Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1911-01-25
LEES BIRTHDAY.
Lees Birthday is Fittingly OBJ
served in Edgefield. Ad-
dress by Gen. Brooks
Of Columbia.

ready for the occasion, when hero
of the Confederate service is te-be
honored, and his deeds of the past
brought back to memory. Such an
occasion was the celebration of Robt.
E. Lees birthday on Thursday last.
The day was fair, and pleasant.
which is always good background
for such times as this "a large crowd
assembled at 8 O'Clock, in fact the
Court House was full, and the exer-
cises were instructive and very
pleasing.
The music was inspiring, and all
the people engaged in singing the
old familiar hymns, "How Firm
Foundation and the Sweet Bye
ard Bye"
Miss Alberto Lucas, of Aiken,
recited beautifully very appropri-
ate selection.
The Daughters of the Confedera-
cy met at the residence of Mrs. A.
E. Padgett, and from there marched
to the Court House, wearing the
beautiful, hand-painted badges,
which were SO appropriately hand
painted by Miss Eliza Minis. Mrs.
Julian d. Holsteiil, the president of
the Edgefeld chapter, is due much
praise for her enterprising devotion
to this cause.
Col. o. R. Brooks.
Col. Brooks was introduced to
the audience by Hon. J. G. Shep-
pard in-his usual eourtly and gra-
cious m an ner, who also acted
throughout as master of ceremo--
nies.
The following extracts from Col.
Brooks's address are SO interesting
to the people of Edgefeld and con
tains SO much of unwritten history
that wepublish them.
Edgefeld,s proraineat Men.
Owing to the limit a thatll have,
IshaH not go back Rer thangseys
: tysfiye years of g agefel d history
y On
s YoagEs WiSfi IS ricans, under
an EdgefeId a nan. COZ VIM iB.
Travis. Just prior to this nlassa-
cre, James Bonham, another Edge
field man, was sent out from the
fort for reinfo orcemellts.: There were
none to be had. He was told that
if lie returned to the Alamo he
would be murdered, together with
its garrison, by 1000 Mexicans, un-
Gler Gen. Santa Anna. His reply |
was, I will return and, if necessa-
ry, die with my coprades." The
garrison killed 52l Mexicsns, about
three times their number.
Travis and Bonhs.m were mas
sacred with the garrison. At that
time an Edge6eld man was Cover
nor, George McDu&e; and was snc-
ceeded by Pierce Mason Butler.
The next Governor from Edgefeld
was J. III. Hammond; and then
came F. w. Pickens, NJ. L. Bon
ham, John c. Sheppard, and B. Il.
Tillman. Lieutenant Governors fur
nished by Edgefeld were John G..
Sheppard, andJ Il. Tillman..
& United States Senator's: Geo. Nc
Dufie, was United States Senator
from 1s42 to ls46; A. p. Butler,
from 1s46 to 1851, J. II. Ham
mond, from 1857 to 1861; NJ. G.
Butler, 1877 to 1895; B. R. Till
man, from !. 1895 to the present
time.
Edgefeld. Congressman: F. w.
Pickens, from 1885 to ls43; Pres
ton S. Brooks, from 1853 to 1851;
M. l.. Bonham, from 1857 to 1851;
Geo. D. Tillman, from 1877 to
1898; w. J. Talbert, from 1898 to
1908.
Ministers plenipotentiary from
Edgefeld: F. W. Pickens was Uni
ted States minister to Russia, from
1855 to 1860.
Edgefeld Judges: A. P. Butler,
]. r. Carroll, F. NJ. Wardlaw, Er
nest Gary, and J. w. DeVore. So
licitors: M. T.. Bonham, John r.
Abney, r. G.. Bonham, andJ. w.
Thurmond.
Edgefeld Bar: Louis T. Wigfall
was brilliant lawyer, statesman
and soldier was Uuited States Sena-
tor when Texas seeded; was COM
missioned a brigadier general in the
G.. S. A., and also elected to the
Confederate States Senate. A few
other brilliant lawyers in ante bel
Mum days were: Carroll Wardlaw,
Griffin, Bacon, Moraigne, Butler,
Gary and James a.. Dozier. One
of the brainiest lawyers in the Uni
ted States is B. L. Abney, an Edge
field boy.
Adjutant and Inspector Generals
from Edgefeld. Gen. James Jones
|! and Gen. r. G. M I,unovant. First
+ State House commissioner, James
Jones.
The Mexican war, Col. P. M.
Butler commanded the Palmetto
regiment; Preston S. Brooks was