USA > South Carolina > Williamsburg County > History of Williamsburg; something about the people of Williamsburg County, South Carolina, from the first settlement by Europeans about 1705 until 1923. > Part 34
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Since Williamsburg had so many more negro voters than whites, the Republican county candidates were elected, but on that day General Wade Hampton and a white man's legislature were chosen and South Carolina sang its song of deliverance from negro domination. The decade between 1866 and 1876 made the Republican party synonymous with negro domination to South Carolinians.
There is much of the heroic in the history of South Carolina. When one considers the War of the Revolution in this State, he must believe that human nature there and then reached its apex. When he surveys the period from
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1861 until 1865, he wonders if men and women may go farther toward that which is most beautiful in service. But no man who knows the history of South Carolina of 1876 hesitates in deciding that this was the time when con- ditions called for most from men in the State, and found it. Even the most idealistic philosophers sometimes feel that "the end justifies the means." This year of our Lord, 1876, in South Carolina took men far afield from dilet- tante ethical idealism. It is a long, long story, the half of which has never been told. Men seem to have feared, even when they knew, to tell the whole truth; but when the God of Things, sitting as a refiner and purifier of sil- ver, looked through those fierce fires into His Vessel, He saw His own image reflected.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
ANOTHER WILLIAMSBURG.
Williamsburg groaned and travailed in pain from 1866 until 1876 when another Williamsburg, the child of rape, was born. But the mother blood was strong and virile.
Antebellum Williamsburg was an aristocracy. Every planter had an overseer for his negro slaves, so there were practically as many men of the overseer class as of the planters. Sometimes these overseers doubted that God Almighty wisely ruled the Universe, but they never ques- tioned the omniscience of their employers. The planters were all natives to the soil. Their ancestors had been granted this land before the American commonwealth was organized, and these descendants owned it by every right- ful title. These overseers were "birds of passage." They came, they saw, they could not evercome. The stronger ones departed into the West. One-tenth of the population of antebellum Williamsburg absolutely controlled. The nine-tenths knew little and cared less about matters of State.
Another force made supreme this nine-tenths in Wil- liamsburg during the Reconstruction. There is a law of Life, not known but felt, which spirit and matter obey in moving towards that "one far off divine event." The work- ing of things under this law made what is known as the Reconstruction in South Carolina. The unlimited de- mocracy which the abolition hate dominating element in the North forced on the South could not withstand the strength fighting it. The old aristocracy could not over- come the powers against it-all at once. By compro- mise, the old aristocracy yielded to the newly arrived Caucasians the right to vote, thus bringing about the white aristocracy since dominating.
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One fearful result of unlimited white suffrage in Wil- liamsburg and in South Carolina has been the lowering of the standard for qualification for public service. So many times the "natural ruling element" among the whites has been defeated at the poles that the majority of this class has seemingly lost interest in determining South Carolina's temporal affairs. The conservative class, prepared by blood and education, does not usually offer candidates for office, nor show a virile interest in elections. The outcome of this has been that the "bottom rail" is nearly always "on top." Certainly, many of the conservative class have held places of power in the new State, but never since the War between the Sections has the "natural ruling element" held complete control of South Carolina.
A dual state government was functioning in Columbia for some time after the election in November, 1876. The Democrats claimed that General Wade Hampton had been elected Governor and the Republicans maintained that D. H. Chamberlain had been legally chosen. Maxmilian Jacobs was elected Clerk of the Court and Louis Jacobs Sheriff of Williamsburg in 1876. Maxmilian's commis- sion as clerk was signed by Wade Hampton as Governor of South Carolina while Louis' commission as sheriff was signed about the same time by D. H. Chamberlain as Gov- ernor of South Carolina. These commissions of the Jacobs brothers, as Williamsburg County officials, were both accepted by the Courts and are recorded on the same page in the Journal of the Court of General Sessions of Williamsburg County. Finally, General Hampton was recognized as the legally elected and duly qualified Gov- ernor of the State and Chamberlain and his nefarious crew surrendered. Then ended negro domination in South Carolina.
