Spartanburg County, South Carolina - Chapter 28: The Wilkins Family, 1900

Chapter 28: The Wilkins Family

The ancestor of the Wilkins families in Spartanburg and Union counties, South Carolina, and in Rutherford county, North Carolina, was William Wilkins, a native of Virginia, who was among the early settlers in the territory afterwards embraced in the original county of Spartanburg. He came before the outbreak of the Revolution, and the place of his settlement was in the vicinity of Goucher Creek, one of the tributaries of Thickety Creek. The tradition that we gather with reference to him is that he was a most estimable citizen, and raised a large and highly respectable family, as we will further show.

The wife of Wm. Wilkins was Elizabeth (called Betsey) Terrell, who descended from a distinguished ancestry as shown by reference to a compiled genealogy of the family in both England and France by General W. H. Terrell of Indiana. Elizabeth Wilkins came from the Terrell family in Culpepper county, Va. They were gentlemen and held large grants of land from the King. In the privy council of Charles I. was Sir Timothy Terrell, gentleman, the father of Robert Terrell (born 1696), who was the father of Edmond Terrell to whom he ( Robert) Terrell willed large tracts of land in Culpepj)er county. Edmond left seven or nine children, of whom Airs. Wilkins is believed to be one, as she was a member of the Culpepper branch of this family.

Mary, born November nth, 1769, married Thomas Gillenwater ; Elizabeth, born August nth, 1 771, married Wm. Cantrell ; jMilly, born March 5th, 1773, married Davis Goudelock; Terrell, born February 21st, 1775, married Sallie Hardin ; Robert (Robin) born December 5th, 1776, married Sallie Littlejohn ; Jane, born August 14th, 1778, married Wm. Austell ; vSallie, born July 28th, 1780, married J. L. Davis ; William, born July 28th, 1782, married first Patsey Jackson, and second time to Frankie Foster; Nancy, born March 17th, 1784, married Joshua Draper ; Moses and Aaron (twins) born November 21st, 1785, Moses married Sallie Lipscomb, and Aaron married Elinor Jeffries ; Kesiah, born November 20th, 1787, married Stephen Tolleson ; John, born June ist, 1789, married Polly Lipscomb; George, born July 13th, 1791, married Elizabeth Martin ; Ruth, born February 26th, 1794, and Rachel, born January 26th, 1797.

William Wilkins

In reviewing the characters of the individual members of the Wilkins family none are more deserving of special notice than William Wilkins, who died at his home at Greenville, S. C, in 1897, aged about 65 or 70 years. He was called "New York William" to distinguish him from others of the same name. He was the son of John and Polly Wilkins, and was raised on his father's farm on Goucher Creek in Spartanburg county, receiving such advantages of education as could be afforded in the common schools of his neighborhood.

Soon after reaching the age of manhood, when only about twenty years of age, he left his parental roof and sought and secured a position in a wholesale mercantile house in Charleston, S. C, wdiere he remained a few years and then went to New York City, where he secured a better position in the same line of bnsiness, and was doing a good business when the civil war between the States broke out. His love and devotion for his native State, however, was stronger than worldly gain, and when South Carolina called for her sons to defend her proud name and sovereignty, he immediately surrendered his lucrative job and returned home and entered the Confederate service. He volunteered in 1861 in Co, A

(Johnson Rifles, Union, S. C), 5th Regt., S. C. \\, and during this year participated in all the hardships of this regiment and was eno;aQ:ed in the first Manassas battle.

Upon the reorganization of the armies in X'irginia in 1862 he reenlisted in the same company, which formed a part of the Palmetto Sharpshooters, and was made its orderly sergeant. In a few days thereafter he was wounded at Seven Pines, which incapacitated him from further active service. He was put on light duty and remained with his company and regiment until the end of the war.

After the war he returned to New York City, where he remained for some years, during which time he associated himself with A. H, Foster at Union, S. C, in the mercantile business under the name of Foster & Wilkins, and in Greenville, S. C, with J. T. Williams and A. H. Foster under the name of Wilkins, W^illiams & Co., afterwards Wilkins, Poe & Co., in wdiich firms he was active and successful.

Some time after the war Mr. Wilkins married to Miss Hattie Cleveland of Greenville, S. C, daughter of Harvey Cleveland, who still survives him. After his marriage he took up his residence in Greenville, where he remained the balance of his life.

