From its earliest history, Edgefield developed a reputation for violence. The bloody fighting of the Cherokee War of 1760 was followed by years of lawlessness and retribution during the Regulator period. period. During the American Revolution . . . — — Map (db m12534) HM
In the 18th century, Edgefield County had largely a subsistence economy in which the settlers consumed what they raised. Beginning around 1800, following the invention of the cotton gin, planters began to grow cotton, which became an extremely . . . — — Map (db m12587) HM
The son of General Andrew Pickens, he served as a Colonel in the War of 1812. During his term as Governor, there was considerable focus on building roads and canals in the state. His son, Francis W. Pickens, was also Governor of our State. — — Map (db m12877) HM
(Front text) Edgefield was founded in 1785 as the county seat and site of the new courthouse and jail for Edgefield County, created out of the old Ninety-Six District. Also called Edgefield Village or Edgefield Court House, it was described . . . — — Map (db m47517) HM
Present-day Edgefield County was first settled in the 1750's, then a portion of a vast unsettled region of virgin forests, abundant wildlife and Indian tribes. From the time of the first settlements through the period of the American Revolution, . . . — — Map (db m12583) HM
[Front]:
Dedicated
in grateful tribute
to the men and women
of Edgefield County
who served in the armed
forces of our country
during World War I-II
and Korean War in
preserving our freedom
and our way of life.
. . . — — Map (db m12631) WM
Erected by the Edgefield Daughters
of the American Revolution in memory
of the men from Edgefield County
who gave their lives in the War with
Germany; and to all who answered
their country's call in service and
sacrifice and still live . . . — — Map (db m12621) HM
Edgefield United Methodist Church
By 1841, this congregation was established and was a member of the Edgefield circuit. The present structure was dedicated in November of 1892 by Bishop W.W. Duncan. The Reverend Joseph Moore sold to the church . . . — — Map (db m12656) HM
First Baptist Church
Founded in 1823 as Edgefield Baptist Church, with Basil Manly, Sr., Pastor, Matthew Mims, Clerk, and Arthur Simkins, Moderator, this church led in the establishment here in 1826 of Furman Academy and Theological . . . — — Map (db m12671) HM
From 1858 to 1860 he was U.S. Minister to Russia. As Governor, his order to fire on a Union Ship in Charleston Harbor led to the start of the War Between the States. He lived at Edgewood, one of Edgefield's greatest homes. He is buried in . . . — — Map (db m12905) HM
McDuffie was a strong advocate for the right of states to nullify or void acts of Congress within their borders. He developed and promoted the Nullification Theory & also served in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate. — — Map (db m12878) HM
A tribute to the Governers
and Lieutenant Governors of South
Carolina who were
natives of or at one time
residents of Edgefield
District or County.
Governors
Andrew Pickens II (1816-18)
George McDuffie (1834-36)
Pierce Mason . . . — — Map (db m12645) HM
This Federal house with a later Classical Revival porch was the home of two governors of S.C. It was built ca. 1824 for planter Daniel Bird, who sold it in 1829 to Francis Wilkinson Pickens (1807-1869), then a lawyer and planter. Pickens lived here . . . — — Map (db m207416) HM
About 1810, Dr. Abner Landrum developed Edgefield's first major industry, a pottery factory at "Pottersville." The most famous potter in Edgefield's history was an African American slave named "Dave."
In the 1820's, Henry Schultz, a native of . . . — — Map (db m12592) HM
Prior to the fire of 1881, this was the site of the store and barroom of A.A. Clisby (1848-1916) where the infamous Booth-Toney Shootout of 1878 occurred. (See the that marker for further information.) The present building was built in 1891 by . . . — — Map (db m12494) HM
Native of Edgefield Born 1902
County Supt. of Education 1929-1933
State Senator 1933-1938
Circuit Judge 1938-1946
U.S. Army - World War II 1942-1946
Governor of South Carolina 1947-1951
United States Senate 1954-
Chairman - Senate . . . — — Map (db m12653) HM
[Front]:
J. Strom Thurmond, by mid-1997 the longest-serving U.S. Senator in history, was born here to J. William and Gertrude Strom Thurmond Dec. 5, 1902. educated at Clemson College, he taught high school 1923-29, was county . . . — — Map (db m12408) HM
In addition to serving in the U.S. Congress and Senate, Hammond was a very successful planter and agricultural entrepreneur. He coined the phrase "Cotton is King" while in the Senate. "Redcliffe", his plantation home at Beech Island, is now a state . . . — — Map (db m12897) HM
The longest serving and oldest Senator in American history, he began his public service as Edgefield County Superintendent of Education in 1929. A decorated soldier and circuit court judge, he was elected in the U.S. Senate as a write in candidate . . . — — Map (db m12933) HM
He served a Speaker of the South Carolina House and was elected Lieutenant Governor in 1882 and 1884. Sheppard was a leader of the Conservative movement of the 1890's in opposition to Tillman. He is buried in Willowbrook Cemetery in Edgefield. — — Map (db m12912) HM
The youngest Governor in South Carolina history, Evans served in the House and Senate before being elected Governor. He was a veteran of the Spanish-American War and is buried in Willowbrook Cemetery in Edgefield. — — Map (db m12923) HM
This is the site of W.E. Lynch & Company, a drug store form 1877 until 1969. The business was founded by William Edward Lynch (1851-1896), and continued by his wife, Kate Holstein Lynch (1854-1923), and son, W. Charlton Lynch (1882-1924) for nearly . . . — — Map (db m12441) HM
The M60A3 was designed in 1956 and entered service in 1960. The M60 is a big, tall tank with a rounded turret and heavy armor for its time. The A1 and A2 versions both fought in Vietnam. The A3 version has improved night sights, laser rather than . . . — — Map (db m80343) HM
This building is dedicated to Martha M. Rich for her long and faithful service to Edgefield County.
County Council Members
C. Monroe Kneece - Chairman
Samuel B. Speight - Vice Chairman
Betty Ann Butler
Norman Dorn
Hazel M. Kitchens . . . — — Map (db m12629) HM
This building was built in 1892 immediately following the fire of that year by W.T. Hoffman, a German merchant who operated a bakery and sold fancy groceries and heavy dry goods. At that time the building was just a single story building, much . . . — — Map (db m197206) HM
Bonham was a Colonel in the Palmetto Regiment in the Mexican War, a brigadier general during the War Between the States and served in the C.S.A. Congress prior to being elected Governor. He was the second consecutive Governor from Edgefield during . . . — — Map (db m12909) HM
Oakley Park was built in 1835 by a prosperous Edgefield planter, Daniel Bird. In 1841, Bird's son was tragically killed in a shoot-out in front of the Edgefield County Courthouse. Suffering great sorrow at his loss, Bird sold his home and left town . . . — — Map (db m12410) HM
Site of law offices of
Eldred Simkins
Congressman, Lt.-Governor
George McDuffie
Congressman, Governor,
U.S. Senator
Francis W. Pickens
Congressman, Governor,
Minister to Russia
Francis H. Wardlaw
Author of . . . — — Map (db m12657) HM
1/2 mile west, on "Ceder Fields" plantation, is buried the family of Captain Arthur Simkins, soldier in the American Revolution and a founder of Edgefield. Born in Virginia on Dec. 10, 1742, he died Sept. 29, 1826. He was a county court judge, a . . . — — Map (db m12333) HM
1826
Original site of Furman Academy and Theological Institution.
Marked by the Old 96 District Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution.
1926 — — Map (db m12702) HM
W.W. Adams, a prosperous Edgefield merchant and longtime Edgefield mayor, built this building in 1907 as a warehouse to serve the needs of cotton founders. The Edgefield Chronicle noted in that year: "The great brick warehouse of Mr. W.W. . . . — — Map (db m12939) HM
A member of the famous Butler families of the Edgefield District, Butler promoted education & the building of railroads during his term as Governor. He commanded the Palmetto Regiment during the war with Mexico where he was fatally wounded. — — Map (db m81697) HM
Beginning early in the 19th century, Edgefield developed a strong tradition of political leadership, contributing ten South Carolina governors, five lieutenant governors, and seven United States Senators. Many of these leaders practiced law; others . . . — — Map (db m12535) HM
Religion has played an important part in the lives of the people of Edgefield County. In the 1760's, the great evangelist Daniel Marshall, came to this area and established Big Stevens Creek and Horn's Creek Churches. In 1826 Edgefield Baptists, . . . — — Map (db m12594) HM
Richard Tutt House
The Tutt house which formerly stood on this site is believed to have been the first home at Edgefield Court House. Richard Tutt was one of the party who in October 1775 arrested Tory leader Robert Cunningham and escorted him . . . — — Map (db m12767) HM
In 1828, this property, shown on Anderson's 1816 map as Kirksey's Tavern, was sold by John Kirksey to James Sheppard (1790-1859), state representative, merchant, and War of 1812 veteran. He and Louise Mobley, his third wife, were parents of John C. . . . — — Map (db m12499) HM
On the 12th of August 1878, two Edgefield County families has a shootout here that left three persons dead on the Square and four others badly wounded. The Booth and Toney families were from the eastern side of the county near Trenton. There had . . . — — Map (db m12459) HM
In the years following 1900, a number of immigrant Jewish merchants moved to Edgefield and actively participated in the commercial life of the Town for nearly a century. All of these merchants sold 'dry goods," meaning textiles, ready-to-ware . . . — — Map (db m12412) HM
The origin of the name "Edgefield" is shrouded in mystery. There are six principle theories as to how the name may have come to be applied to this county and town:
(1) Robert Mills, in his 1826 Statistics of South Carolina, said that the . . . — — Map (db m12541) HM
The parking lot adjacent to this building is the site where the Southern Railroad Depot was located for many years. When the railroad arrived in Edgefield in 1888, the depot was located a quarter mile south of here, but that depot was struck by . . . — — Map (db m12938) HM
In the antebellum period this site was occupied by a store owned by Marshall Frazier, a prosperous Edgefield planter, and until the end of the 19th century, this location was known as "Frazier's Corner."
