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 38
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46
513
THROBBING WAR DRUMS CALL
Moore, October 2, 1918; Richard Moultrie, October 10, 1918; Harpy Mouzon, January 27, 1918; Allen Ravebell, November 28, 1918; John Robinson, October 15, 1918; Alec Scott, June 14, 1918; Sam Tisdale, October 3, 1918; Philip Whitfield, June 28, 1918; and Richard Wilson, January 6, 1918.
Nearly all of the unmarried men, white and colored, between the ages of twenty-one and thirty-one years, in Williamsburg went into the military service during the summer and fall of 1917. The Local Board sent all doubt- ful cases to higher authority and there were practically none excused for industrial reasons. There were some representatives from almost every family in the mili- tary service on January 1, 1918. While in the beginning there was no special interest manifest in this County in the World War, there very soon grew that intense patri- otic feeling always characteristic of Williamsburg.
E. C. Epps was chairman of the War Loan organiza- tions in the County and had as his central advisory com- mittee L. W. Gilland, A. C. Hinds, S. J. Deery, M. A. Shuler, N. D. Lesesne, I. A. Calhoun, G. A. McElveen, J. V. McElveen, L. C. Dove, J. D. O'Bryan, P. G. Gourdin, and G. T. Harmon. These men apportioned the Liberty Bonds to the several banks in the County and these banks sold them. P. G. Gourdin was chairman of The Committee for the Sale of War Savings Stamps.
The County was organized for the American Red Cross at the very beginning of the War with Dr. D. P. Frier- son as County Chairman. Dr. Frierson had the misfor- tune to lose his dwelling house and all its contents by fire just about this time and the good people of the County decided that he was entirely justified in resigning. The Reverend G. T. Harmon was elected to succeed him. Mr. Harmon was peculiarly fitted by personality and interest for this work. He served during the War. Mrs. D. C. Scott was vice-chairman; C. W. Boswell, treasurer; Mrs.
514
HISTORY OF WILLIAMSBURG
P. O. Arrowsmith, secretary. The executive committee was composed of the officers and the following committee chairmen : Mrs. W. G. Gamble, extension; Mrs. W. W. Holliday, membership; Mrs. L. W. Gilland, publicity ; Mrs. W. L. Taylor, junior membership; M. A. Shuler, finance; Mrs. D. C. Scott, woman's work; Mrs. W. E. Brockinton, civilian relief ; Mrs. R. L. Bass, military relief. The standing committees were composed of the respective chairmen above named and the following: Finance, C. C. Burgess, current expenses, and G. A. McElveen, war fund; extension, W. E. Nesmith, Mrs. G. T. Harmon, Mrs. A. C. Hinds, and Miss Florence Jacobs; publicity, W. F. Tolley, F. E. Bradham, Mrs. J. W. Swittenberg; civil- ian relief, J. F. McFadden, Miss Selma Thorne, Thomas McCutchen, W. H. Welch; membership, Miss Mamie Jacobs, chairman, Miss Amanda Edwards, Miss Ossie Epps, Mrs. LeRoy Lee; junior membership, Miss Belle Harper, Miss Martha Jenkinson ; woman's work, Mrs. W. T. Wilkins, purchasing and shipping, Mrs. T. E. Arrow- smith, hospital garments, Mrs. M. F. Heller, knitting, Mrs. W. E. Nesmith, surgical dressings, Mrs. J. B. Steele work room.
The Williamsburg Herald said: "The extension com- mittee, working constantly, has organized twelve auxil- iaries. Much praise is due to the chairman, Mrs. W. G. Gamble, and to W. E. Nesmith, first lieutenant." Auxil- iaries to the Kingstree chapter were organized all over the County. At Lane, R. L. Bass was chairman; Cades, Dr. W. J. Haselden; Bethel, R. C. McElveen; Hebron, J. W. DuBose; Trio, W. T. Rowell; Salters, Reverend J. E. Clark; Mouzon, W. O. Fulton; Sandy Bay, J. N. McKen- zie; Concord, Hugh Boyd; Cedar Swamp, J. G. McCul- lough ; Greelyville, W. M. O'Bryan; Kingstree (colored), Reverend J. Holman; St. Mary's (colored), Sampson Reardon. Other auxiliaries were organized at Goodwill, St. Johns, Bethlehem, Oak Grove, Bethesda and Piney
1
515
THROBBING WAR DRUMS CALL
Grove. All of the individuals on these committees gave loving and loyal service to their work. The chapter, however, passed special resolutions of appreciation for that done by Mesdames P. O. Arrowsmith, W. L. Taylor, and D. C. Scott.
