USA > South Carolina > History of South Carolina > Part 34
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guest Silage
E. G . Elrod
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HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
wish was practically granted. One night while making a professional call he was taken ill, and was unconscious when carried to his own home. He was always a student of medicine and made every effort to progress in the advance of his clients. He took post-graduate courses in New York and was a mem- ber of the County and State Medical societies for many years.
He was no less successful as a farmer than as a physician. Ile developed a fine estate, and some ten or twelve years before his death built a modern and handsome nine-room frame residence, which stands as a momiment to his thrift, good taste and desire to provide an attractive home for his loved ones. He was a Master Mason and Knight of Pyth- ias, a deacon for many years in the Lebanon Bap- tist Church and showed his interest in education by serving several years as a school trustee. Both he and his wife were loyal church workers and their . home was always open to the pastors of their de- nomination.
Doctor Ducworth married Miss Nancy Florence Welborn. They were married in 1876 on his twen- ty-ninth birthday. Mrs. Ducworth was born in Anderson County August 2, 1857, a daughter of Lemuel H. and Mary Caroline ( Harper) Welborn. Her maternal grandfather Asa Harper was a grand old gentleman and is remembered as one of the most beloved men of Anderson County. Lemuel H. Welborn was a son of William and Nancy ( Wa- dell) Welborn. Doctor and Mrs. Ducworth had only one child, Mary Bird, now the wife of Dr. C. E. Elgin of Searles, Alabama. However, they also reared in their home a niece and nephew of Mrs. Ducworth, Helen Marian and John D. Smith.
THOMAS TAYLOR WAKEFIELD is well and prom- inently known in the City of Anderson as well as in his home community where for nearly thirty-five years he has been a factor and progressive farmer.
Mr. Wakefield was born February 1, 1856, on his father's plantation known as "The Temple of Health" in Abbeville County. His parents were Conrad and Jane ( Buchanan) Wakefield, both na- tives of Abbeville County. Grandfather Hezekiah Wakefield, a native of Abbeville County, married a member of the Shirley family. His father was Abel Wakefield, a native of Virginia, and an early settler in Abbeville County. The Wakefields are of English descent. Jane Buchanan Wakefield was a daughter · of Samuel Buchanan, a native of Maryland and a first cousin of President Buchanan. Conrad Wake- field and wife had eight sons and three daughters, all the sons but one reaching mature years and two of them, John and Hezekiah; performing their duties as soldiers in the Confederate army. Conrad Wake- field spent his life as a farmer and died at the age sixty-eight, while his wife passed away at the age of seventy-nine.
Thomas Taylor Wakefield next to the young- est among the children spent his boyhood negatively free from care on his father's farin, acquired a com- mon school education 'and at the age of twenty- three married and established a home of his own. The next three years he spent as farming in Abbe- ville County and in 1882 bought a farm in Ander- son County. Except for four years he has applied
his energies to farming. That four year period was spent away from the farm, since his health had been greatly impaired, and while living in the City of Anderson he acted as agent for the Farmers Ware- house Association. He is a man of progressive ideas and has applied such ideas to his farming methods. The only public office he has held was as a local magistrate for several years. He is a Baptist, a Royal Arch Mason and Knight of Pythias and has always favored the cause of public improvement and identified himself with such improvements in his community.
In 1879 he married Miss Julia Watkins, a dauglı- ter of David Watkins of Anderson County. She died in 1904. Mr. Wakefield's children are : Roberta, now employed in the foreign commerce department of the Federal Government at Washington; Annie Watkins at home; David Conrad, a farmer of Abbe- ville County; John William of Atlanta, Georgia; and Jane Emmaline at home.
ELIAS FRANKLIN ELROD. For half a century Elias Franklin Elrod has been a sustaining factor in the agricultural community of Brushy Creek Town- ship, Anderson County. He took his active career there, a poor soldier just returned from war be- tween the states, and the resources of the South were not more impoverished than his individual condition.
He was born in the township where he lives to- day on July 2, 1839, member of one of the oldest and most respected families of Anderson County. His parents were Elias and Mary Howard ( Douthit) Elrod. Elias Elrod was born in Anderson County May 26, 1706. His father Abraham Elrod was a native of Virginia and an early settler in Brushy Creek Township. Abraham married Margerie Stanton. Mary Howard Douthit was born Septem- ber 28, 1804. a daughter of Rev. James Douthit, a pioneer Methodist minister.
