PICKENS COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA - Dr. A. F. Langford

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SAMPSON BRIDGES WON BY LANGFORD 

Dr. Langford's influence is given credit for providing the one voted needed 
to return South Carolina to Democracy after the long Republican reign which 
followed the War Between the States. The two opposing political factions were 
deadlocked, each clamoring for control. Dr. Langford, through friendship with 
Sampson Bridges, a member of the Legislature, and a Negro Republican, gained 
the one vote through Bridges that was needed to organize a Democratic 
legislature. Dr. Asa Langford, to his death, was Sampson Bridges' physician. 
Then Dr. J. R. Langford, Dr. Asa's son, gave Sampson Bridges medical attention 
until he (Sampson Bridges) died. 

Prosperity Doctor Induced Negro Legislator to Turn, Giving Democrats Control 
An interesting and critical incident of 1876 is related in the following letter, 
published in "The State" some years ago. 

To the Editor of "The State" 
Published December 14, 1926 
From: D. M. Crosson, Leesville 


The recent Red Shirt reunion in Columbia brings back to me memories of the past. 
Though then a mere lad of 18 years, I rode in the Red Shirt ranks and belonged 
to the Prosperity Rifle Company, which, 65 strong, was ordered out and went to 
Columbia by special train to report for duty in the trying and exciting time 
of 1876 and in the days of Reconstruction. We were there when all the militia 
of the state was brought to Columbia, when Gen. Mart Gary made that famous 
speech at night on a dry goods box in front of the Grand Central Hotel and 
advocated a cleaning out of the Republicans from our state capital; when every 
patriotic citizen was wrought up to fighting heat; when Gen. Wade Hampton 
counselled peace and quiet, and advised that we do no rash act; when it was 
decided to organize a Democratic legislature and the "Wallace House" as it 
was then called, was formed and the record of which all are familiar with. 

I know no more fitting times to record one more historic fact: When the 
opposing political factions were at fighting pitch and each clamoring for 
government control, when the Democrats decided to take charge of the government 
and to organize a general assembly and Governor Hampton, being declared chief 
executive of South Carolina, the general assembly was organized and after much 
effort had been brought to bear to get a working majority; but we were still 
lacking one member to give us the majority; then it was that the crowning act 
came. This is what actuated me to make this true statement which has never 
been recorded. 

It was due to the many, courageous and patriotic effort of Dr. A. F. Langford, 
of Prosperity, that he and I went quietly to hunt up the Negro Republican, 
Sampson Bridges, who had worked under my supervision frequently on my father's 
farm near Prosperity. I remember well that after a diligent search we found 
Bridges, coming across him while in company with some other Republican members 
of the Legislature on the street. Doctor Langford attracted his attention and 
lead him back through an alley way, and when away from the then crowded street 
and in private and in my presence, not by force or by arms, nor threats nor 
intimidation, but by logical reasoning, Doctor Langford induced Sampson Bridges 
to turn over to the Democracy; and we marched him into the Democratic Assembly,
 and he was sworn in as a representative of that body. This was the climax and 
final turning point for the triumph of Democracy in South Carolina. 

The Democracy of Newberry County nor of South Carolina never gave 
Doctor Langford just praise, credit or reward for what he did in those trying 
times. He was a man of superior mind and ability and an able physician. Having 
been a student of his, as required at that time, he served me as preceptor when 
I read medicine, and though he some years ago "passed over the river," I want 
his children, who are Mrs. J. F. Lyon of Columbia, Dr. J. R. Langford of Swansea, 
Dudley and Pickens Langford, of Prosperity, and his relatives and friends to know 
the important part he played in the days of Reconstruction. Let us give credit now 
to whom credit is due. 

The Negro, Sampson Bridges, was above the average of his race in intelligence, 
and was of no mean character. Doctor Langford was Bridge's physician as long as 
he lived and had always a wonderful influence over the Negro. 

Bridges afterward worked frequently on my father's farm under my supervision, 
and often told us that he thought it was his duty to stand by the people who 
raised him and cared for him. 

The following newspaper article written by E. O. DePass of Columbia appeared 
in the "State" Newspaper shortly after the death of Dr. John R. Langford. 
"Recently Dr. J. R. Langford, of Swansea, Lexington County, passed away in 
his 83rd year. Doctor Langford was born and reared near Prosperity, Newberry 
County, and his father was a physician before him, and a gentleman who played 
a conspicuous and dramatic part in the delivery of the state from radical rule. 
Doctor Langford and his forbearers have always been amongst the state's most 
upright and exemplary citizens. For more than 40 years Doctor Langford had 
practiced his profession in the vicinity of Swansea. He was an excellent 
physician and loved his profession with an intense devotion. When one was 
in pain and suffering Doctor Langford responded, and spared no effort to 
relieve the sufferer and compensation for his services was never a factor. 
He would respond to the call of a suffering Negro or person without worldly 
goods as quickly as he would to a call of the rich and influential. His great 
heart went out to all, whether their distress was of suffering or other 
misfortune. So in his passing we find that there has gone from us the perfect 
type of "the family physician," and many hearts will be sorely distressed by 
the losing of the help and advice of this kindly, knightly old gentleman of 
the old school. I have known Doctor Langford for many years, and I have never 
seen a man who literally took the Word of God as his daily guide as did this 
gentleman. Whenever he was not busy in his office, he could be found reading 
his Bible. From many notations on the margin of his Bible it could be seen 
that he not only read the Bible many times, but he had studied it and lived 
from it. In more recent years of his life he suffered a great deal of pain, 
but no one ever heard him complain. He was active in his profession up to the 
day of his death and took a keen interest in the affairs of the nation and his 
beloved state. Truly a "man after God's own heart" has passed from our midst 
into a very rich heritage." 

The old Dudley Langford home still stands and is one of the historic homes 
in Prosperity. His daughters, the Misses Mary and Susie Langford, in talking 
about its unique architecture, commented, "It is the only house in Newberry 
County, and maybe South Carolina, with a Widow's Walk and a root cellar." 
It appears a man from New England came to Prosperity, many years ago, to run 
the newspaper. This gentleman wanted a New England type home with a Widow's 
Walk & root cellar; so he planned a rather elaborate home with these features 
& began building. After the home had been framed, but otherwise unfinished, 
the gentleman found the newspaper business in Prosperity was not as lucrative 
as he had hoped-so Dudley Langford bought the property & finished the house 
as planned.