The American Red Cross asked Williamsburg for $6000.00 in its second War Fund campaign. M. F. Heller was appointed chairman of the executive committee for securing this amount, and with him W. H. Carr and C. W. Stoll, and these special officers, Mrs. P. O. Arrow- smith, secretary, F. W. Fairey, cashier, Mrs. L. W. Gil- land, publicity, S. J. Deery, speakers, Mrs. T. E. Arrow- smith, captain of women's team, W. R. Scott, captain of men's team, and the following auxiliary team captains; C. A. Heins, Miss Mellie Ferrell, J. N. Mckenzie, Mrs. Garfield Mckenzie, John Burgess, Mrs. Bishop Burgess, Mrs. V. G. Arnette, W. M. O'Bryan, Mrs. J. P. Gamble, Willie Cooper, Miss Pet Hanna, Alex Tisdale, Miss Beth McGill, W. D. Bryan, Mrs. B. A. Brown, W. T. Rowell, Miss Gertrude Anderson, W. O. Camlin, Miss Flossie Kellahan, Reverend J. C. Everett, Miss Emmie Ferrell, J. R. Barrow, Mrs. J. R. Barrow, W. M. Bradham, T. W. Boyle, Mrs. E. O. Taylor, W. D. Fulton, Mrs. T. Ful- ton, J. B. Wallace, Miss Olive Smith, S. L. Parsons, Miss Helen Hinnant, R. L. Bass, Mrs. W. McClary, G. W. Cam- lin, W. I. Hodges, H. P. Brown, Thomas Mccutchen, S. A. Guerry, Mrs. T. M. Cooper, Elmer Rodgers, J. W. Register, and W. J. Smiley.
President Woodrow Wilson set apart by proclamation the week beginning May 20, 1918, as Red Cross week for all the United States. Since May tenth has always been since 1865 "big day" in Kingstree, special authority was obtained from the National Red Cross to begin here on that day. Chairman Heller and his associates prepared a programme for that day that brought a large number of people to Kingstree and $6400.00 was obtained, $400.00
516
HISTORY OF WILLIAMSBURG
more than had been asked. When the executive committee gathered together that evening, every one was pleased. C. W. Stoll arose immediately after the $6400.00 had been counted and said : "We have more money than the Red Cross asked us to give, but this campaign begins May 20. Let us work this whole county for funds for the Red Cross." And it was done. Mrs. L. W. Gilland, publicity chairman, kept writing articles for the county newspapers. S. J. Deery, speakers chairman, arranged for community meetings in every church and school house, white and colored, in the County and sent three good "four minute speakers" to each assembly. Among these speakers were M. A. Shuler, G. O. Epps, M. F. Montgomery, A. C. Hinds, J. Y. McGill, E. C. Epps, G. M. Beasley, L. W. Gilland, Hugh Mccutchen, W. E. Nesmith, G. A. McElveen, W. E. Snowden, T. Olin Epps, Reverend G. T. Harmon, J. J. M. Graham, W. D. Bryan, F. E. Bradham, R. L. Bass, Reverend W. I. Sinnott, Thomas McCutchen, H. E. Mont- gomery, J. Monroe Mckenzie, D. E. Mccutchen, J. G. Mccullough, R. C. McElveen, and Reverend E. A. Mc- Dowell. These speakers and the publicity newspaper work done by Mrs. Gilland aroused such beautiful sen- timent that having been asigned a quota of six thousand dollars for the Red Cross the people of Williamsburg actually contributed more than thirty-six thousand dol- lars. Chairman Heller was given a vote of thanks for his effective work. Among the negroes who were espec- ially active in Red Cross work in the County may be men- tioned : Mrs. Flora Nesmith, Dr. W. L. Sellers, J. C. James, G. T. Martin, Samuel Fulton, H. P. Pressley, T. J. Pendergrass, Julius Holman, J. A. Salters, and David Frierson. The negroes contributed their full share of the amount donated to the Red Cross in this County and responded promptly whenever called upon for work.
