Marlboro County, South Carolina - Chapter 35, 1897

Adamsville township is not so named because all the people li\/ing within its bounds are named Adams, but a goodly number do bear that name, and most of those bearing the names of Newton, Fletcher and Gibson are related to the Adams family either by blood or marriage; so that it is not inappropriate that the township should take its name from the Adams family. The township lies in the northeastern portion of the county and in every respect is a favored land. The farmers in no section of Marlboro excel those of Adamsville in successful, careful, remunerative farming. Nowhere are more comfortable dwellings and neater out-buildings seen than in Adamsville. A large proportion of the land is under cultivation and hence you can often have in sight several different farms, the handsome dwellings, well-kept out-buildings, and fruit-laden orchards indicating thrift and prosperity. By painstaking methods and the intensive system of culture, the farmers of Adamsville have made themselves equal, if not superior to any other section of the county, in successful, remunerative, **all-round farming.'* Mr. John C. Fletcher, one of the young farmers of Adamsville, has. just been awarded a prize of one hundred dollars by the News and Courier for the best "all-round farming" in the State of South Carolina for the year 1896, where the contestants were allowed to produce "anything and everything that can be grown or raised on a farm and consumed on a farm or sold for profit." The purpose of the contest, as explained by the News and Courier, "was to prove that diversified and all-round farming pays in South Carolina; to exhibit the proof, and give public Id .

recognition to the farmer who makes the best showing." It is quite complimentary to Adamsville, and especially so to John C. Fletcher, to carry off the prize where all the farmers of the State might have been contestants. It is to be hoped that his success in "diversified, all-round farming," may be an incentive to others to adopt the same method pursued by him, and thus bring prosperity to themselves and to the county.

The plantation now owned by B. F. Moore, when purchased by his father, had been "run down" by slipshod methods of farming till it produced only a few "nubbins" per acre; and Wm. Moore was doubtless warned by his friends that starvation would be his certain fate if he undertook to make a living on the place. He not only made a living, but prospered, and "Ben Frank" is to-day making as piuch cotton and fine corn per acre, as any of his neighbors, and constantly bringing his land up to a higher degree of cultivation. Capt. Breeden's father, Lindsay Breeden, "in his day was considered 2^ good farmer." But it is, perhaps, safe to isay, that Capt. Breeden on the same land cultivated by his father, makes ten bales of cotton where his father produced one; and other crops doubtless in the same proportion. For a continuous stretch of four miles or more along the Bennettsville and Adamsville road the land is owned by the Breeden family. Sheriff Green's plantation is included, but he married a Breeden. On plantations embraced in that stretch Andrew and Wm. K. Breeden lived and died. Their plantations were admirably and judiciously worked by them, and now by their sons after them. Capt. Breeden, J. L. Breeden and T. J. Breeden, while not residing in Adamsville, are partial to Adamsville dirt. The late James B. Breeden was a native of Adamsville. No man perhaps who has lived in the county has had a more abiding faith in Marlboro land than he. He continually bought land, but seldom sold it. When he purchased a plantation he immediately built comfortable tenant houses, stocked it with mules and began to farm it at a profit. While he was successful as a merchant, yet he had practically retired from active mercantile pursuits, and at his death, March 3d, 1891, was devoting his fine talent to farming on a very large scale. And he made it pay, for, according to his own valuation, his estate was worth one* hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars. He was among the first farmers, if not the very first, to try the lavish use of fertilizers under crops. It must have paid him or he would have discontinued it. Chief among the many plantations which he owned when he died was the beautiful "Beauty Spot" plantation in Adamsville, a large part of which is now owned by his nephew, J. Frank Breeden, who knows as well how to work it as did his Uncle, James B.

But there are other fine plantations in Adamsville besides those named. The lack of time and space will forbid the mention of others. The truth is they are nearly all fine and well worked, and the owners drive sleek, fat horses, plow fine mules, kill fat hogs, and have barns filled with home-raised corn.

This chapter would not be complete without a sketch of the Adams family. Jonathan Adams, the first of the name to place his feet upon Marlboro soil, came from Ireland prior to the Revolutionary War, and was of lived not far from the "burnt factory," a few miles above Bennettsville. He fought through the Revolutionary War as a Whig, and after the struggle had ended, and when within two days' march of home, sickened and died. He left three sons, William, Shockley and John, to perpetuate the name, and a daughter, Divinity.

William Adams was married four times. His wives were Mary Marine, Julia Bullard, Elizabeth Gibson and Patsy Easterling. William and Mary Marine had three sons, Jonathan, John P. and William, and three daughters.

