City Directories and History: The Liberty Universalist Church and Feasterville Academy Historic District is a significant collection of early to mid-nineteenth century
educational and religious buildings. The church is the only known nineteenth century Universalist Church remaining in the state and the academy complex is an unusually intact collection of buildings associated with an antebellum academy. The district contains four frame buildings believed to have been constructed between 1830 and 1845. The Church is located in a clearing on the western side of the highway. Three buildings associated with the Academy (a boarding house, a kitchen, and a school building) are located in a clearing on the eastern side.

Postal Map from 1896, showing the locations of the P.O. sites in western Fairfield County. Courtesy of the Un. of N.C.
According to tradition the Universalist faith was established in the Beaver Creek section of rural Fairfield County by members of the Feaster family. The first member of the family to settle in Fairfield County was Andrew Feaster (1735-1821), a native of Switzerland. Feaster and his son John were both reputed to have been advocates of universal salvation. It is not known exactly when the Feasterville Academy was first organized. In 1841 the “trustees of Feasterville Academy” contracted with L.F.W. Andrews, an Universalist minister, to teach “the usual English and Classical branches” for the year 1842. Listed in the National Register December 6, 1984. [Courtesy of the S.C. Dept. of Archives and History]

The historic Feasterville kitchen building prior to restoration. Courtesy of the SC Dept. of Archives.
The Feasterville community was the center of a great deal of cultural affairs in western Fairfield County. Not only was the Feaster and Coleman families well established planters here, but they were able to build a fine girls school on the site of their plantation. Known as the Featerville Female Academy, it attracted well respected teachers such as Mrs. Catherine Ladd. With her reputation, she created a learning atmosphere drawing students from far and wide in Chester and York Counties. In 1839, Dr. John S. Bratton, hired Catherine Ladd and her artist husband, George L. Ladd to move their school to what is today Historic Brattonsville. He hired local contractor Noah Isonhower, to remodel his father’s revolutionary era log cabin to accommodate the new school. Along with the remodeling of the house, Mr. Isonhower also constructed three wardrobes for use at the school. Here Catherine taught school, George painted and they lived comfortably for a few years. In the late 1840’s the Ladd family returned to Winnsboro and established their own private school at what is today the Winnsboro Museum.

Quilt square completed by E.C. Feaster in the post Civil War era.
The Feaster home is a significant architectural contribution to the area. Records suggest that North Carolina contractor, Mr. Benjamin H. Withers (1818-1875) played a part in building the Feaster’s home in circa 1841. It is a finely crafted dwelling constructed of heavy hewn timbers on a raised foundation. Data suggest that by the 1840’s large numbers of North Carolina artisans are traveling into the Piedmont region of South Carolina looking for work at a time that planters are both remodeling and building new homes.
In the 1990’s Historic Brattonsville used the Feasterville school as a model for their learning center at the historic site.
Click on the More Information > link to find additional data – A Fairfield County Sketchbook, by J.S. Bolick, 2000 (Courtesy of the FCHS) also information on the contractor Berryman Withers / Weathers the contractor of the boarding school.
Open the MORE INFORMATION link (found under the primary picture), to view an enlargeable, 1896 Postal Map of Fairfield County, S.C.
Following is a excerpt from an advertisement published in the “South Carolian”, October 24, 1844
FEASTERVILLE FEMALE SEMINARY – Mrs. C. Ladd, Principal
“The Trustees of this institution take pleasure in announcing to the Public that the Seminary will be opened on Monday the 2nd day of January 1845, under the direction of Mrs. C. Ladd, a lady generally known throughout the state as a teacher of high qualifications .” “The Institution is situated in the Northwestern section of Fairfield District, about 4 miles from Buckhead, in a high, healthy situation. Large and commodious buildings have been erected for the accommodation of boarders and the funds of the Institution will be appropriated to the purchase of apparatuses and everything necessary to render this Seminary worthy of patronage.” “The Scholastic year of ten months will be divided into two Sessions of five months each.”
