The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1915-09-30
SKETCH OF LAURENS YOUMANS
PLAYED Mans Part i'm the Redemp-
ton of the State in 80.

fax chapter, L. D. c., has written
the following biographical sketch of
the late Laurens w. Youmans, of
Fairfax, who played an important
part in the redemption of his State
from carpet-bag rule and later sue
ceeded in placing his adopted coun-
ty on sound financial basis:
Laurens w. Youmans was born at
Stony Run plantation, old Beaufort
district, near Gillisonville, on the
18th of October, 1914. On his
fathers side he was of English de-
scent, the family having migrated
from England to Barbados and
thence to South Carolina in early
colonial, days. On his mothers side
his family was Scotch-Irish. He was
educated in Miss Sweat's school, then
in Gillisonville academy, and there
were quite a number of children to
be educated, his father moved to
Columbia, and Laurens was entered
at the boys academy. At the age
of II he entered the South Carolina
college where he remained only three
months, as the State seeded and
was calling for volunteers.
He enlisted as a private in Com
pany F, Third regiment, South Caro-
lima cavalry, April IL, 1852. He was
stationed on the coast and came
near being captured at Newport, Ga.
The camp was surprised in the night
and he was awakened by the noise
of shooting and the bark from the
rafters falling in his face. He ran
to the door and saw Yankee soldiers.
Calling his brother, Edward, to fol-
low he ran off in his night clothes
till he reached the protection of
the woods where he had his horse.
His brother Edward was captured
and died on Morris Island.
After this he was transferred to
Company H, First regiment, South
Carolina Volunteers, in which he
served until the close of the war, sur
rendering at Appromattox on the
9Th of April, 1865. At the break
ing of the breastworks at Peters
burg he was wounded in the thigh
but continued with the war till the
surrender. After being paroled he
started to Lynchburg to seek lis
brother, Albert, who was in the hos
pital there. The fiat boat in which
he was attempting to cross the APP
pomatox was overturned by a pair
of mules and loaded wagon. He
was thrown into the river but sue
ceeded in swimming ashore.
Having found his brother, whose
arm was broken, they started on
their weary march from Lynchburg
to the Trowell place near Fairfax.
where his family was encampcd.
Having to refugee from their home
to escape Sherman's army, their plan
tation being destroyed, his father had
rented this place.
The whole economic system of the
South having been destroyed, Lau-
rens Youmans began life as far
mer at Black Creek, Hampton coun-
ty, determined by necessity to this
occupation. From there he moved
to Duck Branch plantation and was
active in the redemption Of the
State in 1876. He was lieutenant
in H. w. Richardson's company of
Red Shirts, which was instrumental
in preserving order in the county
and securing Democratic returns at
the election.
He was a member of the Wallace
house and an active participant in
the events which secured to the peo-
pie of South Carolina the liberty of
controlling their own governmental
affairs. After the Inauguration of
Wade Hampton as governor, he was
commissioned major on his staff. He
served in the house two terms and in
| the senate one term and continued to
exercise lively interest in the poll
| tics of the State, particularly as they
affected the farmer and cotton
planter. His last public service was
as county commissioner of Barnwell
county, which position he filled
gratis, to enable the county to get
| out of debt!
Having been called to many places,
he so we'll filled them all that those
who knew him could say, "He was
a man." On the goth of February,
1908, he was called to his Father,
and was buried among his people in
the Lawtonville cemetery in Hamp-
ton county.
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