USA > South Carolina > Men of mark in South Carolina; ideals of American life: a collection of biographies of leading men of the state, Volume I > Part 23
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A strong, healthy boy, fond of outdoor sports, books of adventure had a charm for him in early boyhood; and a warm interest in biography, awakened then, has continued and grown deeper in his mature years. He says of his boyhood: "I have always considered it a great misfortune that I had no tasks required of me which involved manual labor. We had plenty of servants, and it was not then the fashion to work. I did voluntarily learn to plow, and I planted and worked with my own hands patches on the farm for pocket money. This was very helpful. It strengthened the body, clarified the mind, and gave me a better appreciation of labor and its deserts. Every boy should be required to do some manual labor to give fiber to his muscle and strength to his mind, and for the good of his soul."
"The period between 1865 and 1872 in the history of our state tried men's souls," he writes; and Mr. Wannamaker had
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to encounter serious difficulties in acquiring an education. The neighboring country schools and private tutors finally prepared him for college, and he was graduated from Wofford college in 1872 with the degree of A. B.
He began his chosen life work as a farmer, in 1873, on the plantation which he inherited from his father, who had died before the close of the War between the States, leaving two daughters and two sons to be reared and educated by their widowed mother. As the oldest of these children, John Wanna- maker felt it at once a privilege and a duty to relieve his mother of this load of anxiety in as far as he could, and he took charge of the plantation. From his earliest boyhood, prompted by the earnest desire "to be of some service to his fellow-men," he began the management of this property with the hope of not only gaining a livelihood for his family, but of making his life as a planter and farmer tell upon the ideals and interests of his neigh- bors and his fellow-citizens. He says: "To keep 'from going to seed' on the farm, I do not confine my reading to agricultural works exclusively, but try to keep in touch with the broader thought of our time; and I am slowly building up a library of choice books-poetry, history and fiction."
In January, 1878, he married Miss Martha Nelson Duncan, daughter of Major D. R. and Mrs. Virginia (Nelson) Duncan, of Spartanburg, South Carolina. Of their eight children, seven are now (1907) living.
At college a member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity; by conviction and choice a Democrat; finding healthful recreation in "field sport with gun and dog," Mr. Wannamaker has devoted himself to his plantation and to the interests of farm-life and education, advocating with pen and voice such views as are indicated in the closing paragraph of this article, in which he speaks to young Carolinians of his convictions and his hopes for his state and theirs. A member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, he has served as steward, trustee, and continuously since 1879 superintendent of the Sunday school of St. Paul Methodist Episcopal church at St. Matthews, Orangeburg county.
While Mr. Wannamaker has always taken a deep interest in politics, both state and national, he has never sought or held political office. He served as president of the "Farmers associa- tion" of his county. Under his leadership the prime object of
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that semi-political body was the establishment, in South Caro- lina, of an agricultural college separate and distinct, and it was largely due to their efforts that the Clemson Agricultural and Mechanical college was instituted. Although Mr. Wannamaker was not acquainted with him, and had no knowledge of his intentions regarding his selection of officials, Mr. Clemson, the founder of the college, appointed him a life trustee of the insti- tution. Mr. Wannamaker is also president of the Orangeburg County Cotton association-a strong organization which seeks to secure fair prices for that unrivaled crop of the South, cotton; and at the same time encourages and promotes a sane and safe system of diversified agriculture.
"Plenty of fresh air, day and night, winter and summer; . pure water, and 'deep breathing,'" he commends to his fellow- citizens. He says: "If I had to live my life over, I think I would devote more time to its social features and not so much to business, for 'character is formed in the stream of life.' "
To the young he says: "Let young Americans set their faces rigidly against the 'easy dollar' and 'get-rich-quick' schemes. Let them regard money as a means-not an end. Be a 'live wire' -but do not make the grievous mistake of measuring all success by the dollar-mark. Be 'on time.' Keep engagements religiously -this enters into the warp and woof of character."
