Spartanburg County, South Carolina - Chapter 38: Rev. J. S. Burnett, 1900

Chapter 38: Rev. J. S. Burnett

Was born in Knox county, Tenn., in 1821, and died at Asheville, N. C., at the age of seventy-three years. He received a fair education, but did not enjoy in early life the advantages which wealth affords. His first work was on the farm, and his next service was a clerkship in a mercantile house ; but neither agriculture nor commerce were destined to elevate his life service, but a nobler and higher calling, that of the ministry, lay before him. He joined the Holstein Conference of the M. E. Church, South, and removed to Asheville, N. C, and was the first pastor to minister to the Methodist congregation at that place, and soon won the hearts of his little flock and the friendship and admiration of every one who knew him, of whatever denomination.

He was married four times. First, to Miss Eliza Alexander, daughter of Colonel Mitchell Alexander, of Buncombe county, N, C. She died in i860. His second marriage was to Mrs. Woodfin, of Asheville, N. C. His third marriage was to Miss Tucker, of Statesville, N. C, and his fourth wife was Miss Susie Spain.

Soon after the close of the civil war between the States Mr. Burnett took up his residence at Spartanburg, where he remained for several years, but subsequently returned to Asheville, where he resided the rempinder of his life.

Mr. Burnett was truly a good and self-made man, upright and conscientious in the discharge of his duty in directing souls to Christ, and did a great and noble work in his vineyard. He possessed a heart overflowing wdth kindness and love for every man, and a nature that attracted to it and influenced for good every one with whom it came in contact. He occupied the best appointments in the conference, in Asheville for the most part, but for a while at Knoxville, Tenn.

Mr. Burnett had six children by his first marriage, of whom two are now living : W. B. Burnett, a prominent lawyer of Athens, Ga. , and W. E. Burnett, of vSpartanburg, S. C.

Wilber E. Burnett

whom we have already noticed as the son of Rev. J. S. Burnett, was born at Alexanders on the French Broad River, in 1854. He came to Spartanburg when quite a small boy, and graduated at Wofford College. Soon after this he entered the National Bank of Spartanburg as bookkeeper, and is now cashier of the same bank. He is also treasurer of the Fidelity Loan and Trust Company ; was originator of the Spartan Mills and was elected its first president, and also had the offer of the presidency of several other cotton mills. He is a director and one of the originators of Converse College and president of Wofford College Alumnse Association, and has been a generous contributor to Converse and Wofford Colles'es.

Mr. Burnett is in every sense a progressive and upright citizen, being fully alive to every business enterprise looking to the upbuilding of his city and county ; and being yet )-oung and active, he is destined to per- present representative in the National Congress from the 4th (S. C.) Congressional District, was born at Yorkville, S. C, January loth, 1859.

His father was W. B. Wilson of York county, who was a lawyer of eminent ability, a graceful and eloquent speaker and stood at the head of the York bar.

The maiden name of the mother of the subject of this sketch was Arrah Minerva Lowry of Yorkville. She was descended from the Lowry family of York county and the Miller families of Cleveland and Rutherford counties. North Carolina, of whom several were engaged in the battles of King's Mountain and in western North Carolina. One of them was Susan Twitty , the seventeen-yearold heroine mentioned in Draper's King's Mountain, in the fight at her stepfather's house (Colonel Graham).

The name of the grandfather of Stanyearne Wilson was Wm. Stanyearne Wilson, whose mother's maiden name was Anna Eliza Blackburn, daughter of Professor George Blackburn of South Carolina College, who came from Ireland. He was one of the commissioners who established, in 1815, the boundary line between North and South Carolina.

Mr. Wilson, the subject of this sketch, at thirteen years of age, entered the King's Mountain Military School, where, at the age of sixteen, he graduated at the head of his class, winning a scholarship to the Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Va., and being offered a cadetship to West Point. He went to the university and completed his course there at the age of nineteen. He then returned home and studied law under his father, and was admitted to the bar by special act of the Legislature, by reason of being under twenty-one years of age. He practiced law one year at Yorkville and then moved to Spartanburg, where he has since lived, devoting himself chiefly to his practice.

In 1884 he was elected to the State Legislature from Spartanburg county, and again in 1890. In 1892 he was elected from the same county to the State Senate, and to Congress in 1894-96 and 98. Amongst measures which he secured while in the State Legislature was the passage of the eleven hour labor law (prohibiting cotton factories from working women and children longer than eleven hours a day) and the general railroad law of the State, which constitutes a large part of the present Revised Statutes of the State.

Mr. Wilson was elected to the Constitutional Convention in 1895. In that body he served as chairman of the judiciary committee and of the steering committee.

In Congress he has been kept very busy in looking after the special interests of his district, participating in the debates and in general legislation. He has secured the establishment of sixty odd post-offices, several free delivery mail routes, a free delivery for Spartanburg city ; has secured an appropriation for $250,000 with which the Congaree River will be opened for navigation as far as Columbia, thus bringing ships and cheap water rates to the center of the State. He has always been active in securing relief for our people in the departments and in Congress too numerous to mention in detail. He possesses not only good stumping abilities, but gifts in oratorical powers and eloquence. Being yet only in middle life he is destined to add additional reputation to his name along this line.

Mr. Wilson has been eminently successful at law ; he is generous in disposition, and has contributed liberally of his means to assist friends in distress and to assist those in special need of help.

In 1887 he married Miss Lula Burrus, of Virginia, who died the following year. He married again in 1896 to Miss Hattie Hazard of Georgetown, S. C both very beautiful women.