Williamsburg elected the Republican candidates in November, 1876, since negroes then voted and the County
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had an overwhelming negro majority. S. A. Swails, sen- ator, John Evans, James Peterson, and William Scott, members of the House of Representatives, were all ne- groes. It must be remembered that although the county delegation from Williamsburg was composed of negroes, there was a working majority of white Democrats in the State Legislature. M. J. Hirsch was at this time elected Solicitor of this judicial district. Although placed in office by negro votes, Mr. Hirsch used common sense and good judgment in his official conduct.
Of these Republicans who controlled the County during the Reconstruction, Louis Jacobs and M. J. Hirsch had been faithful Confederate soldiers and, during their office holding under Republican commissions, they always showed reasonable consideration to the natural ruling element. The venerable H. J. Brown says that when his father, Levi Brown, was killed by negroes during this period, he reported the matter to Sheriff Jacobs and he was commendably zealous in fulfilling the functions of his office. Once during this period Major S. D. M. Byrd came to Kingstree for the purpose of paying his taxes. He had managed to secure $30.00 in money and that was about all the currency he could command. His taxes were due and he had computed them at about this amount. Major Byrd went to the office of the Tax Collector to pay them. The Tax Collector informed him that they amounted to $100.00. Major Byrd realized that this was extortion and became excusably infuriated, yet was power- less. He went over to the office of M. J. Hirsh, Esq., and told him his story. Mr. Hirsch took Major Byrd's $30.00 and went to the office of the Tax Collector and returned with a receipt in full for Major Byrd's taxes for that year. Williamsburg remembers much to the credit and little to the condemnation of Louis Jacobs and M. J. Hirsch, except that they were Republicans.
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The Democratic party has elected every candidate for office in Williamsburg County since 1876. A result of the State election in 1876 was the amendment to the Consti- tution restricting suffrage by requiring an educational qualification or property ownership essential. The prac- tical working of this constitutional amendment was the almost entire elimination of the negro as a voter in the elections in this State. Some negroes have voted in Wil- liamsburg since '76, but the spirit of South Carolina has been and is that only whites shall cast ballots.
The transformation wrought by white control of the County within a very short period is shown from the Grand Jury reports of 1876, and those of 1880. In 1876, this grand inquest from the body of the County declared "confusion worse confounded" everywhere; that the County was fearfully in debt from the fraud and negli- gence of its officials; that the Republican built jail was defective in construction and insecure and that prisoners escaped at will; that the roads were generally impassable and almost all bridges dangerous; that the books and papers of the County Commissioners were unintelligible and showed shameless criminal use of public funds; that the treasury was empty and jurors were vainly hawking County orders about the streets of Kingstree; that crime was prevalent and the punishment of criminals almost entirely neglected.
The Grand Jury, May term, 1880, said: "We congratu- late the good people of the County on the reduction of crime and the establishment of law and order in our midst. At the present term, but one bill of indictment has been submitted to the Grand Jury, which is high evidence of the law abiding condition of the County. This is truly a matter for congratulation and we can but hope that under the just administration of the law this excellent condition of things will continue." The Grand Jury,
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March 1883, reported that the County was out of debt for the first time since 1866.
In 1883, the second story of the County Court House was burned. When the fire was discovered, the county officials who had their records in their offices on the ground floor very quickly removed their books and papers from these offices. The second story was burning for three days, during which time the officials learned that their offices were fire proof and began using them before the embers above had ceased to burn. It was then remem- bered that Architect Robert Mills, the same out of whose mind had come plans for the Treasury Building and the Washington monument, in the District of Columbia, had erected this old Court House in his younger days and that he builded well. Repairs were soon made by a committee composed of G. P. Nelson, S. I. Montgomery, and J. W. Gamble.
In 1901, an addition was made to the south end of the Court House, so that the building became as now, a dig- nified, substantial structure about fifty by one hundred feet. The Grand Jury, December 1901, said: "We con- gratulate the County upon the great improvements made in repairs, additions, and alterations of the Court House and offices and trust the good work will keep apace with the present progress of the County. Contractor W. R. Funk deserves the commendation of the citizens of the County for the good architecture and excellent work he has done. We recommend as a further improvement that a neat and substantial fence be erected around the Court House 25 feet from the Court House on all sides thereof, giving a good park to the town and keeping out horses and cattle from the square. We also recommend that parties who are now using a part of the public square for their own private purposes be made to pay a mere nominal sum as rent so that no question can arise against the County's title."
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There has been a continuous growth towards civic righteousness in Williamsburg since the Redemption of the second '76. Unmistakable evidence of its law abiding citizenship of forty thousand souls is found in the fact that all civil and criminal courts for the first two terms of 1923 were annulled for the reason that pending business did not warrant the sessions. Faithful and efficient county officers for more than forty years have helped make such a condition. Here follow their names.
In 1878, Captain S. W. Maurice was elected senator but died before the convening of the Senate. Major S. D. M. Byrd was chosen to succeed him and served until 1888, when Dr. A. H. Williams was elected. Dr. Williams died in 1908 and was succeeded as senator by W. L. Bass, who held office for one term of four years. E. C. Epps became senator in 1912 and served eight years. He was succeeded by Hugh Mccutchen who died in office. S. M. Beasley filled his unexpired term. In 1922, S. A. Graham was elected senator.
The members of the House of Representatives since 1876 have been : 1878, J. R. Lambson, Z. R. Fulmore, and S. J. Graham; 1880, J. B. Chandler, T. M. Gilland, and Dr. Robert Henry ; 1882, R. H. Kimball, William Cooper, and W. S. Camlin; 1886, J. B. Chandler, John A. Kelley, and Edwin Harper; 1890, H. E. Eaddy, S. A. Graham, and D. L. Brown; 1892-1898, J. H. Blackwell, E. R. Lesesne, and W. J. Singletary; 1898, George W. Davis, John S. Graham, and W. H. Kennedy; 1900, John S. Graham, C. W. Wolfe, and S. W. Gamble; 1902, J. D. Carter, Theodore B. Gourdin, and W. M. Keels; 1904, Theodore B. Gourdin, W. L. Bass, and P. S. Wall; 1906, W. L. Bass, John S. Graham, and Philip H. Stoll; 1908, W. B. Bryan, John S. Graham, and R. H. Kellahan; 1910, W. B. Bryan, J. Davis Carter, and J. S. Graham; 1912, B. B. Chandler, J. C. Graham, and R. H. Kellahan; 1914, R. J. Kirk, W. J. Smiley, and R. H. Kellahan ; 1916,
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HISTORY OF WILLIAMSBURG
J. J. M. Graham, S. A. Graham, and R. K. Wallace; 1918, S. O. Eaddy, S. A. Graham, and W. H. Welch; 1920, W. O. Camlin, D. E. McCutchen, and W. O. Godwin; 1922, E. L. Ard, W. T. Rowell, and F. R. Hemingway.
Dr. John F. Brockinton was the first Democratic sheriff after the Reconstruction. He was elected in 1880 and served until he died May 15, 1881. He was succeeded by his son, Joseph E. Brockinton, who held the office until 1892. James Dodd Daniel was sheriff from 1892 until 1900. George J. Graham was elected in 1900 and remained in the office until he retired voluntarily, being eighty years old, in 1920. Henry S. Gamble, incumbent, succeeded him.
The Clerks of the Court since 1880 have been: J. H. Keels, Swingle Graham, W. W. Grayson, C. W. McClam, B. C. Whitehead, S. McBride Scott, H. O. Britton, and John D. Britton, incumbent; Auditors, Thomas McCut- chen, J. W. Ferrell, H. Z. Hanna, J. D. Daniel, and J. J. B. Montgomery since 1902; Treasurers, W. R. Brock- inton, J. M. Cooper, R. D. Rollins, W. W. Johnston, J. W. Cook, and R. B. Smith ; Superintendents of Education : Dr. S. D. McGill, Captain S. J. Snowden, J. J. B. Mont- gomery, N. D. Lesesne, William Cooper, J. G. Mccullough, Raymond Speigner, J. V. McElveen, and M. F. Mont- gomery; Judges of Probate: J. P. Mouzon, C. W. Mc- Clam, W. W. Grayson, J. Z. McConnell, E. M. Smith, W. E. Hanna, S. McBride Scott, P. M. Brockinton, and W. E. Snowden.
Immediately after the War between the Sections, the office of County Judge was created for Williamsburg, and Lieutenant Colonel John G. Pressley elected Judge. He resigned to migrate to California in 1869, and Lieutenant Texas B. Logan succeeded him. Judge Logan soon re- signed and moved to Tennessee, where he became a dis- tinguished Jurist. Charles W. Wolfe, Sr., succeeded Judge Logan, holding the office until it was abolished by the "black and tan" legislature.
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In 1880, the following were elected County Commis- sioners : W. E. Nesmith, C. W. McClam, and J. M. Owens, Sr. A. P. McCormick was Clerk to this Board. Among the commissioners since that time have been : J. W. Gamble, G. P. Nelson, S. I. Montgomery, J. J. Morris, T. S. Stuart, W. R. Brown, Robert Epps, Charles R. Lesesne, W. B. McCollough, J. J. Graham, B. B. Chandler, W. H. Camp- bell, W. W. Kennedy, R. D. Blakeley, S. J. Singletary, O. R. Eaddy, J. C. - Everett, L. P. Kinder, D. E. Mc- Cutchen, J. M. Brown, R. B. Fitch, B. N. Stuckey, H. D. Ferrell, Bartow Smith, J. T. Eaddy, C. A. Heins, J. W. Chandler, J. M. Williamson, R. W. Smith, and J. R. Barrow. Those who were clerks to the Board prior to 1905, when the clerk became a district official with the title of Supervisor, were: W. L. Bass, E. G. Chandler, J. J. Steele, J. J. B. Montgomery, J. N. Hammett, B. M. Montgomery, J. G. Mccutchen. Among the Super- visors have been B. B. Chandler, J. J. Graham, J. N. Hammett, and S. J. Singletary, incumbent.
Democratic party primaries held some time before the general election in November determine things in South Carolina. Practically all whites are enrolled on Demo- cratic club lists and nearly every one votes in the pri- maries. So certain are the candidates chosen in these Democratic primaries for election, that very few vote on regular election days. Some negroes are registered voters, not a sufficient number to stimulate interest in general elections.
When the amendment to the Constitution of the United States forced women suffrage on South Carolina, there were probably less than a dozen men in Williamsburg who would admit favoring it. So strong was the senti- ment opposing the voting of women that not a candidate in Williamsburg in the campaign of 1922 would openly advocate the registering of women on the club lists, lest such create hostility towards him among the men. There
.
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HISTORY OF WILLIAMSBURG
were, however, about three hundred white women in the County who registered on the Democratic Club Rolls and voted in the August primaries. The first woman in Wil- liamsburg who registered for voting was Mrs. Helen Scott Boddie.
In 1922, there were twenty-seven Democratic clubs in Williamsburg, with a total enrollment of 2,879 voters qualified for the primaries. These were as follows: Bethel, 33; Black River, 40; Bloomingdale, 44; Cades, 245; Cedar Swamp, 75; Central, 63; Earles, 158; Gour- dins, 29; Greelyville, 249; Hebron, 92; Hemingway, 229; Indiantown, 102; Kingstree, No. 1, 380; Kingstree, No. 2, 241; Lanes, 79; Lenuds, 55; Morrisville, 54; Muddy Creek, 80; Nesmith, 38; Oak Ridge, 33; Pergamos, 83; Poplar Hill, 60; Salters, 112; Sandy Bay, 67; Suttons, 42; Trio, 150; Workman, 47; A. C. Hinds was chairman of the County Democratic Executive Committee and Wal- ter Wilson was county member of the State Democratic Executive Committee.
CHAPTER XXXV.
PUBLIC EDUCATION SINCE 1880.
