USA > South Carolina > Men of mark in South Carolina; ideals of American life: a collection of biographies of leading men of the state, Volume IV > Part 22
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In recent years General Walker has been active on the plat- form, delivering his famous lecture "Memories of the Sixties", in aid of the Memorial to the Women of the Confederacy to be erected by the United Sons of Confederate Veterans. This eloquent and inspiring address he has delivered all over the South to large and enthusiastic audiences, specially representing the Sons of Confederate Veterans; and as chairman of the veterans committee he has worked earnestly to secure monuments in each state to the women of the Confederacy, and success is just now (1909) crowning the effort. As a member of the South Carolina Monument commission he has also been active in erecting a suitable monument at Chickamauga park, Chattanooga, to the memory of the troops from the Palmetto state.
General Walker was married on the 20th of June, 1866, to Miss Ada Orie Sinclair. Three children were born of this mar- riage, one of whom is now living. His address is 85 Broad street, Charleston, South Carolina.
COLEMAN BAILEY WALLER
W ALLER, COLEMAN BAILEY, Ph. D., educator, was born March 8, 1872, in Greenwood, Greenwood county, South Carolina. His father, Cadmus G. Waller, was a merchant and mayor of Greenwood; his mother, Mary Emma (Coleman) Waller, was a woman of vigorous intellect and earn- est piety, and had the strongest influence on the life of her son.
His early life was spent in a village, and his primary and preparatory education was received at home and in the village school. In 1889 he entered Wofford college, Spartanburg, South Carolina, and was graduated A. B. in 1892. While in college his choice of vocation was made for him, rather than by him; in March of his senior year he was asked to substitute for a sick teacher in the Greenwood graded school; he did so, liked the work and did it so well that at the beginning of the next session he was elected a teacher in the same school. His career deter- mined upon, he put his whole heart into the work, and before the school year was ended he was asked to become superintendent of public schools in Union, South Carolina ; he accepted and held the position three years. By that time he was ambitious of doing a higher class of educational work, and went to Clemson college, South Carolina, where he remained three years as assistant pro- fessor of mathematics; from there he went to Johns Hopkins university, Baltimore, Maryland, where he devoted a year to post-graduate studies. In 1899 he entered Vanderbilt university, Nashville, Tennessee, where he was graduated Ph. D. in 1902, and remained one year longer as assistant professor of mathe- matics, going from there to Wofford college, where he is professor of chemistry and biology, work in which he is making a name for himself among the advanced educators of the state.
He is fond of outdoor exercise, finding his most enjoyable recreation in hunting, fishing and lawn tennis. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South; and of the Chi Phi college fraternity. In politics he is a Democrat.
On December 21, 1905, he married Eunice Hill of Anderson, South Carolina. His address is Spartanburg, South Carolina.
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THOMAS TRACY WALSH
W ALSH T. TRACY, Protestant Episcopal clergyman, was born September 28, 1866, in Conway, Horry county, South Carolina. His father, Judge Joseph Travis Walsh, district judge of Horry county until reconstruction, mem- ber of the state legislature, county chairman and school commis- sioner, was a Christian gentleman, a scholar and an able lawyer; his mother, Mary Frances (Congdon) Walsh, was a woman of education and refinement. His ancestors were Irish and French ; the paternal founder of the American family, Doctor John Walsh, a native of Ireland and surgeon in the British navy, settled in Maryland in 1789. On the maternal side, Robert Vardell, a Huguenot, came from France to Charleston, South Carolina, during the Huguenot exodus in the reign of Louis XIV, and his grandson, Sergeant Vardell, fought gallantly at Fort Moultrie, in Charleston harbor, during the War of the Revolution, 1776.
His early life was passed in his birthplace and in Marion, South Carolina; he was a strong and vigorous boy, and when quite young showed a taste for books and music, which he has retained, his most enjoyable indoor recreations being reading and music. He attended Burrough's school in Conway, the McLean school in Marion, and the Phillips academy in Andover, Massa- chusetts. Hampered by lack of means in the continuation of his education, he taught school four years, 1884-1888, in Marion and Clarendon counties, South Carolina; and the four following years, 1888-1892, he was in the wholesale and retail book busi- ness in Boston and Philadelphia; but commercial life was not suited to his tastes, and having decided to become a clergyman (in his own words, "I felt called of God to be a minister before I had joined any denomination"), he matriculated at the Uni- versity of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee, where he was graduated in 1896, paying his way by giving instruction in elocution in the university.