In the interest of farming and education in South Carolina, Mr. Wannamaker writes: "I am essentially a home man, living on my farm, and I revel in its delights. Believing that home influence makes an indelible impression on the character of chil- dren at the formative period of their lives, I strive to make it conducive to the making of strong, pure, virile character. Self- help is a cardinal doctrine in this home; and the companionship of books, papers and periodicals is favored and encouraged for all its members. I take delight in my work; I believe heartily in the splendid opportunity of the Southern farmer to make a good living and to educate his children; and I view with sorrow and alarm the tendency of our white people to drift into the villages, towns and cities, turning over to the ignorant negro the fertile fields of Carolina to be butchered and bled to death by a vicious system of farming. Agriculture in this glorious South- land has marvelous possibilities. We can grow here almost everything that man needs, and we have a natural monopoly of
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the greatest and most wonderful money crop in the world. American middling cotton can only be grown extensively in the southern belt of the United States, and it stands unique, without a rival on the globe. Given a moderate capital; given energy and push, brawn and brain; given books and daily papers now within the reach of all; given the wonderful telephone, which has the ear of all the world; given rural free postal delivery; and why should the farmer, in daily contact with nature and with nature's God, envy his more polished brother, in the din and the depths of a great city ? I have long thought that a great deal of human misery and of the woe and wretchedness of great cities, with many other perplexing municipal problems, would be relieved and solved could some plan be devised to move the hundreds of thousands of "the miserables" from the hot-beds of sin, corruption and vice in our great cities to the broad and friendly bosom of mother earth in the country, teeming with fruitfulness and all good things."
"I am deeply interested in the education of our people; in the colleges and common schools of our state. We are strong in natural resources and material development; we are weak along educational lines. The strength of our state consists not in her fertile fields, her mines and factories ; but always in her cultivated sons and daughters, in educated brain and noble character. Our colleges are liberally supported; our common schools are not. We underpay our teachers, who, in a large measure, are shaping and forming the character of our children. We must pay more, and 'set a higher standard for our teachers.'"
THOMAS RICHARD WARING
W ARING, THOMAS RICHARD, son of Edward P. Waring and Anna T. (Waties) Waring, was born December 7, 1871, at Charleston, South Carolina. His father was in charge of the traffic department of a railroad, and, at one time, was county superintendent of education.
The earliest known ancestors of the family came from Eng- land early in the eighteenth century and settled about Charleston. In this city, Thomas Waring's early life was passed. His educa- tion was obtained at the Porter academy, Charleston, and at Hobart college, Geneva, New York, from which he was graduated in 1890 with the degree of B. L. His active life work was begun in the traffic department of the South Carolina and Georgia railroad, in which he worked from 1890 to 1894. From 1894 to 1895 he was employed in the business department of the "Evening Post." From 1895 to 1897 he worked on the reportorial and sub- editorial staff of the same paper; and, in 1897 he became editor.
Mr. Waring is a member of the Kappa Alpha (Northern) college fraternity; of the Masonic order, Landmark lodge, No. 76, of which he is a past master; of Union chapter, No. 3, Royal Arch Masons; of Enoch council, No. 1, Royal and Select Masters; and of Carolina lodge, No. 9, Knights of Pythias. He is a mem- ber of the Commercial club, and of the chamber of commerce. In 1906 he was appointed by Governor Heyward a member, from the first congressional district, of the South Carolina commission to the Jamestown exposition. He is a Democrat in politics, and is an Episcopalian in religion.
On November 23, 1898, he was married to Laura C. Witte, daughter of Charles O. and Charlotte Sophia (Reeves) Witte. Two children have been born of this marriage, both of whom are living in 1907.
His address is Charleston, South Carolina.
HENRY ALEXANDER WHITE
W HITE, HENRY ALEXANDER, D. D., Presbyterian clergyman, educator and author, was born May 15, 1861, in Greenbrier county, West Virginia. His father,. William Orr White, surveyor and farmer, was a strong-minded Scot from Ulster, Ireland, of spotless integrity, untiring energy and industry, with a talent for mathematics and the surveying" of lands, and given to quoting poems of Robert Burns; his mother, Mary McClure (Irwin) White, was a woman of strong piety of the strict Scotch type, possessing rare tact and a great. desire to send him to college, and exerted a strong influence upon .. his intellectual and moral life. His blood is Scotch-Irish, a . blend that has produced many distinguished men. His grand- father, William White, an officer of Omagh infantry, left Tyrone, .. Ireland, in 1817, and came to Virginia with his wife, Rebekah Orr, and their children. This William White was related to the Caldwell family, which came from the north of Ireland to Virginia; his maternal grandfather, Captain John Irwin, came : from Augusta county, Virginia, to Greenbrier county, West Virginia, about 1820, and became supervisor or county judge and . an officer of Virginia militia.