Elias Elrod who was a farmer by occupation died August 11, 1871. He and his wife had twelve children.
Elias Franklin Elrod grew up on the home farm and acquired all his educational advantages in the old field schools. He was past twenty-one when the war came on and on April 16, 1861, he was enrolled in the Fourth South Carolina Regiment. He was with his command doing faithful work as a soldier and always responsive to the call of duty. This regiment finally became so weakened by numerical losses that it and other remnants were merged with the Sixth Cavalry. At the close of the war Mr. Elrod was a prisoner at Point Lookout, Mary- land.
He started in with renewed hope after the war and in spite of poverty and devastation on every hand he made considerable progress even while South Carolina was suffering the horrors of reconstruc- tion. Hard work and frugal management gave him his start and in later years he has become recog- nized as one of the largest land owners in the county. A few years ago his residence was de- stroyed by fire and has since been replaced by a hand- some modern home fitted with every comfort and convenience. As a citizen he has been thoroughly public spirited. Since the close of the war he
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has been affiliated with the Masonic Order and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Church. In 1869, fifty years ago, he married Miss Emma Meares, a native of Greenville County. Eight children have been born to their union.
THOMAS BASCOM STACKHOUSE. In the story of the growth and development of every great common- wealth are inseparately connected the names of cer- tain individuals who through their activities and broadness of vision have materially aided in their country's advancement, and in a history of South Carolina the name of Thomas B. Stackhouse finds easy and graceful place. He has had a long and active career as a planter, manufacturer and bank- er, and in many ways has been identified with the most substantial interests of his native state.
A son of T. F. and Mary A. ( Bethea) Stackhouse, he was born at Dillon, South Carolina, November 23. 1857. His carly boyhood was spent upon his father's plantation, a property which was in the possession of the Stackhouse family for a hundred and sixty years. He was graduated from Wofford College in 1880, with the degree of A. B., though prior to his college course he had been a teacher in the schools of the state, and also taught during his college vacations. He is one of the most valued alumni of Wofford, and served several years as a member of the board of trustees. He is also a mem- ber of the Kappa Alpha fraternity.
From 1881 to 1885 Mr. Stackhouse was a merchant at Little Rock, South Carolina. From 1882 to 1902, he gave a large share of his attention to agricultural operations near Dillon. In 1897 he organized the Bank of Dillon, which he served as manager until 1903 and resigned its presidency in 1915. Prior to this, in 1900, he was instrumental in the organization and the building of the Dillon Cotton Mills, and was president of the same until 1903, when he resigned to engage in the banking business at Spartanburg where he, together with J. H. Sloan, organized the American National Bank and Trust Company, and where he filled the dual office of cashier and treas- urer. In 1905 he was elected vice president of the National Loan and Exchange Bank at Columbia, an office he still holds.
He also served as director of the Cowpens Manu- facturing Company and the Hamer Cotton Mills.
.
In 1908 Mr. Stackhouse was elected president and manager of the Standard Warehouse Company, which maintains branches at Columbia, Orange- burg, Newberry, Greenwood and Anderson, and it is perhaps in connection with his labors in this par- ticular field of activity that he has become most widely known in business and financial circles throughout the South and elsewhere. Realizing the vast importance from both the economic and finan- cial standpoints of the cotton industry, and the ne- cessity of extending financial aid to the planters in order that production might be maintained and en- couraged, he was the first one in South Carolina to advertise 6 per cent loans to the farmers. Under his management the receipts of the Standard Ware- house Company have became recognized by bankers in all of the many financial centers as the very best kind of security. In the past ten years Mr. Stackhouse has obtained for farmers, on their lands,
loans in excess of $1,000,000, at the rate of 6 per cent or less.
In 1885 Mr. Stackhouse married Miss Elizabeth McColl Hamer, a native daughter of South Caro- lina, born near Dillon, and a descendant of an old and prominent family in the state. To them has been born a daughter, Sadie May, now Mrs. L. M. Ilawkins, of Columbia.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Stackhouse are members of the Methodist Church, in which he is a steward, and in which Mrs. Stackhouse takes an active interest in woman's work.
JOHN DUCWORTH WELBORN, as a result of forty odd years of successful effort has found an influ- ential and prosperous place among the farming com- munity of Anderson County, where he has spent his life. His home is near Pendleton.
