dorcas (Laboon) Wyatt. His father was born in Brushy Creek Township October 31, 1832, son of Redmon Wyatt. The grandfather was a na- tive of England and on coming to America set- tled in Virginia and afterward moved to Ander- son County, South Carolina. He lived for many years in Brushy Creek Township, where he died. He was a man of considerable wealth and on coming to Anderson County bought over a thou- sand acres of land. He was twice married, each - wife having a large number of children, and through these children much of his property was parceled out into small holdings.
William Franklin Wyatt, a son by the first marriage, spent his life as a farmer, and by his energies amassed a large estate. He was four years a Confederate soldier. He lived to the age of eighty, passing away January 19, 1913, having survived his wife. They were active members of the Baptist Church. Their three sons were Joseph William, deceased; John Harrison; and James Redmon Wyatt.
John Harrison Wyatt grew up on the home farm and owing to circumstances over which he had no control had limited opportunities to at- tend school. With his brothers he worked the parental homestead, and they were also asso- ciated in the ownership and management of a country store for twenty years. Mr. Wyatt owns the old farm, comprising 228 acres, and it has good improvements including a comfortable home.
Mr. Wyatt married for his first wife Mary Pepper, a daughter of Enoch Pepper. She died
bertzón Paul
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soon after marriage. He then married Viola Finley, a daughter of W. A. Finley, of Anderson County. To their marriage were born six chil- dren, William Broadus, Ruth Helen, Bruce Franklin, Velmer Lorene, Margaret Annette, and John Harrison, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt are members of the Baptist Church.
JOHN THOMAS WIGINGTON. While this is an age of specialization there is still an obvious need for men of such diversified genius as John Thomas Wigington, who for many years has been farmer, merchant, mechanic and manufacturer and one of the best known citizens of Anderson County.
He was born in Brushy Creek Township Au- gust 24, 1849, a son of Elihu and Frances ( Mar- tin) Wigington, also natives of Anderson County, and a grandson of John and Agnes (Garrett) Wigington. John Wigington was born in Edge- field County, a son of John Wigington, who was born in Virginia and whose father came to South Carolina from that old commonwealth in 1755. The Wigingtons are of Scotch ancestry. The great-grandfather of the Anderson County citizen first named above was a follower of Gen. Francis Marion in the war of the Revolution. The Wig- ingtons. have always been patriotic, and Elihu Wirrington was a Confederate soldier. His occu- pation was farming, and he lived to the age of seventy-six, passing away in 1804. His widow survived him to the age of ninety-six. They were members of the Baptist Church. They had a family of two sons and four daughters, the sons being John Thomas and Jacob.
John Thomas Wigington grew up on the home farm and the land he occupies today was acquired by his father in 1861. As he shared the comforts of the home of his father and mother in early years, so likewise he provided them with a home during their declining age. Before he was twen- ty-one years of age, in 1869, he opened a general store at the old homestead. He has operated this for half a century, and in that time has done an immense volume of business, carrying a large and varied stock of merchandise. He was post- master of Newell postoffice maintained in his store for twenty-seven years. The service of this office has since been superseded by the rural free delivery.
Ifis father conducted a cotton gin and corn mill, and that industry has been continued by Mr. Wigington. He also had a saw mill and as part of its equipment he installed and operated the first planer and matcher in Anderson County, thus supplying the first home milled lumber prod- ucts. For several years he and his sons also op- erated a foundry and machine shop, and this in- stitution has since been removed to the City of Anderson and is known as the Anderson Foun- dry and Machine Shop, operated by the sons John E. and Thomas A.
Mr. Wigington's genius in mechanical lines might be exemplified in a number of ways. For some years he had journeyman silversmith em- ployed at his store. From these men he learned the trade himself. In former years he also manu- factured chewing tobacco. In order to imprint
the proper name on the tobacco he made his own type and press, and used it for miscellaneous printing. He has cultivated the acres of the old homestead with equal skill and productiveness.