He was reared on a farm, was in perfect health, and from early childhood had an insatiable thirst for knowledge, read all the books in the house and borrowed all he could from the" neighbors. He was also fond of outdoor life, and enjoyed the " management of horses, in which he soon became an expert, both as rider and driver. He was taught surveying by his father, .. was methodical in habits of work, and a close observer of animals ; and men. Most of these early traits he has retained, and he still finds his most enjoyable recreation in horseback riding and in long walks. His ambition was aroused by successes in the public schools and in the academy.
At the public schools he was fortunate in having unusually efficient teachers; also at the academy, where he was prepared for college under Reverend George T. Lyle (a Presbyterian clergy- man) and Professor E. H. Marquess. At Washington and Lee . university, Lexington, Virginia, after taking every scholastic :
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honor in the institution and being editor-in-chief of the "Univer- sity Magazine," he was graduated M. A. in 1885, and was valedictorian of his class; he took a medal for best essay (subject was "St. Paul"), orator's medal and medal for special attainments in history, philosophy and literature, and delivered the Cincin- nati oration, the highest honor given. The following session he began a post-graduate course, and was graduated Ph. D. in 1887, the thesis for the degree being passed on by Doctor Noah K. Davis, of the University of Virginia. In 1887 he entered Union Theological seminary, Virginia, and after one session transferred to Princeton Theological seminary, New Jersey, where he was graduated in 1889. During the last year of his theological course he took post-graduate studies in philosophy, at Princeton college, under Doctor James McCosh, one of the grand old men of American Presbyterianism. The honorary degree of D. D. was conferred upon him, in 1891, by the Central university, of Kentucky.
In the fall of 1889, having been ordained a minister of the Presbyterian church, he began his career in the dual capacity of minister of the Gospel and professor of history in Washington and Lee university, remaining there until 1902. Since the open- ing of the school year 1902-03 he has been professor of New Testament (Greek) literature and exegesis in Columbia Theo- logical seminary, Columbia, South Carolina, where his work has fulfilled the promise of his brilliant college record. He is in demand as a pulpit orator, but other demands upon his time make it impossible for him to accept more than a few of the invitations he receives.
His name has also become widely known as a writer. He is the author of "Robert E. Lee and the Southern Confederacy" (one of the G. P. Putnam's Sons' "Heroes of the Nations" series), published 1897, favorably commented upon by press and public of the rest of the country and enthusiastically received in the South; "A Grammar School History of the United States" (1904) ; "A Beginner's History of the United States" (1906) ; "The Making of South Carolina : A School History of the State" (1906) ; "Life of Stonewall Jackson" (1907) ; "The Pentateuch in the Light of the Ancient Monuments" (1894) ; "The Gospel of Comfort" (sermon) (1895), and a volume of addresses delivered before the Scotch-Irish society of America, the Historical society
Vol. I-S. C .- 20
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of Massachusetts, and the Northern and Southern synod of Ken- tucky at its Centennial celebration, Lexington, 1902.
He is honorary member of Alpha chapter (William and Mary college, Virginia) ; of Phi Beta Kappa Greek letter fra- ternity (was initiated in company with Doctor Thomas Nelson Page, the distinguished author) ; a member of Victoria institute, of London, England, and of the executive committee of the Scotch-Irish society of America. In politics he is a Democrat.
He rates the influences upon his success in life as having been, in about equal proportion, home, school, private study and contact with men in active life; thinks history and the English Bible were the most helpful books in fitting him for his work in life.
On July 18, 1889, he was married to Fanny Beverley Well- ford, daughter of Judge Beverley Randolph Wellford, Jr., of the circuit court of Richmond, Virginia.
His address during the school year is Columbia, South Caro- lina.
JOHN GEORGE WHITE
W HITE, JOHN GEORGE, of Chester, South Carolina, member of the banking firm of John G. and T. H. White, was born at Bullock's Creek, York county, South Carolina, January 25, 1861. His father was a merchant, who held no public office, and transmitted to his sons such standards of industry and honor in business-life as have helped them to success and to public esteem.
