James Hervey Witherspoon Jr. facts for kids
James Hervey Witherspoon Jr. (born March 23, 1810, died October 3, 1865) was an important politician from South Carolina. He lived during a time when the United States was divided by the American Civil War. James Witherspoon Jr. was a leader in the Confederate States of America, which was a group of southern states that separated from the United States.
He was a high-ranking officer, a colonel, in the Confederate States Army. He also served as a representative for South Carolina in the Second Confederate Congress from 1864 to 1865. This was like being a member of Congress for the Confederate states.
Who Was James Witherspoon Jr.?
James Hervey Witherspoon Jr. was born in Lancaster County, South Carolina. His father, James Witherspoon Sr., was also a well-known figure. James Sr. served as the lieutenant governor of South Carolina from 1826 to 1828.
James Jr.'s brother, Isaac Donnom Witherspoon, also became lieutenant governor of South Carolina. This shows that public service was important in their family.
His Early Career
We don't know much about James Witherspoon Jr.'s early life or where he went to school. However, he likely studied law. This is because he worked as a judge for 16 years. He also served for 21 years in a role related to fairness and justice, called "Equity." This means he helped make sure legal decisions were fair.
His Role in the Civil War
During the American Civil War, James Witherspoon Jr. played a military role. He was a colonel in the 8th South Carolina State Reserves Troops. A colonel is a high rank in the army, showing he was a leader during this difficult time.
His Family Life
James Witherspoon Jr. was married to Mary Elizabeth Jones Witherspoon. She lived from 1811 to 1856. They had two children together. Their son was Bartlett Jones Witherspoon, who lived from 1832 to 1905. Their daughter was Eliza Jones Witherspoon Wylie, who lived from 1834 to 1909.
James Witherspoon Jr. passed away on October 3, 1865, in Lancaster, South Carolina. This was shortly after the Civil War ended.
