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 35
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The next decade from 1910 to 1920 almost everybody in the County, white and colored, began to believe that schooling for their children was actually worth time and money, and many felt that it was worth much time and money. Sometime during the last days of this decade one or two parents in Williamsburg actually heard Yahweh's unuttered reply to Cain's first question, and realized their duty to give their children a sound and various learning, for the purpose of serving their fellowmen as well as for private profit and power. These one or two parents stretched the ribbon streak of dawn for Williamsburg's Day.
Once five righteous men would have saved Sodom. There were in Williamsburg in 1923 more than five men and women who, understanding, were educating their children for the highest degree of citizenship. There were a hundred others who, seeing, like Browning's beggar, were preparing to plunge. Jocund day for Williams- burg was standing tiptoe on the misty mountain top.
Following will be found a list of the school officials of Williamsburg in 1923. Some of those named as teachers were worthy of the designation : others "kept" school hours for wages. One cannot know who teaches from one who does not, until the harvest time. A real teacher starts growing out of a mind something that environment can-
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not stop. Sometimes a mind shows few recognizable signs of growth for many years, and then seemingly all at once brings forth fruit an hundred fold.
The County Board of Education in 1923 was composed of M. A. Shuler, J. G. Mccullough, and M. F. Montgomery. Mr. Montgomery was Superintendent of Education. Fol- lowing are the names of the white schools, their trustees, and the teachers :
Heineman : Dr. I. N. Boyd, W. E. Blackwell, and Wal- ter Scott; Martha Burgess.
Suttons : S. B. Gordon, D. W. Gordon, and W. W. Michau; Mrs. Ruth Chandler and Pauline Boyd.
Sumter : J. M. James, W. H. Dennis, and Shelton Wil- son ; Clara Steele.
Turkey : R. W. Smith and W. O. Camlin; Mamie Lou Sharp.
Hemingway: B. J. Chandler, L. G. Day, and D. G. Huggins; W. D. Halfacre, Superintendent, E. L. Rodgers, Ida Lee Parler, Virginia Galloway, Lyde Kennedy, Dess Gowdy, Effie Zimmerman, Lucia Winn, Iva Geddings, Emmie Snow, Alma Deloach, Virginia Warren, Muriel Williams, and Blondelle Cockfield.
Muddy Creek : R. K. Johnson, W. A. Larrimore, and E. C. Cribb; Janie Newell, Pauline Stone, and Mrs. Mat- tie Stone.
Kingstree: Dr. D. P. Frierson, L. W. Gilland, and A. C. Swails; J. W. Swittenberg, Superintendent, A. H. Bald- win, H. Bueck, Laura Lynch, Lilla Babb, Agnes Erck- mann, Varina McDaniel, Elizabeth Speigner, Mrs. M. F. Montgomery, Lillie Pruitt, Carrie Lancaster, Mrs. Bettie Gwin, Mrs. G. A. McElveen, E. O. Baker, and Mrs. Ira Calhoun.
Hebron : Bartow Smith, J. W. DuBose, and B. C. Baker; J. H. Felder, Wista McElveen, Mattie Felder, and Annie M. Epps.
Taft: J. H. Burkett, S. B. Timmons, and D. E. Cooper; Thelma Lockliear.
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PUBLIC EDUCATION SINCE 1880
Greelyville : T. W. Boyle, F. Mishoe, and J. F. Mont- gomery; S. P. Stackley, Superintendent, H. N. Parnell, Effie Chandler, Thelma Lunn, Cornelia Risher, Mary Ratchford, Estelle DeHay, and Bertha Blakely.
Cades : V. G. Arnette, and W. I. Hodges ; C. B. Kirkley, Mrs. C. B. Kirkley, and Mina Gasque.
Cedar Creek: John West, John Lucas, and W. W. Wilson; E. Omitt Walters.
Cedar Swamp: W. T. Phillips, R. F. Ward, and D. C. Brown; Mary McColl, Murtiss Gantt, Agnes Riggs, and Etna Camlin.
Pergamos: W. A. Fitch and Dr. L. W. Moore; T. O. Sease, Lucile Allen, and Louise Heins.
Rough Branch : W. H. Foxworth, J. J. M. Graham, Jr., and J. S. Rodgers; Caroline Young.