John George White passed his boyhood in the country, and early learned to work with his hands as with his head, having daily tasks which inculcated systematic habits and a love of study and useful occupation. He attended the common schools near his home, in the troubled decade which followed the War between the States. Until he was nearly twenty he worked on a farm; and in 1881 he began mercantile life as clerk in a store in Chester, where he still resides. Within four years he was admitted a member of the firm of Joseph Wylie & Company (1885). Subse- quently he and his younger brother, Mr. T. H. White, acquired the business and continued it under the same firm name.
Mr. White married Bessie McFadden, daughter of John C. and Louise (Waters) McFadden, of Chester, August 18, 1891. They have had six children, of whom four are living in 1907.
For twenty-two years, as a member of one of the leading business firms of Chester, Mr. White has been identified with the interests of the place. Beside such an influence in local affairs, for righteousness and good government, as a merchant of upright character and industrious habits must exert, Mr. White has served for three years in the local company of South Carolina militia, the Lee Light infantry. He is a Mason. His political associa- tions are with the Democratic party, and from allegiance to that party he has never swerved. He is a member of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian church.
REID WHITFORD
W HITFORD, REID, civil engineer, United States assist- ant engineer, was born at New Bern, North Carolina, October 26, 1855. His father, John D. Whitford, was president of a railroad, mayor of New Bern, North Carolina, collector of that port, and state senator; who had been a member of the secession committee-a man of decided literary talent, a newspaper writer, and a colonel in the Confederate army. His mother, Mrs. Jeanie (Reid) Whitford, died while her son was still too young to be greatly influenced by her. John Whitford, his earliest known American ancestor, came from Scotland and settled in Maryland, and later in Virginia, about 1700. Reid Whitford's great-grandfather was engaged in the effort to sup- press Tories in Eastern North Carolina during the War of the Revolution. His son, Mr. Reid Whitford's grandfather, served in the War of 1812.
His early life was passed in the city of New Bern. His health was perfect. He had a strong predilection for sports, especially for hunting and the management and operation of boats. Light tasks in gardening, flower culture and the planting of trees, gave him some knowledge of "how things grow," and how growing things must be cared for. Books were early a delight to him, and books upon architecture and engineering he has always enjoyed, although it was rather his father's decision for him than a preference of his own, which settled the choice of his life work as an engineer. He studied in the common schools of New Bern, North Carolina; and when he was eighteen he took up special studies in engineering and joined a class in civil engineering which did practical work in the field.
He began his professional work as a rodman in the engineer- ing corps work on the Raleigh and Augusta Air Line railroad in January, 1875. Until 1879 he was engaged in engineering work for railroads and extensive land surveys. Since 1879 he has been engaged on United States river and harbor work, etc. He was under Captain Phillips, United States army at Norfolk, Virginia; then under different officers in river and harbor works on the South Atlantic coast. He was assistant engineer to the
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state of North Carolina from 1886 until 1896. He was assistant United States engineer in the construction of jetties at the entrance to Winyah bay, and in the construction of Estherville and Minim Creek canal connecting Winyah bay and the Santee river, and for other public works in North and South Carolina.
During the Spanish war he superintended the construction of the defence of Georgetown harbor, acting in this capacity as assistant United States engineer.
He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. He is a Knight of Pythias, and a Mason. His favorite relaxation he finds in photography, as an aid in scientific work and as a fine art. He is a Democrat in his political relations. In religious convictions and affiliations he is an Episcopalian.
On February 25, 1879, he was married to Miss Marian E. Satchwell, daughter of F. J. and Sarah J. Satchwell, of Beaufort, North Carolina. They had three children, none of whom long survived their mother. He was a second time married, November 16, 1893, to Miss Mary Ely Vaux, daughter of R. W. and Eliza C. Vaux, of Georgetown county. They have one child.
To young men he offers this advice: "Adopt some calling at an early age, pursue it with unfaltering persistency, and attend strictly to details."
His address is Georgetown, South Carolina.
Vol. I-S. C .- 21
BRIGHT WILLIAMSON
W ILLIAMSON, BRIGHT, of Darlington, South Caro- lina, banker and president of the South Atlantic Oil company, and other important business organizations, was born near Darlington, South Carolina, on the 3d of March, 1861. His father, Benjamin Franklin Williamson, was a planter, a man of first-rate executive ability, of exceptionally good judg- ment, and a successful planter and manager of landed property. His mother, Margaret (McIver) Williamson, was devoted to her husband and children, and had a strong influence upon the later life as well as the childhood of her son. Among his earliest ancestors in America were Colonel Alexander McAlester, from Kintyre, Scotland, and Evander McIver, also an emigrant from Scotland, who came to South Carolina about 1740.
