History:  Columbia County. John C Smith, Hon. Joseph Henry Lumkin, 
William and John (Jr), Reminisces of Dr. H. R. Casey
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Articles written for the Columbia Sentinel in 1883.

Permission granted by the Columbia County News and transcribed by 
Stephanie Harrison.

The articles were written in 1883 by Dr H. R. Casey for the Columbia 
Sentinel. He writes about many of the early pioneers of Columbia County 
who arrived in Georgia in the late 1700's and early 1800's.

The following names are mentioned in this article:
John C Smith, Hon. Joseph Henry Lumkin, William and John (Jr).

April 18, 1883

JOHN C SMITH
Immigrated from Virginia in 1810 when a youth of only 10 years and came
to Columbia County in search of employment. Showing great industry and
a desire to do well by a faithful discharge of duty, he won upon those
with whom he came in contact, and found no difficulty in making 
friends.  He spent the first years of his life here on or near Uchee 
Creek, near by Old Union Church. He soon developed genious and aptitude 
in mechanism and rose rapidly to the front rank as a first class 
mechanic.  From my first acquaintance with Mr Smith, which dates back 
to about 1850, my ears have been familiar with the name of "Old Uncle 
Johnny Smith". True, he was not then a very old man and this soubriquet 
was given him, not so much from his age as from the great respect and
difference shown him as a man of solid worth and integrity. For all of
these long years of change, of revolution, of temptations, of 
departures not only in politics, but in morals- Mr Smith has been 
connected with the Methodist Church and I do not remember to have heard 
one word of reproach or the least taint of even suspicion, upon his 
fair name. His long life has been one of "good will towards all 
mankind" and his footprints have always been found in the pathway of a 
true devoted and faithful soldier of the Cross.

I saw Uncle Johnny Smith sometime since at White Oak camp ground in
attendance upon a Sabbath School convention of Columbia and Mc Duffie
counties and though age had dimmed his vision and frosted his locks and
his form had lost its elasticity and erectness and his gait was 
unsteady and tottering, yet in obedience to a heart that is and always 
was ready to respond to the calls of duty we find this good old man of 
God cheerfully leaving his daily labor upon which he is dependent for 
living to go seven or eight miles to meet with the brethen and the 
children in the great work of Sunday Schools.

And just here I will quote a declaration of Hon. Joseph Henry Lumkin,
many years ago. He was so impressed with the importance of Sunday
Schools that, while on the Circuit he would address the public on this
subject. In one of these addresses in Augusta, I believe he uttered
this sentiment: "I believe that the Sunday School scholars of to-day
have more evangelical knowledge than had the Apostles."

Now to some this may smack of enthusiasm, but all who were acquainted
with the honorable gentleman know that he was a calm and deliberate
thinker and never allowed his zeal to get in advance of his judgement.
Mr Smith raised eleven children and was twice married. Three of his
boys volunteered their services to their country's call. Two of them
joined the Thomas Guards and the third belonged to the Hamilton 
Rangers.

Where are those noble soldier boys today? Go to Appling and in the
rear of Judge's bench and immediately in front to the back wall of the
room, you observe a Monumental Tablet to the memory of Columbia's Dead 
Heroes.  Read the names there that go to make up the long catalogue of 
"Our Dead" and there you will see the recorded the names of the three 
Smith brothers. And just here I will state that this pure white marble 
slab is beautiful in design and the work well executed and thus 
protected from Time's effacing finger, it is to-day a fresh and 
appropriate as it was when first but up. I would gladly know that much 
a memento was in every Court House in the State, yet in the South. The 
cost of such a tribute is but trifling in comparison to the debt of 
gratitude we the survivors owe these noble martyrs.

Of Uncle Johnny Smith's other children I know only enough to say that
if any of them are not clever, they made a departure from the teachings
of their father.  But of WILLIAM AND JOHN I can speak of my own 
knowledge, yet we all of Columbia and McDuffie counties know well these 
two good useful and live citizens. Their record speaks for itself, and 
their example is worthy of all commendation and their lives festooned 
in never fading flowers of language and written on the signboards along 
the pathway of life, that the youth of the present day may read and 
learn the truth of the old proverb. "Where there is a will there is a 
way." These benglement are in affluent circumstances, honest, 
industrious, and successful tillers of the soil and not withstanding 
the hard times, scarcity of money, and "Farming don't pay", they are 
surrounded by all the comforts of a well ordered household and yet who 
of us started in life with less of the smiles of life than William and 
John Smith. True, the dividing knife cut these gentlemen off from us 
and placed them in McDuffie, but we claim that a long life spent in old 
Columbia entitles them to this notice.  William the oldest son, died 
since the publication of these Reminiscences.