Mr. Welborn was born in Anderson County April 1, 1876, son of Cash Augustus and Georgiana ( Har- per) Welborn, both natives of Anderson County and a grandson of Augustus Welborn, who was born in Virginia of Scotch-Irish Iincage. Augustus Wel- born settled near Pelzen at an early day. Cash A. Welborn spent his life as a farmer and died at the age of sixty-eight. He and his wife were mem- bers of the Lebanon Baptist Church. They had the following children: Robert Lec, who lives on the old homestead; Mollie who married W. T. Holland ; William Charles; Rosa who became the wife of B. F. McMurtrey; John D .; Gussie, wife of Arthur Martin of California; Carrie, wife of M. B. Huni- cutt ; Hallie, wife of Clifford Owen who was a sol- dier in the American Expeditionary Forces.
John D. Welborn grew up on a farm and had a common school education. One of a number of children he could count on little assistance from his father when he started an independent career and in fact has won his prosperity by concentrated effort and by hard work. Along with farming he has operated a saw mill and threshing outfit, and today is owner of a farm well improved and consituting a beautiful home.
In 1898 Mr. Welborn married Miss Adelia Burriss, daughter of Levi G. and Mary ( Moore) Burriss, of an old and well known family of Anderson County. To their marriage were born nine children, named: Max Fant, Edna, Violet, Hugh, Nell, John D., Jr., Harper, Harriet and Charles. Mr. and Mrs. Wel- born are members of the Lebanon Baptist Church and he is a deacon and treasurer.
LOUIS M. SHIMEL is an active and well known member of the Charleston Bar, having a large and varied practice, including within its scope vir- tually all branches of the law. He has taken an active interest in municipal and state politics and in public affairs generally, and has on many oc- casions given his services to worthy causes in his home city. He participated in various war ac- tivities and campaigns and was a four-minute speaker throughout the war.
Mr. Shimel was born in Galicia in March 18, 1885. As a small child he was brought to New York City and was reared and educated in the national metropolis, going through the elementary and high schools there and taking his law course
Loncin ghiml
George W. Sullivan.
1
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HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
in St. Lawrence University, whence he was grad- uated in 1907. He practiced law in New York City six years and in 1913 moved to Charleston, where he soon attained a secure place in his profession and where he enjoys the good opinion of both the bar and the general public.
Mr. Shimel is a thirty-second degree Mason, a Noble of the Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, a Pythian and a Moose, a member of the I. O. B'nai B'rith, and president of Charleston Lodge, I. O. B'rith Abraham. He is a member and secretary of the board of the Charleston Home and a member of the board of the Charleston Hebrew School. Among his most important positions of trust is that of attorney for the Central Labor Union, in which capacity he has been closely associated with the leaders of labor in Charleston. He was en- trusted with many of the details of organizing the Charleston Labor Temple and is the attorney for that institution. He has also served as assistant corporation counsel for Charleston.
In 1914 Mr. Shimel married Miss Lillian Fechter, of Charleston, and they have three daughters, Doro- thea, Estelle and Rene.
GEORGE WASHINGTON SULLIVAN. In upper Caro- lina for generations there has been no family dis- tingui-hed for a greater degree of business enter- prise, patriotism and all the thrifty and public spir- ited virtues of good citizenship than that of Sullivan, members of which have made their homes perhaps chiefly in Greenville County and from there have spread to various surrounding counties in the same district.
Among them is George Washington Sullivan of Anderson 'County, for over thirty years a resident of Williamston and formerly an industrial leader in Greenville County. He was born in Laurens County March 25, 1848. He is descended from Owen Sul- livan, a native of Ireland. Owen Sullivan while coming to this country made the acquaintance of one of his fellow passengers, Margaret Hewlet, who was of English ancestry. They were married soon after landing at Charleston, subsequently lo- cated in Caroline County, Virginia, later went to Georgia, and finally returned to South Carolina and settled in Greenville County. From this couple are descended many of the prominent people who have borne the name Sullivan and achieved distinc- tion in business, professions and politics.
One of the sons of Owen and Margaret was Charles Sullivan, who married Mrs. Mary (Charl- ton) Johnson. In honor of his wife he named his fine old homestead in Laurens County "Charlton Ilall."
Hewlet Sullivan, grandfather of George Wash- ington Sullivan, was a Revolutionary soldier, being one of the followers of Gen. Francis Marion. He settled at an early date in Greenville County, and several times was a member of the South Carolina Legislature. His wife was Mary Dunklin. They were the parents of George Washington Sullivan, Sr., who was born in Greenville County, September 27. 1800, and died at his country home, Charlton Hall, in Laurens County, December 19, 1887. He spent the greater part of his life as a farmer and merchant in Laurens County. He was captain in
the State Militia, and during the war served two terms in the South Carolina Legislature. For over forty years he was identified with the Methodist Church as an active member. January 14, 1836, he married for his first wife Jane W. Brooks, a native of Edgefield County, South Carolina, and daughter of Littleton A. and Sarah Brooks. She died Febru- ary 1, 1855. at the age of thirty-four. flis second wife was Mrs. Margaret (Cunningham) Prince. All the children were by the first marriage, namely : Engenia A., who became the wife of J. C. Fether- stone; Mary Helen, who married Robert G. Good- gomn; Jane C., whose husband was Samuel R. Todd and their son, Charlton Sullivan Todd, a Methodist missionary to China, is buried by the side of his mother in Laurens County; George W., Jr .; Jo- seph H. Sullivan, of Laurens County ; and Lizzie Z., who became the wife of C. C. Garlington.
George W. Sullivan grew up on his father's farm in Laurens County. He was just thirteen years old when the war between the states began. He had no active part in that great conflict until 1864, when, at the age of sixteen, he enlisted in the South Carolina Militia. For a few months he was on the . coast defense and was then appointed to a cadetship in the South Carolina Military Academy by Gov- ernor MeGrath. After two months in the Academy he entered the Confederate army as a member of the State Cadets and continued until the close of the war, coming out with the rank of an orderly ser- geant. In 1867, two years after the close of the war, he entered Wofford College at Spartanburg, graduating Bachelor of Science in 1870.
In leaving college Mr. Sullivan at once became an energetic factor in the Sullivan Manufacturing Company, in which his father, brother and other associates were interested. In 1870 this company erected a cotton mill at Fork Shoals in Greenville County, and for ten years Mr. Sullivan gave his per- sonal attention to the industry as treasurer of the company. Having sold his milling interests in 1880 he located on a farm in the vicinity of the mills, and conducted the operation of his fields and also a store on his land. In July, 1885, he bought a stock of merchandise at Pelzer and had a general store there for several years. In December, 1885, he re- moved to Williamston, where he has since had his home and where he also was a general merchant.
Mr. Sullivan has been an owner of farm lands for several years and the latter part of his life has been primarily devoted to farming. He is also interested in banking institutions in Anderson and Greenville counties, and as a man of large means has co-oper- ated generously with every public spirited move- ment in his section of the state.
Like many busy men of affairs, Mr. Sullivan en- tered politics only reluctantly. The first service he rendered the cause of good government was in the historic campaign of 1876, for the restoration of white rule. In 1877 he was appointed on the staff of Gen. J. W. Gray with the rank of major. He would never consent to be a candidate for political office until 1906, when he was chosen a member of the State Senate and at the end of four years was re- elected without opposition. He was one of the able members of the Senate during those two terms, and among other features of his record he was active
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in securing the abolition of the dispensary sys- tem of the state.
Mr. Sullivan has been a Mason for many years, is a past master of his lodge, aud is a friend and supporter of church and education. He is a trustee of Lander College and a member of the Methodist Church.
In 1877 he married Miss M. Lizzie Chiles, of Ab- beville County. Mr. Sullivan is the father of a very interesting family of children: Hewlet C., who lives in Texas; Janie Brooks, wife of Dr. J. N. Anderson, dean of the faculty of the University of Florida at Gainesville; Washington H., a resident of Williamston; J. Edgar, assistant cashier of the Cit- izens National Bank of Anderson; George M., a railroad man at Greenwood, South Carolina; Joseph Dunklin, who was a corporal in the Eighty-first Division of the American Expeditionary Forces in France, and Lillian, wife of Doctor Sherard, a dentist at Anderson.
HON. JOSEPH W. McCowx. A busy lifetime cov- ering a wide range of experience and useful service has been that of Joseph W. Mccown of Florence, who owns the ancestral plantation which has been the property of the MeCown family for many gen- erations. He has exerted himself in various direc- tions in business affairs, more particularly in bank- ing in recent years, and has also filled many offices of trust and honor in public affairs.
