Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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LIFE OP COLONEL JOHN ? THOMAS. i i By Mrs. Robert J. Hern- ] don. King's Mountain 1 Chapter, D. A. R. a : Great Great Grand Daughter of Col. John Thomas. Among 1)10 nuiiies of heioes urd heroines who?o inugnilicent courage has added Mich glorious chapters to the L.>lory of South Carolina duriry tho period of th Revolution, thenare none to surpass in patriotism and devotion to country th s distinguish' ed soldier, Col John 1'. I human. Ilia service and l*?d.;>ldp in tin cause ot liberty and independent and tho story of the deeds and exploits enacted i>y the m? n ai d women of this fumily ad? ra many pages of the history of our Mate. It may be of interest, at this time when the 1). A. R of Spartanburg have just uuveiled a splendid monu ment of granite and bronz", ericteu in honor of Col. Thomas Hnd hi- hero io wife, to learn something of his libThe following facta of C?>l Thomii' arc taken from the ' Memoirs of M?j Joseph Mc.Tunkin," (also of Kevolu I io ? fame J and family tradition, and the >k'tchesare in possession of th' \vjin r of this article. The youth of the country were chiefly indebted to hi in for their first military discipline and in the public affairs of his district he became an acknowledged leader. He ruised the standard of independence among his people, ami with strong appeals aroused ins fellow countrymen to put down British oppression. The fjth er of Oul. Thomas was! English, and an c flieer in the king's army, (hiring the oppression of the Presbyterians in England, he removed . to W"ale??, whore Col. Thomas was born ai d some years liter in compiny with his brother, Rev John . Thomas, a noted Presbyterian minister, and u?her friends, came to America i mi settled in Chester county, , Pennsylvania. * Col. Thomas was brought up iu country and educated in England. Ho married Jano Black, a sister of the R-v. John Black, the first president of Dickinsou college, (Jarlysle, Pa. It is aaid that she was a woman . of rare intelligence und varied nccomI'lishmeiifs, possessing inaDy charms ' of mind and heart, She was a su- . perb h<>r.-ewomau, of which she gave practical proof of her skill and endurance, the day she made the famous ride from Ninetv Six to Ctdar s Springs, which will be referred to later. Col. Thomus moved to South Cnrolilia and resided on a commanding eminence in the beautiful region of a ' bold and lovely stream, which, when ^ the travelers' beheld it in all its beauty of forest and llowtr and golden sunlight and sparkling cascades sur- | rounded by grand hills with their coronets of pines, one of them exoltimed, "What a fair forest this," which still bears the name of Fair Forest creek. Col. Thomas was one of the foundof Fair Forest church, and his wife one of its most active and zealous members. Here he was residing before hostilities commenced with the mother country. He was a militia captain and a magistrate under the royal government, He was enterprising intelligent und patriotic, owned iargc possessions in lands, slaves, horses and cattle, and was highly distingvished for his devotion to the public welfare. He is described by his contemporaries as being a man of splendid appearance, above the uverage stature. His features were regular, his nose straight, his head finely formed and set firmlj upon his shoulders. He hud dark blue eyes, which in a moment of action ?rL<ii incfl with fire and emotion. His liuir was brown and his hands and feet well formed. His expression was that of a student rather thaD of a soldior. I Col. Thomas' death occurred soon | after the war. His lonely grave lies | not far from the city of Spartanburg, ( in the fair vulley of White Stone , Springs. Noar by can be seen four ( rooms of the house in which he died. , And over and above all rises the , granite hills on whose summits the ( battles of liberty were fought and victorious armies shouted their battle | cry. Here amid the silence of eentu- ( ries dreams this knightly soldier und , Christian gentleman. I "The fame of the brave outlives t hira ; his portion is immortality." { Upon the refusal of Col. Fletcher t to accept a position under the author- \ ity of the province. John Thomas t ifjit uuailhiJduely chotfeu (Vfonel of 1 ihe Spartanburg regiment, haviug . previously resigned the commissions I he held