The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-10-23

Clarendon Counties, was principally
made up from three different sources:
About the year 1886 the Irish Pres
byterians, under the Pioneer, John
Witherspoon. founded a settlement on
Black River in what is now Williams
burg County. These sturdy people
followed that stream towards its
source in Sumter County and they
and their descendants have at all
times constituted large and most
desirable element Of our population.
Other portions Of SImter District
were settled by The English Virgin
ians about 1745, principally upon that
long range Of rolling lands extending
from Lynch's Creek on the Northest
to the Santee River on the Southwest,
and constituting what is historically
known as the High Hills OF the San
tee. Other portions Of the District
were settled by the Scotch-Irish. who
came down from Pennsylvania after
Braddock's defeat in 17I5.
These various people intermarried
to some extent, and generally accumu-
lated property. many Of them attain
ing very great wealth.
This intermiXture of blood and diff
ferent National characteristics, the
accumulation of property, and oft
times holding widely divergent views
in matters of Religion, Politics and
property, would seem to have afford
ed rich field for litigation in the
settlement Of conflicting interests.
Whenever therefore cases arose which
involved moral principle, personal or
individual character, the litigation
was pursued with zeal and vigor to a
logical conclusion, under the forms of
Law, but, to the everlasting honor Of
the Bar Of Sumter, pe 1t known that
in a multitude Of instances where
there were merely differences of opin-
ion as to property rights. great
many Of these threatened Law Suits
were honorably and amicably adjust
ed by Counsel out of Court.
The result of this course Of proceed
ure has been most creditable and BEN
eficial, for, no bitter resentments have
been transmitted from Sire to Son:
and there are no unfortunate family
feuds existing in our community.
As further result, the people of
old Sumter in war and peace, and in
all the vicissitudes which have over
taken our country, have. generally
speaking. remained as a united. whole,
actuated by considerations OF friend
ship and respect towards each other,
and united in all public and patriotic
purposes.
This homeogeneity is now mani
tested anew by the generous approval
and support OF the public authori-
ties in establishing a new, costiy and
magnificent Court House. in which all
OF her citizens are united in emotions
Of personal and public satisfaction.
For several years before this splen-
did building was erected the question
of building new Court House to meet
the demands Of the growing City Of
Sumter and the increased Judicial
business OF Sumter County was gen.
orally discussed. but 1t was the inspi-
ration, in 1905. of Richard B. Belser,
member Of the Sumter Bar, who
brought about the sale Of the old
Court House and Court House square,
the purchase Of the site Of this build
ing which has eliminated in its sue
cessful erection. To him is due the
conception and execution Of the sale
Of the old Court House square and
who successfully carried out the sale
for the handsome price Of Three hun
dred dollars per front foot, aggrergat-
Ing sixty thousand dollars, and the
purchase Of the site upon which this
building stands. for the sum Of Twen--
ty-five thousand dollars. AS soon as
this deal was eefrcted, the business
men Of Sumter, who bought the old
Court House square. Immediately be-
gan the erection OF handsome stores
thereon. and there are today a num-
ber Of handsome stores already built
and occupied on the old Court House
square. and very soon the old Court
House itself will be remodeled into a
modern banking institution for the
Farmers Bank s. Trust Company.
William H. Scale the County Su-
pervisor. John I. Brogdon and Frank
E. Thomas. County Commissioners,
are entitled to the credit Of the erec-
ton Of this modern Temple Of Justice;
they have been indefatigable in their
labOrs to erect building which would
be an ornament TO the City Of Sumter