“Board, washing, lights, and c. $8.00 per month.” A variety of subjects were offered varying in price from $6.00 to $25.00 per five month session- Later on this school became known as the
Feasterville Male and Female Academy.
1850 Census – Fairfield District
Teachers and students of Feasterville Academy
Name Age Sex Occupation Birthplace
George W. Ladd 40 M Teacher New Hampshire
Celia C. Ladd 40 F Teacher Virginia
Washington Ladd 14 M Chester, S. C.
Charles Ladd 12 M Georgia
Josephine 7 F Fairfield
George D. 5 M Fairfield
Catherine 3 F Fairfield
Louisa F. DeCosta 25 F Teacher Virginia
Anne Stratton 80 F Teacher Virginia
Martha Holmes 18 F Teacher. Fairfield
Isabelle Coleman 18 F Teacher Fairfield
Jane White 19 F Chester, S. C.
Emily Culp 15 F Chester, S. C.
Sara Cook 15 F Fairfield, S.C.
Victoria Rawls 12 F Columbia, S. C.
Julia Feaster 15 F Fairfield
Elizabeth Johnson 13 F Fairfield
Sarah Feaster 14 F Fairfield
Elizabeth Caldwell 16 F Fairfield
Jane McCanse 16 F Fairfield
Sarah Robinson 16 F Fairfield
Sarah Davis 14 F Fairfield
Sarah Cason 15 F Fairfield
Sarah Cameron 14 F Fairfield
Frances Lyles 14 F Fairfield
Eliza Martin 14 F Fairfield
Agnes Martin 12 F Fairfield
Elizabeth Tidwell 13 F Fairfield
Lucinda Tidwell 15 F Fairfield
Caroline Beard 15 F Fairfield
Mary Yarborough 18 F Fairfield
Martha Pickett 19 F Fairfield
Mary Hammond 19 F Lancaster,
Ann Hammond 17 F Lancaster,
Mary Feaster 14 F Fairfield
Sarah Smith 16 F Fairfield
Eliza Nelson 16 F Richland, SC
Martha Shed 13 F Fairfield
Brooks Nevitt 16 F Fairfield
Ann Crankfield 16 F Richland, SC
Mary Durham 16 F Fairfield
Emma Durham 14 F Fairfield
Caroline Feaster 17 F Fairfield
Emmaline Roberson 16 F Fairfield
Mary Boyd 16 F N. Carolina
Allina Watson 16 F Fairfield
Rebecca Dawkins 14 F Fairfield
Martha Tucker 15 F Union, SC
Margaret Simpson 19 F Chester, SC
Margaret Robinson 12 F Fairfield SC
Harriett Robinson 14 F Fairfield SC
***Historian Harvey S. Teal’s South Carolina Postal History, 1989 states: the “Feasterville Post Office ran from 1841 – the Civil War with F. W. Andrews Postmaster.”
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IMAGE GALLERY – 2012
News & Herald, Friday May 17, 1901
FEASTERS AND COLEMANS
Andrew Feaster (the name was then spelt Pfister, 1740) emigrated to this State from Bucks Co., Pennsylvania. His father, Peter Feaster, died on the road and was buried somewhere in Virginia. From him was descended the present family of Feasters on the Beaver Creek section of the country, better known as the Feasterville township. He had a cousin, John Feaster, who came at the same time and settled in Edgefield County. He was the great-grandfather of Laurens Feaster of the “Dark Comer” section.
