Calhoun County Museum
Come and enjoy the history of Calhoun County and South Carolina presented with a personal southern touch.
Formation of Calhoun County (cont.)
The call of this meeting was severely criticized by the old county papers, they taking the position that it would simply result in disturbing the politics of the old county and originated in the mind of "a crank or fanatic". As a result of this meeting it was decided to take steps at once to form this county. On May 28, 1907 at a largely attended meeting of the new county advocates a complete organization was affected, bylaws arid constitution adopted and officers elected. Mr. Ed Wimberly was elected president, in which capacity he served nobly until his death. (Mr. Wimberly, one of the best merchants of Central South Carolina, gave his full energies to the cause. While traveling in an open buggy working for the proposed county in its upper section, he was drenched in a rain storm and developing pneumonia, died June 19,1907). At this meeting Dr. T. H. Dreher was elected vice-president and Mr. T. A. Amaker was elected secretary and treasurer. At the death of Mr. Ed Wimberly, Dr. T. H. Dreher was elected president and Mr. J. E. Wannamaker, vice-president To give the names of all the officers of the Association and all those who deserve special mention of their splendid and untiring work would be impossible in the short time allowed, suffice it to say that the success of forming Calhoun County can be attributed to no one man, but the fact is that there was a united effort made, and everyone connected with the movement did everything in their power to make this movement a success.
“Our friends from the old county who had so strenuously opposed us in our previous efforts soon realized that this is not an April fool joke, but that a sleeping volcano had burst forth, and this would be the fight of their lives. And they made a desperate fight against the formation through the press, on the stump, and even in our supreme court. After one of the hottest, most bitterly contested and strenuous fights ever recorded in the history of the formation of a new county in this State, the new county of Calhoun won out in the election on Tuesday, December 17, 1907 by a record breaking majority. The vote was as follows; 603 for; 111 against.
|
For |
Against |
|
Cameron
|
69 |
23 |
|
Advance (Now Morph Mill)
|
45 |
74 |
|
St.
Matthews
|
214 |
2 |
|
Fort Motte
|
47 |
0 |
|
Lone Star
|
86 |
0 |
|
Fall Branch
|
95 |
0 |
|
Red Store, Lexington
|
47 |
12 |
|
Total
|
603 |
111 |
|
|
|
“There is no question that the fight started by Calhoun in 1890 has not only resulted in the formation of Calhoun County, but it has also materially helped to bring about the formation of the new counties since that time, In fact Col. George Tillman's speech delivered here in 1896 has been the foundation stone for the formation of new counties, and to Col. George Tillman, more than to any other man in this State is credit due for the formation of all small counties.
“The cost for the formation of Calhoun County has been as follows; (this includes only the actual money expended, no citizen of Calhoun County who was connected with this fight making any charges for his services)
Property of Calhoun County Museum Archives.
Not to be used without written consent.