History of Fairfield County South Carolina United States of America

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

Robert Means Davis, educator, was born in Fairfield district, S.C., April 9, 1849; eldest son of Henry Campbell and Isabella Harper (Means) Davis; grandson of Dr. James and Catherine (Ross) Davis of Columbia, S.C., and of Robert and Sarah (Means) Means; great-grandson of Solomon Davis of Sinapuxent, Md., and a descendant of John Means of Ireland who lived in Boston, Mass., from 1767 to 1789, and his wife Isabella Harper. He attended the Mt. Zion institute, Winnsboro, S.C., where he organized in 1867 the first graded public school in the state supported by special taxation, outside the city of Charleston. He was graduated at the University of South Carolina in 1869. After teaching in the King's Mountain military institute, 1869-70, he went to California and taught there, 1870-72, filling temporarily the chair of classics in the Pacific Methodist college, and positions in the Santa Rosa public schools and in the preparatory schcol of the University of California. He returned to South Carolina and was graduated from the University law school in 1872. After practising law and conducting the Winnsboro News, 1872-74, he served on the editorial staff of the Charleston News and Courier, 1875, and was principal of Mt. Zion institute, 1876-80. In 1877 he was married to Sallie E., daughter of Dr. Joseph Le Conte of the University of California. On the reopening of the South Carolina college of agriculture and mechanics in 1880 he was elected to the chair of history and political science and civics, and as a resident of Columbia, was elected in turn a member of the county, state, and city school boards. He published the History of Education in South Carolina (1883), and numerous articles on economic subjects.

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

History of Fairfield County South Carolina

Biographies:

Local History and Genealogy Links: