USA > South Carolina > History of South Carolina > Part 50
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The seventh son and youngest child of David and Nancy (Kerr) Aiken was Augustus Milton Aiken, who was born at Winnsboro January 10, 1834. Ile was living at Charleston when the war broke out and was engaged in the cotton business there. He at once volunteered, becoming a mem- ber of Company C of the Seventh South Carolina Infantry. In 1864 he was made Ordnance Officer and assigned to Butler's Brigade of South Carolina Cavalry, and had the pleasure and distinction of being 'on the personal staff of that eminent South Carolinian, Maj .- Gen. M. C. Butler. With the close of the war he engaged in farming at "Stoney Point" and "Coronaca," and in 1867 removed to "Sunny- side," Greenwood, the home of his second wife. He had married in 1860 Emma Eliza Smith, who died July 30, 1864, at Winnsboro, the mother of no children. On May 23, 1866, he married Mary Ann Chapman Gillam.
Mary Ann Chapman Gillam was born January
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27, 1845, and died June 2, 1877. Her name introduces another notable family record into this brief chron- icle. She was a daughter of Robert Charles and Mary Sophia (Glenn) Gillam, whose children were named Mary Ann Chapman, Sarah Sophia, Jessie Louisa and Carrie Cornelia. Robert Charles Gillam was born August 13, 1820, and died September 18, 1897. His parents were Gen. James and Saralı (Satterwhite) Gillam. Gen. James Gillam was born in 1791 and died in 1878 at Greenwood, where he had lived for many years. He was a first cousin and intimate friend of John C. Calhoun. Gen. James Gillam's parents were Robert and Elizabeth (Caldwell) Gillam, and both Robert and his father Maj. Robert Gillam were soldiers of the Revolu- tionary war. Maj. Robert Gillam was a very carly settler in Newberry District. Elizabeth Caldwell, wife of Robert Gillam, Jr., was a daughter of Wil- liam and Rebecca Caldwell who came from Ireland, first settling in Pennsylvania, whence they removed to Charlotte County, Virginia, where William Cald- well died. His widow with her ten children in 1770 came to Newberry District, South Carolina, where she died in 1807 at the extreme age of ninety- nine. Her daughter was Martha Caldwell who became the wife of Patrick Calhoun and the mother . of South Carolina's most eminent historic figure, John C. Calhoun.
As noted above the mother of Mary Ann Chapman Gillam was Mary Sophia Glenn. Her parents were Dr. George W. and Mary Ann (Chapman) Glenn and her grandfather Col. David Glenn came from Ireland about 1774, settling in Newberry District, and served as adjutant in Col. James Giles' regi- ment during the War of the Revolution. He also represented Newberry District in the First Carolina Legislature. Dr. George W. Glenn married for his first wife Hannah Thompson Lawson. When he married Mary Ann Chapman she was the widow of Dr. John Hooker, a native of Connecticut, a graduate of Yale College, and long distinguished for his success as a lawyer at Columbia, South Caro- lina. Mary Ann Chapman was a daughter of Ger- shom and Mary (Carew) Chapman, and a sister of Rebecca Chapinan who married Dr. John Logan. Doctor Logan practiced medicine at Greenwood, South Carolina, and his son Dr. John Henry Logan is recalled as author of "History of Upper Sonth Carolina."
Augustus Milton Aiken died suddenly of angina pectoris August 9, 1906, at Charlotte, North Caro- lina, and was laid to rest beside his wife at Green- wood, South Carolina. He and his wife were active Presbyterians and he a Master Mason. By his marriage to Mary Ann Chapman Gillam he had three children: Hugh Kerr, James Gillam, Jessie Glenn Aiken, all of whom after the death of their mother, were reared by their aunt Mrs. Eliza Woodward.
This brings the record of the Aiken family to Hugh Kerr Aiken of Laurens, long prominent as a physician, banker and citizen of that community. He was born at Greenwood October 3, 1867. and attended public school in his native village and also at Washington, District of Columbia, while residing with his uncle D. Wyatt Aiken, then a member of Congress. He also pursued an elective two years'
course in South Carolina College, spent one year in the University of Maryland at Baltimore, and in 1800 received his M. D. degree from the Medical College of South Carolina at Charleston, with the first honors of his class. His student record gave him an appointment as interne in the City Hospital, where he remained one year. Doctor Aiken began practice at Laurens in 1891, and gave practically his undivided time to his professional interests for ten years. In the meantime and since he has been interested in the drug business, and was associated with one of the eminent physicians of Laurens the late Dr. Thomas McCoy until his death.
