Smyth, James Adger, 1837-1920.

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James Adger Smyth was a Charleston businessman and was the valedictorian of the College of Charleston in 1858. He was also a member of Company A of the 25th South Carolina Infantry in 1862.

From the description of Papers, 1857-1858. (College of Charleston). WorldCat record id: 49714080

Charleston, S.C. businessman. He was the son of Rev. Thomas Smyth (1808-1873) and Margaret Milligan Adger (1807-1884). In April of 1862 James Adger Smyth joined Company A of the 25th South Carolina Infantry. He was paroled in North Carolina in 1865. His first wife was Anne R. Briggs (1836-1901), whom he married in 1860.

From the description of James Adger Smyth correspondence, 1861-1865 (bulk 1864). (The South Carolina Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 36794012

Charleston, S.C. businessman. He was the son of Rev. Thomas Smyth. His brother Augustine changed the spelling of his last name from Smyth to Smythe. During the Confederate War James Adger Smyth served in the 25th South Carolina Infantry Regiment, Co. A.

From the description of James Adger Smyth papers, 1863-1870. (The South Carolina Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 722845976

Charleston, South Carolina businessman and mayor (1895-1903). In 1876 James Adger Smyth was one of the State Democratic Executive Committee of seven that conducted the campaign that elected Gen. Wade Hampton governor of South Carolina. Smyth was appointed as a 1st Lieutenant in an organization of "alarm men" of Ward 1 of Charleston, S.C., probably a successor a "rifle club" which formed during Reconstruction.

From the description of James Adger Smyth papers, 1876-1935 (bulk 1876). (The South Carolina Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 32144602

This collection is signed by James Adger Smyth (1837-1920) of Charleston, South Carolina. His father, Thomas Smyth, served as pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church in Charleston from 1832 until 1873. His mother, Margaret Milligan Adger Smyth was the daughter of a Charleston shipping merchant, James Adger. James Adger Smyth was a successful business man throughout his life. Adger graduated from the College of Charleston in 1858 and began working at his uncles' wholesale hardware firm, J.E. Adger & Company. He married Annie Ransom Briggs, the daughter of Cedar Grove Plantation owner, Thomas Whitaker Briggs in March of 1860. He was present at the signing of the South Carolina Ordinance of Secession, December 1860. Early in 1862, at the age of 24, Adger enlisted and fought with Company A of the 25th Regiment of the South Carolina Volunteers until the end of the war in 1865. He witnessed many battles throughout his time in the Confederate Army such as, the fight to preserve the Weldon Railroad connection, the aftermath of the Battles of Hawe's Shop and the Battle of the Crater.

After the war he resumed work with his maternal uncles, Robert Adger and Joseph Ellison Adger, at J.E. Adger & Company. During his ten years in the company he became an active member in the Chamber of Commerce. In 1875, Adger became an independent cotton broker, and along with his cousin, Andrew Moffett Adger, started the company Smyth and Adger, successfully brokering cotton from North Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama. Adger grew increasingly involved in local politics. He was member of the State and County Democratic Executive Committees (1876), City Council (1885), and mayor for two four-year terms (1896 to 1903). He retired in 1904.

From the guide to the James Adger Smyth Memoir, 1917, 2010, (Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf James Adger Smyth Memoir, 1917, 2010 Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
creatorOf Smyth, James Adger, 1837-1920. James Adger Smyth papers, 1876-1935 (bulk 1876). South Carolina Historical Society
referencedIn Smythe family. Papers of the Adger, Smyth[e], and Flynn families, 1823-1930. University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries
referencedIn Democratic Party (Charleston County, S.C.). Membership lists by ward, 1895. South Carolina Historical Society
creatorOf Smyth, James Adger, 1837-1920. James Adger Smyth correspondence, 1861-1865 (bulk 1864). South Carolina Historical Society
creatorOf Smyth, James Adger, 1837-1920. James Adger Smyth papers, 1863-1870. South Carolina Historical Society
creatorOf Smyth, James Adger, 1837-1920. Papers, 1857-1858. College of Charleston, Marlene and Nathan Addlestone Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Adger, Jane Ann, 1822-1899. person
associatedWith Alarm Men of Ward No. 1 (Charleston, S.C.) corporateBody
associatedWith College of Charleston corporateBody
associatedWith Confederate States of America. Army. South Carolina Infantry Regiment, 25th. Company A. corporateBody
associatedWith Cross, William H., person
associatedWith Democratic Party (Charleston County, S.C.) corporateBody
associatedWith Democratic Party (S.C.) corporateBody
associatedWith Hagood, Johnson, 1829-1898. person
associatedWith Haskell, Alexander Cheves, 1839-1910. person
associatedWith Miles, William Porcher, 1822-1899. person
associatedWith Ragin, Robert J. person
associatedWith Smith, John Julius Pringle, 1816-1894. person
associatedWith Smyth, Anne R., 1836-1901. person
associatedWith Smythe, Augustine Thomas, 1842-1914. person
associatedWith Smyth, Thomas, 1808-1873. person
associatedWith Yates, Joseph A. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
South Carolina--Taxation
South Carolina--Clarendon District
Confederate States of America
South Carolina--Clarendon County
South Carolina
Charleston (S.C.)
Cedar Grove Plantation (Clarendon County, S.C.)
South Carolina
South Carolina
Virginia
South Carolina--Charleston
United States
Fort Sumter (Charleston, S.C.)
Confederate States of America
Subject
Agriculture
Baccalaureate addresses
Civil war
Freedmen
Plantations
Reconstruction (U.S. history, 1865-1877)
Slave records
Taxation
Vigilantes
Occupation
Quartermasters
Activity

Person

Birth 1837

Death 1920

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