Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1853-02-16
nlistelln11fous.
From the Georgia Home Gazette.
GEORGE M'DUFFIE.

In country like ours, with a political and
social organization respecting neither birth
nor afflucnce in the distribution OF political
favors, every incident connected with the
early history and character of our great men,
naturally excites degree Of interest. Proba
bly, the early life of no man connected with
the curriculum of Southern craftsmanship
presents more chequercd scenes, and ardu
Gus tolls in the way of honorable promotion,
than that Of George McDuflic. The father
of Mr.. McDuflie was a Tailor Mr.. Nc
Dutie was born in Columbia county, Geor.
gia-the place of his birth benign now owned
by the Rev. William p Steed, of Warren
county, and is situated near Salem Church,
few miles from Thompson ON the Georgia
Railroad. The house in which he was born
is made of hewed logs, and is supposed to
stand now in the yard, in front of which are
the remains of a huge Oak, measuring eight
feet and two inches in diameter; emblemat-
Cal of the immense mental calibre of the great
man in our caption, who had often in his
childhood reclined under its widespread
boughs. The parents Of Mr.. McDuiiie were
Scotrh.lrish, originally or by decent. His
mother was woman of active mind, pas
sionatel y fond Of music, and performed ex.
cellently upon the Violin Mr. McDufie had
three sisters, all Of them women Of fine Ca
pacty. One of them married Mr.. Reese
Of Warren or Columbia county. The ohly
brother Mr.. McDuffie had, uied, it Is believed,
a few years since in Muscogee county
where he resided. Where the father of MIR.
McDuffie died, we are not apprised, The
remains OF his mother rcpose near Mai. Elias
Wilson's in Warren county, not many miles
from where he was born. Mr.. McDuflie
was the Youngest son of the family, aud was
born it is thought, in August, 1850. The
earliest days of his boyhood were spent in
roaming upon Sweet Water Creek, near the
family home, enjoying the spirits incident to
the times. His schoolboy days were devo-
ted mostly to attending the school exercises
of a Mr. Greenwood or Greenwood, upon the
spot where Sweet Water Church now stands
The last school Mr.. McDuiHe attended, was
near his old friend and schoolmate, Major
Wilson's, of Warren county. The teacher
was named Haneman. This school was
taught, it is believed, in 1903. In 1904, if
our informant is not in error, Mr.. McDulfie
was clerk in store at Sweet Water Mills,
in Warren, where the Rev. Mr.. Blanchard
now resides. At the above place, it appears
he did not remain long, but through the in
fluence Of q Mr.. Hodo, he went to Augusta,
Georgia, and became clerk in mercantile
establishment. After his advent to Augusta,
we know nothing Of his history; save his
subsequent political acts, which are well
known to almost every Southerner. We
learn from an old and intelligent school.
mate of Mr.. NIcDuhies, who also furnished
us the preceding data, that Mr.. McDufie
was exceedingly popular at school, and ex
hibited all those brilliant manifestations of
mental capacity, which distinguished his ca
reer in South Carolina, in lS49 or 80 /; at
all events not a great while prior to his
death, he came to take "last look" of the
place of his birth. His recollection was IN.
distinct, and he recognised but few of the
landmarks of his "boyish days." and found
but two of his schoolmates alive the late
! Mr. Langston and Major Elias Wilson. He