Salters: T. E. Salters, C. W. Boswell, and Walter David; Lou A. Ferguson, Ellen T. Chandler, and M. D. Cooper.
Fowler: H. M. Burrows, W. E. Burrows, and W. C. Wilson; Mrs. W. D. Hanna.
Lane : J. E. Plowden, Frank Baggett, and P. C. Shirer; A. R. Register, Evelyn Williams, Dorothy Williams, and Ethel Buchanan.
Earle: G. W. Camlin, R. M. Haselden, and J. W. Parsons; L. E. Smith, Lorena Lawrence, and Bertha Ken- nedy.
Nesmith : G. B. Cooper, W. J. Cooper, and J. M. Rod- gers ; Claudelle Willis.
Cantley : W. G. Cantley, J. M. Tisdale, and F. P. Guerry ; Annie Redman and Maude Allene Kinder.
Aimwell : R. C. Flowers, W. J. Flowers, and R. C. Mitchum; Mabel Jackson and Gladys Avant.
Wayside: D. C. Scott, Jr., M. L. McClary, and R. J. Parrott; Ella Ferguson and Sara Burch.
Trio: W. T. Rowell and J. H. Rowell; J. D. Mack- intosh and Eleanor Owings.
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HISTORY OF WILLIAMSBURG
Wee Nee: J. B. Player, T. D. Gamble, and Hamer Stuart; Lucile Darwin and Pearl Wallace.
Belser : J. E. Baker, Fred Hodge, and J. H. Coving- ton ; Ruby Wallace.
Carlisle: T. S. Kelley and P. M. Brockinton; Belle Harper and Mrs. Edward Vause.
Mulberry : J. L. Ferrell, A. B. Spivey, and J. J. Brad- ham ; Emma Lifrage and Allie Montgomery.
Johnson Swamp: Alfred Moore, Lex Taylor, and E. M. Lambert; Connie Thompson and Elizabeth Lewis.
Bethel: C. L. Burgess, J. S. Epps, J. D. Burgess; Mrs. J. M. Duke.
Singletary : J. J. Epps, W. P. Jordon, and L. R. Dick- erson ; J. S. Johnson.
McClary : J. F. Rodgers, D. H. Hanna, and J. A. Hanna; P. B. Lockwood.
Mt. Vernon : W. R. McCants and J. S. Frierson; Mrs. Leamie Boyd.
Spring Gully : M. L. Boyd, W. T. Evans, and Capers Boyd; Mrs. E. E. Bradham.
Piney Forest: S. R. Long, G. W. Godwin, and Mack Benton ; Frances Plexico and Evelyn McConnell.
Penn : W. R. Chandler, E. J. Donnely, and W. M. Roberts, trustees.
Anderson : J. T. McCants, R. W. Blakely, and Henry Eliott, trustees.
King: T. A. Johnson, W. J. Epps, and Willie McClary, trustees.
Mingo : B. W. McElveen, W. H. Altman, and J. J. Poston, trustees.
Ox Swamp: J. B. Morris, O. L Thomson, and J. L. Foxworth, trustees.
Indiantown: H. P. Snowden, J. T. Gaskins, and W. E. Tanner; Mrs. S. D. Cunningham, Mrs. Ozzie Lovett, and Virginia Wilson.
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PUBLIC EDUCATION SINCE 1880
Clarendon : B. E. McKnight, W. H. Baker, and W. H. Kennedy, trustees.
St. John: R. E. Turbeville, trustee.
Wilson : B. B. Chandler and D. D. Rhem, trustees.
Heywood : W. R. Pritchett, C. C. Daniel, and G. H. Lovett, trustees.
Cooper : G. J. Graham, J. B. Lovett, and Willie Cooper, trustees.
Barrineau : J. B. Osborne, W. H. Thigpen, and J. D. Floyd, trustees.
Spring Bank: G. F. Williamson, R. C. McElveen, and J. W. Stewart, trustees.
Marion Branch : W. A. Marshall, Richard McConnell, and Hugh Pipkin, trustees.
Sandy Bay : J. N. Coker, A. B. Mckenzie, and J. N. Mckenzie, trustees.
Black River: J. Ted Frierson, J. E. Duke, and D. H. Smith, trustees.
