Horatio Townsend

M, b. 31 July 1830, d. 30 July 1892
     Horatio Townsend was born on 31 July 1830 at South Carolina, United States. He was the son of Jabish T. Townsend and Elizabeth Spears. He married Mary (--?--).1 He married Sophronia (--?--) circa 1849. He married Elizabeth B. Matthews. He died on 30 July 1892 at age 61.1 He was buried at Decatur Cemetery, Bainbridge, Decatur, Georgia, United States.1

Children of Horatio Townsend and Elizabeth B. Matthews

Citations

  1. [S663] Charles Lewis Townsend, "Edward Townsend's Forefamily."

James Alpheus Galloway

M, b. 24 April 1805, d. 14 July 1881
     James Alpheus Galloway was born on 24 April 1805 at South Carolina, United States.1 He married Rebecca Ellen Townsend, daughter of Jabish T. Townsend and Elizabeth Spears, circa 1830 at Marlboro, South Carolina, United States. He died on 14 July 1881 at Marlboro, South Carolina, United States, at age 76. He was buried at Parnassus Methodist Church Cemetery, Marlboro, South Carolina, United States.2

Children of James Alpheus Galloway and Rebecca Ellen Townsend

Citations

  1. [S88] 1850 Census Marlboro SC, pp. 157-158. Dw. 525, Fm. 525, Household of James Galloway. 9 Sep 1850.
  2. [S663] Charles Lewis Townsend, "Edward Townsend's Forefamily."

Rachel Jane Pearson

F, b. 31 March 1811, d. 18 May 1894
     Rachel Jane Pearson was born on 31 March 1811 at Marlboro, South Carolina, United States.1 She was the daughter of Lemuel Pearson and Mary David. She married Meekin J. Townsend, son of Jabish T. Townsend and Elizabeth Spears, circa 1826 at Marlboro, South Carolina, United States. She died on 18 May 1894 at Marlboro, South Carolina, United States, at age 83.2 She was buried at Smyrna Methodist Cemetery, Lester, Marlboro, South Carolina, United States.2

Children of Rachel Jane Pearson and Meekin J. Townsend

Citations

  1. [S88] 1850 Census Marlboro SC, p. 149, Dw.393, Fm. 393 Family of Meekin Townsend, merchant, 28 Aug 1850.
  2. [S663] Charles Lewis Townsend, "Edward Townsend's Forefamily."

Thomas R. Barnett

M, b. circa 1795, d. 22 March 1882
     Thomas R. Barnett was born circa 1795 at Virginia, United States.1 He was the son of Mary (--?--). He married Clarissa Cea "Clary" Townsend, daughter of Jabish T. Townsend and Elizabeth Spears, circa 1830 at Marlboro, South Carolina, United States. He died on 22 March 1882 at Lake City, Columbia, Florida, United States.2 He was buried at Oak Lawn Cemetery, Lake City, Columbia, Florida, United States.2

Children of Thomas R. Barnett and Clarissa Cea "Clary" Townsend

Citations

  1. [S31] 1850 Census Madison FL, p. 90. Dw 113, Fm. 113. Household of Thomas Barnett. 28 Oct 1850.
  2. [S511] Donna J. Robertson Oakley, Columbia Co., FL Cemeteries, p. 238.

William Pearson

M, b. circa 1815, d. 1 September 1873
     William Pearson was born circa 1815 at South Carolina, United States.1 He was the son of Lemuel Pearson and Mary David. He married Sarah Townsend, daughter of Jabish T. Townsend and Elizabeth Spears, on 22 December 1832 at Marlboro, South Carolina, United States.2 He died on 1 September 1873 at Marlboro, South Carolina, United States.2 He was buried at Smyrna Methodist Cemetery, Lester, Marlboro, South Carolina, United States.2

Children of William Pearson and Sarah Townsend

Citations

  1. [S88] 1850 Census Marlboro SC, p. 147, Dw. 277, Fm. 377, Household of Wm. Pearson. 27 Aug 1850.
  2. [S663] Charles Lewis Townsend, "Edward Townsend's Forefamily."

Thomas McDaniel

M
     Thomas McDaniel married Elizabeth Townsend, daughter of Jabish T. Townsend and Elizabeth Spears.1

Citations

  1. [S663] Charles Lewis Townsend, "Edward Townsend's Forefamily."

Mary W. Brown

F, b. circa 1823
     Mary W. Brown was born circa 1823 at South Carolina, United States.1 She was the daughter of Harriet (--?--).1 She married Benjamin Townsend, son of Jabish T. Townsend and Elizabeth Spears, circa 1841 at Marlboro, South Carolina, United States.

Children of Mary W. Brown and Benjamin Townsend

Citations

  1. [S88] 1850 Census Marlboro SC, p. 127, Dw. 73, Fm. 73. Household of B. D. Townsend, 6 Aug 1850.

Sophronia (--?--)

F, b. circa 1833, d. 17 September 1851
     Sophronia (--?--) was born circa 1833 at North Carolina, United States.1 She married Horatio Townsend, son of Jabish T. Townsend and Elizabeth Spears, circa 1849. She died on 17 September 1851 at Marshall, Mississippi, United States.

Citations

  1. [S88] 1850 Census Marlboro SC, p. 147, Dw. 277, Fm. 377, Household of Wm. Pearson. 27 Aug 1850.

Mary Townsend

F, b. circa 1826
     Mary Townsend was born circa 1826 at Marlboro, South Carolina, United States.1 She was the daughter of Benjamin Townsend and Ester (--?--).

Citations

  1. [S88] 1850 Census Marlboro SC, p. 148, Dw. 387, Fm. 387. Household of Benjamin Townsend. 28 Aug 1850.

Laura Townsend

F, b. circa 1828
     Laura Townsend was born circa 1828 at Marlboro, South Carolina, United States.1 She was the daughter of Benjamin Townsend and Ester (--?--).

Citations

  1. [S88] 1850 Census Marlboro SC, p. 148, Dw. 387, Fm. 387. Household of Benjamin Townsend. 28 Aug 1850.

Franklin Townsend

M, b. circa 1837
     Franklin Townsend was born circa 1837 at Marlboro, South Carolina, United States.1 He was the son of (Son) Townsend. He married Elizabeth "Bettie" (--?--).2

Children of Franklin Townsend and Elizabeth "Bettie" (--?--)

Citations

  1. [S88] 1850 Census Marlboro SC, p. 148, Dw. 387, Fm. 387. Household of Benjamin Townsend. 28 Aug 1850.
  2. [S89] 1860 Census Marlboro SC, p. 156b, Dw. 231, Fm. 231, Household of Frank Townsend, Bennettsville, 29 June 1860.

William Townsend

M, b. 1834
     William Townsend was born in 1834 at Marlboro, South Carolina, United States.1 He was the son of (Son) Townsend. He married Ann E. (--?--) circa 1853 at Marlboro, South Carolina, United States.

Children of William Townsend and Ann E. (--?--)

Citations

  1. [S88] 1850 Census Marlboro SC, p. 148, Dw. 387, Fm. 387. Household of Benjamin Townsend. 28 Aug 1850.

Robert E. Townsend

M, b. July 1827, d. 1901
     Robert E. Townsend was born in July 1827 at Marlboro, South Carolina, United States.1 He was the son of Meekin J. Townsend and Rachel Jane Pearson. He married R. A. (--?--) circa 1850.2 He married Queen Victoria Huckabee on 16 October 1872 at Marlboro, South Carolina, United States.2 He died in 1901. He was buried at Lester Cemetery, Marlboro, South Carolina, United States.2

Children of Robert E. Townsend and R. A. (--?--)

Children of Robert E. Townsend and Queen Victoria Huckabee

Citations

  1. [S88] 1850 Census Marlboro SC, p. 149, Dw.393, Fm. 393 Family of Meekin Townsend, merchant, 28 Aug 1850.
  2. [S663] Charles Lewis Townsend, "Edward Townsend's Forefamily."

Mary E. Townsend

F, b. 28 May 1831, d. 23 January 1853
     Mary E. Townsend was born on 28 May 1831 at Marlboro, South Carolina, United States.1 She was the daughter of Meekin J. Townsend and Rachel Jane Pearson. She died on 23 January 1853 at Marlboro, South Carolina, United States, at age 21.2 She was buried at Oak Ridge Cemetery, Bennettsville, Marlboro, South Carolina, United States.2

Citations

  1. [S88] 1850 Census Marlboro SC, p. 149, Dw.393, Fm. 393 Family of Meekin Townsend, merchant, 28 Aug 1850.
  2. [S583] Elizabeth Drake and Jacquelyn Rainwater, Marlboro SC Cemeteries,.

