Spartanburg County, South Carolina - The Turner Family, 1900

The Turner Family

James Turner, Sr., migrated from Virginia with his father to South Carolina before the Revohition, when he was only twelve years of age. He was the only child of his mother, whose maiden name was Hannah Middleton. He had reached the age of manhood wdien the Revolution broke out, and was in the service of his country.

His father (whose first name we have been unable to obtain) settled on Pacolet River near Coulter's Ford, and raised by a second wife three sons and three daughters, viz. : Henry, Richard, Samuel, Phebe (Mrs. Solomon Abbott), Sallie (Mrs. Ephraim Potter), and Betty (Mrs. Wm. Garrett).

James Turner, Sr., married Margaret Heydon, and had nine children, viz. : Edward, William, Samuel, Middleton, James, Mary, Ann (Mrs. James Foster), Elizabeth and Tamer. His home was on Pacolet River, near Coulter's Ford, where his father settled. It was here during the bloody scenes of the Revolution that he crept into his log cabin one night to get a good rest, but dreamed during the night that "there was danger about." So he got up and secreted himself in a plum nursery near by, and soon a Tory appeared with his gun, when James commenced pelting him with rocks, and ran him off through a cow-mire.

At another time he was taken prisoner by a band of Tories, who were preparing to kill him at once ; but as fortune would have it, one of the Tories said, "The

James Turner, Sr., was a brother-in-law to Horse Shoe Robinson, the hero of Mr. Kenedy's famous novel of the same name, both of whom were scouts during the Revolution and a terror to the Tories,

Some time after the close of the Revolution James Turner, accompanied by his little son Samuel, visited Horse Shoe Robinson, who resided in what was then Pendleton District, S. C. It is stated that they sat up all night discussing their ups and downs, but that Mrs. Robinson made them lie down while she was preparing breakfast. James Turner, Sr., was a pious and consecrated Christian, and for many years a deacon of Buck Creek (Baptist) Church.

Samuel Turner, son of James Turner, Sr., to whom we have referred, was a popular, well-to-do and highly respected citizen, whose homestead (near Mount Zion Church ) embraced the historic site of old Fort Prince. Here he spent the greater portion of his life. The writer lived near him till he grew to manhood, and was much associated with him. He was a good and intelligent citizen, an obliging neighbor, kind in disposition, scrupulously neat in person, and in deportment as polite as a Frenchman. He married Mahala, daughter of John Chapman, Sr., and had eleven children, as follows :

(i) Lenora, married William Rush first, and second John D. Cannon ; (2) Adolphus and (3) Ann, both dying young ; (4) Augustus John, a distinguished professor of music. Was for many years connected with the State institution, Deaf, Dumb and Blind, Staunton, Va. Was captain and instructor of the famous Stonewall band, which ranked among the first in the Confederate army. {5) Memory Horatio, who migrated to Georgia and mar- ried Addie Parsons in that State; (6) Randolph, an intelligent, industrious and progressive citizen and farmer, who married Eleanor, eldest daughter of Paschal Wingo, both now deceased; (7) George Washington, well known to the people of Spartanburg county as an upright and patriotic citizen and Christian gentleman, fully alive to every enterprise looking to the upbuilding of his country, devoting much of his time to the garden, orchard, and vineyard, who married Maiden Wood, daughter of Richard Moss, both living and being in good health, this (1900) being the fiftieth anniversary year of their marriage ; (8) Abigail, who married John Landrum, eldest son of Paschal Wingo, and removed to Texas ; (9) Abner Benson, who migrated to Texas, and married Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Ballenger; (10) Claudius Calhoun, an intelligent and highly respected citizen, well known in his native county, who married Nancy Catharine (now deceased), daughter of John Chapman, Jr., Esq. He was engaged in journalism before the outbreak of the civil war, and at the beginning of the same enlisted in Company F, 5th Regiment, S. C. V., and upon the reorganization of said company in 1862 was elected a lieutenant in Company I (Captain W. D. Camp), which position he held until the end of the war. Was, upon the reorganization of the State militia, after close of war, elected major. Was a representative in the State Legislature from 1868 to 1870, and was a trial justice for a number of years. He is now a resident of Spartanburg city, being engaged in the real estate business. (11) Cassius Lewis (youngest child of Samuel Turner), died in childhood.

The High Family

Among the early families that settled in the vicinity of old Fort Prince immediately after the close of the Revolution were the Highs, Wingos, Chapmans, Bomars,.

Woods, Pollards, Bushes and others. These families all emigrated from Virginia. They and their ancestors belonged to that class, before the Revolntion in Virginia, known as Dissenters from the Established Church of England. Coming from the "Old Dominion," they were thoroughly indoctrinated into the ideas of Thomas Jefferson, that the government of the United States was a government "of the people, for the people, and by the people." Being opposed to the Established Church, they were all Baptists in principle, and were among the founders of old Mount Zion Church, organized in 18 10. The government of the Baptist Church being advisory only, one church organization being entirely independent of another, these good people, in embracing the principles of this faith, still held to the ideas of Jefferson, that the government of the Baptist churches was ' ' a government of the Baptists, for the Baptists, and by the Baptists." They were opposed to any form of centralised government, either civil or religious.

The oldest ancestor among the High family that we can learn of was William High, who was the father of five children, viz. : Burnel, Swepson, Paschal Benjamin, David, and Elizabeth C. (called Betsy). Of these Paschal Benjamin and David removed to the great West, and have left a numerous posterity behind them ; Betsey married Reuben Gramling, an industrious and progressive farmer, blacksmith and wood-workman, who settled on South Pacolet. and who, as a citizen, occupied a position of the highest respectability. He had two sons, the late Henry H. Gramling of Gramling Station, on the Asheville and Spartanburg Railroad, and David Gramling in the neighborhood of IVIacedonia church, Spartanburg county. Both of these brothers were well known to the people of Spartanburg county, and they left behind them a posterity of the highest respectability. Elizabetli

The children of Burnel High were William Giles, James Madison, Polly, Rebecca, Maiden, Madora, Francis, and Hester. Of these Polly married to Thomas Roe, who removed to Texas, Rebecca to Jennings, Maiden to Anderson Wingo, Madora to Captain Wm. Caldwell, Frances to Henry Turner, and Hester to Turner Cantrel. Of these William Giles High was most intimately known to the writer, who will always cherish a pleasant recollection of his memory. He married first Mrs. Thursy Oliver, who at the time of her death (i860) had been a member of Mount Zion church for near twenty years, and was in all respects a lady and true Christian. For his second wife he married Miss Francis Benson, daughter of Silas Benson, who still survives him, and who is a lady of domestic refinement, occupying a position of the highest respectability in the neighborhood in which she lives.

Wm. G. High was a typical representative of that old Virginia type of hospitality which he by nature inherited. He was an honest and industrious and well-to-do farmer and a magnificent entertainer at home. He was a good provider, and nothing afforded him so much pleasure as to have his friends around him, and especially the pastor of his church,* to whom he was devoted.

The children of Swepson High were Thomas P., married to Sarah Ann Caldwell ; Benjamin, married first to Margaret Caldwell, and second to Amanda Brice; James Van Buren, married to Malinda Wingo, daughter of Burrel Wingo ; P'ranklin, never married ; Mary, married John Strange.

* The late Rev. John G. Laiidrum, who occupied the pastorate of Mount Zion, with an interval, for thirty-six years, beginning with the year 1832.

Of the children of Madison High, brother of William there are numerous descendants in the county, which have every reason to be proud of a respectable ancestry, who have always been faithful to every principle of duty and right as law-abiding citizens.

The sons mentioned of Swepson High are : Thomas Benjamin, Van Buren and Franklin, who were all brave soldiers in the civil war between the States, true in every sense of the word to the cause which they espoused, being among the last to yield, and have always sustained an enviable reputation as peaceable, honest and patriotic -citizens of Spartanburg county.

Chapman Family

Among the early settlers in Spartanburg county was John Chapman, Sr., who settled on the waters of North Tyger about one-half mile west of the historic Fort Prince. He was born in Amelia county, Va. , from which State he migrated to South Carolina. He is still remembered by many who yet survive the period of the latter years of his life, among whom is the writer, who can testify to his excellent character as a citizen. He was industrious and progressive as a farmer, kind and gentle in his manners, and a devout member and deacon of the Baptist Church. Living near Mount Zion (Baptist) Church, of which he was numbered among its founders, he donated the land on which said church is located, in all about ten acres.

He was twice married. His first wife was a Miss Dodson, by which marriage he had two children, viz, : Edmond, who married a Miss Wood, daughter of John Wood (sister of Captain Coleman Wood); and Elizabeth (Betsey), who married Moses Richardson. He married -a second time to Mary (Polly) Seay, sister to Mrs. John ist. Beverly Randolph Chapman, who married Sallie Foster, and had thirteen children, viz. : Wm. Pinckney, John Calvin, Garland (died in the army), Memory N., Dr. Oliver Goldsmith, Virgil Randolph Jackson, Granville Washington, Mary (Mrs. Wilson Wingo), Emily (Mrs. General A. C. Bomar), Jane (Mrs. Andrew Holtzonser), Louisa (Mrs. Clongh H. Mabry), Ann (Mrs. Henry H. Turner), and Bettie (Mrs. Miles Floyd).

