David Fanning: SC Loyalist in Backcountry Revolution

David Fanning was North Carolina's
 most notorious Tory. 

He lived for a time as an Indian trader

on Raeburn's Creek in Laurens County, SC. 

For his terrible atrocities, Fanning was excepted 

from a general pardon by the US government

 after the Revolution and had to flee to Nova Scotia.

"There was born in Johnston County, N. C, in 1756, one of the boldest men, fertile in expedients and quick in execution, that ever sprang from North Carolina parentage. He was a poor boy, obscure, humble and unlettered. He was apprenticed to Mr. Bryant, from whom, on account of harsh treatment, he ran away when about fifteen years of age. 

"His miserable condition secured him temporary home with Mr. John O. Deneill, of Haw Field, in Orange county, but in the course of two or three years he went to South Carolina and engaged in trafficking with the Catawba Indians, and settled on Raeburn's creek, branch of Reedy River, in Laurens district in upper South Carolina. 

Methodists and kin of Reconstruction-era Laurens County, SC

Church of the Epiphany (inactive during Reconstruction)

Our series on Laurens County, SC, during Reconstruction looks at Methodist and Episcopal life during that era.

The white Methodists in Laurens had a wooden white building with green blinds. They were part of a preaching circuit begun in 1825 under the legendary circuit rider Rev. Barnett Smith. The black Methodists led by Rev. Child built a church meeting house by subscription in 1870 on land donated by "C. Martin Mills, colored." Hopewell Methodist in the Hopewell Community, which goes back to Bishop Francis Asbury, and Harmony Methodist have no records of the Reconstruction period. Harmony’s records were destroyed in a fire. Hopewell apparently didn’t keep any. The Clinton Methodists organized a Clinton circuit in 1868

Black Baptist church planters in Laurens County, SC

Brush arbor similar to those used in planting churches

Our series on Laurens County, SC, during Reconstruction explores the work of Rev. June Kennedy and other emerging leaders among black Baptists.

            Freed slave June Kennedy was a remarkable and important figure in the history of black Baptist churches in Laurens County. Personal information is not available, but Kennedy’s name is connected with the formation of many early Baptist churches. What we do know is that even though Kennedy was unable to read, he went regularly to sympathetic white believers who provided the Biblical teaching to help him organize and lead many new churches of freed slaves across Laurens County.[1]

            Another former slave named Thomas Hood was well known for his singing, and June Kennedy for his itinerant preaching. Martin C. Cunningham meanwhile started prayer meetings at his home near Clinton, and the numbers grew.

Rise of Black Baptist churches in Laurens County, SC

"A Negro Camp Meeting in the South" (loc.org)

Our series on Laurens County, SC, during Reconstruction continues with the remarkable rise of Baptist churches led by African American freed slaves.

Baptists also found themselves in the midst of the massive post-War social upheavals of the period. Out in the Beaverdam community of Laurens County, Beaverdam Baptist Church for example, organized in the early 1800s, had in the year the War ended, 1865, the largest colored membership in its storied history – seventy-six black members. No longer enslaved, black members of Baptist churches soon began withdrawing to form separate fellowships, motivated by their new opportunity for a voice and a vote in church affairs. Their white brethren, who believed in congregational church government, encouraged and supported their believing former slaves demonstration of their own leadership in their own local churches.^[1] 
But there were other, less altruistic, outside political forces fueling the departure of black members from churches as well.

Baptists of Reconstruction Laurens County, SC

Langston Baptist Church, oldest continuous
Baptist church in Laurens County, SC

Our series on Laurens County, SC, during Reconstruction continues with an introduction to Baptists in Laurens County, SC.
The Baptists in Laurens County, SC, were a peculiar people, distinct in their ecclesiology and their method of adult believer's baptism by immersion. The Hurricane or Harrykin Baptists between Clinton and Martin’s Depot (today's Joanna) were very sensitive to their method of baptism by immersion. Warrior Creek Baptist Church continued to carry on strict and public church discipline, holding strongly to the Baptist doctrinal ideal of a regenerate church membership as a core aspect of congregational government. Regenerate church membership means that

O Joy! Being a pastor in Laurens County, SC

Clinton, SC, Presbyterian Church organized 1855

Our series on Laurens County, SC, during Reconstruction continues with the fun that W.P. Jacobs had pastoring his Clinton, SC, Presbyterian flock.