Charles Pinkney Townsend

M, b. 1 July 1833, d. 14 September 1923
     Charles Pinkney Townsend was born on 1 July 1833 at Marlboro, South Carolina, United States.1 He was the son of Meekin J. Townsend and Rachel Jane Pearson. He married Amanda McConnell circa 1865. He married Nannie Henley on 3 October 1889 at Marlboro, South Carolina, United States.2 He died on 14 September 1923 at Bennettsville, Marlboro, South Carolina, United States, at age 90. He was buried at Oak Ridge Cemetery, Bennettsville, Marlboro, South Carolina, United States.3
     Biography of Charles Pinkney Townsend:
This autobiography by Charles P. Townsend was copied from the web site of Chuck Townsend 2 and is reproduced here with his permission.

Charles Pinckney Townsend

I was born in Marlboro County, South Carolina, at Parnassus, ten miles south of Bennettsville, on the first day of July, 1833. My father was Mekin Townsend, son of Jabish Townsend, who lived and died, near Mossy Bay Church. My mother was Rachel Pearson, the daughter of Mary Pearson, who was the daughter of John David and the wife of Lemuel Pearson. I have a distinct recollection of my paternal grandfather, Jabish Townsend. He was a farmer, uneducated, very energetic, and by hard work and economy accumulated what was considered a fortune in his day. His large landed estate was partitioned among his ten children. I also remember well my paternal grandmother, Elizabeth Spears, the daughter of David Spears, who was born and reared near the present town of Blenheim. She was a woman of some education, very positive character, energetic, and was a valuable helpmeet to my grandfather. My paternal grandfather and grandmother unfortunately lived apart in their latter days. Incompatibility of temper and the intemperate habits of my grandfather led to this separation.

I have no recollection of my maternal grandfather, Lemuel Pearson, but of my grandmother, Mary Pearson, I have vivid and pleasant memories, as she died in 1862, at the advanced age of seventy-eight. She was a remarkable woman in many respects. At the time of her death, although over seventy-five years of age, she was active, energetic and retained all of her strong intellectual powers in their full vigor. She was always industrious, cheerful and a friend and neighbor to everybody. She was of small stature, with red hair, green and piercing eyes, moved about with agility, and very sociable in nature. When a boy I spent a good deal of time at her house, and feel that much of her energy and determination were infused into my character. She was an inveterate tobacco smoker, and I can well remember seeing her light her pipe with fire produced by striking flint and steel together, as this was before matches were invented. At one time she lived at the present McDaniel Mill, and while there I stayed with her and went to school at the Pee Dee Presbyterian Church. The last fifteen years of her life she spent at the "Factory Place", where she died, and was buried in the Smyrna Church graveyard.

My father, Mekin Townsend died in l852, at the Factory Place, and was only about forty-five years of age. He was born on the plantation of my grandfather near Mossy Bay Church and worked on the farm until he attained his majority. After this he settled at Parnassus, employed in the wheelwright business. Daniel G. Livingston, the owner of Knox Livingston, worked with him there for some years. When B. D. Townsend had attained his majority he came to Parnassus and formed a copartnership with my father in the mercantile business. Donald Mattheson, the father of A. J. Mattheson, clerked for them in the store. While engaged in this business my father was elected Sheriff of the County, and moved to Bennettsville, the mercantile business at Parnassus being transferred there and conducted under the firm name of M. & B. D. Townsend. He served out his term of four years in the Sheriff's office, and then devoted his time to his mercantile business. In 1845, I think, my father bought an interest in the Cotton Factory, four miles north of Bennettsville, on Crooked Creek, which was built by a joint stock company, of which Nicholas Williams, of Society Hill, was the principal stockholder. After this my father removed from Bennettsville to the Factory and spent the remainder of his life there. In time he bought out all the stockholders and owned all the property up to the time of the destruction of the Factory by fire in 1851. He also conducted a large mercantile business at the Factory up to the time of his death. There was no insurance on the Factory, and its loss entailed upon my father serious financial embarrassment, but he had many friends who came to his relief. He was for a number of years, chairman of the County Board of Commissioners, and I remember the Second Court House we had in Bennettsville was built during his administration. He had a genius for making friends, and no man in the county had more. In his mercantile business he never refused to accommodate any customer, or person applying to him for credit, and rarely ever sustained a loss by his kindness. My father also had a farm in connection with his other business, and I remember he was the first man in the county to buy Peruvian Guano, which was measured in a spoon and applied to corn. He was very enterprising, and in his business was a valuable exemplar for the people of Marlborough.

My father was endowed by nature with rare intellectual gifts. His education was limited, as in the County schools nothing but reading and writing were taught, but he utilized his natural gifts and fitted himself for almost any position in life. His powers of observation were strong, his judgment almost faultless, amounting to intuition, his ambition to succeed and excel irresistible, and his information extensive. He was brim full of energy and a tireless worker. He never succumbed to difficulties or was discouraged by disappointments. Adversity seemed to quicken his energies, and such a word as "fail" was not in his vocabulary. He was a good manager of men, and an inspiration to all who came in contact with him in business. He was valuable to the county as a citizen, for he was patriotic and public spirited. His honesty as a business man was proverbial, his honor unimpeachable, and his every day life irreproachable. With fullness of days it is impossible to predict what he would have accomplished. He is buried in the Methodist Church lot in Bennettsville.

My mother, Rachel Townsend survived my father for more than thirty years. She died at the grand old age of seventy-six, in 1890, and was buried at the Smyrna Church graveyard by the side of her mother. She was a good woman with no selfishness, no glaring faults, and seemed to live for the good and happiness of others. She had but little education, but was blessed with a strong mind in a strong body. In her everyday life she was considerate of the feelings of others, self-sacrificing, charitable in her opinions, full of the milk of human kindness, patient, cheerful, and blessed with all the christian graces. From my earliest recollection she was a member of the church and a devout christian. The impressions made upon my youthful mind by the prayers made at her knees have been ineradicable. They have had much to do with the formation of my character. My mother was a good and true Samaritan. Wherever there was sickness and trouble she delighted to be. Everything she could do to alleviate sorrow and distress was a work of love to her. Hers was a life of absolute self-abnegation. I have known her, when scarcely able to walk, leave home in order to minister to some one who was sick and suffering. All alike, rich and poor, were the objects of her solicitude and sympathy. I do not remember now ever having heard my mother speak evil of any one. She was always ready to excuse the faults of others and to throw a veil of charity over them. She had positive ___ations, loved to work, was always eager for information, and preeminently sociable. The christian doctrine, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" was the rule of her life. She loved her neighbor as herself. She was humble, patient, cheerful and submissive under suffering and trouble. Her motto always was "God's will be done". She was a loving and affectionate mother, and to her teachings and example I owe a great deal for what character I have and what I have accomplished in life.

My brothers and sisters were: Robert E., Eliza J., Mary Ann, Sarah, Lucinda, Virginia, Caroline, Henry and Walter Townsend. Eliza J. married C. A. Thornwell, and died about 1859. Mary Ann and Lucinda died before this time unmarried. Virginia married J. M. Waddell, and is now living in Atlanta, Ga. Caroline married Thomas C. Wallace, and now lives in Bennettsville. Walter is also living. Henry died in the Confederate army in 1861, and is buried in Richmond, Va., and Sarah, who married T. J. Breeden, and is now dead. Robert E. Townsend died in 1900. Of him I would like to say that be was my older brother, and in temperament character and in his whole life, was very much like my mother.

When I was seven years of age I became a pupil of the Bennettsville Male Academy, which was then in charge of Dr. McLeod and John C. Sutherland. After then I was a pupil in the same Academy under Mr. Davie and Mr. Judd, who were from Massachusetts, and were able teachers, and Mr. McCauley, D. M. D. McLeod and others. The training I received under Judd and Davie was invaluable to me, as they laid a substantial foundation in me in all the elementary branches. They were strict disciplinarians, laid the lash on almost daily, and a boy had either to learn or leave the school. I remember in connection with these teachers, that one of their rules was that if any pupil was caught on the street after night, he was to be whipped the next day. What a pity teachers or parents do not adopt and enforce such a rule in this day.

At thirteen years of age, when I had been taught some Latin, Greek, Algebra &c, my father carried me to the Factory Place to clerk in his store. In a little while I learned the duties of a clerk and became serviceable to my father in his business. After clerking for one year my father made me his bookkeeper. At that time there were no colleges for training bookkeepers and stenographers, and it was learned by application and experience. In the day time I sold goods in the store and at night posted up the sales of the day and extended them upon the Ledger. It was hard work, but I persevered, and in time became what my father called a very good bookkeeper. His business was extensive, amounting to about fifty thousand dollars per year, and from this some idea can be formed of the work imposed upon me. This was my humdrum hard life until I was about seventeen years of age. In the summer during this period I attended school for a while at Bruton's Fork, which was under the charge of Alexander McGee, and also at Bennettsville, riding from the factory about four miles every day. When I was seventeen years of age, there was an episode in my life, which changed its course and fixed my destiny. My father needed a great deal more capital in his business than he had and was in the habit of asking one of his friends, Col. A. T. Ellerbee, to endorse his notes. This gentleman lived near Easterling's mill in Marlborough County. It was my father's habit to send me to Col. Ellerbee's during the fall season when he was buying cotton almost weekly to get his signature. He always treated me with consideration and kindness, for he was a cultured gentleman, an old time rich Carolinian, a graduate of the south Carolina College, and unmarried. In the house with him were his mother, Mrs. Ann Prince, her son Lawrence Prince, by a second marriage, George Hearsey a nephew, and Mrs. Harriet Black, a friend of Mrs. Prince. It was a princely home. Every convenience and luxury was there. The library consisted of all of the published books of the day, and the walls were ornamented with beautiful and costly paintings. It was a refined home. There was an intellectual atmosphere about it which really was inspiring. No one ever entered that home without going away with higher ideals of life, and nobler purposes. It was in a place like this in connection with an incident where my first ambition to acquire a collegiate education was excited. The incident is this. At that time it was the custom to celebrate the 4th of July in Bennettsville, by having an oration from a graduate of the South Carolina College, and a dinner at the old Marlboro Hotel. I attended one of the celebrations with my father, who was always present, and Robert H. McKinnon, a recent graduate of the College, delivered the oration. It was soul stirring, glowing with patriotism, and eloquently delivered. I went home that night a different boy, and saw waking visions and had night dreams. The whole of my nature was aroused, and I felt that it was my destiny in life to have a collegiate education, and not to have the humdrum life of a clerk. I mentioned my aspirations to my sister, Mrs. C. A. Thornwell, who assured me she would bring the matter to the attention of my father, but he was inexorable. His objection was twofold, first, want of financial ability, and second that he could not spare me from the store. On my next visit after this to Col. Ellerbee I asked him to loan me some books to read. He searched his library and handed me "Junius Letters", remarking that this book contained the best classical language and was full of English history. I accepted. the books, read them, and in about two weeks returned them, He questioned me, and I readily answered him He then gave me Plutarch's Lives, and after rending this book I returned it. It was on this occasion he asked me how I would like to graduate at south Carolina College. In my frame of mind and with my, ambition to do this excited, I answered I would be delighted. He told me to go home and talk the matter over with my father, and on my next visit we would discuss it further. After much consideration my father consented for me to go to the college, if Col. Ellerbee would pay my expenses as a loan to me to be paid back after my graduation. On my next visit all arrangements were made for me to enter college in the December following. I left the store and came to the Bennettsville Academy, which was then in charge of D. M. D. McLeod, and studied day and night, and on the first day of December he gave me a certificate as to good character and qualifications to enter the Sophomore class. I went to Columbia along with Col. Ellerbee, by whom I was introduced to Mr. Lieber, the then President of the College. A little incident occurred at this introduction which made an indelible impression upon me. We entered President Lieber's study, and in the excitement of the moment I neglected lo take off my hat. President Lieber was rough in his exterior and manners, and taking hold of my hand with his hand remarked, "Young man you ought to take off your hat when you enter a gentleman's study". This was overwhelming to me, and I expected this rudeness on my part would be an insurmountable obstacle to my admission. I was so abashed I could say nothing. Col. Ellerbee smiled and remarked to Dr. Lieber, "well Charles is a good smart boy and you will have no trouble with him", to which the Dr. good-naturedly replied, "I did. what I did for his good".

The examination was held, and, although I was frightened and almost lost my self consciousness, I prepared my examination papers, and on the next day was sent for by Dr. Lieber, who announced to me that I had passed. My feeling of exaltation at this moment was indescribable. To have been rejected under the circumstances would have been the acme of mortification. I entered the Sophomore class in 1851, and during my entire collegiate course Dr. Lieber was the best friend I had in the faculty. On his branch of history I received the highest marks, and when I graduated his congratulations were profuse.

My life during the college course was pleasant. Memories of those times after come unbidden to me and I live again in the past. I was a laborious and exemplary student. Many rich young men went to college at that time to have a good time. They drank, played cards, visited, and studied just enough to graduate through the grace of the faculty. I never indulged in any of these evil habits, for I felt that I owed it to my benefactor to faithfully discharge all of my duties, and to reflect credit upon him. At the end of my Sophomore year I passed the examinations with distinction, and as a reward was appointed monitor of the class during my Junior year. The duty of the monitor was to call the class at each recitation by name, and to report to the faculty any misconduct on the part of any member. These duties were performed without any friction and acceptably to the class and the faculty. During my Junior year occurred the rebellion by members of all the classes on account of the horrid condition of the Steward's Hall. All the students were required to board at the Hall, and many of them who had lived in luxury objected to the poor fare. The result of the rebellion was the expulsion of about one hundred students. My class in the Sophomore year numbered seventy-three, but by this action of the faculty the next year it was reduced to thirty. I was urged to join in the rebellion, but firmly declined, for the reason that I wanted an education and was willing to endure poor fare or almost anything else to secure it. There was some justification in the action of the students, and it led to the abolition of the compulsory system of boarding at the Hall and the allowance of students boarding at private homes in the city.
During my Junior year I was a diligent student and passed the examinations creditably. In my Senior year, on account of my defective preparation for college, I was compelled to study hard. At the June examination I was distinguished, and received an appointment to speak in June. My subject was, "Each Man is the Architect of his Own Fortune" At the November examination I received third appointment, which was a stand of number five in the class, and delivered an oration at my graduation on the subject of "The Influence of the Crusades on Modern Civilization".

While in college I was a member of the Euphradian society, was President of it for a time, and delivered the valedictory oration as a member at my graduation. At that time a new hall had been built outside of the campus, and I was the first ever to speak in it. The acoustics of the building were miserable, and the hall was used only a few years for the commencement exercises.

My good friend, Col. W. T. Ellerbee paid all my expenses through college, amounting in the aggregate to about nine hundred dollars, which was afterwards repaid to him in part. The professors of the college while I was a student were, Dr. Lieber, Dr. Henry, Dr. Brumby, C. P. Pelham, Matt Williams, M La Borde,_________, all of whom enjoyed national reputations, and signed my diploma. Dr. J. H. Thornwell had been President of the college, but had just retired as I entered. The standard of the college was high, and the curriculum embraced all of the higher studies of a literary and scientific education. There was no preparatory department and all who entered were mature young men. There is quite a contrast between the S. C. College now and then in many striking particulars. The Board of Trustees of the old college consisted of ex-Governors, ex-Judges and ex-U. S. Senators, who were men eminently qualified to manage the affairs of such an institution. The State was munificent in its annual appropriations for the College. There was no other male college in the State at the time I entered the S. C. College. Afterwards Wofford and Furman and Due West were established. All the leading men prior to the Civil war were graduates of the S. C. College. A diploma from it was a sure passport into political life.

After my graduation I was employed to teach school at Summerton, South Carolina. It was controlled by a board of trustees and at the time was in a flourishing condition. Summerton was a summer resort for the planters residing up and down the Santee River. The society of the place was attractive. I opened my school in January, 1855, and taught until December, with a vacation of two months in the Summer. It was a mixed school and some of the boys and girls were approaching manhood and womanhood. It can well he imagined how trying the ordeal of teaching such pupils was to a young and inexperienced pedagogue. I think I succeeded very well in my new vocation, as the board of trustees at the end of the year passed complimentary resolutions and employed me for another year. I remember a little incident that occurred the first week of session. While engaged in working an example for a girl one of the boys nearly grown stealthily pinned a piece of paper to my coat tail. Happily I noticed him before the thing was finished, and when the example was completed rose from my chair and walked across the room to the great amusement of all to where I kept my switches, seized one and immediately walked over to the truant boy and administered to him a sound thrashing. This made me king of the situation, and never afterwards did I have an occasion to chasten another student.
In January, 1856 I opened my school again and taught until June of that year, when the Kansas-Nebraska question became a burning political question in the South. These two territories were about to be admitted into the Union, and there was a contest before Congress between the Slaveholding and Abolition statesmen whether they should he free or slave states. The people in the South became enthused and formed associations to send young men to the territory to aid in adopting a pro-slavery territorial constitution. An association of this kind was formed at Sumter, South Carolina, which proposed to pay the expense to Kansas of as many young men as would agree to emigrate there and remain until after the election. Happening to be in Sumter one day I volunteered, and was one of twelve who went from that town.

Before leaving the state I came to Marlborough for the purpose of seeing Col. W. T. Ellerbee and paying him what he had loaned me. I found him at his home, and stated to him what I had come for. I further told him that I had about saved money sufficient to pay him from my labor as a teacher. Col. Ellerbee reflected a moment and then said you need some money, pay me four hundred dollars and here is your note. This was the manner in which the loan was paid, and he positively refused to accept another cent. In this same conversation he asked me what profession I intended to follow, and suggested, that if I needed more money he was ready to furnish it. I informed him of my purpose to go to Kansas and he laughingly said perhaps the experience will be of benefit to you throughout life. I parted with my friend and benefactor, and when I returned from the Northwest he had died. His remains are buried just back of the house occupied by R. C. Hastening in his life time.

