History of South Carolina United States of America

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The 1854 Gazetteer of the United States by Thomas Baldwin shows:

SOUTH CAROLINA, one of the original states of the American confederacy, is bounded on the N. and N. E. by North Carolina, S. E. by the Atlantic ocean, and S. W. by Georgia, from which it is separated by the Savannah river. It lies between 32° and 35° 10' N. lat., and between 78° 35' and 83° 30' W. lon. This state is triangular in shape, having a coast line of about 200 miles for its base, with an extreme length and breadth each of about 210 miles, including an area of about 24,500 square miles, or 15,680,000 acres; of which 4,072,651 only were improved in 1850. Governor Seabrook states the area at 30,213 square miles.

Population.--Among the original settlers of South Carolina (generally English)were some Scotch, Germans, and French Huguenots, from the latter of whom are descended some of the most respectable families in the state. The people of South Carolina are noted for frankness of speech, courteousness of manner, and especially for that free hospitality which is a general characteristic of the inhabitants of the southern states. Eloquence is one of the marked attributes of her public men, and she has produced some of the most eminent orators that have shed lustre upon the national councils of our country. In 1790 there were in South Carolina 249,073 inhabitants; 345,591 in 1800: 415,115 in 1810; 502,741 in 1820; 581,185 in 1830; 594,398 in 1840, and 668,507 in 1850; of whom 137,736 were white males: 136,831 white females; 4149 free colored males; 4807 colored females; 187,756 male slaves, and 197,222 female slaves. This population was divided into 52,937 families, occupying 52,642 dwellings. Representative population, 514,513. Of the white population, 262,160 were born in the state; 12,653 in other states; 921 in England; 4051 in Ireland; 661 in Wales and Scotland; 57 in British America; 2180 in Germany; 274 in France; 518 in other countries, and 48 whose places of birth were unknown--giving about 3 1/4 per cent. of the white population of foreign birth. Of the entire population, 145 were deaf and dumb, of whom 1 was free colored, and 15 slaves; 222 blind, of whom 14 were free colored, and 56 slaves; 204 were insane, of whom 3 were free colored, and 9 slaves; and 295 were idiotic, of whom 3 were free colored, and 50 slaves. In the twelve months preceding June 1st, 1850, 1642 paupers received aid, of whom 329 were foreigners, at an expense of about $30 each; and in the same period occurred 7997 deaths, or nearly 12 in every 1000 persons.

Districts.--South Carolina is divided into 29 districts, viz. Abbeville, Anderson, Barnwell, Beaufort, Charleston, Chester, Chesterfield, Colleton, Darlington, Edgefield, Fairfield, Georgetown, Greenville, Horry, Kershaw, Lancaster, Laurens, Lexington, Marion, Marlborough, Newberry, Orangeburg, Pickens, Richland, Spartanburg, Sumter, Union, Williamsburg, and York. Capital, Columbia.

Cities and Towns.--Charleston is the largest town in the state, population, 42,985. The other principal towns are Columbia, population, 6060; and Georgetown, Camden, Hamburg, Cheraw, Beaufort, and Greenville.

Face of the Country, and Geology.--This state is about equally divided between the alluvial and primitive formations; the former, extending along the coast for about 80 to 100 miles inland, is interspersed with extensive swamps. The primitive occupies the central and northwestern parts, with the exception of the alluvion bottoms of the rivers. On leaving the alluvions, we enter upon a sandy tract, called the 'Middle Country,' which is terminated in its turn by a belt called the 'Ridge,' an abrupt elevation, beyond which the country continues to ascend till it terminates, in the extreme north-west, in the Blue Ridge mountains, which attain, in Table mountain, an elevation of about 4000 feet above the sea. King's mountain is on the boundary line between North and South Carolina. Along the coast is a chain of low islands, separated from the mainland by a series of lagoons or sounds, through which a coast navigation is carried on, defended from the agitations of the ocean.