While a student, in December, 1895, he served as assistant to Reverend E. E. Bellinger, rector of St. Jude's Protestant Epis- copal church, Walterboro, South Carolina, and in the following
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year became rector of that church, remaining there until 1901. From 1901 to 1905 he was rector of the Church of the Redeemer, Orangeburg, South Carolina, and "in charge" of several parishes and missions, and for some time he was secretary and treasurer of the general board of missions of the Protestant Episcopal church.
In November, 1905, he became general missionary of the diocese of South Carolina, with headquarters at Columbia. While holding this position he organized new congregations, supplied vacant parishes and missions with services, and carried on a general work of church extension. The church orphanage having been removed to Yorkville, South Carolina, he resigned, early in 1909, his office of missionary to become chaplain of the orphan- age and to also take charge of Episcopal congregations at York- ville, Chester, and Blacksburg.
He thinks that "every young man should make honesty, intelligence, altruism and Christianity his working watchwords." He is a Mason, chaplain of his lodge, and a member of the Knights of Pythias. In politics he is and has always been a Democrat. All his life he has been a constant and deep student of the Bible, history, literature and theology, and is the author of a booklet, "Facts and Principles," published 1900.
On April 19, 1899, he married Mary Pressley Fishburn ; they have had three children, all of whom are now (1909) living.
His address is Yorkville, South Carolina.
your E. J. Warren 11
EDWIN FRANKLIN WARREN
W ARREN, EDWIN FRANKLIN, lawyer, farmer, state senator, whose home is at Hampton court-house, Hampton county, South Carolina, was born at Walter- boro, Colleton county, South Carolina, on April 22, 1849. His father, Colonel George Warren, was sheriff of Colleton county for four terms; and from 1832 to 1838 he was colonel of the militia of that county. The military bent was legitimately in the family blood and traditions. His ancestors on his father's side were of Scotch-Irish descent and came to America before Revolutionary times, settling near Boston, Massachusetts, and Charleston, South Carolina. General Warren, of Bunker Hill fame, was a great- uncle of Mr. E. F. Warren's father, who was also a near relative of Colonel Samuel Warren, who lost a leg at the siege of Savan- nah, Georgia, in the Revolutionary war and whose portrait is now in the senate chamber in Columbia, South Carolina. His mother's maiden name was Harriet Hamilton Williams, and she has left a deep impression upon the moral and spiritual life of her son.
In the winters, as a boy, he lived on a plantation; in the summers, in the village of Walterboro. While very young he began to keep the books in the sheriff's office for his father. Later in boyhood he worked on a farm to obtain the means to enable him to attend school. He attended the country schools near his home, and the Walterboro Male academy, but did not attempt advanced study at college.
It was "reading the lives of great men" which led him to determine upon the profession of law. By private study and reading he fitted himself for admission to the bar; and in 1878 he began the practice of his profession at Hampton court-house. He was intendant of Hampton in 1887 and 1888. In 1902 he was elected state senator from Hampton county.
In addition to his practice of the law, Mr. Warren has managed a large farm which has been "reasonably remunerative"; and he has made it his habit to take exercise on that farm every afternoon.
He is a Knight of Pythias. In politics he is a Democrat.
He was married on November 28, 1882, to Sallie Woodward, daughter of W. W. Woodward, of Barnwell, South Carolina.
JOHN SIMS WATKINS
W ATKINS, REV. JOHN SIMS, D. D., since 1892 pastor of the First Presbyterian church of Spartanburg, South Carolina, was born in Halifax county, Virginia, on the 4th of January, 1844. His father, Richard V. Watkins, was a farmer of that county who has left among all who knew him a reputation for soundness of judgment, uprightness, and practical benevolence. His family is of Welsh origin and is descended from Thomas Watkins, of Chickahominy, Virginia, who died in 1783.
Born in the country, schooled at the country and village schools within his reach in the decade which preceded the War between the States, he was prevented by the outbreak of that war from going to college at the age when he would have otherwise entered. Volunteering in the Confederate army, he served as lieutenant in Wright's Light artillery in the latter part of the struggle. He studied at the University of Virginia and was graduated in 1868. From early boyhood he had been exception- ally fond of reading and study. After his course at the univer- sity he took up the study of theology and was graduated from the Union Theological seminary in New York city, having chosen the work of the Christian ministry, "under the profound convic- tion of a divine call."
