Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1919-07-02
In Moultrie's Revolution, PAGE AS

Jealous in her cause"
1t is recorded in Judge O'Neal's
Annals of Newberry County that in
1888 an ordinance was passed ap,
pointing Commissioners to divide the
Districts of Charleston, Georgetown
Beaufort, Cheraw, Camden, Ninety
Six and Orangeburg into Counties Of
convenient size. In Ninety Six the
Commissioners were "Andrew Pick.
ems, Richard Anderson, Thomas Brad,
don, Levy Casey, Philemon. Waters
and Arthur Simkins."
Judge Simkins was not only great
patriot but very devoted Christian
having been an active and consistent
member Of the Edgefeld Baptist
Church towards the erection of which
he contributed largely. He was pre-
vious to that time member of Stew
ems Creek Church, bringing his letter
from that church on the organization
of the Edgefeld church in 1928. It
was through the influence of his som
Eldred, who was devoted friend to
DR.. Basil Manly and fellow student
in the South Carolina College, chat
the Edgefeld Baptist Church was es-
tablished, as may be seen in the his
tory of the church. Judge Simkins
was the first moderator of the church
and acted in that capacity until his
death September 29, 1926. The fol
lowing inscription on his tombstone
partly tells the story of his useful
and eventful life. "He was an ardent
patriot, having served his country
for about forty years in various SER
vices without reproach and without
reward"
Eldred James Simkins, late a very
distinguished citizen of the great
State of Texas, State senator and
judge of Supreme Court of Criminal
iappeals and author of the present -Ap-
pellate System of Texas, a descen-
dant of John Sinkins, in letter to
DR.. F. w. P. Butler says: ~ was fire.
quently at Cousin Arthur's home
(the Editor of the Advertiser) and
remember his placing before me an
old portrait that hung over the fire
place in the sitting room, and saying,
This is our grandfather Eldred, and
he was a most remarkable old man,
and he told me about him, his great
age, his honesty and the high respect
he had won by his life. l have often
thought of that conversation but
somehow l understood Cousin Arthur
to say he was a member of the House
of Burgesses in Virginia before he
came to South Carolina" 1t is near
| ly forty years since 1 say iY And in
this letter Mr.. Simkins speaB Sf the
great kindness shown him by Gov
ernor Bonham, Chancellors Wardlaw
and Carroll, Professor LaBorde,
splendid representatives of some of
the best families of Edgefeld. Two
descendants of Arthur Simkins mar
ried the two war governors of South
Carolina, Governors Pickens and
| Bonham. Wills are generally valua-
BILE contributions to the history Of
families, and the will of Judge Sim
kins is no exception to the rule. It
reads:
"In the name of God Amen; 1, Ar
thur Simkins, Sr., of the District of
Edgefeld and State of South Carroll
ma, do make and ordain this, my last
will and testament.
"Ist. l give and bequeath unto my
son, John Simkins all that tract and
parcel of land lying eastwardly of the
village of Edgefeld, left of lands now
occupied and claimed by Mrs. 1utt
and bounded by land of Benjamin
Frazier which tract l purchased Of
Peter Youngblood. To the said John
Simkins and his heirs forever, the
following negroes" (Naming about
fifteen.) This John was the eldest
son of Arthur and when the survey
of the county was made by Thomas
Anderson in 1917 he was living not
far from Cedar Fields near the road
leading to Meeting Street. His home
and the dot indicating his house ap-
pear on the map. He was ordinary of
Edgefeld County from 1909 to 1888,
when he died at the age of seventy
one. His wife was a Miss James of
Virginia, daughter of Hezikiah and
Sabra James. This name, Sabra, has
been handed down. John had nine
children. Some died young. One son,