The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-06-13
THE VANDIVER FAMILY.
An Account Of Two Pioneer Settlers Of Upper Carolina
Prior to the Revolutionary War.

drcn are Mrs. Willie \ andlvcr Whit
field, wife Of j.. B. Whitfield, part
ncr in the Opelika house, and two
sons Henry Frank Vandiver and
Robert NJ Eandivcr-young men jus,
entering business life. Matthew Van.
diver and his brother, Sanford, here
matter mentioned, were very much
alike, and their ministerial labor simi
lar in nearly every particular
Returning to the sons in South Caro-
lima, We find that John Vandiyer died
at his place near \ cal s Creek in 1916.
He purchased this place in 1897,
which now fell to his son, Elan.
This son was a Lieutenant in Capt.
John Is. Moorc's Company, Orr s
Regiment, and died Of disease in 1862.
The land then fell into the possession
of his son, Major j. n. Vandivcr, our
County Supervisor, who, with his
mother, still owns it, and thus it has
been in the family over a century.
Maj. Eandiver, at 1G, joined his
father 8 Company, was severely wound
ed at Fredericksburg, and then with
pneumonia and his wound had close
call for life. In the Bloody Angle at
Spottsylvania G.. II. he was shot
through the lung, almost fatally, from
which he suffered for years, but has
survived it all, and now looks the
picture Of health.
The other son, Rev. Sanford Vandi-
yer, born in Fairfield District in 1856
and died at Townvilic in 1917, was
closely identified with his ministerial
work in the Saluda Association for
nearly forty years. He was pastor at
Salem, Meals Creek, Mt. Tabor, An
dcrson, Greenville, and Churches in
Greenville, Laurcns and Pickens Dis
tricts. This historian says of him that
he travelled much, preaching wherever
an interest was manifested, and was
known as great rcviyalist in those
days. His voice was musical and his
sermons eloquent, full Of tender
pathos, moving multi.udes &c tears,
and his labors blest in bringing thou
sands Of souls to Christ. He was
pastor Of the First Church at Auder-
son from its organization at Mt. Tabor
in 1921 until 1913. His children were
Helena T., who married Samuel
Brown, and died at Townville at the
age of "a; Peter S., prominent law
yer in his day at Anderson; James
M., now residing in Mississippi, aged
85 years; Emaline married j. r. Cox;
Susan married John A. Simpson; Ed
ward died at Fair Play in 1899; Capt.
II. r. Vandiver, who recently died at
Townville; Elizabeth Fa,le, who mar
ried Col. D. A. iedbetter. All OF
them dead, except James and Mr.. Led
better. The. life and public service
of Capt. H. r. Vandiyer are 80 we'll
known as to need nc reference 10 them
here.
Peter S. Vaudiver was remarkable
man. Brought up on the farm, and
with only some old-ield schooling, he
began life for himself as clerk in the
store, and then partner with his
brother-in-law, Samuel Brown. At
the age of 26 he re entered the school
room as pupil Of Wesley Leverett,
and studying law was admitted to the
Bar at the age Of 20, and died at the
age Of AZ, after acquiring fortune and
reputation in his profession. In his
brief professional life-1s4O to 1854
he had to grapple with such lawyers
for honors as Judge Whitner, j. W.
Harrison, Nsddy Thompson, 3. F.
Perry, A. Burt, j. L. Orr, H. c.
Young, and other distinguished law
yers Of the Western Circuit. 1t was
in the Court Of Equity and as real
estate lawyer and IN conveyances that
he was pre.eminent. He practiced
alone until 1848 when he, with the
late Judge j. P. Reed, formed CO.
partnership, and the firm Of Reed and
Vandiver did an immense business,
which ended with his death-the only
Vandiver ever known to have died Of
consumption. His Bills in Equity
were models Of neatness, aud his de-
scriptions of persons and natter were
unrivalled in terseness and pungenoy.
In social life he was entertaining in
conversation and song, his peculiar
piping voice adding interest to both,
and as mimic had no equal. He
never married.
OF che other descendants of Sanford
Vandiver there are residing in this
city Joseph N. Brown, Fred G.. Brown,
Misses Varina d. Brown, Olive NJ.
D.>-~ - n4:oo Af>~nsn " D.