He had begun the work of self-support in life as a teacher in the Fredericksburg high school, which prepared students for the University of Virginia. His work in the pastorate began in 1872, when he was installed over the Presbyterian church of Roanoke, Virginia. In this pastorate he continued for six years; and in 1878 he accepted the call to become pastor of the First Presby- terian church of Raleigh, North Carolina. The next fourteen years of his life were passed in the ministry of the Gospel in Raleigh; and he became thoroughly identified not only with the life and the interests of his own church membership, but also with the best interests of the city in philanthropy and civic improvement. In 1892 he accepted the call of the First Presby- terian church of Spartanburg, South Carolina. For the last
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seventeen years he has filled the position of pastor of that church, endearing himself by his preaching and his life to a wide circle of friends in that city.
On the 4th of August, 1871, he was married to Miss Mary L. Coleman. They have had eight children, of whom seven are now (1909) living.
Dr. Watkins is the author of a "Handbook for Ruling Elders," published in 1895, by the Committee of Publication of the Presbyterian Church, South. He has been identified with the Democratic party by conviction throughout his manhood. He has always been fond of out-of-door sports; and he still finds healthful exercise, amusement and recreation in fishing, hunting, and horseback riding.
Asked to make to the young people of his state suggestions as to the attainment of true success in life, he writes: "If I have had any success in life it has been due to patient, persistent study and to concentration of mind upon the subjects which bear on the life work which I have chosen."
The address of Dr. Watkins is 294 East Main street, Spartan- burg, South Carolina.
ALONZO DUTTON WEBSTER
W EBSTER, ALONZO DUTTON, postmaster of Orange- burg, South Carolina, was born in that town on the 31st of January, 1877. His father, Eugene Alonzo Webster, was a lawyer, who had been postmaster at Orangeburg, county treasurer of Orangeburg county and trial justice, deputy collector of internal revenue, and twice collector of internal revenue for the state of South Carolina. A. D. Webster's mother was Mrs. Josephine E. B. (Dutton) Webster. His father's family trace their descent from William Brewster of the Plymouth colony, in 1620; from John Webster, who came from England to Ipswich, Massachusetts, in 1634; and from Josephine Peaslee, who came from Wales to Newberry, Massachusetts, in 1638.
Living as a boy in the village of Orangeburg, having excel- lent health and indulging in his boyhood a fondness for athletic sports, he made his way from the schools of his village to the University of South Carolina, from which institution he was graduated with the degree of A. B., on the 14th of June, 1898. He began a law course at the University of South Carolina, but remained at that institution only for half of the prescribed course. The reading and study which he feels have influenced him most, he describes as "the reading and study of current events."
In 1899 he was appointed postmaster of Orangeburg; and he has been twice reappointed to that position.
He is identified with the Republican party, was a member of the Republican National convention in 1904; and he was the mem- ber for South Carolina of the presidential notification committee to call upon President Roosevelt at Oyster Bay, in 1904.
His religious connection is with the Methodist church. He was president of the Euphradian society at the University of South Carolina ; and he is an Elk.
On the 26th of December, 1901, he married Miss Mabel Cal- houn Stanley, daughter of John C. and Mary I. Stanley, of Columbia, South Carolina. They have had two children, both of whom are now living.
His address is 251 North Railroad avenue, Orangeburg, South Carolina.
JOHN IRVING WESTERVELT
W ESTERVELT, JOHN IRVING, president and treas- urer of the Brandon Cotton mills of Greenville, South Carolina, president and treasurer of the Carolina mills of the same place, president of the Brandon Savings bank, and vice-president of the Saluda River Power company, was born at Pinopolis, Berkeley county, South Carolina, on the 11th of November, 1862.
His father, Harman Westervelt, was a dentist of somewhat retiring disposition, who never held or wished to hold public office. His mother, Mrs. Emily Parker (Gaillard) Westervelt, was a granddaughter of John Gaillard, for many years state senator and president of the state senate, and United States sen- ator from South Carolina from 1804 to 1826, for many years president pro tempore of the United States senate. The first American ancestor of his father's family (Westervelt) emigrated in 1680 from Holland to New York city. Peter Gaillard, his mother's ancestor, came from Poitou, France, in 1685, at the time of the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, and settled in St. James's parish, Santee, South Carolina.