Doctor Aiken was a director of the Laurens National Bank when by reason of the sudden death of the cashier an emergency arose and at the urgent request of the other directors Doctor Aiken assumed the duties of cashier. He took the office as a temporary responsibility, but subsequently was reg- ularly chosen cashier, and has since followed bank- ing entirely, giving up his professional practice al- together. He served as cashier from 1902 to 1918, and since the latter year has been president of this old and substantial institution. He and his wife are active members of the Presbyterian Church and for several years he was a deacon and is now one of the ruling elders.
Doctor Aiken married March 30, 1893, Mary Chalmers Thames of Charleston. They have two sons, Hugh Kerr, Jr., a chemist at Niagara Falls, New York, and a graduate of Davidson College, North Carolina, where his younger brother Robert Chalmers, is now a student.
FRANCIS HOPKINS WESTON has rounded out a period of thirty years as a member of the Columbia bar, but his many financial and business interests and relations with his home city and the state at large have been almost as noteworthy as his record as an able and industrions lawyer.
Mr. Weston, who representes one of the oldest families of South Carolina, was born near Eastover in Richland County October 10, 1866. Mr. Weston is an alumnus of South Carolina College, now the University of South Carolina, and it is noteworthy that his father graduated from the same school in 1849 and his grandfather in 1814. He is de- scended from William Weston, who settled in North Carolina prior to the Revolution. Several of his descendants were American patriots in the war of the Revolution. Francis H. Weston is a son of Dr. William and Caroline (Woodward) Weston. His father received a liberal education and practiced medicine for a time, butt soon gave up that to give his entire time to his extensive landed interest. He was an officer in the Confederate army and five of his brothers fought in the same cause.
Francis H. Weston attended Thompson's Academy at Columbia, the famous Bingham Military School at Mebane, North Carolina, and for two years was a student in the South Carolina Military Acad- emy at Charleston. He then entered South Caro- lina College where he graduated in 1888, receiving the degrees A. B. and LL. B. in the same year. Since then he has been continuously in practice as a member of the Columbia bar and either individu- ally or in his firm has represented some very im-
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portant legal interests. At one time he was president of the Farmers and Mechanics Bank of Columbia and has interests in a number of financial and industrial enterprises. He owns some of the exten- sive lands upon which the Weston family lived for generations in Richland County.
Mr. Weston represented his home county in the Lower House of the State Legislature ten years, and later was elected to two terms in the Senate. He resigned his seat in the Senate to accept ap- pointment by President Wilson, as United States District Attorney February 18, 1914. For six years he was a member of the Board of Trustees of South Carolina College, and has been one of the com- manding officers in the Sons of Confederate Veter- ans. He served as Judge Advocate General, South Carolina National Guard, and has long been inter- ested in military affairs. Mr. Weston is a member of the American Bar Association, and also the State Bar Association. However, outside of his profession and business he has found the greatest pleasure in his home life, and as a reader and student of history and general literature. He is one of the vice presidents of the State Historical Society and is a member of the Episcopal Church.
April 15, 1896, he married Miss Amy S. Shool- bred, daughter of John S. and Fannie (Adams) Shoolbred. To their marriage were born five chil- dren, all living.
ROBERT RUTLEDGE KING, former proprietor of the Chiquola Hotel at Anderson, had a long and active experience of a quarter of a century in the hotel business both in South Carolina and in other states, but is now devoted to the quiet and congenial occupation of farming and has a delightful country home near the City of Anderson.
He was born near Iva in Anderson County De- cember 26, 1873, and comes of an old and inter- esting family of Anderson County. His parents were Rev. Woodward Holland and Paratine Mahala (Pratt) King, the former born near Belton in Anderson County. The grandfather was Reverend Robert, better known as "Bobbie" King, son of Billie King a native of Virginia and an early settler at Pendleton, South Carolina. Rev. Robert King did a notable and beneficent work in this section of South Carolina as a Baptist minister and labored unselfishly and strenuously for the promotion of the gospel and the uplift of many communities. His son followed him in the same profession, and both were likewise farmers. They were not only militant churchmen but soldiers of their country as well. Bobbie King fought in the Mexican war and lived to be eighty-eight years of age. His son was a Confederate soldier and died aged fifty-nine. While on the military record of the family mention should be made of Charles G. King, a brother of Robert R. Charles G., was with the United States troops on the Mexican border and soon after returning home joined the Thirtieth Division, Machine Gun Battalion of the One Hundred and Eighteenth Infantry. He was with that noted regiment of the Thirtieth Division in some of the fiercest fighting on the western front, when the Hindenburg line was broken in France. He was in France for eleven months, going overseas in May, 1918. He received
his honorable discharge in the spring of 1919 as a sergeant, and is now associated with his brother on the farm.