Bede, Hannah and Mary. Jonathan married Mary Bright, and was the father of the venerable Rev. Andrew Adams, a local preacher in the M. E.* church who married Miss Margaret Smith. Andrew Adams had several sisters who have married and left many respectable representatives among the Fletchers, Gibsons, and others. John P. married Julia Newton, sister of Rev. Cornelius Newton, and daughter of Younger Newton, Sr. Their son, Jackson, also married a Newton, Miss Elizabeth. The daughters of John P. married Newtons, Pates, etc. There are none of the Adams of this branch living except a grandson, Archie Adams and his family. The only surviving child of John P. is Mrs. Ann Pate, widow of Travis Pate, deceased, and mother of John A. Pate. William (called "Branch Billie") of Adamsville, married Sallie Newton and Sallie Fletcher, and Jonathan and Eb. are his sons. His daughters married among their neighbors and kinfolk, Robertson married Miss Betsey Fletcher and lived near Boykin church, of which church he was a consistent member. His son lives at the old homestead. Shockley married Miss Martha Fletcher, who left several children living in North Carolina. Shockley belongs to the ministry of the M. E. church. Jephtha also married a Fletcher, Miss Annie, making four brothers who went to the same house to get wives. Jephtha's children are found jn the communities of Gibson Station and McColl. Wyatt Adams married Miss Nancy Leggett and lived in Robeson County, North Carolina. The daughters of William Adams, Sr., have descendants in Marlboro and Richmond counties. The descendants of Shockley Adams, son of the first Jonathan, are found among the Malloys and Mclntyres, of Richmond County, North Carolina. John Adams, son of Jonathan, and brother to William and Shockley just mentioned, has descendants in Marlboro. His children were Welcome, Mrs. W. K. Breeden and Mrs. Bethea, mother of B. F. and Welcome A. Moore.

Robert Peele came from Wayne County, North Carolina, with Joshua Fletcher about I817. He married Mary, the daughter of William Adams. This couple had sixteen children, and now they are so numerous one of the family remarked that it would be impossible to count them. They are thrifty, industrious people and have much force of character, and, being of Irish extraction, they have their share of wit and humor, as well as intellect. They live in upper Marlboro and lower Richmond. The Adams were formerly Quakers but now are mostly Methodists.

Our forefathers began to take an interest in educational matters at an early date. It is fair to presume that schoolhouses and churches went up simultaneously, and that soon after they had erected their rude log dwelling-places^ log churches, and log school-houses were built. It is significant that the school-house was found near by a church. At Brownsville, Parnassus, Salem, Hebron, Smyrna, Pine Grove, Boykin, Beaverdam, and other churches, schoolhouses are seen. It shows that education and religion go hand in hand, and our forefathers recognized the fact. They also knew that the erection of churches and schoolhouses would have the effect to bring into their locality other settlers of good character. The lively bidding of towns and cities for the location and erection of educational institutions in their midst shows that the same idea is entertained to-day. The building of school-houses in Bennettsville antedated the churches. On December 12^ 1830, an Academical Society was organized and the following signed the constitution governing it: John Mc- CoUum, Nathan B. Thomas, Joshua David, Hartwell Ayer, John McQueen, Jas. E. David, C. W. Dudley, Campbell Stubbs, Jas. C. Thomas, Geo. Bristow, Wm. T. Ellerbe^ John H. David, Thomas Cook, E. L. Henegan, and several other. A board of trustees, consisting of John McCollum, John McQueen, C. W, Dudley, Nathan B. Thomas and E. W. Jones was elected, and they in turn elected as the first teacher of the Bennettsville Male Academy, A. C. Sinclair, with John W. Covington, assistant. Sinclair was succeeded by C. W. Dudley, and after him, Duncan Mc- Laurin, C. Davy, and others. The first teachers for the

The female academy stood on the lot of land across the street from the Methodist church, now occupied by W. S. Townsend. The land was originally owned by James Cook, the grandfather of Mesdames Breeden and Moore. The house was perhaps 100 feet in length,one-story high, and with folding doors, was divided into two rooms, and as occasion required, could be turned into one large room for public entertainments. The male academy was adjacent to the Baptist church, and where it stood is now seen the Bennettsville graded school building for white children of both sexes. The Academical Society owns the school property, and convenes biennially to elect a new board of trustees, who have general supervision of the school, and whose duty it is to elect the teachers. The buildings are aniple and well-arranged. The trustees have been fortunate in their selection of teachers, and the teachers have had the hearty encouragement and support of the patrons. Hence little or no friction arises, and large numbers of children attend. Additional room has recently been obtained by the purchase of the old Baptist church building, and with slight improvement, four or five hundred children may be accommodated. Messrs. Chase, Paisley, Thomson, Britton, Sheridan, Root, Graeser, Rast, Stackhouse, Wilcox, Brodie, and others have managed and taught the children. The school is now under the control ot Prof. Cork.

