Abram is the son of Julius Gillison and Eliza Lousiana "Morrall" Huguenin.

Autobiography of Capt. Abram Huguenin CSA 1875
Abram Huguenin the fourth of that name of the Southern branch of Huguenins was born in Beaufort town October 4, 1838 (the oldest son of the eldest son, of the eldest son leaving male representatives, of the eldest son, David Huguenin of the two émigrés), six weeks after he was born, he was brought home and his mothers milk disagreeing with him, his life was saved under Providence, by his namesake and grandfather, who procured him a foster nurse (oh mistaken kindness dear old man, how much better would it have been to have let me bring my way to that land of joy, to which alas, I may never now enter, but you could not then know the fiery trials, the heart burning, the sorrows and disappointment, which awaited your unfortunate grandson, how much of anguish our selfish love of, offspring entails on others, brought in this world without our knowledge, or consent, buffeted by fortune, torn by sorrows in life, we are taken away, when we least like to go.)

My childhood was much the same as that of other boys, except that from my earliest recollection I was seized with a violent desire to be loved, which I only found in the heart of my mother. My father's feelings were I fear, more of pride than love, at least such love as I wanted, I was studious, fond of the society of older men, proud, kind-hearted, generous, full of life, and mischievous at the same time, but I can say, my mischief never degenerated into cruelty, I loved my brother and yet I would tease him until we fought, which ended in my getting four times the whipping that he would receive. Still I can recollect when not ten years old, my grief, when he fell from a log striking his side (which nearly occasioned his death) and my lonely prayers to God to spare him, and when he had the scarlet fever, and I was ordered from the room, how I would sneak back and lie by him, to cheer his spirit in truth, only four people ever understood me, my mother, a cousin now with the blest, my first wife, and my last, who only understood me when the portals of a better world were being opened to her view "to late". In my boyhood I came near being drowned, the bank of Bees Creek giving way with me, I was saved, when I rose for the third and last time by my father, at another time, I was saved by my grandfather who seized me by my collar and leaped with me from his sulky, which his horse immediately smashed to pieces, after various falls from horses, and other scrapes, with numerous fisticuffs in which, sugar of lead, to my black and blue eyes, and raw beef steaks to my lips played no insignificant part. I entered South Carolina College as a freshman, at sixteen years of age, and before I was there three months had two fights, after which I was left alone, in my sophomore year, I was accidentally shot in my right eye, by the rebound of the ball from a parlor pistol in the hands of Whitmarsh B. Murray who showed so little feeling about it, that upon my return to College, I sought every way of getting a fight out of him, but without avail. Here to date my first great grief, after staying in College in great pain a week, I went home, stayed there awhile, and then went to Charleston, and stayed with my Aunt Mrs. Colcock, a month, under treatment from Dr. Bellinger and Dr. Geddings, who, finding my eye did not improve, gave me no hopes of ever seeing out of it again. I returned to College, rooming with Marion K. Alston from Fairfield, who was killed at Gettysburg. (a man who loved me with the love of no man) After many a bright and happy hour in those walls I graduated in 1858 (I had been engaged to my cousin Miss Emmeline S. Colcock since my seventeenth year, and although the engagement was broken off by mutual consent, we still entertained the same sentiments for each other) I went home and asked my father's consent to my marriage with my cousin, this without positively refusing, he arguing upon the prospect of deformed children, and by keeping me away from her, and throwing me, amid dissipation for the time, kept my thoughts from my gentle cousin. He got me appointed contrary to my wish, aide de camp to Gov. Gist, gave me a splendid outfit, and sent me to Charleston to the races, balls, and reviews followed in fast succession, and at last I returned home to study law with Mr. Fickling, after one year, finding I did not progress as fast as I ought, I went to Charleston to study law in the office of Gen. James Guivous in company with his son James, my college friend, and John S. Preston Jr. after a most delightful year. I went to Columbia in November and was admitted to the bar, being one of three of a class of twenty six, completing the examination. Behold me now at 22 full of life, health, and joy, heir to wealth, well educated, and of good taste, and say if I had not reason to think that the world was paradise for me. In December I was appointed on the staff of Gov. Pickens, and the State seceded from the general government. I in January went to Charleston, and being taken unwell returned home, where not long afterwards, I had to mourn the loss of my mother. In June of that year 1861 I became engaged to Miss. Mary A. Adams and in the fall went to Va. And associated myself with the Palmeth guard, Kershaws Regt. and at Flint Hill taking up a paper saw the death of my first love (my cousin). I returned with the winter the Yankees then intending to attack the coast of South Carolina. I joined the Beaufort Dist. troops, was detached to have timber cut, to block the Coosawhatchee River, was appointed extra aide to General Donaldson of Tenn., was sent by him to Richmond with letters to-procure a commission, but Congress adjourned, previous to my arrival. Returned home, and joined the Charleston Light Dragoons, and in the fall of 1862 was detached by Col. Colcock, 4th S.C. Cav. as secretary, in the spring I got leave of absence and arrived here, to see my intended wife, Miss. M.A. Adams dying of consumption, and a few days after my return to camp, heard of her death. The second time that fortune had sported with me, for with her I anticipated much happiness. In April 1863 I was appointed Quartermaster, 1st Batt. S.C. Sharpshooters with the rank and pay of Captain of Cavalry and was encamped with the Batt. at Coosawhatchee, Pocotaligo, James Island, Georgetown, and at James Island again, where, when the two Batt. were formed in 27th S.C. Vol. I being the younger Quartermaster, was sent to the post at Green Pond, where I stayed under Gen. Robertson nine months as Post quartermaster and Commandant of the Post. stayed until 1875. (Sept). I planted in 1869, but the caterpillars coming upon me again, I sold out, all but the entacted property, and moved to the up-country and rented "Reeves" from Mrs. Davis, failed the first year, the lands being in bad order, but the second year had great success, and bought this place from the estate of Mr. David Adams, planted the first year with tolerable success, the next year having to submit in the spring to an operation, which kept me on my back until the last of June, my crop was eaten up with grass, by which I was thrown in debt, from which I am only now 1876 emerging, added to which, I had to build a house to which has kept me in a hard struggle.