During the War, financial conditions in Williamsburg were good and little aid beyond that furnished by the Gov-
517
THROBBING WAR DRUMS CALL
ernment was required among the soldiers' families. The service which the Red Cross rendered in maintaining commucation between the soldiers in Europe and their families in this country was especially good. Thousands of comfortable things were made by the women of Wil- liamsburg and sent through the Red Cross to the soldiers in the field. After the close of the War, Reverend E. A. McDowell became chairman of the Red Cross in the County. He was succeeded by S. J. Deery, who assumed charge about the time that the returned soldiers needed so much help in straightening out their accounts with the Government as well as securing certain benefits coming to them. A great many soldiers realized the results of being gassed and wounded more seriously after they had returned to their homes and begun their work than they had before they began to labor. It was during this time that the Red Cross employed Miss Daisy Varn, a trained Red Cross worker, as Home Secretary, and for two years the Red Cross rendered very effective service for returned soldiers. Mr. Deery declined re-election in November 1921 and Thomas Mccutchen was chosen to succeed him.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
MANY THINGS.
"The time has come," the walrus said,
"To talk of many things; Of shoes and ships and sealing wax, Of cabbages and kings."
The "village of Kingstree," the county seat of Wil- liamsburg, was not incorporated until 1866. The munici- pality then was made to include all that territory within one mile of the Court House, except that Black River should be its western boundary line. The corporate limits of the town have remained unchanged until this day, 1923. Until 1885, the "Branch" flowed almost at will over the eastern portion of the town and these low marshy grounds formed a most favorable breeding place for mosquitoes. In this year, when Captain G. P. Nelson was mayor, a canal was dug from the old Scott saw mill dam in the extreme northeastern corner of the town to Black River, in which channel all the waters in this section flowed rapidly into the river. Until this drainage work had been done nearly everybody who lived in Kingstree from May until November suffered from malaria and frequently typhus played havoc. Consequently, few people under- took residing in Kingstree at all; and those few nearly always migrated to the mountains of Western North Carolina for the mosquito season.
Until about 1900, one in Kingstree might have truly said with the Ancient Mariner, "water, water, everywhere, and not a drop to drink." It was then that artesian wells were bored all over the town, at street corners and at pri- vate residences, and these wells began and have contin- uously flowed the purest water obtainable. One may drink
519
MANY THINGS
and enjoy enormous quantities of it without discomfort or damage.
In 1910, Kingstree installed a system of water works and sewerage and then completed the conquest of the mosquito, when it became one of the healthiest towns in the State. Malarial fever, typhoid and typhus are now practically unknown in Kingstree and health conditions are practically the same in summer as in winter. Nobody now goes from Kingstree to the mountains in order to escape malaria. Some families migrate every summer but they are impelled to do so by a long formed habit or for other considerations than health.
It was but a few years after Kingstree had been well drained and pure artesian water obtained that people commenced to regard the town seriously as a place for residence. The county, about this time, began to produce tobacco for market and increased the cotton crop. It was then that some enterprising citizens organized the Kingstree Real Estate Company and the Building and Loan Association, both of which entered largely into the growth of the town.
The Kingstree Real Estate Company was organized in 1905 with Dr. D. C. Scott, president; M. F. Heller, secre- tary and treasurer; J. F. Cooper, J. A. Kelly, M. F. Hel- ler, and Dr. D. C. Scott, as directors. This company pur- chased sixty-five acres of land from the R. C. Logan estate, divided it into lots, and offered it for sale at reasonable prices. A number of the younger citizens of Kingstree immediately purchased lots and Newtown became within a short time a substantial addition to the old town of Kingstree. Among the first who erected residences in Newton were W. H. Carr, E. C. Burgess, Mrs. Lula Barr, W. M. Vause, and W. V. Strong. Some years later the Williamsburg County Fair Association purchased a part of this land and thereon erected the fair ground build- ing and established the race track.
