Hemphill family papers, 1765-1975

ArchivalResource

Hemphill family. Hemphill family papers, 1765-1975

Hemphill family papers, 1765-1975

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/277485468

Papers re the family of James Hemphill (1813-1902). Much of the early material includes land plats and deeds for property on Bull Run in Chester District, S.C., owned by James' father, the Rev. John Hemphill and the Douglas family. Includes papers for a free man of color named Horace Henderson. The document, dated 1851 and inscribed on thick parchment, is signed by North Carolina governor David S. Reid and affixed with the state seal. Attached is an affidavit signed by several men of the community. The papers indicate that Henderson, a barber and hairdresser in Greensboro, N.C., was "about forty years old, slender frame, nose rather acqeline, a bright mulatto, with a very interesting face." [The 1850 Census identifies Henderson's birthplace as Fayetteville, N.C.] There are also several bills of sale, 1810-1858, for African American slaves identified by name who were purchased by the Douglas family in Chester District, S.C. Papers dating to Civil War era include patriotic Confederate poetry, and letters written to David Hemphill while stationed at Camp Wilderness near McPhersonville [now in Hampton County, S.C.] describe camp life, request clothing, and tell of his experiences around the Port Royal and Broad River areas. Letter, 3 Oct. 1863, reports skirmish with Union soldiers and African Americans crossing the Broad River, and capture of poultry, cookware, furniture and money. Letter, 14 Dec. 1863, David anticipates combat and reports that "Beauregard has advised all civilians to leave this part of the country." After Maj. Micah Jenkins assumed command, David Hemphill wrote to his father on 31 August 1864 that Jenkins "has the reputation of being a good officer in every respect. I hope he is for we have had enough of fools down this way.... Gen. McLaws has issued several nonsensical orders lately." Writing from Coosawhatchie on 10 Dec. 1864, David noted, "We are having a pretty rough time of it now, we came from Grahamville last Tuesday I think, for I have lost all account of days and found that the Yanks had thrashed our reserves and gained a foothold. We had a hot fight here yesterday for the railroad... we drove them back, it was pretty tight times." Papers dating to the 20th century relate to the life and political career of John J. Hemphill (1849-1912) and legal and business papers of the Hemphill family up to 1944. One interesting letter dated 19 June 1870 and signed by J.J. Hemphill and R. Davis was written in Tomales (Marin County, California), and describes experiences traveling in the West and their meeting with John LeConte, a former professor at South Carolina College who taught at University of California during ca. 1870s-1891. In 1931 Ina Strobel Hemphill kept a diary of her trip with the Gold Star Mothers to visit the grave of her son, James Hemphill (1897-1918), in the Meuse-Argonne cemetery; also present are programs for such a trip in 1930. James was the youngest son of David, whose Civil War letters are in the collection. Several obituaries and memorials and a copy of an autobiography of James Hemphill (1813-1902) are included as well. Collection also includes papers relating to the Bratton family of York County, S.C. Of special interest are an invitation to Samuel Rainey from D.F. Jamison to attend the Meeting of the Convention of the People of South Carolina in Charleston (13 Mar. 1861) and several letters from John Rufus Bratton. As a brother of Gen. John Bratton and member of the Fifth Regiment, South Carolina Volunteers, John Rufus described the battle of Ball's Bluff near Leesburg, Va. Although Bratton's regiment missed the fighting, it was a sound victory for Gen. Nathan G. ("Shanks") Evans (1 Nov. 1861). After the war, John Rufus moved to London, Ontario, Canada, and wrote several letters to his brother in the 1870s discussing, among other things, treatments for gangrene and pain in the bladder. On 25 June 1874, he advised his brother the only way to repair damage done by the Reconstruction government was to introduce southern Irish Presbyterians to purchase land in North and South Carolina. "It is worse than folly to expect reform out of the present material riding the state, or to attempt to utilize the same for prosperity and happiness of the country - this is a moral impossibility," he wrote and urged his brother to assist Dr. Cross in the venture and to begin to raise money to import Irish settlers.

131 items.

University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries