Spartanburg County, South Carolina - Chapter 34: Captain Benjamin Kilgore, 1900

Chapter 34: Captain Benjamin Kilgore

Was a Revolutionary soldier who was among the early settlers of upper South Carolina, after the treaty of Governor Glenn with the Cherokee Indians in 1755. He had one son, James, who married Harriet Benson of Columbia, S. C, and had children as follows : Josiah Kilgore, who was a graduate of the South Carolina College ; Jesse Kilgore, who moved to Kershaw county, S. C. ; Dr. Benjamin Kilgore, who moved to North Mississippi ; James Kilgore of Newberry, S. C. ; Mary, wife of Colonel T. B. Brockman of Greenville, S. C, who became the mother of Mrs. Harriet Anderson, wife of Captain David Anderson; and Margaret and IMalinda, both of whom married Barrys of Tyger River.

Josiah Kilgore was the father of Dr. B. F. Kilgore, a sketch of whom we present herein ; May, the wife of John Stokes, Esq. ; Harriet, wife of Dr. Melmoth Hunter, of Laurens county, S. C. ; Dr. William Kilgore and Clayton Kilgore.

In the office of Secretary of State, Columbia, S. C, the following papers are on file, showing the public service rendered by Benjamin Kilgore during the Revolution. These papers were copied by Dr. B. F. Kilgore while a member of the House of Representatives, previous to i860.

"September 27th. To ditto from May 27th, 1780, when I was made a prisoner of while on duty, as above, and sent to Charleston and there kept until I made my escape returned home. I took command of the regiment this day, all my superiors being killed, /. ^., 124 days at 7 F, 434

" Personally appeared Benjamin Kilgore before me, W. Mitchison, a Justice of the Peace of said county, and made oath as the law directs that the above account is just and true, and that he never has received anything of the same, and subscribed before me September 25th,

Dr. Benjamin Franklin Kilgore

Dr. Kilgore was born in Greenville county, near the Spartanburg line, August 6th, 1820. He attended the schools of his neighborhood, and afterwards attended the high schools in the districts of both Greenville and Spartanburg.

Medical College, at Charleston, in 1840. He then took a postgraduate course at Lexington, Ky., and began the practice of medicine in 1841 in Kershaw district.

In the fall of 1846 he returned to Greenville district and soon afterwards purchased a valuable farm on Enoree River, a few miles below Woodruff, to which place he moved February, 1847, and began to farm as well as to do an extensive practice of medicine.

occurred February 20th, 1897. From the time of his removal to Spartanburg district, he became closely identified with the interests of the district, serving as commissioner of roads, and was elected twice (1854 and 1858) as a representative from Spartanburg to the State legislature. In i860 he was elected a delegate to the convention of South Carolina which declared the ordinance of secession.

At the beginning of the civil war he enlisted as a private in Co. K, 3d Regiment, S. C. V. Shortly after he was appointed assistant surgeon of the 13th Regiment, S. C. V. (of which Dr. L. C. Kennedy was surgeon, whose health failing resigned), and September 23d, 1862, was promoted to surgeon of the same regiment, a position which he held until 1865, when he was made a director in charge of a hospital. After his return from the army he did only a limited practice and removed to Woodruff, where, from paralysis he died on the date

While Dr. Kilgore was located in Kershaw district in 1 84 1, he met Miss Fannie A. Massey of the Waxhaw neighborhood, in Lancaster district, whom he married, and who, with two sons and three daughters, survives him, the names of which are John Bel ton Kilgore, who married Lora Westmoreland ; Samuel M. Kilgore, who married Lilly Hunter ; Jane, who married W. W. Simpson ; Annie Virginia, who married Professor A. M. Stallworth, and Miss Hattie, unmarried.

Dr. Kilgore was a progressive citizen and an earnest patriot, and was endowed with an exceptionally fine mind, and used his time and talent for any measure he thought was for the progress and advancement of his county and State. It was largely due to his untiring energy and zeal that the Augusta and Spartanburg Railroad was built. At first he met with many discouragements, but lived to see his cherished hope consummated.

