Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1922-10-26
BENJAnIN WOFFORD.
Story Of LIE ef Foxnder Of Crest
Methodist College.

One hundred and forty-two years
/, ago, Q few miles below Spartanburg,
IN country home, was born Benta-
min wexford. Oct0Der. l7SO-this was
the dark year OF the Revolution, par
tiSularly in South Carolina. From
the mountains to the sea the State
had been overrun by British and
Tories, and Joseph Wofford, the ia
ther OF the boy. was fugitive from
bis own home the day BENJAMIN was
born, says the Spartanburg Herald.
The boy grew up during the last
triumphant years OF. the Revolution
and heard the discussions that led
to the formation OF the Union and the
founding OF the Republic. He became
Methodist preacher and as circuit
ftaer took has orders from the "Apos-
tie OF the Long Road" bishop Fran
CHS Asubry. man who perhaps lived
more in the saddle and rode more
miles horseback than any man In the
history OF America. BENJAMIN Wof-
lords orders as circuit rider car
ried him with the pioneers who fol-
lowed the old trails across the noun
tains into Ohio, Tennessee and Ken
lucky He was thus among those in
trepid Knights OF the Cross who
helped to vitalize with religion that
turbulent Advance Guard of West
ern Civilization" which was claiming
the rich domain between the noun
tains and the Great River"
About 1916 he returned to his ma
tive State, making his home in Spar
tanburg and steadily amassing
through the remaining years of his
life what at that time was considered
large fortune. He died December
2. 1850. is a house which used to
stand ON the corner OF Wofford and
Magnolia streets and left 100000 for
the founding OF q literary and scien-
tiftc college in his native district"
The pioneer preacher thus became
the pioneer giver to great causes. For
mp to that time no man in the South
had sought to serve the welfare of
future generations In so significant
and SO large way.
When the provisions of Mr.. Wof-
tcrd's will became known and the
executors were appointed to locate
the new institution. keen competi-
tion developed I'm various sections Of
the Spartan district" - Woodruff
.and Glenn Springs in particular
wanted 1t. In letter from the lat
ter place In contemporary periodi-
cal the writer urges the benefits OF
the healing waters OF the springs
and offers to donate $500 to the en-
terprise. guaranteeing that several
others VIII do the same. But the ex-
ecutors decided to locate 1t In the
village" Of Spartanburg In spite of
the fact that an editorial in con-
temporary periodical published In
Charleston in May, 1851, calls special
attention to the inaccessibility of the
village Of Spartanburg ON account of
the badness of the roads leading into
q. For most OF the year, It says,
they are but series Of mud holes
and the best the occasional stage
from Columbia can do is three miles
an hour. The editorial therefore
!, urges the citisens to proceed at once
TO build railroad. With this and
the college, It argues, the future
progress Of the community Is as
sured.
In August 1854, with president,
two professors and nine students.
Wofford college began Its first ses-
sion. BY spring the nine had grown
to IS and when this number increas-
ed to 35 the next year everybody was
hcpeful and happy. The first class
graduated In 1856 and consisted Of
0ne man, the Hon. Samuel Dibble Of
Osangeburg who Afterwards repre-
sented his district In Congress and
became one OF the most important
citineas Of the State.
6ixty-eixht years have passed
= since those August days when Is
boys entered the new college. The
Village" got It's railroad and more.
{ and has become the city Of Spar
taAburg, the real textile center Of
tte South" and all the other things
~ say 4 IL. On the Old campus to-
d.. Eounder's day October 10y, a.
it4s1s called. there are $40 students,
Z claing from ali sections OF South
olina and many other States Of
IS Is II 1850 wa the real build
! = AAte ana south csroh.
Z - D@ophst with the longest
"a = els4a the man who knew best
/ G. fetSee That count Tor most In IN
>Mint He oe communt&y and
~ - R&oeet v7ston OF besznanenl
49, 80 - ~. - - q eevru