The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-06-08
OLD ISSUE OF MOUNTAINEER
CONTAINS CLEMSON'S WILL
The Purpose of Thos. Clemson in
Giving the College to The
State.
Greenville Daily Piedmont.

Greenville Daily Piedmont.
The following item from the Noun
taineer which appears in the issue Of
May 2nd., 1888, will no doubt be of
interest to the people Of this city
and county and also of the State as
the Clemson college is under fire of
public criticism at present. The old
issue Of the Mountaineer contains
this item given below with comments
on the will Of the late Thomas G..
Clemson, of Fort Hill, S. C.
The account follows:
Much has been recently published
IRON rumor Of the dispositions made
IN the last will and testament Of the
late Thos. G. Clemson, Of Fort Hill.
On Friday, the Goth inst, Col. R. ".
Simpson, the executor, had the will
proved in the common form before
the probate judge of Oconee county,
by oath Of James Hunter, one Of the
subscribing witnesses to the will, and
of R. NJ. Jenkins. one Of the witness
es to the codicil The instrument is
lengthy and carefully drawn. The pre-
lmlnary statement and concluding
tenor of the will and codicil, show
that the establishment Of an agricul-
tural college has been long in the
mind of the testator. We quote a
sentence from the preamble as fol-
lows: "Feeling great sympathy for
the farmers of this State and the diff
fculties with which they have to con-
tend, in their efforts to establish the
business Of agriculture upon a pros
porous basis and believing that there
can be no permanent Improvement in
the agriculture without the know
ledge Of these sciences which pertain
particularly thereto, I have determin-
ed to devote the bulk of my property
to the establishment Of an agricultur-
al college upon the Fort Hill place. -
Again, "My purpose is to establish
an agricultural college which will af-
ford useful information to the farm
ers and mechanics" etc. Apart from
such direct expressions Of interest in
the great wealth of producing indus
tries of the people and the impor-
lance Of afording to the youth of the
State the advantage of scientific cul-
ture as a sure means of developing
our highest material resources, con-
tanned in the will, those personally ac-
auainted with Col. Clemson we'll
knew the provisions of the will are
in accord with the expressed views Of
Ihe testator for many years past, as
also with the active interest he mani
Tested years ago in all efforts by the
farmers to build up and establish ag-
ricultural associations, fairs and such
like for mutual benefit and instruc-
tions. 80
When the society at Walhalla was
organized, Col. Clemson took active
interest in it, frequently attended its
meetings and once delivered an ad-
dress before it on scientific agrieul-
ture, replete with thought and useful
information, and which was published
in our local paper. He was man of
broad and liberal views, of extensive
information and in his bequest gave
form nd life to views, long entertain
ed, and in so doing has proved himself
a public benefactor. His will so op-
crates, and whether contested or not,
its provisions cannot be attributed to
a sudden freak or fancy, but to an
earnest, long considered purpose to
dignity labor as we'll as to render
more profitable and attractive the
leading industrial pursuits Of the
Estate, the highest motive a worthy
man could have.
History Of the Instrument.
From the 9cemable it appears that
Col. Clemson made and signed will
on the 18th Of August 1888, substan-
TALLY the same as the will left by
him, especially in the disposition of
the property. That will was drawn
by Col. James H. Rion, of Winns-
boro, then and up to his death. one
of the first lawyers Of South Caro-
lima and Mr.. Rion was named as ex-
as the present in its bequests, provid-
ed for the establishment of scien-
ecutor. That will. in the same terms
tifc institution on the Fort Hill place
and prescribed what course Of studies
should be pursued. Being fearful
such provision might operate as an
obstacle to the acceptance by the
State Of the donation and success OF
the great object in view, the present