Right here I must digress for a little while to pay a just and fitting tribute to his memory. Col. W. T. Ellerbee was one of nature's noblemen. Blessed with an abundance of this world's goods, he had graduated at the S. C. College, and afterwards devoted his life to literature and planting. He was a scholarly man, a perfect type of an old South Carolina gentleman, a Chesterfield in his manners and charming in his social life. His magnetic personality attracted to him many friends. He was broad in his views, charitable, public spirited and influential, and yet he had the modesty of a maiden. With a consciousness of his strong mentality and his extensive information he would meet the humblest individual with a cordial manner and converse with him with as much interest apparently as he would with his equals. He represented ably the county of Marlborough in the State Senate one term and ever afterwards declined public office. He was a model man, and citizen, and son. His tenderness to his old mother was always touching to me. His like will not be seen soon again in the county.

On the 25th of July, 1856, in the main street of the town of Sumter a large crowd had gathered to see the departure of the Kansas emigrants. The County had given to each one four hundred dollars to defray the expenses and take care of him during the six months preceding the territorial election. All looked happier than the emigrants. I felt that I was leaving home and friends to go among border ruffians and perhaps to lose my life. I was sad and dejected, but I had pledged my honor to go and my determination was not shaken. We all left the town on the old Wilmington and Manchester railroad, and at Kingsville met another crowd of young men from the up country under charge of Warren D. Wilkes. From Kingsville we went by Augusta and Atlanta to Nashville, Tennessee. There was no railroad from that city to the Mississippi, and the only route to Kansas was down the Cumberland river to Paducah, Ky., thence by the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. At the time of our arrival at Nashville the river was too slow for steamboat navigation, and after remaining there for a week Capt. Wilkes determined to make the trip down the Cumberland river in a flat boat. In the South Carolina contingent there was an old lady, a Mrs. Harrington, from Newberry County, who was going out in search of her son who had gone before us. She was an intelligent old lady, but exceedingly fussy, and very kind hearted. In our crowd were also two other Townsends, J. Fletcher and James, from Abbeville, sons of Uncle Joel Townsend, who was a minister in the South Carolina conference, but retired. He was from Marlborough and a brother of Light Townsend. The flatboat was procured, provisions put aboard, and an awning of white homespun stretched overhead. The boat was propelled by oars, and the motive power was the muscle of the young emigrants. We started from Nashville a merry party. The people bid us God Speed, we were afloat on the river bound for Paducah about two hundred miles distant. In the course of two weeks we completed the voyage. The trip down the river was pleasant, but one of trials and hardships. Navigation was difficult, as the river in some places was not one foot deep. Some of us repented of our folly in volunteering, but there was no turning back. The rains came and the winds blew and many of the emigrants accustomed to comfortable homes would lie down at night wet, and dream of joys and pleasures of other days. Mrs. Harrington was a perpetual grumbler, and her complaints were a solace to us, but she was brave and undeterred.

At Paducah we were taken on board a steamer for St. Louis, Missouri, on which we fared sumptuously. In time we reached St. Louis and from there traveled by rail, on what was then called the Pacific railroad, to Jefferson City, Missouri. From here we went by boat up the Missouri River to Leavenworth City, where we arrived about the first of September. On our arrival we found hundreds of other Southern emigrants awaiting us. Our little band was soon organized with others into a company, and at the election of officers, J. W. Buchanan of Fairfield County was elected Captain and I was elected first Lieutenant. After a stay of a week at Leavenworth City, we marched to Lawrence, a town about sixty miles west, where the abolition forces were encamped under John Brown, who was afterwards hung at Harper's Ferry. Both sides prepared for battle near the town, but the territorial Governor, who resided there, interfered and prevented a fight. After encamping a day or two the Southern regiment was marched back to Leavenworth City. Here we remained until the territorial election in October and voted in favor of a pro-slavery constitution. In the election the South was outvoted, and when the territorial convention met, an anti slave constitution was adopted and Kansas admitted into the Union as a free state. The disbandment of the Southern emigrants followed and they were scattered everywhere.

I concluded to live in Kansas and make it my home. Board was procured at a Mrs. Rollins' and I entered the law office of J. E. Lyles, a South Carolinian, who had been admitted to practice as a student. This was about the first of November, the commencement of the winter. For five months I applied myself assiduously to the study of the law. Murders were of daily occurrence in the town. Nothing was safe from thieves and marauders. There were two tribes of wild Indians on the river near the town and they made nightly incursions for plunder. A territorial court was in session daily, but this did not deter criminals. Society was in a chaotic condition. Every man's life was hourly in clangor. There was bitter feeling between the Northern and Southern settlers. The climate was rigorous in the extreme. The snow fell almost daily from the first of November until the first of February, and lay on the ground sometimes two feet deep. It was a long gloomy winter to me. My determination to settle in such a place began to waver and weaken, and when Spring came the disease of nostalgia had put its firm grip upon me. No remedy could be found for it. Resistance was vain. Finally in a fit of desperation I suddenly determined to return to South Carolina, and before the setting of that day's sun was on board a boat bound for Jefferson City.

In five days I was again in St. Louis. While there I concluded to emigrate to Texas, where I could find a more genial climate and better surroundings. I left St. Louis on a steamer for New Orleans, and after a voyage of eight days on the Mississippi reached there. At that time the Steamers on the river were veritable floating palaces, and the competition was so song that the trip could be made for a few dollars. My recollection is that I paid ten dollars steamboat fare from St. Louis to New Orleans, and this included stateroom and, meals. From New Orleans I went to Arkadelphia and Little Rook, Arkansas. While at that place the South Carolina fever seized me again, and I became convinced that the only remedy for it was to return to my native State. Passing through New Orleans, Mobile, Montgomery and Augusta I reached Bennettsville some time in the latter part of May, 1857.

On the first of June, 1857, I entered the office of Charles A Thornwell and resumed the study of the law. In the following December I was admitted to practice before the old Court of Appeals, of which Judge J. Belton O'Neale was President. Mr. Thornwell gave me a flattering certificate as to character and qualifications, and my Uncle B. D. Townsend, who was a warm temperance friend of Judge 0'Neale, gave me a letter, and armed with these my admission was no doubt made easier. I remember very well, even at this day, how embarrassed and confused I was when standing before this august court for examination. After my admission Judge O'Neale called me to him and in his fatherly way congratulated me, and expressed his earnest wishes for my success. This has been an inspiration throughout my professional life. I opened an office in Bennettsville. Soon after this C. A. Thornwell died. My Uncle S. J. Townsend was then commencing to practice law, and through his assistance and kindness I had some clients. To him I feel deeply indebted for his kind interest and encouragement.

At this time in South Carolina there was a military mania prevailing. Every one wanted the title of Captain, Colonel or General. We had a military system by which each county had a regiment, and each township (or beat as it was called) had a company. All persons between the ages of 18 and 45 were required to enroll their names. The company drills were held monthly, and the battalion and regimental drills were held once each year. There was a company in the Bennettsville beat, and I aspired with all the yearning of my soul to the captaincy of it. After some work I was elected captain, and felt more important as a military man than Napoleon ever did. I have the commission issued to me yet and still prize it. I can well recollect my drilling the company, which was always done under a large hickory tree which stood on the public square in front of the Court House. It is often asked why it is that so many people in the State have military titles. The answer is that it is the outcome of the ante bellum military system we had. The mania has been inherited by the generations since the war, as nearly everybody has a military title, or is pleased when he is called Captain or Colonel. I have sometimes thought that probably our military system and the fondness for military titles had something to do with bringing on the Civil war.

After my military ambition was gratified I was encouraged to seek civil office, and in 1858 became a candidate for the Legislature. My friends tried to dissuade me from running, and many of them were frank enough to tell me that it would be ruinous to me in my profession. I did not have the poise of mind and good judgment I have now else I would have heeded their advice. My experience has taught me that no man ever makes a profound and successful lawyer who mixes up politics with law. Rather to my surprise and that of my friends I was elected. In those days a house to house canvas was made, and there were no issues discussed, but a man was elected on his personal popularity. I well remember many funny incidents of the canvas I made. It was popular to kiss all of the babies, and I kissed so many I saw nothing but babies in my day and night dreams. It was a risk I made to run, as I was almost a beardless boy, but I succeeded.
In December, 1858 I took my seat in the House of Representatives with Judge J. H. Hudson as my colleague. During the session the absorbing question was the building of the Blue Ridge Railroad from Charleston, to Knoxville, and the making of a large appropriation by the state for it. Mr. C. G. Memminger, of Charleston, was one of the advocates of the road and the appropriation. B. F. Perry, W. S. Mullins and others were the leading opponents. The discussions of these questions were warm, entertaining and instructive. The General Assembly made the appropriation for the road, but I voted in opposition to it. At the next session the same questions were the absorbing ones. I made my first speech during this session in opposition to the appropriation, and now feet that it must have been a puny effort, as I knew comparatively nothing about the question. It is singular how a young politician can so easily imagine himself a Calhoun or a Webster, and never be undeceived until the mature judgment of age comes.

In 1860 I was a candidate again for the House and was defeated by three votes in an election where over thirteen hundred votes were cast. This unexpected defeat rather repressed my ambition, and I determined then to devote myself to the practice of law. I became a laborious and painstaking student of the law, and during the year laid a good foundation upon which I have built in the long years since a sound superstructure. My defeat proved a blessing in disguise to me, and so it often proves to other young men with vaulting political ambition.

While a member of the Legislature I met the lady whom I married the first time, Amanda McConnel. She lived in Columbia, was highly accomplished having graduated at Barhamville, at that time one of the best female colleges in the South, and was a native of Newberry County. I first met her at the house of her brother-in-law, Jacob H. Wells. After a great deal of sentimental maneuvering and talk we became engaged. When I was defeated for the Legislature I was apprehensive that it might affect our relations. But, true woman as she was, when we met she was of the same mind, and rather rejoiced in my defeat, as her good judgment told her that it was not a misfortune. This reconciled me entirely to my defeat. On the 31st day of October, 1860, I was married to Amanda McConnel, at the house of J. H. Wells, in Columbia, by Rev. John T. Wightman. We commenced housekeeping immediately in Bennettsville, in a house which stood where J. L. Breeden now lives, and was known as the "Joye House".

Soon afterwards commenced the agitation of the question of secession in the State. This County was soon ablaze with excitement worked up by the political appeals of Hon. John McQueen, who was then the congressman from this District. He was frantic in his advocacy of separation from the Union. I remember hearing him proclaim from the stump that if South Carolina did not secede he would withdraw his plantation from the Union and whip the Yankees with his slaves. He persistently announced that the Yankees would not fight, and one Southerner could whip hundreds of them, and finally agreed to drink all of the blood that was shed if there was war. He was insanely enthusiastic and foolishly extravagant in his patriotic ebulations. I can see him now as he looked then, a man over six feet high, of ruddy complexion, sandy hair, almost a giant in frame, with eyes flashing passion, a very personation of Mars. Other speakers joined in the mad crusade. There were some prominent men in the community who opposed secession, but they were deterred by the public excitement and passions of the hour from giving expression to their honest convictions. The election came and Marlborough County voted for secession, and elected delegates to a State convention to withdraw the State from the Federal Union. The convention assembled in December, the State dissolved her connection with the Union, and secession was an accomplished fact.

Preparations were made to maintain her position by a resort to arms if necessary. Volunteers were called for and in a little while a sufficient number was obtained to form the 8th South Carolina regiment. I volunteered and was elected first Lieutenant of the Company, which was afterwards company "G" of the regiment. Just before the bombardment of Fort Sumter the regiment was ordered to Charleston. After remaining there for about one month it was sent to Virginia, and incorporated in the army of Northern Virginia, with which it remained for the remainder of the war.

The regiment participated in nearly all of the battles of the war from first Manassas to Appomattox. At the reorganization of the regiment in 1862, I was elected Captain of Company "G". At Winchester in 1864 most of the regiment was captured while on the picket line. The sacrifices and sufferings of the confederate soldiers during the war can never be adequately described. It is only those who have had the experience who can save any faint conception of them. Some times I try to live over those days again, but my wildest fancy can not reproduce the experiences. The South owes a debt of gratitude to the heroes of that trying period, and it is no wonder that annual reunions are held in the South to manifest this gratitude.

There is one observation I desire to make about the civil war before leaving the subject, and it is that the burden of the fighting fell upon the non-slaveholding class in the South, and it is simply inexplicable when we think of the patriotism and valor displayed by them. They fought from a spirit of unselfish patriotism, and not for property. That they fought nobly is not surprising. I believe that the destruction of the institution of slavery was a blessing in disguise to the South. Her complete rehabilitation, and her condition today demonstrate this.

In 1862 I was again a member of the Legislature from Marlborough and served during the session of 1862 and 1863. Nothing was done except to pass such legislation as looked to recruiting from the State. The war produced a hiatus of four years in my professional life.

In April 1865 I returned to Bennettsville with my family, without a dollar in my pocket, and commenced life anew. There was a military government in the State, and we had the experience of federal soldiers quartered in the town to preserve peace and administer the law. The slaves had been freed and the question of what to do with them confronted our people. Soon it was determined to enter into labor contracts with them as freedmen, to be approved by the military authorities. The first professional business that I had was in preparing these contracts, and from fees derived from this source I made a scanty living. The country was in a deplorable condition. In March before, the army of Gen. W. T. Sherman had passed through it, and despoiled the people of everything. There was nothing to eat left in the wake of the marauders. It was a question of how to get even the necessaries of life. Providence favored us all, very good crops were made that year add times began to brighten.

In December, 1865, our General Assembly met, and I was elected by that body as Commissioner in Equity for Marlborough County. My Uncle, S. J. Townsend, had held the office during the war. In January 1866 I was inducted into the office and held it until April 1868, when the new constitution adopted displaced me. At that time the office was an important one, as all estates were settled in it. After the war there was a large accumulation of business by reason of so many deaths. My duties were to work up the accounts of Administrators and Executors, and to sell all lands belonging to estates. During my incumbency of the office, it think it is no exaggeration to say that I sold at least twenty-four thousand acres of land in the county. The records of that time teem with deeds made by me as Commissioner. My work while in office was heavy and kept me busy night and day to keep up with it.

I remember an incident connected with the office. Then we had no bank here and the Commissioner kept the money in an iron safe. Oftentimes after a sales day I had as much as ten thousand dollars. At this time this section was greatly agitated over the depredations of the celebrated Henry Berry Lowry. One night after heavy sales of land that day, I was sitting in my office working up an account, and a total stranger opened the door and walked in. I spoke politely and asked him to take a seat. He declined and remarked that he only wanted to ascertain whether I was in the office, and walked out. My suspicions were immediately aroused, and I closed up the office and started home. Before reaching home I discovered men following me. I fortunately met Mr. Derdemans, the night watchman, and told him all that had occurred and directed him to keep a lookout. The next morning he informed me that he watched them until near midnight when they left the town. I have always believed that the intention of the men was to rob the office.

In 1868, after leaving the Commissioner's office, I formed a copartnership to practice law with Harris Covington, a native of this County, and a graduate of the S. C. College. He was a gifted, genial, hardworking man, and our business relations were exceedingly pleasant. Our practice was good and remunerative. In 1871 I was elected judge of the Fourth Judicial Circuit of the State. This was during the reconstruction period, and I desire to enter fully into the circumstances of my election. At that time, T. J. Robertson, of Columbia, was United States Senator. His wife was a relative by marriage with my wife. He met me in Columbia and asked me if I would accept a Circuit Judgeship if elected to it. He further remarked that he intended to use his influence in electing as Judges natives and competent men. My reply to him was that I would return home and give him an answer soon. After consultation with my friends, I notified Senator Robertson that I would accept the office. It was understood at the time that there were other lawyers in the Circuit, who signified their willingness to accept the Judgeship, but I will not give their names. When the Legislature assembled, I was elected judge and commissioned. I feel now as I did then that I was right in accepting the position. No pledges were required of me, nor any changes of my political principles. While on the bench I tried to subordinate my political connections to my judicial duties and responsibilities. At the time I was commissioned I was young and felt that I had assumed grave responsibilities, However, I determined to do the best that I could, and assiduously applied myself to the study of the law, which habit was continued as long as I was on the bench.

My first court was at Chesterfield, and I can well remember how embarrassed I was the first day I presided. There were old lawyers before me, such as Judge Henry McIver, General Prince, Mr. Moore and others, and I felt that they might watch and criticize me harshly. To my surprise, they did not, but on the contrary exhibited the kindest feelings, and did every thing they could to aid me in the discharge of my new duties. This was an encouragement and ever afterwards while on the bench I found the lawyers exhibited the name spirit that Judge McIver and others did at Chesterfield. This made my duties lighter and was an inspiration to me to discharge them faithfully and impartially.
I was told before reaching Darlington that I would have to encounter two lawyers there, Major Spain and Col. Warley, who were thoroughly unreconstructed, and, would give me trouble. I went there to hold Court, but with fear and trembling and determined to maintain the dignity of the bench. These two lawyers met me with becoming cordiality, and in Court treated me with proper courtesy. Throughout the Court they showed deference to my rulings. After the court I thanked them for their kindness and consideration, and ever afterwards they were my friends. They were good men, good citizens, thorough lawyers, perfect gentlemen, and to this day I revere their memories.
My first court at Conway was an eventful one. I arrived there on Sunday night and stopped with Mrs. Norman, whose house was very near the street, and not far from the public square. My room was next to the street, and after returning I heard a commotion and then hundreds of voices uttering profanity and dire threats, with the reports of pistols. To protect myself I lay as low as possible in the bed, but determined that on the next day in court I would make an example of some of the rioters. Court was opened the next day, business proceeded until about twelve when there was a commotion on the streets, loud curses, hollowing, fighting and a general riot were going on. I called the sheriff to me and ordered him to assemble a sufficient posse and arrest the crowd on the streets engaged in the disturbance of the Court. In time the sheriff returned with about twenty five men. He had, them arranged in a semi-circle around the bar, When I surveyed them I was amused. Most of them were drunk, in their shirt sleeves, hair unkempt, faces and hands black with dirt, some with ears cut and hanging down, some with bloody faces and noses, others with hands cut, and still others with the shirts red with blood. A tall angular and savage looking fellow stood on the right with his ear partly cut off. I addressed him first, and asked him what he and the rest of them had been doing in the streets. He was drunk almost to speechlessness. Finally he said "Judge hie-hie we are having a general fight. We people in the independent republic have a right to fight when we get ready and you can't stop it". I did not say a word, but turned to the sheriff and directed him to take them all to jail and bring them before me sober the next morning. The crowd disappeared and the next morning at ten o'clock they were brought before me, the dryest, most forlorn and miserable looking set of men imaginable. I gave them a long and forcible temperance lecture, announced to them that fighting on the public square during Court times had to he stopped, and that I intended to put all of them in jail for a long term. The lank lean follow whom I addressed when first brought before me said, "Judge if you'll let us off this time we will not fight any more." I then said, that if all of you will agree to this I will discharge you this time. All assured me would, and I discharged the crowd to their great delight. During the balance of my term as Circuit Judge I never had any trouble with drunken rowdies at Conway. The people of Horry are certainly indebted to me for having reformed her people.