Robert Rutledge King acquired a good common school education and lived on a farm to the age of sixteen when his father removed to Seneca. In that town Mr. King became clerk in a local hotel in 1892. That opened a new field for him, and one in which his particular qualifications had successful scope. During the next fourteen years he was clerk in many of the leading hotels in large cities both north and west. He was at St. Louis during the Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904. His thorough experience eminently qualified him for his duties as manager of the Chiquola Hotel at Anderson, of which he became proprietor in 1906. He sold his interests in 1917, and then removed to his farm north of the City of Anderson.
Mr. King married Miss Ellie Hudson of North Carolina in 1904. They have three children.
CHARLES HARDY FAIR, M. D. A resident of Green- ville since 1911 Doctor Fair has built up a reputa- tion as a general surgeon which now extends over upper South Carolina and so well thought of is he among his professional associates that he was elected in December, 1918, as president of the Greenville County Medical Society.
Doctor Fair was born at Warrenton, Fauquier County, Virginia, in 1881, son of Mr. and Mrs. Rob- ort Fair. His father was born in Ireland, came to Virginia when a young man and settled at Warren- ton and died in 1886. Doctor Fair's mother is a na- tive of Virginia and member of a prominent family of that state. Her father was Thomas Hardy. Hardy County, now in West Virginia, was named for this family.
Doctor Fair for nearly four years attended Bethel Academy near Warrenton. This was a very fine preparatory school and while he was a student it was presided over by Doctor Alderman, the distin- guished educator now president of the University of Virginia. Doctor Fair for several years worked in railroad offices and in the drug business, and took his professional preparation in George Washington Uni- versity in Washington, and was graduated with the class of 1909. For two years he practiced in his home town of Warrenton, before locating in Green- ville. He has done considerable post-graduate work in New York and other clinical centers, and as a re- sult of this training and of his natural talents now confines his practice to general surgery. He is a member of the County, State, Tri-State and South- ern Medical societies and the American Medical Association.
Doctor Fair married Miss Anna Akers of At- lanta, Georgia. Her father is a successful cotton broker. Doctor and Mrs. Fair have two daughters, Elizabeth H. and Annie A.
WILLIAM ELLIOTT. While various honors have been bestowed upon him so that his name is widely known throughout the state, William Elliott is primarily a lawyer and so far as possible has com- pletely devoted himself to his profession. The extent and character of his associations give him a front rank in the Columbia bar.
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He was born at Beaufort, South Carolina, March 30, 1872, son of William and Sarah ( Stuart) Elliott. His father was one of the prominent lawyers of the state and for fourteen years served in Congress, representing the seventh and later the first district.
Consistent with his father's position in the pro- fession, William Elliott spent his boyhood in a comfortable home and with every advantage and influence. He was especially fond of athletic sports and pursued them to the permanent benefit of his health. He attended preparatory schools, being a student for several years in the Episcopal High School at Alexandria, Virginia, and in 1891 entered the University of Virginia, from which he grad- uated in 1893. Soon 'after being admitted to the bar he began practice in his father's office at Beau- fort, but later removed to Columbia. More and more of his time in recent years has been taken up with corporation practice. He has represented as attorney the Capital City Mills, the Richland Cotton Mills, Granby Cotton Mills, Olympia Cotton Mills (now constituting Pacific Mills), and the Street Railway, Light and Power Company of Columbia.
Mr. Elliott was commissioned a lieutenant of the navy in 1898, and served until October of that year during the war with Spain. In 1901 he was ap- pointed code commissioner of the state, and for ten years published the Act of the State Legislature. During the great war he was Federal Food Ad- ministrator for South Carolina. He is a member of the Masonic order, of the Delta Psi fraternity and · is active in democratic politics. November 15, 1900, Mr. Elliott married Miss Leila G. Sams, daughter of Barnwell S. Sams, of Beaufort. Mr. and Mrs. Elliott have three children.
