The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1873-08-02


Sometimes great, strapping, bare footed
youths would t,aasc along by the side
OF the cart with gun IN their shoulder
going in to the place these - purchase
powder and shot for the purpose of WA.
ging war against the feathercd tribe.
The public buildings in Oraugeburg
in tho days ofwhich we are writing were
very few indeed. Such Ii thing as a
town hall, or hall Of any other kind, was
altogether unknown. The old court
house of that time was plain, modest,
unassuming, wooden building, two stories
in heighth, the first floor being devoted
to the sheriff's Office, that of the clerk of
court and Ordinary and tax. collector.
One or two lawyers also had their
Offices here. The court room and Jury
room occupied the second floor. The
room for bolding court at that time was
about forty feet square, with bare hoor,
unpaiutcd walls, wooden benches for the
judges, etc. This building in after
years was altered and repaired, changed
to private residence, and still stands
on the same spot it formerly occupied.
Not very far from thi, was the iail,
small, strong building of hewn logs,
rough and unpreposessing in pearance,
but serving well the purpose for which
it was designed. About this time tn C
new court house, since destroyed, was
in tie course Of erection and was soon
after finished, also the present Jail. This
last will stand for years to come
yet living monument to the industry
md perseverance Of those who planned
it. Tho days FAR holding court in
OranGeburg then was regarded as quite
lively time, great crowds focking
hithcr to attend the sessions. But dcs-
pite the influx of visitors, and the
whiskcy, which was pretty freely cir
culated, very few disturbances Of any
kind occurred, which spoke we'll for the
peaceableucss of the inhabitants. 81
Foremost among the lawyers stool
Jno. NJ. Fielder, Thomas w. Glover and
MIR. Whitmorc. or the talents and
popularity Of john NJ Fielder his cleo
ton soon after by the people of bis
native State to fill the position of Seua.
tor from that District was sufficient
proof. In the Senate Chamber as well
~ in the little court house ut home his
voice rang out fclrl, ssly iu defeuce of
the cause of truth and ri, lit, and never
Ivy word or deed did he ever betray the
confidence of the people, who had made
him their choice, but stood up boldly for
them, representative Of Shom Orange.
burg Imish well be proud. Mr.. Fclder
was 1.-the dark, ,complexiouc man,
with Back hair aud whiskerS, rather
below the medium height, somewhat
nervous and abslracted in manner, aud
iuclined so be brusquc in speech. In
the time Of which we are writing he
might otter BIC seeu Walking up aud
down the Principas streets Of the village,
his hat pulled down over his eyes,
deeply engaged in reflection. Some
times he has been known 50 pass by his
most ultimate friends without recorni
ton, SO deeply would lie be buried in
revric. Then again throwing off this
preocupicd air, he could be us merry
and jovial us any, aud his doors were
always Hospitality thrown upon to guests
and numerous were the happy hours
some of s5om spent at ''Cob-Web Hail."
as his residence was more Familiarity
called. This arpellatiuu grew out of
the Fact OF its masters bcius bachelor
for which lie was tauuted numerically Sy
"a number of waggish fellows around the
village, who declared his hou-e was
literally covered inside with cobwcbs for
the want Of "iair Iiand' to keep them
brushed away. Hut their jokes never
had the desired effect "Cob Web Hall
remained without mistress, its master
spending all his days i'll "single blessed.
ness"
Th mas w. Glover, Trough very
young at that time, was one of the most
talented aul rising young members of
the bar. Indeed his eloquenoe was
the theme OF every tongue. Sometimes
he seemed inspired, and then judge, ju-
ry, audience, forgot all else as they lis
tened chained, enraptured, to the
words Of thunder which rolled from the
lips Of the youthful Demosthenes. Nor