Was born in Abbeville, South Carolina, May 3, 1840. He enlisted June 8, 1861. at Richmond, in the Seventh South Carolina Volunteers, as a private. Acted as orderly, for General M. L. Bonham, deceased, at the first battle of Manassas. June 25, 1862, he was transferred to Orr's Rifles; and was made sergeant major, in 1864. In that rank, he served in most of the battles in Virginia, until the end of the war. He was imprisoned at Baltimore six weeks.

He graduated with first honor at Erskine College, in 1859. Was married to Miss Eugenia Cornelia Brewton, of Spartanburg County, April 6, 1870. He was a member of the House of Representatives, from 1870, to 1880, and from 1884, to 1886. In that year he was elected to the State Senate, and served until 1894. He was also elected clerk of the Senate. Member of the Constitutional Convention, of 1895. Appointed a member of the Legislative committee to investigate charitable and penal institutions— a part of the great fraud committee. Chairman of committee on education in Senate, and ex-offlcio trustee, of Win-throp, when founded.

Represented South Carolina at the funeral of Jefferson Davis, in New Orleans, on committee from State Senate. Delivered an address at Nashville Exposition, on Tennessee Day; also delivered an address before National American Woman's Suffrage Association in Atlanta, Georgia, 1895. Introduced a bill into the Senate so as to change constitution in order that women might be allowed to vote. This bio was taken from ebay listing of someone selling the CofC certificate. Info submitted by Georgia A.

*****

He died on December 28th, 1908 and is buried in the family plot in Abbeville, South Carolina. He and his wife had 9 children, most of which are buried here as well. At one time, there was a Daughters of the Confederacy iron cross at his grave, it has been gone for years.

info submitted by great grandchild bonfargason

* * * * *

Many thanks to GMG (#47391530) and PME (#49156885) for additional info.

* * * * *