The Newberry Herald
Newberry, South Carolina
1870
January 5, 1870
Married on December 22d, 1869 by Rev. Fletcher Smith, Mr. Arwed G. Slight and Luda J. Stribling, both of Oconee County.
From Phoenix: The house of Mrs. Richardson, aged 97, was entered on Monday last. She was wounded in the breast with five buckshot, beaten over the head, face and arms, severely bruised, then thrown in the corner of a chicken coop. The old woman in still alive—speaks only in monosyllables. She says there were two persons engaged in the assault. Perpetrators not yet found.
January 12
The Laurens Herald announces the death of Mr. T.C. Wilkes, an old citizen who died suddenly of apoplexy on the 4th inst.
January 19
From Edgefield Advertiser: A new disease—meningitis, is prevailing extensively and proving very fatal. Among those who have died is Mrs. General Dunovant, only daughter of the late Colonel Whitfield Brooks, although she died from a lingering illness. Of this new disease, has died young Robert Boulware, one of the most promising and beloved youths of this town, and young Irwin E. Bolton, other estimable youth. Of negroes, the number is shockingly large. Some six or eight have died with the past week. Mrs. May Styron, a very old and estimable lady, 90 years of age, died at her residence a few miles below the village during the past week.
Died at his home at Newberry C.H. Nov. 26th 1869, Dr. Washington Bostick McKellar. He was born July 13, 1818 near Cambridge in Abbeville District. He last twenty-five years of his life were spent in this community where he was regarded by all as a most useful citizen. He was distinguished pre-eminently for his strict honesty, his truthfulness and energy. In the profession of Dentistry to which he devoted himself with untiring industry, his skill was universally acknowledged. In short he made his mark on the world.
January 26
We regret to announce the death of Mrs. Golding after a short illness from pneumonia at her residence in this village on last Monday night. Mrs. Golding had resided here for a number of yeas and was universally esteemed and respected. She had only recently opened a private boarding house here, and over-exertion in attending to its duties brought on the attack. She leaves many relatives and friends to deplore her loss. From Press and Banner.
Married January 20, by Rev. R.A. Mickle, Mr. Geo. R. Turner of Abbeville to Miss M.J. Summers of Newberry County.
February 2, 1870
Married by the Rev. J. Hawkins Jan. 27, Mr. Wallace Riser to Miss Estelle Davis, all of Newberry.
February 9
No marriages or deaths reported.
February 16
From Edgefield Advertiser: More deaths from meningitis: a little boy of B.C. Bryan and a little girl of Mr. W.W. Adams. The disease battles all treatment.
From Greenville Enterprise of the 9th: We chronicle the death of Dr. Theodore G. Croft which occurred at his residence, two miles from the City on Monday night last. He had been confined to his room for the last several days, but his friends were led to hope for his recovery.
Alexander Gardiner, colored, age 36, was hung at New Kent Court House this morning for the rape and murder of Mrs. Stewart and the murderer of John Baker, her colored farm manager. The night before the prisoner confessed that he, with John Kennedy, who afterward made his escape, had found Baker in the field and Kennedy shot him. They ravished and murdered Mrs. Stewart and then burnt her body and threw Baker’s in the river.
From
Edgefield Advertiser: Suddenly and unexpectedly we are called to
mourn the loss of Col. Joseph Abney who died at his residence in Edgefield on
Wednesday night, the 2nd inst. after an illness of only 10 hours, a
victim of the prevailing epidemic, meningitis as pronounced by his brother, Dr.
M.W. Abney, the attending physician, He died at age 48, in the prime of manhood,
leaving a wife and three children.
Self-educated he became an accomplished lawyer, scholar and solider. He
civic triumphs in popular assemblies in the Legislature and in the forum, as
well as the laurels of war, make up the sum of which family, friends and native
Carolinians are justly proud. He fought in the battles of Vera Cruz, to the
Garita de Belin of Mexico and shed his blood on the field of Churubusco and
later in life at Drury’s Bluff.
Married on 20th of January, by Rev. M.M. Boyd, Mr. Thomas Cook and Mrs. Nancy Thomas, all of Newberry.
Married on 27th of January by same, Mr. J. Burr Werts and Miss Lou. M. Schumpert, all of Newberry.
Married on 3rd of February by same, Mr. Luther Long and Miss Ann C. Schumpert, all of Newberry.
Mrs. Sallie Hammond, widow of LeRoy Hammond, both prominently and honorably identified with the history of Edgefield District from its earliest days, is dead in her 88th year.
The Rev. H.H. Spann of Edgefield, died on the 24th ult.
Dr. J.H Dogan of Union is dead. He was a venerable and much loved citizen.
