USA > South Carolina > Men of mark in South Carolina; ideals of American life: a collection of biographies of leading men of the state, Volume III > Part 12
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When he was nineteen his father released him from further duties at home; but for several years after that date he had charge of his father's roller flour mills, cotton gins, and corn mills, etc. He had been a reader of the daily papers because he was fond of politics, and from early boyhood he had kept himself well informed as to persons and measures in the politics of his state. On his twenty-first birthday he was made by Governor Tillman a notary public. On the 19th of December, 1892, he became the official court deputy of the clerk of the court for Lexington county; and on December 24, 1900, he entered on the duties of clerk of the court of Lexington county, to which he
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had just been elected by a good majority. He served as commis- sioner of elections for delegates to the constitutional convention in 1895.
Mr. George is a Royal Arch Mason, a Knight Templar, a Shriner, a Knight of Pythias, a member of the J. O. U. A. M., and of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.
He has always been connected with and voted for the Demo- cratic party. His favorite forms of exercise are driving and swimming.
He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and has acted as secretary of the church of that denomination at Lexington for the last ten years. He is also a steward of that church.
On the 29th of December, 1896, Mr. George married Miss Olga O., daughter of J. Sol. and Martha Hendrix. They have had four children, Celeste O., Samuel A., Juanita O., and Francis, all of whom are living in 1907.
Vol. III .- S. C .- 11.
WILLIAM ANDREW GILES
G ILES, WILLIAM ANDREW, son of William Andrew and Jane Y. (Cunningham) Giles, was born January 1, 1865, at Lowndesville, Abbeville county, South Carolina. His father was a school teacher, and afterward a bookkeeper for the Graniteville Manufacturing company. He was characterized by great learning and knowledge, and was, withal, a man of modesty and retiring disposition, evidenced by the fact that, though frequently urged to stand as a candidate for public office, he uniformly declined to do so. The family ancestors came from the north of Ireland and were Scotch-Irish. Andrew Giles, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, though not especially distinguished, was quite prominent in the Presbyterian church in South Carolina.
Until he was ten years of age, at which time he removed to Graniteville, the subject of this sketch lived in a country village. His health was good and he was greatly interested in baseball and athletic sports generally. From boyhood he was trained to habits of industry. His parents did not believe in idleness; they always insisted that their son should perform certain specified tasks. At the age of fifteen he began clerking in a general merchandise store for Mr. James E. Cook, a very strict yet kind employer. Here he remained two and a half years, learning lessons of system and application which, combined with those learned at home, have proved of great value to him in his subse- quent life. At a very early age he suffered a great loss in the death of his mother. He was fortunate, however, in respect to educational advantages. He first studied under the instruction of his father in Lowndesville, South Carolina. Next he went to Graniteville academy, and, later, to the South Carolina Military academy. At the latter he remained only three years, 1883-1885, -leaving, before completing the course, to accept a position as shipping clerk with the Graniteville Manufacturing company. His work proved so satisfactory that on January 1, 1891, he was elected secretary of the company, which position he has since held. He is also president of the Bank of Graniteville. He is a Mason, a Knight Templar, a member of the Mystic Shrine, of
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the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Knights of Pythias.
For six years, 1892-1898, Mr. Giles held the position of worshipful master of Star lodge, No. 99, A. F. M., and for twelve years he has been district deputy grand master of the fourth Masonic district. In politics he has always been a Democrat. He is a member of the Presbyterian church. Though fond of such sports, he has never given special attention to athletics.
On January 1, 1891, Mr. Giles was married to Miss Iola May Wood. They have had three children, all of whom are now (1908) living.
His address is Graniteville, South Carolina.
WILLIAM GOLDSMITH, JR.