under the royal government I He directed the movements of this regimen' until the fall of Char'estnn^ Soon after he was taken a prisoner by a Tory captain by the iriine of Brown, i?n I oonfln*d at Xinety Six and at Charleston until near the close of the war. This Brown, with his Tory band, returned to the homo of 0. I Th unas and carried ofT his negroes and horses, and destroyed much of his property and family treasures Col Thomas had four sons, of whom two watered the tree of liberty with their blood. It ihort w-s killed at Riebtn-k's defeat : A brain was wounded d taken prisoner at X'nety-S x and died in confinement John succeeded his futh'r m command of the Spartan regimeut and made his mark in many a well fought battle, and was deeply bt loved by his men for his daring spirit and generosity. lie wu8 one of the four prominent colonels to confer with Gov Kit ledge to make a full representation of the condition of the brigade, and their ; reasons for refusing to accept W.ll- ' iams as their commander. Col Thomas had four daughters. The husband of each espoused the Whig cause, and all held commissions in the army and rendered their country most substantial service in securing victory and freedom. The women of S mth Carolina were, and are until tire pres< nt day, proverbial for being brave and patriotic, but the z-uil and fidelity of Mrs. Thomus and her daughters will compare favorably with the brightest of that bright galaxy which adorns the history of the State 'Ihe following incidents may illustrate what has been said of the women of this family: In the early part of the war, Gov. Rutledge had sent a quantity of arms ind ammunition to the frontier for ihe use of the Whigs. Those had )een deposited in the house of Col. rhomus and kept under the proteeion of a guard of 2") men. Col. Moore, of .North Carolina, wit h tf<X) rories was approaching to take pos>ession of the magazine. Col. rhomas deemed hi9 foreo inadequate o asuccvssful defence of his home nd retired. The guard having taken fT and concealed us much of the miliary stores us time admitted, Capt. osiuh Culbortson a son-in-law of Ir. Thomas, refused to leave the muse. He had been brought up on he frontier and was thought to be ne of the finest marksmen in the rmy. (He it was who fired the first hot at. the battle of Cowpens ) So with Wrn. Thomas, a lad, and he women of the family, he remain>d, and as soon as the Tories came in junsliot a lire was opened upon theru ivith such vigor that the band soon withdrew from the conflict. Some t ime after the fall of Charleston Mrs. Thomas was on a visit to her husband and sons at Ninety-Six. rbey wcro prisoners of the British at that post. While there she heard two women in conversation and one remarked to the other: "On tomorrow night the loyalists intend to surprise ihe rebels at Cedar Springs." This was interesting news to her. Cedar Springs was a few miles of her home. Col. John Thomas, Jr., her son, wus in command of the pest, and with him were several of her children and friends. She thereforo determined without delay to apprise them of the attack, though the distance was at least t>0 miles. Without loss of time she made reudy for the dangerous journey and with courage as cool as it was determined, very early the following morning she mounted her horse and rode asvay. On and on sho rode through the dark h-rests and lonely highways with spirit undaunted, never faltering until she reached her goal, the camp of her sons, where she informed them of their great danger in time for them to provide for snfety. A r\ /I ti'lton t ka o n a ?v? *? I ? /tun ttih ii tiir curing I uniiril Ull Ml I'asy confidence of victory, instead, however, of butchering a slumbering foe they received the skillful blows pf their intended victims. On that night victory perched upon the standard of liberty Hud this faithful wife and devoted mother quietly repaired to her home, conscious of having lone her duty. Here the historical narrative of the ife of Mrs. Thomus closes; but, after :his in the midst of turmoil and strife, vith unparallelled industry, she prepared clothes for the needy, food for ,he starving, nursed the wounded, prayed beside the dying and buried ,ho dead throughout the country in vhioh she was uu angel of goodness tnd mercy. Ifc j? put definitely known at tjijs TWO DUNCAN MILLS. - Hi Mr. Prank Hammond *h Elected Treasurer