The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-01
ANDY JAclssoN,s NATIVITY.

NND1 JAJNSONS
We know what's the matter with
the Charlotte Observer now; it's
scared even as the coon was scared
after the colored person had run him
up tree preparatory to his capture.
Writing to the New York sun from
Rathdrum. Idaho. about the place OF
Andy Jacksons birth, Bartlett Sinclair
says that there is great deal OF
conclusive evidence that Lancaster
County, South Carolina, and not Union
County, North Carolina, is entitled to
credit as the spot where that great
man first saw the light" Without
stopping just here to do more than
suggest that things might have been
a little different and not a bit worse
If he had never been born, we wish
to thank Mr.. Sinclair for his perfectly
clear and convincing exposition of the
subject.
In the early SOS. we are told, the
Rev. David Robinson, a highly respect
ed and thoroughly sincere minister Of
the Methodist Episcopal Church (prc-
sumably the Methodist Episcopal
Church, SOUTH, made a searching in
vestigation OF the whole question. His
conclusions, with the evidence to sus-
tain them, were printed in q number
of letters in the Lancaster Ledger.
although of great historic value.
Mr.. Sinclair asserts, II have never
seen the letters referred to, and
doubt if their existence is generally
known" IT would be found, doubtless,
upon investigation that all the papers
containing these letters were either
destroyed or secreted by the Charlotte
Observer, suppression being its chief
weapon in all historical matters. But
'Dr. Robinson was a scholarly gentle
man and we'll along in years when
he made his researches and gathered
much information Of 0. most interest
ing and reliable nature concerning
Jackson's birthplace and his early
childhood. DR. Robinson's efforts We're
so pa!nstaking and ample that there
ought to be no doubt that the famous
Wuxhaws District OF Lancaster. S. c.,
is Old Hickory's true natal spot
There is no doubt among students
possessing the true historical spirit,
Mr. Sinclair certainly does not doubt
the absolute accuracy of DR.. Robin
sons conclusions. He was living In
Lancaster at tho time the letters we're
published and distinctly recalls read
ing them at the time. and he likewise
regrets that he did not preserve them.
So do we; but he has said enough to
set Historian Salley on the trail, and
he Will get them unless the Observer
has either concealed them or destroyed
them. In proof Of his good faith, Mr.
Sinclair gives in his letter to the Sun
this brief account OF Lancaster
county:
mis- northerly county of South
Carolina is one of the most beautiful
in tho entire South. Twenty-Five years
ago its attractive pine and hardwood
forests, it's rivers and springs and
cotton fields had 40 superiors.
The famous lor, j. Marion Sims was
q native of Lancaster county. and
there laid the foundation for his subs
sequent discoveries The county is
largely peopied by the descendants or
the early Scotch Irish settlers. There
we find many of the Witherspoons.
Wylies. Carriers, Corners Moores,
Crocketts. Caskeys, Stephenses ALL
sons, Prices Lancaster county WAS
the home of the hermit scholar, nr,
Mttag, whom remember we'll. FIn
used To correspond with Professor
Whitney. OF Yale, in Chinese, inscrb
ing the characters for economS's sake
on post cards. !"
OF course, this is not conclusive
upon the Andy Jackson question, but,
ii proves that the writer could not 10
mistaken about the Robinson letters
when he can recall the names OF 80
MANY people in Lancaster who have
given character 10 IT'S citizenship w
doubt very much that Colonel Leroy