G OLDSMITH, WILLIAM, JR., was born December 16, 1861, in Greenville, South Carolina. His father, Wil- liam Goldsmith, Sr., is a planter and merchant, noted for his hospitality, his strict integrity, and fair dealing. His mother was Mrs. Nannie C. (Hair) Goldsmith. His great great- grandfather, Richard Goldsmith, was a Presbyterian minister at Richmond, Virginia, at the time of the Revolutionary war; and his ancestors came from England. On his mother's side his first known American ancestor was Lieutenant Edward Waters, who came to Virginia in 1608. He was a member of the London company organized to colonize Virginia, a captain of Virginia militia, and commissioner and commander of Elizabeth City county, for which he was also a burgess. He married Miss Grace O'Neil, a first cousin of Admiral James O'Neil, of the navy of Charles I. William Waters, his son, was a major of militia, high sheriff, etc., of Northampton county, Virginia. Colonel Philemon Waters, the great great-grandfather of William Goldsmith, Jr., served with honor in the Revolutionary war, and enjoyed the personal friendship of General Washington, who, meeting Colonel Waters as a brother soldier during his presidential tour through the Southern states in 1791, engaged with him in a friendly contest in rifle shooting at a target. Colonel Waters was a land surveyor; a judge of the county court from 1785 to 1791; was repeatedly a member of the legislature, and a member of the convention which ratified the constitution of the United States.
When little more than a year old, William Goldsmith, Jr., was ill for a year, and as a result of that sickness was crippled for life. Nevertheless, he was fond of out-of-door life, and was interested in dogs, horses and everything connected with the farm. So far as his lameness permitted, he engaged systematically in duties connected with caring for the farm, principally in over- seeing laborers. He thinks that his systematic business habits in later life are largely due to the regular tasks imposed upon him in his boyhood by his parents.
His studies at school were seriously interfered with by frail health. From the time of his early illness, reading and study resulted in violent attacks of headache. His parents, convinced that he was not strong enough to work at farming, to which his
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own preference inclined him, followed the advice of a physician in taking him from school, and chose for him a business career. He studied at Patrick's high school, in Greenville, for some time, but was not strong enough to complete the course.
Until he was twenty-three he was engaged in farming. In February, 1884, he took a place in the office of Julius C. Smith (insurance and real estate), where he continued for five years. At the expiration of that time he took up the same line of business for himself, and he has conducted an insurance and real estate business in the same building since 1884.
He has been secretary and treasurer of the board of minis- terial education of the Baptist state convention since 1899. He is a director of the American Spinning company, of Greenville, South Carolina; and of the Chick Spinning company, of Chick Springs, South Carolina; also of the Carolina Loan and Trust company, of Greenville. His political affiliations are with the Democratic party, as a sound money Democrat. He is connected with the Baptist church, and is a deacon in that church. He is an Odd Fellow. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias. He served a term as grand chancellor of the Knights, and has been a delegate to the national gatherings of the Knights of Pythias. He was elected supreme representative of the Knights of Pythias in 1902, serving until 1905, during the conventions in San Francisco and Louisville. He was president of the local fire insurance agents' association of South Carolina from 1901 until 1903. In March, 1906, he organized the Mechanics Perpetual Building and Loan association, of Greenville, South Carolina, with over eleven hundred shares of stock in the first series. He is a director and is secretary and treasurer of the association. He is also a director in the Bank of Commerce, of Greenville, South Carolina.
On December 16, 1886, he married Miss Janie A. Wright. They have had five children, of whom four are living in 1908.
Keenly regretting his own inability, through lack of good health, to acquire a liberal education, he advises the young people of his state to "secure a thorough education in all branches as early in life as possible, and to do it well, as there is but one time to do this-while you are young." He adds this advice: "Promise only what you can do; do it, and do it well when you undertake it."
His address is Greenville, South Carolina.
WILLIAM NORWOOD GRAYDON
G RAYDON, WILLIAM NORWOOD, lawyer and legis- lator, was born in Cokesbury, Abbeville county, South Carolina, December 11, 1860. His parents were Stirling E. and Susan E. Graydon. His father was a bookkeeper and merchant, a man of excellent character, who at one time held the office of magistrate. The first ancestors of the family to locate in this country came from Ireland and England.
