Society Snippets: History of the Partisan Monument Part 9

1913 Jan 7 The Daily Record

It was with great shock and sadness that the death of Annie Robertson was reported.  She passed away at her home in Washington, D.C. of euremic poisoning. [Today this is referred to as renal failure.]  Her body would be brought by Southern Railway on January 8 on the 8:20 train and would be taken to her studio on Senate Street.  She would be buried in the Trinity churchyard at 3:30.  Columbia chapter members were to meet in the vestibule at 3:00 to form an escort of honor.

With her dedication to and work on the Partisan Monument, I feel it is most appropriate to tell of her life as described in the article at this time.

     It was said that Annie was known more for the work she did for the DAR than in any other of her duties.  She joined the Columbia Chapter in the early stages. (It does not say if she was a charter member).  She served as secretary under the first three regents until her unanimous election as chapter regent.

     She was elected state vice regent and often represented the SCDAR at many monthly national meetings while staying at her home in Washington, D.C.  She executed her office efficiently and was very influential with matters on the national level.

     It was said that her work for the DAR shone brightest for the partisan monument which was to be unveiled in just a few short months.

Outside of DAR, she was known for her work with the Trinity mission, the industrial school in the North Carolina mountains, and with the Catawba Indians. She strove to elevate the poor.  Her intellectual suggestions to the leading classes would be greatly missed as they were greatly valued.

She was the mother of two children, Isabel and Allen Jones (who passed in his youth). She was survived by three grandchildren and six brothers. 

     One last point of which I would like to remind you.  If you missed the post Continental Congress Treasure Hunt: The Coat of Arms, please go back and read that in the archives from June 2017.  Annie was commissioned to produce the Coat of Arms as decoration for Continental Congress.  Read to learn about our fellow SCDAR member's work which still hangs proudly in our beautiful building today.

The South Carolina Coat of Arms 

If any member can locate a good picture of Annie Robertson (Mrs. A. I.), I would love to have it for our archives! One was printed in The State in a later edition ; however, the scan of the page has greatly distorted the photograph making it unusable.

1913 Mar 4 The Daily Record

Another one of the members of the central committee passed away.  On December 27, Miss Isabelle Martin suffered a stroke and was paralyzed.  She passed away several months later at the age of 73.  She was a past secretary and regent of the Columbia Chapter and had served on the central committee for the monument since the committee was formed.  Miss Martin was a remarkable woman.  As a young girl, she nursed the sick and wounded Confederate soldiers at Wayside hospital (of which her mother was one of the founders).  She was president of the Columbia Hospital association which founded the Columbia hospital on Hampton Street.   She was a devoted member of her church serving in various capacities.  She served as a teacher for 48 years which began when she opened a girls’ school in her home soon after the war.  This school continued until 1890 when the College for Women was founded.  She served the college as English Department Head until she accepted the chair of philosophy and Bible at Columbia College.  She was also a member of the association which founded the Timrod Library.

This was the second key member of the central committee who would not live to see the beautiful monument which we enjoy today.

1913 May 11 The State

At the 22^nd Continental Congress, Mayes gave her state regent’s report.  In it, she stated that SC daughters have worked long and hard to raise funds for the monument worthy of our three “peerless” generals.  She went on to say that unless prevented by an unforeseen calamity, the monument was expected to be unveiled in November.   The state extended its invitation to the assembly then would extend it again to the President General, the national officers, and the state regents when the actual date was set.  “Our portals will be hung wide open and welcome will be writ in large letters on our lintels.  We want you to come and be glad with us on this proud day of achievement.”

1913 May 16 The Columbia Record

President Woodrow Wilson was expected to be the guest of honor at the unveiling of the monument.  During Continental Congress, DAR members interviewed President Wilson who said the he desired to visit his boyhood home and pay honor to the three great Revolutionary heroes.  In a letter to Mayes, the President stated that if a date could be arranged, he would gladly accept the invitation of the SCDAR.   The proposed date for the unveiling was November 3, the birthday of the late Annie Robertson [who as you know was instrumental in the monument’s success].  The final date would be dependent upon word from President Wilson.  Plans for the state conference, unveiling of the monument, and entertainment of the President and delegates were underway.

1913 May 30 The Columbia Record

The headline read “Legislature must grant permission.”  In a letter sent to Mayes, the chairman of the state house grounds commission, W. Boyd Evans stated that is was his opinion that the consent of the legislature must be had before a site could be given for the monument.  Ruckstuhl had selected the site to best to display the monument; however, Mayes desired to receive official consent of the state house commission before taking further action.

Evans asked the attorney general’s office for an opinion.  Assistant attorney general Fred H. Dominick stated he believed that if the commission granted permission to the SCDAR that it would be necessary for the legislature to concur.  He referred to section 174 of the code which gives the commission control of the state house grounds and section 176 which provides for improvements on the grounds such as walkways.  The other monuments on the ground cited were the Wade Hampton, Women of the Confederacy, and U.D.C. tablet in which the location of each was given by act of the general assembly.

The central committee had decided to accept Ruckstuhl’s suggestion on the location of the monument.  It was midway between Senate and Gervais Streets opposite Trinity church, 22 feet from the concrete walk on Sumter Street, and 22 feet wide with a hedge as one of its ornamental features.

Trinity Episcopal Cathedral

1913 Jun 6 The State

The Assistant Attorney General handed down an opinion saying that the partisan monument could not be erected on the state house grounds until the state legislature granted permission.  Needless to say, the SCDAR members were perturbed.  The monument was to be unveiled at the state conference in November.  It was hoped that arrangements could be made to proceed with the work.  This would be explained in more detail in the 1913 Jun 20 article from The Columbia Record.

1913 Jun 11 The State

Based on this article, the only reason the state conference was to be held in Columbia was that the main event was to unveil the monument.   Since the attorney general made the decision that the monument could not be legally placed on the state house grounds without the permission of the legislature, things have been placed on hold.

1913 Jun 20 The Columbia Record

The state house commission granted permission to erect a shaft to honor the “Three Partisan Generals – Sumter, Marion and Pickens.”  The article stated that that placement of the monument was to be opposite and facing Trinity Church.  President Woodrow Wilson would be invited to be make the principal address and the event was expected to be held October 7. 

State Regent Mayes presented the petition to Governor Blease which was also signed by Miss Alice Earle, Mrs. Malvina Waring, Mrs. Sara Richardson, and Mrs. Rebecca Bacon.  The Governor asked the commission to grant the request.  In addition to the commission, Chairman Dr. George Dick of the ways and means committee of the house, Chairman P.L. Hardin of the finance committee of the senate, committee member George R. Rembert of the ways and means committee of the house, and the representatives of the DAR all gave their approval.  The commission granted its permission on Friday.

Governor Coleman Livingston Blease

Commission member W. Boyd Evans had disputed the legality of placing the monument on the state house grounds.  He contacted assistant attorney general Fred H. Dominick for an opinion.  On May 27, Dominick rendered his opinion as follows: “I am of the opinion that your commission can give the desired permission for the erection of a monument of this character but deem it advisable that your action in regard to the same should be approved by the general assembly at its next session.  This would remove any doubt which might exist in regard to the matter.”

During the last session of the legislature, certain members of the DAR appeared before the ways and means committee and asked for an appropriation of $2000 to construct a base for the monument.  The DAR had built the base at their own expense in order to present the monument to the state of South Carolina.   The members in attendance stated where the monument was to be placed and reminded them that the first appropriation granted was because the monument was to be placed on the state house grounds.

1913 Jun 21 The State

State Regent Mayes was on Columbia on official business.  She told the reporter that she felt a keen personal interest in the plans that were forming for “the Conference for the Common Good” which was to be held August 6-7. (This was not a part of the SCDAR conference.)  She came to Columbia in connection with negotiations over placing the monument on the state house grounds.  

