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

OF Georgetown into four counties, the
district Of Charleston into six coun.
ties. the district Of Beaufort into six
counties. the @ District Of Orangebure
into four counties. 80,
Out of this division Of the district
OF Camden came thssformation Of the
counties of Clarendon and Claremont.
described as follows:
| One county beginning on the Wa
teree at Persons Island, thence in a
straight line to Black River at Pot
ter's plantation, thence by the widow
Grymes' plantation. straight to Lynch.
es Creek: then down the creek to the
district line. thence along the said
line until 1t intersects the line OF
Prince Frederick's Parish, thence
along said line to Santee, thence along
Santee River to the beginning and
shall be called by the name of Clar-
| endon county.
One other county bounded by Clar-
endon county line. thence up the Wa
teree to the mouth Of Pine Tree
Creek, thence along said creek ia
Cantey's bridge, thence In a straight
line to the Fork Of Lynch's Creek,
thence down said creek to the corner
OF Clarendon county line, and shall
be called Claremont county.
Under the constitution Of 1890,
Clarendon county was allotted two
members in the house or representa-.
tives, Claremont county two members,
and the two counties together, one
member OF the senate.
In 1892 the dividing boundary line
between Claremont and Kershaw
counties was fixed by the Legislature,
which is the present boundary line be-
tween Sumter and Kershaw and be-
tween Lee and Kershaw. This
boundary line was fixed by the Legis-
lature as follows: The said boundary
line shall commence and Run from
Spivey's Ferry in direct line
running to the fork OF the Road
at Carrots Old Field. from thence to
the Mouth of small gut which runs
out Of Wateree River to Swift Creek
above Gen. sumter's Plantation. from
thence up the middle of said Gut to
the Wateree River"
In 1892. a new county was estab.
lished by act Of the Legislature, form
ed out Of parts Of the counties OF
Clarendon and Claremont. to be
known as the county of Salem. The
following are the boundary lines as
axed by the Legislature:
'The line to form the said County
shall begin at the District Line OF
Georgetown on Black River, shall
thence run on said Line to Lynch's
Creek. and from thence up said creek
to the Kershaw line, thence on said line
to Scape Ger Swamp: thence down
Scape Ger Swamp to Black River
and down Black River to the begin
ming Of the Georgetown District Line.
l In 1898 an act was passed by the
Legislature Of South Carolina enti.
tied can Act to establish an uniform
and more convenient system Of judi.
cature." In which 1t was enacted "tha,
the three Counties of Clarendon
Claremont and Salem shall form one
District, to be called Sumter District
II whit 81, f.l OF no
the said three Counties as heretofore
established by actual Survey"
This is the origin Of Sumter Dis.
trict now county.
| The last act above referred to fur
ther provides: "That James Davis
William Taylor, Thomas Sumter, Jr.
Herbert Reese, George Cooper Johr
Cassels. and John Witherspoon, Jr.
shall be, and they are hereby appoint.
ed Commissioners to ascertain an6
fix upon the most central place foI
the erection of a Court House an6
goal in the District of Sumter. ant
they are hereby directed to advertise
Il VI tilC Sdlu
and to report the terms to the mex
Sitting Of the Legislature. And tha
until the said Court HOUSE and goa
shall be in sufficient condition for the
Sitting Of the Court, the said Com
missioners shall fix upon a proper
place for the Sitting Of the same"
In 1899 the Legislature made the
following Provisions for the erection
Of Court House and goal for the Dis
trict Of Sumter: "And for Sumter Dis
trict, at or near the Plantation Of
John Gayle, and until a Court House
shall be built. the Court Of said Dis
trict shall be held at the House O
the said John Gayle. and that JohI
Peter Richardson. Reuben Long ant
John Irwin James be appointed Com