Dr. Samuel D. McGill became County School Commis- sioner on January 1, 1881, and filled that office for ten years. The other members of this school commission were T. M. Gilland and M. J. Hirsch. It was during this decade that public schools became rooted in the soil of Williams- burg. Prior to this time it had been considered beneath the dignity of the "better element" to patronize "free schools," and universal education had not been regarded as practical, possible, or even a "consummation devoutly to be wished."
Williamsburg was especially fortunate in having these three men to determine its school affairs during those ten formative years. This decade may be called the silent epoch in the history of the County. It was probably the most directing period this section ever experienced. Dr. McGill had taught private schools in various parts of the district for many years, knew everybody intimately, and had the saving sense of humor. Mr. Gilland was a trained lawyer, knew how to find facts out of conflicting testi- mony, and was firm and resolute in his convictions. Mr. Hirsch had remarkable skill in pouring oil on troubled waters. Hardly any man who ever lived in this County ever settled more teapot tempests than he. It will be recalled that when the Democrats elected Mr. Hirsch to this commission he was serving under Republican elec- tion as Solicitor of the district. Fortune Barr, a Demo- cratic negro and an interesting mimic, said one day while entertaining a street crowd, "Mr. Hirsch he see de Re- publican ship wuz sinkin', made one jump en lit on de deck uv de Democratic boat."
This commission divided the County into seventeen school districts and appointed the following trustees for
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HISTORY OF WILLIAMSBURG
the schools in the several districts: 1. E. R. Lesesne, E. P. Montgomery, S. J. Taylor; 2. T. E. Salters, J. M. Cook, J. A. Ferrel; 3. J. J. Graham, A. W. Chandler, W. B. McCollough; 4. E. J. Parker, A. J. Parsons, R. P. Hinnant; 5. D. Z. Martin, J. W. Marshall, W. S. Camlin ; 6. W. H. McElveen, J. B. Price, J. M. McClam ; 7. J. A. Nexsen, A. J. Smith, William Scott; 8. W. D. Snowden, J. S. Mccullough, Dr. J. R. Brockin- ton; 9. S. T. Cooper, J. C. Josey, Rev. J. M. Kirton ; 10. J. McB. Graham, J. P. Epps, Rev. Ben Brown; 11. G. S. Barr, William Cooper, Julian Wilson; 12. Cap- tain J. F. Carraway, W. D. Owens, J. B. Davis; 13. W. R. Singletary, S. Kirby; 14. D. L. Brown, J. A. H. Cockfield, T. E. James; 15. H. H. Singletary, M. L. Jones, W. J. Hatfield; 16. W. J. Lee, L. Stackley, H. Z. Graham; 17. B. C. Whitehead, R. A. Rouse.
The entire amount of money spent for all public school purposes in the County from January 1, 1881, until Jan- uary 1, 1891, including buildings and repairs, furniture and fixtures, teachers' salaries and current expenses was $52,393.18. Three times as much money was used for paying teachers' salaries and current expenses in the Kingstree school alone in 1922 as was spent for all school purposes in the whole County in 1882. It must be re- called that Williamsburg County has since that time lost a considerable part of its most populous territory to Florence County.
Among the white public school teachers of that period were: J. L. Barley, Mrs. S. L. Barrineau, Miss Sue T. Barr, Miss C. A. Blackwell, Miss M. A. Brockinton, Miss L. A. Brockinton, Miss F. W. Britton, W. R. Brown, J. J. Brown, Mrs. M. A. Carter, Miss Dora V. Chandler, Mrs. Ella Collette, Mrs. M. E. Cockfield, Miss Mutie Cooper, Miss Mollie Epps, Isaac Epps, Rev. Martin Eaddy, Miss L. N. Ervin, Miss S. M. Ervin, Miss L. A. Elliott, Miss M. V. Graham, Miss A. M. Henry, A. W. Jackson,
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PUBLIC EDUCATION SINCE 1880
Miss Sue R. Keels, Miss M. F. Keels, Miss M. R. Lifrage, N. D. Lesesne, Miss Augusta McConnell, Mrs. M. B. Mc- Connell, J. Z. McConnell, T. M. McCutchen, W. W. Mat- thews, Miss M. L. Montgomery, J. J. B. Montgomery, Mrs. S. A. Nelson, J. W. Nelson, W. E. Nesmith, W. P. Nesmith, Mrs. N. O. Poston, Mrs. S. M. Salters, S. R. Mouzon, Mrs. Carrie Mouzon, T. M. Scott, Rev. J. W. Shell, E. J. Smith, Albert Singleton, Miss H. S. Singletary, W. E. Snowden, J. P. Shaw, Mrs. A. L. Simmons, S. J. Snowden, T. B. Gourdin, J. F. Watson, J. T. Wilder, Miss Florence Work- man, Mrs. E. P. Wolfe.