William Wilkins was far above the average business man of his day. He showed what could be accomplished by ambition, pluck, energy and close application to business. Notwithstanding he had learned in early life lessons of thrift and economy, yet he was liberal, publicspirited, and was at all times patriotic and true to the welfare and best interests of his country. His character for honesty and fair dealing was very high, and as such, he will be long remembered.

son of Colonel William and Martha (Jackson) Wilkins, \vas born in Spartanburg county, September 28th, 181 8, and died while on a visit to his sons in Texas, May, 1896. He was reared on his father's farm on North Pacolet River within tw^o or three miles of New Prospect, where he received the very best education that could be afforded in the schools of his neighborhood. He also attended for a time the Spartanburg Male Academy. Before he reached the age of eighteen years, however, he married Miss Adaline Duncan, and not many years after this he embarked in the mercantile business near New Prospect, w^hicli he successfully conducted in connection with his farm on South Pacolet River until the beginning of the civil w^ar between the States.

At the outbreak of the civil war he went forth to serve his country at the sacrifice of every pecuniary interest. During the first year of the same (1861) he was connected with the 5th Regiment, S. C. V., as an independent volunteer, and the writer, who belonged to the

As the years of the bloody conflict went on there was an increased demand for ^very available man to enlist in the service. Captain Wilkins, although well advanced in years (being then 44 years of age), took it upon himself to raise a company of cavalry, which he did, in 1862, and which was known as the Spartan

Rangers, This company, though indepen. dent of any regimental organization, did gallant and efficient service, both in North and South Carolina, during the last two years of the war.

Returning home after the war he had to begin anew to retrieve his lost fortune. In time of peace he had made sales on time of his valuable stock of merchandise, which, but for the war, he would have collected, and saved much of the financial embarrassment which he suffered ; but the devastation and ravages of the war had ruined, for the time, the country, and the fortunes of many men who were good for their obligations at its beginning were now wrecked or destroyed. Captain Wilkins, however, did not sulk under the conditions which surrounded him, but with a renewed energy he put forth every effort to meet his honest obligations and to make a comfortable support for himself and family.

years of his mercantile life he had a wide field of custom, was noted for his fair dealing, and had the entire confidence of the people with whom he dealt in a business way.

In early life he embraced the Christian religion, and was a steadfast member and deacon of New Prospect Church, and was Yery often its representatiYC in the Associations and other religious bodies. Especialh" did he take an interest and a part in the Sunday-school work, and was for a number of years the President of the Campobello Township (interdenominational) Sunday-school Convention, which met annually.

In the winter of 1859 he lost his devoted wife, by whom he had twelve children, nine sons and three daughters. The life of one son (Robert) was sacrificed on the altar of his country during the civil war. Of his twelve children about one-half are deceased. The others are living, we believe, in the State of Texas, including W. D. Wilkins, a prominent merchant at Honey Grove, in that State.

In our efforts to gain some information concerning the Wood family we find among the same a prevailing tradition that two brothers emigrated from Virginia to South Carolina before the Revolution, and during that struggle for American independence both entered the service of their covnitry.

At the close of the Revolution they separated; one returned to Virginia and the other removed to Tennessee, The one who returned to Virginia, however, came back to South Carolina, settling in the eastern portion of the present county of Spartanburg. It is supposed that he married in Mrginia, and it is not known how many children he had, but William Wood was one of his sons who lived on Pacolet, near Easterwood Shoals. He was a prominent and highly respectable citizen in his day and time, and married Miss Nancy, danghter of the elder William Lipscomb. By this marriage he had seven children as follows : Lucinda, who married Wm. Littlejohn (known as Wm. Kink) ; James, who married Harriet E. Wilkins ; N. Lipscomb, who married ]\Iary Austell ; David, who married in Alabama; Caroline, whomarried Daniel Draper; John, who married iVgnes Lipscomb ; and Thomas,, who married Addie Lipscomb.