Minerals.--The primitive portion affords great abundance of building material, in the granites and sienites of Richland, Kershaw, Lexington, Fairfield, and Abbeville districts, in the marbles of Spartanburg and Laurens, and in the gneiss of Pickens and York. The other earthy minerals are mica slate, soapstone, porcelain clay of a very fine quality, red and yellow ochres, limestone, and talco-micaceous slates suitable for whetstones; but no coal--nor is it likely, from its geological formation, that this valuable fuel will ever be found, if found at all, in any considerable quantity. Of the metallic minerals, gold in considerable abundance, iron of the best quality, and lead are among the treasures of South Carolina. The mines of Mr. William Dorne, in Abbeyville and Edgefield districts, yielded gold of the value of $300,000 in the 15 months preceding July, 1853. This precious metal is found in the same belt (reaching from the Rappahannock river, in Virginia, to the Cocoa, in Alabama) in which the gold of Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia exists. The South Carolina portion of this great belt promises to make the richest returns of any mines in the United States, out of California. The introduction of the quartz-crusher, it is estimated, will enable the Dorne mines to produce $4000 a day. Two Chilian mills in operation, says a correspondent of the New York Tribune, produce nearly $1000 a day. Between February, 1852, and February, 1853, the value of $202,000 was mined, at the trifling expense of $1200.

Rivers, Bays, &c.--From the mouth of the Great Pedee river to that of the Savannah, the coast of South Carolina is lined with a series of bays, sounds, and lagoons, which, though mostly shallow, have sufficient depth to allow of an extensive coasting navigation. Commencing at the Great Pedee, and proceeding south, we have Winyaw bay, at the mouth of that river; then, in order, Bull's bay, Charleston harbor, St. Helena sound, and Port Royal entrance, with a number of smaller inlets. The harbor of Beaufort is much the best of these, and will admit vessels of the largest size; Charleston harbor is obstructed by a dangerous bar; St. Helena sound is the most capacious of these inlets, but is beset with shoals. Georgetown, at the head of Winyaw bay, can only be reached by vessels of small draught; and Stone inlet, S. of Charleston has but 10 feet water on the bar. The Santee river, with its main affluents, the Congaree and Wateree, passes almost directly through the middle of the state. It is about 100 miles from the junction of the Congaree and Wateree to the month of the Santee, and about 300 miles from their confluence to their sources in North Carolina. The Great Pedee enters the state from North Carolina, (where it bears the name of Yadkin,) and courses through the N. E. part of South Carolina, about 150 miles into Winyaw bay; the Saluda and Broad rivers drain the N. W. of the state, and unite to form the Congaree; the Broad river rises in the W. of North Carolina; the Edisto and Combahee drain the S. W. of the state, and flow into the Atlantic after courses of 150 to 200 miles; Lynch's creek is a tributary from the W., and Wacamaw and Little Pedee from the E. of the Great Pedee; all have their sources in North Carolina. The larger streams run in a S. E. direction, and furnish an inland navigation of about 2400 miles, apart from the creeks and inlets of the sea. The Savannah river can be navigated by steamboats to Hamburg, and for smaller boats still higher. The Waccamaw may be ascended 12 miles, the Great Pedee 200 miles, the Congaree 200 miles, and the Wateree 200 miles, by steamboats. All these rivers are boatable, above the distances mentioned, for keel-boats. Greenville is the only district in the state without the advantage of navigation. Watercourses abound in all the districts favorable for mill sites.

Objects of Interest to Tourists.--One of the most interesting natural objects in South Carolina is Table Mountain, or Table Rock, as it is generally called, an elevation of 4000 feet above the sea, which presents, in one direction, a perpendicular face of 1100 feet above the surrounding country. This mountain is a place of great resort in summer, having a house of entertainment at its base. C�sar's Head, in the same vicinity, is so called from its resemblance to a human cranium; this is also a place of summer resort, and has a hotel on its summit, which is visible at a great distance. Glenn's Spring, in Spartanburg district, is a watering-place of some repute, containing magnesia and sulphur in its waters. Limestone Spring, in the same district, is less frequented than formerly, and its spacious hotel is now converted into a female college, which is said to be in a very flourishing condition. According to Professor Tuomey, the falls of the Saluda, among the mountains, have a descent of from 300 to 400 feet. 'They,' says the professor, 'who imagine that by skipping to the top of Table Rock, and from thence run across to Caesar's Head, they have exhausted the beauties of this region, commit a great mistake.'

