The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1908-02-21
OF
S. CAROLINA
PAPER READ BY MRS. H.. w.
CARROLL JAN. IL.
Before the Twentieth Century
Club and Published by the
Vote of the Club.


my subject and mcditating upon
which name and date | should be-
gin, | happened upon the following
line in the current number of a well
known weekly, A Pioneer Edu-
Gator" That was just wnat | had
been wanting TO find, SO | eagerly
read what followed. 1t was this.
The Charleston Association held
It's first meeting in the church Of
the High Hills Of Santcc in Sum
ter county, in Oct. 1913. This
church is one Of the Oldest organi-
cations Of the Baptists in the State,
being established in 1772. Atthis
meeting the first efforts were made
to found IL Baptist College in 5. g..
A respectable and permanent fund
was established for the education
of plous young men. One of the
first bcncliciarics Of this fund was
John M Roberts Of Sumter Co.
who in 1894 was sent to Brown
University then II. l. college
from which he graduated two years
later. Soon afterwards young
Roberts began to teach in the High
Hills church, young me who
yer candidates for the ministry
and who were being aided by the
same educational fund. His school
prospered and grew and accom-
plished much good for many poor
young men, Roberts labored in
season and out. On account of
too close application to his beloved
work and naturally being of a
frail constitution, he finally broke
down completely and died at the
useful age Of AZ. His school was
continued here for seven years,
when it was moved to Edghield.
In 1887 it was again moved to
Winsboro, thence to Greenville,
where today Furman University,
which was first established by the
untiring efforts of young Roberts,
at High %flills, stands the pride of
$. G.. BaptiSts and of the State at
large. In the same year in which
Roberts graduated, 1874, there was
born in Philadelphia, one who was
destined to fill an important place
as an educator OF unusual ability.
William Campbell Preston. He
was n Of the Preston family of
Va, who afterwards came to $. G..
He vas educated at :. G.. COLLEGE,
graduating in 1912. Afterwards
he studied law, at which he made n
marked success. He was said to
be II most brilliant orator, even ri
vallng his uncle Patrick Henry.
lie was President of his Alma Ma
ter from 1919 to 81 and durinU his
Office 1t rosc to high point Of eli
cheney and became the most popu-
lar institution in the south, but on
account Of i'll health he was forced
TO resign his position in Dee. 1881.
lie was succeeded By one whose
immortal name sends IL thrill Of
proud ownership through the
heart OF every native OF Marlboro
county that Of the great James
llcnicy I%hornwcII, VINO was born
the Jtn Of Dec. 1872 ON thc planta-
t on Of Mr.. Christopher Is Pcuucs
in upper Marlboro. The family
later moved TO the part OF the
county still known as the Level
Green section. Their humble lit
tic home may still be seen at the
cross roads near the Bethel S elton.
1t was here that young Thormwcll
received the beginning Of his cdu-
cation. In lS23a Mr.. Mcintyre,
from n. G.. was the teacher Of
Level Green, under whom the tall
entcd young pupil made rapid
81 yiloc IN bnon,lolr, ctn,,,,1,