The children of John Wood, one of the sons mentioned, are as follows : Sallie, who married Smith Lipscomb (son of Edward Lipscomb, Sr.) ; Moses, who married J. Elma, daughter of G. T. ]\Ieng, LTnion county^. S. C. ; Adolphus N., who married Millie Draper ; Atlanta, who married W. F. Bryant, Pacolet, S. C; Lou H., who married R. R. Brown, Cowpens, S. C, and Miss Terisa E., single Of the sons mentioned above, Moses Wood, now a resident of Gaffney, S. C, claims special notice. Being a native born of Spartanburg county, he has always enjoyed a position of respectability, influence and popularity.

He was a gallant ofhcer in the Co'.ifederate army, beine amono- the first to enlist in the service in his native county. He was first lieutenant of Co. F, 15th Regt.,. S. C. v., an 1 served with said command until the end of

It is only necessary to refer to the roll of said company with accompanying remarks, as to casualties published elsewhere in this volume, to appreciate the splendid record it made during the four years of a bloody war, and on said roll there is not to be found the name of a braver spirit than that of Moses Wood - its last commander. He was wounded at the battle of the Wilderness, May, 1864.

The Lipscomb Family

Among the first settlers in the original county of Spartanburg w^as William Lipscomb, the ancestor of nearly all the families of this name who have ever resided in said county.

It is stated that just after the close of the Revolution he was moving with his family from Louisa county, Va., to Georgia, and that on the way his wagon broke down near Thickety Creek. While awaiting repairs he concluded to look around over the country, and was so well pleased that he decided to make settlement in that immediate vicinity'. He made entry of a large scope of lands on Little Thickety and Goucher creeks, which has been in the family ever since. He was born in Virginia, ]\Iarch 28th, 1731, and died March 13th, 1810, aged 79 vears. He had five sons and two daughters, viz.: Smith

Of these sons Smith Lipscomb, the eldest, had fonr sons and two daughters, viz. : William (Billy Pete) who married a Miss Lockart, daughter of an old settler ; Jammie, who married a Miss Ferguson ; Wyatt, who married Rebecca Lockart, sister of William's wife; David, who married a Miss Macomson ; Betsey, who married Hiram Lockart (brother of the wives of William and Wyatt), and Nancy, who married Spencer Morgan, a Baptist preacher.

Of these sons, William (or Billy Pete) had eight children, as follows : Agnes, who married John H. Wood ; Josaphine (now deceased) who married Crawford INIiller ; Christina P., who married John J. Lipscomb; Alexander, who married a Miss Jane Finley (daughter of Daniel P'inley, Esq.) ; Moses, who died during the war unmarried ; Smith, who married Miss Sarah Goudelock ; Jimmie, unknown ; Hiram, who married Miss Janie Holmes; and Wyatt, who married Miss Mildred vStreetman of Texas.

John Lipscomb, one of the sons of the elder William Lipscomb, had four sons and four daughters, viz.: John, William, Smith, Edward, Betsey, Agnes, Polly and Nancy, Of the four sons, Edward Lipscomb, Esq., had eleven children, as follows : Nazareth, who married Rev. M. C. Barnett ; Elizabeth, who married Willis Smith; Sarah, who married A. N. Poole; Clara, who married K. C. Watkins; Evelina, who married Willis Smith (second wife); Narcissa, who married Captain A. B. Bryant (killed in the army); Elias, who married Artemia Golightly; William L. (Billy Cap), who married Nancy Elizabeth , daughter of Wyatt Lipscomb ; Smith Lipscomb, father of R. S. Lipscomb, who married Sallie Wood, and who died in Virginia during the civil war; John J., who married Christina Lipscomb, and Nathan, who married ]Mary, danghter of Rnssell Wilkins. Of the fonr daughters of John (son of William Lipscomb, the elder) mentioned, Betsy married Frank Littlejohn; Agnes married Thomas Littlejohn first and afterwards to Drury Wood (cousins) ; Polly married John Wilkins, and Nancy married Dr. Nance.

William Lipscomb, son of John and grandson of William Lipscomb the elder, had five sons and three daughters, viz. : John W., Martin, Smith, William R., Edward, Julia Ann, Nancy W., and Agatha B.

Of the sons mentioned, William R. Lipscomb of Limestone Springs (now Gaffney) is a highly respected citizen, well known in both the original counties of Spartanburg and Union. He was born March ad, 1828, and at this writing is seventy-one years of age. He embraced Christianity at the age of eleven years, and has always been an exemplary member of the Baptist Church. He has always been a generous contributor to the cause of religion and education. During the war he was a true defender of the "Lost Cause," and since then he has followed the avocation of a farmer.

He has been married three times - first, to Miss Nancy Austell ; second, to Mrs. Elmina Jeffries ; and, third, to Miss Susan Lafar. By the last marriage he has four sons.

Edward (Pompey Ned ) Lipscomb is also w^ell known in the section of the country in which he lives as an honest, upright and well-to-do farmer.

It may be truly said of the entire Lipscomb family that they are and always have been a highly respectable and law-abiding generation of people. They have always been true, loyal and patriotic, both in times of peace and in war ; and in the civil war between the States every available man of this large family connection shouldered his musket and defended a cause which they believed (and was) right and just. Some of them sacrificed their lives in defense of their country, both in the hospital and on the field of battle.

Amongr the battle-scarred veterans of the families of this name referred to, we would mention William R. (Billy Cap) Lipscomb, whose jaw was lacerated by an explosion of a shell on the battle-field.

In this connection we would again refer to Captain Alfred B. Bryant, who married Miss Narcissa, daughter of Edward Lipscomb, Esq. He was a brave and heroic officer in the Confederate army. He entered the service as lieutenant of Company B, Holcombe Legion, and succeeded Captain Sloan (the latter resigning on account of ill health) to the captaincy of said company January, 1863, which he commanded until within about three weeks before the surrender at Appomattox. He was killed near Fort Steadman, Va., March 25th, 1865.

William Smith Lipscomb

In our efforts to preserve tlie history and perpetuate the memories of the worthy sons belonging to the Lipscomb families, there are none more worthy of our special attention than William Smith Lipscomb, eldest son of Wyatt and Rebecca (Lockart) Lipscomb, who was born November 2ist, 1834, and died December loth, 1898, being in the sixty-fourth year of his age.

He was reared on his father's farm on Thickety Creek, in the present connty of Cherokee, and only a few miles from Gaffney, S. C, where he died.

Being a son of an honorable and respectable parentage, he had instilled into him in early life all the principles which go to make np a trne man, gentleman and patriot, which he was. Bnt, aside from this, he possessed and maintained throughout his entire life a moral character that was pure and beyond reproach. He was strictly temperate, never having during his life tasted a drop of alcoholic liquors.

In January, 1862, he entered the service of the Confederate States as a member of Captain Felix Walker's company, 1 8th Regiment, S. C. v., and was wounded seriously at the battle of Clay's farm, in Virginia, in 1864; and once during his career as a soldier, when in the heat of battle, the color-bearer of his regiment having been shot down, he seized the fallen colors and bore them on to victory.

After the war, for a quarter of a century or more, he maintained the reputation of a first-class hotel man, in which business he was engaged at the time of his death.

He had been a member of the Baptist Church for about fifteen years, and was always ready, in an humble way, to contribute, when called upon, to all the objects of charity and benevolence.

Lieut. Smith Lipscomb

son of William ( Billy Pete) and Sarah (Lockart) Lipscomb, was born February 26th, 1840, near the present town of Thickety, S. C. He was educated in the common schools of his neighborhood, and attended the classical school of J. Banks Lyle at Limestone Springs.

At the outbreak of the civil war between the States he volunteered for the service ia Company F, i8th Regiment, S. C. V. (Colonel Gadbury), commanded respectively by Captains Felix J. Walker and Goodman Jeffries. Of this company Smith Lipscomb was senior 2d lieutenant, havings been promoted to this position from junior 2d lieutenant. Throughout the entire war of four years in which he served, he was noted for his gallantry and faithfulness, in every sense of the word, to his country's cause.

After his return home from the army in 1865 he married Sallie Goudelock, daughter of John W. Goudelock, of Union county, S. C, a congenial and devoted companion, and removed to the State of Texas, where he has since resided. His home is at Bonham, Fannin county, which he has served wnth efficiency for many years, both in the office of sheriff and tax-collector. He has now returned to private life, but is numbered among the honest, upright and progressive citizens of his adopted State, and has always conducted himself in such a way as to reflect credit on his mother State.

By his marriage with Miss Goudelock he has raised an orderly and interesting family of children, one son, Wade Hampton, having served in Cuba in the recent war with Spain.