Dr. Kilgore was a true patriot, honest in the expression of his opinions and bold in his denunciations of wrong. A devoted husband and kind father, he was unselfish in disposition, magnanimous and warm in nature, and true and lo)-al in his friendships. These excellent traits in his character made a strong impress on the community in which he lived.

Colonel William Washington Harris

Among those of the citizens of Spartanburg who belonged to a past generation in her history, and whose early life embraced a career that was remarkable, there

He was born about 1795, and doubtless received the very best education that could be afforded in his day and generation. As soon as he grew to manhood he took up the study of surveying, and the State of Tennessee being then a frontier country and an invitingfield for this business, he went thither^ but how much work he did in this line we are not advised. It appears that not long after he went tO' Tennessee the war with Great Britain broke out. This is known as the war of t8i2. He enlisted in the army under the leadership of General Andrew Jackson, and participated -in the expedition against the Creeks in Alabama in 1813. In the latter part of August of said year, Fort Minis, forty miles north of ]\Iobile, was surprised by the savages, who appeased their thirst for blood with the murder of nearly four hundred people ; they did not spare even a woman or child, and but very few of the men in the fort escaped.. The news of this dreadful massacre spread consternation throughout the country, and the governors of Tennessee^ Georgia and Mississippi Territory made preparations at once for organizing expeditions to march against and invade the country of the Creeks. The Tennesseeans under General Jackson were . the first to the rescue. Several battles ensued, in which the Indian towns were destroyed, many of them put to death, and the whole nation routed.

In this expedition Colonel Harris either enlisted as an officer or became such soon afterwards. It is not definitely known what rank he held, but it is likely that it was in this expedition that he obtained the title of colonel^ for his position, as we will show further on, was of such prominence as to cause him to be personally known and remembered by General Jackson. He used to relate some interesting incidents in connection with his army life under Jackson. He was officer of the day one night when Jackson was expecting an attack, and he came across a youthful sentinel who had been stationed to guard a bridge, an important point. This sentinel did not challenge him, and he stepped softly up and found him asleep. To report him as sleeping at such a time and to such an officer as Jackson meant death to the sentinel. To wake him and reveal himself and then not report him would show a lack of discipline, and this idea could not be entertained. Circumstances favored him in this dilemma. The sentinel was sitting on the " stringer '' of the bridge with his gun lying beside him, his back to the deep water below. So Colonel Harris just took hold of the man's foot and turned him backwards into the water. While the young man was swimming out Colonel Harris concealed himself and waited until he saw the astonished sentinel resume his watch, it is supposed, to sleep no more till he was relieved.

Colonel Harris came to Spartanburg district while yet a young man without means, but with indomitable pluck and ambition. He married a daughter of Rev. David Golightly, who was a gentleman of considerable means.

Although not pleased with the match he gave his sonin-law a small piece of land, but did not otherwise supply him with the necessary housekeeping utensils. To his grandson, George H. Camp, Esq., he stated that he first lived in a cabin, and that his only cooking utensils were a small skillet and oven. He plowed with grapevine traces, and the first thing he did on the morning after his marriage was to cut a maul, and in relating this circumstance to his grandson, he said : " Son, I have been busy ever since." Being a practical surveyor he soon found employment that was remunerative. After several years he went to Spartanburg, built a house and continued the business of surveying, and by honest industry and a reasonable amount of economy he accumulated a vast amount of real estate that would sell at this writing (1900) for $150,000.

Many years ago Wm. C. Camp, Esq., son-in-law of Colonel Harris, visited General (Old Hickory) Jackson at his residence, called "The Hermitage," in Tennessee. When informed that Mr. Camp was a son-in-law of Colonel Harris, he was glad to see him and to hear from his old friend. He sent him, through Mr. Camp, as a present a polished hickory walking-cane with a silver head, bearing an appropriate inscription, which was highly prized by Colonel Harris. His army sword is still in possession of some of his grandchildren.

