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T •UNION, SOUTH CAROLINAPEN PICTURE OF EARLY SETTLERS UNION COUNTY(Read by Miss Alberta Harris, a member of Fair Forest Chapter).Ideut. Col. William Farr was born in Virginia and with others of his family came to North Carolina and settled near Charlotte. He came to South Carolina before the Revolution and settled on Broad river, six or seven miles east of Santue, where William Dawkins died in what is now Union county. He married a widow Jeter, whose maiden name was Black. Her parents lived east of Broad river in what is now York county. His sons by this marriage were Wm. Black Carr. Richard Farr, James Farr and n daughter, Harriet, who married Daniel McEtduff, a Revolutionary soldier. See O’Neal's “Annals Newberry. After the death of his first wife he married Miss Elizabeth Talaifero Strib-linf. I think of the Pea Ridge section of Union county. His sons by this marriage were John Pulaski Farr, Titus Breen Farr, Robert Goodloe Farr, Harper Farr, and a daughter, Frances, who married my grandfather, David Anderson Thomas, of Chester, hut in 1KU! he came to the west side of Broad river and settled about three miles northeast of Santue, where he lived his long life and reared his large family.Ideut, Col. Farr served as “Captain of Horse under Col. Williamson against the Cherokee Indians in what is known in history as “The Snow Campaign in 1775, In the Revolution he was captain of a company in the Spartan regiment commanded by Col, John Thomas. Eater in the war the Second Spartan Regiment was organized with Cot. Thomas Brandon of Union as colonel, a Mr, Henderson as lieutenant colonel, anil a Mr, Bullock as major. Henderson anil Bullock seemed to have retired from the service after a time for Ideut. Col, Wm. Farr entered the Second Spartan regiment as a captain and served in it as captain of a company, was adjutant of the regiment, was major and was leetcd lieutenant colonel, I think, in 17HI). When peace was declared in 1782 Ideut. Col, Farr, with hi* command, was on the Hiawassa river in what is now the State of Tennessee, having fought the Indians, who sided with the British across the mountains to that a I are.1 cannot remember all the battles that I have heard he participated in. but t suppose he was in must of the engagements in which the regiments he served in were engaged, for the Rev, James II. Saye, a grandson liv marriage of Maj. Joseph McJunkin, who wrote much of Mr.Iunkin and other Presbyterian soldiers of Union, when asked by me in his old age about what he had heard of Col. Fai r’s services, said: “Col. Farr was a true patriot, was a brave, energetic, hard-lighting soldier and a virulent hater of Tories.”I learned from a document now in the hands of my niece, Mrs. Mary Thomas Sartor, wife of W. D, Sartor of Santue, which I obtained from the Department of the Interior at Washington through Hon. John H. Evins many years ago when he was in congress, the facts I have stated relative to the regiments in which Col. Farr served and the offices he held in said regiments. The same paper states several battles in which he took part, I cannot recall them alt now, but 1 remember it stated that he fought in the battle of Ktono near Charleston and at Cowpens. At the latter place 1 have heard he commanded Morgan’s skirmish line, or as Morgan expressed it, the line to go out and bring on the fight, which was verified by Rev. James H. Saye. who told me that “John Savage of Union fired the first gun at Cowpens and that he got permission from Col. Farr to do so.’ Mr. Saye said as the British approached the American position a British officer became very conspicuous and Savage asked Col. Farr's permission to shoot him, but as Morgan’s orders were to let the enemy get close before firing on him, Col. Farr restrained him, but that Savage importuned him repeatedly to let him fire when Col. Farr finally told him to “let him have it,” when Savage fired and the office fell. Thus opened the Battle of CowpensI have also heard that Maj. McJunkin in his manuscript account of the Battle of Cowpens said that on the eve of the battle Morgan addressed his army and closed by asking who would “go out and bring on the fight, that Col. Farr replied, “I will, am that he and other volunteers to a sufficient number did so. History, however, credits McDowel of North Carolina with the honor.South Carolina and her people have made much history creditable to the State and her people, but have written little, hence it has been easy for others to get the credit.Tradition in our family taught us that Cob Karr fought at Ramseur's Mill in North Carolina and a number of other places, including Musgrove Mill. Also that while camped with his command on Brown's creek near what was later known as the “Sharp and later as the Nethers place that he heard of Tories robbing the people near what was afterwards Mann's old field. He, with the troops he hail, went after them at once and routed them and killed four or five of them and buried (hem near the old field mentioned above. I have seen the place where they were buried, but could not locate it now. Dr. A. E. Kant, in his time, knew the exact snot,Once when the Whigs had been iriven from the west side of Broadriver and were camped on the east side, Col, Farr heard his wiife wassick anil determined to visit her to see her condition. Maj. Joseph McJunkin, ('apt. Wm. Giles, Adam Skain andThomas Word volunteered to accompany him. They crossed the Broad river at night and approached it cautiously and found the home full of Tories. Farr and Giles went to one door and McJunkin, Skane and Word to the other. McJunkin knocked at his door and the Tories rushed to the other one to make their escape. Farr killed the first one to put his head out with his sword. He and his friends then rushed into the house and captured the lot. His friends told him to look after the family, they would look after the prisoners. Rev. J. H. Saye told me that McJunkin said the prisoners were taken off and soon disposed of and werS never heard of afterwards. That Farr’s friends soon returned to the house where Farr made such provisions for his family as the short time permitted and the whole party returned to the east side of the river before day.Colonel Farr’s negro Lemerick,” who accompanied him on his campaigns, lived long after his master died and I have been told was lavish in talking of his master’s prowess in [war. One of his stories was that “Everybody said Col. Shelby whipped | the British at Musgrove Mill, hut 'that was not right for old master had them whipped before Col. Shelby got there. This, however, is a negro story.Col. Farr was prominent in civil life after the war. He held several positions of honor and trust. He was a member of the legislature and in speaking of one of his colleagues always called him “Gizzards. Why, 1 1 never knew.Gen. Edward Lacy, of Chester, Col. Baylis Ear] and Col, Wm. Farr were appointed by the State legislature to locate the courthouse for Pinckney District, which contained a large portion of the western part of the State. They located it at Pinckneyvi He near Broad river, in what is now Union county, I have heard that Col, Farr was once sheriff of Pinckney District. The records of the courts of Pi nek-neyville now in the clerk of court’s office at Union will probably show whether or not this is so.Mrs. Frances Farr Chapman, daughter of T. G, Farr and granddaughter of Col, Farr, is living near Halsell-ville in Chester county. His next nearest descendant in this State that I know of are Mrs. Nancy Fowler, David J, Farr of Kellys and Capt. F. M. Farr of Union, J. B. and Robert Farr and their sister at Clinton and another sister, Mrs. Wm. Jeter, at Carlisle, grandchildren of Robert Goodloe Harper Furr and the grandchildren of my grandmother, Mrs. Frances Farr Thomas, wife of David Anderson Thomas, who as I remember now are: Mrs. Frances GilliamLyles of Whitmire and her sister. Mrs. Ellen Gilliam McCrackin of Santue, children of Mrs. Eleanor Thomas Gilliam. Mrs. Mary Thomas Williams of Columbia, John P. Thomas, Rivers Thomas and their sisters, Mrs. C, Bis-sel Jenkins and Mrs. T, T. Hyde, Sr.,of Charleston and Mrs. Mattie Blakely of Sumter, children of Dr. John P. Thomas, Miss Marion Thomas of Hartsville, daughter of Col. Mabry Thomas and my sister, Miss Leanora Thomas, Johh P. Thomas and myself, Children of James Thomas.Col. Wm. Farr died in 1791 and was buried in what was then and afterwards known as the “Sartor Grave Yard, near Broad river, on what was later known as the Scaife place. His grave was never marked.What I have written of my greatgrandfather, Lieut. Col. Wm. Farr, is what I have often heard told by my father, James Thomas, and others of my relatives of the generation before me and I send it to the. Fair Forest Chapter, Daughters of American Rcv-dfrution, unvarnished.Now as to other Revolutionary soldiers who lived in Union, the Hughes family, memhers of which seem to have lived on both sides of Broad river were alt soldiers on the American side. One of them while going on a mission from a point in the Mount Tabor section to Otterson’s Fort on Tiger river, a mile perhaps above where the railroad between Carlisle and Whitmire crosses said river, was waylaid by several Tories and murdered on what has ever since been called “Hughes Hill. This hill is on the lands of