History of Columbia County Georgia United States of America

Our database does not include an historic photo for Columbia County Georgia, do you have one you would like to contribute? Contact Us!

Biographies:

George McDuffie, governor of South Carolina, was born in Columbia county, Ga., Aug. 10, 1790; son of John and Jane McDuffie, natives of Scotland, who came to Georgia soon after the close of the Revolution. As a boy he obtained employment in a mercantile house in Augusta, Ga. Subsequently, through the benefaction of William Calhoun, he was sent to the Rev. Dr. Moses Waddell's school in Willington, S.C., and was graduated from South Carolina college with first honors in 1813. He was admitted to the bar, in May, 1814, and practised first in Pendleton and then in Edgefield, S.C. He was a representative in the South Carolina legislature, 1818-21; and was a representative in the 17th-23d congresses, 1821-34, resigning in 1834. In congress he favored nullification; had a political controversy with William Cumming of Georgia, which resulted in a series of duels, in one of which he was badly wounded; opposed congressional appropriations for internal improvements, and as chairman of the ways and means committee he advocated the policy of maintaining the U.S. bank and opposed the protective tariff. He was married in 1829 to a Miss Singleton, who died soon after, leaving one daughter who afterward became the wife of Gen. Wade Hampton. He was attorney for the prosecution in the impeachment trial of Judge James H. Peck in December, 1830. He served in the state militia, holding the commission of major-general. In December, 1834, he was elected governor of South Carolina and major-general of the state militia. At the close of his administration as governor in 1836 he retired to private life. He was appointed by Governor Hammond to fill the unexpired term caused by the resignation of William C. Preston in 1842 from the U.S. senate, and in 1843 he was elected for a full senatorial term, but resigned in 1847 and was succeeded by A. P. Butler. He was the author of the address to the people of the United States issued by the South Carolina nullification convention of 1832; Eulogy on Robert Y. Hayne (1840), and notable addresses on Agriculture. He died at Cherry Hill, Sumter district, S.C., March 11, 1851.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

James Holt Clanton, soldier, was born in Columbia county, Ga., Jan. 8, 1827; son of Nathaniel Holt and ??? (Clayton) Clanton; and grandson of Holt Clanton of Virginia, who fought in the Revolutionary war. He was taken to Macon county, Ala., in 1835, and was prepared for college, entering Tuscaloosa, but leaving before the completion of his freshman year to engage in the Mexican war. After the war he read law at Tuskegee in the office of David Clopton and was admitted to the bar in 1850, locating in Montgomery, Ala. He was a representative in the state legislature in 1855 and in 1860 was a candidate for elector on the Bell ticket. In 1861 he entered the Confederate service as captain of a mounted company. He operated upon the Florida coast until the fall of 1861, when he was chosen colonel of the 1st Alabama cavalry regiment. He was ordered to Tennessee and opened the battle of Shiloh. He commanded a brigade at Boonville and rendered efficient service. In 1863 he raised three cavalry regiments and was commissioned brigadier-general. In 1864 he distinguished himself at Ten Islands on the Coosa, fighting General Rousseau against enormous odds and losing his entire staff in the engagement. He served gallantly during the rest of the war, being dangerously wounded and captured at Bluff Spring, Fla., in March, 1865. He was paroled in May and resumed the practice of his profession. He was married to a daughter of the Hon. James Abercrombie of Russell county, Ala. He died in Knoxville, Tenn., Sept. 26, 1871.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

George Washington Crawford, governor of Georgia, was born in Columbia county, Ga., Dec. 22, 1798: son of Peter Crawford, who came from Virginia to Edgefield county, S.C., in 1779 and settled in Columbia county, Ga., in 1783. He was graduated from the College of New Jersey in 1820, studied law in the office of Richard Henry Wilde in Augusta, Ga., and in 1822 was admitted to the Richmond county bar. He was attorney-general of Georgia, 1827-31, and a representative in the state legislature from Richmond county, 1837-42, with the exception of an interim of one year. He was a representative from Georgia in the 27th congress, filling a vacancy caused by the death of Richard W. Habersham and serving from Feb. 7 to March 4, 1843. He was governor of Georgia, 1843-46, and by pledging his personal credit restored financial credit to the state and placed it on a sound basis, On the accession of Zachary Taylor to the presidency in 1849, he was given the portfolio of war in the new cabinet. On the death of the President, July 9, 1850, he resigned from the cabinet and his resignation was accepted Aug. 15, 1850. He then made a tour of Europe, spending several years abroad and on his return retired from public life. In 1858 he joined, with several other former governors of Georgia, in a southern commercial convention held at Montgomery, Ala., and in 1861 he presided over the state convention that carried Georgia for secession. He died at his home near Augusta, Ga., July 22, 1872.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Ignatius A. Few, educator, was born in Columbia county, Ca., April 11, 1789, son of Capt. Ignatius Few, a Revolutionary soldier. He was educated at the College of New Jersey, studied law, served as colonel in the war of 1812, and practised law, 1815-28. He was an itinerant minister in the South Carolina and Georgia M. E. conferences, 1828-35, and in 1837 was active in rounding Emory college and was its first president, 1837-39. He received the degree of LL.D. from Wesleyan university in 1838, and was a delegate to the general conference of 1844. He died in Athens, Ga., Nov. 28, 1845.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Columbia County Georgia

Biographies:

Local History and Genealogy Links: