The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1922-08-11
OF SOUTH CAROLINA
V. Milledge Luke Bonham

V. Milledge Luke Bonham
James Henry Rice, Jr., in The State.
My first sight of Governor Bonham
was early in 1878. He had come up
from Edgefeld to visit his son, the
present Gen. Milledge Lipscomb
Bonham, then i'll with pneumonia.
Always a striking figure, tall,
straight, imposing, born military
man, he appeared to my boys mind
as a Paladin of Romance; nor did
that childish impression ever leave
me; it abides to this hour, for it is
essentially true.
Governor Bonham's father, l am
told. came to South Carolina from
Maryland or Virginia, settling first
at Jacksonboro, on the Edisto,
place that had attained certain
prestige because the legislature met
there during the Revolution, owing
to a laudable zeal on the part of its
members to avoid being hanged. The
father later moved to Mount Willing,
then Edgefeld district, now cut off
into Saluda county.
When young Bonham became So
licitor he prosecuted two white over
seers for numbering negroes, always
a popular diversion with that gentry
in the region, and convicted them,
both being hanged.
Governor Bonham married a
daughter of Colonel Nathan Griffin
of Edgefeld, who was the comfort
and solace of his life until it's close.
Married when she was in her six
teenth year, Mrs. Bonham was the
mother of a large family. Marked by
simplicity and beauty, her character
like adamant graced every station,
and shed over her surroundings
radiance of purity and charm. Her
taste was true and exquisite. Fit
mate for her distinguished husband,
she furnished an example of what
may be done in any situation by an
uncompromising force of character,
Joined to womanly sweetness.
In a society which might not in
aptly be compared to the most bril-
liant circles in Paris, she herself was
the central figure. Plain in manner
and without 8 shadow Of pretense,
she was queen of home and sovereign
of the hearts around her.
General afterwards judge) Sam
uel MCGOWAN, an admirer of Cover
nor Bonham almost to infatuatlon,
thus spoke of Mrs. Bonham to my
father, on returning from visit to
the Bonham home near Edgefeld:
"She is a wonderful woman, and
the governor calls her Patie Cher
name was Patience)," and, as the
general spoke, his eyes lighted with
fire and enthusiasm.
This was the impression produced
on all who knew her and came within
her influence. Joining in her girl
hood the Baptist church to which her
fathers people belonged, she lived a
consistent Christian and died in the
faith wherein she was born.
I can now see the erect form OF
the governor, as he sat at meat, with
Mrs. Banham gracing the foot of the
table, the cheer being enlivened with
wit and delightful converse. Never
harsh word, never shade of diff
erence there, but one unbroken
charm that drew the guest into that
magic circle and made him one OF
the family. There was never more
perfect understanding between man
and wife. Their married life was an
idyll.
After the battle of Bull Run Cen
eral Bonham returned from Virginia
to become the governor of the state
and ruled it during the momentous
war years. At this time everything
was in his hands. There was prac-
tically no check. The finest tribute
to Governor Bonham's character that
could be paid is the fact that he came
out of office without a dollar. What
would not modern, practical poll
tician, man of the people, have
done with such an opportunity? The
thought is staggering.
In 1878 Governor Bonham was
made one of three railroad commits
sioners, the office being created
largely for him. Members of the
general assembly, then composed of
high-minded, honorable men, alive to