In childhood and youth, William N. Graydon lived in a village. His health was good and he was fond of outdoor sports. The circumstances of his family were such that he was obliged to work when out of school. This labor in the open air tended to develop his physical powers and to maintain his health and strength. The common schools in his neighborhood were the best he could attend, but in later years he supplemented the knowledge there obtained by a course of private study during the leisure hours of his business career. In 1876 he commenced the active work of life as a farmer at Cokesbury. While carrying on this work his strong ambition to rise in the world led him to study law, which he did with such earnestness and judgment that in 1882 he was admitted to the bar. He worked hard, and in a short time obtained a high standing in his profession. In 1898 he was elected to the state senate for a term of four years. Here he served with credit, but did not seek further political honors. In 1906 he was reelected to the state senate, without opposition, for a term of four years.
He came into prominence as a business man, as well as a lawyer, and since January 1, 1905, has been a director of the National Bank of Abbeville, South Carolina. In politics he has always been a Democrat. His religious affiliation is with the Methodist Episcopal church. He has been a great reader, but finds it impossible to specify the books which have been of the greatest service to him in fitting him for and carrying on the work of life. His choice of a profession was due to his youthful determination to do something that would be of use in the world. Of all of the influences which have tended to give him success, he names that of home as decidedly the most powerful. The
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means which he believes will be most helpful to young people who wish to become truly successful he names as "sober habits, living within your income, absolute truthfulness, and the love of reading good literature."
On January 7, 1890, he was married to Ada McMillan, daughter of P. W. and Elizabeth McMillan, of Abbeville county, South Carolina. Of their six children, four are now (1908) living.
The address of Mr. Graydon is Abbeville, South Carolina.
SMILIE ALEXANDER GREGG
G REGG, SMILIE ALEXANDER, son of J. Eli Gregg and Sarah Elizabeth Edwards Gregg, was born May 1, 1838, at Society Hill, Darlington district, South Carolina. His father was a merchant and planter, president of the Wilmington and Manchester railroad, of the Merchants bank of Cheraw, and director of several banks; he was characterized by financial ability, honesty and firmness. The earliest known ancestors of the family in America were John, Joseph, James, and Robert Gregg, who emigrated from Scotland to Ireland and thence to Marion district, South Carolina. James Gregg was a captain in the Revolutionary war. General Maxcy Gregg and Bishop Alexander Gregg, of Texas, were first cousins to the father of Smilie A. Gregg.
In childhood Smilie Gregg enjoyed robust health. He was fond of hunting and reading. His early life was passed in the country. During vacations and on Saturdays he clerked in his father's store. His father took care, however, that such work should not interfere with his son's schooling.
Smilie Gregg lost his mother when he was but eight years old. Her influence, however, has affected him strongly and to his substantial benefit through life. He had no difficulties in securing an education. His special tastes were for history, both ancient and modern, and works and papers on agriculture. From 1851 to 1854 he attended Mount Zion academy, at Winnsboro, South Carolina, and, from 1854 to 1858, the South Carolina college. In 1859 he began his serious work as a planter in Darlington district.
On the outbreak of the war in 1861, Mr. Gregg was prominent in forming Company H, Eighth regiment, South Carolina troops, and was made first sergeant. He went to Charleston when the attack was made on Fort Sumter. After its fall he went to Vir- ginia and took part in the first battle of Manassas. The next December he was appointed captain and commissary and sent to South Carolina. This position he resigned and joined Gregg's battery, Manigault's battalion of artillery, and was at the siege of Battery Wagner. In 1864 he was transferred to Pegram's battalion of artillery of the army of Northern Virginia, when he was elected first lieutenant of Gregg's battery, and was engaged
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in the battles of Second Cold Harbor, Dover's farm, Burges' mill, Riddle's shop, and all succeeding battles up to the surrender. He was wounded and taken prisoner at the fall of Petersburg, and was sent to the old Capitol prison at Washington, District of Columbia. In June, 1865, he was sent to Johnson's Island. On the 1st of July he was released, after which he returned to Darlington county, South Carolina.
Since the close of the war Mr. Gregg has been a prominent and influential citizen. He was director in the Piedmont Manu- facturing company of Greenville, South Carolina in 1874, and of the Navassa Guano company in Wilmington in the same year. He has been a director in the Union Trust company, president of the Florence Cotton Seed Oil mill, and a director in several other corporations.