of v] Seneca and Pine Ridge ,T, Mill. w< da It wo9 announced here yesterday Hg that at a conference held in Wash- gr ington on Friday between General sj, Manager T. C. Durcsn, several di- r, rectors of the Buffalo, Union, Seneca wj and Pine Ridge mills, and represen- w] tatives of tho northern machinery pi interests and selling agents, tho office of president and treasurer of the jn Seneca and Pine Ridge mills, hither- w to held by Col. Dnncnn, wero di- hi voroed, Mr. Duncan heiii? retained j? as president, while Frank Hammond, president of the People's bank of Qj this city, was made treasurer, with *p full controll of the finances t] The 8eneo i mills at Seneca and i he L>: ~ U. J. : 11 ~ ~ a. n l ~ ~ xiuu ctiug" iniiIo nt uttuiiicu wcrtr i ' not. involved in the financial straits ' to which unfortunate business 'lewis C reduced Col. Duncan's other mills, the Union und Buffalo of Union; but Col. Duncan's management of the ? latter created in the minds of certain creditors at J selling ugents of the Seneca and Camden mills fears for their safety, and the assignment of their financial control to Mr. Hammond was in deference to t heir wishes. Mr. Hammond, who has achieved 8r a wide reputation for business sa- c< gaeity and conservatism, was the ?1 unanimous choice of both directors rf and creditors. P1 Wm. K. Touchstone has been w superintendent of the Union and M BnfTalo mills and tlie Sencca mills, C< He has resigned his operating control of the mills at Union and moved i re to Greenwood He will have his home S< thero and will divide his time between M the Camden mill and the one at tfl Seneca. ?1 Mr. Marshall Jordan, who has ; proved his value as secretary and : er virtually resident, manager of the j Seneca mill, will remain fn his pres- | b* ent position.?Greenville News t* A Further Explanation of the tr Term Quack. j ti< Mr. Editor: I propose, in this ap article, to answer some questions re- p| garding quacks, a subject, to which sti t he readers of your paper were direct- Va ed in a former communication. The 8e primary meaning of quack is to "cry -in like a dock." But when, under what wj circumstances, by whom and to 8q whom, was it first used as a term of contempt and reproach? "Iu the | year 11911, A. D , arose Theophrastus Bombast..s Paracelsus," a native of D Switzerland, who first introduced . illllnlrvilvAP ft. mar/tn.n ?. .^,.,1! I jv..v4*w.< ?v | v? uivtvui j t an a Jiirui" cine; and all who thus administer*d P it were denominated "quacks," in allusion to the name quacksilver, given to this metul by the Germans, j The then prevailing system of treat- j ing diseases was the Galemlc or vegetable practice, which had stood the test of fourteen hundred years. Par- ^ acelsus burnt the works of Galen besl fore the audience to whom he lec* sl tured. lie at length became intoler- ^ ably vain-glorious, boasting that there was more knowledge in his beard than in the whole of Galen. * He was likewise t-hnckingly impious, declaring that, if God would not im- ? part to man the secrets of medicine, ^ it was right to consult the devil. He professed to have discovered the elixir of life, which would prolong ! time where her grave is; but it is; thought more than probable that she r< lies buried in the McJunkin burying ? ground, a few miles from Union, neur "| by the old highway which leads through Fair Forest to Tiger river. The descendants of Col. Thomas and c< his wife are widely dispersed over t< many countries. Some are officers is in the United States navy. Others gl | occupy positions of trust and honor rr in other avocations of life. Some si have distinguished themselves in the bl wars of the present generation, bear- O ing their country's banner into dis- hi tant lands across tho waters, gladly dying for its glory, as in the immortal w Melds of Manassas and Appomattox, tc leading on in front of the bitter strife, hi as in the duys of \>ld, dying where Hi duty lead them. h< And still thera are others quietly th sleeping near their old home in the of beautiful Fair Forest they all loved th an u'aII nn/lflt* fKo a^* WW M..V.V. Viiv Oiiauvnvui mu tuiI Q( pines, which stand like ghostly senti- ro nels keeping eternal watch over the th graves of the dead heroes. R Thus the names of Col. John b( Thomas and his peerless wife shall ho shtoo on uutarniahed on the rolls of wl fame, the example of each distant sh age adding new lustre to the nation's th blftory. Ih i... p mortal existence to any extent. 