In 1875 I was reelected Circuit Judge unanimously by the Legislature. Prior to that time the Judges held Courts only in their Circuits. At this session, an Act was passed for them to alternate, and afterwards I held Courts In other Circuits. Under the new regime my first Court was to be held at Edgefield. I went there feeling that possibly I was going to my death. That County had been the storm center of political excitement in the State for some time. Generals Gary and Butler resided in it. The people had been in a ferment over the wrongs and enormities of the reconstruction era. In going there, I went as I did to Darlington, fully determined to maintain the dignity of the bench, but I did not have the same misgivings, as both Gary and Butler had been College mates of mine. The Court was opened and the business proceeded harmoniously. All the attorneys were polite and courteous in Court. The business was dispatched, and at the conclusion of the term the lawyers thanked me for my courtesy and diligence in disposing of the business. I left Edgefield with different feelings about the people, and have ever since entertained for them the greatest respect.

In 1876 occurred the great uprising of the people of the State to destroy the Carpet bag government imposed upon them by the Reconstruction Acts. The movement commenced in Edgefield County. I have always thought that Mart Gary was the organizer of it. He was by nature a revolutionist. He was bold, daring, independent in thought and action, and had a genius for such a movement. Wade Hampton, however, was the man of the hour, and took charge of the revolution and conducted it to its conclusion. The people of the State were worked up to a high pitch of excitement and passion. By their conduct and gross maladministration of the State government the negroes and their foreign allies had ___ed public hatred and prejudice. It was a life and death struggle on the part of the white people, in which were involved their property and their liberties. It was a question whether white supremacy should prevail, or whether negro domination with its train of woes should obtain. Everybody was active and it looked as if there would be bloodshed in the State. All white public speakers in the State were enlisted in the cause. I was invited to take the stump and aid in the cause of the white people. From considerations of public duty alone I declined to leave the bench and enter the hustings, because I thought it was not right and was lowering the dignity of the bench. All my sympathies were with the white people, and I did all I could for the election of Hampton. At the election I voted for him.

There was a contest of the election and a long struggle before Hampton was inaugurated Governor. Soon after his induction into office I held the Circuit Court at Columbia. F. L. Cardozo and Robert Smalls, the former an ex-State Treasurer, and the latter an ex-Congressman, were before the Court for trial for bribery and malfeasance in office. They were ably defended by eminent lawyers. Every technical advantage was urged.. There were numberless exceptions taken to my rulings as to the testimony. After protracted trials, both these parties were convicted and sentenced by me. The cases were taken to the Supreme Court. On the hearing on the appeal the judgments below were affirmed. These were interesting cases and appear in our South Carolina Reports. After remaining in the penitentiary for a while there was a sort of amnesty proclaimed under which Governor Hampton pardoned both of them.

While holding this Court our Supreme Court rendered a decision in the case of the State vs. Judge Shaw, in which it held that the Circuit Judges had not been constitutionally elected. The constitution was silent as to whether they were to be elected viva voce or by ballot. In most of the elections it provided that they should be viva voce. After this decision I sent my resignation to Governor Hampton, which was promptly accepted. My opinion at the time was that the decision of our Supreme Court was purely a political decision, and I still think so, and my first impulse was to appeal to the U. S. Court. After a little reflection I determined to pursue the course I did. At the next meeting of the General Assembly there was an election for Circuit Judges, and I was defeated by Judge Hudson.
There was one secret of the times that I have never disclosed. So great was the anxiety of the leaders to convict Cardozo and Smalls, that I was approached while holding Court in Columbia, and informed of this great anxiety. In the same conversation I was given to understand that of all the Judges in the State I was the preference to try these men. There was a kind of assurance at the same time given to me that I was to be retained on the bench. Whether any of the parties who approached me had any authority so to do I do not know. I give the facts simply.

While on the bench I did everything I could to prevent injustice in the Court by reason of the preponderance of colored men on juries, and the prejudices existing between the races. Oftentimes I undertook to reason out cases for an ignorant jury so that they could see what was right and could do justice. But few guilty men escaped conviction in the Courts I held. I think the lawyers who had cases before me will verify this statement. During my whole term of office it was my constant endeavor to uplift the Courts and to secure the administration of justice. This was a difficult task, but I have a consciousness that I not only did my duty but aided the people in securing justice. My judicial record is made and I am satisfied with it.

After leaving the bench in 1877, I resumed the practice of law in Bennettsville, with Knox Livingston, under the firm name of Townsend and Livingston. For years we had a large and lucrative practice, Mr. Livingston is a thorough lawyer, and is still a successful and honored practitioner.

In 1882 the law firm of Townsend and Livingston dissolved, and I formed a partnership with John L. McLaurin, under the firm name of Townsend and McLaurin. This partnership continued until the election of J. L. McLaurin to Congress in 1893.

In 1880 I was an independent candidate for the legislature from this County. Between 1876 and this time efforts had been made to reestab1ish the old ante bellum aristocratic political ring in the state. All political power was usurped by a few politicians in the State in Columbia, who arrogated to themselves the right to say who alone should be candidates for office. All outside of this oligarchy were under the political ban. Such a state of things was repugnant to my democratic ideas, and I arrogated to myself the right to run for office, and did so in 1880.

The cry was raised that an independent in politics was worse than a radical. The effect of this was to bring down upon me the maledictions and curses of many people. Threatening letters were received, and all, kinds of bull dozing methods were resorted, to. There were other respectable white citizens running on the ticket with me, such as Dr. H. R. Easterling, A. G. Johnson, Frank Manning and others. That was the time of tissue ballots and monstrous frauds in elections. I was defeated, according to the count of the ballots, but I have always believed that I was elected. This movement in the State was a little premature, but was the forerunner of a similar movement ten years later.
In 1890 another political revolution occurred in South Carolina led by B. P. Tillman. He was the champion of the farmers of the State. His efforts were directed towards displacing the then office holders upon the ground that they were the representatives of a political ring in the State under whose rule corruption had crept into the administration of the public affairs. After an exciting canvass in the State, B. H. Tillman was elected Governor, and nearly all of the old office holders displaced. My sympathies were with the movement, as there was in existence a political machine which dominated the State, and I thought its destruction was desirable.

In 1894, as a "Tillmanite" I was a candidate again for the Legislature, and was elected at the head of the ticket, this being the third time in my career. This election I considered a complete vindication of my political course in 1880. I took my seat in the House, which was overwhelmingly controlled by Tillmanites. There was really no radical legislation at this session. At a previous session the question of holding a constitutional convention had been determined. The people in a general election voted in favor of holding the convention. While in the house in 1894 W. A. Barber was elected Attorney General, and appointed me Assistant Attorney General. In 1895 I qualified and assumed the duties of this office.