It may be interesting to the reader to know the names of the members to Congress from the district in which Spartanburg has always formed a part. From examination into the records we find in the Pinckneyville congressional district, composed of Spartanburg, Union, York and Chester, and the subsequent changes that were made in the formation of congressional districts, the representatives to the different congresses from time to time to have been as follows :

First, 2d, 3d, 4th and 5th, William Smith; 6th, Abraham Nott ; 7th, 8th, 9th, loth, nth and 12th, Thomas Moore; 13th, Samuel Farrow; 14th, Thomas Moore; 15th and i6th, Wilson Nesbitt ; 17, i8th and 19th, Joseph Gist; 20th, 21st and 22d, Wm. T. Nuckolls; 23d, Wm. K. Clowney ; 24th, James Rogers; 25th, Wm- K. Clowney ; 36th and 27th, James A. Black ; 30th, 31st and 32d, Daniel Wallace ;* 33d, 34th and 35th, James L. Orr ; 36th and 37th, John D. Ashmore ; 38th and 39th, no senators or representatives, James Farrow in the Confederate Congress four years ; 40th, James H. Goss; 41st, 42d, 43d, 44th and 45th, A. S. Wallace ; 46th, 47th, and 48th, John H. Evins ; Colonel Evins dying during

* During the last term of Daniel Wallace in Congress the Pinckneyville congressional district was changed and Greenville, Anderson, Pickens, Spartanburg ajid Union were thrown together, the same constituting the 5th Congressional District. James L Orr was the first representative of this newh^ formed district, M-ho was also made Speaker of the House of Representatives at Washington.

the 48tli, General John Bratton was elected to complete his term; 49th, 50th and 51st, \Vm. H. Perry; 52d and 53d, George W. Shell ; 54th, 55th and 56th, Stanyearne Wilson, present incumbent.

Colonel Thkodore Gillard Trimmier

father of Thomas R. Trimmier, present clerk of court, Spartanburg, is numbered among the distinguished heroes that offered up their lives in defense of their country in the great civil war between the' States. He was the son of William* and Margaret Trimmier, and was born in the town of Spartanburg, S. C, April nth, 1825. K^ ^^^^^ educated in the best schools of his town, though when quite a young man he went to x^nderson county, where he engaged in the mercantile business for several years. While here he was married to Mary Letitia, daughter of Dr. Mathew Thomson, who resides with her son at Spartanburg.

*Iii Mr. Kennedy's famous novel, "Horse-Shoe Robinson," the colonel referred to is Obadiah Trimmier, father of William, who was the father of Colonel T. G. Trimmier. The absent lady referred to was Lucy TrimmierJ wife of Obadiah. She was a Stribling. Her grandfather was a Watson. The violin boy was W^illiam Trimmier mentioned herein; the boy thrown from the horse was Thomas, brother of William. The two small boys mentioned were Obadiah Watson and Marcus Tullias, sons of Obadiah and Lucy Trimmier, who were living on Toxawa3\ "Horse-Shoe Robinson" lived on Chauga, in Pickens county, S. C.

Four Trimmiers first came from France - two brothers, Obadiah and John, or Jack as he was called, and two sisters, Nancy and Elizabeth, neither of whom ever married.

Lucy Stribling came from Scotland at the age of twelve years. John Trimmier married a Ross, of South Carolina. They both died, leaving one son, Obadiah, who was raised by his grandfather Ross, partaking of the sports of his grandfather, who was a wealthy man ; he was called Devil Obe, to distinguish him from the better Obe. He left two sons, Jim and Cam, by his first wife. He afterwards married a Gibson, and left one son, Obadiah, who lives in Jasper, Marian count}', Tenn.

When the civil war began he responded to his country's call and was elected captain of a company known as the Sipsey Guards. This company was a part of the 41st Alabam a Regiment. After a few months' service he was promoted to the rank of major of said regiment, and shortly after the battle of Murfreesboro , in which he took part, he was made lieutenant colonel of the same regiment. He was ordered to Virginia under Longstreet in 1864, when the 41st Alabama Regiment was thrown into Tracey's Brigade of Alabama. He took part in many of the important battles in Virginia in 1864 and '65. He was wounded at Hatcher's Run in the last fighting near Petersburg, while in command of the brigade. He was removed to Petersburg and lived some days after the amputation of his limb.

who pays the following tribute to the memory of Colonel Trimmier : " Theodore Trimmier entered the army of the Confederates States in 1862, at Tuscaloosa, Ala., as captain of Co. A, of the 41st Regiment of Alabama Volunteers.

'* In July, 1863, he was promoted to the office of major of said regiment, and in June, 1864, to that of lieutenantcolonel of said regiment.

" He was with the regiment in all its various engagements with the enemy, forty or fifty in all, including the great battles of Murfreesboro, Jackson, Miss., Chickamauga. Bean's Station, Drury's Bluff, on James River, Va., and in the battle of White Oaks Road, southwest of Petersburg, on the 31st of IVIarch, 1865, where he was mortally wounded and died in a few days thereafter.

"Throughout all this time of arduous service Colonel Trimmier was respected and honored by his officers and men, and no braver or more courageous soldier ever carried a sword."

Captain Francis Marion Trimmier

a native of the "Old Iron District," and noted for the distinguished service rendered his country during the civil war between the States, was born July 7th, 1837. He was educated in the common schools of his town and afterwards learned the printer's trade in the office of the Carolina Spartan.

At the outbreak of the civil war he volunteered and was elected a lieutenant in Co. I, 13th Regiment, S. C. V. Upon the death of Captain A. K. Smith (see sketch) he rose to the captaincy of said company, which position he held until the end of the war. He was wounded three times : once by contusion, near Petersburg ; once in the face just under the eye, from which he lost sight

After the close of the war he returned to Spartanburg, rented the Caj'olina Spartan office and began the publicatioti of that paper, and in a few years bought the paper out and ran it successfully by himself until he disposed of it, which was about 1878.