Andrew Feaster was twice married; by the first wife only one daughter, who married William Colvin, of the Sandy River section of Chester County, now known as the Halselville township, near where John Simpson now lives. She moved with some of the children to Greene County, Alabama, and lived to be quite an hundred years of age. His second wife was Margaret Fry Cooper who had by a former marriage, two children, Adam and Eve Cooper, both of whom lived to be quite old. Eve married Jacob Stone, whose mother was Ruth Lyles, a member of the Chester branch of that family. Jacob Stone was a soldier in the Revolution and drew pension as long as he lived. Andrew Feaster s children by the second marriage were: John, who married Drucilla Mobley, daughter of Samuel Mobley. She died April 15, 1807. John’s children were John, better known as “Squire Jake,” Andrew, Savilla, Susan, Mary, Chaney, and John M.. Savilla married Robert Gregg Cameron, and now lives near White Oak. John M. married Keziah Pickett. He now (1886) is living in Florida, on Indian River. Jacob Feaster, son of John, married Isabelle Coleman, daughter of David R. Coleman, than whom a better man never lived. Jacob Feaster lived and died near Buckhead. His children were: Jacob F. who married Elizabeth Stone. Moses C. Feaster is the only living child of that marriage. Edith D. Feaster married Henry J. Lyles. They had four children, three of whom are now living. John C. Lyles married Miss Sallie Lyles, youngest daughter of the late Col. William S. Lyles, by his first marriage to Miss Woodward. Susan E. Lyles married S. J. Simons of Lexington County, South Carolina. David R. Feaster married Miss Victoria E. Rawls of Columbia South Carolina, by whom he had several children. His first wife died in January 1877, and in December 1878, he married Mrs. Harriet E. Coleman, nee Porter, a daughter of Rev. C. M. Porter, of Ridgeway, South Carolina. By her former marriage she had five children. By her marriage to D. R. Feaster, she had four. They have one of the largest families in the county, sixteen children and six grandchildren. There were two girls younger than D. R., Isabelle and Mary N., both of whom died quite young.
Andrew Feaster, John Feaster’s second son, married Mary Norris of Edgefield County, by whom he had eleven children, 5 sons and 6 daughters. The youngest son, T. D. Feaster, is now living near the old homestead. He is the only one of this family now living in this county. The eldest son and daughter are living near Columbia. The fourth son, Elbert H. was blind from infancy, and was educated at Boston, Mass. He was a remarkable man. He knew everyone by their voice. Once having been introduced and conversing with the veriest stranger, he would ever after know him by his voice, no matter where he met him.
Nathan A. Feaster, second son of Andrew, was thrice married; first to Maria Louisa Rawls, of Columbia by whom he had one daughter, who married John G. Wolling, of Feasterville. His second wife was a Miss Brown, of Anderson County, a sister of Col. Newton Brown, by whom he had one daughter, who is now the wife of a Mr. Tribble, of the town of Anderson. This third wife was a Miss McClanahan of Greenville County. There are two children by this marriage now living in Greenville, a son and a daughter.
Jacob N., Andrew’s third son, was twice married, and is now living in Florida. The eldest daughter married Dr. T. J. Rawls of Columbia. The doctor is dead, and Mrs. Rawls and her only child, B.A. Rawls, are now living in Columbia. The second daughter married William Williams of Anderson County and moved to Texas after the war, and there died. Belle, the third daughter, married William Lonergan of Charlotte, North Carolina, by whom she had several children, only one now living, the wife of G. W. Coleman. Julia, the fourth daughter married Robert H. Coleman who died at Augusta, Georgia, during the late war. Mrs. Coleman now lives in Florida. Sallie, the prettiest of all the girls, married George Butler, and died without issue. Narciss M. Feaster died a few years since, unmarried.
Susan, John Feaster’s oldest daughter, married Robert F. Coleman, a son of the patriarch, D. R. Coleman. Mrs. Westley Mayfield is the only one living of that family. The second daughter, Mary, married H. Jonathan Coleman, by whom she had sixteen children, eleven of whom lived to be grown, 9 sons and 2 daughters.
Truly it may be said that Feasterville township was benefited by the issue of this marriage. It gave to the township three of the very best physicians, two of whom, Drs. Preston and Franklin Coleman, gave up their lives in Virginia for the “Lost Cause.” Only two of the boys are now living, D. R. Coleman of Feasterville, and U. W. Coleman of Cash’s Depot, South Carolina. Allen lost his life at Petersburg; Jacob died at Wilmington, N. C. in 1864. Dr. R. W. Coleman, better known as “Dr. Bob” was one of the best nurses that ever lived. He married Nancy McConnell, by whom he had several children. He was as game as a Ku Klux to the day of his death which occurred in May 1873.
