The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1896-09-30
Hon. 3. L Caughman.
A Man in Whose Prominence All
lexington is Proud.

ID. L. duSuuiau was ooi IL al A' y
ington County, Aug. %, 1851 He
is son of Martin C.ughman and
Kesiah Wyse, sister Of the late
Capt Joe Wyse, who served the
public in old Edgefeld county. Mr..
Clughmans parents o. both sides
were of German descent. When but
babe his father died, thus leaving
the rearing and training Of ten
children, alone, to a widowed mother.
He spent his boy and young man
hood among the old hills of Saluda
river. He married Miss D. S. Ay-
cock, Oct 27, 1875, and in the fol-
lowing January moved to Edgefeld
county, settling at Mt. Willing where
he has lived ever since.
Mr.. Caughman was raised q
Lu heran, but after moving to Edge
field, no Lutheran church being near,
was received by letter into the Metho-
dist church, and has taken an active
part in all church matters, as is
shown by his being delegate to the
annual Conference at least two or
three times. While a member of the
Methodist church he is broad and
liberal in his views, as an evidence he
was one of the organizers Of the
Interdenominational Sunday School
Convention in Edgefeld county, and
has never missed single Convention.
AS business man and fnancier,
he started in life without dollar,
comparatively speaking. His only
opportunity Of educational advanta-
ges was due TO his working and
making his way one year to Pine
Ridge Academy, and part Of ano-
other, to Oak Grove academy, under
the tutorship of Prof. Schoenberg,
but has been for twenty years, and
is now, close student. He pui-
chased part of the old Mt. Willing
tract of land, going in debt for 200
acres, which he worked and paid for
in three years. Then going in debt
for 200 acres more, still adding until
he worked and paid for about 500
acres of land, up to 1887. 10 the
meantime he never let any church or
charitable institution suffer for want
of help from him, he has always
made it rule never to turn even q
tramp away from his door, but en-
tertained the best he could.
HIS POLITICAL CAREER.
When a young man he followed
his elder brother, Capt. A H. Caugh
man. and many other brave men, IN
eradicating radicalism from Lexing-
ton county, and in 1876 he was a
member OF the Mount Willing Red
shirt company and followed the
gallant Mart Gary in routing Repub
licanism from the State. He was
elected to the House Of Representa-,
tives from Edge6eld county in 1894
on first ballot as Reformer. He
was always found at the post OF duty
working for reform and the best In
terest of the whole people. He was
an ardent worker for Saluda County:
both in 1884 and 1895. He met
with the Constitutional Convention
and worked both night and day for
ten days until the county was OBJ
tanned. He was made Commissioner
of Saluda county by the Convention.
and has ever worked for the best in
terest of the whole people in organiz
ing our new county. Believing II
white supremacy alone, he was
elected delegate to the Nat. Dem
C,n. in Chicago in 1896, and was al
enthusiastic worker for W. j. Bryan
as our standard bearer OF the Demo
cratic party Of the United States
He was elected by nice majority II
the primary, with FIVE good men IL
the field, thus showing the conn
dence the people of Saluda had II
him. He has been an Alllancemar
from its introduction into the State
though could not enter as eharte
member on account Of beng en-
gagged in the mercantile business a
the time. He sold to the Alilanc
for twelve months at smaller pc
cent than any other merchant. A
the close of 1890 he came out OF tn
mercantile business and ldentlhe'
himself with the Alliance and is nov
an ardent worker, and serving a
president Of Mt Willing Allianc
and has never failed to meet since 1t
organization.
MIR Caughman never boasts OF al
cestry, but is proud to be called
commoner and is never ashamed t
be classed with the common people
one of whom he is and Of which b
is proud.
NaaAI