EVANS, and OTHER FAMILIES

 There is need to still linger among the old Welshmen, who first planted civilization and Christianity upon the banks of the Pee Dee.

  There are several names in the list of the first settlers, as given in a former chapter that have been prominent in the history of the country, and exercised a large influence in guiding public affairs.  Among these, Thomas Evans is worthy of mention.  He had a son Thomas, who was called "Old Col. Tom" Evans, who lived on the road from Long Bluff to the Marlboro old Court-house.  He was a prominent soldier of the Revolution, a member of the Legislature, and was the father of that incorruptible jurist and statesman, Josiah J. Evans, than whom Marlboro has had few sons more justly honored and revered.  Judge Evans was born upon the Marlboro soil in 1786.  He was among the early students of the South Carolina College, graduating in the third class in 1808.  Three years later he was admitted to the bar; was made Commissioner in Equity for Cheraw District in 1812, and in the same year was elected a member of the House of Representatives for Marlboro District.  After the expiration of his term of service he married Miss DeWitt, at Society Hill, and became from that time a citizen of Darlington, and soon had a large practice in his profession.  In 1816 he was elected to the Legislature from Darlington, and in the year following was made solicitor for the judicial
 circuit in which he lived.  In 1829 he was elected a circuit judge, and continued to preside in the courts of the State with eminent dignity, courtesy, and legal knowledge and accuracy, until 1852, when he was elected to the United States Senate.  If wise and pure as a judge, he was not less faithful and true as a Senator.  Senator Hale, of New Hampshire, widely differing from him in political opinions, said of him, "that he realized to his mind more fully than any other man whom he had met
 on the floor of the Senate, the ideal of an old Roman Senator."  His career in the Senate was suddenly cut short by the stroke of death on the 6th of May 1858.  His practice as lawyer, his duties as solicitor
 and judge, and a large planting interest in Marlboro, brought him frequently among the sons and daughters of his old neighbors.  So that we never lost our interest in him, and when death struck him down, Darlington, his adopted home, was scarcely more bereaved than Marlboro.  Since his death, although for a time none of his sons or grandsons were residents of the county, yet, their large planting interests within it has brought some of them into such constant contact with our people that
 they have felt almost like citizens, while in the late years several of the grandsons have become citizens, and one of them, Mr. W. DeWitt Evans, has served his constituents, first in the House of Representatives, then as Senator, and now as Railroad Commissioner.

     Judge Evans had a brothers, who came to be known as "Col. Tom" Evans, whose name is entitled to appear among the historic names of the County.  Col. Evans saw active service in the war of 1812, and was for some time in active duty as Major in Col. John Rutledge's 3d Regiment of State Troops, and upon the retirement or transfer of Col. Rutledge he was placed in command of the regiment.  He also rendered civil service to his country, having served a term in the Legislature.

     The name of Samuel Wilds appears among these early settlers.  From Bishop Gregg we learn that he "had two sons, John and Abel.  The latter was known before the Revolution as old Col. Wilds.  His residence was on the east bank of the river, nearly opposite Long Bluff.  John, the other brother, was the father of John and Samuel.  The latter became the distinguished Judge Wilds, a man of remarkable character and brilliant talents."  "His brother, John, who died prematurely, was considered even more talented."  Judge O'Neal, in his "Bench and Bar," presumes that Judge Wilds was born in Darlington, but Gregg, in his history, makes him a native of Marlboro."  Nor need our honored sister Darlington grudge us this distinction.  Same did have his residence and brilliant life
 - his accomplished daughter, Mrs. R. D. W. McIver, for some years, and his noble widow, who afterwards became Mrs. Dr. Smith - to adorn her best circles as patterns in all that was good.  And if our Darlington cousins will allow it, let them be reminded that Peter Wilds, a scion of the same stock, transplanted from Marlboro, a flower that bloomed out for Darlington a precious fruitage not yet ceased bearing; and that Darlington has been greatly since honored, in giving birth to another
 Samuel Wilds, in the person of that noble, polished, valiant soldier, who led one of her first companies into the war between the States, and who rose to be the beloved Major in his regiment, and, scarred and wounded returned, to his hospitable home, to see his property swept away, and his country reduced and impoverished; yet lived only long enough to prove that he had gone through the struggle, and come out, the same pure-minded, splendid gentleman that went in.  Scorning anything low or wrong, and then while yet in his prime, like his distinguished kinsman, fell asleep lamented by all, and by none more than his comrades in arms.

     Among the first members of the old church at Welsh Neck were three Harry's, Thomas, Daniel and John, with their wives, and in a parochial election held in 1768, Gregg gives in the list of voters, Thomas and two David Harry's.  It is inferred therefore that one or more of them lived and reared families on Marlboro ground.  It is known that the late Mrs. Samuel Sparks was Miss Ann Harry, that her father died when she was a child, and his widow married David Mandeville; and the first wife
 of the late Jesse David, as we have seen, was a Miss Harry, and a sister of hers was married to Mr. Sam Crosland, who went to Kentucky, and these latter ladies were not sisters to Mrs. Sparks.  It is therefore likely that there were more than one of these Harry's among the early settlers of Marlboro.  The name is extinct here now.