Being a pastor in Reconstruction-era Laurens County, SC, must have been quite an experience. Alas, similar attitudes are around today. The more things change, the more they stay the same! 

        The new pastor of the Presbyterian church in Clinton, SC, Dr. William Plumer Jacobs, discovered to his surprise that the Presbyterian Church was no longer popular in the Clinton, SC, area of his time, so he asked people why. His number one answer: All the members were hypocrites. Number two: There was continuing resentment that the 1855 organization of the Clinton church had about broken up Duncan's Creek Presbyterian Church as they had lost thirteen members to the new Clinton church. Dr. Jacobs noted, “"It would seem to indicate that the Duncan's Creek Church was almost broken up already."^[1]

Dr. Jacobs provides a number of examples of the joys of pastoring in Laurens County, SC. For example, when Dr. Jacobs offered to preach to the young people at night providing they buy the candles and oil, the session complained that the teenagers would not pay the bills and the church would go into debt over candles and oil. Mr. Phinney volunteered to buy the items and light them himself so that the church would not be in danger of fire.

            Prayer meeting did not go over well either. The very idea was considered absurd.

Presbyterians of Reconstruction-era Laurens County, SC

Duncan Creek Presbyterian Church, oldest church in Upstate

Our series on Laurens County, SC, during Reconstruction continues with a sketch of Presbyterianism in the county.

Because of the heavy Scots-Irish settlement of much of Laurens County, the Presbyterians early on had the preeminence in terms of numbers and influence. Dr. Jacobs came in 1864 to pastor the Clinton Presbyterian Church. At the end of the war in 1865, the church had thirty white members, only a few colored, no Sabbath school, no choir, no prayer meeting, no church collection, no officer's meetings, no ladies' society, and only two services a month.^[1]

Thornwell: A home for War orphans

William Plumer Jacobs

Our series on Laurens County, SC, during Reconstruction continues with an home for War orphans in Clinton.

In the midst of Reconstruction Laurens County, SC, Dr. William Plumer Jacobs was sensing God’s leadership in other new areas. Seeing the great need of post-War orphans abounding across the South, Jacobs wrote in his diary in July 1872, " If one dollar is offered me for the Home of the Fatherless this month or one child is tendered me I will take it as God's call to this work, and if I enter upon it then my lot is fixed for life in Clinton."

Jacobs did not come to this matter of establishing an orphanage haphazardly or suddenly. It was the product of a long period of God’s preparatory work in his life.

Rise of Black Churches in Laurens County, SC

Our series on Laurens County, SC, during Reconstruction continues with the rise of black churches.

Bethel AME in Laurens. Built by freed slave Columbus White. Razed 2008.

Christians of African descent in Laurens County, SC, during the era of Reconstruction saw it as a duty to form their own churches, and white Christians felt a duty to help them. Leaving the white churches was "self‑inspired secession." In the white churches the Negro had no "voice in the government of his religious organization. At first the whites opposed the negroes' leaving, but the Baptists with their tradition of religious freedom "were the first to sanction and even encourage such separation."^[1] The first South Carolina African Methodist Episcopal "Conference resolved that a separate religious organization was necessary for the Negro. Leaders argued that prejudice ruled out both races worshiping at the same altar.^[2] Morgan Scurry, born a slave near Chappells in Newberry County, thought everybody should belong to the church and be a Christian. He added his thoughts to the racial separation of the churches many years later in the Slave Narratives,

Church life in Reconstruction-era Laurens County, SC

Our series on Laurens County, SC, during Reconstruction continues with a vignette of church life.

Dr. William Plumer Jacobs

            "The spirit of the christian religion teaches that men should be to each other forgiving and merciful. But such I think is not the spirit of the present day," wrote Thomas Workman on September 16, 1875. He was quite concerned about religion and how it fit into life. "I hope though that things will take a turn for the better before long, at least that is to be expected."^[1] Dr. William Plumer Jacobs of Clinton desired to do great things for God. What Dr. Jacobs found when he arrived in Clinton back in 1864 was not what he had expected.