John Feaster, the eldest, married a Miss Gladden and died in February 1856. His wife died the following April, leaving six small Children to the cold charities of the world. But the noble old Roman, H. Jonathan Coleman, was equal to the occasion. He and his married children took these orphans and raised them in their families as on of their own children. His widow is now the wife of David R. Feaster. Dr. Preston Coleman were educated at the Citadel Academy. Dr. B. B. was Lieutenant in his brother’s company. He was wounded and died a few months after at Winchester, Virginia, where his body now lies. Dr. Coleman had his eyesight impaired by a blast during the construction of the S. & U Railroad. G. W., the youngest son, went to the front at the age of 17. Elizabeth married Beverly C. Mitchell; both now live in Americus, Georgia.
John Feaster’s daughter Chaney, married H. A. Coleman. There were eight children by this marriage, only three now living. J. A. F. Coleman is now living at the old homestead, a man of high social qualities and industrious habits. He is better known by the sobriquet of “Beeswax”. David A Coleman married Sarah A. Young, who survives him, he having died during the war. She has reared as noble a family of boys as there is in Feasterville Township. J. A. F. Coleman married a daughter of Samuel H. Stevenson, who lives in the hearts of his neighbors and friends, and everybody knows “Uncle Sam”, and n it will not be left to the future generations to do so, but the present one calls him blessed. Henry A. Coleman married Rebecca Younge. He was wounded three times at the Second Battle of Manassas, and did not live long after, leaving an only daughter, now living with her mother in Winnsboro, S. C. Robert Coleman, the youngest son of “Uncle Henry’s” was drowned while bathing at Church Flats in 1862.
The eldest daughter married William Younge, son of Robert Younge. The second daughter married James Levy Hunter of Chester County, but now of Powder Springs, Cobb County, Georgia. Isabelle, the third daughter married Thomas L. Manning of Marietta, Georgia. The fourth daughter married A. J. McConnell, better known as “Dick”. She died a short while after her marriage. He was first lieutenant of Bailey’s Company, 17th Regiment, and was killed the day of the “blow up” at Petersburg.
John Feaster’s youngest daughter (Savilla), as has been mentioned before, married R. Gregg Cameron. She raised seven sons and four daughters. James the eldest emigrated to Florida to look after the interests of John M. Feaster, whose daughter he afterward married. He died not long after, leaving a widow with one child. John married Mrs. Hoffman, nee Robinson. She did not live long, and John died in Columbia 8 or 10 years age.
J. Feaster Cameron was a man of education and refinement, a nobleman of today. He was colonel of an Arkansas regiment, was twice shot and left for dead, but he was spared to be living witness to the destroying power of ardent spirits. He was one of the best of lawyers, a hero of many battles, that fell victim to our nation’s curse, strong drink. The second son, Dr. Andrew S. Cameron, married Susan T. Amette, a daughter of Mrs. Wesley Mayfield, of Buckhead. He died soon after the war, leaving a widow and one child. She having since died, her son is living with his grandmother, Mrs. Wesley Mayfield. Robert Cameron died during the early part of the war. Alex, the only surviving child, resides near White Oak. He married the second daughter of James W. Younge, son of John I. Younge, from whom Youngesville took its name.
The second daughter married Dr. Christopher Simonton good man and first rate doctor. He moved to Florida, but lived only a short time. She returned to South Carolina with her two children, John and Robert. John, since arriving at manhood, returned to Florida. Robert is at the old John Simonton homestead, and is one of the most successful planters in that section. Sarah married John Simonton, a brother of Dr. Christopher; he also moved to Florida, where he soon died. The fourth and youngest daughter married Colonel Lee McAfee (Colonel Leroy McAfee, according to his tombstone on Concord Presbyterian Church Cemetery. WTC, of North Carolina.
She was one of the prettiest women in the land. She and her husband died early, leaving an infant son, who was reared, and now resides with his grandmother in the old Cameron homestead. Out of this family of eleven children we now have living (in 1886) the old mother, her son Alex, and five grandchildren.