     It is said that the father of Judge Evans married Miss Elizabeth Hodges, who was a sister of Captain George Hodges, of lower Marlboro.

  There seems to have been a large family of Hodges upon the Pee Dee.  Few families gave more soldiers to the Revolution than this one.  We have already seen that the maternal ancestor of the present David family in the county was of this name.  Capt. George Hodges married Sarah, a daughter of George Cherry, who was a prominent citizen of Marion county, then called Liberty. 

The writer has a distinct recollection of Captain Hodges.  He commanded a company in the same regiment of which Evans was a major in the War of 1812.  My friend, Dr. J. H. Lane, placed in my
 hands a manuscript record of court martial and general orders extending from July 15, to October 22, 1812, in which the names of Evans and Hodges frequently occur as members of these courts, and as otherwise connected with the affairs of the regiment, and in a careful reading of the entire record no mention is made of either that would indicate the slightest suspicion of any dereliction of duty; and of the captain, as well as of his company, which was partly at least of Marlboro men, no member is named as having been arraigned before a court martial during these three months; while a good many of the other commands were tried, convicted and sentenced; and whatever other sentence of punishment was imposed by the courts, they seldom failed to order that the "daily grogration" should be withheld.  Was it that Hodges' men so loved "grog" that no misdemeanor was indulged in lest the precious ration should be withheld? or are we to infer that the behavior of his men was superior to theirs? or was it that his discipline and administration of affairs was so sound, that there was no occasion for punishment?  The testimony of tradition says, that while firm and strict, he was kind and indulgent, and commanded the respect of affection of his men.  If his men feared his displeasure as the boys did, when he shook his gray locks at us for any misbehavior in church, good order would reign in his presence at least.  HE was spared to see a large family grow up to maturity.
  Mrs. Hodges and one of the young ladies returning to their home from a visit in the neighborhood were dashed against a tree by a frightened horse, and Mrs. Hodges was killed and the young lady injured.  The "old captain," heart broken, lingered a few months in his sorrow and joined his companion in the beyond.  The young men in the Brownsville community of this name, and Messrs. P. A. and J. L. Hodges are grandsons of this excellent pair, and so, likewise, was R. H. Hodges, who was a member of the recent Constitutional Convention, and who died while the Convention was in session.

     A daughter of "old Col. Tom" Evans and a sister of the Judge, Miss Rebecca, married Charles Irby, who was also a prominent member of the Brownsville community.  About 1826 Mr. Irby was elected a member of the Legislature.  The writer, though but a boy, can remember the sudden death of the grand, portly old man, and how the neighborhood was moved in sympathy with his large family of sons and daughters in their bereavement; and how they were missed in society and schools of the
 neighborhood, when, a few years later, the family removed to Alabama.  The oldest son, John, married Miss Catharine Allison, and soon after died in the prime of his young manhood, leaving an only child who grew to womanhood, and became the first wife of the late Henry Rogers, and mother of Thomas Irby Rogers, of Bennettsville, and several other sons and daughters.

  Mr. Irby's widow, after some years, became the first wife of John C. Bethea, of Marion, and the mother of the well-known excellent farmer, of the Buck Swamp region, Ed. C. Bethea.

     Another sister of Judge Evans married Christopher Pegues, from whom descended a numerous connection, and whose influence tended largely to shape affairs on the upper Pee Dee, in the neighborhood of Cheraw.

  The grandfather of Mr. Pegues, named Claudius, "came to Pee Dee about 1760, and settled on the east side of the river, not far below the State line; was of French descent, married a Miss Butler of Charleston, moved first to Georgetown, and from thence came to this region, and at once took an active part in the affairs of the country."  His two sons, Claudius and William, reached manhood.  The latter married Miss Elizabeth Murphy and settled on the west side of the river.  His second wife was a Miss Gardner.  He is said to have been a man of cultivated tastes, and a staunch Whig and suffered much from Tory hate and robbery.  Claudius married Miss Marcia Murphy and settled on the Marlboro side of the Pee Dee.  He, too, was a man of fine character, active in all that pertained to the welfare of this country; was a captain in the war for independence, an ordinary for the district of Cheraw, more than once a representative in the Legislature, and a county court justice for Marlboro.  This family has, from their first settlement in the country, been prominent in every laudable enterprise.  Two sons of this name have been honored ministers of the South Carolina Conference.  Randolph, noble soul, of manly bearing, gentle spirit, in the prime of his usefulness, was "gathered to his fathers."  While Wesley, an older brother, with silvered locks, stood yet longer on the heights of Zion and warned men to repent.  A number of young men bearing the honored name live among us, to yet reflect luster upon their worthy ancestry.