In 1888 he was a director and vice-president of the bank of Florence, but since the latter date he has devoted his attention to agriculture. He has been vice-president of the State Agricultural society and president of the Darlington Agricultural society.
Mr. Gregg has not sought political preferment, but his ser- vices have often been demanded by his party. For twenty years he was president of the Florence Democratic club, and he was sent to every state Democratic convention until Grover Cleveland was elected president, when he resigned. He was very prominent in forming the county of Florence, and he wrote the memorial to the legislature, which was the one adopted by the committee. He was the first county chairman and was made chairman of the committee to choose the site and erect public buildings of the county. From 1866 to the present date he has served as deacon in the Hopewell Presbyterian church. He is also a Mason, a member of Amity lodge No. 62.
Mr. Gregg has through life been a Democrat, and in religion is, as has been indicated, a Presbyterian. His relaxation he finds in driving and walking. To young Americans he commends honesty, truthfulness, promptness, and diligence in business.
On July 20, 1859, he married Sarah Louise McCowan. Four children were born to them, one of whom, Smilie A. Gregg, Jr., is now (1908) living. After the death of his first wife he mar- ried Miss Eula T. Howe, who soon died childless. Afterwards he married Miss Minnie E. Cates. They have one child,-a daughter.
His address is Florence, South Carolina.
LEGRAND GUERRY
G UERRY, LEGRAND, surgeon, was born in Florence, South Carolina, on the 3d of February, 1873. His father was LeGrand Felder Guerry, a clergyman of the Episcopal church. Mr. Guerry's ancestors were Huguenots who left France after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, and settled on Santee river, South Carolina, about 1650. Two of his uncles served in the War between the States, and one of them was wounded at Manassas. One of his cousins was a captain of Hart's battery and was promoted on the field for conspicuous gallantry.
A healthy child, LeGrand Guerry was educated at the Summerville high school, at the Sewanee grammar school, and subsequently at the University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee. He "worked his own way" through the medical college, taking the degree of M. D. at the University of Georgia in 1895. He has pursued post-graduate courses of medicine in Baltimore, Maryland, every year since his graduation.
He married Miss Anna Hawkins on the 31st of January, 1899; they have had two children, both of whom are now living.
He began the active work of life in Augusta, Georgia, as an interne in the Augusta hospital, and as the assistant to Doctor W. H. Doughty, Jr., from 1895 to 1899.
He feels that his personal association with Doctor Doughty has had more to do with his success in his profession than has any other one influence.
Doctor Guerry's time is given up entirely to general surgery. He is a member of the S. A. E. college fraternity; of the Columbia Medical society; and of the state and national medical associations. In politics he is a Democrat. In religion he is affiliated with the Episcopal church.
Doctor Guerry's conception of life is comprised in the maxims: "Cultivate strength of character and absolute honesty, and be true to yourself." "Have a definite aim in life, and keep your shoulder to the wheel, never looking back. Keep on push- ing! Any man that honestly deserves success will achieve it."
His postoffice address is 1300 Blanding street, Columbia,, South Carolina.
JAMES BARRE GUESS
G UESS, JAMES BARRE, merchant and planter, from 1886 to 1890 a representative of Barnwell county in the South Carolina house of representatives, was born November 7, 1859, in Lexington county, South Carolina. His father, Samuel D. M. Guess, was a doctor of dental surgery, and was also a planter, a merchant and a banker-a man of firm and energetic character who early trained his son in those habits of industry and exactness in the discharge of daily duties, to which the son attributes much of his success in life.
His mother was Sarah Eloise (Barre) Guess, and her family descent is traced from German stock. His father was of mingled English and Irish blood.
Passing a healthy and hearty boyhood in the country, he early began to assist in the care of stock; and as a boy, while still so small that he had to stand upon a bench in order to reach the gin, he learned to run a hand-feed cotton gin. He says: "The effect of this early training has been a great benefit to me in the business affairs of life." From his mother he early received deep and abiding impressions of the value of sound morals and of the honorable distinction of an upright life.