Andrew Feaster’s second son, Jacob Feaster, married a Kennemore, and died without issue, leaving a good solid estate to be divided between brothers and sisters. One of Andrew Feaster’s daughters married E. Wooley, who removed to Edgefield, and then to Cass, now Bartow County, Georgia, where he died, leaving one son, Colonel A. Feaster Wooley. Another daughter married Rundley McShan. They had several children, all of whom removed to the west, the boys, Ferdinand and Andy, to Mississippi and Arkansas. One of the daughters, Judith, married Isaac Coleman. She died a few years since in Union County, S.C. At the home of one of her daughters, three of whom have married in the county; one to William Tucker (she is now a widow), one to William Jeter, and another to John Jeeper[Jeter]. Isaac Coleman still survives. Another daughter of Andrew Feaster married Moses Cockrell. There are only two children now living. John Feaster Cockrell and Margaret Stone, who married a son of the old Revolutionary soldier before mentioned. She is now 85 years of age. Of the stepson, Adam Cooper, all of his descendants moved to Mississippi. His son George Cockrell, the crack rifle shot of his day, married a Triplett of Chester County. His children all live in Winston County, Mississippi. Adam Cooper’s daughter, Margaret, married Captain William E. Hill, a brother of Simeon Hill,—(words unclear here, I have paraphrased them—Evidently they lived in a section where the old elections had been held, known as Hill’s Box)—afterwards known as Feasterville, and it was then said that as the Hill box goes, so goes the county, and it verified, to the disappointment of many who had run well elsewhere; but Hill’s box gave them “hell”, as they expressed it, and this was so often said that they gave it the name of “Hell’s Box.” This same Simeon Hill was one of the “old-fashioned, plain, honest” men of the day for whom nothing could be said except in his praise, David R. Coleman, the patriarch of the Coleman family in Fairfield, was born in Halifax County, North Carolina, May 19, 1765, and died March 25, 1855. His father, Robert Coleman, married Elizabeth Roe. Robert removed to this country when David was a small boy. His wife gave him 14 children. David Roe, who lived and died on the land first settled by his father when he came here, is still in the possession of descendants of the same name. John R. Coleman removed to Greene County, Alabama. Robert Roe Coleman lived and died where his son, Jonathan D. Coleman’s widow now lives. Wiley R. Coleman married a Ragsdale of Chester Country, and raised a large family, of whom William Buck was the oldest, and H.J.F.W. Coleman is the youngest. Out of this family only one is now living, H.J.F.W. Coleman, and all, except him, went west and lived there. They are numbered among the best citizens.
Allen R. Coleman married a daughter of Charles Coleman, a cousin, and settled, lived and died on Rocky Creek in Chester County. Here I will mention something out of the general order: Allen R. Coleman’s wife presented him with twin daughters, and one of his neighbors by the name of John Gladden had twin sons, and when these twins grew up, they married. John Gladden married Rebecca, and James Gladden married Betsy Coleman. They both raised large families from whom there are many of the name in both Chester and Fairfield counties. Griffin R. Coleman moved West and all sight of him has been lost.
So, of William R—(words missing here)—Sarah and Elizabeth, first and second daughters of Robert Coleman, married and went West. Solomon R. Coleman’s children all moved West. He married a distant relative, a daughter of Stephen Coleman: Francis went West: Zerebable died young: Henry Jonathan was the 13th child, next to Ancil, the baby of the family—14 in all. David Roe Coleman married Edith Beam in 1787 or 1788. Robert F. (Towheaded Bob) as he was called, married the eldest daughter of John Feaster and raised two sons and four daughters: the eldest married William Coleman, son of Solomon. The second married Atkins; he died and she then married Andrew Hancock. They moved to Randolph County,Georgia. The third daughter, the present Mrs. Mayfield, has been married four times; first to Martin Coleman and then to James Branon, by whom she had one child. Next she married John Q. Amette. There were four children by this marriage. Dr. R. C. Amette is the only surviving child.
