The dispatch-news. [volume] (Lexington, S.C.) 1919-2001, 1922-06-21
"REMINISCENCES OF
THE LONG AGO;
"Heap Sees, But Few Knows"
BY lUnole Josh.
SheriffS Office.

:. Uncle Isaac. Vansant is the first
sheriff, we. remember lin the office.
He occupied; the: original granate
Jail on. the eastern corner=of the jail
lot. Ca. this lot, the: smoke house
stood. nearly in. the seenter, the we'll
near where: the pump now stands.
Aunt. Katie always had a. fi:1e garden
growing plenty, vegetables for the
family and the prisoners, and Uncle
Isaac and Aunt Katie were certainly
a clever, old couple. 49,. ....:
At the expiration of his term alr.
John Kleckley was elected shefriff
His hands were crippled but he. was a
fair pensman and good business man.
He also filled other offices in his time
at the expiration Of his office as
sheriff, Simon P. Wingard was made
sheriff, and with his usual cleverness,
a hale fellow, always we'll 1net, he
made an excellent officer as he -did ia
other offices. -. ..:.~>.<-
The custom then, not allowing an
officer to succeed himself, Uncle Ma
thaniel Harman was elected sheriff,
just after secession. and partly during
the Civil war: :: He was popular with
the people and made a good sheriff.
After an elapse Of time, he moved to
Texas; where he died, leaving. soine
members of the family there:
Capt. George, S. swygert, followed
as sheriff, being elected out of ser
vice to come home and. fill this Of
flee, which he did with credit to him
self. and to- the county. during which
time William %Teeomsee" sherman
with the assistance. of. General Kill,
pat-ric and the Federal Army came
through, burning =. and, :, destroying
everything, and the Jail; was laid in
ashes and left with smoked walls, as
evidence Of their vandalism and
marked. travels through Georgia and
South Carolina, in February; 1865.
Capt. S. NJ. Roof, somewhere
about 1856 was inducted into the Of
flee of sheriff and, as in war, he. made
a good officer in. peace. Having lost
his right arm on the 18th day Of oe-
tober, 1864, the neople; of Lexington
county considering. bis. fitness, felt
that he should be rewarded and made
him sheriff which he. filled accept
ably to all. He and his family were
the first to occupy the little temporary
dwelling provided for the sheriff in
the jail yard until the new Jail could
be built. At the same time the tenn
porary timber Jail for prisoners was.
built in the same. yard and used for
some time.
Henry Il. Geiger, another one arm
eonfec. succeeded Capt. Roof. He,
clsYer easlzen from the Sandy
Run section and made a good shes-
ifg; but his health failed him and ne:
did not live his term out. Charlie;
Hendrix was coroner and it came his:
lot to act as sheriff the remainder of
the time.<
Next in office was Samuel P.
Drafts who served one term, and was
reelected for the second but for some
cause he resigned and Walter NJ.
Drafts was appointed to fill this un-
expired time. After w. Albert Cor
ley, as coroner, had acted up to. Wal.
ter Drafts appointment. -
Geo. S. Drafts. was then elected
sheriff and served in this office for
twelve years to the welfare and sat-
isfaction Of the people Of Lexington
county. He was we'll and favorably
known and respected by white and
black. He. always, was reserved III
manners and. speech keeping his own
counsel. He died as Judge. !of Pro-.
bate. $
e 'rhoS.: H. eau gilman followsa.:M Mr.
Drafts III office, 'right: from from the farm
and inadee a ' fearless and attentive
officer, popular with the people he
grew: in, their favor But prefering
to return to the farm he is still "one
who helps to feed them ALL" Lives
at home, carrying his own troubles
in; his own snug and cornforta BILE
he,ae. near the depot. ~,.:'....,s.~
.,c Next, in office was tti1e vigilent and
CLOSE observer Eof Claw and :oTder", ,;
P. Henry .Corley, sele-madess man,
entering his apprenticeship in the old
Isispatch office and being ambitious
he ventured out in the political field
successfully and has filled many.