USA > South Carolina > Men of mark in South Carolina; ideals of American life: a collection of biographies of leading men of the state, Volume II > Part 8
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Young Americans who are hoping for a success in life that shall make them more useful to others as they increase in influ- ence will be interested in the very practical suggestions which Mr. Fewell offers to his younger fellow-citizens, as the results of his own observation and experience in the life of a business man who has been prominently identified with all the business interests of his part of the state. He writes: "Be invariably prompt in keeping every engagement. Try to excel in anything you may undertake, and concentrate your mind upon it, making a study of your business. Be broad and liberal toward others, but just. Grant every one a right to an opinion. Remember that when you lose your temper you lose your point." And if these paragraphs fall under the eye of any South Carolina boy who feels that his lot in life is hard because he does not inherit wealth, let him note especially the opinion which Mr. Fewell gives in his last sentence to young Carolinians: "It is a curse for a boy to have too much money to spend. If you are working for money, save it, and work rather to excel than merely to make money for the time, and you will have more money as the result later."
RUFUS FORD
F ORD, RUFUS, pastor of the Baptist church at Marion, South Carolina, was born in Marion county, South Caro- lina, August 22, 1852. His father, E. B. Ford, was a farmer and "magistrate,"-"a man of deep sympathy-always a friend of the poor, and especially a friend of the wives and widows of soldiers during the War between the States-a peace- maker, who for the twenty-five years while he was an officer of the law always used his office rather to settle differences than to favor litigation." His mother was Anna Jane Herring. On both sides he is descended from English ancestry who came to America in the colonial period.
A healthy boy, he early learned something of work on the farm; and the regular tasks of physical toil prescribed to him in his boyhood and youth, and varied by such amusements in fishing, hunting and bathing, as come to boys in country life, he regards as upon the whole "a discipline which was morally and physically good." His mother died when he was but three years old; but she made a strong impression upon her son, of whom she said even at that early age, "If he lives, he will yet preach."
The disorders of the War between the States, beginning when he was but nine years old, interfered with his schooling and his systematic preparation for college. But after the war he studied at Marion academy and at Wake Forest college, North Carolina, from which he was graduated with the degree of A. B. in 1878. Two years of professional study followed, at the Southern Bap- tist Theological seminary. He had supported himself for several years, from the time he was eighteen, by work as a clerk and bookkeeper at Nicols, South Carolina. His own personal pref- erence drew him to the work of the Christian ministry. From 1879 until 1890 he was pastor of country churches in Marlboro county. From 1890 to 1895 he was pastor of the Baptist church at Newbern, North Carolina, and from 1895 to December, 1905, he was pastor of the Baptist church in Bennettsville, South Carolina. On the date last named he became pastor of a Baptist church in Marion, South Carolina, where he still (1907) remains.
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In addition to his regular pastoral work, he has served on several different boards of church work, and for the past nine years he has been chairman of the board of trustees of the Marlboro graded school. During the period of his pastorate at Bennettsville, the congregation to which he ministers has erected and paid for an enlarged and handsome brick church. They have also built and paid for a new parsonage.
The Reverend Mr. Ford has always shown a disposition to identify himself sympathetically, actively and most usefully with the moral, educational and religious interests not only of his parish but of the town and the county in which he has labored.
He married Miss Hattie Temple, April 6, 1880. Of their seven children, six are now (1907) living.
To others who are thinking of preparing themselves for the ministry of the Gospel he wishes to express his conviction that his own work would have been in several respects more effective if he had taken time to complete the full course of study at the theological seminary, and had done some post-graduate study at a university, before he settled in a pastorate.
Asked for a word of suggestion for the young people of South Carolina, based upon his own observation and experience, he writes : "Our young people need to guard against superficiality. Making a good living ought not to satisfy. The Great Teacher said that 'a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.' Making a good life is far more than making a good living."
His address is Marion, Marion county, South Carolina.