            In Charleston where Jacobs grew up, the Presbyterians, Methodists, and Baptists were all against the Episcopalians and Catholics. But in Clinton, he wrote, "the various churches interpreted literally the saying of St. Paul, 'Fight the good fight of the faith.'" These people majored on

Laurens County, SC, schools during Reconstruction

Our series on Laurens County, SC, during Reconstruction continues with a survey of education and institutions for children during the period.

Though privately tutored education was more emphasized than public education before the War Between the States, some poor schools and academies were in operation in Laurens County. The first public school in Laurens County, the Wadsworth poor school, was established in 1805 as a free school or “poor school” for anyone who wanted an education. [1] The first school house in Laurensville was later on Reedy Fork Creek near the residence of Colonel Ball, and its first teacher was Charles Stone. But there were others. Laurensville Male Academy was established in 1848 and stood on the corner of Main and Academy Streets. Frank Evans was its principal[2] as it focused on a classical form education.[3]

One of the more well known institutions of learning across the state was Laurensville Female College,

Thomas M. Workman, genius inventor of Laurens County, SC

Sanctuary of Rocky Springs Presbyterian Church

Our series on Laurens County, SC, during Reconstruction continues with a genius inventor living between Laurens and Clinton.

MEET THOMAS MADISON WORKMAN

Out in the Rocky Springs community, a young genius named Thomas Madison Workman (1847-1921) was writing and thinking ahead of his time. He wrote in his unpublished diary, "I believe this country needs some efficient means of irrigation." He proposed such ideas as windmills to fill above‑ground cisterns placed on a hill in order to power the water through pipes across the fields. The cistern could also be used for "raising fish, ducks, and many other things that would be desirable." Plus, telegraph wires could be run along the pipes and one could "be in constant communication with anybody."

Laurens County (SC) living in 1872

Our series on Laurens County, SC, during Reconstruction continues with life in 1872 Laurens County.

Clinton (SC) Presbyterian Church built 1855

         As Laurens County, SC, dealt with the Conspiracy Arrests in 1872, the doctrine of human depravity continued to show itself elsewhere in the county as well. The Laurensville town council warned robin shooters in March, 1872, that because of careless and reckless shooting, the ordinance against discharge of firearms would be strictly enforced. Also the corncrib of the widow Mrs. Minerva Dial was robbed of twenty‑ five bushels and her house of a sum of money. These were days when, "it is necessary in these times to sleep with one eye open, and your shot gun well loaded."

A Primer on South Carolina's Reconstruction

A view of SC's Reconstruction General Assembly

Our series on Laurens County, SC, during Reconstruction continues with a primer on SC Reconstruction history. 

In order to better understand Laurens County’s role in South Carolina Reconstruction history, a short overview of Reconstruction across the state may be helpful.
        After the Confederacy fell in April 1865, SC Governor A.G. Magrath was removed by the victors and sent to Federal prison. U.S. President Andrew Johnson, who was taught to read and write in Laurens County many years earlier by a young sweetheart, pardoned most of those who had taken part in the war. He also appointed Benjamin F. Perry of Greenville as provisional governor. Perry was a Unionist who had opposed both nullification and secession, but he also held the respect of many South Carolinians. Perry immediately

Laurens and Clinton Conspiracy Trials

Our series on Laurens County, SC, during Reconstruction continues with the 1872 Conspiracy trials in response to the Laurens Riot of 1870. 

The prisoners from Laurens and Clinton lived quite a hard life in the Columbia jail. They were attended by the Presbyterians of Columbia, "and representatives from almost every class of the old regime kept dropping in upon us." Soon they were hailed as moral heroes instead of alleged Ku Klux prisoners. In four weeks in prison, they never had the prison food. Instead, they were brought food from the outside. The prisoners ate better than boarders in "any hotel in Columbia."^[1] 

On their first Sunday in prison, the local Columbia ladies brought "turkey and roast pork with all the necessary trimmings, rice, chicken salad, tea and coffee, etc." Dr. William Swan Plumer brought "the largest tin bucket in his hand with 'soup for the prisoners.'" Colonel John S. Preston sent them "a ten gallon keg of beer, which was opened and enjoyed by all."^[2] 

           There was a continuous stream of visitors, among them many ministers. They received two sermons on Sunday and nightly devotions from local pastors,

Laurens County Conspiracy Arrests

The W.D. Simpson house in Laurens, SC,
as far as J.N. Wright ventured into Laurens

Our series on Laurens County, SC, during Reconstruction continues with the response to the Laurens Riot of 1870 with the surprise Federal arrests of leading men in Laurens and Clinton at the end of March 1872.