In 1868 he was elected clerk of the court of Spartanburg county ; was again elected in 1872, '76, '80 and '84, and served until his death, which took place August 17th, 1888. His service in this capacity covered a period of almost twenty years.

Captain Trimmier, possessing rare business sagacity, had accumulated at the time of his death a handsome fortune. He possessed great popularity and influence among the people, and no man in Spartanburg did more than he for his friends. Without display he did many acts of disinterested benevolence, which were of almost hourly occurrence. He was surely a generous, a true, a patriotic and an honest man, whose memory deserves to be transmitted and perpetuated by the coming generations.

In the old cemetery at Spartanburg there stands a beautiful monument at the head of the graves of several members of the Trimmier family, and among others the subject of this sketch, and underneath his name are in-

Maurice Augustus Moore

Dr. Maurice Aiigustiis Moore was born August loth, 1795, in York district (then Pinckney, S. C). He was youngest son of Alexander Moore, at one time high sheriff of Camden county. They were known as the Drogheda IVIoores. The first of the family who came to this country, Sir Nathaniel Moore, Governor of Carolina under the Crown, 1705, was from the town Drogheda, Ireland, where the head of the family still retains the title of Marquis of Drogheda, studies at the University of Pennsylvania, and located in 1823 in Yorkville in copartnership with his brother. Dr. William Moore, who was already doing a large practice in that vicinity.

In 1824 ^^e married Miss Adeline Allison, who died in two years, leaving no children. After this he spent a year in Cuba, but returned to his home in Yorkville, S. C, and resumed the practice of his profession.

In 1833 he married Sophonista, eldest daughter of Judge Abraham Nott. He then removed to Union county and engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1838 he became interested in the valuable medicinal proper- ties of Glenn's Spring, and was the president of a joint stock company looking to the development of this property (see sketch of Glenn's Spring).

In 1 84 1 he was elected cashier to the Bank of South Carolina at Columbia, where he went to reside. His health failing, however, under the confinement of bank work he resigned this position and returned in 1843 ^^ Glenn's Spring where he lived the remainder of his life, his death taking place August 31st, 1871. For a few years he practiced at the Spring principally on invalids who came to the Spring, but subsequently withdrew from practice and became interested in the management of his plantation and systematic reading.

In i860 he prepared and published in pamphlet form the " Life of Edward Lacy," a distinguished officer under Sumter during the Revolution. Later he contributed to the Yorkville Enquirer "Reminiscences of York," which were full of graphic anecdote and character sketches.

Dr. Moore was possessed of a fine physique, being six feet two inches in stature and weighing 225 pounds. He was well-proportioned, his face was handsome, his carriage was graceful and his manners were courtly. Both he and his wife were brilliant conversationalists, and all classes of society were made welcome at their home. The kindness and sympathy of Dr. Moore to the sick people around Glenn's Spring was unbounded, and his memory is cherished and his kindness is gratefully remembered by many who are yet living.

Dr. James Nott Moore

son of Dr. Maurice A. Moore, was born in Union county, S. C, in 1837. He was educated at Union College and began the study of medicine at New Orleans in 1856, and was graduated from the South Carolina Medical College at Charleston in 1859, and continued his studies in Paris until called home by the approaching hostilities between the States. "Reaching his native State, he promptly tendered his services, and was appointed assistant surgeon of the first regiment of infantry, with which he served on the coast until 1862. He left the medical service for the line and was elected first lieutenant of Co. H, Haygood's Regiment, and was later promoted captain. After a long and gallant service, which terminated in the surrender of the Confederate armies, he

Dr. Moore is yet practicing at Spartanburg and stands high among the practitioners of his native county and State, having always met with remarkable success. He is a prominent member of the State and county associations, and has held the vice-presidency of the former.

the youngest son of James Kelsoe and Margaret Clowney Means, was born in Union district, April ist, 1833. His parents were of Scotch-Irish and Irish stock and his maternal grandfather of notable exploit in the Revolutionary war. Dr. Means graduated in medicine in the University of Pennsylvania in 1858, and directly afterward was elected one of the resident physicians of

Blockley Hospital, the richh' endowed charitable institution of Philadelphia. He remained for two years, resigned his position and came home. Soon afterward located in Florida for the practice of his profession.

At the beginning of the Confederate war he enlisted in the Prairie Guards, a local volunteer company, as a private. In a few months, on the resignation of the first lieutenant, he was elected to that office. In a sortie on Santa Rosa Island, near Pensacola, he distinguished himself for cool courage and the ability to meet an emergency. In the reorganization of the company he was elected captain ; was wounded at Shiloh and taken prisoner.

In 1864 he received an invitation for full surgeon, and changed from the line to the medical department of the army. He was brigade surgeon from then until the surrender after the battle at Bentonville, N. C.

He practiced medicine at Glenn Springs, Spartanburg county, for a few years after the war. In 1872 he removed to Spartanburg, where he soon became one of the leading physicians, and remained in the pursuit of his profession until his last illness.

He was for many years senior warden of the Episcopal Church, a trustee of the Kennedy Library, and at one time president of the county medical association.

In 1863 he married Celina E. Moore, the only daughter of Dr. Maurice Moore, of Glenn Springs, a lady of intelligence and literary culture who survives him.

Dr. Means was a man of fine physique, remarkably handsome, a cheerful and sympathetic nature. He died after an illness of several months, June 19th, 1900, leaving many friends and no enemies.

S. Bryson Ezell

third son of Rev. John S. and Mahala (Thomas) Ezell was born near Limestone Springs, February 8th, 1847. The father of the subject of our sketch, born January 29th, 1825, ^^^s been for a half century or more an earnest, able and humble minister of the gospel of the Baptist faith, who has always resided in Spartanburg county, and who has done a great work in the Master's cause. The brothers. Rev. Landrum C. and Rev. Humphrey K. Ezell, the former a resident of Spartanburg county, and the latter a resident of Fairfield county, are also acceptable, energetic, humble and popular ministers of the gospel of the same faith and order, doing a good work in the Master's vineyard.

Bryson attended the old-field schools of his neighborhood and engaged in promiscuous work on his father's farm. In the latter he manifested much interest. He was diligfent as a student and stood well in his classes.

One older brother had died in infancy, the other one vohinteered, as did the father also later on in the strnggle, leaving the responsibilities of the farm and family somewliat npon his young shoulders. Still later, when in the straits of the Southern Confederacy, he went into the service, leaving home in July, 1864, and joining Co. D, 2d Battalion, S. C. V. His company being without tents or blankets except what had been carried by the boys from their homes, was much exposed to a very rainy season. As a result of this nearly all members contracted chills, and among this number was young Ezell, who was among the last to succumb. He left camps and went to the hospital and did not regain his health until after the surrender.

In February, 1866, he entered New Prospect Academy, where he remained five months, and then taught at Allgood Seminary the balance of the year. In 1868 he was appointed deputy sheriff of Spartanburg county under John Dewberry, sheriff, in which capacity he served four years. In the fall of 1872 he entered Wofford College, from which he was graduated in June, 1875. On August nth, 1875, he was married to Miss Laura Maxwell of Spartanburg. In 1876 he entered the mercantile business at Spartanburg, which he has continued with success for more than twenty years.

In 1867 he joined the Baptist church at Macedonia, and was baptized by Rev. Wade Hill. Upon removal to Spartanburg in 1868, transferred his membership to the First Baptist church there, where it remains. He is usually one of the delegates from his church to the association and attends quite frequently the Baptist State Conventions. Was clerk of the church for a number of years, and is at present a deacon and the superintendent of the Sunday-school, having held, with the exception of two years, the last position continuously since 1876. He takes a great interest in Sunday-school work, and has served as secretary, executive committeeman and president of both the county and State Sunday-school Conventions, has attended several of the International and one of the World's Sabbath-school Conventions, and is at present vice-president, for South Carolina, in the International Convention. Was one of the first superintendents to use the blackboard in the general exercises, in the school ; gave at Inman, S. C, the first exhibition of modern Sunday-school work attempted in the county, and organized and taught in his school the first class in the State, completing a normal course and receiving diplomas of graduation. His efforts have assisted in giving permanency to the " normal class " and other advanced ideas in Sunday-school work in South Carolina- Mr. Ezell is also identified with the educational interests of his section. Is a member of the board of trustees of Limestone College, and has served as both president and member of the board of trustees of "Connie Maxwell Orphanage." He is in every sense of the word progressive, liberal and public-spirited, is apparently in the full vigor of health, and it is to be hoped was born in Rutherford county, Tenn., October 22d, 1810, and was the second child and oldest son of Rev. Merriman and Delilah (Jackson) Landrum. His parents were both born and raised near Cross Keys in Union county, S. C, from whence they moved to Tennessee in

1806. Of his father, who was a son of Reuben and Mary (Ray) Landrum, it is recorded, that as a husband and parent he was affectionate ; as a citizen, upright and honest ; as a politician, patriotic and a Jefferson ian Republican, and as a minister of the gospel he was universally esteemed. His mother was the only daughter of Ralph Jackson, Esq., a highly respected citizen of Union district, who was numbered among the staunch Whigs during the Revolution, and soon after its close was appointed by the Legislature a justice of the quorum. While she received such education in books as the neighborhood afforded, she imbibed what was better - early lessons of piety and filial duty, and grew to be a woman of great dignity and moral power.

<leslined to an early grave, and for some time after he attained the age of manhood did not weigh more than -eighty-five pounds. His parents considering him too weakly for any employment requiring physical exertion, thought it wise to give him whatever educational advantages it might be in their power to bestow, and at the age of five years he was started to school. His brother Kimbro Landrum, of Texas, says : "He was always at the head of his class, was the pride and life of his father and was loved by all his schoolmates.

It is further stated of him that so eager was he for knowledge, that even at an early age he manifested an interest in topics that were considered altogether too grave for a child. When about the age of eight or ten years, he was frequently sent on errands to Nashville, and would while there visit the legislative halls during the sessions of the Legislature and took a lively interest in its proceedings. During these visits he often saw David Crockett and Andrew Jackson, and on one occasion (1825) he saw Jackson and LaFayette ride together through the streets of Nashville. He witnessed the public reception that was given the latter during his last visit to this country.

The schools in the immediate neighborhood were inadequate to meet his now rapidly unfolding mind, and it became necessary to send him to a school of higher «^rade. Consequently he was sent to the boarding-school of Travis Nash, a few miles distant, who taught principally a grammar school. He attended this school probably two years, and at the closing examination carried off the first honors of his class. Among his school fellows was M. P. Gentry, who was afterward a member of the United States Congress, and the Whig candidate for governor of Tennessee against Andrew Johnson in 1854. Dr. Harden Scales and Dr. Webb, both distinguished men of Tennessee, were also students in Travis Nash's grammar school. After his course in this school, at the invita-- tion of Newton Cannon, who was surveyor-general and afterwards became governor of Tennessee, and at whose house his father and mother had lived during the first year of their life in Tennessee, he entered the private school of a gentleman whose name was Montgomery, . who was a professor of mathematics, or, as he was then called, a graduate in members. John had not been here long when by the sad and unexpected death of his father, he was called home and his school days seemed to be brought to a sudden close. Being the eldest son of the family the care of the widowed mother and younger brothers and sisters devolved upon him, but he proved himself equal to the demand of this new and trying position. He remained with his mother upward of fifteen months, superintending the affairs of the farm and other responsible duties. With the exception of three months in the Latin school of Randolph Alexander he had no further opportunity of attending school in his native State. Being yet young and slender it was decided that he should visit his relatives in South Carolina; many, including his grandmother, were living in Union district.

