The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-03-25
MISSED 4 GROWN.
An Interesting Chapter of South
Carolina History.

|
Carolina History.
Boston Education Magazine.
South Carolina has had one promi-
nent man Of whom it may be said, ole
missed G. crown" An account of him
and his family forms IL chapter OF in
tcrcst in the annals Of the L. .storic Pal
metto State.
The Middlctons arc not only one Of
the most distinguished, but also one of
the oldest OF the Carolina families. An
account OF them and their estates reads
almost like tho history Of some noble
family OF England. Before the English
had been permanently settled in the
colony Il dozen years, we find Edward
MldddlctOn a member oi the conncil
under the Lords Proprietors. He was
born in England and inherited large
property. His son, Arthur Middleton,
headed the revolution which threw of
| the rule of the Lords Proprietors and
placed the province directly under the
protection Of the English crown. He
was afterwards Governor Of the PROV
ince. Henry Middleton, son OF Arthur,
was president Of the Continental Con.
grcss In l775.
was Arthur, who was signer Of the
Declaration Of Independence. He was
the son Of Henry Gust mentioneol and
was born at the family seat in l743.
lie received his education in England.
In 1873 he took the fed in defense Of
Charleston, and the following year he
was made q prisoner, but was after
wards exchanged. At one time during
the revolution he declined the Govern
orship Of his ST tie. Hc died in 1857.
His home, the Middleton Place (Which
was in the low country OF South Caro-
lina) has been destroyed, but the fol-
lowing "pen picturen of the grounds,
published in 1883, will give the reader
an idea of what a fine place it must
have been:
'Thc old gates with their massive
pillars stand intact but Of the home
stead itself only the chimncys and parts
OF the walls remain. At Middleton
Place, an Englishman would feel at
home even to-day. Many Of the old
terraces and hedges remain as they
were century ago, and the ample
grounds, which ire tolcrably we'll kept,
have dccidcdly English air. This
| place IS still ia possession Of the Mid
dlcton family"
| During the present century this
family has furnished one governor to
South Carolina: that was Henry Mid
dlcton, son Of the "signcr:" he flied
the Office 1910 -, after which he served
in Congress, and was also, for several
years, minister to Russia. When "a
young man, he Travelled Il good deal in
Europe, and for some time during the
French revolution was in France. His
death occurred in 1916.
| Governor Middleton and the late
Gov. Benjamin II. Perry were both
members Of the Union party during the
stirring times Of nulification, and Gov
crnor Perry, in his delightful "Remi-
niscenccs" (Which can we'll be read
with pleasure and profit by many others
besides South Caroiniansl has given
us n pleasant sketch Of Governor Mid
dlcton, with whom he was we'll ac-
quaintcd. Among other things he
says:
"Govcrnor Middleton told nc that
he was personally acquainted with
almost every distinguished man in
Europe. He saw Bonnpartc in every
station which no had flied, from that
OF General Of the Interior to his seat
on tho throne OF France. He was on
terms Of intimacy with him while hewas
General OF the Interior, and was in the
habit Of visiting his family. At one
period OF their acquaintance he re-
ceivcd encouragement to address his
stcp.daughtcr. Little did then
think, said Governor Middleton, that
she would ever be a queen"
Am | not right in saying that Gov
crnor Middleton missed Il crown? Who
can doubt that, had he married Ma
poleon'S step daughter, he would after
wards have been made king OF some Eu-
ropcan country by the great warrior,
and he would undoubtedly have made
a wise and just ruler. We may sup
pose, however, that as Governor Of an
American State he vas probably hap
pier than he would have been as king
Of some European country.
MCDONALD FURMAN.
Ramsey, S. {.