Wee Tee: O. C. Hinnant and W. E. Altman, trustees. Bloomingvale : Marian McFadden and Ila Cooper, teachers.
Midway : Ollie Wade, Bertha Williamson, and Roberta Evans, teachers.
Oak Ridge: Adria Lewis and Mrs. Ruth Hardee, teachers.
Rock Branch: Gladys Wham and Erline Harrington, teachers.
Bennett : Mrs. J. O. Amaker, teacher.
Beulah : Sadie Bates, teacher.
Birch Creek: Madge Blakely, teacher.
Boyd: May Cook, teacher.
Lenud : Della Harrelson, teacher.
Moss Grove : Mrs. W. D. Daniel, teacher.
Mouzon : Iva L. Moyd, teacher.
Mt. Vernon : Mrs. Leamie Boyd, teacher.
Neverfail : Katie Lou Smith, teacher.
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HISTORY OF WILLIAMSBURG
Poston : Mayme McConnell, teacher.
Smith Swamp: Mrs. G. E. Grier, teacher.
Warsaw: Thelma Marshall, teacher.
Union : Ellen Williams, teacher.
Retreat : Charlie Heins, I. C. Player, and J. A. Brad- ham, trustees.
There were one hundred twenty-one white school teach- ers in the County in 1923 and one hundred fourteen negro teachers. Of these white teachers twenty-three were teaching by virtue of special permit, and forty-three ne- groes. The State school law requires that all teachers in the public schools shall hold certificates before being paid public money for services, except by special permits which may be granted for one year to teachers. This exception practically nullifies the effectiveness of the cer- tificate requirement. It makes it possible for a board of school trustees that wishes to employ some favorite who cannot pass the examinations required for a certificate simply to request the County Superintendent to issue a special permit for such person.
An official opinion states that 44% of the white teach- ers in Williamsburg were not qualified to teach above the sixth grade and 14% not qualified to teach primary grades. From a standpoint of methods of teaching, it is said on authority that only 50% of the white teachers of the County are qualified and 30% of the negro teachers.
The progress made in public school service in Wil- liamsburg for the past score of years certainly has not been exceeded by that in any other county in the United States. Notwithstanding this remarkable improvement, the public schools of Williamsburg in 1923 hardly gave 50% efficiency for the money expended. There may be a hundred reasons for this condition,-the principal one that the citizenship of the County, not trained itself, re- quires school officials and teachers, who should be leaders and directors in the educational work, to conform and to
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follow rather than to lead. In other words, the schools are dominated by politics and a school official or a teacher who attempts to lead beyond where the parents know is immediately eliminated from public service.
Another reason for the inefficiency of Williamsburg's public schools is that the average Williamsburg parent seems to desire appearance more than reality in the school- ing of his children. A popular teacher must necessarily give high grades and promotion to the children of the leading citizens of the community. The average citizen seems to regard paper grades and paper promotion for his chil- dren more desirable than sound and various learning. The people of Williamsburg almost without exception now know that the schooling of their children is necessary, but few of them realize what education is and how it must be obtained. With the money available for public schools in Williamsburg a wise and generous school dic- tator, one who knows the way and has power to will it, could work out the public school salvation in this County in a single decade.
There are some parents in Williamsburg who are obtaining real service for their children from the public schools. Some of the children trained in Williamsburg's schools are well equipped when they go to college, but these well trained are exceptions. All of the high schools in South Carolina compete every year in a debating con- test for the Manning silver loving cup. These high schools also hold a recitation contest. In 1923 Jane Smyth Gil- land and James F. Cooper won the Manning cup for the Kingstree High School, Miss Gilland winning the medal for the first debater and Mr. Cooper that for second. Miss Mary Catherine Epps won the medal for the second best recitation. Thomas Merriman won third prize for reci- tation. The Kingstree High School baseball team at the same time gave an excellent account of itself in the athletic contests of the State. These high school pupils
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HISTORY OF WILLIAMSBURG
have received excellent public school training. Their parents belong to that class that require service from the schools and receive it. It is the function of the public school to give good training to pupils whether the parents of these pupils are of sufficient education and intelli- gence to require it or not.