Before young Landrum had been in Union very long it was decided that he should remain a year and attend the school of John Bostick, an educated Englishman, who was pronounced by his pupil " a capital English teacher," adding further : "With him I completed what was then considered a good English education." He lived this year (1829) ^^^^h his great-uncle, Rev. Thomas Ray, a pious, consecrated Baptist preacher, who bestowed upon him more than paternal affection.

by the Baptist Church at Padgett's Creek, having made a public profession of religion before leaving his native State, and uniting with Mt. Pleasant (Missionary Baptist) church, of which his father was pastor at the time of his death. He had impressions to preach the gospel before leaving his native State, and it is stated that his first attempt in the pulpit produced "the profoundest impression on the church and congregation." He was still of a frail and tender body, and was called "the boy preacher," being only nineteen years of age.

After leaving school Landrum was employed to teach by j\Ir. David Boyce of Union county. This was in the year 1830. He was still a diligent student, devoting most of his spare time to reading and study.

On January the 15th, 1831, he was ordained in the gospel ministry by the Padgett's Creek Church, having received this solemn commission when he was but a little over twenty years of age. He had not been in the ministry long when a new field of labor opened up to him was destined to be the scene of his life-work.

On the 13th of June, 1830, Rev. Thomas Bomar, a good man and excellent preacher, who had long been the pastor of I\Iount Zion, Bethlehem and New Prospect churches in Spartanburg District, fell dead at the house of John S. Rowland, by which death the said churches were without a pastor. A committee was appointed by Mount Zion Church, consisting of Dr. John W. Lewis and Edward Bomar, which resulted in the selection of Rev. John G. Landrum, who at once occupied the field made vacant by the lamented Bomar.

It would consume too much time and space in the brief narrative of John G. Landrum to give an extended review of his ministerial work, embracing a period of a half century, in connection with the churches already mentioned, First Baptist church at Spartanburg and

He was called to the supply of New Prospect church in 1832, and, excepting an absence of nine months in the army during the civil war between the States, preached to it without intermission for a period numbering exactly fifty years. This church was constituted in 1820 with only twenty-seven members. For the first twelve years of its history it met in a little inconvenient log-house, and had been during this time supplied with preaching by Revs. Thomas Howard, Thomas Bomar and William Harnian.

Says Landrum's biographer: "There was little toencourage the youthful preacher when he first took charge of New Prospect. The membership had dwindled to seventeen. The uncouth, incommodious log- hut,, called a meeting-house, stood in the midst of a community abounding in almost every kind of vice. The stillhouse, the grog-shop, those emissaries of satan, were busy day and night, while horse-racing, Sabbath-breaking and their kindred vices were shedding baleful influences far and near. But under his ministry the little church began to revive ; the neighborhood began to feel its influence ; society began to improve, slowly at first and almost imperceptibly, but as the years came and. went one stronghold after another was gained. ]\Ien began to talk of the great changes that had taken placeand to congratulate each other upon the success of their church and the progress of their community in intelligence and morality. Forests were cleared and houses beautified; schools were established and children educated ; intelligence and thrift rapidly took the place of ignorance and indolence, and the community ere long became known far and wide as one of the most progressive^ civil and enlightened in the land. An elegant new house of worship soon took the place of the log-hut, and in 1873 the church embraced a membership of 457."

It is stated that about this time a committee was appointed by the church to look up the facts connected with its history, and it was ascertained that during Landrum's pastorate as many as fifteen hundred had been gathered into the church.

Says his biographer further : "We have long wondered at the almost marvelous growth of New Prospect Church, and the almost marvelous development of the country around it, and as we have done so, we have admired and loved more and more the great, good man who was the head and center of it all ; and we have thought that if his life and work had been confined strictly to this church alone, and that if his name had never been heard beyond the limits of the New Prospect neighborhood, we could find even there enough of the fruits of his life and labors to justify us in pronouncing him one of the great men of the age."

Bethlehem church, six miles southwest of Spartanburg city, to which Landrum was called, was constituted in 1800.* When the Tyger River (Baptist) Association was organized in 1833, this church numbered 252 members. P'irst and last he was the pastor of Bethlehem thirty-six years, not continuously however, and during the intervening time of his pastorate of said church he supplied the pulpit at Bethel and other places.

When Landrum accepted the call of Mount Zion the church was only three or four years old. There were about twenty-five members that entered into the organization. At the constitution of the Tyger River Association, August 31, 1833, the church reported a member- ship of 125, showing a rapid increase of numbers during the first two years of his pastorate. The church is located on a high ridge near the historic Blackstock road, eight miles west of Spartanburg city. A new and elegant brick structure is now being erected near the site of the old building. The land, some six or eight acres in number, was donated by John Chapman, Sr.

During the fifty years of Landrum's ministry, he supplied the pulpit of Mount Zion church for about forty years. During an intervening space of about ten years between his first and second pastorate here the church was ably supplied by Rev. Micajah C. Barnett.

In our review of the progress of religion in Spartanburg county during the nineteenth century we have referred to the revival meetings in the towns of Spartanburg, Brushy Creek and other places, beginning as early as 1832, in which Landrum took an active part.