The colored graded school has been managed by competent men like E. J. Sawyer, Cain, and others. They have been much hampered in their work on account of lack of room. But steps are being taken looking to the enlargement of accommodation. The large livery stable recently owned by Capt. P. L. Breeden has been purchased, and is being erected in West Bennettsville, where

In ante-bellum days the male academy in Bennettsville was in charge of good teachers. Such men as D. McD. McLeod, J. H. Hudson, R. H. McKinnon, E. H. Graham, Daniel White and Neill D. Johnson, Leary, and Anderson, endeavored to impart knowledge tq the boys. At the female academy the girls were taught by Mrs. Ann Crosland, Mrs. C. A. Thornwell, Mrs. A. J. Johnson, Mrs. B. D. Townsend, Mrs. W. P. Emanuel, Mrs. J. B. Jennings and Mrs. B. D. McLeod. It must be understood by the young readers of this chapter, that these ladies all came to Bennettsville bearing t?/A^rnames, but decided to change them for the names here given. The list might be extended by mentioning Mrs. J. P. Campbell, Mrs. P. A. Hodges, Mrs. J. N. Weatherly, Mrs. W. P. Emanuel, Jr., and Mrs. R. A. Douglas. So that it is seen that a goodly number of female teachers who came to teach have become permanent residents. Marlboro feels justly proud of the long list of competent educators who have done faithful work in her schoolrooms. But especial mention must be made of the services of Mrs. B. D. McLeod and Mr. and Mrs. John S. Moore, who are residents of the county. Mrs. B. D. McLeod taught before and after the war in Bennettsville. Later for quite a number of years she had a large, flourishing school at Blenheim, where many young ladies and youths were prepared to take high stands in the colleges of this and other States. She was subsequently engaged in teaching near her home at the residence of the late Dr. A. McLeod. It may truly be said that Mrs. McLeod's whole life in Marlboro has been devoted to teaching and assisting in the rearing of her half brothers and nieces and nephews. A woman of high culture, broad-minded and kind-hearted, the good she has done in Marlboro can never be estimated.

the war in Bennettsville, covering a longer period than ever did any other teachers in the town. After the war they taught for a number of years at Hebron. We suppose it is safe to say that no one teacher in Marlboro has left a stronger and more lasting influence on the minds and lives of so great a number of pupils as has Mrs. Moore. Her methods were gentle and so thorough that few passed from under her care without receiving a fine rudimentary education and many have become successful teachers who received no other advantages than such as the fine schools of Mr. and Mrs. John S. Moore furnished.

In the country the schools have generally been well sustained. With men like Donald Matheson and W. R. Smith at Parnassus; L. M. Hamer and Harris Covington at Hebron; the Johnson brothers at Pine Grove, and others like them at other places, it is easy to understand why the schools in a former day prospered. And with conscientious, competent teachers in charge and a united support of the patrons, they are prospering still. While the youth of the county enjoy the advantages of good schools at home, yet large numbers are not satisfied to accept what they offer, but very properly seek schools of higher learning where a collegiate education may be obtained. The number of college graduates is constantly increasing, and while it is scarcely to be hoped that another Thornwell will ever be sent forth in the world, yet some obscure boy born on Marlboro soil may come to the front and even rival Dr. Thornwell.

It is a laudable and praisworthy ambition to strive for a collegiate education, for such striving will place others besides Thornwell and Robt. Mclntyre in the college president's chair. Let the youth of Marlboro educate themselves, for as competition in all lines of human thought and action increases more and more will the educated mind hold sway. Some other Marlboro boy may follow John L. McLaurin into the IJ. S. Senate.

The incentive and necessity .for a finished education is greater to-day than ever before. Because your countrymen, C. S. McColl and D. D. McCoU, have succeeded in their lines of business and made handsome fortunes without the advantage of college training - youth of Marlboro^ do not undertake to do the same! Because Peter T» Smith could, with no college training, amass a snug fortune on his farm - farmer boy, do not take for granted that you could do likewise!