There are some teachers in Williamsburg who regard their work seriously and who make it a profession and a business. J. W. Swittenberg, B. A., Newberry College, 1895, came to Kingstree as superintendent of its schools in 1910, which office he was holding in 1923. Mr. Swit- tenberg has taught school consecutively for twenty-eight years. Since 1910 and under his administration, the Kingstree High School has granted diplomas to thirty- eight boys and seventy-one girls. Miss Agnes Erckmann of Charleston came as teacher of the first grade in the Kingstree Graded Schools in September, 1902, which po- sition she has held continuously since that time. Miss Erckmann is also in charge of the Carnegie Public Library in Kingstree. During her long service in the Kingstree schools, she has been an influential factor in community life.
While the white schools of Williamsburg have made remarkable progress when compared with those of other parts of the country, for the past few years the negro schools in Williamsburg have accomplished even greater things. From 1918 until the present, 1923, the negroes of Williamsburg had made such exceptional improvement in their educational conditions that it seems spectacular. In 1918, the negroes, as a general rule, had a surplus of money for the first time in their history. Be it recorded to their everlasting credit that they chose to use this money to a large degree for the education of their children. They went about this work seriously and with more intel- ligently directed energy than they had ever shown in any- thing else. There was in June, 1923, but little difference
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PUBLIC EDUCATION SINCE 1880
between the school obtained knowledge of the average twelve year old white child and the average twelve year old negro child in Kingstree. There were living in 1923 in Williamsburg a number of negro teachers who had given long and faithful service in their schools. Among these may be mentioned Mary Murray, thirty years; Bos- ton Cooper, twenty-five years; Hattie Frierson, twenty- five years; Lillie Cooper, forty-four years; William Mou- zon, thirty years; J. S. Fulmore, thirty years; David Fulton had been principal of the colored schools in Kings- tree for fourteen years.
There were fifty-eight school districts averaging about sixteen square miles each in the County in 1923. There were fifty-one white and fifty-nine colored graded schools, in which were enrolled 10,931 pupils. High Schools for whites were functioning in Kingstree, Hemingway and Greelyville, with a total enrollment of 909. There was neither a private nor a parochial school in the County. The total expenditures for all school purposes in Wil- liamsburg in 1922, amounted to $143,023.56; value of school property, $237,215.
Desire for a liberal education was quick in Williams- burg in 1923.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS, 1865-1923.
The several churches in Williamsburg were usually sup- plied with ministers during the War between the Sections, but most of them were without regular pastors during the Reconstruction period and for many years thereafter. Few churches were able to support a minister during these trying times. Even as late as 1891, when the Rev- erend R. W. Spigner was first licensed as a local preacher and sent to the Salters Circuit, for two years he was the only white minister of any denomination residing within that more than three hundred square miles of territory between the Santee and Black Rivers in Williamsburg County. And then he was licensed only to preach the gospel-was not authorized to administer the sacraments or even to marry a couple.
Most of the heat and burden of religious labor for one or two score of years after the War was borne by saintly men and women and by local preachers and exhorters. The outstanding local preacher of Williamsburg, earnest, eloquent, effective, was Daniel Durant, who died in 1922, more than four score years of age. He preached the simple gospel all over this County and his preaching brought forth fruit an hundred fold. Some of the especially outstanding Christian men and women of this Santee section of this period may be mentioned, William J. Clarkson, Mrs. Elizabeth Lesesne, R. P. Hinnant, Jack Parsons, Bradford Keels, Dr. Robert Henry, and Dr. James M. Burgess. All other sections of Williamsburg had such beautiful char- acters as these named from the Santee.
The Williamsburg Presbyterian Church, the oldest de- nominational organization between the Santee and the Cape Fear Rivers maintaining continuous unbroken ser- vice, remained on its ancient and original churchyard on
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RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS, 1865-1923
the eastern boundary of Kingstree until the new build- ing was erected on Academy Street in the town in 1890. In 1885, Mrs. M. L. Singleton deeded to the Williamsburg Presbyterian Congregation the one-half acre lot on which this new church was built. There is a limitation in this deed to the effect that "the said lot herein granted is to be used for church purposes and for none other." In 1913, this congregation replaced this frame church by the excellent brick building now used as its place of worship. The building committee was composed of Louis W. Gil- land, chairman, H. E. Montgomery, secretary and treas- urer, W. R. Scott, E. C. Burgess, M. F. Heller, R. B. Smith, R. J. McCabe, P. G. Gourdin, and D. J. Epps.
Since 1866, the following ministers have served the Wil- liamsburg Presbyterian Congregation : Robert Bradley, William Banks, James McDowell, W. C. Smith, H. G. Gil- land, J. E. Dunlap, E. E. Ervin, P. S. McChesney, J. W. Herndon, and John W. Davis. Mr. Davis was installed minister in 1920. In 1923, the Reverend W. C. Smith was living on his own farm at Reidville, South Carolina, all his faculties undiminished, and with physical strength sufficient, as he wrote, "to plough and weed corn." The Reverend P. S. McChesney in 1923 was pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Anderson, South Carolina, and the Reverend J. W. Herndon was serving the Church in a city of West Virginia. All the others here named except the Reverend Mr. Davis, in charge of the Williams- burg Church, had been gathered to their fathers.
The Indiantown Presbyterian Church had as its stated supply from March 7, 1858, until March 26, 1867, the Reverend James R. Gilland. He was succeeded at that time by the Reverend James McDowell. In 1868, Dr. J. S. Cunningham was elected and ordained as elder on the third Sabbath in June. Dr. Cunningham served as one of this session of elders for a great many years. He was living, hale and hearty, and a faithful attendant of Indian-
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HISTORY OF WILLIAMSBURG
town Church in 1923, when more than ninety-two years old. In 1873, the White Oak Church was disbanded and its property and membership became a part of the Indian- town Church. There were thirteen members who became thus a part of the Indiantown Congregation.
All through these dark days of the reconstruction period Indiantown Church continued its careful supervision over the individuals of the congregation. So often as a man strayed from the straight and narrow way he was sum- moned before the session of elders, where he either pro- fessed repentance and humbled himself in the dust before the congregation or was excommunicated. The sessional visitations were continued. The records show that on August 8, 1874, the congregation was divided into four classes for this sessional supervision. The first class was assigned to Elder Wilson, second to Elder James, the third to Elder Cunningham, and the fourth to Elder McCutchen. On May 31, 1878, the Reverend Henry G. Gilland became minister of this congregation.
On November 23, the following persons were dismissed from the Indiantown Congregation for the purpose of uniting with the Lake City Presbyterian Church: J. T. Gaskins, Mrs. S. L. McCutchen, Mrs. T. M. Perkins, Wil- liam C. Brown, Mrs. H. H. Singletary, Mrs. S. G. Gas- kins, and the following children of Mrs. Singletary, John Duncan, Barfield, Lamar, and Virginia Vernon. The elders of the Indiantown Church at this time were J. D. Daniel, Colonel James McCutchen, T. M. McCutchen, P. D. Snowden, and Dr. J. S. Cunningham.
On August 24, 1889, the Reverend J. E. Dunlap became pastor of the Indiantown fold. Colonel James McCutchen died on September 25, 1897. He was born March 8, 1830, and ordained as ruling elder on November 6, 1853. It will be seen that he served on the official board of his church forty-four years. His son, Hugh Mccutchen, was elected elder "in his room." Since Mr. Dunlap the fol-
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RELIGIUOS DENOMINATIONS, 1865-1923
lowing ministers in order have served the Indiantown Congregation : A. C. Bridgman, R. L. Darnall, F. H. Wardlaw, and W. R. Pritchett, who was in charge in 1923.
In 1917, the old Indiantown Church building, which had stood as a place of worship since 1835, was remodelled. It was raised about ten feet and below the main audito- rium twelve Sunday School rooms constructed of solid concrete. A modern heating plant for the Sunday School rooms and the main auditorium of the church was then installed.
Among the Presbyterian ministers who served Elon, Union, Central, and Gourdins in the long ago, old men now living remember Dr. Hampton DuBose, Dr. J. W. Flinn, Chalmers Johnson, and Augustus Henderson, John LaFar. Dr. Flinn was a young man when he preached in this County. Later he developed into one of the leading ministers of his denomination. For many years he was a professor in the University of South Carolina. Reverend W. I. Sinnott, formerly of Alabama, in 1923, was minister in charge of the churches at Union and Central and Lake City. He had been serving these congregations many years. Reverend R. H. Ratchford was minister of the Greelyville Church in 1923. Reverend Philip Pierson served Bethel Church from its dedication in 1858, until he died, while preaching in its pulpit, November 9, 1873. He was succeeded by W. B. Crawford, Robert Adams, R. D. Perry, A. M. Hassell, S. E. Bishop, W. H. Workman, and James McDowell, D. M. Clarke, and Dr. F. M. Hawley, Elders of this church in 1923 were G. W. Burgess, E. F. Epps, T. E. Duke, and R. C. McElveen, clerk of the ses- sion, who succeeded his father in 1906.