It was not until February 23d, 1839, that the Baptist church at Spartanburg was constituted and put into regular working order, with an organization of eleven males and fourteen females. Major John Earle Bomar, in a letter some time after the death of Landrum, wrote as follows: "Rev. J. G. Landrum had been preaching at Spartanburg occasionally, and a part of the time statedly, since 1830, '31 or '32. I remember to have seen among my father's old papers a subscription bearing date of one of these years, the object being to raise money to pay Landrum to preach at regular times. The old church building* was erected about the time the church was organized. About the same time there was no house of worship of any denomination in the town of Spartanburg, and preaching was held in the court-house and sometimes at private residences. On more than one oc-

-casion within my inemory it was held at my father's house, principally, I suppose, on account of -my grandmother, Mrs. Rebecca Earle,* who was at that time the only Baptist living in Spartanburg, if not the only professor of religion there, and was very old and cripple, being unable to leave the house.''

At the first meeting of the Spartanburg church after its organization. Rev. John G. Landrum was chosen its pastor to preach every second Sunday and Saturday before. In October of the same year the church imited with the Tyger River Association, and in the same month forty-two members were added to the church by baptism, and others by letter. The revival went on, and in sixteen months the membership increased from twentyfive to one hundred.

In the Spartan files April 17th, 1856, an article is published headed " Historic Views of Spartanburg ; or Facts and ^Memories of Eighty Years," by Derment. Says this writer: "In the days of 'Auld lang syne' there were none of the external evidences of general morality as afforded by churches and church edifices. To 1836 there was no such a thing as a church or stated preaching. The 'pure word' was administered from the bench of the judge to the citizens eu masse. There were no outward temples consecrated to God, and of course, no marked sectarian divisions. While each had his individual system of religious faith and all enjoyed his religious predilections, their separate proclivities in that regard were never permitted to excite between them, discord or envyings. Of course there were professors of religion among them who had their respective

*This is the lady already referred to at another place in this volvime as the wife of Colonel John Wood, who was murdered by the Tories under " Bloody Bill Cunningham," November, 17S1. She married a second time to Colonel John Earle, grandfather of Major John Earle Bomar.

memberships in different churches in the country. These men were respected, beloved. They were not suspected of being hollow-hearted hypocrites or unworthy members because their practices were not in accordance with the exalted standard of piety which the vain mocker in the plentitude of his own self-righteousness sets up in the formation of his judgment. . .

"Down to 1836 there were no church edifices. There were sermons delivered immethodically by different ministers of different denominations. In the latter part of the year 1835 incipient steps were taken by the members of the Baptist Church for the erection of a building for their worship. Almost simultaneously the adherents of the Methodist form of worship inaugurated a similar enterprise. The former, however, are entitled to the honor of priority. On the completion of these several churches pastors were installed or selected.

" Rev. J. G. Landrum was chosen by the Baptist church, and has ever since held that responsible position to the entire satisfaction of his church. How he has sustained himself with such eminent success has been remarkable, and embodies a high compliment to his purity, fidelity and geniality of nature. Then his flock numbered about twenty - not more. Now it is a little short, if an)', of two hundred. What a vast increase ! To-day that little church, the development of a germ planted in 1836, has grown in strength until it exerts a great moral power."

In October, 1857, Landrum was elected to preach two Sundays to the Baptist church at Spartanburg, the first and third Sundays, and on every Tuesday night and Saturday before the first Sunday in each month. To perform all this work now on his hands in Spartanburg,. Major John Earle Bomar stated : "he rode from his home,.

Says his biographer further: "In the meantime, Spartanburg had grown to be a town of considerable proportions, and other denominations had entered the field in force. Wofford College was established within its limits with an able faculty, under the auspices of the Methodist denomination, and Landrum saw that the surrounding circumstances called for renewed efforts and increased vigilance if he would keep pace with the tide of progress and meet the demands of the times. He seemed to rise in power and resources as the tide rolled on, and upheld the purity of his faith and the dignity of his church with the same earnestness and convincing power with which he had at first stirred the depths of wickedness and shaken the foundations of unbelief. He was now in the prime and vigor of manhood, and his mind had reached the full maturity of its powers."

A period of nearly thirty years transpired during the ministrations of Landrum at Spartanburg. He resigned in 1865, "much to the regret," says Major Bomar, "of the church and congregation."

In 1854 Landrum was called to supply the pulpit of Bethel church (Woodruff, S. C), organized as early as 1787, and, says his biographer: "When John G. Landrum assumed pastoral charge of the church in 1854 the congregation was perhaps the largest that assembled in any place in the county, and in intelligence and refinement it would have compared favorably with any congregation in the State. The present large and commodious house of worship had been completed, and . . . it was capable of seating a larger audience than any other church building within our knowledge. Yet on the second Sunday in every month it was crowded to its utmost capacity, and the preacher who stood in the pul- pit was made aware of the fact that he stood face to face with the intelligence, wealth, chivalry and beauty of the land, and also with the enemy of souls moving in high life and imparting to his wiles the gloss of respectability and refinement.

"For six years Landrum met this vast audience monthly and held it and swayed it as perhaps no other man at that time could have done. He was now in the prime of life and his preaching powers had probably reached their climax. During his connection with the church one hundred and seven members were added by baptism and the church was greatly revived and strengthened."

Referring to his manner of preaching and style of delivery, his biographer further states: "Mr. Landrum was never a revivalist in the popular sense of the term. His preaching was of the character to make men think and act rather than to excite temporary emotions. Yet he certainly baptized a greater number of persons than any man that has ever lived in Spartanburg county. . . It is safe to conclude that the whole number must have amounted to more than six thousand.

