The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-04-20
From the .Ab6eriNe Medium.
PEN PICTURES OF THE PRESS.
SAMUEL w. MAURICE.


the most widely known men connected
with the South Carolina Press, and one
of the most deserving Hc was born in
williamsburg county, South Carolina,
on October 20, 1888, and is now in the
forty-third year of his age. He was the
Youngest of fourteen children on the
paternal and of seven on the maternal
side, both father and mother having been
twice married. At the time of his birth
his father was sixty and his mother
thirty-nine years of age. Their posses
sions were small, and it required the
greatest exercise of economy to "makc
both ends meet" Even in those old
fashioned days, when there was a dignity
about labor, when the cut and texture of
a mans garments was not taken as an in
dication of merit, but when real worth
was the most valuable stock in trade, it
was something of burden to fill the
mouths and cover the backs of so numc-
rous progeny. The country was sparse
ly settled, the modes of travel primitive
and burdensome, and the opportunities
for education limited. School houses
were located at wide distances apart, and
it required the outlay of a greater amount
Of money than most families could afford
to put the youthful mind unSer proper
cultivation. The subject of this sketch
was under the restraint common to all,
and when fifteen years of age could bare
ly write his name; but "mcrit will
mount" and making the most of his ad-
vantages young Maurice studied hard,
read everything he could get his hands
on, and acquired rich and varied fund
of information. We may be pardoned
just here for saying that, perhaps, the
greatest benefit bestowed upon the world
by the establishment of this 'bcst gov
crnmcnt the sun ever shone on" is the
principle that every man is the architect
of his own fortune, and that wealth, posi-
tion and refinement do not depend upon
any accident of birth or station. The
greatest glory of this nation and her best
heritage to succeeding generations is the
long list of sclf-madc men who have
risen out of poverty and obscurity, and
given quickening, undying impulse to
American civilization. But we digress.
When eighteen years of age, young
Maurice assumed the role Of pedagogue
and welded the birch with all the digni-
ty and grace common to that period. lie
had good school and taught with un-
varying success. His manner of teach
ing was comprehensive and thorough,
and under his control and guidance his
pupils made rapid progress. After teach
ing for several years he relinquished his
school, and gathering together his saw
ings, with a part of the money derived
from the sale of the old family home
stead, he repaired to the University Of
Virginia, where he matriculated as a
student of law, the means at his COM
mand not allowing him to take the regu-
lar collegiate course of study. This was
in October, 1854. In July, 1856, after
nine months of the most assiduous appli-
cation, Mr.. Maurice returned to his
home, and in the fall of 1856 entered the
law Office Of Messrs. DeSaussure & Son,
III. A. and Wilmot g. in Charleston,
S. c., to complete his study of the law,
and to prepare himself for admission to
practice. In May, 1857, he received a
most fattering certificate to stand his ex-
animation before the Court of Appeals.
This examination came off in May, and
through the whole of it Mr.. Maurice
passed with the greatest credit, without
having seen the questions to be pro-
pounded and without any private "gerry-
Wandering" Maxcy Gregg, at that time
one of the foremost lawyers in this State,
and afterwards one Of the most gallant
generals in the Confederate service,
directed the examination on pleading
and practice, which was rigid and exact
ing, and, although it required considera-
bic nerve to stand before such court as
that, Maurice passed through the ordeal
with flying colors, and WAS admitted to
practice law in the courts Of this State.
Immediately after his admission to the
bar, Mr.. Maurice went to Kingstrec, the
county seat of Williamsburg county, and
there hung out his shingle. When he
landed at Kingstree his prospects were
not particularly bright or encouraging.
He was young and without experience.
He found some eight or ten lawyers of
established practice and reputation with
whom to contend, and had to make good
his claims to public favor before he could
hope to achieve any lasting success in his
chosen profession. Five dollars in
money, a heart full of Futures" and an
undying determination to succeed made
up the foundation upon which he estab-
lished himself. He took board attwenty
dollars per month, and in less than Il
week got ten dollar case, and thus
began his career. In the management of
this case the stronger points of his
character were brought to the surface, his
ability was made manifest and the hit so
decided that his Office began to be filled
with clients and his desk with briefs. In
partnership with Wilmot e. DcSaussurc,
Esq, of Charleston, under the firm name
of DeSaussure & Maurice, he practiccd
his profession until the breaking out of
the war, when he threw aside the peace
full toga of his profession and made conf
mon cause with his country against the
outrageous usurpations of the Federal
Government. He believed that the con-
stitution of the fathers had been rudely
tramplcd upon and violated, and with
patriotic devotion sustained the action of
his State in her formal act of secession.
On January 4, 1861, he entered the
service of the State as first lieutenant of
the "Wce Nee Volunteers" John G.
Pressly captain commanding, under Col
oncl Maxcy Gregg at Sullivan's S Island,
in Charleston Harbor. He took part in
the siege of Fort Sumter, which was gar
risoned by company of United States
Regulars under command of Major Rob
ert Anderson. After the capture of this
important ratification, Mr.. Maurice re-
turned to his home and organized Il COM
pany, of which he was unanimously
elected captain. This company was
known as the "VYcc Nee Riflemcn,' and
did duty at Georgetown with what was
known is the IIarllcc Legion. After the
disorganization Of this command Mr..
Maurice applied for an appointment in
the Ordnance Department, and stood his
examination at Mobile, Alabama.-
] Thcrr wcrc fifty anplications for appOint