The present building was built by J.M. . . . — — Map (db m12498) HM
Village Academy
Organized in 1811, the Edgefield Village Academy was located for many years on this site acquired from Col. Eldred Simkins in 1825. The South Carolina Coeducational Institute was located here from 1903-1913. During . . . — — Map (db m12700) HM
This Court House Square, which was identified as the site of the courthouse and jail for the newly established Edgefield District in 1785, has been the center of life here for over two centuries. Today the present courthouse, which was built in . . . — — Map (db m12638) HM
Home of Ten Governors
Andrew Pickens, II * George McDuffie
* P.M. Butler * J.H. Hammond
* Francis Pickins * M.L. Bonham
* J.C. Sheppard * Ben Tillman
* J.G. Evans * Strom Thurmond
" Edgefield has had
more dashing, . . . — — Map (db m47749) HM
Donated in 1998 to the Town of Johnston in memory of the "Edwards Brothers," V.E. Edwards and E.B. Edwards, by children: Mrs. V.E. Edwards, Jr., Mrs. Helen H. Herlong, Mrs Mary E. Mathis, Mrs. Iza E. Salter, and by John S. Edwards, Sr., son of E.B. . . . — — Map (db m12334) HM
Johnston, founded in 1868 as Johnston's Station on the Charlotte, Columbia, & Augusta Railroad and also known as Johnson's Turn Out, was named for railroad president William Johnston. It was first incorporated in 1875 and rechartered with its . . . — — Map (db m12338) HM
(South Face)
CSA
1861
Our Confederate Dead
(East Face)
UDC
1865
(North Face)
1861
"Love of God and love
of country are the
two noblest passions
in the human heart.
A man without a . . . — — Map (db m49454) WM
Johnston Schools
Johnston’s first school opened on this site in 1873. The Male and Female Academy was a boarding school, with Rev. Luther Broaddus as its first principal. Alternately a private and public school during its early history, it was . . . — — Map (db m28226) HM
A house built for Emsley Lott about 1770, later Lott's Tavern and still later Lott's Post Office, stood here until it was demolished in 1918. Lott soon enlarged his one-room log house to become a tavern on the Columbia road. In 1839 his son John . . . — — Map (db m28225) HM
Founded in 1762 by the Reverend Daniel Marshall, pioneer missionary and minister, this was the first church of the Baptist faith in the present Edgefield County, "Mother of Churches." — — Map (db m12860) HM
Born 1 mi. E. Cmdr. 1st Corps, Army of Northern VA Confederate States Army; Lee's "Old Warhorse"; West Point graduate; Mexican War veteran. — — Map (db m81747) HM
Erected in honor of the founder of Bettis Academy
Rev. Alexander Bettis
Born August 4, 1836 - Died May 13, 1895
He was a born leader and a friend of humanity.
Gone but not forgotten.
----------
Erected by Mt. Canaan Association 1942 . . . — — Map (db m12850) HM
[Front] Benjamin Ryan “Pitchfork Ben” Tillman (1847-1918), governor of S.C. 1890-94 and U.S. senator 1894-1918, bought this farm just before he left the governor’s office in 1894. He lived here until his death. Tillman, a farmer . . . — — Map (db m28227) HM
Bettis Academy and Junior College, a private school for African Americans, was founded in 1881 by Rev. Alexander Bettis, a former slave who was taught to read by his owner's wife, but was never taught to write. A Baptist Minister, he established . . . — — Map (db m12846) HM
Established as a result of the inspiration and efforts of the Reverend Alexander Bettis, this coeducational institution was incorporated in 1889 and provided elementary, high school, and junior college training for blacks. A.W. Nicholson . . . — — Map (db m12795) HM
(Side 1)
This Greek Revival House was built for Nathan L. Griffin (1803-1853), lawyer, planter, and member of the S.C. House 1838-39 and S.C. Senate 1846-1853. Griffin’s son-in-law Milledge L. Bonham (1813-1890) lived here with his wife . . . — — Map (db m159557) HM
Horns Creek Baptist Church
This church was constituted in 1768 by the Reverend Daniel Marshall, one of the founders of the Baptist faith in this part of South Carolina. Other early ministers of Horns Creek included Hezekiah Walker, Samuel . . . — — Map (db m12769) HM
Religion
Founded in 1768 as a result of a religious revival sweeping the American colonies known as the "Great Awakening," Horn's Creek Baptist church was one of the first churches established in the South Carolina backcountry. The church . . . — — Map (db m12782) HM
[Front]:
This church, founded in 1868, was one of the first black Baptist churches in this area. Alexander Bettis (1836-1895), a former slave, established this church with the assistance of three white ministers after the local Baptist . . . — — Map (db m12800) HM