"His manner of treating a subject in the pulpit was somewhat similar to that of Dr. Thomas Chalmers. He had but few points in a discourse, but these were strong ones, around which his mind seemed to move as if on hinges. No man ever imderstood better how to repeat an idea in ever varying forms of expression, each one of which advanced in regular climax toward the point culmination until it was completely driven home to the hearts and understanding of his hearers

"Mr. Landrum's manner of delivery was peculiarly his own. Some of his gestures would appear awkward, when judged by set rules of gesticulation, and many of his figures, as well as his modulation and emphasis, might fail to meet the abstract requirements of school-books^ but from the moment he began the interest of his hearers in the subject presented increased, and as he proceeded and the eye kindled from the glowing fires within, they forgot to apply rules, and every tone and every movement of his body seemed in perfect keeping with the grand and mighty thoughts struggling for utterance."

In the year 1831 the Broad River (Baptist) Association met with Buck Creek Church in the present county of Spartanburg. From a historical sketch of said Association, prepared in the year 1875 by Rev. M. C. Barnett, we quote the following paragraph :

" The name of John G. Landrum now appears for the first time as a member of this Association. He was at this time quite a young man,* but possessing such gifts and qualifications as a minister, that the Association was proud of him almost to excess. He was appointed (per. haps imprudently) to preach on the Sabbath, in place of old and experienced ministers, which did not so well comport with the scriptural injunction in reference to the younger being subject to the elder. However, he did not, as I have been told, disappoint the anxious anticipations of his brethren. He always possessed the power of making great efforts. Some men fail when there is the greatest anxiety for their best performance. This is said by Alexander Campbell to have been a weakness of Andrew Broadus of Virginia, that most distinguished minister of the gospel. Landrum never disappointed the expectations of his friends on extraordinary occasions. I heard him preach at an association not fourteen years ago, on the 'Holiness of God.' His thoughts were sublime, and when he supported his position by a quotation from Isaiah's version : ' Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory,' his voice echoed over the hills as musical as the * sound of a dulcimer sweet'; while it fell upon the listening thousands in most overpowering eloquence, making it another one of his efforts that met the anticipations of his brethren.

" He has now been in the ministry between forty and fifty years. Of course his sermons are more profound, doctrinal and methodical than they were in his younger days, but whether they are more interesting to the common listener is doubtful."

Associated with Hon. Simpson Bobo, Major H. J. Dean, Dr. R. M. Young,' Major John Stroble and others, John G. Landrum was among the first advocates in the temperance cause in Spartanburg district; but as we have referred to this in another part of this work, we forbear further comment under the heading of the subject of this sketch.*

Under the head of our review of the progress of education in Spartanburg county during the 19th century, at another place in this volume, we have noticed John G. Landrum in the capacity of school-teacher, and of his success in the Mount Zion Academy for a period of ten years or more, and it is unnecessary to reproduce that which has already been stated relating thereto.

John G. Landrum being possessed of an active and inquiring mind was a great searcher for the truth. He was well educated for a specific purpose. He kept himself posted on all the leading topics of the day. His library was full of choice books in almost every department of literature. He was fond of Grecian and Roman history, and was one of the best posted men in his State on the history of the Revolution.

* For an account of the first temperance movement in Spartanburg county the reader is referred to Griffith's "Life of J. G. Landrum," p. 70-78.

From Griffith's narrative we quote the following paragraph : " In 1856 the first monument was erected on Cowpens Battle Ground, in the eastern part of Spartanburg county, by the Washington Light Infantry, a famous military company of Charleston, South Carolina. The company marched through the country with their baggage train and camp equipage and pitched their camp on the far-famed field. There was a vast concourse of people to witness the erection, and the ceremonies of dedication were of the most imposing kind. Rev. John G. Landrum had previously been selected as one of the orators of the day on account of his having been recommended to the company as being a man thoroughly conversant with the country's history. We have often heard the speech made on this occasion complimented as one replete with information, pathos and power."

Mr. Landrum took a deep interest in the general course of education, and particularly so in the country in which he lived. Says his biographer : " In 1857 the Baptists of South Carolina were called upon to raise one hundred thousand dollars as their quota of the half million with which it was proposed to endow the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary at Greenville, S. C. Landrum entered w^armly and heartily into this movement, talked and worked for it both privately and publicly, and by his efforts and personal influence contributed in no small measure to its success. He was during several of these years vice-president of the State Baptist Convention, Judge O'Neall being president."

In our review of the progress of education in Spartanburg county we have noticed John G. Landrum 's connection with the Cooper Limestone Institute (now Limestone College), and of his work in securing for the Spartanburg Baptist Association the title for this prop- -erty from Hon. Peter Cooper of New York. He was also one of the trustees of the Johnson Female University, Anderson, S. C, and served on the Board of Trustees of Furman University, Greenville, S. C, for a period of fifteen or twenty years.

For about ten years before the civil war Mr, Landruni served as treasurer of the board of commissioners of the poor of Spartanburg district with but a trifling emolument, and performed the duties pertaining to the position with cheerfulness and exactness and, as far as we have ever heard, to the entire satisfaction of the public.

In a political way he served his country but very little,. but he never neglected his duties as a citizen. He always took the warmest interest in public affairs, and scrutinized closely the political problems of the day.. He was an ardent admirer of Calhoun, and agreed with him in the doctrine of State Sovereignty, and believed that the Government had no right to meddle with our State institutions. In 1851, by the united voice of the people of Spartanburg district, he represented them, with five others, in the State Convention, which met in Columbia the following year, which thought the time had not yet come for the State to secede from the Union.