THOMAS BOONE FRASER
F RASER, THOMAS BOONE, lawyer, and since 1900 a member of the house of representatives of South Carolina, was born at Sumter, South Carolina, June 21, 1860. He has chosen for himself, and has steadily followed, the profession of his father, Thomas Boone Fraser, who was a lawyer, a member of the South Carolina house of representatives, state senator, and judge of the third circuit. His mother, Sarah Margaret (McIver) Fraser, died when he was but three years old. The family trace their descent from John Fraser, who emigrated from Scotland and settled near Georgetown, South Carolina.
In his boyhood Thomas B. Fraser was delicate; and he has never had vigorous health. At a private school in Sumter he pursued his preparatory studies, and entering Davidson college, North Carolina, he was graduated in 1881 with the degree of A. B.
From his earliest recollection, he says, "My ambition was to be a lawyer of integrity and ability." He pursued the study of law at home under the guidance of his father, Judge Fraser, and in December, 1883, he commenced practice.
He has always voted and acted with the Democratic party of his state, not being drawn aside from party allegiance into independent action, nor "bolting" on a temporary issue. His fellow-citizens elected him one of the aldermen of his town. In 1900 he was chosen a member of the house of representatives and has been three times reelected to that office. He was a member of the dispensary investigating committee, appointed in 1905, and is now (1907) chairman of the judiciary committee of the house.
On December 16, 1886, he married Miss Emma M. Edmunds. They have had one child, who is living in 1907.
He says: "I have been more influenced by the Bible than by any other book." A member of the Presbyterian church, he was made a deacon in 1882, and he has been a ruling elder in that church since 1901. He was also a member of the Birming- ham assembly (Southern Presbyterian Church), and opposed the
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"Articles of Agreement" on the ground that their adoption would be a surrender of autonomy and unconstitutional.
As a lawyer who has been in practice for more than twenty years, and as a South Carolinian who has been a lawmaker for his state since 1900, the opinion of Mr. Fraser should have weight with his fellow-citizens when he writes by way of suggestion to boys and young men the principles which will contribute most helpfully to their success in life: "The greatest need of our people today is reverence for law as law. Disregard of law is well-nigh universal. In the citizen this shows itself conspicuously in 'lynch law,' so-called. If a measure is deemed for the public good, the legislature will enact a law which is clearly forbidden by the constitution. The executive department does not try to enforce, or enforces only in part, laws which do not meet with the execu- tive approval (the dispensary law, for instance). Even the courts overrule long-established principles in order that 'justice' may be done in a particular case."
The address of Mr. Fraser is Sumter, South Carolina.
FRANK RAVENEL FROST
R ROST, FRANK RAVENEL, a lawyer, and in the Spanish- American war a captain in the Third United States volunteer infantry, was born at Society Hill, Darlington county, South Carolina, October 17, 1863. His father was Elias Horry Frost, a merchant. His mother was Fanny (Ravenel) Frost. He traces his descent from the Reverend Thomas Frost, M. A., a fellow of Caius college, Cambridge university, England, who came to this country after the Revolutionary war, and who became rector of St. Philip's church, Charleston, South Carolina. His grandfather was the Honorable Edward Frost, judge of the court of appeals and court of errors of South Carolina.
His boyhood and early youth were spent in his native state. After fitting for college, he matriculated at Harvard university, and was graduated with the degree of B. A. in 1886.
Soon after graduation he took up the study of law and began to practice in Charleston, South Carolina. He is now a member of the law firm of Smythe, Lee & Frost.
In his political convictions he is identified with the Demo- cratic party, but he has acted independently of the party, and in 1896 voted for Mckinley. By religious belief he is affiliated with the Episcopal church, and has been a director of the Young Men's Christian association for many years.
Mr. Frost is a member of most of the prominent clubs and societies in Charleston. He has been a member of several public boards. He is a trustee of the Porter Military academy. He has been friendly to the cause of educating the negro, so long as the negro remains in this country, along lines which will make him as useful and capable as he can be made, and as worthy of respect of all persons as his nature will permit.
He married Miss Celestine H. Preston, April 18, 1900; and they have had two children, both of whom are living in 1907.
The address of Mr. Frost is Charleston, South Carolina.