Climate.--South Carolina, though in the latitude of the Barbury States, has more the climate and productions of Southern Europe. Yet many of the productions peculiar to its latitude on the Eastern continent flourish here, such as cotton, and rice, and some of the tropical fruits; but the irregularity of the seasons, and early and late frosts, render the latter a somewhat precarious crop.

Soil and Productions.--There are, according to Ruffin and Tuomey, (the agricultural surveyors of the state,) six varieties of soil in South Carolina:--1. Tide swamp; devoted to the culture of rice. 2. Inland swamp; to rice, cotton, corn, peas, &c. 3. Salt marsh; to long cotton. 4. Oak and pine; to long cotton, corn, potatoes, &c. 5. Oak and hickory; to short cotton, corn, &c.: and, 6. Pine barren; to fruits, vegetables, &c. The swamps near the coast, covering 2000 square miles are capable of drainage, and are of inexhaustible fertility. The pine lands, forming a belt across the state next succeeding to the alluvion, have been heretofore considered of but little value except for timber; but Governor Seabrook is of opinion that 'its agricultural capabilities have been much underrated, and that in all its relations it is of immeasurable value to our community.' On the islands is produced the largest quantity of the much valued variety of cotton called sea-island, whose production is in fact limited to the coasts of South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and perhaps Texas. With the exception of the rich alluvions of the lower region, the best land in the state is in the hilly country, above the Ridge, which is favorable to corn, potatoes, &c. Cotton grows in all the divisions of the state, with different degrees of productiveness. Cotton is the great staple of South Carolina; and though the fourth among the states in the actual amount of this commodity produced, yet, if we regard only area, she stands first in the relative amount; while in the product of rice, her other great staple, she is first in absolute amount. Indian corn, wheat, butter, sweet and Irish potatoes, and wool are extensively produced; while rye, oats, barley, tobacco, hay, wine, cheese, and sugar are cultivated to some extent. The climate is suited to indigo and hemp, but they are not, at present, profitable crops. In short, South Carolina can produce, side by side, the wheat of the north, and the olive, sugar-cane, and (with care) the orange of the south; and, when she institutes a more careful system of culture, will be able to produce as large an amount, and perhaps a greater variety of products, acre for acre, than any of her sister states. Wheat grows as low as 32° 30' N. lat., and Indian corn everywhere, except in a small district north of the mountains, which is too bleak for it. The 4,072,651 acres of improved land in South Carolina at the census of 1850 were divided into 29,969 farms of about 135 acres each, producing 1,066,277 bushels of wheat; 43,790 of rye; 16,271,454 of Indian corn; 2,322,155 of oats; 1,026,900 of peas and beans; 136,494 of Irish, and 4,337,469 of sweet potatoes; 159,930,613 pounds of rice; 74,285 of tobacco: 120,360,400 of cotton; 487,233 of wool; 2,981,850 of butter; 671,000 of cane sugar; 216,281 of beeswax and honey, and 20,925 tons of hay. Value of live stock, $15,060,015; of market produce, $47,286; of orchard products, $35,108; of slaughtered animals, $1,302,637.

Forest Trees.--On the islands are found the live-oak, pine, palmetto, and laurel; in the lower and pine barren district, pitch pine, and in the middle and upper regions, oak, hickory, and pine. The winter voyager between Charleston and Savannah, on the inlets or sounds of the coast, sails amid foliage as green as that of a summer forest at the North; with here the evergreen live oak, draped with the gracefully-hanging long moss, and there the white flowers of the laurel, (sometimes a foot in circuit,) while the shores are lined with thousands of waterfowl, and nothing to mar the scene, unless it may be an unsightly alligator basking in the sun.