In the spring of 1877 having gone back to my profession in 1873, I became engaged to Miss. Julia A. Mauson, a lady whom I knew years before and we were married on the 2nd day of June 1874 at Summerville near Augusta, Georgia. We left Augusta that evening for my home and for a year and a half were as happy as two people could be, except when I was annoyed by the continuous and continued visits of her relatives, a mother and a worthless brother. Whom I bore with, in order to give her pleasure and make her contented. Expecting her confinement she went to Charleston, where on the 20th I had only left her the night before, she was seized with convulsions and on the 2lst of March 1876 gave birth to a still born male child, she lingered until the 7th of April when she died, I bought a lot in Magnolia Cemetery and on the ninth of April buried her there, it being impracticable to carry the body to Roseland. I that night returned home, where her family accompanied by a certain actress Miss. Roman came in a few days to gather the spoils, at last after most contemptible behavior, thank God they left me to my grief, and my child, since then I have been dragging out my existence here, lonely and alone, with my little son now L877 ten years old what fate may have in store for me, I know not, but it certainly cannot be much worse , than the past, for I can almost say "I have buried one; and all, and here unloved and alone, I for the present, may be forever, with these lines close.

"The darkest hour of the night is just before the morning"! A new day appears to have opened to Carolina "Prostrate State" and to me. June 1st, 1877 I was appointed Trial Justice by Gov. Hampton, when I dissolved my partnership with U. H. Wigg, and opened an office on my place, and in July visited Charleston to see my cousin Leonora C. Guerard, with whom I had been corresponding for nearly a year, and became engaged to her, visited her again in October, and on the evening of 15 November 1877, we were married at No. 26 Bull St. by the Rev. Wm. H. Campbell, and left town that night on the night line, and arrived home at 6 A.M. next morning. Nora is the great-great-great-grandaughter of David Huguenin the son of the émigré, whose grandson Wm. J. Huguenin, I mentioned as being buried at Roseland, and whose daughter Leonora C. Huguenin intermarried with Alex D. Gaillard, and whose daughter Theodora C. intermarried with Edward P. Guerard, so by marriage with her the two branches of my family are united, and she has her grandmother's maiden name.

Sometime near the close of the last century, my grandfather's sister lay dying at the Huguenin home in Beaufort District, of what was then called dilious fever but without doubt what is now known as typhoid fever, he had been so wanting in his attention and devotion that one evening when he looked particularly weary his mother said to him, my son go and lie down, and if your sister gets worse I will call you, it was one of those beautiful moonlight evenings of the early fall. Going to his room the young man threw himself on his bed, in his clothes, and was soon fast asleep. How long he slept he never knew, but suddenly there fell upon his ears the sweetest strains of music that mortal ever heard, the music grew louder and louder, and then coming up the avenue-(which passes by the graveyard) he perceived a beautiful chariot, drawn by snow white horses and filled with musicians, all dressed in pure white, following, the music came chariot after chariot each containing four lovely young girls about his sisters age, except the last which contained but three, they came to the gate, and all paused by the gate leading to the garden, before stopping except the last which stopped immediately at the gate, when one of the young girls or angels called Eliza! Eliza! to which his sister replied " wait a little I will soon be with you ", In a short time his sister came out dressed like the others, took her place in the last chariot, the music commenced again, the procession started up the avenue that last chariot now first, and the music behind, at the end of the avenue, they went heavenward, and as the last chariot disappeared, as the last stains of the enchanting music fell upon his ear, he felt a hand upon his shoulder, he opened his eyes, and by him stood his mother, " get up my son, your sister's dead." He lived to near his allotted time, to near the threescore and few, but the impression of that dream never was effected, and he often said that no earthly power could make him change his belief as to the glorious, and blissful, and eternal destiny of that sister. They have met again at last.