Mr. McCown was born on his father's plantation within a few miles of Florence, in what was then Darlington County, August 1, 1864. This planta- tion was originally a grant of land from King George II to an early ancestor of Mr. McCown. It comprised over 1700 acres, and practically all of this estate is now owned by Joseph W. McCown. The latter's father was Joseph James McCown, who was born on the plantation February 14. 1832, and died February 20, 1904. The mother was Emma Martha Nettles, who was born in the same county June 14, 1842, and died May 22, 1917. Her father, Gen. Joseph B. Nettles, was a prominent planter and citizen of Darlington County. Joseph James McCown and wife were married in June, 1862, and of their family of eight children, six sons and two daughters, the daughters and five of the sons are still living.
Joseph W. McCown grew up in the environment where he was born, acquired a district school educa- tion and training under private tutors, was early inducted into the experience of useful labor on the plantation, and completed his education in South Carolina College at Columbia, which he attended from 1884 until graduating in 1888. On leaving col- lege he went to Birmingham, Alabama, then a com- paratively new city, and engaged in railroad construc- tion work, and also assisted in laying out the indus- trial City of Bessemer, Alabama. He built up a rather extensive organization for contracting, and built several miles of streets in Huntsville, Alabama. The yellow fever of 1889 practically brought an end to his contracting work, and he then returned to his native state and home, and since then for over thirty years has kept a large share of his energies and inter- ests employed on the plantation. In 1892 Mr. Mc- Cown was elected clerk of court for Florence
County, and filled that office continuously for six- teen years, finally declining a renomination in order to concentrate his efforts upon his banking affairs.
In 1008 Mr. MeCown organized the First Na- tional Bank of Florence, and has continuously served as president. In connection with the First National he organized in 1910 under a state charter the Peoples Savings & Trust Company, and he is also president of this and is president of the First National Bank of Hartsville, South Carolina, and president of the Florence Ginning & Milling Com- pany, his son, Joseph W., Jr., being general manager.
Mr. McCown has become widely known over the state not only through his business connections but by a long and notable service in the State Senate, beginning in 1906 and continuing for three terms, covering twelve years. He was also democratic county chairman for sixteen years. He is prominent in Masonry, being past master of Hampton Lodge No. 204, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, past high priest of Campbell Chapter No. 31, Royal Arch Masons, is eminent commander of Forest Com- mandery No. 10, Knights Templar, is a member of the Mystic Shrine, of Harmony Lodge No. 8 of the . Knights of Pythias, and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
May 25, 1890, Mr. MeCown married Harriet Annie McCown, a daughter of Dr. Samuel O. McCown of Ebenezer Section. They have three children, Annie, Joseph W., Jr., and Mignon. Mention has already been made of Joseph W., Jr., as a business associate with his father. The daughter Annie is the wife of Lient. Thomas M. Ross, an attorney at McCor- mick, South Carolina.
ENOCH MARION DUCWORTH. Several of Ander- son County's best business men, farmers and most public spirited citizens bear the name Ducworth. One of them is Enoch Marion Ducworth, who has lived in that county for over sixty years, and is one of the largest land owners and ablest business men. Mr. Ducworth was born July 24, 1858, a son of William Russell and Frances ( Breazeale) Dueworth. The parents were also born and spent their lives in Anderson County, his father being a farmer. His father served as a Confederate soldier, and he and his wife were active members of the Baptist Church. Of their eleven children eight are still living.
Enoch Marion Dueworth grew up on the home farm and lived with his parents to the age of twen- ty-two. In 1886 he married Miss Miriam Martin, daughter of Welborn and Eugenia ( Kenyon) Mar- tin. To their marriage have been born six children : Oscar R., John W., Alice, Alma, Enoch Marion, Jr., . and Frances. The son E. M. Ducworth, Jr., was in the National army during a part of the late war, but was never sent overseas.
For twenty years Mr. Ducworth lived on the old homestead farm, which he bought and which was sold only recently. In 1907 he moved to his present fertile and well improved place. While his basic efforts have always been in agriculture he has for fifteen years or more become widely known over this section of the state as a dealer in mules. He has a large amount of good farm land and out of his prosperity has generously supported all local movements. He and his wife are members of the
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