Manufactures.--South Carolina has not yet become extensively engaged in manufacturing, but her attention is now much turned in that direction, and already she exports, to the North, cotton yarns and coarse cotton stuffs. In 1850 there were in the state 1473 manufacturing establishments, producing each $500 and upwards annually. The same year homemade manufactures to the amount of $909,546 were fabricated. There were in 1850, 18 establishments engaged in the manufacture of cotton, employing capital to the amount of $857,200, and 399 male and 620 female hands, consuming raw material worth $295,971, and producing 6,563,737 yards of stuffs, and 1,348,343 pounds of yarn, valued at $748,338; 6 furnaces, &c., employing $185,700, and 153 male and 2 female hands, consuming raw material worth $29,128, and producing 1286 tons of castings, &c., valued at $87,683; 91 tanneries, with a capital of $184,335, and producing leather to the amount of $261,332; and $3475 invested in the manufacture of malt and spirituous liquors, employing 33 hands, consuming 18,100 bushels of Indian corn, and producing 43,900 gallons of whiskey, wine, &c. South Carolina reports no woollen factories. The South Carolina Industrial Institute holds annually fairs, in which great interest is taken by its citizens, and displays are made of manufacturing and agricultural improvement, marking an advancing state in the mechanic arts and tillage of the soil.

Internal Improvements.--In January, 1853, South Carolina had 559 miles of railroad completed, and 296 in course of construction. Those already constructed unite Charleston with Hamburg, (and from thence by connection with the Georgia railroad with various points in Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama,) with Columbia, Abbeville, Laurensville, and other intermediate points in South Carolina, and with Charlotte and Wilmington in North Carolina. From the latter place (with a short exception on and near the Potomac, below Washington City) the connection with the great Northern cities is unbroken. When the present lines projected shall have been completed, Charleston will have communication with Richmond through the central counties of North Carolina.

Commerce.--South Carolina exports largely of cotton, rice, (of the latter more than all the other states of the Union together,) lumber, and naval stores. Her exports for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1852, amounted in value to $11,670,021, all in domestic products, and her imports for the same period to $2,175,614. Nearly three-sevenths of the foreign commerce of South Carolina is carried in other than American bottoms. Tonnage of the state for the fiscal year 1852, 46,635 1/95, of which more than 22,000 tons were employed in the coasting trade, and more than 7000 in steam navigation. Seven vessels were built in the same year, with a tonnage of 939 11/95. Tonnage entered, 101,977, and tonnage cleared, 142,261. The exports of cotton for the year ending August 31, 1853, were 19,976 bales of sea-island, and 446,610 of upland cotton; 126,742 tierces of rice, 363,862 bushels of rough rice, and 20,637,525 feet of lumber. The railway communications opened between Charleston and Tennessee have diverted a large northern trade, with the latter state, into this channel to the great advantage of Charleston and Tennessee as well. Soon, Charleston will hold direct communication with Memphis, on the Mississippi, by railways, which will become one of the great routes between the Mississippi valley and the Atlantic coast, and even with the Ohio valley.

Education.--South Carolina University is an institution of high reputation, and has among its faculty some distinguished names, but the education of the masses in this state has been much neglected. The number of Schools in 1849 was 1023, and the number of scholars in a white population of about 250,000 was only 9112. Public schools reported by census of 1850, 670, and academies, 261. Amount expended by the legislature in 1848 for educational purposes, was $40,561.53. There are two colleges, three theological seminaries, and one medical school in the state. Splendid buildings for a college at Spartanburg village are now (1853) being erected by the Methodists, ample funds having been supplied by the bequest of Benjamin Wofford. The income from the pupils of the South Carolina College is spent in improvements and other contingent expenses, the college being supported by appropriations from the state. Each student, it is said, costs the state $1000. The legislature of 1853 appropriated $39,600 for the support of this college.

