Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1913-01-22
.s..s.S.s. .s.ss....sss. .s..s..ss.s.. .s..;..;i.
i. CLEMsoN's ORIGIN. Is
sss.S.sS.S. sS..S.ss.s.Ss .s..S..ssS..,.
(Clemson Cor. The State. J

- w. bdnlSi, VI SudIlSSCOu, is u iOJSu
as stating that he Is responsible for
Clemson College; that 1t was he who
set Col. Simpson on the track of the
agricultural idea when Col. Simpson
was ready to urge Mr.. Clemson to
give his property to Wofford College.
The friends of the late Col. R. w.
Simpson have thought, and still
think, that in the conception, estab-
great institution there is "glory
enough to go round" due credit be-
ing given to Senator Tillman, Col.
Simpson and others who have helped
to shape the destiny of Clemson Col
lege. If Dr.. Daniel has played his
part, by ali means let him have such
| credit. But the friends of the late
Col. Simpson object decidedly to the
statement that Col. Simpson had ever
proposed to divert Mr.. Clemson's pro-
posed gift to the State from the orig
inal purpose of the giver. Surely DR..
Daniel, a long-life friend of Col.
Simpson, has been misquoted or else
his memory must be at fault.
Those nearest Col. Simpson say
that even in the early SOS Col. Simp-
son held long-cherished hope that
he might some day be able to serve
in the uplift of the agricultural in
terests of the State. He would have
| needed, therefore, no suggestions as
to advice to give Mr.. Clemson-even
had Mr. Clemson needed such advice
as to the purpose Of his gift.
Col. Simpson was never known to
claim that he suggested to Mr.. Glenn
son the idea Of leaving his property
| to the State for the founding of an
| agricultural college, for Col. Simpson
was familiar with the facts set forth
In the following statements (matters
| on record), which the writer thinks
controvert the statement ascribed
to DR.. Daniel:
"Mrs. Aaron Boggs went to see
MRS. Clemson, Mrs. Clemson
told her that both she and Mr.. Glenn
son intended to leave Fort Hill to the
State for the purpose of erecting an
agricultural college," =
Extracts from the statement of
Rev. Hugh McLees follow:
Il was intimately acquainted with
the Clemson family from the year
1858 to 1874 inclusive"
"Mrs. Clemson told me she desired
to see an Industrial institution erect
ed upon the Fort Hill tract of land
1t was In litigation at the time, bur
she considered it her property. Mrs.
Clemson reiterated the same thing to
me when she was living at Fort Hill
after it had been sold and bought in
by her or her trustee. Mrs. Clemson
tried to accomplish this purpose dur
ing her lifetime. In fact, from my
personal knowledge of the matter,
the idea of erecting an industrial in
stitution at Fort Hill originated with
Mrs. Clemson, and Mr.. Clemson, in
all his talks about the matter, refer
red to 1t as we our etc."
Mrs. Clemson talked to me
great deal about the benefits that
would accrue to this State from the
| establishment Of such an institution
and she was much interested in see
ing it accomplished"
"Mr Clemson continued in his pur
pose after his wife's death Gin 1879
with this difference, that after his
| wife's death he proposed to give the
bulk of all his property with Fort
| Hill for the accomplishment of this
purpose.
| '''Mr. Clemson told me Mrs. Glenn
son had made him promise that he
would never sell or ALLEVIATE Fort
| Hill or put it beyond where the State
could get it for agricultural pur-
poses."
| (Mr. Clemson) told me he had
! willed all his property to the state
for the purpose of establishing such
| an institution and that the papers
were in the hands of Col. Rion."
! Upon Mr.. Rion's death Mr.. Glenn
son made Col. Simpson his attorney,
| and, in new will, modifying some
what the old one, made Col Simpson
his executor. Col. Simpson drew up
this will.