In 1872 he married Miss Cynthia Jane Cason, daughter of Austin Cason. Their children are John E., Thomas Austin, Wade Hampton, George Q., Benjamin F., Elihu, Alma and Jane Thoma- thia. The younger daughter is a successful teacher. The older daughter is the wife of James E. Richey. The son Elihu was a soldier during the World war, serving overseas in Company B of the Third Pioneer Infantry. Mr. and Mrs. Wigington since early life have been members of the Baptist Church.
JOHN ROBERTSON PAUL, who during the last three or four years has taken a very active part in the business affairs of his native City of Charleston, returned to Charleston after an absence abroad of nearly three years, part of which time was spent with the Red Cross Ambulance Unit in France.
Mr. Paul completed his education in England at Oxford University and is one of the Rhodes scholars. At the present time he is serving as secre- tary of the committee of selection for the Rhodes Scholarship in the State of South Carolina. The Rhodes Scholarships, since they were created by the great English imperialist and capitalist, have been perhaps the most eagerly coveted honors and prizes sought by students of American colleges and universities. Each scholarship represents a value of f300 per year and is tenable for three years while the holder is a student in one of the colleges of Oxford. While the selection of Rhodes scholars is left largely to the discretion of each state committee, emphasis was placed by Mr. Rhodes upon literary and scholastic attainments, fondness for and success in outdoor sports, qualities of manhood, moral force of character and leadership in school and college life.
Mr. Paul was one of the last Rhodes scholars to qualify before the World war, during which period the elections for scholarships were postponed. John Robertson Paul was born in Charleston, South Caro- lina in 1889, a son of George and Annie Bonnell Panl. He is a descendant from the Paul, Robert- son and Drummond families of Scotland, of which perhaps the most distinguished members are Sir Henry Drummond and John Paul Jones. Mr. Paul graduated with first honors and received the B. A. degree from the College of Charleston with the class of 1910, and later was awarded the Rhodes scholarship for South Carolina in 1913. He at once entered Christ Church, Oxford, and spent two years specializing in law. He was graduated from the university with the degrees B. A. and M. A. in Jurisprudence in the spring of 1915.
About that time the late Sir William Osler, then Regius Professor of Medicine in Oxford and formerly president of Johns Hopkins University Medical School, was organizing a Red Cross Unit, composed mostly of Oxford men. Mr. Paul joined this unit, and for about seven months was in the Red Cross ambulance service in France. From this vivid experience of warfare he returned home and engaged in business at Charleston.
Mr. Paul is president of the Paul-Gilbert Motor
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Company and also president of the Carolina Motor Parts Company. He was one of the organizers of the Charleston branch of the State Automotive Trades Association, being treasurer of the local or- ganization and prominent in the state body. This association comprises probably the most powerful single influence for the promotion of campaigns for goods roads, modern traffic regulations, and also for the betterment of the automobile trade in general. Mr. Paul is also a member of the Kappa Delpha Fraternity, the Carolina Yacht Club and the Ki- wanis Club. He married Miss Kathrine Ruther- ford Huiet, of Charleston. Their two sons are John Robertson, Jr., and Caleb Huiet.
MARCELLUS SEABROOK WHALEY, judge of the Rich- land County Court, was admitted to the har and be- gan practice at Columbia in 1909. His record in col- lege and university was a brilliant one and the early anticipations regarding his career have been fully justified by his record as a lawyer and judge.
He was born at Charleston October 10, 1885, son of James Swinton and Sarah Annie ( Seabrook) Whaley. His parents lived at Edisto Island, South Carolina, where Judge Whaley spent his boyhood on a farm. At the age of fifteen he left there to attend high school at Charleston, and two years later entered the University of the South at Sewanec, Tennessee. He received his B. A. degree at Se- wanee in 1907. While there he was prominent in all the student activities being a member of the Neo- graph Writing Club, the Chelidon Debating Club, president of the Sigina Epsilon Literary Society, edi- tor of the Sewanee Literary Magazine and of the Sewanee Purple in 1906-07, was assistant asso- ciate editor of the Cap and Gown, 1907, and secre- tary of class and salutatorian in his senior year. He was an inter-society debater in 1904 and 1906, and was winner of the Sewanee-Vanderbilt debate of 1907. He won the Essay medal and Poetry medal in 1906, and was president of the Pan-Hellenic Board in 1906. He was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon college fraternity.
The following two years he spent in the study of law at the University of South Carolina, graduating LL. B. in 1909. He was Roddey medal debater in 1908 and a member of the Clariosophic Literary So- ciety.
On beginning practice Mr. Whaley became asso- ciated with the law firm of Barron, Moore & Bar- ron of Columbia in 1909. In 1914 he formed the partnership of Whaley & Busby, which existed until he was elected to the bench of the Richland County Court in April, 1917. He was again elected to that position for the full four year term beginning in April, 1919.
Judge Whaley in 1913 was chosen first intendant of the Town of Arden, a suburb of Columbia. From 1915 to 1917 he served by appointment from the governor as rural police commissioner for Rich- land County. In 1918 he was elected president of the Columbia Art Association, which he was largely instrumental in forming. On December 17, 1908. while still a student of law he married Miss Edna Lyman Reed of New Orleans, Louisiana. Their four children are Dorothy Swinton, Baynard Reed, Alys Cathcart and Atherton Mikell.
LEE G. IIOLLEMAN, president of the Peoples Bank of Anderson, is a business man and financier of nearly thirty years' experience and has the distinction of being the first state bank examiner ever appointed in South Carolina.
Mr. Holleman is a native South Carolinian, born at Walhalla January 4, 1872, son of Joseph W. and Sarah (Sharp) Holleman. His parents are both deceased. His father was a man of the finest character and enjoyed many enviable dis- tinctions in Oconee County. He held public office for over thirty years, was treasurer of the county sixteen years, and for a similar length of time served as master and probate judge.
Lee G. Holleman lived in Walhalla to the age of seventeen, attended school there and left pub- lic school to make his own way in the world. He worked as clerk in a mercantile establishment at Townville, also at Seneca, and on September 1, 1892, came to Anderson, where for several years he was bookkeeper in a mercantile house. In 1899 Mr. Holleman was one of the organizers of the People's Bank of Anderson, and was as- sistant cashier and bookkeeper until April, 1906. At that date he became the first state bank ex- aminer of South Carolina, being appointed for a term of four years. He served, however, only two years and in that time formed an extensive acquaintance with the bankers of the state. He returned to Anderson to become president of the People's Bank, and under his executive direction during the past ten years the institution has grown and prospered and is one of the strongest banks in Northwestern Carolina. Mr. Holleman was secretary for four years of the South Caro- lina State Bankers Association.
In many ways he has been a man of influence in his home city, serving as alderman eight years, mayor two years, is a member of the Rotary Club and identified with every forward move- ment in the community. He is a Knight of Py- thias, a democrat, a Master Mason and a Metho- dist. In 1906 he married Miss Jennie Copper, of Maryland.
MARION WASHINGTON MERRITT, owner of one of the fine country homes in Brushy Creek Town- ship, Anderson County, has lived there all his life, and has reared a large and accomplished family of children.
He was born in Brushy Creek Township De- cember 14, 1853, a son of Joseph Madison and Emily (Beecot) Merritt. His father was born in Anderson County in 1822 a son of Aba Merritt. Joseph M. Merritt was a Confederate soldier, and except for the war devoted his time and energies to farming. He died at the age of sixty-six and his wife at fifty-eight. They had five sons: Mar- ion W., William H., Joseph A., Miles McDuffey and James Madison.
Marion Washington Merritt grew up on the home farm, had a common school education, and for over forty years has been successfully iden- tified with farming. He is a democrat in politics and is a Baptist, like his parents.
In 1876 he married Armintha Smith, daughter of John Smith, who was killed while a Confed- erate soldier. Mrs. Merritt died in 1801, the
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mother of seven children, three of whom died in infancy. The four living are Lawrence, Minnie, Luther and William Talmadge. The son William Talmadge was a Young Men's Christian Associa- tion worker during the war, and was still on duty in France in the summer of 1919. In 1894 Mr. Merritt married Carrie Smith, daughter of Glen Smith and a cousin of his first wife. She became the mother of thirteen children, two of whom died in infancy. Those living are named: Zora, Beatrice, Shafter, Lona, Mabel, Palmer, Addie, Eugene and Rena, twins, Woodrow Wil- son and William Jennings Bryan.
JAMES OLIVER ROSAMOND, M. D. A physician who for thirty years has made his work a medium of important service to the prosperous country district in which he was born and reared, Doctor Rosamond represents one of the earliest families to settle in Brushy Creek Township of Ander- son County.
His great-great-grandfather was a native of Ireland, though the name Rosamond is said to be 'more remotely of German origin. He came to South Carolina in Colonial times. His son Samuel Rosamond was born in this state and during the Revolutionary war was assigned the duty of scout and spy for Gen. Francis Marion. Some time after the close of that war he moved to what is now Anderson County, and at his death was buried in the Big Creek Cemetery near Williamston. The grandfather of Doctor Rosa- mond was John Hodges Rosamond, a native of Abbeville County. He settled on the land now occupied by Doctor Rosamond in the northeast- ern corner of Brushy Creek Township. He was a cabinet maker, miller and farmer. His wife was Jennie Westfield.
John Westfield Rosamond was born in Brushy Creek Township December 25, 1824, and spent his life as a practical farmer on the land which his father had acquired. He was a man of great vi- tality and lived to the advanced age of eighty- eight. He married Adalaid Oliver, and they were the parents of nine children.
Doctor Rosamond was born at the old Rosa- mond homestead February 5. 1865, his early life was spent on the farm and his education came from the country schools. He graduated in medi- cine from the University of Maryland in 1889, and at once returned to the old home and from that as a place of residence has extended his prac- tice over a wire circuit of country. He is an able physician and a member in good standing of the l'ickens County Medical Society and the South Carolina Medical Association. Doctor Rosamond is a Knight Templar Mason and Shriner and Knight of Pythias. For many years he has han- dled the operations of the old homestead. He is unmarried and with his sister Addie shares the old home.
RFV. B. W. FLEMING, of the Stella Maris Church, of Sullivan's Island, Moultrieville, South Carolina, is one of the scholarly men of his church, and a man held in the highest respect all over this part of the state. He was born at Charleston, South Caro- lina, October 16, 1870, and attended its parochial
schools during his youth. He made his classical studies at St. Charles College, Ellicott City, Mary- land, and Mount St. Mary's College at Emmitsburg, Maryland, being graduated from the latter institu- tion with the degree of Bachelor of Art. He studied theology at St. Mary's Seminary, from which in- stitution he was ordained on June 24. 1900, at Charleston, South Carolina, by the Right Rev. H. P. Northrop, bishop of Charleston.
The first appointment of Father Fleming was to Columbia, where he served for nine years, and was then transferred to Spartanburg, South Carolina. Two years later he was transferred to the Stella Maris Church, where he has since remained. A man of strong personality, Father Fleming comes into touch with his people in such a manner as to bring about a general uplift in their lives. An excellent judge of men and motives, he is able to understand both and to lead wrong doers into other paths. An organizer of no mean ability, he has been able to build up his parishes, put them on a sound business basis, and leave them in far better conditions mate- rially as well as spiritually. The prayers and grati- tude of his people follow Father Fleming wherever he goes, while those outside of his communion rec- ognize his influence for good in the community, and render due appreciation to him for it.
ALBERT SIDNEY FARMER. One of the prominent manufacturers at Anderson, and a business man whose name is recognized far beyond the borders of his home city, was born in Anderson County April 3, 1872, and represents a southern ancestry of many generations.
His grandfather, Elijah Farmer, was a Vir- ginian who on coming to South Carolina set- tled in Greenville County. Nathan O. Farmer, father of Albert Sidney, was born in South Caro- lina, became a farmer and merchant at what has long been known as Farmer's Store, twelve miles west of Anderson, and was living there at the time of his death, at the age of sixty-five. At the age of eighteen he entered the Confederate army and served until the close of the war. His wife was Georgia A. Earle, a daughter of Julius R. Earle of South Carolina.