Colonel Harris was a man of great firmness and decision of character, and no citizen in Spartanburg was more highly esteemed as a gentleman than he was. He was a consistent member of the Baptist church at Spartanburg, and the lifelong friend of his pastor. Rev. John G. Landrum, under whose ministrations he attended for a quarter of a century or more.

father of Wm. H. Ray of Hendersonville, S. C. ; Sabrina, who married Andrew Holtsoiizer ; Harriet, who married Hiram Mitchell ; Adaline, who married W. C. Bennett ; Cornelia, who married Adam S. Camp; David G., who married Emily Lyles ; and Tabitha, who married Wm. C. Camp, Esq.

The sons-in-law above mentioned were gentlemen of the highest respectability, honor and integrity. Mr. Hiram Mitchell was for many years a prominent merchant in Spartanburg, and an influential member of the Baptist church in that town, and died a steadfast Christian. Dr. W. C. Bennett, a dentist of repute, was also a prominent member of the Baptist church at Spartanburg, where he resided most of his married life. He was a man of public spirit and took an interest in every enterprise looking to the internal development of his country.

David G. Harris, only son of Colonel Harris, was a man much like his father in business energy and perseverance. He lived near Golightly on Fair Forest, and was a successful farmer. He had children as follows : W. W. Harris, chief clerk constabulary force in Columbia, who married a Miss Nevins ; J. West Harris, a farmer in Spartanburg, who married a daughter of Mr. Miles Gentry; E. G. Harris, Professor of Mathematics and Civil Engineering in a school at Rolla, Mo.; Julia, who married Wm. H. Ray; Laura, who married J. Gwinn Harris of Forest City, Ark. ; Ella, who married L. K. Ford near Golightly; James G. Harris, who lost both eyes from an explosion in a well, who subsequently died of fever, and who married a Miss Lee, a relative of General Stephen D. Lee ; and Mary, who married Mack C. Poole, a merchant at Cross Anchor.

David Cook Judd

was born at Northampton, Mass., December 13th, 1809, being the youngest of six children born of his parents. " He was trained from infancy to habits of industry, sobriety and self-reliance, and his character was early formed upon the principles of stern integrity and morality. He sprang, too, from a pious ancestr}-, and grew up in the bosom of that church which has been made famous in our land by the pastorates of Edwards and Stodard and Spencer. Under these influences he early became a professor of religion, himself uniting with the church of his fathers."

He was educated in the common schools of his town ; but when quite a youth he entered upon the mercantile pursuits to which he devoted his long life. His first position was that of a clerk in a mercantile house in Boston, but soon after he entered the store of his brother in Springfield, Mass. , where he acquired the habits of system, accuracy and thoroughness which strikingly characterized him through life. After he had attained his maturity he removed to Columbus, Ohio, where he spent a few years. Thence he turned his eyes southward and migrated to what was then the little village of Spartanburg, where he settled and began the business of merchandizing in 1842, which business he steadily continued aintil within about six months of the time of his death. In 1847 or 1848 he entered into a partnership in said lousiness with his brother-in-law, Mr. Joseph Foster, Avhich comprised the well-known firm of Foster & Judd. Besides his regular business as a merchant, he also, in connection with it, conducted for many years prior to the civil war between the States, the Spartanburg Agency of the Bank of the State of South Carolina, and served also for six years after said war as president of the National Bank of Spartanburg, which office he Tesigned on account of failing health. In all his business career and dealings he was honest, upright and conscientious, and as such he. was eminently successful. No business man in Spartanburg was more distinguished than he for his diligence, integrity and fidelity.

Soon after he came to Spartanburg he became a meml3er of the Presbyterian church at that place, which church organization was only in the second year of its existence ; ^' performed an interested and active part in the erection the church building ; was ordained a ruling elder August 15th, 1845, and served as teacher, superintend- -ent and librarian of the Sabbath-school, relinquishing the latter office " only a few years before his death on account of the infirmities of advancing age.