Thos B. Lanier, of Edgefield, died near Eufala, Ala. on 22nd December 1869.
Joseph Abney, Esq. of Edgefield, is dead.
Mr. T.L. Crenshaw, of Lancaster, is dead.
February 23
George F. Meldan, an old resident of Charleston and for years before the war a grocer died suddenly yesterday while sitting down to dinner.
March 2
Died in Ocala, Fla. on 21st January, Rosa Carrie, daughter of Col. S.M. and T.R. Gary, aged 2y, 10m and 25d.
March 9
Married on 23 February by Rev. M.M. Boyd, Mr. James M. Schumpert and Miss Sue E. Slight of Newberry.
Married by same on 24th of February, Mr. D.P. Bauknight of Edgefield County to Miss Sue A. Schumpert, of Newberry.
March 16
No marriages or deaths reported.
March 23
Judge T.N. Dawkins died in Union last Saturday night.
The friends of Rev. John R. Pickett will hear with sorrow that he is no more, He died at Chester March 15th apparently without much suffering. In his death the South Carolina conference sustained another great loss.
The oldest member of the bar, the Hon. Wm. F. DeSaussure, died in Columbia on 14th inst. He was the son of the late Chancellor DeSaussure, one of the eminent jurists that ever occupied a position on the bench of South Carolina.
March 30
Judge T.N. Dawkins was taken sick in York and returned to Union where he died on 13th March. Judge Dawkins held a highly place in the consideration of the people and his death is deplored. Judge Dawkins represented Union for many years in the State Legislature and was regarded a man of excellent sense and fine attainments. He was afterwards elected Judge.
Dr. Robert C. Austin, a highly respected and successful physician of this district, died at his residence near Cross Hill on the 18th inst. after a protracted illness.
We regret to record the death of Mr. William Bowen, an old and highly respected citizen of Laurens, at his home in the northern section of the district during the last week. Laurensville Herald.
April 6, 1870
From Laurensville Herald: A serious affair, resulting in the death of one man and the dangerous wounding of three others, occurred on 23d ult. at the residence of Josiah F. Leal. near Tumbling Shoals, ten miles west of this village. I appears that J. Seabrook Leak, the brother of Josiah remained Tuesday night at a Mr. Bolt’s near the residence of Josiah. — Brown was accompanying Seabrook. On Wednesday Brown went to the house of Leak and a difficulty ensued in Brown was severely wounded. In a short time Seabrook Leak came upon the scene with Bolt and Seabrook Leak was killed dead and his companion Bolt, severely wounded. The occupants of the house were Pinckney Wilson, —Shockley, Morgan Leak, the son of Josiah F. Lead and probably J.F. Leak at the beginning of the fray. Wilson was severely wounded in two places.
Tribute of Respect by Amity Lodge No. 87 for our Brother H.C. Scanlon.
April 13
Married in the Episcopal (Christ’s) Church, Greenville, S.C. on 30th ult, by the Rev. Ellison Capers, Mr. Wm. W. Mayberry of Pennsylvania, and Miss Emma Westfield of Greenville.
April 20
No marriages or deaths reported.
April 27
No marriages or deaths reported.
May 4
The Spartan announces the death of Mr. John B. Cleveland by apoplexy which occurred on the 18th. Mr. Cleveland was born in 1818 and was the oldest native citizen of the town of Spartanburg.
May 11
No marriages or deaths reported.
May 18
No marriages or deaths reported.
May 25
No marriages or deaths reported.
June 1
Court Session:
State vs. John Singley, Lewis Berry and wife, Steven Coleman, all colored; indictment for murder; 9 days trial, 93 jurors summoned, large expense, guilt established; result: mistrial.
State vs. Moses Thompson; assault and battery; guilty sentence $10 and costs or 5 months in penitentiary.
State vs. Sancho Chappell; grand larceny; guilty; 12 months in penitentiary.
State vs. Isaiah Kempson; petit larceny; guilty sentence $1 and costs or 30 days in jail
State vs. Drayton Douglas; grand larceny; guilty (this case was tried March ’69 and sentence sealed; three years in penitentiary.
State vs. Abe Fair; assault and battery; not guilty.
State vs. Mary Fair; assault and battery; mistrial.
June 8
No marriages or deaths reported.
June 15
No marriages or deaths reported.
June 22
Death of Charles Dickens and South Carolina’s historian, poet and novelist, Gilmore Simms.
June 29
Biographical sketch of Hon. R.B. Carpenter, the candidate of the Union Reform party.
July 6, 1870
No marriages or deaths reported.
July 13
Married on 5th inst at the residence of the bride's father, by the Rev. J.K. Mendenhall, Miss Octavia Longshore of Newberry and Mr. W.E. Rowland of Greenville, S.C.