As a boy he had vigorous health, was fond of sports, and full of hearty enjoyment of life. He had lost his father when he was but a year old-too early for the son to be saddened by the con- sciousness of his loss. His mother's influence over him was strong and enduring. He early became fond of books; but he also took an intense interest in all the sports of boyhood, and especially in boating. His home was in a village until he was fourteen years old, and after that age, in a city. While he was not trained in boyhood to systematic work with his hands, he did undertake, while in his 'teens, the manufacture of wall-brackets, picture frames, etc., with which he paid certain of his expenses while he was at school, and kept himself supplied with pocket money. He attended the schools near his home and then, for a time, the Holy Communion Church institute at Charleston, South Carolina; but he left school before he was seventeen.
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On January 2, 1879, he became clerk in the mesne conveyance office, at Charleston, South Carolina, at fifty cents a day, while he paid twelve dollars a month for his board; and he writes, "for- tunately for me and my board bill, my wages were advanced at the end of the first week to five dollars per week." After a year of service he was placed in charge of the office and did all the work of the "deputy"; but, being under age, he could not sign papers as deputy. Since office hours were only from nine to three, he devoted the rest of his time to the duties of clerk at the Pavilion hotel, and by this work he paid his board bill, and he met many men whose acquaintance proved of value to him. Through one of these acquaintances he obtained a clerkship with the cotton exporting house of Arthur Barnwell and Company, of Charleston, South Carolina. He continued in that business from September, 1881, to September 1, 1888. In May, 1888, he became secretary and treasurer of the Charleston Cotton mills, serving in that capacity until May, 1891. From May, 1891, for eight years, until June, 1899, he was treasurer of the Pelham Mills at Pelham, South Carolina. In 1899 he removed to Greenville county, South Carolina, and organized the Brandon mills as a ten thousand- spindle mill. These mills now have over forty thousand spindles and nine hundred and sixty looms. In November, 1899, Mr. Westervelt became president and treasurer of the Brandon Cotton mills, and five years later he assumed also the duties of president and treasurer of the Carolina mills, at Greenville. Since May, 1905, he has been president of the Brandon Savings bank; and he is also vice-president of the Greenville-Carolina Power company. He is a director in two insurance companies, and in a bleaching and finishing plant, as well as in two land companies. He has declined to take the presidency of still another cotton mill in addition to these duties.
In all this business, Mr. Westervelt has been called upon to care for important interests of others, as well as for his own property and business interests. It seems to be the verdict of his fellow-citizens that he has not been found wanting in the public spirit which prompts faithful and unflagging service of others' interests, as well as in managing one's own business.
On the 27th of August, 1891, Mr. Westervelt married Miss Melville Cain, daughter of William Henry Cain, of Pinopolis,
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South Carolina. They have had two children, both of whom are now living.
Mr. Westervelt is a Democrat by political conviction, and belongs to the gold wing branch of the party.
By religious conviction he is identified with the Episcopal church, of which he became a member at the age of fifteen, and in which he has served as vestryman for some years. He is a Mason, an Odd Fellow, and a member of the Elks.
In his early manhood Mr. Westervelt for several years gave careful attention to gymnasium work for improvement of his health and the strengthening of his constitution.
Feeling that his own advance in business life "has been con- stantly due to strict attention to duty," which has always been first in his actions and thoughts, Mr. Westervelt suggests to the young people of his state, who desire success in life, this advice: "Meet all obligations promptly and cheerfully. Do more than is expected of you for the dollars paid. Seek to advance on the ground of merit alone. Never seek a new position because you have nothing else to do but to take it; but assume new duties because you are already occupied with earlier duties."
The address of Mr. Westervelt is Greenville, South Carolina.
Vol. IV-S. C .- 21.
FRANCIS HOPKINS WESTON
W ESTON, FRANCIS HOPKINS, a leading lawyer and financier of Columbia, South Carolina, and for many years prominent in politics in this state, was born October 10, 1866, near Eastover, Richland county, South Caro- lina. He is the son of Doctor William Weston and Caroline Woodward Weston. Doctor Weston was a graduate of home and foreign schools of medicine, but his planting interests were so large as to absorb his whole attention, and he gave up the prac- tice of his profession. He was a man noted for his unflinching adherence to truth, and his scorn of all things low and mean. He was an officer in the Confederate army and five of his brothers served the same cause. The family are descendants of William Weston, who came to North Carolina before the Revolutionary war, several of whose descendants did service against King George III.