He also served during his day upon the city council of Spartanburg, and in other positions of responsibility and trust besides those already mentioned, and in all lie proved himself to be a man of eminent ability and uprightness.

Having lived a life of spotless integrity, Christian -consistency and official fidelity, he died, ministered to by loving hands, at his home in Spartanburg, February

25th, 1882, in his seventy-third year. His remains were followed by a large concourse of people to the spot where for over thirty-five years he had been accustomed to worship God.

Hon. William Kenedy Blake

Fayetteville, N. C, February nth, 1824, and died at his residence at Spartanburg, S. C, January 9th, 1898. He descended from one of the old colonial families that settled on Cape Fear R i \' e r and from a noble Revolutionary ancestry. His grandfather, Ishani Blake, was personally known to Lafayette, and was one of his body-guard at the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, and in 1825, when this distinguished Frenchman visited the United States upon an invitation from Congress, he visited the town of Fayetteville, which was named in his honor. Great preparations were made for his reception. Military companies, civic societies, schools and the citizens of the town and county turned out to welcome the gen- eroiis friend of America from a foreign shore. During the presentation of a beautiful silken flag to Lafayette, wrought by the skillful hands of the ladies of Fayetteville, a touching scene occurred. The old hero was told that an old comrade, Isham Blake, a fifer in the continental army, was present. His eyes beaming with joy he begged to see him. Soon a tall and venerable man appeared. He needed no introduction ; they embraced, wept and fought anew the battles of Brandywine and Yorktown.

Wm. K. Blake, after attending the common schools of his town, not having the means of his own, sought the assistance of his friends, who promptly remitted to him from time to time till his graduation in 1846, which was returned with his first earnings out of college.

Mr. Blake attended Randolph Macon College, Virginia, two years and then entered the University of North Carolina in 1844 and graduated from said institution, as already stated, in 1846. He "began the study of law and remained in Fayetteville until after his marriage in 1848 to Miss Ella Hawley, when he moved to Texas, where he had a brother living and where he intended practicing law. A residence of six months being required, however, before license could be obtained, he decided to open a school, which, in the meanwhile, would give him an opportunity to familiarize himself with the pleadings and practice of the courts of Texas.

Shortly after, he entered upon the practice of law, but his wife was taken sick, and not being able to secure the necessary medical treatment, he removed to Nashville, Tenn., and accepted a position in the High School in that city. A year later the cholera epidemic visited the city and he was one of its victims ; he barely escaped with his life. Upon his partial recovery he returned to his native State, and as soon as his health per- mitted accepted a position in the Female College at Ansonville, and from the latter place he moved to Greensboro, where, in 1854, he was elected to a professorship. Here he was associated with Dr. Deems, who was then president of the college, and later was in charge of a large chnrch in New York City, and who remained a personal friend.

In 1857 he was elected president of the Female Seminary at Fayetteville, his native town, and spent two years pleasantly there until he resigned to accept the presidency of the Female College at Spartanburg. Soon after he arrived in Spartanburg his wife died. She had been an invalid for many years.

In 1 86 1 he married Miss IMarina Gregg Jones of Edgefield, S. C, who had been a pupil in his school, and whose influence as a consecrated Christian for a third of a century is felt and appreciated by the people of Spartanburg.

When the war closed Mr. Blake began the mercantile business in vSpartanburg. He was successful and remained in this business until failing health forced him to retire and transfer his store to others.

In 1868 he was elected chairman of the board of county commissioners for Spartanburg county, which position he held for four years, discharging the duties of the office with faithfulness and fidelity to the people. About this time he was elected and served for two years as chairman of the county Democratic Executive Committee, which was at a time when the State was at her greatest peril from Radical misrule and tyranny ; and until the State was redeemed from said domination, which was in 1876, he was always foremost in the political

Mr. Blake was never, however, a politician in the strict sense, of the word, but in 1880 the people called him to serve one term in the legislature. He was an excellent representative and attended to all the duties before him.

