The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-08-02

A PUBLIC BENEFACTOR.
Brief Sketch of Thoma. g. Clemson'o Life
From, the Columbia Register.

Brief Sketch of Thomas g. Clemaon's Life.
From the Columbia Register.
FoRr Hill, S. c., July 21.-There
is, perhaps, no more interesting figure
in South Carolina to-day than Thomas
G.. Clemson. If the views he enter
tanned on the subject Of education are
correct, he has done more, perhaps, to
advance the interest and the prosperity
of the people of South Carolina than
any man who has ever lived in the
State. The war had overthrown that
order and condition of things in the
South that rendered the people Of the
Southern States a distinctive people,
and left them in deplorable condi-
tion. Mr.. Clemson fully comprehend
ed these changes. He saw that a
different system Of education was
absolutely necessary to meet the
changed condition Of the people, and,
having faith in his convictions, he
boldly stepped forth and gave his all
for the establishment of a system OF
education which he believed would
meet the necessities Of the people and
advance the interest and prosperity Of
South Carolina. And if his views on
the subject Of education are correct, he
has stamped his name indelibly upon
the history of South Carolina.
: IL is natural. therefore, to desire to
know something of this man, who he
was, where he came from, etc: The
following short sketch Of his Lite was
obtained from members of his family
and from records still in existence:
Thomas G.. Clemson was born in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July /,
1907, and died at Fort Hill, April 8,
1883. His father was merchant in
the city where he was born. at the
age Of sixteen he was upwards of six
feet tall and was very handsome
youth. Desiring to see something Of
the world, he ran away from home and
went to Europe. After awhile he
landed in Paris, and there became
acquainted with some Of the sons Of
the leading citizens Of that city,
While he was there, one Of the many
revolutions broke out, and shouldering
his musket he joined his friends and
participated in the revolution.
On account of these services his
friends secured for him a place in the
celebrated School of Mines of Paris.
He remained at this school four years
and received his diploma, and then
returned home. During his absence
his father had died. His estate had
been settled up, but the part thereof
which belonged to young Clemson,
owing to the negligence of some OF his
brothers, was entirely lost. At the
age Of 2l, he was, then, left without
any property, but he was not without
resources. He Immediately turned
his attention to che practice Of his
profession, that of mining engineering,
and was largely instrumental in de-
veloping the coal, iron and steel indus
tries Of Pennsylvania and other States.
In his profession he was eminently
successful, and rapidly accumulated
wealth, Mr.. Clemson was six feet,
six inches tall, straight as an Indian,
and commanding in appearance. His
features were straight, his eyes were
fine and piercing and in manners he
was polished and elegant. About this
time he met Miss Anna Calhoun, at
Washington city. He visited her
there and at her fathers home at Fort
Hill, and they were eventually mar
ried.
After his marriage he purchased a
tract of land within a few miles of
Washington city and there settled.
During the administration of Presi-
dent Van Buren,, he was appointed
Minister to Belgium. Mr.. Clemson
was an amateur artist Of considerable
repute. During his residence in Eu-
rope his taste in this direction threw
him into the society of the artists OF
that day and time, and it was here
and under these circumstances that ne
gathered together many celebrated
works of art, now the property Of the
State and now on exhibition at Fort
Hill. Many of these paintings were
painted by the artists and made a
present to Mr.. Clemson.
When the war-of secession broke
out, Mr.. Clemson was then living with
his family at his homestead near
Washington. His family consisted Of
his wife, son, John Calhoun Glenn
son, and daughter, Floride Clemson:
Mr.. Clemson was an ardent friend OF
John G. Calhoun and great admirer
and supporter of his political doctrines.
In politics he was Democrat, and his
sympathies were entirely with the
South in this contest. While remain
ing at his home, he was aware that he
was under the surveillance Of the Fed
eral authorities. - In 1862 he was noti-
fed by friend that he and his son,
Calhoun Clemson, were to be arrested
that night. Hastily packing up a few
necessary articles, they crossed the
Potomac that night in a skiff and
walked from there to Richmond and
Immediately rendered their services to
President Davis. Mr.. Clemson was
appointed at once to the nitre and
mining department of the Transmits
sissippi Army, to which place he i'm
mediately repaired and there remained
in the service of the government until
the close of the war. His son, Cal
houn Clemson, was appointed a Lieu
tenant and was sent to the mountains
of the Carolinas and Georgia as a
recruiting officer. Mrs. Clemson and
her daughter remained at the North
during the balance of the war for the
purpose of saving their property, all
of which was invested there.
At the close of the war, Mr.. Glenn
son came to Pendleton and resided
with his mother-in-law, Mrs. John T..
Calhoun, and at her request sent on
for his wife and daughter, and con-
tinucd to reside with Mrs. Calhoun
until her death.
In common with the Southern peo-
pie, the result of the war left his
financial affairs very much embar-