PHILIP HENRY GADSDEN
G I ADSDEN, PHILIP HENRY, lawyer, and president of the Charleston Consolidated Railway, Gas and Electric company, was born in Charleston, South Carolina, on the 4th of October, 1867, son of Christopher S. Gadsden and Florida I. Gadsden. His father was a civil engineer by profes- sion and held the position of second vice-president of the Atlantic Coast Line railway. He was characterized by great firmness and determination of purpose. Among the earliest known ancestors of Philip H. Gadsden was Thomas Gadsden, of England, a lieu- tenant in the Royal navy and collector of the port of Charleston in 1722; while among his distinguished ancestors were Christo- pher Gadsden, general in the Revolutionary army, and Paul Hamilton, secretary of the United States navy.
In youth Philip H. Gadsden's physical condition was good. His special tastes were literary. His life was passed chiefly in the city of Charleston, and his preparatory education was obtained at the Holy Communion Church institute, in Charleston. He was graduated at the South Carolina college in 1888 with first honor and with the degree of B. A. He studied law at the South Carolina college and was admitted to practice in 1889. He began active life as a clerk in the office of T. M. Mordecai, Esquire, of Charleston, South Carolina, with whom, in 1900, he formed a law partnership under the firm name of Mordecai & Gadsden. The influence and example of Mr. Gadsden's parents have had a marked effect upon his career, but the choice of a profession was determined by his own personal preference.
Up to the year 1899, Mr. Gadsden devoted himself wholly to the practice of law. In August, 1899, he was elected vice- president of the Charleston Consolidated Railway, Gas and Elec- tric company. In February, 1903, he rose to the presidency of the same company. In October, 1903, he was made president of the Roanoke Navigation and Water Power company, of Weldon, North Carolina, and in February, 1905, vice-president of the Charleston Light and Water company. He was thrice elected member of the legislature from Charleston county, South Caro- lina, serving from 1893 to 1898. In February, 1907, he was
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elected vice-president of the Charleston chamber of commerce, and in the following month he was appointed by the mayor of Charleston, under resolution of city council, to go to Germany as a representative of the city of Charleston to investigate the matter of immigration to the South, and on his return he made to the mayor of Charleston a very full report, which has been published by direction of the chamber of commerce.
Mr. Gadsden is a prominent member of the Masons and the Knights of Pythias; has been master of a Masonic lodge and chancellor commander of the Knights of Pythias. He has always been a Democrat, and is a member of the Protestant Episcopal church. His life has been so busy that he has found little time for relaxation, and has given no special attention to athletics or any special system of physical culture. He is in the prime of life, with great mental and physical vigor, and occupies an important position in his native city.
In April, 1895, he married Sallie Pelzer Inglesby. She died July 22, 1900, leaving two children, both of whom are now (1907) living.
His address is Number 64 Hasell street, Charleston, South Carolina.
JOSEPH AUGUSTUS GAMEWELL
G AMEWELL, JOSEPH AUGUSTUS, professor of Latin at Wofford college, Spartanburg, South Carolina, was born in Rutherfordton, North Carolina, on the 3d of January, 1850.
His father, Reverend W. A. Gamewell, was a Methodist preacher of the South Carolina conference, filling several promi- nent pastorates in the state and serving as presiding elder for a number of terms, and as a member of the board of trustees of the Columbia Female college and president of the board of trustees of Wofford college until the time of his death, he was prominently identified with all the ecclesiastical and educational interests of the Methodist church in his state. Not only Professor Gamewell's father, but his grandfather as well, was a member of the South Carolina conference and a minister of the Gospel. His father married a Miss McDowell, a granddaughter of Colonel Joseph McDowell, who took a prominent part in the battle of King's Mountain. His father's brother was the inventor of the Game- well fire-alarm, extensively used throughout the country, while another uncle, Frank Gamewell, made a most brilliant record at the South Carolina college, but died in early youth.
In his boyhood he attended private schools at Columbia and Darlington. At the age of fifteen he enlisted in the Confederate army and served in the Inglis light battery. He was prepared for college chiefly at Darlington. Entering Wofford college, he was graduated with the class of 1871. He was a member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity. After graduation he taught for four years the Boys' high school at Mt. Sterling, Kentucky. In 1875 he was invited to a position in the corps of instructors at Wofford college.
