Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1922-11-22
Paladins Of South Carolina
John Hampden Brooks. !,

Capt. Ham" Brookes, as he was
known throughout the length and
breadth of the up country, although
he became lieutenant colonel during
the Confederate war, was born at
Edgefeld, educated at Cokesbury,
Mount Zion institute, Winnsboro, and
the South Carolina college, class of
1854.
His grandmother was a Butler, his
grandfather, Zachariah Brooks, serv-
ed with distinction in the Revolution
and his father, Col. Whitefeld
Brooks, one of the most prominent
men of his day and time in the up
country. The Buffers and the Brooks
were Wings on whom the war laid
heavy toll. Many were killed, some
bein massacred at Clouds creek.
Owing to the ill health Of his faith
er, Col. Whitefeld Brooks, the man
agement of the plantation fell on his
wife, woman of discernment,
shrewd business tact and of large
sympathies. Traditions of her linger
tyet in the community more than so
years after her death. Capt. "Ham"
Brooks always told me that he owed
everything to his mothers training.
"Roselands," eight or nine miles
below old Ninety Six, was one of the
large estates Of the up country. Even
so late as 40 years ago it had re-
tanned features Of colonial times. The
large plantation house faced a flower
garden, once tenderly cared for and
exquisitely kept. The road wound by
the dwelling in a crescent, turning
from the highway. From end to end
it was shaded by oaks. One could
"hear through their umbrage ances-
tral the wind prophesy as of yore."
In open spaces Bermuda and blue
grass grew; back of the grove of big
trees behind the house, the land fell
away to a spring, pure and sweet,
whose flow was carried off in a
branch into the wilds of Half Way
swamp. To the southwest another
branch issued from a hillside, cours-
ing over rocks and through gravelly
soil toward what was known as "the
territory" where it Joined Ninety
Six creek. To the northwest rose
from the crown of a hill patch of
stately pines, visible ten or twelve
mills away in that region of hills and
marking the site of "Roselands" as a
lighthouse marks port.
The upper and lower verandas
were festooned with vines. In season
the whole place was gloriied with
roses, but many flowers blew there
down to the primrose and the violet
and earliest roses blown"
The grove was always alive with
squirrels, many albinos among them,
for Captain Ham followed the exam
pie set by his wise mother and was
conservator. The family chapel was
just off the highway, to the right as
you went toward Edgefeld.
These things are after all, merely
by the way. When you stopped in
front of the door, a negro took your
horse and the host greeted you. From
the moment of arrival you were one
with the family. There was neither
shade nor shadow of turning in your
welcome. The wide hall had the draw
ing room on the right, its walls or
namented with ancestral portraits,
and the dining room on the left,
where the wide sideboard knew and
did it's duty.
Over it all presided Mrs. Brooks,
whose charm greeted you and grew
steadily; for each day and hour re-
vealed some phase, new and uuexpec-
ted, in her gifted character. A lovely
woman, a lovable woman, with Dig
nifty never ruffled, and grace equal
to exacting demands at home and
abroad. Her influence was visible. It
represented not only law, but the
force behind law, love. 1t was just as
unthinkable that any man, woman or
child should transgress her gracious
demands, as would be the attempt to
extinguish the sunlight. Rarely en-
dowed by nature and moving all her
youth in the highest circles of South
Carolina society-she was daughter
of Gov. James ii. Adams-she had