Williamsburg County, South Carolina - Chapter 34: Another Williamsburg, 1923

Williamsburg groaned and travailed in pain from 1866 until 1876 when another Williamsburg, the child of rape, was born. But the mother blood was strong and virile.

Antebellum Williamsburg was an aristocracy. Every planter had an overseer for his negro slaves, so there were practically as many men of the overseer class as of the planters. Sometimes these overseers doubted that God Almighty wisely ruled the Universe, but they never ques¬ tioned the omniscience of their employers. The planters were all natives to the soil. Their ancestors had been granted this land before the American commonwealth was organized, and these descendants owned it by every right¬ ful title. These overseers were "birds of passage." They came, they saw, they could not evercome. The stronger ones departed into the West. One-tenth of the population of antebellum Williamsburg absolutely controlled. The nine-tenths knew little and cared less about matters of State.

Another force made supreme this nine-tenths in Wil¬ liamsburg during the Reconstruction. There is a law of Life, not known but felt, which spirit and matter obey in moving towards that "one far off divine event." The work¬ ing of things under this law made what is known as the Reconstruction in South Carolina. The unlimited de¬ mocracy which the abolition hate dominating element in the North forced on the South could not withstand the strength fighting it. The old aristocracy could not over¬ come the powers against it - all at once. By compro¬ mise, the old aristocracy yielded to the newly arrived Caucasians the right to vote, thus bringing about the white aristocracy since dominating.

One fearful result of unlimited white suffrage in Wil¬ liamsburg and in South Carolina has been the lowering of the standard for qualification for public service. So many times the "natural ruling element" among the whites has been defeated at the poles that the majority of this class has seemingly lost interest in determining South Carolina's temporal affairs. The conservative class, prepared by blood and education, does not usually elections. The outcome of this has been that the "bottom rail" is nearly always "on top." Certainly, many of the conservative class have held places of power in the new' State, but never since the War between the Sections has the "natural ruling element" held complete control of South Carolina.

A dual state government was functioning in Columbia for some time after the election in November, 1876. The Democrats claimed that General Wade Hampton had been elected Governor and the Republicans maintained that D. H. Chamberlain had been legally chosen. Maxmilian Jacobs was elected Clerk of the Court and Louis Jacobs Sheriff of Williamsburg in 1876. Maxmilian's commis¬ sion as clerk was signed by Wade Hampton as Governor of South Carolina while Louis' commission as sheriff was signed about the same time bv D. H. Chamberlain as Governor of South Carolina. These commissions of the Jacobs brothers, as Williamsburg County officials, were both accepted by the Courts and are recorded on the same page in the Journal of the Court of General Sessions of Williamsburg County. Finally, General Hampton was recognized as the legally elected and duly qualified Gov¬ ernor of the State and Chamberlain and his nefarious crew surrendered. Then ended negro domination in South Carolina.

had an overwhelming negro majority. S. A. S wails, sen¬ ator, John Evans, James Peterson, and William Scott, members of the House of Representatives, were all ne¬ groes. It must be remembered that although the county delegation from Williamsburg was composed of negroes, there was a working majority of white Democrats in the State Legislature. M. J. Hirsch was at this time elected Solicitor of this judicial district. Although placed in office by negro votes, Mr. Hirsch used common sense and good judgment in his official conduct.

Of these Republicans who controlled the County during the Reconstruction, Louis Jacobs and M. J. Hirsch had been faithful Confederate soldiers and, during their office holding under Republican commissions, they always showed reasonable consideration to the natural ruling element. The venerable H. J. Brown savs that when his father, Levi Brown, was killed by negroes during this period, he reported the matter to Sheriff Jacobs and he was commendably zealous in fulfilling the functions of his office. Once during this period Major S. D. M. Byrd came to Kingstree for the purpose of paying his taxes. He had managed to secure $30.00 in money and that was about all the currency he could command. His taxes were due and he had computed them at about this amount. Major Byrd went to the office of the Tax Collector to pay them. The Tax Collector informed him that they amounted to $100.00. Major Byrd realized that this was extortion and became excusably infuriated, yet was power¬ less. He went over to the office of M. J. Hirsh, Esq., and told him his story. Mr. Hirsch took Major Byrd's $30.00 and went to the office of the Tax Collector and returned with a receipt in full for Major Byrd's taxes for that year. Williamsburg remembers much to the credit and little to the condemnation of Louis Jacobs and M. J. Hirsch, except that they were Republicans.