In 1875 he became secretary and treasurer of the Spartanburg and Asheville Railroad, which position he held for two years, discharging the duties of the office under the most trying circumstances with the same indomitable energy and perseverance which always characterized him. Lack of funds to prosecute the further work of the road for a time, caused him to retire from this office.

Having received his first degrees in Freemasonry while residing in Ansonville, N. C, Mr. Blake became an earnest and most enthusiastic member of this order. He had attained next to the highest degree in Masonry, and upon this being offered him he declined in favor of a man in Charleston, who was on his death-bed, only one IVIason in the State being granted this degree. He was for one or two years, beginning with about 1870, the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge A. F. M. of South Carolina. No one ever occupied this chair with more eminence and ability than Mr. Blake. In the conferring of degrees, and especially the Eastern Star, he had no superior.

Mr. Blake was a loyal IMethodist, a Christian gentleman and an honest advocate for the cause of temperance. He was at the time of his death, and had been for a number of years, one of the trustees of the Wofford College. He succeeded Mr. Bobo as superintendent of the Methodist Sunday-school at Spartanburg, and for several years he gave it his best thought and effort. For a long time he was a member of the " Legal Conference," and

It may be truly said of Mr. Blake that he was a good all-round man. For an impromptu speech on Fourth of July, Sunday-school, political, educational, Masonic, or any other live issue, he scarcely had an equal in the State of South Carolina. He was eloquent in the selection of language, musical in voice, and graceful in gesture. Born without means, with no security to obtain the necessary funds to procure an education except upon a pledge of honor, reared and trained by a pious parentage, which, by the blessings of God, established for him a character for industry, honesty and good habits, William Kenedy Blake lived a life and has left an example behind him worthy of imitation by the generations that come after him.

Joseph Foster

was born at Canterbury, N. H., November 7, 1804. Having received a common school education in his native State, he was trained in early life to habits of industry and self-reliance. When about twenty-one years of age came to South Carolina, located at Greenville, and taught school for a year in connection with his brother Abiel Foster. The next year, 1827, he went to Union district and located near Fair Forest church ; continued teaching and farming for some years.

On the 27th of December, 1831, he was married to Miss Minerva Margery Means. He was a member of the Fair Forest church (Presbyterian), and was elected elder in this church about 1835. The duties of this office he faithfully discharged until his removal to Spartanburg Court-house in August, 1847. He identified himself with the church there (which was in its infancy), soon after was made elder, and held the office as long as he lived. After his removal to Spartanburg he went into the mercantile business in partnership with his brother-in-law, Mr. D. C. Judd. This business connection, known as the firm of Foster & Judd, continued until his death, January 31, 1877. He was gifted with

He was an energetic, progressive man, temperate in his habits, always bright and cheerful in the home circle. His ancesters on his father's side were English, he was also through his grandmother, Mary Rogers Foster, in the direct line of descent from Rev. John Rogers, who was burned at Smithfield, the first martyr in Queen Mary's reign. His grandfather, Hon. Abiel

Foster, was a member to Congress fourteen years under the confederation and the constitution ; was a friend of General Washington, was chosen delegate tp Congress under the confederation, F'ebruary 18, 1783. Attended July 29, 1783. Was present when General Washington resigned his commission as Commander-in-Chief of the American Army, December 23d, 1783. This event is commemorated in an oil-painting hanging in the rotunda of the capitol at Washington. In this painting the Hon. Abiel Foster occupies a conspicuous position in the foreground.

Joseph Foster's children are Susan E., married Samuel C. Means ; Alfred H., married Henrietta V. Brandon of Union - their children are Isabel, Mary Emma and Louise. Isabella J., married Robert H. Chapman of Asheville, N. C. , died October loth, 1866, leaving two sons, James A. Chapman, lawyer, Robert H. F. Chapman, merchant. S. Laura, married E. C. McLaughlin ; J. Adolphus, married Sallie G. Farrar of Union county, and died November 15th, 1886. His descendants are all living in Spartanburg and Union counties.