As a boy he was especially fond of machinery, mechanics, and the study of elementary natural science, with reading upon scientific subjects; but his enjoyment of all the sports of boyhood was hearty and keen. He learned various forms of work in his youth; and his parents made a point of his mastering whatever he undertook to do so thoroughly that he should not only be able to do it himself, but should also be competent to show others how to do it.
The circumstances of his family were such as to relieve him from the need of working for self-support during his years in college and in preparation for college. He attended, first, the local country schools near his home; and later, at King's Moun- tain Military school, he was prepared for a course at the Univer- sity of Virginia, where he studied from 1879 to 1881.
In 1881 he began the business of life for himself by under- taking the management of a farm in Darlington county. In 1889 he took the position of cashier of the Bank of Darlington; and in 1890 he was elected president of that bank. While he has been more widely known in later years through his business as a banker and as president of business organizations of Darlington, he has been all his life a successful planter. The record of his connection with the prominent business interests of Darlington is in brief as follows: Cashier of the Bank of Darlington from 1889
Season- Wynne-Co. Publishers Washington Boston
Bright Cicliacusou
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BRIGHT WILLIAMSON
to 1890; president of the Bank of Darlington from 1890 until the present time (1907) ; president of the Darlington Phosphate company, 1895; president of the Darlington Oil company from 1899 to 1902; president of the Independent Cotton Oil company from 1902 to 1904; was elected president of the South Atlantic Oil company in 1906, and of the Darlington Brick company. He is also a director in many other organizations. He was president of the board of trade of his town in 1899, and has been president of the Darlington Historical society since 1905. For a number of years he has been a vice-president of the South Carolina society, perhaps the leading social club of the state, and of the Darlington Agricultural society.
In his political relations he is a member of the Democratic party. His favorite forms of amusement and exercise have been hunting, travel, riding and driving, while in his youth he was keenly interested in all athletic sports.
Mr. Williamson is inclined to believe that "every person has sufficient ability to succeed in life, but the price of success is eternal vigilance."
To young Carolinians who wish to succeed, he commends: "Good associations, industry, promptness, and frugality; the highest regard for truth and honesty, and due respect for the character, opinions and feelings of others."
In 1906 Mr. Williamson married Miss Margaret Jones, of Shelby, North Carolina.
STANYARNE WILSON
W ILSON, STANYARNE, statesman and lawyer, was born January 10, 1859, in Yorkville, York county, South Carolina. His father, William Blackburn Wil- son, lawyer and member of South Carolina state legislature, was a thorough master of his profession, very religious, eloquent, widely read, of poetic temperament, and loved home rather than public distinction; his mother, Arrah Minerva (Lowry) Wilson, a most estimable woman, died when he was a small boy. His ancestry is English-Irish; the Blackburns, one of whom, George, was a professor in South Carolina college, came from England in 1760; the Stanyarnes, for some generations sea island planters, from England in 1720; the Millers and the Lowrys, business men and famous planters, the first from England and the latter from Ireland in 1700, and the Wilsons, doctors, preachers and lawyers, from England in 1800.
In youth he was slender, but healthy and strong, and decidedly studious, a trait he has retained. He received his primary education from his father, and his preparatory training at King's Mountain (South Carolina) Military school; then took. a university course at Washington and Lee university, Lexington, Virginia. He studied law in his father's office, and in 1880 was. admitted to the bar and began the practice of law in Spartanburg. Until the spring of 1884 he was content with his practice, which had been all that a young lawyer had a right to expect, and he had no intention of entering politics. Then along came one of those insignificant incidents that occasionally change the whole current of a man's life. He got into an argument with a candi- date for the legislature, which ended in a fist fight between them; though he was not defeated in the fight, his blood was aroused, and on the spot he announced himself a candidate against his whilom physical opponent, and he won. He made a remarkable record in the legislature, getting two bills, of which he was author,. written into the state statutes: the eleven hour labor law, and the present railroad law. In 1894 he was nominated and elected representative in congress from the fourth South Carolina district and served three consecutive terms until March 4, 1901. He was.
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