Robert Coleman’s fourth daughter married Dr. S.W. B. McLurkin, by whom she had three children, and died soon after the war. John J. and Andrew E Coleman moved West and married there. Both are now dead. Wiley F. Coleman married a Miss Elam of Chester County (Nancy Elam) and died near Halselville. His widow moved to Chambers County, Alabama, and died there several years age, leaving one son, Colonel D. R. Coleman. He is an enterprising farmer of that county. David H. Coleman married a Miss Franklin and lived and died in Green County, Alabama, where he removed soon after his marriage. Wilson H. Coleman also moved to Alabama and married a Miss Johnston there, and died leaving several children.
Isabelle, first daughter of Dr. R. Coleman married Squire Jake Feaster; Elizabeth married Isaac Noln and moved to Indian Springs, Georgia. After her marriage she rode from her father’s to Indian Springs on horse-back, there being no railroads in those days, and very poor dirt roads. That would be the average woman of today, say, to taking a horse-back ride of 300 miles or less. She was the mother of ten children. She is now living in Smith County, Texas, at the advanced age of 80 years. Sarah, the youngest daughter of D. R. Coleman, died early. The Colemans and Feasters were long lived and splendid types of physical manhood, the average weight about 220 and most of the Colemans over six feet tall.
Among the early settlers on Beaver Creek and McClures were the Wideners, Beams and Dyes, all of whom moved upon the Chinquapin lands on the county line of Chester and Fairfield, where most of their descendants live today. The land they then gave up, is now owned by Thomas M. Lyles, J. C. and T. D. Feaster, and D. P. Crosby and is considered the best section of Fairfield
County.
The Meadors lived on McClures Creek. They, the Hills and the “Cage” and Cullen branch of the Mobley family owned, with the exception of a few small tracts, all that whole country. Dr. W. M. Meador and his boy, Dr. Lem and John Meador, representatives of the last named families, own a portion of the land lying on Beaver Creek and between McClures Creek and the river and north to the Chester line. In this section lived the Nevitts, Jenkins, Sheltons, Newbies, Chapmans, and later AndrewMcConnell, who bought the plantation (now owned by J. F. V. Legg) from Major William S. Lyles. McConnell was a poor boy but when he died he was the possessor of thousands of acres of land and more than 100 slaves. J. F. V. Legg married his widow Malinda Dickerson McConnell), and now lives at the old homestead.
Farther north we had Meredith Poole Meador who owned the place occupied by Laurens Feaster. Alben Boulware owned a large tract of land on Broad River. Stephen Crosby lived near the line and owned land in both Chester and Fairfield counties. His oldest son, Thomas, married a Miss Parks, and their son, Charley Crosby, now owns nearly all the land that was his father’s and grandfather’s. The next son, Coleman Crosby married a Miss Walker of Chester County. He was the father of Mrs. Dr. Estes and W. W. Crosby. William Crosby married a Thomas and raised a large family of children. Davis Crosby was quite popular and represented the county in the Legislature. Stephen Crosby married Frances, the oldest daughter of Cornelius Nevitt. He bought from the late Governor John H. Means the place now owned by his only child, Mrs. D. P. Crosby. It is one of the prettiest places in the upcountry.
