220 East White Street – The Witherspoon House

City Directories and History: 1908 – Fannie Beckham, 1913 – J.H. Witherspoon, 1920 – Same, 1926 – NA

Adeline White, the daughter of George P. and Anne H. White, married John C. Witherspoon and lived here for several decades prior to selling the property to St. John’s Methodist Church. HRH Collection

The J.C. Witherspoon home was constructed on the next door lot to that of the Anne H. White’s home, prior to Elizabeth Lane being developed or Saint John’s Un. Methodist Church constructing their new facilities on the Witherspoon lot. The home is attributed t architect, Hugh Edward White (1869 – 1939), who was born in Fort Mill, S.C., he attended Fort Mill Academy and started his practice in about 1894. Remained in Rock Hill until about 1903 and later returned to work. In the 1890’s he worked in an architectural firm in Atlanta. Between 1903-1918 he was a field supervisor of the Supt. Architect Dept. of the Treasury. For about three years 1918-21, he was employed with Charles Coker Wilson in Columbia or Gastonia, N.C.

The Herald reported on July 3, 1897 – “The Rock Hill Hardware Company has orders for steel picket fencing, 350 ft. of ornamental fencing for the lawn in front of Mrs. J.C. Witherspoon’s home…”

The Charleston News and Courier of June 7, 1890 reported – “The industry of raising fine stock blooded horses has begun in Rock Hill and the main stock breeder is Col. John C. Witherspoon. He has a very fine set of horses and intends on enlarging his facilities for raising blooded animals. ”

The 1915 McEwee Store Journal – Leger listed James H. Witherspoon “farmer” as the account holder.

Genealogy of the Witherspoon Family, compiled by Jos. A. Wardlaw, Yorkville, 1910, reprinted by the Chester County Genealogical Society.

The Witherspoons were involved in the settlement by Scots-Irish of the Williamsburg County area of SC in 1734.  James Witherspoon brought his family from Ulster as one of the initial group of settlers in the Kingstree area.  With him was son Robert Witherspoon,   born in 1728 in County Down.  Robert died in 1788.  His grandson, James Hervey Witherspoon (1784-1842) was sent to school in the Waxhaws as a boy.  He was preparing to enter South Carolina College but met and fell in love with Jean Donnom, married her and became a planter, owning extensive property.  In 1826, he was elected Lieutenant Governor under Gov. John Taylor.  In 1831, he moved to Lancaster and served as District Ordinary for 20 years.  At the time of his death, he was running for a seat in the U. S. Congress.  James Hervey Witherspoon and Jean Donnom had eleven children.  Their son George McCottry Witherspoon was born in the Waxhaws in 1812 and died in Lancaster in 1898.  He graduated from South Carolina College in 1832 and practiced law in Lancaster, serving in the SC Legislature and as District Judge and Probate Judge.  He married his distant cousin Eliza Jane Crawford, grand daughter of Major Robert Crawford of the Waxhaws.  They had eight children.  The eldest child was John Crawford Witherspoon, who was born in Lancaster in 1845 and died in Rock Hill in 1891.  He received a good education in the Waxhaws and was about to enter South Carolina College when the Civil War broke out.  He served as a Captain in the SC 5^th Regiment, Jenkins Brigade.  He suffered eleven wounds, including a lost leg and a lost eye.  Following his recovery, he read law under his father and practiced in Rock Hill.  He was a respected orator and served several terms in the SC Legislature.  In 1875, he married Addie White, daughter of George Pendleton White and Ann Hutchison White.  They had three sons:

Poor image of the Witherspoon house but it does show the new fence purchased from RH Hardware Co., ca. 1910.

1) George White Witherspoon, born October 18, 1876.  He was a graduate of the South Carolina College and studied law.

2) Jno. Crawford Witherspoon, born January 12, 1878.  He attended the South Carolina Military Academy and served as a Sgt. In the 2^nd SC Regiment in the Spanish American War.  He married Elizabeth Wicker of Farmville, VA in 1901

3. James Hutchison Witherspoon was born May 24, 1881.

J. Crawford Witherspoon, Jr., born Jan. 12, 1878. The son of Capt. John Witherspoon and Adeline White – Witherspoon.

Click on the More Information > link found below the picture column for additional data.

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George White Witherspoon born Oct. 18, 1876, he was a graduate of USC and admitted to the bar.

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Undated map of the White’s Clay and White Street properties showing the location of the new 3C’s Railroad Depot yard. Courtesy of the White Family Collection – 2008

Addie or Adeline White, left, attended several girl’s educational institutions but ended here education at the Burrell’s School in Charlotte, N.C. at the close of the Civil War.