The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1920-12-01

masses, which it probably did, it was
at least the sentiment of the COM
mission appointed on location, and
they, or a subcommittee, which from
the best remembered information
was composed of Messrs. Levy Rhame,
Joseph Sprott and John o. Brock,
engaged the services of the late Capt.
Joseph G. Burgess, surveyor of
note, to assist them in locating: the
center of the new county. This they
did by running two long lines and
taking the points at which they
crossed. The first line they began at
a. point in the extrcme eastern Sec
ton Of county, atLynch's Creek, now
Lynch's River, and ran directly across
the county TO Santee. Then they
began at a point near the middle OF
the Sumter line, and ran across in
another direction. The two lines
crossed at a point about mile from
the present court house, across Ok
Swamp, not far from what is known
as the Blackwell place The COM
missioners then began general re-
connoitering of the section looking
for nigh and dry place that would be
large enough upon which to locate
the Town of Manning. They rode
around considerably, and finding no
suitable location, crossed over on
this side of Ok Swamp and located
the town upon it's present site, as
being the nearest suitable place to
the center of the county.
The town fell upon Capt. Burgess
land, and he gave the grounds upon
which the present courthouse stands,
also the old Jail lot just across the
street to the south, and which was
cut up into small lots and sold by the
county authorities within the rccol-
lection of many now present. For
the purpose of convenience in as
sessiong taxes and forming school dis
tricts the county was then cut up in
to nineteen townships. The town
ships by local name were known as:
Fulton, Calvary, Friendship, st. Pauls,
Santee, st. Marks, st. James, Concord,
Sammy Swamp, Manning, Mt. Zion,
Brewington, Plowden's Mill, Har-
mony, Midway, New Zion, Douglass,
Sandy Grove and Motifs. Motifs
Township and a portion Of Sandy
Grove were few years abo cut off
and thrown into Florence County,
while the retaining eighteen retain
their original naues and each now
forms a school district.
Perhaps it will not be uninterest-
ing to give the names of some of the
gentlemen who have filled the Offices
of the county, and in the order in
which they came since 1855. The
first sheriff that Clarendon ever mad
was p. Margan Butler. He was sue
ceeded by his son, Y, Newton Butler.
He was in turn followed by Capt. D..
j. Bradham, then a young man, who
remained in Office until reconstruct
tion in 1869. Then came r. w.
Arledge, who absconded while in
office, from getting into money
troubles, then a man by the name Of
Parker, appointed by Governor
Scott. He was follwed by the late
William j. Clark. Then came w. r.
Burgess, then Major H. II. Lesesne,
who remained in Office until his
death in 1891, and was followed by
the present sheriff, Capt. D. J. Brad
ham.
During period of forty-two years
there have been only six gentlemen
who filled the Office of Clerk of Court
for Clarendon County. The first of
these was Josiah M. Fielder, who
served twelve or fifteen years, and
was succeeded by his son, r. f. Eel
der. Then came w. A. Barfield. He
was followed by that late lamentcd
and much esteemed Christian gentle
man, James F.. Davis, who remained
in office until his death. His un-
expired term was filled by our fell
low-member, Mr.. A. G.. Davis, and he
was succeeded by our present Clerk,
Mr.. J. II. Timmons.
The Office Of Treasurer used to COM
bine the duties Of both Auditor and
Treasurer, and was known as tax col
lcctor. It's first occupant under the
Continued on page sevcn)