Professor Gamewell has not only discharged faithfully and acceptably the duties of his professorship, but he has also been active in all that concerns the welfare of the college, and he has been particularly useful to the life of the college through his interest in the work of the Young Men's Christian association. He was president of the first association established in Spartan- burg, and he is still a member of its board of managers. For
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nine years he acted as president of the Wofford College lyceum.
On the 17th of September, 1879, Professor Gamewell mar- ried Miss Julia McDowell, of Asheville, daughter of Dr. Joseph McDowell. They have had two children, a son and a daughter, both of whom have married and are living in 1907.
Professor Gamewell has for some years acted as steward of the Central Methodist church, of Spartanburg.
Vol. II .- S. C .- 8.
ARTHUR LEE GASTON
G ASTON, ARTHUR LEE, lawyer, legislator, was born in Chester, South Carolina, August 14, 1876, son of Thomas Chalmers and Adelaide (Lee) Gaston. He is descended from a long line of distinguished ancestors, both American and European, the first known of whom was John Gaston, Grand Duke of Tuscany, cousin to Louis the XII of France, who, on account of his Huguenot affiliations, was banished from his country, and subsequently took up his residence in Scotland.
The first member of this family who came to America was likewise named John Gaston, one of the first settlers of Penn- sylvania. His father was William of Cloughwater, of Ireland, whose brother John, who died in America in 1783, was the great- grandfather of Honorable William Gaston, late governor of Massachusetts. John Gaston married Esther Waugh, in Ireland, sometime prior to his coming to the colonies, and held the office of justice of the peace under the crown. He removed to South Carolina about 1751 or 1752, and was the father of twelve chil- dren, nine of whom were soldiers in the War of the Revolution.
One of the sons, Joseph, was wounded at the battle of Hanging Rock, later was a magistrate for nearly half a century, and was for many years an elder in the Presbyterian church. In 1830 he was elected to a seat in the legislature of South Caro- lina, and died October 10, 1836. His wife, née Jane Brown, has passed into literature as one of the characters in "Women of the Revolution."
His oldest son, Dr. John Brown Gaston (born January 22, 1791, and died January 24, 1864), was a physician of note, and married Polly Buford McFadden, who bore him eleven children. Of these, two sons, James McFadden Gaston and John B. Gaston, served as field surgeons throughout the War between the States; two sons, Joseph Lucius Gaston and William H. Gaston, fell within elbow touch at Seven Pines, on May 31, 1862; and still another son, Isaac N., died in the military hospital at Fairfax court-house.
Thomas Chalmers Gaston, another son of Dr. John B. and father of Arthur Lee Gaston, took no active part in the war.
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He was born October 4, 1847, and died August 15, 1885. He was graduated at the University of South Carolina in 1869; was admitted to the bar in 1870, and early in 1871 formed a partner- ship with Giles J. Patterson, Esq., which lasted until his death. He was a member of the Democratic state convention, 1876, at which General Wade Hampton was nominated for governor, and was temporary secretary of that convention. In 1876 he was elected solicitor of the sixth judicial circuit, and held that office for eight years. Judge Gage, in writing of him at the time of his death, said: "As a man, Mr. Gaston was of the highest moral type. He entertained the strictest notions of integrity and lived squarely up to them. His nature, while reserved and apparently somewhat austere, was as sympathetic as a child's; he was kind, courteous and generous to the high and low alike. As state's attorney, he was firm and zealous and withal prudent. As a lawyer, no man of his age in the state held higher rank, and with his acknowledged ability and force of character none had fairer promise of still greater distinguishments." The lamented Daw- son, editor of "The News and Courier," said of him: "Mr. Gaston was a man of high character, large ability and varied attainments. In public life, and in the line of his profession, he was most encouragingly successful, and, indeed, he was looked upon as one of the younger men in the state who, having risen considerably, was destined to rise still higher."