the late Mrs. Alice Friday in Santue section. Hughes’ sons hunted their father's murderers and killed several of them, one at a time, wherever they found them.Mordlca Chandler was a prominent soldier of Union hut I have forgotten any particulars I have heard of his services.James Johnson, who lived in Beaver Dam Creek, where the late Wm. J Tucker died, was a true patriot and a good soldier, was captured with one ' hJs comrades near Johnson’s home by the Tories. The Tories took Johnson to his home and hung him in the presence of his family. They spared his comrade.James Jeter was the progenitor of the large and prominent family of that name in Union county, settled after the war east of Santue. He was a Virginian but seems to have lived east of Broad river in the time of the war. He served in Capt. David Hop-kin s company. Captain Hopkins was a Chester man.Captain Peter and William Sartor lived m the Santue section and I always heard them spoken of as worthy men and gallant soldiers. Captain William Sartor has many worthy descendants in Union now, who may be able t„ give you some particulars of his and his brother Peter's srvices. If I ever heard any 1 have forgotten them. ('apt. Wm. Sartor was buried .n the Sartor graveyard. Ilis g-nvn is not marked.Adam, Peter and John Skain were brothers and Jived in the Santue section, 1 always heard them spoken of In the highest terms, both as citizens and soldiers. John Skain was wounded in the Battle of Cowpens and diedon the field soon after the battle ended. Before he died Adam was carrying him water. In doing so he passed a British officer, who was mortally wounded. The officer asked Adam for some water. Adam told him he would give him some as soon as he served his brother, who was in a similar condition. He did so and after the officer drank the water he told Skain that he had a gold watch in his pocket which he wanted to give him for his kindness to him and asked (Skain to take it out Skain thanked him but declined, saying, It never shall be said that Adam Skain plundered a fallen enemy.” The officer then asked a bystander to take the watch and give to Skain. He did so and Skain receivedT the watch with appropriate thanks. I don’t think the Skains have any descendants in Union county now.John was buried on the battlefield at Cowpens, and Adam and Peter were buried in Skain graveyard a mile or so below Santue station. I don’t think their graves are marked.D. A. Thomas.Gaffney, S. C., Oct 2ff, 1916.(This paper written by Mr. Thomas is very highly prized by the Fair Forest Chapter, D. A. K., and contains touch valuable history. A rising vote 'of thanks was given him.—Regent.)HOUSE AND LOT SALE.I will sell at public auction on Salesday, Feb. 5, at noon, in front of the courthouse door, the house and lot occupied by Dolphus Jeter, situated on Wallace street, in the town of Union, and bounded on the East by Wallace street, South and West by the estate of Geo. C. Perrin, North by lot of C. L. Freeman.Terms of sale: Cash.3-3 F. M, Farr.RAIDERIn Additio Are. CtKER-PLUNK,She was a dream. She was fairer than the dawn. She seemed to float across the big room, such was her grace. Everybody looned. The typewriters stopped. Even the telegraph instruments stopped. Not for many a day had the office been freshened by such a vision. She approached our desk. Proudly we rose. With a smile that revealed the whitest of teijth, she asked, Where’s the city editor at? —Ex,CARD OF THANKS,We take this method of thanking our friends for their kindness to us and to our loved one during her last illness and death. May God in His mercy bless each of you.John T. Wix,Janie V. Westmoreland, Ezekiel Wix. 3-1-pdEight E sels have and two 1 by a Gern Annoum made toda confirming circulation man raide the screen raped to t So far i announcen large. A[ erating of!The firsi reived wit] Brazil, on Japanese which had 237 men t stroyed bel Uary 12.In addil Yarrowdal sels, was s who w-ere these men The Br on Decemh received tl set of the in the nor It was re| strange ve was intern northwest* was permi impression steamship later that 1 on that daiYES! LIJCincinnati Up a CiInquiries have been received from Buenos Aires, says the New York Sun, about American automobile accessories. •You co need suff* that near Cincinnat drops of 1 tender, a soreness i hardened lifted out A smal little at n lively tal corn or e as it is in irritate tli If vour tell him t from his fine stuff time.Mr. Step neighborho
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Union Times
Union, South Carolina, US
Fri, Jan 19, 1917
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USA 14 Mar 2025
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