Francis Hopkins Weston received his early education at Thompson's academy, Columbia, South Carolina, and Bingham school (military), Mebaneville, North Carolina. He then entered the South Carolina Military academy, Charleston, South Carolina, where he continued two years. Leaving the military academy, he entered South Carolina college, from which institution he graduated in 1888, both in the academic and law departments, receiving the degrees of A. B. and LL. B. His father had grad- uated from the South Carolina college in 1849, and his grand- father in 1814.
Mr. Weston immediately began the practice of law, which he has since continued, being now one of the leading members of the Columbia bar. He has also been prominent financially in Columbia, and for a time was president of the Farmers and Mechanics bank. As a member of the firm of Weston & Aycock he is one of the solicitors of the Palmetto National bank. He is connected with other financial and industrial enterprises in South Carolina, besides having large planting interests in the most fertile section of Richland county, owning lands which have been in the possession of his family for several generations. For four terms he served his native county in the lower house of the
Me. Park watching Washington, DC.
YuEs veLY Ly Francis H. Uiston
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legislature, and he is now a member of the upper house as the senator from Richland county. He has never sought other than county political honors, and in no quest has he been unsuccessful, but his advice and influence have constantly been brought into requisition by his friends who were candidates for national and higher state honors. For six years he was a member of the board of trustees of his alma mater, the South Carolina college. He has been active in the state militia and has held various commissions in this service. He was one of the commanding officers in the Sons of Confederate veterans, and has been promi- nent in social, fraternal and eleemosynary organizations.
Mr. Weston has ever been fond of literature and has been a general reader. But he is particularly fond of the history of his native state, and he has fostered in every way possible the development of her literature. He is the only vice-president of the State Historical society outside the city of Charleston. He is a devoted but not bigoted churchman, and is a member of the vestry of Saint John's Episcopal church, Congaree. Inheriting from his ancestors the strictest adherence to high principles, Mr. Weston is the soul of honor, and fidelity to his friends is his marked characteristic.
On April 15, 1896, he was married to Miss Amy S. Shool- bred, daughter of John Stanyarne and Fannie Adams Shoolbred. Of the five children of this union, three are now living.
Mr. Weston's home address is Number 1808 Senate street, Columbia, South Carolina.
JOHN HENRY WHARTON
W HARTON, JOHN HENRY, of Waterloo, Laurens county, ex-member of the legislature, formerly clerk of court, delegate to the Constitutional convention of 1895, chairman of the railroad commission of South Carolina, farmer and breeder of fine stock, was born in Laurens county, October 8, 1847. His father, William N. Wharton, was a farmer, descended from "good revolutionary colonists, a man of industry and integrity, long a deacon in the Baptist church. His mother was Mrs. Leona J. (Fuller) Wharton.
John H. Wharton was the oldest of nine children. Reared on his father's farm, with only such educational advantages as were to be found in the old-fashioned country school of South Carolina before the war, he entered the Confederate army in 1862 when but fifteen years old and served to the end of the war, showing even in his boyhood that love of action which has marked his later life.
On March 17, 1870, he married Laura J. Harris. They have had eight children; and Colonel Wharton's appreciation of the educational advantages of which he was deprived in his early life may be inferred not only from his life-long interest in the schools of his state, but particularly from the fact that his son, William C. Wharton, is a graduate of Furman university, while all of his seven daughters have been graduated from the Green- ville Female college.
An unswerving Democrat, Colonel Wharton has always taken an interest in the poltical affairs of his county and state. In 1878 he was elected county commissioner, and he was reelected three times, serving eight years. In 1880 Governor Thompson appointed Mr. Wharton on his staff with the rank of colonel. Elected to the legislature in 1884, he was three times consecutively reelected. In 1890 he was made clerk of court for the unexpired term of two years; and in 1892 he was elected for the full term of four years, serving until 1896. While still holding this office in 1895 he was chosen a delegate to the Constitutional convention of South Carolina. In 1896 he was elected by the legislature a member of the board of directors of the state penitentiary.
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