Mr. Uandrum was also a member of the State Convention of i860 which passed the ordinance of secession. The result of the poll of the vote placed him at the head of the ticket. The convention was largely composed of religious men and quiet citizens of known integrity, who had never figured in politics ; and the outpfrowth of its action - the bloodshed and disaster which followed - did not reflect upon the patriotism, tarnish the honor, nor impugn the motives of the men who confronted the impending issue which had been agitated before the American people for a half century or more.

was organized under the command of Colonel O. E. Edwards. Upon the organization of the same, Rev. John G. Landrura was duly appointed and commissioned by the Confederate authorities at Richmond, Va., its chaplain. He remained encamped with said regiment on the coast of South Carolina and in Virginia for the period of nearly one year, preaching and laboring almost incessantly among the soldiers of his regiment and in the hospitals, when, by reason of advanced age, his health began to decline, and at the urgent solicitation of many friends, he returned to his churches at home.

While acting as chaplain of the 13th Regiment, Mr. Landrum was duly appointed colporteur of the Sundavschool and Colportage Board of the Baptist State Con- \-ention of South Carolina. In his field of labors he was assigned not only to his regiment, but among all others of the brave men in Virginia to whom God in his providence might give him access.

After fifty-two years a preacher of righteousness, and nearly seventy-two years in the battle of life, John G. Landrum died at his home at Landrum, S. C. (a town named in his honor), January 19th, 1882. His remains were interred at Mount Zion church, in the presence of a large concourse of friends. His life and services were commented upon favorably by the county and religious press, and appropriate resolutions were passed to his memory. A suitable monument was erected over his grave in August, 1884, by the contributions of his admiring friends of the last four churches which he served, viz. : Mount Zion, Bethlehem, New Prospect and Wolf Creek, together with his family, being the last honor paid to his memory. For a more extended account of his life and public service the reader is referred to the book, "The Life and Times of Rev. John G. Landrum," by Professor H. P. Grifiith, published in 1885.

This contains much interesting matter which we have been unable to notice in this sketch, including the memorial sermon on his death, delivered at Mount Zion, April 29th, 1882, by Rev. James C. Furman, D.D., and the address of Rev. R. H. Reed, pastor of Nazareth ( Presbyterian) church, delivered at Mount Zion, January 2ist, 1882, the day of his interment. The latter in his remarks stated that " John G. Landrum was no ordinary man. As a citizen he was public-spirited and liberal ; always throwing his influence on the side of education and all railroad enterprises, and in ever\'thing looking to the welfare of his country."

Mr. Landrum was married twice : first to Elizabeth, daughter of John and Margaret Montgomery, and second, to Nancy M., daughter of Theron and Hannah Earle. By the first marriage he had seven children, viz. : Margaret Jane, died of burns in childhood ; Mary Amarylis, wife of James S. Ballinger, now deceased ; Franklin Vernon, residing in Chicota, Texas ; John Belton O'Neall, author of this work ; Elizabeth Cleveland, deceased, relict of Dr. W. P. Compton ; Richard Furman, deceased ; and Chevis Montgomery, residing at Greenville, S. C. By the second marriage there were three children, viz.: Earle, Harriet and Nancy Carolina. The two first died in childhood. The last named is the wife of Rev. E. E. Bomar, D.D., Richmond, Va.

IMills, in his "Statistics," published in 1828, in giving the resources of Spartanburg, says: "x'lnother spring, called the Sulphur Spring (from its supposed combination with this mineral), is found on the south side of Fair Forest Creek, eleven and a half miles from Spartanburg. ... In the latter part of the eighteenth century the spot was known as a 'deer lick.' Cattle were continually straggling from their pastures to the swamp around the 'lick.' A small boy who was sent to drive the cows home . . . fell into the ill-smelling mud of the quagmire. The boy bad a cutaneous eruption. ... In a few days . . . the eruption

From this time for a number of years the place was a resort much sought by the people of the countr)' around for mud baths. In 1800 there was a long dry spell ; many springs were dried up, and much inconvenience was experienced by the settlers. . . . The drouth revealed on the edge of the quagmire an unsuspected spring, and a family living near were glad to avail themselves of this new water supply. . . . On using soap in the water the curdling at once gave the suggestion that this spring was mineral, . . . the swamp was ditched off, and the 'Powder Spring,' as it was. called, came to be known as possessing curative properties.

"The original grant of land on which the spring was found comprised a thousand acres. An old Baptist minister owned it at the beginning of the nineteenth century, and was thought to have made a fine sale when he got $300 for it.

"On account of increased demands upon Mr. Means for accommodation by such people, which he did not like to refuse, he divided the tract of land in two, and sold the 500 acres on which the spring was situated to Mr. John B. Glenn for $800. . . . Mr. Glenn enlarged his house and opened an inn for the entertainment of visitors and travelers. From this time the spring took his name, and for seventy-five years the spring has been known as Glenn's Spring.

"In 1835 Glenn's Spring had grown to such importance that fifteen gentlemen formed themselves into a stock company to buy the property of Mr. Glenn, determined to build and equip a hotel of sufficient size and convenience to meet the public demand. The charter was obtained in 1837, the name of the corporation being 'The Glenn's Spring Company,' Dr. Maurice A. Moore, president.

"Mr. Glenn was paid $15,000 for the property. In 1838 the hotel was formally opened. From then until the civil war it was frequented by many distinguished Southern gentlemen and others of less renowai. . . The therapeutic value of the water is acknowledged by physicians throughout the United States. Its tonic properties in cases of nervous prostration are something marvelous, and for dyspepsia, anemia, diseases of the kidneys and liver, is not excelled perhaps by any mineral water known in the Materia Medica."

In 1877 the property was purchased by Dr. John W. Simpson and his son J. Wister Simpson, Esq. Dr. Simpson dying a few years later willed his interest to his two sons, J. W. and \V. D. Simpson, both of whom are now^ dead. Under their wills the property went to their children, and is now known as The Glenn's Spring Company.