One of old Stephen Crosby’s daughters married Charles Douglass, who lived and died near Alston. Richard Crosby, “Unicle Dick” as he was called, married a Conway, and lived to a ripe old age. He and Jacob Stone, his nearest neighbor, were called by the wags of the neighborhood the “Siamese Twins”. They always went to Chester and Columbia together, and returned home with jugs fulls. They were thrifty and enterprising farmers. It was said by the wags that they did not know what Andy Feaster Colvin’s boys would have done for wives if “Uncle Dick” had not raised so many pretty girls. All the Colvin boys married Crosbys, except one or two. David Henderson, a brother of old Thomas Henderson who lived on Broad River, was considered the ugliest man of his day, and was called “Pretty Dave”. He always kept one eye closed and gave as a reason that he did not wish to wear them both out at the same time. There are many quaint sayings and laughable anecdotes told of him which will live here as long as the memory of the man liveth, for they are handed down from father to son. He was a man of considerable education for his day and time. Had it not been for whiskey, he would have been a useful member of society, but as it was, everybody liked “Pretty Dave”. Once when he and his brother, Tom, were returning home from Columbia they met a stranger who looked at Tom in amusement (“Pretty Dave” was lying in the wagon, drunk) and said, “You are the ugliest man I ever saw”.. Tom replied that he would and bet him $5.00 that he could show him an uglier man than he was. The bet was good, and Tom called to his brother Dave to look out. The stranger gave him the money, saying that he “had honestly won it.” Old man Simeon Free lived at the head of McClures Creek years ago, but he and all of his children moved to the west. The children of Wiley and Hiram Coleman own all of the Henderson and Free land.
Uncle Tom Williams was a carpenter, millwright, etc. He was considered the best man physically speaking, in the county. His wife was Dorcas Halsell, whose mother was a Wagener, (Wagner) for whom Fort Wagener was named, that was erected on Beaver Creek. We then had the Gwinns, Weirs, Yongues, Murdocks and Macons.
John Feaster, son of the “Dark Corner” was the founder of Feasterville Academy, and donated 7 acres of land to Liberty Church, and 5 acres to the academy. Tradition says that John Feaster had the first glass windows in the township. Thomas Coleman lived and died on the premises now occupied by D. R. Feaster, and was the owner of the first brick chimney north of Beaver Creek.
The Chapmans were a numerous and prominent family on McClures Creek. They have all left except Giles Chapman and the widow and children of John Chapman, who owned the old Halselville property, just beyond the line in Chester County. Cornelius Nevitt, of whom mention has already been made, had three sons, two of whom are now living near the old homestead; Joseph K. is living near the old homestead; Jack was killed at Knoxville, Tennessee in December 1863; Frances, his eldest daughter, married Stephen Crosby. Precious Ann married Francis H. Ederington; and Oliver Waters (words missing?)–> then Rev. Mrs. Moore, of North Carolina, Mrs. L. R. (Leroy) Fee is her daughter by her first marriage. Laura, the youngest, married William McWhorter, and lives in North Carolina. Charles Waters, her eldest son by her second marriage, married Miss Fannie D. Kerr, daughter of William Kerr, who resides near Shelton, S. C.
On the headwaters of McClures Creek lived old Henry Tynes. Of the “Cage” (Micajah), Cullen, and Isham Mobley family, their name was legion. The Crowders were from North Carolina and were as numerous as the Mobleys. Notly Mobley was the “bully” of the precinct. Big John Cockrell was the “bully” of the White Oak section. He determined he would try manhood with Mobley, but Notly was of a slow and sluggish disposition and had to have coals of fire heaped upon his back before he would move. Cockrel told him he came there to whip him or be whipped. Uncle Isham Mobley could not stand it any longer, and said as much to Notly. When Cockrell turned to him and asked him if he took it up-“Yes, by God, I do,” was the immediate reply, and at it they went, and John Cockrell went home badly whipped, so he said, and not whipped by the “bully”, but by a much smaller man. Such acts as there were not infrequent at that time, and each section had its “bully”, and he was honored and respected as such. Robert Mobley who lives hear, Woodward, C.C.& A. Railroad, is the only one of this branch of the Mobley family living in the country.
Old Bolin Wright came from Virginia and settled about a mile west of Liberty Church, where he died. He was a revolutionary soldier. The most notable of his children were William Wright, a Baptist preacher of the old school, and Uriah S. Wright, who was noted in his day and time as a “home doctor” and was called by nearly everyone, Dr. Wright. His practice was not confined to Fairfield, but Chester, Union and Newberry counties demanded and had his services. He was eccentric, erratic and generous. He was a great fox hunter and what he did not know about fox-hunting was left out of the spelling book.