LAWRENCE THEODORE CAMPBELL. While Anderson County has long been noted for its prosperous farms and fariners, some of the best homes in that county have been created literally out of the labors and good management of their owners. One of them is that of Lawrence Theodore Campbell, who started life a comparatively poor man, and today owns a beautiful farm in Centerville Township. He has many acres of good soil and his beautiful country residence was of his own construction and lias all the conveniences of many modern city homes includ- ing water system and electric lighting.
He was born in Rock Mill Township of Anderson County November 15, 1869, a son of David Alex- ander Evans and Nancy Jane (Eskew) Campbell. His father was born in Rock Mill Township August 3. 1846, and was in the Confederate uniform for a few weeks before the war closed, getting to Charles- ton about the time hostilties ceased. After the war he followed farming, and his death was due to a runaway and occurred July 21, 1883. He was a son of Alexander and Hannah (Terrell.) Campbell, both natives of Anderson County. In church faith he was a Presbyterian. He was not quite thirty- seven years of age when he died. His widow sur- vived him many years, dying in her seventieth year. and she kept her children together and provided for them on the home farm. She was born in Anderson County May 16, 1846, daughter of Wil- liam Elliott and Catherine (Burriss) Eskew. She
was a member of the Baptist Church. Her children were Thomas and William, twins, Lawrence T., Minnie, Kate, John D. and Ideal.
Lawrence T. Campbell was about fourteen years old when his father died and he remained at home with his mother assisting in the labors of the farm until he was twenty-one. On November 30, 1890, he married Mamie Keasler, daughter of David Keasler of Pendleton Township. By a strange coincidence Mrs. Campbell's father also lost his life in 1883 as a result of a runaway accident. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell are the parents of nine children: Blanche, Corinne, Ervin, Lois, Thrace, Ruth, Claudie, Tommie and Margaret. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell are active members of the Baptist Church.
FRANK GARY TOMPKINS, senior partner in the law firm of Tompkins, Barnett & McDonald, and assistant division counsel for the Southern Railway, is one of the scholarly lawyers and most forceful citizens of Columbia, where he has been in active practice nearly twenty years.
Mr. Tompkins was born in Edgefield, now Green- wood, County, South Carolina, December 11, 1874. His father Daniel Holland Tompkins, a native of Edgefield County, was a son of Samuel S. and Amelia (Holland) Tompkins, also of Edgefield County. Daniel H. Tompkins served in the Con- federate army as a scout under Gen. Mart Gary. He finished his education at Edinburgh, Scotland, and from 1894 to 1898 was secretary of state of South Carolina. He died January 15, 1919. Daniel H. Tompkins married Louise Rook, daughter of Dr. W. J. and Elizabeth (Gary) Rook of Newberry County.
Frank G. Tompkins graduated Bachelor of Science from Clemson College in 1896, being one of the first students at the opening of that institution. He re- ceived his law degree from the South Carolina University in 1898, but instead of beginning practice accepted the opportunity to serve his country as a member of the United States Volunteer forces in the war with Spain. He was first lieutenant and battalion adjutant of the First South Carolina Vol- unteer Infantry from May to December, 1898. Early in the following year Mr. Tompkins began practice at Charleston, and in January, 1900, moved to Co- lumbia and has been uninterruptedly devoted to the law and his increasing business affairs ever since. He was appointed assistant division counsel for the Southern Railway in June, 1915.
Mr. Tompkins is a democrat of sound and pro- gressive tendencies and represented Richland Coun- ty in the Legislature in 1907-08. He is a member of the Chi Phi college fraternity, is a Mason and Knight of Pythias, member of the Columbia Club, was a charter member of the Metropolitan Club until its merger with the Columbia Club, and also belongs to the Ridgewood Club, South Carolina Club, and Columbia Cotillion Club.
December 11, 1906, at Barnwell, South Carolina, he married Martha Ayer Aldrich. Mrs. Tompkins was a resident of Columbia from her marriage until her death October 21, 1918, and was the daughter of Judge Robert and Sophie (Bonham) Aldrich. Her father Robert Aldrich was a son of Judge A. P. Aldrich and for many years was a practicing lawyer
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at Barnwell from 1865 to 1907, when he was elected judge of the Second District, and was on the beach until his death. Her mother Sophie Bonham was the daughter of Gen. M. L. Bonham, governor of South Carolina for one term during the Civil war. Mr. Tompkins is the father of three children : Frank Gary, Jr., Martha Aldrich and Louise Rook Tomp- kins.