Died in the town of Newberry on 31st of July, Eugene Maybin, infant son of Wm. J. and Nannie S. Lake, aged 11m and 22d.
July 20
No marriages or deaths reported.
July 27
From the Guardian: A colored woman, Polly Cannon, in the employ of Mr. J.B. Fielding, who resides on the outskirts of the city, was struck by lightning last Wednesday while going to the well for a bucket of water. She died that evening.
We are informed that Wash. Jones, alias Wash. Bynum, who was wounded in the Gadsden melee died from his injuries on Tuesday last.
We record with pain the death of Mr. Bennett Stuckman, which occurred at the house of his father on Saturday last near Zion, in the neighborhood of Stony Battery. The deceased and his brother were preparing for a squirrel hunt and the gun of the latter, which had been placed in the piazza, by some means fell, and contents entered the breast of the unfortunate young man, killing him almost instantly. Mr. Stuckman was just 20 years old.
Married on 14th inst. by Rev. J.K. Mendenhall, Mr. B.H. Lovelace to Miss M.L. Kinard, all of Newberry C.H.
Married 26th of June at residence of the bride's father, Mr. Benson M. Jones of Newberry to Miss Lillie Woodfin of Asheville, N.?C. by the Rev. Jarvis Buxton.
August 3
From Greenville Enterprise: John Rufus Smyer, jr. third son of Mr. J.R. Smyer, Sr. was struck dead by lightning on 20th inst. [sic] and killed outright. An elder brother was slightly affected. The deceased was only about 14 years of age and was a promising lad. We sympathize with the family.
August 10
From Edgefield Advertiser: A little girl, 2˝ years old, a daughter of Francis M. Gibson, living a few miles form Mt. Wiling was so badly burned on 9th July that she died in about six hours. The child took fire while the mother was absent from the house a short time.
August 17
No marriages or deaths reported.
August 24
We regret to announce the sudden demise of Mr. J.R. Wicker of the firm of Wicker & Wilson of Newberry which transpired last Sunday morning and Mrs. Caldwell’s residence. The deceased was about 27 years of age and has not been in good health for some time. He leaves a widow.
August 31
From Abbeville Press: Rev. Jno T. Pressly, D.D. the distinguished Divine, formerly of this district, died at his home in Alleghany city on the 13th inst., age 76 years.
September 7, 1870
From Fairfield Herald: It is our painful duty to announce the death of Capt. A.S. Gaillard, who departed this life at his residence in this District on 22d. inst. [sic]
We learn from the Barnwell Journal on the 31st. ult. that Mr. Wm. Allen, a gentleman living four or five miles from the village died on Sunday last; also the death of Mr. J.M. Kirkland and his only daughter, the little girl dying one evening and her father the next, leaving a nearly heartbroken wife and mother.
September 14
Died near Jalapa on 6th of September, Mr. Nicholas Summer, aged 86y, 9m and 25d. Mr. S. was a highly respected and useful citizen, an honest man and a humble Christian and a worthy member of the Lutheran Church for seventy years. He died in great peace.
September 21
No marriages or deaths reported.
September 28
No marriages or deaths reported.
October 5, 1870
Court in session: Lewis and Mary Berry were convicted in the Dunwoody murder; John Singley and Steve Coleman acquitted. The jury was composed entirely of colored men.
State vs. Thos. Odell. Assault on Peace Officer, with intent to kill. Guilty of assault.
State vs. Isaac Kempson. Plead guilty to petit larceny.
October 12
Last Wednesday Surgeon of the U.S.A. reported to Maj. Boyton. He was accompanied by his mother—during the night he heard her summon him to her bedside, which he did not leave until her death shortly thereafter. The next day he returned with her corpse to Charleston. She had appeared in good health.
Married 6th October by Rev. W.H. Leavell, Miss Mamie E. Evans of Cheraw to Mr. Robert Y. Leavell of Newberry, S.C.
Married at the residence of the bride’s father in Donaldsville, S.C. on 4th October by Rev. W.F. Pearson, assisted by Rev. D.W. Reid, J.C. Caldwell to Lonie F. Donnald.
Died at his residence in Newberry on 29th September, Mr. George Blair of apoplexy, in the 76th year of his age.
October 19
Long article regarding death of General Lee.
We regret to learn of the death last week of Col. W.J. Hoke of Columbia. Col. H. was a native of Lincolnton, N.C., but had resided in Columbia several years. He bore a gallant part in the late war, and had the esteem and respect of all who knew him. His disease was of the heart; he about was 48 years of age.
