City Directories and History: Here is a bit of history from the article “A Storied Past” on the Griffin-Williams House circa 1830-1850. Submitted to R&R by Margaret Smith-Jenkins, 12.2.14.
“When the thunder claps of war rumbled across Laurens County once again, the grandsons of Revolutionary War patriots took up arms to defend their homeland in the War Between the States. The blood of Laurens County Confederate soldiers stains the battlefields of Bull Run, Seven Pines, Richmond, Gaines’ Mill, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and many more. In April 1865, Laurens County found herself at the crossroads of history. Just days after former Laurens resident Andrew Johnson because President of the United States, the county played host to Confederate president Jefferson Davis as he made his escape from Richmond after General Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox.
President Davis and his entourage entered Laurens County on April 30, 1865, stopping to water their horses at the Riser Brick House near Whitmire. Traveling through Martin’s Depot (present-day Joanna), they made their way to the home of Lafayette “Fate” Young in the Milton Community. There, President Davis spent the night while members of his military escort made camp in the Young’s peach orchard. At nine o’clock the next morning, Davis made a brief speech to local residents gathered at the home of Captain Griffin Williams in Mountville. The retreating Confederates crossed the Saluda River at Puckett’s Ferry at noon on May 1st on their way to Cokesbury in present-day Greenwood County. Davis was captured by Federal troops ten days later in Irwin County, Georgia. Each site associated with Davis’s escape through Laurens County is still standing today and visitors can easily retrace his steps by automobile.”
Also see: Griffin – Williams House page on R&R for further information.
Stay Connected
Explore history, houses, and stories across S.C. Your membership provides you with updates on regional topics, information on historic research, preservation, and monthly feature articles. But remember R&R wants to hear from you and assist in preserving your own family genealogy and memorabilia.
Visit the Southern Queries – Forum to receive assistance in answering questions, discuss genealogy, and enjoy exploring preservation topics with other members. Also listed are several history and genealogical researchers for hire.
User comments welcome — post at the bottom of this page.
R&R CONNECTING THE DOTS – ANOTHER PAGE OF HISTORY
Please enjoy this structure and all those listed in Roots and Recall. But remember each is private property. So view them from a distance or from a public area such as the sidewalk or public road.
Do you have information to share and preserve? Family, school, church, or other older photos and stories are welcome. Send them digitally through the “Share Your Story” link, so they too might be posted on Roots and Recall.
Thanks!
User comments always welcome - please post at the bottom of this page.
I am a native of, and have lived most of my life in, Joanna (formerly, Goldville and before that, Martin’s Depot). I have reason to doubt that Jefferson Davis’s entourage actually visited Riser Brick House or passed through Martin’s Depot. I have never found any evidence that he did, other than anecdotal statements like “legend holds that Jefferson Davis visited Brick House.” For one thing, if Davis was at Cross Keys House near Union around noon (established fact), they could not have possibly covered the distance from Cross Keys to the Lafayette Young House in the interval it would have taken. There existed, at the time of Davis’s flight, a likely path that would have taken them near Martin’s Depot but not directly through it. If anyone is interested, I would be glad to share my “evidence”.
Hi, Yes we would be most interested in meeting and learning from your research. Roots and Recall is working with a scholar from Due West, S.C. who is also keenly interested in accurately tracking the route. So, if you will, please email me at faireyw@rootsandrecall.com, and provide us with your contact information. We are planning a meeting in the Laurens area in December and perhaps you can take a minute to attend?
Wade@R&R.com