In 1923 the following were active Presbyterian Churches in Williamsburg County with the number of com- municants in each : Williamsburg, 285; Indiantown, 167; Union, 95; Central, 118; Lanes, 47; Greelyville (Mc- Dowell Memorial Church), 110; Bethel, 125; McGill
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HISTORY OF WILLIAMSBURG
Memorial Chapel, 62. Total Presbyterian membership in Williamsburg County, 1009.
About 1880, Miss Caroline Simons, an enthusiastic mem- ber of the Protestant Episcopal Church, came to Kingstree as a school teacher. She was the only communicant of this church in the town of Kingstree until in 1882, through her influence, Bishop W. W. Howe conducted services in the county court house, and confirmed a class of four, composed of Mr. and Mrs. P. B. Thorne, Miss Minnie Porter, and Mr. Charles Porter. For several years these five communicants from time to time obtained the services of missionary ministers and "kept the faith."
On the 29th day of June, 1882, William J. Lee and Vir- ginia E. Lee granted to the Protestant Episcopal Church in South Carolina "all that lot of land in Kingstree meas- uring and containing in width on the front and back lines one hundred and five feet and in depth on the said lines two hundred and ten feet, bounded on the north by a lot of John Dozier, south by Church Street, east by Hamp- ton Street, and west by land of W. J. Lee." It was pro- vided in this deed that no part of this lot should ever be used as a cemetery or place for the interment of the dead.
In 1890 St. Alban's Episcopal Chapel was erected on this lot and has since been used by the Episcopalians. In 1887, Miss Simons married M. F. Heller. Although a Presbyterian himself, Mr. Heller joined in with Mr. Thorne and they were largely responsible for the building of this place of worship. The same force of carpenters built St. Alban's Chapel immediately after completing the Williamsburg Presbyterian Church. This Presbyte- rian Church donated the use of the pews of its old church to St. Alban's until St. Alban's secured some of its own. The Reverend E. C. Steele, Protestant Episcopal mis- sionary, was largely instrumental in the establishment of St. Alban's. The Reverends H. M. Jarvis, R. W. Barn- well, H. B. Bull, Dr. Robert Wilson, and Dr. Walter
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RELIGIUOS DENOMINATIONS, 1865-1923
Mitchell were ministers of St. Alban's prior to 1922 when the Reverend John Ridout became rector. Messrs. Jarvis and Bull were resident ministers; the others named vis- ited the charge at stated intervals.
In 1922 the handsome rectory of St. Alban's Church was built and furnished. In 1923, the Protestant Epis- copal had only one place of worship in Williamsburg County, St. Alban's Church on Hampton Street in Kings- tree, and thirty-one communicants.
On February 16, 1875, R. C. Logan conveyed to J. W. Staggers, W. J. Lee, and J. Marion Staggers, trustees Kingstree Baptist Church, a lot of land in the town of Kingstree immediately across Academy Street from the Methodist Church Parsonage, said lot two hundred ten feet on Academy Street, and one hundred fifty-five feet on Brooks Street in the form of a rectangle. It was expressly provided in this deed that no part of the lot conveyed should ever be used as a cemetery or place for the inter- ment of the dead. It was at this time that the Kingstree Baptist Church was moved from its old location on Main Street near Black River. This Church was used by the Baptists in Kingstree until 1913 when it was removed and replaced by the handsome brick structure, the home of the denomination in 1923. The Reverend W. E. Hurt was minister of the Church while this new church was being erected and the building committee was as follows: Dr. W. L. Wallace, M. A. Ross, W. R. Funk, C. M. Hinds, J. B. Gamble, G. F. Williamson, J. F. Rodgers, A. C. Swails, and S. C. Anderson.
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