Religious Sects.--Of the 1163 churches in South Carolina in 1850, the Baptists owned 413; the Episcopalians, 71; Lutherans, 41; Methodists, 467; Presbyterians, 125; Roman Catholics, 14, and Seceders, 11. The remainder were divided among the Congregationalists, Free Church, Friends, Jews, Unitarians, Universalists, and other minor sects, making one church to every 574 inhabitants. Value of church property, $2,140,346.

Public Institutions.--There is a state lunatic asylum at Columbia, which had 127 patients in November 5th, 1851. Of these, 70 were paupers. The previous year, 22 had been discharged cured, and 18 improved. Receipts during the year, $26,501; expenditures, $23,702. This institution is richly endowed, and is under the control of the state. The deaf and dumb asylum at Cedar Springs, in Spartanburg district, was founded by the Rev. N. P. Walker, in 1849, but is now under the care of the state, and had 27 pupils in November, 1851. New buildings for this institution are in progress of erection. The orphan house not being supported by the state, will be found described under CHARLESTON. There is no penitentiary or house of refuge in South Carolina.

Government, Finances, &c.--The governor, lieutenant-governor, and presidential electors are chosen by the legislature. The governor and lieutenant-governor are elected for two years, the former receiving $3500 per annum. The senate consists of 45 members, chosen by the people for 4 years, one-half being elected every second year. The house of representatives, consisting of 124 members, is chosen in the same manner for two years. In those districts having parishes, the representation is by parishes. The present constitution was framed in 1790. The members of both branches receive $3 per diem, and 10 cents for every mile of travel. The judiciary consists:- 1. Of courts of equity, presided over by four chancellors; 2. Of courts for the correction of errors, consisting of all the judges in law and equity, to try constitutional questions; 3. Of courts of common pleas and general sessions; 4. Of the city court of Charleston, (an inferior court;) 5. Of an ordinary's court, in each district, to grant letters of administration, probate of wills, &c.; and, 6. Of a court of magistrates and freeholders for the trial of slaves and free persons of color. The chancellor, and judges of sessions and common pleas, receive $3000 per annum. South Carolina has 7 members in the national house of representatives, and 9 electoral votes for president of the United States.

The state debt in 1852 was $3,144,931, of which $1,051,422 was contingent debt; productive property, $5,000,000; ordinary expenses, exclusive of debt and schools, $115,000. Appropriations for 1853, more than $500,000; assessed value of property in 1850, $283,867,709; number of banks in June, 1853, 11, with an aggregate capital of $10,330,225. The state bank of South Carolina has a capital of $3,450,000, which the governor recommends to be increased. This is reported to be a very sound institution.

History.--South Carolina was first settled at Port Royal in 1670 by the English. A constitution for this colony was formed by the celebrated John Locke, somewhat on the plan of Plato's Model Republic, which, however, signally failed. South Carolina was a proprietary government until 1719, when it became a royal colony. In 1690, a number of French Huguenots, driven from France by the revocation of the Edict of Nantez, settled in this state, and subsequently a number of Swiss, Irish, and Germans. South Carolina was engaged with Georgia under Oglethorpe in some contests with the Spanish in Florida, and she also suffered much from Indian depredations in the early times of her settlement, particularly from the Yamasses, who were expelled in 1715. This colony took an active part in exciting and carrying on the revolt of the colonies, and furnished above 6000 troops to the federal forces. Many bloody struggles took place within her limits at Fort Moultrie, Charleston, Monk's Corner, Camden, King's mountain, Eutaw Springs, and Cowpens, with varying success, now the British and now the Carolinians having the advantage. The state was occupied by the enemy the greater part of 1780 and 1781. South Carolina has taken an active part in the affairs of the national government, and has furnished some of the most distinguished American statesmen, being generally ably represented in the national councils. She has gone further than any other state in the assertion and vindication of the rights of the sovereign states, as opposed to the powers of the federal government. Among her distinguished statesmen have been Lowndes, Pinckney, Hayne, Legare, Poinsett, and Calhoun.

