History of Willington, (McCormick County) South Carolina United States of America

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Biographies:

John Newton Waddel, educator, was born in Willington, S.C., April 2, 1812; youngest son of the Rev. Moses and Elizabeth W. (Pleasants) Waddel. He prepared for college at his father's celebrated school at Willington, and was graduated at the University of Georgia, A.B., 1829, A.M., 1832. He taught the academy at Willington, 1830-34; conducted an academy at Montrose, Miss., 1842-48, and served as a trustee of the University of Mississippi, 1844-48. He was professor of ancient languages in the University of Mississippi, 1848-56; professor of ancient languages in La Grange Synodical college, 1857-60; president of the college, 1860-62; commissioner from the Presbyterian synod to the Confederate army west of the Mississippi, 1863-64; chancellor of the University of Mississippi, 1865-74; secretary of the board of education of the Southern Presbyterian church, 1874-88, and chancellor of the Southwestern Presbyterian university, Clarksville, Tenn., 1879-88, resigning in 1888 on account of advanced age. He joined the Presbyterian church in 1839; was licensed to preach by the presbytery of Mississippi Sept. 5, 1841, and ordained by the presbytery of Tombigbee, Sept. 23, 1843. He preached in Mississippi, 1841-74; was moderator of the General Assembly at Baltimore, Md., 1868; and was pastor at Memphis, Tenn., 1874-79. He was instrumental in founding the Confederate Orphan Asylum at Tuskegee, Ala. He received the honorary degree of D.D. from the University of Nashville in 1851, and that of LL.D. from the University of Georgia in 1873. A portrait of Chancellor Waddel was unveiled in the Southwestern Presbyterian university, June 6, 1888. He died in Birmingham, Ala., Jan. 9, 1895.

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

Moses Waddel, educator, was born in Rowan county, N.C., July 29, 1770; son of William Waddel, who emigrated from near Belfast, Ireland, about 1764, landed in Charleston, S.C., and settled in Rowan county, N.C. Moses Waddel attended a neighborhood school known as Clio's Nursery, and taught school in both his native state and in Georgia and was graduated front Hampden-Sidney college in 1791. He was licensed by the Hanover presbytery, Va., May 12, 1792; conducted a school in Columbia county, Ga., 1794-180l, and one in Vienna, Abbeville district. S.C., 1810-04. In 1804 he established a home and school at Willington, S.C., about six miles from Vienna, where his academy became celebrated and patronized by the best citizens of the state. In 1818 he was elected president of the University of Georgia, and in May, 1819, he removed with his family to Athens, Ga., presiding over the university, 1819-29. He returned to Willington, S.C., in February, 1830, where he was pastor, 1830-37. He was married first, to Catharine, a sister of John C. Calhoun, who died childless; and secondly, about 1800, to Elizabeth W. Pleasants of Virginia, by whom he had four sons, James Pleasants Waddel (1801-69), University of Georgia, A.B., 1822, A.M., 1825; tutor there, 1822-24; principle of the academy of Richmond county, 1824-26, and professor of ancient languages, University of Georgia, 1836-56; the Rev. Isaac W. Waddel, A.B., University of Georgia, 1823, A.M., 1826; Dr. William W. Waddel, A.B., University of Georgia 1823, A.M., 1826; and John Newton Waddel . Moses Waddel received the honorary degree of D.D. from the College of South Carolina in 1807. He died in Willington, S.C., July 21, 1840.

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

Armistead Burt, representative, was born in Edgefield district, S. C., Nov. 16, 1802. He was educated as a lawyer and practised in Abbeville and Willington, Abbeville district, S. C. He was a representative in the 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st and 32nd congresses, 1843-53, and was elected speaker pro tempore of the 30th congress, serving during the absence of Speaker Winthrop. He was a secessionist, but held no office under the Confederate government. He was a delegate to the Democratic national convention in New York in 1868. He died at Willington, S. C., Oct. 30, 1883.

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