The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-10-31

w NAOSAA
services were in progress.
The interment was made in the
family plot in the cemetery, and Col
Blanding will sleep his last long sleep
beneath the sod Of the land he loved
so we'll and served so pat,iotically
throughout long and useful life.
The collowing sketch is from "Men
Of the Times
James Douglas Blanding, son of
Abram BIanding and Mary c. (nee
DeSaussure.) Was born in Columbia,
S. C, June 90 1921 From the Acade-
my in Columbia, he entered the South
Carolina college, and graduated with
distinction in the class of 1S41. Read
law under his uncle, William F.
DeSaussure, in Columbia. Admitted
to the bar in December, 1912. The
following year, 1S43, practiced at
Camden. Removed to Sumter, De-
cen1ber, 1S43, where lse continued the
practice with his uncle, under the
firm name of Blanding & DeSaussure.
He married Lenora A. McFadden, Of
Sumter County, February, 1S49. Sec
retary of the board of trustees of
1.-The South Carolina College from 1S43
to 1852, during which time he COM
piled the. catalogue Of all trustees, Of
ficers and students Of the college from
its beginning to 1858, which was made
by LaBorde part Of the appendix to
his history Of the college. Before the
war he was a trustee Of the Sumter
Academical Society, and after the war
q trustee of Davidson College, North
Carolina; also of the Agricultural and
Mechanical College Of South Caro-
lima, from it's reorganization in 1879
till 1892 Intendant of Sumter from
1852 to 1856. Member Of the Legis-
lature from Sumter County, from
1852 to 1858. Served as chairman Of
committee on education and on the
judiciary committee. He proposed
two amendments to the constitution
Of the State, both Of which were car
ried through; one Of local interest be-
ing the change Of the name OF Clare
mont to Sumter Legislative District,
the other of general interest, that all
elections Of the State should be held
on Tuesday, and for one day only, in
stead Of Monday and Tuesday in
October Of election years. He was
colonel Of the Twenty-Second Regi-
ment, South Carolina Militia, in the
forties. Was mustered into United
States service in 1916, and served
from the seige of Vera Cruz to the
capture of tie city of Mexico. Served
as adjutant and promoted to Captain
after Colonel Butler was killed. Mus
tered out Of service in September,
1S4S. He raised the first company in
Sumter District for State service.
which became Company d. of the
seco1s3 OF ne ten regiments raised by
the state II anticipation Of the Ordl-
nance q Secession Il Vas the 1vs,
regiment 10 reach 1aor1is Island be
fore fall OF Fort Sumter This regi-
metn was made the basis for the, or
ganization Of the second, the ninth,
and the twelfth regiments mustered
into Confederate service from South
Carolina, under the command Of
Colonel ]. B. Kershaw, Lieut.. Col. ].
D. Blanding and Major Dixon Barnes
Col. Blanding carried the ninth to Vir-
ginia, reaching First Manassas on the
evening of the battle. Being disabled,
he again tenderd his services to the
Confederacy and was ordered to re-
port to the Inspector general, and
was assigend to duty as inspector of
sea coast batteries from Charleston
to the North Carolina lire, and for
the regiments of reserves on the coast.
He also did duty in the ordinance de-
partment and so served until end OF
the war. Democratic. chairman Of Sum-
ter county from 1870 to 1884, and in
the memorable campaign Of 1876, his
county, with five negroes two
whites, elected full delegation tc
the house and all county Offices.
Served in al the Democratic State
Conventions from 1875 to 1890. By
that body in 1884, he was nominated
and elected presidential elector, and
as such had charge of the campaign
in the so-called Black District, and
OF cnurSa voted for CLEVELAND