The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1903-11-26
GENTLEMAN OF THE OLD SCHOOL
An Interesting Biographical Sketch
of Major B., an Antebellum Gentle
man Of Old Barnwell District.

ULMER, November 1S.-Mention was
made in previous communication of a
noted character, Major B., of Old Barn.
we'll District. 1t is strange, passing
strange, that more is not recorded of
these old landmarks and pioneers of the
ante-bellum days.
Without going into biographical
sketch of the late Major, only few par
agraphs will be irdited here for the read
ers of your valuable journal. He was of
stalwart form, expressive facial Inca
ments and commanded the respect of all
wherever he appeared. In his domicile
he was hospitable to the core, and with a
noble Southern wife and large family
of sons and daughters, that home was the
Mecca of many pleasure-seeking visitors.
He was great admirer of the beautiful
in womankind, stickler for true princi-
pies in his fellowmen, dotted on pets in
fur and: feathers, and loved symmetry
and get-up in horse-fesh.
He, together with the late Ex-Governor
Hagood and others, instituted the far
famed Sherwood Jockey Club, at Barn.
we'll Court House, before the war. Here
the notable race-horsemen of Augusta,
Greenville, Fairfield, Columbia, Orange
burg, Sumter, Darlington, and Charles
ton, were wont to meet annually about
Christmas-tide and spend few days OF
gaiety and pleasure-many ladies attend
ing the races in the day and enjoying the
terpsichorean amusements at night. The
Major always owned one of the swiftest
racers, as many silver cups and gold-lined
goblets attested on his dining-room ma.
hogany side-table. Though he possessed
and had seen many fine specimens OF
horses, he had never met his beau ideal,
and he determined to visit the famous
Blue Grass region of Kentucky. So in
one year of the fifties, he with his brother
in-law, Bob a., took steamer at Charles
ton for New York, stopping in the great
metropolis long enough to take in" the
sights, its sunshine and shadows. They
saw women here, on the boulevards,
in "abbreviated clothes and spangled
hose" such as they had never seen in the
Southland, and spoke of it more than
once on their return home, saying that
the Southern ladies were more reserved
and common-sensible than the Gothem-
ties.
Leaving New York, in two or three
days more they were treading the "dark
and bloody ground" of "old Kaintuck." ."
They visited many studs, and stock farms,
and the Major saw so many "beau ideals"
that he with his companion purchased a
fine drove, among which it was said were
some of the prettiest mules and horses
ever brought to lower Carolina.
The Major was great admirer OF
Andrew Jackson, the "hero of New
Orleans" and he longed to visit "The
Hermitage" few miles from Nashville,
Tenn, and for years the residence of the
great chieftain, though they would neces-
sarily make a considerable detour in
doing so. Here they again feasted their
eyes on broad clover and Bermuda pas
lures and sleek stock, swine, kline and
equine; waving lawns, stately trees,
trellissed summer-houses, huge out-barns
and granaries, and, above them all, stood
the lordly mansion, into which the genial
host and manager (name now forgotten)
escorted the newcomers from attic to
wine-cellar, passing on the way the little
ante-room to the library, containing the
cabinet for tempting liquors (did they
stop here?) and then entered the spacious
double-parlor, and were soon engaged in
a slap-dash confabulation and reminis-
cences of "Old Hickory"
After sojourning here for a few days
they Quilted the historic old manse and
set out with their well-rested stock for
the journey, home, meeting with some
pleasing incidents but no accidents en-
route.
Major B. had hail friend and admirer
in Barnwell, who presented him with an
orange walking stick, cut from his large
plantation in Louisiana which was mount
ed with q gold head. costing $40. This
highly priced cane he was compelled to
use on an advancing adversary several
years afterwards and it was fractured,
but the pieces were repaired and we'll
kept until his demise. 1t is now in pos
session of one of his daughters-the wife
of one of your former townsmen-and
she is sacredly preserving it as family
heirloom. If memory serves well, the
head bears this inscription: "From J. D. A.
to Major W. R. B., December, 1856"
S. o. JoURNER.