0 dUd, a miserable vagabond, at e age of forty-eight. Such, then, was the persnnnre, to roin we are indebted for the introiction of the mineral practice, Meh has continued to the present ly, The introduction of mineral ;ents iuto medical practice cau>"d eat excitement. Tho regular phyeians of that d?j , tho Galenic or Dtanio. (now irregular,) contended iih much zeal against minerals, hile, on the other hand, the chemical ertitloners, or quacks, inveighed pdnst Botanic as being weak and efficient. The whrle medical world us thus kept in commotion for two undrod years. In fact, the contest still being waged. I close, appealing to the decision ! the intell'gent. readers of The I.ME9, whether I have answered, in 10 light of history, tho question, Who are 1 lie quacks?'' edulia, S. O. O B Bono. LEMSONCOLLEGE'S EXPOSITIONS. ixhibit to be Transported to All Parts of the State Free of Charge by the Railroads. A coach has b?en loaned to Olem>n college by tho Southern railway lmpanyand will be transported free f cost to all parts of the State ached by the tracks of that cm?ny. The Atlantic Coast Linn R.iJ. ay company ha9 also agreed to run lis coach over their'truck free of ist to the college. This will enable le authorities of Clemson college to tach the people In all portions of >ut h Carolioa with vuluable i' strucon on practical questions relating > agriculture, mechanical, civil and ectrical engineering, tex'ile and letnical industry, geology and genal industrial education. Experts, not only from the college, it from other portions of the couny, will be sent with the car to fursh information on the many Induslal subjects demanding the atten>n of the people. There will be in this car the needed iparutus, appliances, tools and im emeDts to make the courso of inruction highly entertuining mi .luable. Specimens of plants, in cts, minerals, etc., will be found this car. A first class lantern, ith many lantern slides on many ibjects, will be placed in the car for ie free and liberal use of the people The State. AUGHTERSO? CONFEDERACY. educed Rotes Allowed Erom All Points in the State, Reduced railroad rates have been anounced on account of the meetig of the annual convention of the laughters of Confederacy at Johnion, Nov 29. Ticket agents at all nations will furnish the regular oneire rate ticket, which ticket must e preserved, presented at the conention to be endorsed by the presient. Mrs Andrew W. Burnet, Sr., f Camden. This ticket must also e countersigned by the agent at ohnston who will be present at the enventlon for the purpose. Unless 50 persons present these Ickets, the reduced rates cannot be ?cured, so all who will attend are ^quested to attend to the purchase f the proper kind of tickets. he South's Day coming "The agent of the Panama canal stppany who is cotping to this town ) secure artisans for work on the ithmus will, we think, have little to iow for his work Tho home dotand for artisans, in fact for all tilled and common labor, white and lack, is greater than the supply olumbia is doing some building erself."?Columbia State. It does our heart good to read such ords of cheer as the above. Next > h?s love of his God and family the >ve of our glorious southland should nd a place In every southern man's ?art. Not for myself alone, but for te south also, should be the motto one ana an. rue upbuilding of ie south?for more than -10 years, >spised, maligned, persecuted aid ibbed in every conceivable manner lat could possibly be concocted by epublicuo hate and greed?should > the aim and ambition of her true ns. And it i9 com in*?the day lien, redeemed end disenthralled ie will be the chief cornerstone of e national edifioe.?The Bossier auovr, 1a- j 1 THe I I ADAM jfSCHAAF || Is the high grade Piano $ We are willing to put tl Xj with any #500 or $600 Pi & terial, mechanism, constr i 8 about one-half the price. Si proof. We invite you to & piano, and if you want a S3 get. Have several grade: Tj Upright" is just $100. \ th in buying a~Piano from y I Wonder Store BSESSgBBSBEgeSgEB PERT PARAGRAPHS. C&t.ltal punishment is when a mnn Is sentenced to take a thirty days' vacation on full pay. A woman with winning ways is a great favorite unless you happen to be sitting in a cord game with Iter. n. A man has a mighty good f^.