Arthur Lee Gaston received his preparatory education in the graded schools of Chester, and was graduated from Davidson college, North Carolina, with the degree of A. B. in 1896. He took up the study of law at the University of Virginia in the following academic year, pursuing simultaneously advanced courses in logic, philosophy, history and English literature. He completed his legal studies in the office of Judge George W. Gage, was admitted to the bar in December, 1897, and rose rapidly to conspicuous rank in his profession. In 1900 he was elected a member of the South Carolina house of representatives, and was reelected in 1902, and again in 1904, and served continuously as a member of the judiciary committee of that body. He was also chairman of the dispensary committee, and member of the dispensary investigating committee. He is vice-president and one of the incorporators of the Commercial bank, of Chester; solicitor and one of the incorporators of the Chester Building and
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Loan association ; vice-president of the Patterson Public Library association; and first secretary and treasurer of the Commercial and Manufacturers' club. During the Spanish-American war he served from May to November, 1898, as first lieutenant of Com- pany D, First South Carolina volunteer infantry.
On December 3, 1902, Mr. Gaston married Virginia Aiken, daughter of the late David Aiken, of Greenwood, South Carolina, and granddaughter of Congressman Aiken, deceased. They have one child, David Aiken Gaston, now (1907) living.
WILLIAM CHRISTOPHER GERATY
G ERATY, WILLIAM CHRISTOPHER, of Yonge's Island, South Carolina, the originator of a great indus- try in early vegetables grown on the sea islands off South Carolina coast, and for his very remarkable business of growing hardy, open-air plants on these islands for transplanting and shipping to many other cities, where they reach maturity some weeks earlier than do hothouse plants transplanted to the open air, known and corresponded with as "The Cabbage Plant Man," has attained business success and general recognition by an altogether exceptional line of enterprising activity, which has benefited multitudes of people in many states.
He was born in the city of Charleston, South Carolina, on the 6th of February, 1850. His father, C. Geraty, was a merchant and storekeeper, who never held public office, but was possessed of an active intelligence and a ready and energetic will, as well as of sound principle. His mother, Mrs. Ann (Walker) Geraty, her son describes as "a most practical business woman, who taught me to consider all agreements and verbal contracts as binding as if they had been written, and on every point to make my word my bond in all transactions." Her son ascribes to her influence much of his business success in life. She was a native of Athlone, Ireland. His father was from county West Meath, Ireland, and they were married after they came to Charleston.
From the age of eight until he was twelve he attended the public schools of Charleston in the morning, while in the after- noon and evening he waited upon customers in his father's store. "The most that I have learned," he writes, "has been learned by reading the newspapers and magazines, and especially agricul- tural bulletins issued by the department of agriculture and by various state colleges." He has been strongly attracted all his life to the reading of history and biography.
When he was twelve years old, in 1862, he left home to take the place of mess-boy on the steamer "Syrine," which was engaged in running the blockade, carrying freight from Charleston to Nassau, in the Bahama Islands. He continued in this service on
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the "Syrine," making two trips each month, from 1862 until the evacuation of Charleston by the Confederate forces.
He had been led to undertake this service not because of any love for the sea, but simply from the wish to earn his own support and save some money. From his earliest boyhood he had felt a strong desire to live in the country, and service on the sea was only a means to that end. In 1867 he started in business for himself, and in 1868 he formed a partnership in a general merchandise and cotton-ginning business with F. W. Towles at Martin's Point, Wadmalaw Island, Charleston county. Mr. Geraty was eighteen years old and his partner twenty. With their store and cotton gin they bought and took charge of a farm as part of their gen- eral business. Acquaintance with his father's customers secured credit for Mr. Geraty with all the merchants of Charleston with whom he wished to deal; and while their joint capital was only about five hundred dollars, they were soon doing a successful business on sea island cotton crops, while at the same time they started the growing of early plants, cabbage and Irish potatoes for shipment to Eastern markets.
Geraty & Towles were the first firm on the sea islands to grow early vegetables for the Northern markets; and the present enormous trucking interests on those islands are a direct out- growth of this original undertaking, some four or five of the largest truck-gardeners having learned their business by acting as overseers while working on the farm of Geraty & Towles. Their first shipments were to Charleston by river steamer, and thence by the "Adger Line" of steamers to New York. Much of the green truck thus shipped was overheated on the long voyage, and reached the New York market so damaged that Mr. Geraty determined more than twenty years ago to secure increased facili- ties for rapid transportation.
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