In 1860, Major T.W. Woodward was a candidate for the Legislature, and stopped with a relative who lived near the “Corner”, and on inquiring for the names of those living around, he was told to call on old Wright by all means. “Old Uriah is a fox-hunter, and I am sure you (the Major was a fox-hunter, too) can talk enough about dogs to secure his vote.” “Well, give me some points about the pack,” said the Major. “Ring Smith is his best strike and Jolly Wright his coldest trailer, and Molly Clownbey his swiftest runner,” he was told. The Mayor, having obtained a description of these dogs, so there would be no difficulty in identifying them, made it convenient to call on old Uriah the next day about dinner time. Old Uriah had just come in from ploughing as the Major rode up to the gate. “That is what Jonathan D. and the boys around here calls me.” My name is Woodward, and I am a candidate for the Legislature, and being a young man on my first political legs, I am going to see and be seen, if not by everybody, certainly by the most prominent and influential citizens of each section.” ‘Git down, you a monstrous likely man, and I’ll take you to see Pinkey (his wife), and we will see what she has to say about it”. The Major descended and was going into the house to see “Pinkey”, the while discussing the crops with old Uriah, when he paused a moment and, turning in the direction of some hounds who were lying around in the shade, he said, “Dr. Wright, I am a very peculiar man. I love the ladies dearly, it is true and yet, I hope, sir, you will pardon my weakness,—a fine hound dog comes nearer perfection in my eye than any earthy object.” “And what do you know about dogs?’ asked old Uriah, turning from the house and following the Major who had gone in the direction of the dogs and was already seated at the foot of a large white oak, with the whole pack around him. He had little difficulty in selecting the dogs of note from the description given him the night before, and after some general comments on dogs he said, “What is the name of this dog?—Ah, Ring Smith you say? An uncommonly fine dog he seems to be-if there is any truth in signs, he ought to be a mighty strike.”. “Good strike, did you say? If there were four thousand dogs here, I would bet a million dollars that Ring Smith would open three miles ahead of the best hunter in the bunch, and you might go before a magistrate and swear that it was a fox when he opened.” Was old Uriah’s reply.
The Major was now intently examining a large pale black and tan dog, which filled the description of Jolly Wright—the coldest dog—feeling his nose and walking around, he eyed him intently. “Dr. Wright,” said he at last, “I think this is one of the most remarkable dogs I have ever seen, just look at that head and feel his nose; I honestly believe this is the coldest dog I have ever
seen.” “Coldest, did you say? Why, he can smell ‘em when they have been gone three and four weeks, and if the fur ain’t good he won’t open on ‘em then.” Molly Clowney had been easily recognized and now came in for her turn. “Here ought to be the very apple of your eye,” said the Major, “but if I do not know anything about dogs, this is unquestionably the fleetest footed animal I have ever met. Tell me now, truthfully, can’t she outrun anything in these parts?” “Run, did you say? No, she can’t run a bit; but there ain’t a crow, nor a turkey-buzzard that ever crossed ‘the comer’ that can hold a light to her a-flyin. I have seen her treed against many of ‘em. Dinner is about ready, and I want Pinkey to meet you.”
The Major was taken into the house and introduced to Mrs. Wright. “Ain’t he likely, Pinkey? Just look at him!” and the old man led him around the house like a fine horse at a fair, “and smart! Why, he had forgot more than all the other candidates ever knowed. I am sure he must be close kin to old preacher Billy Woodward, for I heard my daddy say he was the smartest man in the world, and knowed what he was talking about.” After dinner, the Major having promised to introduce a bill for the benefit of tired dogs, providing that no fence should be over five rails high, was in the act of leaving when “Old Uriah” called Pinkey to bring his fiddle, saying, “Hold on ‘till I play “The Devil’s Dream” for you.” When he finished his piece, “ One good turn deserves another,” said the Major, ‘Til play a tune for you before I go,” and taking up the fiddle, he rendered “Hell Broke Loose in Georgia” with such spirit and skill that “Old Uriah” jumped up, hugged Pinkey, and cut the pigeon wing all over the room. It is needless to say that the Major got “Old Uriah’s “ vote.
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