Captain Alfred Harrison Foster

eldest son of Joseph and M. M. Foster, was born in Union county, S. C, in 1835. Being instructed by his father and others he receixed a good education, and after he grew up to manhood, spent several years as salesman in the store of F'oster & Judd at Spartanburg, S. C.

For several years prior to the outbreak of the civil war Captain Foster was a member of the Morgan Rifles at Spartanburg (named in honor of Daniel Morgan, the hero of Cowpens), a splendidly uniformed, equipped and drilled company under the command of Captain G. W. H. Legg, which formed a part of the old 36tli Regiment, S. C. M. The State failing to receive this organization as a rifle company to form a part of a new regiment to be made up from the districts of York, Union and Spartanburg, the services of the Spartan Rifles, a new organization in the town of Spartanburg, having been already accepted by the State authorities before a general call was made for volunteer troops from the 36th Regiment, the Morgan Rifles divided on the day of said call (January, 1861) at the annual parade ground (Bomar's Old Field), about one-half offering their services on the ground, while the remaining part waited until the organization should be received and mustered in as a rifle company.* That part of said company which volunteered on the occasion referred to, recruited at once and orgaiiized under the name of Morgan Light Infantry. With this organization Captain Foster volunteered as a

*The remaining membership of the old Morgan Rifles recruited, reorganized and volunteered in the Confederate service the month of November following tinder the leadership of Captain John Earle Bomar, and was known as Company C, in the Holcombe Legion.

private. Captain Legg, of the Morgan Rifles, was elected captain of this new organization, which drilled every two weeks at Spartanbnrg until called into active service.

Under the organization of the 5th Regiment, S. C. V., from companies in the counties referred to Major Micah Jenkins, of York, was elected colonel ; Captain G. W. H. Legg, of Spartanburg, was elected lieutenant-colonel, and Captain W. T. Thomson (Johnson Rifles), of Union, was elected major. This left a vacancy for the captaincy in the Morgan Light Infantry, and to this position Mr, John M. Benson was elected.

The company left Spartanburg for Charleston April 13th, 1 86 1, the day of the fall of Sumter, and reached Sullivan's Island about one week later, where it remained encamped for six weeks. In the organization of the 5th Regiment, which at this time consisted of twelve companies, the Morgan Light Infantry was known as Company I. During the period that the company was encamped ou Sullivan's Island much time was spent in drilling, and Captain Foster, the second sergeant of. the company, had committed to his charge a number of young recruits called the "Awkward Squad," to which the writer, yet in his teens, belonged, and here was manifested his excellent qualifications as a drill-master.

Up to about the 25th of May, 1861, the 5th Regiment only formed a part of the State volunteer organization. To enter the service of the Confederate States a new enlistment and reorganization became necessary, which was done for the period of twelve months. The reputation which Captain Foster had already made for himself as a competent drill officer pointed him out as the most suitable man to lead the Morgan Light Infantry through the Virginia campaigns, wdiere it was destined to go, and he was accordingly elected its captain, which position he held to the end of the war. His promotion, however, to this responsible position was done with due respect to Captain Benson, who was elected first lientenant of the company, and at the end of his twelve months' enlistment was promoted to a higher rank in another service. The other officers elected were James S. Ballenger second lieutenant, and Robert A. Snoddy third lieutenant.

Upon the reorganization of the 5th Regiment, S. C. V., for the Confederate service, the Morgan Light Infantry, under Captain Foster, was known as Company F, and as such participated in the first battle of Manassas, and the subsequent service of the regiment for the period of enlistment.

At the reorganization in 1862, for three years or the war, part of the 5th Regiment, with other reenlisted companies, formed the new regiment known as the Palmetto Sharpshooters, of which Micah Jenkins was made colonel, and Captain Foster's company, with such new recruits as were added, became Company D in said regiment.

Captain Foster was in all the engagements of this gallant regiment except Williamsburg, Va., and Dandridge, Tenn. His personal record was part of that of the Sharpshooters, who were never driven from a position, and never failed to drive the enemy when they charged, with one or two exceptions. He took part in battles of First Manassas, Seven Pines, Mechanicsville, Gaines Mill, Fraser's Farm, Rappahannock Station, Thoroughfare Gap, Second Manassas, Ox Hill, Boonsboro, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, the Suffolk and Blackwater campaign, the Chattanooga and Knoxville campaign under Longstreet, including the fights at Campbells Station, Knoxville and Beans Station, Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court-house, Hanover Junction, Cold Harbor, Bermuda Hundred, Petersburg, Fort Harrison, New Market

Heights, Darbytowii Road, Williamsburg Road, and at the evacuation of Petersburg brought up the rear, and commanded the regiment during the frequent skirmishes on the road to Appomattox, and in all these engagements he was slightly wounded twice. At the surrender the regiment was in good discipline and would have made as good a company, numbers considered, as it ever did.

It surrendered more men than any other regiment in the army. Of Captain Foster's company, which was composed of the best material the country afforded, the total number enrolled from its last organization (1862) was about 134. Of this number t^j were killed and died of wounds received on battle-fields; 21 were wounded, and 20 died of disease, making a total of 78. At the surrender at Appomattox the company numbered between 10 and 25. Captain Foster left Appomattox April 13th, 1865, just four years to a day after he left home for the war.

In 1868 he established his business as a merchant in Union, S. C, which he has successfully conducted for thirty years. He is deeply interested in every enterprise looking to the upbuilding of his country, having assisted with his influence and financially in organizing and promoting cotton manufacturing in Spartanburg and Union counties, and especially is he interested in the welfare of his comra(Jes, being at present the commander of Camp Giles, U. C. V., which meets in his city.

A truer patriot, a braver soldier or a more devoted son of Carolina never went forth to battle for his country than Alfred Harrison Foster, and what we say of him personally may be also truly said of his heroic band of followers through four long years of a bloody war.

The Choices are of Welsh descent. The first to land in this country came with the early English settlers to Virginia and engaged in the cultivation of tobacco.

The founder of the South Carolina family, William Choice, was a patriot soldier in the Revolutionary war, and soon after the surrender of Cornwallis he settled on Reedy River, in the lower part of Greenville county. He was one of the three commissioners to locate Greenville Court-house at the falls of Reedy River. He lived to be eighty-nine years old and drew a military pension from the government for many years. He was the father of William Choice, who attained eminent success at the bar of Greenville city, his contemporaries being Judges O'Neall, Earle, Dawkins, Hon. B. F. Perry and others ; also of Josiah Choice, who was killed at his home, near Paris Mountain, just at the close of the civil war, while defending his stock from a lawless raid of Federal cavalry.

His youngest son, Jefferson, having married a daughter of Jesse Cleveland, moved to Spartanburg to practice law, forming the firm of Thomson & Choice. Served one ter<in as intendant of the town of Spartanburg. He died in i860 much lamented.

Captain William Choice, Sr

son of JelTerson Choice, Esq., was born in Spartanburg. He attended the University at Georgetown, D. C, and received a good education. At the outbreak of the civil war he enlisted and was made a sergeant in the Spartan Rifles (Captain Joseph Walker). He served four years in the war, rising to the captaincy of Co. K, 5th Regiment, S. C. v., which formed a part of Longstreet's corps, and took part in many of the great battles in Virginia with conspicuous gallantry, as has been stated to the writer by his comrades in arms. He is a quiet and upright citizen, and resides in the city of Spartanburg, never having aspired to public life. His son, William

Choice, Jr., a young man just grown, served through the late Spanish-American war as a private in the United States Marine Corps. He was on duty aboard the artillery cruiser Yosemite, which did service in the West India waters. While blockading the port of San Juan, Porto Rico, the Yosemite, while there alone, was attacked by four Spanish gunboats. The battle raged for five hours with most tremendous cannonading, when the Spanish boats retired, being badly hurt. One of them, the Antoine- Lope, was beached and destroyed. After ten months service, the war being over, he was honorably discharged.