The Democratic party has elected every candidate for office in Williamsburg County since 1876. A result of the State election in 1876 was the amendment to the Consti¬ tution restricting suffrage by requiring an educational qualification or property ownership essential The prac¬ tical working of this constitutional amendment was the almost entire elimination of the negro as a voter in the elections in this State. Some negroes have voted in Wil¬ liamsburg since ?76, but the spirit of South Carolina has been and is that only whites shall cast ballots.

The transformation wrought by white control of the County within a very short period is shown from the Grand Jury reports of 1876, and those of 1880. In 1876, this grand inquest from the body of the County declared "confusion worse confounded" everywhere; that the County was fearfully in debt from the fraud and negli¬ gence of its officials; that the Republican built jail was defective in construction and insecure and that prisoners escaped at will ; that the roads were generally impassable and almost all bridges dangerous; that the books and papers of the County Commissioners were unintelligible and showed shameless criminal use of public funds; that the treasury was empty and jurors were vainly hawking County orders about the streets of Kingstree; that crime was prevalent and the punishment of criminals almost entirely neglected.

The Grand Jury, May term, 1880, said: "We congratu¬ late the good people of the County on the reduction of crime and the establishment of law and order in our midst. At the present term, but one bill of indictment has been submitted to the Grand Jury, which is high evidence of the law abiding condition of the County. This is truly a matter for congratulation and we can but hope that under the just administration of the law this excellent condition of things will continue." The Grand Jury,

In 1883, the second story of the County Court House was burned. When the fire was discovered, the county officials who had their records in their offices on the ground floor very quickly removed their books and papers from these offices. The second story was burning for three days, during which time the officials learned that their offices were fire proof and began using them before the embers above had ceased to burn. It was then remem¬ bered that Architect Robert Mills, the same out of whose mind had come plans for the Treasury Building and the Washington monument, in the District of Columbia, had erected this old Court House in his younger days and that he builded well. Repairs were soon made by a committee composed of G. P. Nelson, S. I. Montgomery, and J. W. Gamble.

In 1901, an addition was made to the south end of the Court House, so that the building became as now, a dig¬ nified, substantial structure about fifty by one hundred feet. The Grand Jury, December 1901, said: "We con¬ gratulate the County upon the great improvements made in repairs, additions, and alterations of the Court House and offices and trust the good work will keep apace with the present progress of the County. Contractor W. R. Funk deserves the commendation of the citizens of the County for the good architecture and excellent work he has done. We recommend as a further improvement that a neat and substantial fence be erected around the Court House 25 feet from the Court House on all sides thereof, giving a good park to the town and keeping out horses and cattle from the square. We also recommend that parties who are now using a part of the public square for their own private purposes be made to pay a mere nominal sum as rent so that no question can arise against the County's title."

There has been a continuous growth towards civic righteousness in Williamsburg since the Redemption of the second ?76. Unmistakable evidence of its law abiding citizenship of forty thousand souls is found in the fact that all civil and criminal courts for the first two terms of 1923 were annulled for the reason that pending business did not warrant the sessions. Faithful and efficient county officers for more than forty years have helped make such a condition. Here follow their names.

In 1878, Captain S. W. Maurice was elected senator but died before the convening of the Senate. Major S. D. M. Byrd was chosen to succeed him and served until 1888, when Dr. A. H. Williams was elected. Dr. Williams died in 1908 and was succeeded as senator by W. L. Bass, who held office for one term of four years. E. C. Epps became senator in 1912 and served eight years. He was succeeded by Hugh McCutchen who died in office. S. M. Beasley filled his unexpired term. In 1922, S. A. Graham was elected senator.

Dr. John F. Brockinton was the first Democratic sheriff after the Reconstruction. He was elected in 1880 and served until he died May 15, 1881. He was succeeded by his son, Joseph E. Brockinton, who held the office until 1892. James Dodd Daniel was sheriff from 1892 until 1900, George J. Graham was elected in 1900 and remained in the office until he retired voluntarily, being eighty years old, in 1920. Henry S. Gamble, incumbent, succeeded him.