1913 Jun 24 The State

In response to the article that stated that Woodrow Wilson was probably coming, the writer suggests that the DAR should arranged the unveiling of the monument to coincide with the great convention that was to take place in Columbia on August 6-7.  Clarence Cunningham suggested that on both occasions there would be “a vast concourse of Carolinians to Columbia.  In August every man, every woman, and every child in the State will have leisure to go, and should go, for to many of our masculine, feminine, and neuter benighted citizens both occasions will be a great and profound yet easily understandable lesson.” 

Unfortunately, this would not be the only scare the SCDAR faced in getting the monument completed.  The summer would pass and then all of a sudden Mayes sends a statement that is printed in the newspaper.  Several days later, the reason for the statement was presented in an article.   As you will see, the news sent a wave of panic to the members of the monument committee.  Anxiety levels were high as members waited for further news to arrive.

1913 Oct 8 The State

Mayes made the following official announcement concerning the upcoming state conference.

     “The annual state conference of the South Carolina Daughters of the American Revolution will convene in Columbia Tuesday, November 11, and adjourn Friday, the 14^th.  This promises to be the most notable occasion in D.A.R. circles since the unveiling of the monument to our three partisan generals in the war for independence.

     “This was the first work projected by our State organization during the regency of our first State regent, Mrs. Rebecca Pickens Bacon.  It has been a work of such magnitude that interest has been kindled and then lagged during the successive regencies, being pushed aside from time to time by the local work of the chapters.  Many monuments have been erected and battlefields marked since the inception of this work.  Many workers, whose enthusiasm kept interest in the undertaking alive have passed over the river and rest with the heroes whom we wish to enshrine in bronze and marble.

     “We are deeply gratified that the regent who began the work is still with us and will, we hope, see the full fruits of her labors.

     “The unveiling ceremonies will take place at 3:30 p.m., November 11, on the State house grounds just opposite Trinity church.  This hour has been chosen so that those coming from different parts of the State can leave their homes on the morning of the 11^th and reach Columbia in ample time for the unveiling exercises.  Reduced railroad rates will be obtained, if possible, and as every section of the State is represented by valor and prowess of these three great Carolinians – Sumter, Marion, and Pickens – we trust that every South Carolinian who can will be present at the unveiling.

     “It is a tardy expression of our gratitude to those who have vouchsafed to us the goodly heritage of today.  The old adage, ‘Tis better late than never,’ though apologetic, has in it the lingering spark of life and hope and is a morsel of comfort to those of us who feel that we have been derelict in our duty and unappreciative of our privileges.

     “There will be many persons of distinction from South Carolina and our sister States present during the unveiling and conference, which will add éclat and interest to both occasions.

    “The cordial hospitality of Columbians is known far and near.  There will be a welcome for all who attend the unveiling and conference.” 

This letter was published as a result of a telegram to the SCDAR from Ruckstuhl instructing the committee to hold the invitations as there was an accident to the shaft of the monument.  In a subsequent letter, he stated that the accident was minor which  could easily be remedied and that there would not be a delay.

1913 Oct 10 The Columbia Record

The article stated that a meeting with Mayes and the regents of the hostess chapter took place and that the conference would definitely be held in Columbia on November 11-14 with plans being discussed in detail.  The highlight would be the unveiling of the monument.  Information about Ruckstuhl and the monument were given in the next paragraph in which Ruckstuhl is quoted as saying that the monument will be one of the most beautiful in this section.  The article concluded stating that the President General would be invited.

After the statement from Mayes was published four days earlier, this article was placed in the newspaper. 

1913 Oct 12 The State

Waring received a telegram from Ruckstuhl with this message, “Withhold invitations to unveiling of monument.  Accident at quarry.  Letter follows.”  

Plans had been made to unveil the monument on the afternoon of Tuesday, November 13 and an acceptance to invitation from the President General was expected in the next few days.  The DAR was waiting for particulars in a follow up letter to arrive.  The Corinthian shaft was being cut and polished at a quarry in Indiana.  

1913 Oct 16 The Columbia Record

There was a relief among the SCDAR to learn that the reported accident to the shaft was not serious.   Plans were made to issue invitations without delay for the ceremony on November 11.  The granite shaft was from the Davis Quarry in Indiana.  The social features of the conference were then discussed.

WHEW!