October 26
The Advertiser (Edgefield) records the death by apoplexy of Major Wm. Daniel, age 77, an honored citizen of that district. At Horn’s Creek the death of Jas. Armstrong, Esq. after a painful illness in the 65th year of his age.
With pain we announce the sudden death of Capt. Boyce, for some years a resident of this town, which sad event occurred last Wednesday morning. He had just returned from the polling precincts, having deposited his vote and stopping at his door to make a few suggestive remarks to a crowd of idle negroes standing near, dropped death. The cause is supposed to be apoplexy, superinduced by the excitement of having to force his way through the dense crowd of negro voters who surrounded the box at which he voted. Ct. Boyce was about 60 years of age, a native of Tennessee, from which place, he came about the beginning of the late war, and leaves no relatives we know of except one son, now in Arkansas with Gen. Williams. He was of an amiable and inoffensive character.
Married on the 20th at the residence of the bride’s father, by the Rev. O.A. Darby, Mr. A.C. Chapman and Miss Alice, oldest daughter of Rev. A.J. Cathren of S.C. Conference. All of Newberry.
Married on 19th at Hendersonville, N.C. by Rev. Dr. Chapman, Dr. M.A. Renwick of Newberry and Miss Mary Lewin of Hendersonville.
November 2
No marriages or deaths reported.
November 9
Mr. P.A. Tobin tried at Laurens last week for the killing of — Montgomery, was acquitted.
On Tuesday last, the extreme penalty of the law was carried into effect by the hanging of Lewis Berry, one of the parties to the murder of Mr. Dunwoody, and John Swedenburg, for the cold blooded murder of his child by drowning, both colored. At an early hour the streets leading to the jail were crowded by black men, women and children, drawn together by various emotions (details).
November 16
On Thursday last, as the passenger train of the G.A.C.R.R. reached Cedar Creek, about twelve miles from Columbia, the mail car, second-class and two passenger coaches were precipitated into a chasm twenty feet deep and forty feet wide. Of those instantly killed were Mrs. Fogartie of Charleston, Master Charles Joy of Newberry, Grace Montague (colored stewardess) and Minerva Bateman. Of the badly wounded, Mr. Stephen Smith of Newberry, and Senator H.J. Lomax (colored) of Abbeville, have since died. John R. Trapp (colored) mail agent had a leg amputated, Col. J.R. Hagood of Barnwell, conductor Isaacs, express manager C.A. Barnes and Mr. M. Joy are recovering. Miss J. has received a severe shock to the nervous system.
From the Greenville Enterprise: We are pained to announce the death of M. J.T. Wescott, a student of the Theological Seminary in the City. On Thursday last in his room in the Seminary Boarding House, in a fit of mental aberration, he cut his throat with a razor. Mr. Wescott was known to be subject to attacks of gloominess, and his associates here have some months in the past, feared that his mind was at times seriously affected. Mr. Wescott was from Smithville, not far from Wilmington, North Carolina and was about 27 years old. His remains were forwarded yesterday to his family.
Died in Ocala, Fla. Oct. 26, 1870, Mary Atlanta, third daughter of Col. S.M.G. and F.R. Gary, aged 6 years, 8 months and 21 days.
November 23
In the death of the gallant gentleman, Col. J.R. Hagood, the State has reason to lament. He was the youngest Colonel in the Confederate service, that honorable title being conferred on him for highly meritorious conduct in battle, when he was only nineteen years of age. His suffering in the last hours intervening between the accident and his death were borne with fortitude ion keeping with his character. Col. Hagood was a brother of Gen Johnston Hagood. Sad and cruel the accident which laid low so noble and gallant a man.
Married in Laurensville, Nov. 1 th (sic) by Rev. P.F. Kistler, Thomas B. Crews of Laurensville to Miss Celia R. Ballew, daughter of the late Rev. David L. Ballew.
November 30
By private letter we learn that Austin Vickers, Sheriff of Greenville County, killed himself by blowing his brains out on Thursday last. No further particulars are known.
We learn that a run off occurred near Ninety-six last Sunday, in which the engine and several cars were demolished and — Pearson (colored) fireman, killed and Mr. Jack Germany, the engineer, badly hurt.
From the Phoenix of Nov. 24: We learn of the death of the Hon. J.F. Richardson, which took place in Clarendon Co, at the house of ex-Governor Manning on 20th inst. The deceased was the son of the Hon. John S. Richardson, one of the Associate Judges of the State for many years. He was born in Sumpter in 1818, and after remaining a long time in Charleston College, studied law in the office of the late distinguished Attorney General Henry Bailey, Esq., and was admitted to the bar in 1839. He was for many years a member of the State legislature, in the lower house where he exercised control necessary to his commanding talents.
December issues missing.