The Clerks of the Court since 1880 have been: J. H. Keels, Swingle Graham, W. W. Grayson, C. W. McClam, B. C. Whitehead, S. McBride Scott, H. O. Britton, and John D. Britton, incumbent; Auditors, Thomas McCut¬ chen, J. W. Ferrell, H. Z. Hanna, J. D. Daniel, and J. J. B. Montgomery since 1902 ; Treasurers, W. R. Brock¬ inton, J. M. Cooper, R. D. Rollins, W. W. Johnston, J. W. Cook, and R. B. Smith ; Superintendents of Education : Dr. S. D. McGill, Captain S. J. Snowden, J. J. B. Mont¬ gomery, N. D. Lesesne, William Cooper, J. G. McCullough, Raymond Speigner, J. Y. McElveen, and M. F. Mont¬ gomery; Judges of Probate: J. P. Mouzon, C. W. Mc¬ Clam, W. W. Grayson, J. Z. McConnell, E. M. Smith, W. E. Hanna, S. McBride Scott, P. M. Brockinton, and W. E. Snowden.

Immediately after the War between the Sections, the office of County Judge was created for Williamsburg, and Lieutenant Colonel John G. Pressley elected Judge. He resigned to migrate to California in 1869, and Lieutenant Texas B. Logan succeeded him. Judge Logan soon re¬ signed and moved to Tennessee, where he became a dis¬ tinguished Jurist. Charles W. Wolfe, Sr., succeeded Judge Logan, holding the office until it was abolished by the "black and tan" legislature.

In 1880, the following were elected County Commis¬ sioners : W. E. Nesmith, C. W. McClam, and J. M. Owens, Sr. A. P. McCormick was Clerk to this Board. Among the commissioners since that time have been : J. W. Gamble, G. P. Nelson, S. I. Montgomery, J. J. Morris, T. S. Stuart, W. R. Brown, Robert Epps, Charles R. Lesesne, W. B. McCollough, J. J. Graham, B. B. Chandler, W. H. Camp¬ bell, W. W. Kennedy, R. D. Blakeley, S. J. Singletary, O. R. Eaddy, J. C. -Everett, L. P. Kinder, D. E. Mc- Cutchen, J. M. Brown, R. B. Fitch, B. N. Stuckey, H. D. Ferrell, Bartow Smith, J. T. Eaddy, C. A. Heins, J. W. Chandler, J. M. Williamson, R. W. Smith, and J. R. Barrow. Those who were clerks to the Board prior to 1905, when the clerk became a district official with the title of Supervisor, were : W. L. Bass, E. G. Chandler, J. J. Steele, J. J. B. Montgomery, J. N. Hammett, B. M. Montgomery, J. G. McCutchen. Among the Super¬ visors have been B. B. Chandler, J. J. Graham, J. N. Hammett, and S. J. Singletary, incumbent.

Democratic party primaries held some time before the general election in November determine things in South Carolina. Practically all whites are enrolled on Demo¬ cratic club lists and nearly every one votes in the pri¬ maries. So certain are the candidates chosen in these Democratic primaries for election, that very few vote on regular election days. Some negroes are registered voters, not a sufficient number to stimulate interest in general elections.

When the amendment to the Constitution of the United States forced women suffrage on South Carolina, there were probably less than a dozen men in Williamsburg who would admit favoring it. So strong was the senti¬ ment opposing the voting of women that not a candidate in Williamsburg in the campaign of 1922 would openly advocate the registering of women on the club lists, lest such create hostility towards him among the men. There were, however, about three hundred white women in the County who registered on the Democratic Club Rolls and voted in the August primaries. The first woman in Wil¬ liamsburg who registered for voting was Mrs. Helen Scott Boddie.

In 1922, there were twenty-seven Democratic clubs in Williamsburg, with a total enrollment of 2,879 voters qualified for the primaries. These were as follows : Bethel, 33; Black River, 40; Bloomingdale, 44; Cades, 245; Cedar Swamp, 75; Central, 63; Earles, 158; Gourdins, 29; Greelvville, 249; Hebron, 92; Hemingway, 229;

. Indiantown, 102; Kingstree, No. 1, 380; Kingstree, No. 2, 241; Lanes, 79; Lenuds, 55; Morrisville, 54; Muddy Creek, 80; Nesmith, 38; Oak Ridge, 33; Pergamos, 83; Poplar Hill, 60 ; Salters, 112 ; Sandy Bay, 67 ; Suttons, 42 ; Trio, 150 ; Workman, 47 ; A. C. Hinds was chairman of the County Democratic Executive Committee and Wal¬ ter Wilson was county member of the State Democratic Executive Committee.