-
520
HISTORY OF WILLIAMSBURG
The Kingstree Building and Loan Association was organized January 10, 1905, with J. A. Kelley, president ; C. W. Stoll, vice-president; W. H. Carr, secretary and treasurer, and the following board of directors: J. A. Kelley, LeRoy Lee, Louis Stackley, C. W. Stoll, W. I. Nexsen, W. H. Carr, and C. W. Wolfe. This Building and Loan Association proved a great factor in the upbuilding of the town of Kingstree. W. H. Carr, its secretary and treasurer, was tireless in his efforts and tactful and in- telligent in managing its affairs. Probably three-fourths of the residences erected in Kingstree since its organiza- tion have been built in part through this company. Mr. Carr died in 1921 and Roland D. Mills succeeded as sec- retary and treasurer.
A few years after the establishment of a tobacco market in Kingstree, many serviceable brick stores were erected on Main and Academy streets; and again from 1918 to 1920, when the tobacco market became one of the largest in the State, many other brick mercantiles and four very large brick tobacco sales warehouses and several prizer- ies were erected.
In 1912 the Kingstree Electric Light and Ice Company was formed with P. G. Gourdin as president, E. C. Bur- gess, secretary and treasurer, D. C. Scott, Jr., as manager. Dr. D. C. Scott was the moving spirit of the organization. The service this company began very soon after incorporation made a distinct mark of progress on the town. In 1922, F. B. Adams purchased half of the stock in this Electric Light and Ice Company and began an aggressive campaign for distributing its products. M. A. Ross has been connected with this com- pany as "general overseer" and "man of all work" ever since its organization.
Several miles of asphalt paving was done in the town of Kingstree in 1922. The only thing about this paving that caused regret to anyone was the removal of many of
HON. R. C. LOGAN
521
MANY THINGS
the beautiful old live oak trees planted in 1812 by Colonel Robert L. Witherspoon, who undertook, with much suc- cess, to "beautify certain streets in the town." Enough of these old oaks were left on Main and Academy and Church streets to keep them beautiful avenues for com- fortable homes. The live oaks on Hampton Avenue were planted by Dr. D. C. Scott.
The County Record, the oldest newspaper in the County, was established by R. C. Logan in 1885. He was its editor for ten years when it was sold in succession to E. G. Chandler, W. E. Cooke, and Louis J. Bristow, each of whom was its editor for a short period of time. In 1898, the Record was purchased by Charles W. Wolfe, who owned and edited it until his death in 1915. The paper was then purchased by W. F. Tolley and R. K. Wallace. Mr. Wallace soon sold out his interest to E. C. Epps, who transferred his rights therein to L. F. Cromer. In 1923, the editor was W. F. Tolley ; the owners, Tolley and Cromer.
R. C. Logan-always called "Colonel Logan"-and pos- sibly if any Southern gentleman by virtue of worthiness as such and for community service ever deserved such high military title, this man was he,-aided in establish- ing in 1856 the first newspaper ever published in Wil- liamsburg County. When he volunteered for service in the Confederate Army and went as Lieutenant of the Wee Nee Volunteers to Charleston in 1861, the Kingstree Star was suspended. After the War, he re-established it and ably edited it for a number of years during the dark days of reconstruction. Later The Star was edited by Herbert B. Cunningham. For many years, Mr. Logan was editor of the Greenville Mountaineer and for sometime connected with the Charleston News and Courier. He was the youngest signer of the memorable Ordinance of Secession of December 20, 1860, which severed the bond between the State of South Carolina and the Federal Union. He was
522
HISTORY OF WILLIAMSBURG
commissioner in Equity from 1862 until the County ad- ministration fell into the hands of carpet baggers after the War. He was very active and powerful in fighting the carpet bagger administration in South Carolina, and was one in Williamsburg who never forgave the usurpers. He married Susannah Theresa, daughter of Joseph Scott, who, with four of their children, Mrs. P. B. Thorn, Walter B. Logan, George P. Logan, and Miss Maude Logan, sur- vived him at his death on September 13, 1905. Mrs. Logan died in 1921 at more than eighty-three years of age. George P. Logan, a prominent attorney of Columbia, died in 1923.