Biographies:

Benjamin Huger, patriot, was born at Limerick Plantation, S.C., Dec. 30, 1746; fourth son of Daniel and Mary (Cordes) Huger; grandson of Daniel and Margaret (Perdriau) Huger, the immigrants; great grandson of John and Ann (Rassin) Huger, and great2 grandson of Daniel and Mary (Bichet) Huger. He was one of the celebrated patriot Huger brothers, grandsons of Daniel Huger, the refugee from France, who was born in London, France, April 1, 1651, and died in South Carolina, Dec. 24, 1711. Benjamin was educated in Europe with his brothers; was a representative in the commons house of assembly of South Carolina, and with his brothers Isaac and John, was a delegate to the provincial congress in 1775. He was married first, July 19, 1767, to Mary, daughter and co-heiress of Culcheth Golightly; and secondly, Dec. 10, 1772, to Mary Esther, daughter of Francis Kinloch. He joined his brothers in encouraging the Revolutionary movement in South Carolina and was commissioned major of the 1st regiment of riflemen, afterward the 5th South Carolina regiment in the continental establishment. While engaged in reconnoitring the position of the British under Prevost before Charleston, he was shot and killed, May 11, 1779.

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

Benjamin Huger, representative, was born in South Carolina in 1768; son of Major Benjamin and Mary (Golightly) Huger. He was married to Mary, daughter of John Alston and widow of Thomas Alston. He was largely occupied in the cultivation of rice on the Waccamaw river; served in the lower house of the legislature, of which he was speaker; and was a representative in the 6th, 7th and 8th congresses, 1799-1805, and in the 14th congress, 1815-17. He died at Waecamaw, S.C., July 7, 1823.

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

James Moore, governor of South Carolina, 1719, was born in Charlesten, S.C., in 1667; son of James Moore, governor of South Carolina, 1700, who emigrated from Ireland in 1665, settled in Charleston, and was married in 1666 to the daughter of Sir John Yeamans. James became well known as a soldier in his campaigns against the Indians, and in 1702 he conducted an unsuccessful expedition against the Spaniards at St. Augustine, resulting in a heavy debt on the colony, which was relieved by issuing the first paper money used in South Carolina. In 1703 he led an expedition against the Appalachian Indians in Cape Fear, N.C., and completely subdued them. In 1713 he commanded the forces sent by Gov. Charles Craven to aid the settlers of North Carolina. Upon the deposition of Gov. Johnson he was elected his successor in 1719, but was succeeded the same year by Arthur Middleton. He subsequently served as attorney-general and judge of the admiralty court of South Carolina, and was speaker of the state assembly, 1721-25. He removed to North Carolina about 1735, and lived with his brother Maurice Moore, one of the pioneer settlers of the colony of North Carolina, and resided in Cape Fear district, where he was ill in a room adjoining that of his brother, and both died at about the same hour, Nov. 19, 1740.

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

Patrick Noble, governor of South Carolina, was born in Abbeville district, S.C., in 1787; son of Alexander and Catherine (Calhoun) Noble; grandson of John and Mary (Calhoun) Noble, and of Patrick Calhoun. John Noble, native of Donegal county, Ireland, settled in Pennsylvania about 1733, and removed thence to Augusta county, Va., where he died in 1753. His widow, with her sons, located in what became Abbeville district, S.C. Patrick Noble was prepared for college under Dr. Moses Waddell, graduated at the College of New Jersey in 1806, and studied law under George McDuffie and John C. Calhoun. He was admitted to the bar in 1809; practised in Abbeville, in partnership with John C. Calhoun, 1809-10, and alone, 1810-40. He was married, Sept. 5, 1816, to Elizabeth Bonneau, daughter of Ezekiel and Elizabeth (Bonneau) Pickens of Pendleton district, S.C. He represented Abbeville district in the state assembly in 1812, 1818-24 and in 1832, and was speaker of the assembly, 1818-24 and 1832. He was president of the state senate, 1836-38, and the States' Rights governor of South Carolina, 1838-40. He died in Abbeville district, S.C., April 7, 1840.

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

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