In 1892, the Dispensary Law was enacted by the Legislature. The people in a general election had voted for prohibition but it was thought that prohibition could not be enforced, and the dispensary system was considered a wiser solution of the whiskey question. From the inception of the law there was violent opposition to it. All the old barkeepers and their friends were up in arms against it. Immediately some of its opponents commenced proceedings in the Court to have it declared unconstitutional, mainly on the ground that it was a monopoly on the part of the state in the business. Judge Hudson on the Circuit held it to be unconstitutional. An appeal was taken to the Supreme Court, and Judge Hudson's decision was sustained by a divided Court. Soon afterwards the personal of the Supreme Court was changed. The question was again carried to this Court and its constitutionality sustained. After this decision the opponents appealed the law in the United States Courts. Almost weekly rules were issued by Judge Simonton, U. S. Judge, against the Constables for illegal searches and seizures. The duty of taking care of the Constables and defending them before the Courts was imposed upon me. During my first year in office I made frequent trips to Charleston to appear before Judge Simonton. The next dodge of the opponents was to assail it on the ground that it violated the interstate commerce provision of the U. S. Constitution. Judge Simonton after a time decided that it did, in so far as it denied the right of the citizen to import into the State whiskey for personal use. Then it was assailed on the ground that it denied citizens the right to sell liquors in unbroken imported packages. This contention was also sustained, but the right to do so was hedged around with so many conditions that it amounted to a barren right. The next assault made upon the law was to attack its constitutionality in the Federal Courts. Judge Simonton, U. S. Circuit Judge, held that it was unconstitutional. The case was taken up by the State to the U. S. Supreme Court, and that Court held the law to be constitutional. All this litigation was conducted by the Attorney General's office, and the bulk of the work fell upon me.

I remember well after Judge Simonton held the law to be unconstitutional there was consternation in the Dispensary ranks. Some of its warmest advocates high in public office despaired, so much so that they advised the repeal of the law. As Assistant Attorney General I felt confident that the law could he sustained before the U. S. Supreme Court, and my confidence had a good deal to do with testing the question. Mr. Barber also concurred in opinion with me, and we worked day and night preparing an argument for the Court. Then after four years of continuous litigation in the Courts the law could no longer be assailed by its opponents. Sometimes I feel that mine was a mistaken zeal in the cause for at this time I believe there is corruption in its administration. If the system had been destroyed then we would have escaped the shame of its present maladministration.

During my term of office as Assistant Attorney General the Constitutional Convention assembled. It made some radical changes in our organic law. After its adjournment it was necessary to change a great deal of the Statute law in order to conform it to the new Constitution. It was also necessary to enact many new laws in order to carry out its provisions. A great deal of the work was performed by me. Besides all these labors all the officers in the State applied to the office for advice, construction of Statutes, and how their duties should be discharged.

At the time I was in office was indeed the crucial period of the Dispensary system. I had opportunities of seeing more than outsiders, as I had access to all the books of the State Board of Control, knew all about the inside workings of the State Dispensary, and my suspicion was that the law was not being faithfully administered. Corruption is an inherent element in such a system as the Dispensary, and it can never be prevented by legislation or by rigid periodical investigations. My honest conviction now is that the system should be destroyed. The people seem to be moving to this end.

My relations with Attorney General Barber were confidential and remarkably pleasant throughout my term. We rarely ever differed on any matter of grave concern. He was a good. lawyer, a good Judge of law, had perceptive powers of a high order, readily grasped any case, and was a model advocate before any jury. I predict a distinguished career for him at the New York bar where he is now practicing.

In 1899 I left the Attorney General's office and accepted the position of private Secretary for Senator McLaurin in Washington. At that time he had attracted the attention of the Country by his bold and patriotic utterances in the Senate, his independent course on questions of national import, and his declaration that he favored the ratification of the peace treaty with Spain. He refused to submit to the dictation of some of the National Democratic leaders and thus brought himself into discredit with the party. With Senator Tillman, his colleague in the Senate, he was not in harmony in his opinion and political course. The difference between them finally culminated in a fight in the Senate Chamber. My work as Secretary was not onerous, but it required all my time and thought. I did not like Washington life. It was entirely too strenuous for a man of my temperament and habits. The work I had to do was congenial, but I finally gave it up in order to lead a more quiet life. My experience in Washington was valuable to me.

Before leaving Washington as Secretary of Senator McLaurin, John G. Capers was appointed U. S. Attorney for South Carolina, and offered me the position of Assistant Attorney, which I accepted. This office I held for two years and then retired from it. It was a pleasant position and I enjoyed the association with the Court officials and jurors. After I retired from this office I returned to Bennettsville and again resumed the practice of law in copartnorship with T. C. Hamer, under the firm name of Townsend and Hamer. At this time I am still at the bar, with a fair practice, remunerative enough to keep the wolf from the door.

This is a succinct history of my life. In looking hack I can see some mistakes made, the most fatal of which perhaps was my returning to Bennettsville to practice law after my retirement from the bench. The county of Marlborough is small in area and has been remarkably prosperous for years, and as a consequence of this there has been only a limited amount of Litigation. This was distributed among several firms, and the share of each was inconsiderable. Besides, a lawyer practicing in such a small place can never hope to have much reputation abroad. If I had gone to a city and expended the study and labor I have in Bennettsville during the last twenty years I feel certain I could have amassed a small fortune. As it is I have labored diligently and realized from my profession only a living for my family. I believe a lawyer's chance of success is always better among strangers. The old time honored maxim, "that a prophet is not without honor save in his own country" is true. There is a stimulus imparted by strangers to the energies of a professional man, which his home people can never impart. It is strange this is so, and perhaps the reason is his life long friends expect too much of him.
My career has been a chequered and rather eventful one. I have lived through the evolution period of American civilization. I have seen inventions and discourses that have startled the world. I have seen an insignificant nation in point of numbers and resources grow into a giant, and become a world power. I have seen many of the great men who have by their statesmanship made this a great nation. I have lived through one of the bloodiest civil wars that has ever cursed the earth. I have seen the South and North when torn asunder by internecine strife reunite, and again move on harmoniously in the orbit of a Federal Government. I have seen Calhoun, Clay and Webster, Benton, Hayne and all the great men of the last century. I have heard Pettigru, Memminger, Hunt, Campbell, King and all the great lawyers of South Carolina of the last century argue cases before courts. I have seen all the South Carolina Judges of the last century, Judges O'Neale, Wordlaw, Withers, Evans, Glover and others, and chancellors Dunkin, Wordlaw, Johnston, Inglis and others. I have heard the eloquence of Geo. McDuffie, W. C. Preston, J. S. Preston, James Thornwell, J. C. Calhoun and other great orators of the last century. Sometimes in my moments of retrospection I can hardly realize that I have lived through such a momentous period.

My life is divisible into professional and political. In my professional life, with an experience of nearly fifty years, I have had a variety of cases and experiences. The first criminal case I ever had, in the Courts was that of J. C. Terrell charged with the murder of three persons in Bennettsville. Chancellor Inglis was the chief counsel, and I was only assistant. He was convicted and executed. Since that time I suppose I will not exaggerate if I say that I have defended over fifty cases for murder. The most prosperous period of my professional life was between 1880 and 1893, when associated with Senator J. L. McLaurin under the firm name of Townsend and McLaurin. We had a large number and variety of caned, civil and criminal, and met with signal success. The people of Marlborough have never been educated to pay lawyers large fees.

The bar of South Carolina has always prided itself upon the practice of the ethics of the profession. One reason of this is that our Courts have always required of applicants a certificate of good moral character and of qualifications. We have never had many shysters in the profession. One thing that I have observed is that the older lawyers of the State have been much more profound in the knowledge of the law than the younger ones. They were students of the law, and had the opportunity of thorough preparation before practicing much, for forty years ago a young lawyer was briefless for many years after coming to the bar. Now it is different, and the younger men of the profession have but little time for laying a good legal foundation, and depend largely upon absorbing law in the Court House. This in a fatal mistake, as no lawyer can ever be a profound and successful practitioner who does not understand the science of the law, and is not conversant with its general principles. Another difference I observe between the older and younger members of the bar is that the former were laborious and devoted to their business, while the latter depend upon the inspiration of the moment rather than the thorough preparation of their cases. No lawyer can ever enjoy permanent success who does not work incessantly in his office. At the present day our civil dockets all over the State are congested. For this I believe the lawyers are mostly responsible, because they are not disposed to work.

I have lived through two Judicial systems in South Carolina, one with life tenure judges, and the other with elective Judges for short terms. I have no hesitation in declaring that the latter is desirable. Under the life tenure system the judges were independent, arbitrary, autocratic and at times discourteous to the members of the bar. The administration of justice by them was superior in no particulars to that of today. As an illustration of the arbitrariness of some of these life tenure Judges I will give an instance. Chancellor Dunkin was once presiding in the Court here. S. J. Townsend was the commissioner in court. One rainy morning the Chancellor came into Court with his rubbers on. When he had taken his seat he called the commissioner to him and pointed to his feet. The commissioner did not understand him when the Chancellor said in an imperious tone "Take off my overshoes". This the Commissioner was compelled to do, or be ruled for contempt and probably dismissed from office.

I can well remember the first time I ever appeared in Court before Judge Withers. He was of a fiery temperament and inspired awe. I felt that I was in the presence of a ruler who could have me decapitated and was totally unfitted by my fears for managing a case. These old life tenure Judges were austere and a terror to the members of the bar. It is often said that these life tenure judges were the ablest South Carolina has ever had. To this assertion I do not agree. Judge McIver in legal learning and professional equipment was the equal of any of the ante-bellum Judges. Judges McGowan, Simpson and others were also their peers. The opinion of the Judges of the present day will compare favorably with those of the Judges who were elected for life. The almost universal policy of an elective Judiciary in this Country attests its wisdom and superiority.

My political life was a great obstacle to my professional success. Young lawyers make a mistake in early life in entering the political field. It seriously handicaps them throughout their career. I made this fatal mistake. If I had my life to live over I would eschew politics until my professional success had been attained. And in politics of this day and time there is so much demagoguism and corruption, that the lawyer when he leaves this field leave behind him his professional ethics. I have lived through two great political periods in this State, the ante bellum and post bellum. The government of South Carolina prior to the war was an aristocratic one founded upon a slave aristocracy. Only the rich could be elected to important offices. These were elected by a few political leaders, and a general election was the mode provided for confirming the action of these leaders. The mass of the people had but little voice in the legislation of the State. The result of this was great apathy and indifference on the part of the masses of the people. All the important officers were elected by the General Assembly, such as Governors, Judges, U, S. Senators and State officers. There was no canvassing by candidates before the people, and they were kept in ignorance of all local political issues. They had no political education to fit them for citizenship. If the masses of the people in 1860 had been as intelligent and well informed on political questions as they are today, it is very problematical whether South Carolina ever would have seceded from the Union.

The Civil war produced a wonderful political revolution in South Carolina. The destruction of the institution of slavery destroyed the aristocracy which had controlled the State, and the functions of the State Government devolved upon the people. Immediately a change occurred and after the dark days of the Reconstruction period, the State made rapid advances politically, industriously and materially. Under the rule the politically educated people the State has become one of the prosperous in the American Union. There has been an "Old South Carolina" and there is a "New South Carolina". The Civil war with all it horrors and bloodshed was the creator of the new South Carolina, and the new South. Today we have a true democracy in the State. Any citizen can aspire to office and the people rule. The old time leaders and the aristocrats of ante bellum days have all passed away. They have no representatives in the State now. All the officers, great and small, are now elected by the people. The officers elected are superior to those in ante bellum days. The main reason is that the ante bellum officers were selected without much regard to their qualifications, the possession of wealth and the good will of the leaders being the passport to political positions.

I must close this autobiography. In 1883 my first wife died in Bennettsville, with Pneumonia, and was buried in the Cemetery there. She was an accomplished woman, a good wife, an affectionate mother, a christian and was blessed with all the christian graces. In the new Methodist church in Bennettsville is a memorial window dedicated to her by her children, with the in inscription "The memory of the just is blessed". My children by this marriage were Charles P. Jr., who died when three years old, Andrew who died when an infant, Shadie M. the wife of' T. W. Bouchier, Nellie M. the wife of Dr. Arthur Townsend, Florence, the widow of Harry Cannon, Fannie who died when about eighteen years of age unmarried, Florida who married Dixon Fraser, and died leaving one daughter, Mamie Fraser, Rachel, who married D. G. Smith of Florida, B. D. who married Alice Johnson and Edgar. At the time of the death of my first wife, Shadie, my eldest daughter, was about fifteen years of age, and upon her devolved the care of my young children and household. Nobly did she discharge these delicate and heavy responsibilities. She became a mother indeed to all of the children, watched over and reared them with a mother's solicitude and care, and today she is looked to and loved as a mother by them all. She has erected for herself an everlasting monument in the hearts of the children and their descendants to the In latest generations.

In l889 I married a second time, Nannie Henley, of Chatham County, North Carolina. The children by this marriage are Charles P. Jr., William Barber and Eleanor. In conclusion I will say, that I am now about seventy years of age, vigorous in mind and body, still practicing my profession, and feel that I am not "lagging superfluous on the stage". I am still a student of the law, as has been my habit throughout life. As long as I am permitted to live it is my ambition to continue to live right and be useful, and I hope while living in the world, I have left some few

"Footprints on the sand of time".

Children of Charles Pinkney Townsend and Amanda McConnell

Children of Charles Pinkney Townsend and Nannie Henley

Citations

  1. [S88] 1850 Census Marlboro SC, p. 149, Dw.393, Fm. 393 Family of Meekin Townsend, merchant, 28 Aug 1850.
  2. [S663] Charles Lewis Townsend, "Edward Townsend's Forefamily."
  3. [S583] Elizabeth Drake and Jacquelyn Rainwater, Marlboro SC Cemeteries,.

Sara H. Townsend

F, b. circa 1838
     Sara H. Townsend was born circa 1838 at Marlboro, South Carolina, United States.1 She was the daughter of Meekin J. Townsend and Rachel Jane Pearson. She married T. J. Breeden.2

Citations

  1. [S88] 1850 Census Marlboro SC, p. 149, Dw.393, Fm. 393 Family of Meekin Townsend, merchant, 28 Aug 1850.
  2. [S663] Charles Lewis Townsend, "Edward Townsend's Forefamily."

Henry E. Townsend

M, b. circa 1841, d. 3 December 1863
     Henry E. Townsend was born circa 1841 at Marlboro, South Carolina, United States.1 He was the son of Meekin J. Townsend and Rachel Jane Pearson. He died on 3 December 1863 at Windsor Hospital, Richmond, Henrico, Virginia, United States.2 He was buried at Richmond, Henrico, Virginia, United States.2

Citations

  1. [S88] 1850 Census Marlboro SC, p. 149, Dw.393, Fm. 393 Family of Meekin Townsend, merchant, 28 Aug 1850.
  2. [S663] Charles Lewis Townsend, "Edward Townsend's Forefamily."

Walter A. Townsend

M, b. circa 1844
     Walter A. Townsend was born circa 1844 at Marlboro, South Carolina, United States.1 He was the son of Meekin J. Townsend and Rachel Jane Pearson. He married Anne J. (--?--).

Children of Walter A. Townsend and Anne J. (--?--)

Citations

  1. [S88] 1850 Census Marlboro SC, p. 149, Dw.393, Fm. 393 Family of Meekin Townsend, merchant, 28 Aug 1850.

Caroline "Carrie" Townsend

F, b. 22 February 1847, d. 10 June 1918
     Caroline "Carrie" Townsend was born on 22 February 1847 at Marlboro, South Carolina, United States.1 She was the daughter of Meekin J. Townsend and Rachel Jane Pearson. She married Thomas G. Wallace.2 She died on 10 June 1918 at Marlboro, South Carolina, United States, at age 71.3 She was buried at Oak Ridge Cemetery, Bennettsville, Marlboro, South Carolina, United States.3

Child of Caroline "Carrie" Townsend and Thomas G. Wallace

Citations

  1. [S88] 1850 Census Marlboro SC, p. 149, Dw.393, Fm. 393 Family of Meekin Townsend, merchant, 28 Aug 1850.
  2. [S663] Charles Lewis Townsend, "Edward Townsend's Forefamily."
  3. [S583] Elizabeth Drake and Jacquelyn Rainwater, Marlboro SC Cemeteries,.

Virginia Townsend

F, b. circa 1849
     Virginia Townsend was born circa 1849 at Marlboro, South Carolina, United States.1 She was the daughter of Meekin J. Townsend and Rachel Jane Pearson. She married J. M. Waddell.2

Citations

  1. [S88] 1850 Census Marlboro SC, p. 149, Dw.393, Fm. 393 Family of Meekin Townsend, merchant, 28 Aug 1850.
  2. [S663] Charles Lewis Townsend, "Edward Townsend's Forefamily."

Queen Victoria Huckabee

F, b. circa 1849, d. 1939
     Queen Victoria Huckabee was born circa 1849 at South Carolina, United States.1 She married Robert E. Townsend, son of Meekin J. Townsend and Rachel Jane Pearson, on 16 October 1872 at Marlboro, South Carolina, United States.2 She died in 1939 at Marlboro, South Carolina, United States.2 She was buried at Lester Cemetery, Marlboro, South Carolina, United States.2

Children of Queen Victoria Huckabee and Robert E. Townsend

Citations

  1. [S487] 1880 Census Marlboro SC, p. 385, Family of Robert E. Townsend, Adamsville.
  2. [S663] Charles Lewis Townsend, "Edward Townsend's Forefamily."

Amanda McConnell1

F, b. 3 April 1838, d. 22 April 1885
     Amanda McConnell was born on 3 April 1838 at South Carolina, United States.2 She married Charles Pinkney Townsend, son of Meekin J. Townsend and Rachel Jane Pearson, circa 1865. She died on 22 April 1885 at Marlboro, South Carolina, United States, at age 47.1 She was buried at Oak Ridge Cemetery, Bennettsville, Marlboro, South Carolina, United States.3

Children of Amanda McConnell and Charles Pinkney Townsend

Citations

  1. [S663] Charles Lewis Townsend, "Edward Townsend's Forefamily."
  2. [S487] 1880 Census Marlboro SC, ED 105, p. 58B, Dw. 686, Fm. 686, Family of Chas. P. Townsend, Bennettsville, 3 June 1880.
  3. [S583] Elizabeth Drake and Jacquelyn Rainwater, Marlboro SC Cemeteries,.