For some years of his boyhood he attended the public schools at Denmark. He feels himself deeply indebted not only to the training of his early home, but "to the fine disciplinary training which I received under a great man at the head of the Carolina Military institute." The Military institute, at Charlotte, North Carolina, when he entered it, had as its superintendent Colonel John P. Thomas; and the institute was closed on the opening of the South Carolina Military academy at Charleston, South Caro- lina,-its superintendent, Colonel Thomas, being chosen superin- tendent of the celebrated South Carolina Military academy, of Charleston. Mr. Guess was graduated in June, 1879, with the rank of cadet captain. In 1880 he entered his father's business as planter, and in 1884 he became a full partner in the mercantile and planting business of his father, under the firm name of S. D. M. Guess & Son. He has continued in this business from 1884 to the present time (1908).
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Connected with the Democratic party, he was chosen for Barnwell county a member of the South Carolina house of repre- sentatives in 1886, and he was continued in this office until 1890, serving on the ways and means committee and actively interesting himself in all that concerned the welfare of his constituents and of the state at large. He retired from office voluntarily.
He is a Knight of Pythias and a Mason. By religious convictions he is affiliated with the Methodist Church, South. He commends to the young men of his state, as practical sugges- tions for success in life, that they "keep entirely free from the drink and tobacco habit," and that they be "prompt at any cost, always polite, and attentive first to business, and only after business to pleasure."
The address of Mr. Guess is Denmark, Bamberg county, South Carolina.
SAMUEL D. M. GUESS
G UESS, SAMUEL D. M., farmer, merchant and banker, was born in Barnwell county, South Carolina, May 3, 1836. His father, Daniel Guess, of English descent, was an industrious farmer, religious and charitable. His great- grandfather, John Guess, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war.
Samuel Guess was born in the country and was trained in his boyhood to farm work of all kinds. This he says, "Gave stability to my character and gave me habits of industry which have been of great use to me throughout life." The circumstances of his boyhood were such that, as he phrases it, he "had to work hard for what he got."
His early education was in the "old field" schools, and "not much even of that," he says. At the age of twenty he began the practice of dentistry, at the same time managing a small farm. The business of farming gradually outgrew his practice in dentistry, which he gave up after a few years. Together with farming he began business as a merchant after the War between the States, and from 1867 until the present time he has been engaged in planting and merchandising.
During the four years of the war he served as a private in the Confederate army.
He was president of the Peoples bank of Denmark, South Carolina, from 1889 until 1896. He then started a private bank- ing business of his own, known as the Bank of Denmark. This business was chartered in 1903, and he is still its president, as he has been from its organization.
He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and has served as steward of that church for several years.
Since 1893 he has been chairman of the district school board of his town.
On December 14, 1858, he married Miss Sarah E. Barre. Their only child is still living.
To the young people of his state he commends as the means of attaining true success in life, "Habits of industry, economy, truthfulness and honesty. Always be doing something that will yield you or others profit, or that will give you desired informa- tion. To waste time in idleness is folly."
His address is Denmark, Bamberg county, South Carolina.
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WILLIAM MILLIKEN HAGOOD
H AGOOD, WILLIAM MILLIKEN, merchant and banker, vice-president of the Easley bank, and president and treasurer of the Glenwood Cotton mill, was born in Pickens county, December 29, 1850, the son of J. E. Hagood, a lawyer, and clerk of the United States circuit court of South Carolina. His father's ancestors had moved from Virginia to South Carolina. His mother was Mrs. Esther B. (Robinson) Hagood; and her son feels that he is indebted to his mother for a strong influence for good on his intellectual and spiritual life.
He passed his boyhood in the country and in the village of Old Pickens court-house. A good portion of his time while a boy he spent in the clerk's office (his father's office), at Old Pickens. He was but ten years old when the War between the States broke out, and his boyhood and youth fell in that period during and immediately after the War between the States when "we had no schools."
He began the active duties of life in 1869, as a clerk, at Anderson, South Carolina. For thirty years he has been a mer- chant. For fifteen years he was president of the Easley bank, but resigned this position and became vice-president of the bank in order that he might establish a large cotton mill at Pickens, South Carolina. This mill, which has fifteen thousand spindles, is now in operation and is running four hundred and thirty-two looms. Since 1902, the year of their organization, he has been president and treasurer of the Glenwood Cotton mills.
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