JUDGE WALTER M. Scorr. Since Judge Scott has been Probate Judge of Greenville County, the pco- ple of that community have felt that the adminis- tration of many complex and delicate problems of adjustment, equity and all the difficult phases of the settlement of estates and property rights have been in most efficient hands. Judge Scott is one of the able lawyers of South Carolina. He was born in Greenville County, October 21, 1877. His grand- father John Scott brought his family to America from County Antrim, near Belfast, Ireland, in 1849, and located at that time in Greenville County. Judge Scott is a son of William and Virginia (Kinnan) Scott. His father was a boy when brought to this country. Judge Scott grew up on a farin, had his primary education in the public schools, and spent four years in the University of South Carolina, graduating from the literary department in the class of 1905 and receiving his LL. B. degree in 1907. In the latter year he was admitted to the bar and for several years has enjoyed the secure honors and prestige of one of the prominent members of the Greenville bar. He was elected and served one term, 1912-13, in the Lower House of the General Assembly, representing Greenville County. He was elected to the office of Probate Judge in 1914.
Judge Scott is a member of the Presbyterian Church and is president of the local alumni associa- tion of the University of South Carolina. He mar- ried Miss Fannie Davis of Greenville, daughter of Rev. Dr. E. P. Davis, a widely known Presbyterian minister.
VINCENT F. MARTIN. In early life Vincent F. Martin made a record as a brave and efficient sol- dier of the Confederate army which has justified the honorary title of captain by which his friends have known him for over half a century. Captain Martin since the war has played a varied and active role in several South Carolina communities. He has been a resident of Oconee County for thirty years and is now judge of the Probate Court. Pos- sessing an ample experience of men and business, he has the prompt judgment and powers of decision and the kindly sympathies which make him an ideal occupant of this important office.
He was born in Beaufort County, South Carolina, November 8, 1843. a son of William E. and Eloise B. (Hayne) Martin. He is of Revolutionary stock on both sides and the Martin, Hayne and William- son families have long been distinguished in South Carolina. His paternal grandmother was a Wil- liamson. The town of Martinsville in this state takes its name from the family. The Martins trace their ancestry back to England, whence they went to Ireland and from there to Virginia and thence to South Carolina, settling in Edgefield County. Judge Martin's grandfather William D. Martin was
a distinguished lawyer and jurist and at one time represented South Carolina in Congress.
Captain Martin's father was a native of Beau- fort County and his mother of the City of Charles- ton. They resided for years at Gellisorville and in the City of Charleston, where Vincent Martin was reared. He had just passed the examinations in South Carolina College when he responded to his state's call for troops in its defense and in January, 1861, enlisted in the First Rifle Regiment, in the Carolina Light Infantry. His father commanded a regiment with the rank of colonel in the South Carolina Volunteers. Two of his brothers were also Confederate soldiers. In the fall of 186t Vin- cent Martin was transferred to the Charleston Light Dragoons, and while on picket duty one night he received a severe shot gun wound in both legs that disqualified him for duty for several months. Mean- while he was advanced to the rank of lieutenant in the First South Carolina Regular Infantry and in the fall of 1864 was made captain of Company A, Brooks Battalion. When the war closed he was serving as first lieutenant of the South Carolina Infantry.
After the war Captain Martin farmed in Beau- fort County and in 1868 he married Miss Lucia Harrison, a daughter of James W. Harrison of An- derson County. In 1869 he moved to that county and for many years was associated with the late Col. Francis E. Harrison, his wife's uncle in exten- sive business as merchants and manufacturers at the old Town of Andersonville. In 1886 Captain Martin was appointed traveling agent of public lands under the secretary of state for South Carolina. This position he held for three years.
In August, 1889, he located at Walhalla and from 1895 for four years was in charge of the public schools of Oconce County as superintendent. In 1905 he removed to his mountain farm in Oconee County and lived on it eight years. He was elected probate judge to fill an unexpired term in 1912, and has been giving all his time to the duties of that office since January, 1913. He has twice been regu- larly elected to the office. Judge Martin is a demo- crat and is a thorough Southerner. He is a member of the Episcopal Church. In 1895 his first wife died leaving no children. In 1917 he married Eliza Kelley of Mount Olive, North Carolina.
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