Those whom Society Hill has given
Major James Lide Coker (1837-1918). PHOTO COURTESY OF DCHCM
Judge Samuel Wilds (1775-1810). PHOTO COURTESY OF DCHCM
David Rogerson Williams (17767-1830), Governor of South Carolina. PHOTO COURTESY OF DCHCM
By Stephan Drew, Editor
Society Hill, South Carolina, may be a small town but, it has a long and very rich history in leadership and achievement. Established in 1737, after a group of Welshmen obtained a grant of 173,840 acres along the Pee Dee River from King George II of England, the community, was formerly known as “Long Bluff”. Withstanding the pain and struggles of the American Revolution as well as the torture inflicted by Sherman’s March to the Sea during the Civil War, Society Hill has produced an impressive number of outstanding leaders in religion, law, education, business, science, agriculture and the military.
According to J. M. Napier, “If you were to search the nation over, it would be hard to find a small community that has contributed more to the public in the way of culture, education and leadership than has Society Hill.”
The list of illustrious names is extremely long but, here are a few of those notables:
Lemuel Benton (1754-1818) was the first Congressman from this district. He was Colonel of the Upper Pee Dee Regiment and was elected Sheriff of Cheraw’s District in 1789 (the year the U.S. Constitution was ratified).
William Falconer was a Scottish lawyer and member of the first board of trustees of the University of South Carolina. He died on June 20, 1805.
Dr. Thomas Park (1767-1844), an early principal of St. David’s Academy, was among the first faculty members of the University of South Carolina.
David R. Williams (1776-1830) was Governor of South Carolina and lived most of his life at Center Hall before he lived at the Factory.
Dr. William Sparks studied at the University of Berlin and was appointed United States Consul to Venice in 1845, a post where he died in 1849.
Rev. M. A. Curtiss (1808-1872) was Rector of Trinity Church from 1847 to 1856 and was a widely known botanist who discovered and named many species of plants and fungi. He authored and co-authored several scientific papers and several botanical books.
Dr. J. H. Thornwell (1812-1862) was born in Marlboro, attended St. David’s Academy as a youth and was one of the early Presidents of the University of South Carolina.
Alexander Gregg (1819-1893) was the First Episcopal Bishop of Texas, the Chancellor of the University of the South at Sewanee, and the author of ‘The History of the Old Cheraws’.
Henry McIver (1826-1903) was a solicitor and, later, Chief Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court.
W. A. Carrigan (1826-1897) was a merchant, banker and outstanding businessmen. He was also the largest landowner in the Pee Dee.
Major J. J. Lucas (1831-1914) was a railroad builder and businessman. He was also the first to plant Camellias in Darlington County and built the large brick mansion known as Japonica Hall.
Major James L. Coker (1837-1918), is considered the builder of Hartsville and was the founder of Coker College.
James L. Coker Jr. was the first to process and successfully manufacture paper from southern pine wood.
J. Harvey Rogers was Professor of Economics at Yale University and adviser on gold to President Roosevelt.
David R. Coker was founder of the largest cottonseed-breeding farm in the world and was recognized as one of the world’s outstanding authorities on cotton.
There is also a long list of financial leaders and educators who have contributed to improving the welfare of those, not only in the southeast but around the world. Suffice it to say, for a small town, Society Hill has given much to mankind.