Charles W. Wolfe was born near Benson April 14, 1870, and was educated at the Citadel and at Wofford College. He taught school in South Carolina for some years, his last labors along this line being as principal of the Ben- nettsville schools. After this time, he attended a. business college in Atlanta. One day while a student there, the Governor of Alabama asked the superintendent of that business college if he had a student capable of becoming private secretary. The superintendent recommended Mr. Wolfe, who was appointed by His Excellency, the Gov- ernor of Alabama, as his private secretary, in which place Mr. Wolfe served with special distinction. In 1898, Mr. Wolfe was elected a member of the County delegation in the General Assembly and was Chairman of the Committee on Public Printing. He was editor of the County Record from 1898 until his death in 1915, during which time he made it outstanding as a weekly county paper. His edito- rials were read and approved by the leading men of the State. During the greater part of his maturer manhood, Mr. Wolfe was a continuous sufferer from physical mal- adies. This greatly handicapped his career. At the time of his death, he was easily one of the most popular men in the County and was generally regarded the most bril- liant. He was descended from landgrave Thomas Smith,
523
MANY THINGS
colonial governor of South Carolina, and from John Scott, of Williamsburg, 1732, the oldest English and Scotch- Irish blood lines in South Carolina.
About forty years after Appamattox, the surviving veterans of the War Between the Sections had grown old and one by one began silently "putting out to sea." The very term "Confederate Veteran" has ever been a synonym for veneration and respect, but the passing of these old heroes brought home to Williamsburg the duty of perpetuating the memory of its Dead and of honoring its Living Veterans of that War. Mrs. D. C. Scott (Martha Brockinton) and some other women organized in Kingstree a chapter of the Daughters of the Confeder- acy, with Mrs. Scott as its first President. These good women with organized effort at once began the beautiful labor. They gave new interest to the celebration of Con- federate Memorial Day, May tenth, and made it forever a sacred day in Williamsburg. With Mrs. Scott as the moving spirit, the Daughters of the Confederacy and the citizens of the County erected in 1910 the handsome granite monument at the junction of Main and Academy streets in Kingstree to the memory of Williamsburg's Confederate Dead. The inscriptions on this monument were written by Charles W. Wolfe. In 1923, the Daugh- ters of the Confederacy had a large, enthusiastic organi- zation, with Mrs. T. S. Hemingway (Laura Cromer) as President. In this year, the John G. Pressley Camp of Confederate Veterans, Commander H. J. Brown presid- ing, at its meeting in Kingstree on May tenth, invited the sons and grandsons of Confederate Veterans to unite with the organization and make it perpetual. A large number of young men enrolled as members, each one pledging in his heart to keep alive the beautiful history and tradition of the Confederacy.
About 1910, Mrs. Scott joined in with the Pee Dee His- torical Society as the executive from Williamsburg and
524
HISTORY OF WILLIAMSBURG
assisted in publishing a revised and enlarged edition of Bishop Gregg's History of the Old Cheraws. She contrib- buted the addenda from this county in that valuable work. She also organized in Kingstree the Margaret Gregg Gor- don chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and was its first Regent. This organization revived much interest in the Revolutionary history of the County and has been instrumental in collecting and preserving data that would otherwise have been lost. Miss Marion Mc- Fadden was Regent of this chapter in 1923.