Laurens County folk did not know what new things were in store for the New Year 1872, and it was to be a year to remember. The Laurensville Herald reported the local hunting news on March 1, 1872: 
"WILD CAT - A party of the chase‑loving gentlemen in the lower part of this District, a few days since, captured a well‑grown specimen of this primitive animal, on the plantation of Captain William Young, south fork of Duncan's Creek. More are supposed to be in the vicinity.

By the end of the month in Laurens County, some of these “chase-loving gentlemen” would themselves become the chased. And Joseph Crews would be the hunter. His long awaited revenge for the Laurens Riot and its aftermath was about to be unleashed.

Legal Fallout from the Laurens, SC, Riot

Our series on Laurens County, SC, during Reconstruction continues, with a description of the legal fallout in the wake of the Laurens, SC, Riot of 1870. Racial and political tensions in post-War South Carolina continued to boil over in the Upstate. The first round of arrests and trials began. Here is the story:

The fallout came quickly from the Laurens and Clinton Riots and the successive dark and violent days of 1870. In January 1871, several Laurens and Clinton men were arrested by the State Constabulary and indicted under the Enforcement Acts. 

They were hauled before the federal Grand Jury in Columbia. By blackmailing the wealthiest in the county, "it was thought that these gentlemen, with the prospect of the penitentiary immediately before them, would 'pay out' handsomely."

Joseph Crews' escape from Laurens, SC

Our series on Laurens County, SC, during Reconstruction continues with the aftermath and fallout of the Laurens Riot of 1870, including the ignoble escape of the infamous Joe Crews from town.

An antebellum-style handcar in New Bern, NC

In the wake of the Laurens Riot, rumors flew of groups coming to burn Laurens, that Governor Scott was sending a complete regiment of black militia, that the President was going to declare martial law, and the superstitious were pointing to the bright appearance of the aurora borealis every night. Patrols were detailed every night for the protection of the citizens.^[1]

            Four days later the contingent of US Regular troops arrived in Laurens in response to the riot under command of Captain Estes who garrisoned his men in the abandoned railroad depot. Then six days after their arrival, on October 30, 1870, Joe Crews appeared before Captain Estes demanding U.S. protection and safe conveyance out of the county. He looked so haggard from ten days on the run that the Captain agreed to help him, and

Days of Terror in Laurens County, SC

Our series on Laurens County, SC, during Reconstruction continues, with a description of the days of terror in the wake of the Laurens, SC, Riot of 1870.

The Laurens Riot took place October 20, 1870, the day after the general election, and racial and political tensions in post-War South Carolina were bound to boil over somewhere. The account of the Laurens Riot is found here, but the aftermath was even darker. Here is the story:

By nightfall the whole thing seemed to be over, that is until riders from surrounding counties and outlying areas came into Laurens and into the barrooms in Clinton,^[1] having heard the rumors flying of race war.

The Laurens, SC, Riot

Laurens, SC, Courthouse viewed from the direction of Tin Pot Alley

Our series on Laurens County, SC, during Reconstruction continues, as the 1870 Election sparks a major riot on the Square in Laurens.
 

             It was rainy the morning after the election,[1] Wednesday, October 20, 1870. Court was in session, and Wednesday being the great court day, a large group of whites and blacks were on the square as everyone attended court in those days.[2] Some number of blacks had come to "receive their rewards" from Joseph Crews and his cronies for their election work.

            About eleven that morning on the Courthouse Square, a fist fight began near Tin Pot Alley, Joe Crews’ politico-military compound. According to later testimony presented before the Grand Jury, the fight started when a white Republican constable apparently called a citizen Democrat named Johnson "a tallow‑faced son‑of‑a‑