2d. John Chapman, Jr., Esq., married Rose R. Montgomery,, and had children as follows: W^arren Davis, died of wounds received during the war. He volunteered at the beginning of the war between the States, and was commissioned a lieutenant. He was a surveyor by occupation, and was possessed of brilliant literary talents. He was cut off in the prime of his manhood. ]\Iarcus Brutus, a gentleman. Christian, patriot and soldier, whose health was broken down in the service of his country- John Newton, Chevis Montgomery (residing in California), Margaret Ann (Mrs. John Wood, Texas), Memory Petigrevv (died in childhood), Nancy Catherine (deceased, Mrs. C. C. Turner), Octavia Olivia, single, and Perry Earle, who resides at the old homestead place of his father (near Mount Zion), and who is well known as an industrious, honest, upright and progressive citizen. He married Miss Mattie, daughter of Randolph Turner, Esq. John Chapman, Jr., Esq., was a man who commanded the respect and esteem of the people of Spartanburg District. He was for many years a magistrate, and administered the law with firmness and impartiality. He was a progressive business man, and for many years a deacon in the Baptist Church.

Richardson Family

]\Ioses Richardson migrated from Virginia to Spartanburg District, South Carolina, about the year 1820. He married Elizal)eth (Betsey), daughter of John Chapman, Sr., and settled on the old Blackstock road on the plantation now owned by Mr. Henry Wingo. He was an honest and industrious farmer. He and his wife were exemplary members of the Baptist church at ]\Iount Zion.

By his marriage with Elizabeth Chapman he had children as follows : John, who married Harriet Copeland ; Mathew, who married Fannie Ramsey ; Pinckney, who married Emily, daughter of Garland Foster ; Elias, who married Elizabeth, daughter of Ransom Wingo; and Oliver Perry, who married Hester, daughter of Paschal Wingo.

These sons were all moral, intelligent, upright and highly respected citizens, standing well before the people. Under the head of our review of the progress of education in Spartanburg county during the nineteenth century, we have noticed O. P. Richardson as a popular school-teacher in his day. After his marriage with Miss Wingo he removed to Hunt county, Texas, where he died.

Among his children surviving is one son, Willis Preston Richardson, who has risen to considerable prominence. He competed successfully for a vacancy at West Point, where he graduated after a four-years course, standingnear the head of his class. Since that time he has remained in the United States army, except four years, during which time he was appointed tutor at West Point. He is now captain of a company in the Klondike doing valiant service for the government.

Elias and Elizabeth (Wingo) Richardson had children as follows : Wm. Henry Harrison, married Miss Anna O. Wingo, daughter of Paschal Wingo ; Thomas Wilds, married Miss Hallie E. White, daughter of William White ; Benjamin Franklin, died in the army during the war ; Louisa Josephine, married Samuel W. Keller, both deceased ; Emily Elizabeth, married Henry Wingo; Mary, married James R. Snoddy. Wm. H. H. Richardson, the only surviving sou of above mentioned sons, is a resident of Gaffney, S. C, and is one of the enterprising and influential citizens of that city.

Thomas Wilds Richardson

second son of Elias and Elizabeth Richardson, to whom we have already referred, was born near Campton, S. C, March 3d, 1843. He was raised on his father's farm, and attended the schools of his neighborhood.

Soon after the outbreak of the civil war between the States he volunteered in Co. D, Palmetto Sharpshooters, commanded by Captain A. H. Foster, and was wounded at the battle of Seven Pines. Recovering from the same he continued in the service of his country, participating in all the battles in which his regiment was engaged until near the close of the war, when he was captured near Petersburg. He was imprisoned at Point Lookout, where he was kept until July some four months, after the war had ended.

rounded him. The time had arrived when ahnost every young man in the country had to set himself to work to make an honest living for himself, and to this end Thomas W. Richardson proved himself equal to the emergency. He united in marriage with Miss Hattie White, and proved himself to be one of the most progressive and indu"strious farmers in the community in which he lived. He kept himself well posted on the current events of the day and was especially fond of literature devoted to progressive agriculture. He was an intelligent thinker, always entertaining advanced ideas. So much so, that he was sometimes considered eccentric, but no one stood higher in the estimation of his fellow citizens as an honest and upright citizen. He never sought office promotion, but in times of peace as w^ell as in war, he proved himself to be a man of the sternest patriotism and integrity, leaving a character behind him well worthy of imitation. He had for many years been a member of the Baptist Church. He died in 1898. By his marriage with Miss White, who survives him, he had one child. Alma Estelle, wife of Dr. J. R. Gibson, who resides at Inman, S. C.