In 1917 the Williamsburg Presbyterian Congregation deeded to the Williamsburg Cemetary Association the lot of land, which it had secured from Roger Gordon in 1738 and which had been used as its churchyard, for a burying ground for the white people of Kingstree and the vicinity. This cemetery association was composed of four members from the Presbyterian Church: Mrs. D. C. Scott, Mrs. Christina J. Nelson, Miss Beulah Nelson, and Mrs. John S. Fulton; one member from the Baptist Church, Mrs. M. A. Shuler; one from the Episcopal Church, Mrs. W. G. Gamble; and one from the Methodist Episcopal Church, Mrs. Julia S. Kennedy. Mrs. Scott died October 8, 1922, and Mrs. Nelson became chairman of the Association. In 1916, R. H. Kellahan died and bequeathed this cemetery association $3000.00 for the use of this board of trustees in the upkeep of the graveyard.
The Kingstree Masonic Lodge, Number 46, was organi- zed in 1859 with Samuel W. Maurice, Worshipful Master; Angus McKenzie, Senior Warden; William E. Smith, Junior Warden; and William C. Footman, Secretary. During Reconstruction days, Republican politicians suc- ceeded in making some negro members of this lodge, where- upon all native white members withdrew. Later, the lodge roll was purged and the order once again became a force in Kingstree. In 1923, M. H. Jacobs was Worshipful Master, B. E. Clarkson, Senior Deacon, H. L. Prosser, Junior Dea-
525
MANY THINGS
con, and Donald Montgomery, secretary. In connection with this Lodge, should be named J. C. Lanham, a com- mercial salesman, who has been coming to Kingstree and Williamsburg for more than thirty years. Mr. Lanham is a highly intelligent member of a distinguished family. He has always been deeply interested in Masonry, and has done much towards helping the Kingstree lodge do its worthy work.
Cohen Whitehead, a negro, was the last of the Recon- struction postmasters in Kingstree. He was succeeded by Mrs. C. M. Chandler, who held office under Cleveland. She was succeeded by Louis Jacobs in 1898, who held the office until his death, October 13, 1913. He was succeeded by Louis Stackley, the incumbent. Assisting Mr. Stackley in 1923, under civil serice appointments, were Misses Annie Stackley and Agnes Fulton and Mrs. G. H. Wilkins. G. H. Wilkins was the Kingstree postman.
Since Reconstruction the mayors of Kingstree have been S. W. Maurice, Dr. J. F. Brockinton, W. H. Kennedy, M. J. Hirsch, R. H. Kellahan, Thomas M. Gilland, Louis Stackley, C. W. Stoll, J. A. Kelley, L. P. Kinder, Louis W. Gilland, M. A. Shuler, and W. R. Scott, incumbent. In 1923, the aldermen of Kingstree were: E. F. Martin, F. W. Fairey, L. D. Rodgers, H. A. Miller, T. E. Arrowsmith, and W. E. Jenkinson; J. F. Scott was town clerk; H. U. Kinder, chief of police, and T. E. Frierson, night police- man. L. R. McIntosh was chief of the Fire Department. The town had a simple brick building wherein iron cells were arranged for the safe keeping of violators of the law, but the doors of this jail were rarely ever shut except for the purpose of keeping dogs from sleeping on the cots therein.
There were three men about Kingstree within the past half century who were institutions in themselves-who knew Williamsburg past and present, and who contrib- uted much in their day and generation to the amusement
526
HISTORY OF WILLIAMSBURG
and entertainement of the people. Dr. Samuel McGill was the first of these. His "Reminiscences of Williamsburg" was published and will remain forever a moving picture of the County from 1820 to 1900. With glowing humor, Dr. McGill kept Williamsburg laughing for half a century, and his book preserves much of him and his pleasing per- sonality. Probably, no man who ever lived in Williams- burg had a clearer view of the War between the Sections than he, nor did any one more than he help heal the wounds the War had made.
George S. Barr was a merchant and hotel keeper in Kingstree for many years. No man ever added more to the "gayety" of the town than he. As "mine host" his equal has never appeared in these parts. Every day for a score of years the people of Kingstree repeated what George Barr had said the previous night, and every night they gathered in his hotel lobby to hear him recount the things that had happened during that day. No lesser man than Charles Dickens is worthy to describe George Barr, and "here's hoping" that an understanding Dickens may give him to coming generations.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.