Some of the colored school teachers were: Augustus Brown, J. D. Barr, J. S. Cooper, Mrs. L. M. Cooper, B. L. Cooper, J. S. Fulmore, Jack Gordon, Mrs. H. Hanna, W. M. Hanna, S. S. Hanna, Miss N. A. Harper, Miss M. E. Mouzon, H. H. Mouzon, M. M. Mouzon, M. D. McBride, James M. Eaddy, Miss R. Z. Montgomery, J. C. Pender- grass, W. J. Parsons, Mrs. M. A. Ransom, Dick Salters, J. E. Singletary, W. D. Scott, G. K. Summersett, and W. G. Wilson.
Charles W. Wolfe wrote in the issue of The County Record of August 23, 1906: "Kingstree's excellent school system may be said to owe its origin to the establishment of the Kingstree Academy, the forerunner of the present handsome and splendidly equipped school building. Prior to that time the efforts to tend and till the pedagogical field in Kingstree were haphazard and without concert of action or organization. Finally certain public spirited citizens with an eye to the town's present and future needs resolved to bring about improvement in the then existing educational conditions and as the result of their efforts the Kingstree Academy was built. This was in 1886.
The first principal was Mr. S. W. Williams, and in the order named followed Messrs. M. M. Lander, N. D. Lesesne, W. B. Duncan, E. C. Dennis, C. W. Stoll, T. O.
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HISTORY OF WILLIAMSBURG
Epps, W. W. Boddie, and Ernest Wiggins. With the election of Mr. Boddie came the adoption of the graded school system and the merging of the old Academy into Kingstree Graded School. Then came an awakening along educational lines and an agitation for a new building, the outcome of which is the present structure, which may well be termed 'the pride of the town.' To show the spirit that animated the people in this matter, only two negative votes were cast in the election to issue bonds for the school building which was erected in 1904."
The board of trustees of the first graded school in Kingstree were: Dr. D. C. Scott, Chairman, Louis Stack- ley, M. J. Hirsch, Edwin Harper, and Louis Jacobs. As- sisting the principal as teachers at that time were Misses Amelia Kennedy and Nina Riser. The school building then stood at the corner of Hampton and Mill Streets, where was in 1923 the Carnegie Public Library. In June, 1902, the first certificates for the completion of the course of study in the Kingstree school were awarded to Misses Bessie Harper, Pearl Koger, Lorena Ross, and Helen Scott. The three first named entered Winthrop College and the last the College for Women, Columbia, the fol- lowing September, all graduating with high class rank in due time.
Miss Koger died of pulmonary tuberculosis soon after her graduation from Winthrop College. She was the only child of her widowed mother, Mrs. Ellen Koger. This writer helped Miss Koger learn Arithmetic, Algebra, and Geometry, Caesar, Cicero, and Virgil, something of Liter- ature and of History. She had one of the brightest minds and one of the most beautiful personalities that he ever knew.
William Cooper was superintendent of education in Williamsburg from 1900 to 1910, during which time the first graded school in the County was organized in Kings- tree, and later others at Johnsonville and Union, and mod-
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ern school buildings erected for all three; many special dis- tricts were established and communities began contribut- ing towards the erection of school buildings and voting special tax levies for supplementary support to their own institutions. During this decade a majority of the white people in the County, for the first time, believed that schooling for their children was actually worth some time and money. Furthermore, that small minority who in all the history of the County has educated its children in college, began to hope that it could depend on the pub- lic schools for the high school grades.
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