Albert Sidney Farmer, whose given name is in honor of a distinguished Confederate leader greatly admired by his father, acquired his early education in a country school near the liome farm, and also attended the Patrick Military In- stitute at Anderson. He has had a business career that covers over twenty years, beginning in the cotton seed oil and fertilizer business, and later continuing as a manufacturer of low grade yarn. He bought a yarn mill at Anderson and for several years its sole product was yarn. Dur- ing the World war and just before America entered it as a participant, the Conneross Com- pany, of which Mr. Farmer is president, took up the manufacture of asbestos insulation, a product in great demand by the allied government for ship construction. At first the raw material was obtained in Canada, but later and at present from Capetown, Africa. This asbestos insulation was a typical war product, and was furnished under contract to both the United States and British governments. Mr. Farmer gave his undivided
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attention to the efficient prosecution of the factory throughout the period of the war. He also has other business relations at Anderson and is a farm owner.
Mr. Farmer is a democrat, without official record, and is a Master Mason and member of the Mystic Shrine. In 1899 he married Miss Lil- lian C. Elrod, of Anderson County. Their two daughters are named Alberta C. and Annie Earle.
JAMES L. ORR, who is distinguished in South Carolina history as the organizer and at one time leader of Orr's Regiment of Rifles during the war between the states, and furthermore was the first governor of South Carolina following the close of hostilities, earned a 'niche of fame among the most illustrious South Carolinians of the Civil war epoch.
He was born May 12, 1822, at Craytonville, Anderson County. His great-grandfather, Rob- ert Orr, came from Ireland and settled in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in 1730, and from there removed to Wake County, North Carolina, and participated as a soldier in the Revolutionary war. His son Jehu was also a Revolutionary patriot. The parents of Governor Orr were Christopher and Martha (McCann) Orr.
James L. Orr attended school in the country and an academy at Anderson, worked in his father's business, and at the age of eighteen en- tered the University of Virginia. In 1842 he began the study of law and was admitted to the bar in May of the following year. While achiev- Governor Orr married Mary Jane Marshall. Their children were five in number: James L., who was prominent as a lawyer, cotton mill op- erator and man of affairs and died at Anderson in 1905; Dr. Samuel M., whose life work is re- viewed elsewhere; Christopher H., who was also a lawyer and died in 1888; Mrs. Martha Orr Pat- terson, who founded the Industrial School for Boys, later conducted by the state; and Mrs. Mary Orr Earle. ing position and practice at Anderson he edited the Anderson Gazette, was elected a member of the Legislature in 1844, served two terms, and his first speech was in opposition to the Bluffton movement, proposing a nullification of the tariff of 1842. This speech was characteristic of his independence of thought and action throughout his entire career. In 1848, at the age of twenty- six, he was nominated for Congress and served in that national body for ten years, until 1858. He thus became associated with all the prominent SAMUEL MARSHALL ORR, M. D., was one of the sons of Governor James L. Orr, whose record is reviewed elsewhere, and while his two brothers, James L. and Christopher H., adopted the profes- sion of the law, Samuel Marshall became one of the eminent physicians and surgeons of the state, though for many years he also handled extensive business interests. men who made history, including Calhoun, Clay, Webster, Douglas and others. During his last term in Congress he was speaker of the House. At a time when political leaders were everywhere divided into radical partisans and violent passions were being aroused, he was a conservative, and apparently looked beyond the emotions of the hour to the consequences of the threatened war. Doctor Orr was born at Anderson June 5, 1855, and spent all his life in that city. He attended private schools, the King's Mountain Military School at Yorkville, completed a literary course in Furman University, and began the study of medicine under the late Dr. W. H. Nardin, Sr., at Anderson. In 1879 he graduated from Jeffer- son Medical College at Philadelphia, and return- ing to Anderson was devoted with all his talents and splendid abilities to professional work for a He was a moderate advocate of the doctrine of states rights, was a member of the constitution of 1860 which passed the ordinance of secession, and at the close of that convention accepted ap- pointment as one of the three commissioners . sent to Washington to arrange for the transfer of Federal property in South Carolina. On re- turning home he organized and commanded as colonel Orr's Regiment of Rifles, one of the most distinguished of South Carolina's units in the . quarter of a century. For a time he was asso- war. He resigned his commission in 1862 to enter the Confederate Senate, and was actively identified with the general government of the Confederate States until the end of the war.
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