^nr memory if he Vwy/ docs not forget /&\ that he ha9 any Jty religion when he /W J la in a mining camp. / / Let U9 reJ?lcc / y^*yr that no trust w' f ill I cnn coruer 11/ ill milk of human ^ kindness. ? _ Wlien n girl says that she means to be nu old maid she always lias her fingers crossed. As to whether the pen is mightier than the sword depends altogether on who is manipulating that cunning instrument. A mnn often wishes his wife would mnko her own hats until he sees one of her make It Isn't right to judgo u woman by the company sho keeps. She may have a commission to reform him. Trespass Notice. All persons are hereby forbidden to trespass on any of the lands of the undersigned either by walking, riding, hunting, cutting timber or otherwise, nud for cnch offense will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. J. C. Siietxi.esworth, J. 0 Gregory, R. G. Gregory. 4t-p Final Discharge. Notice is hereby given that J. Mobley Jeter, Sr., administrator of the estate of York Hill, deceased, has applied to Jason M. Greer, Judge of Probate, in and for the county of Union, for a final discharge as such adminis| trator. I It is ordered. That the 11th day of December A. D. 1905, be fixed for hearing of Petition, and a final settlement of said estate. Jason M. Greek, Probate Judge Union County, S C. Published in The Union Times November 10, 190B. 45-4t Final Discharge. Notice is hereby given that T. E Hailey, Guardian of the estate Elizabeth Littlej >l?h. now Smith, minor, has ap plied to Jason M. Gieer, Judge of Probate, in and for the County of Union, for a final discharge as such j Guar-iian. i it is ordered. That the 5th day of December, A. D 19CA, he fixed f?>r hearing of Petition, and a final settlement of said estate. Jason M. Gkekr, Prohnte Judge Union County, 8. C. Published in The Union Tim?s December 3rd, J90!i. 44-4t Cleared for Action. When the body Is cleared for action, by Dr. King's New Life Pills, you can tell it by th- b'oom of health on the cheeks: the brightness of the eyes; th?firmness of the flesh and muscles; the buovaney of the mind. Try them. At F. C. Duke's drug store, 25 cents. Land Sale. I will sell on Monday. Dec. 4th, at Union Court House during the legal hours of sale, one hundred and sixtv acres of Inn'l, lying on the West side of the public roan leading to Neal Shoals, ir being a p Ttion oNlie Nathaniel Gist Jr.. hotn" place. Terms of sale. one h*lf cash, balance in one an?l two rears. 44 4t Joa. F. Gist. Notice to Creditors. All pa?ties who are indebted to the Estate of I-a?c Doiran Deceased, are hereby notiffed to nuke pavrrent *t once to the under-ianed; all parties who have claims against said Estate are required to file same with the undersigned^duly proved, 8. M?AVs^BjcATY/t J to buy and save money, j lis Piano in competition i \ ano for comparison in ma- 11 uction, beauty and tone at , j Seeing and testing is the j come at once and see this J Piano this is the one to ? s of others, The "Baby S 'ou save from #60 to $90 our home agent.. ? & MuMc House | Drop in at the Palmetto Drug Co. Their prices are right. Their goods are right.* Their location is right. Their prescription care is right. Call and you will be right We fill all Drs. prescriptions night or day. Night calls answered by ring phone 159. Palmetto Drug Co., Huiet & Rcnwick, Owners, THE Cash Bargain Store Cotton is eleven cents a pound, but we are selling ^ goods on the basis of seven and eight cents cotton. Good heavy vard wide Sheeting, 7c and 8c value, going at 6c and 7c per yard. Drilling, the 10c value, going at 8c. Haw Rjver Plaids, worth 6c and 7c per yard, our price 5c. All Wool Red Flannel at 15c, 18c, 20c and 25c the ' > yard. RenellanK nil rr?Wc r vu/y Mil WIVlOf JU inches wide, at 50c per yard, (2 1-2 yards will make a skirt.) Shawls and Fascinators at 15c, 25c, 50c, 75c, $1 each, MRS. D. N. WILBURN. * We find that we are a little overloaded on PINE BOX PAPER and for the next thirty days we will offer some real bargains in this line. We have a beautiful selection of 5Cc goods, surpassed by none in town at this price, which we will offer for thirty days, or until sold out, for 35c per box. Remember that it is new and strictly up-to-date. We will have it displayed in our window for a few days. Be sure to call and look it over even J if you do not need any just now. Vpi DUKE DRUG CO. Sole Agents for Huyler's Candy In Union. J