Charlestonian Cheves

Over the years, South Carolina has birthed several well-known individuals.  These individuals range from TV personalities, to inventors, to political legends.  Perhaps, the most well-known political powerhouse that comes from South Carolina is Andrew Jackson, 7^th president of the United States[i].  John C. Calhoun is also another name that hails from South Carolina that some historians may call a political architect.  More importantly, a lesser known, named political goliath in South Carolina is Langdon Cheves. Cheves made significant impacts on the political history of South Carolina, and he is buried right here, in Charleston.

Langdon Cheves

Just after the United States declared their independence in July of 1776, Langdon Cheves was born in September of that same year in Abbeville at the Bull Town fort[ii].  After growing up in a newly founded country, Langdon quickly became a self-made attorney not just because of a private school education, but because of his intellect.  Miles Richards, on behalf of the South Carolina Encyclopedia, attributes Cheves success to hours of self-teaching.  This veracity allowed Cheves to establish his own, successful law firm.  After passing the bar in 1797, Langdon married his wife, Mary Elizabeth Dulles in 1806.

Being named the “Political Jesuit,” Cheves rose through the ranks of the Jeffersonian party to be elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1802-1809[iii].  From that moment, Langdon’s career became successful through his rise to political power.  In 1809, he was appointed at the State Attorney General in South Carolina.  Cheves then achieved an effective and powerful period in the United States House of Representatives in 1810.  During the War of 1812, Langdon was appointed to the Naval Affairs Committee which earned him a place in the passionate group known as “ The War Hawks[iv],” along with other extreme, right-winged members of Congress, including John C. Calhoun, that wanted to go to war with Britain[v].

With his prosperous reputation in Congress, Cheves was elected in 1814 as Speaker of the House, the most powerful position in the House.  This was just 4 years after being elected to congress.  The archives from the House of Representatives, paints Cheves as a powerful leader in the House that brought about an offer from President James Madison to serve as the Secretary of the Treasury position in the President’s cabinet.  After declining the offer, Cheves retired from Congress, which lead to the appointment of the president of the Second National Bank.  His goal was to restore financial order to the bank.  From 1819-1822, Langdon reformed the Bank’s declining monetary funds by approving less loans, implicating higher interest rates, and reducing the bank’s notes that were in circulation[vi].

Once the war of 1812 ended in 1814, the Treaty of Ghent was signed between the two fighting nations.  Editors at the History channel outlined that this treaty contained plans to return conquered territory and commission boundaries.  Since international war claims were unsettled, Cheves was appointed by President Monroe as the Commissioner of War claims until all outstanding international claims were adjusted.  Once Langdon completed his task set by President Monroe, he returned to Charleston as a “silent political power broker[vii].”  With a wide array of support, Cheves rallied the South with support of succession from the Union.  In 1850, he was a delegate to the convention in Nashville to support the possession of slaves in the lead up before the Civil War. 

During the last few years of his life, he remained an established attorney, and ran a plush plantation of rice in both South Carolina and Georgia.  For causes unknown, he died in Columbia South Carolina in June of 1857, and he is now buried in Magnolia Cemetery in Charleston[viii]. Langdon Cheves grave is an Obelisk. A lot can be learned from a highly successful man such as Langdon Cheves.  His tenacity and vigor allowed him to rise to political power and achieve the highest respects from politicians and colleagues.  Regardless of how one would view his beliefs, Charleston, South Carolina now has a political legend buried here.  Just by taking a few moments to visit the gravesite and witnessing the burial grounds, people far and wide can truly appreciate much of what Charleston has to offer in regards to political legends.

               

Langdon Cheves Obelisk

      

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[i] The White House. (n.d.). Andrew Jackson. Retrieved from https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/andrew-jackson/

[ii] Richards, M. (2016, April 15). Cheves, Langdon. Retrieved from http://www.scencyclopedia.org/sce/entries/cheves-langdon/

[iii] Schulman, M. (n.d.). Cheves, Langdon biography. Retrieved from https://www.historycentral.com/Bio/nn/Cheves.html

[iv] Richards, M. (2016, April 15). Cheves, Langdon. Retrieved from http://www.scencyclopedia.org/sce/entries/cheves-langdon/

[v] Indiana University Library. (2012). War Hawks. Retrieved from https://collections.libraries.indiana.edu/warof1812/exhibits/show/warof1812/before/war-hawks

[vi] Richards, M. (2016, April 15). Cheves, Langdon. Retrieved from http://www.scencyclopedia.org/sce/entries/cheves-langdon/

[vii] Office of the Historian. (n.d.). CHEVES, Langdon. Retrieved from https://history.house.gov/People/Detail/10892

[viii] Huff, A. (2004). Biographical Information on Cheves. Retrieved from http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=c000350

Endearing Epitaphs

Epitaphs are very important to graves, they convey a beautiful meaning from a family to a loved one. Epitaphs are "a phrase or form of words written in memory of a person who has died, especially as an inscription on a tombstone". Many graves only have when a person was born and when they died, but adding an epitaph can show love towards the deceased loved one. 

I came across many graves that had epitaphs on them, but only a couple of them stood out. The first epitaph I came across says, "After Life's Fitful Fever Comes Rest". This quote comes from Shakespeare's "Macbeth". It means, "he experiences life, rather, as a "fitful fever," that is, a fever that comes in fits, the heat of ambition alternating with deadly cold, turbulence broken by only transient calms". This quote is very unique. This die on socket grave can be found in Magnolia Cemetery. WM. Aiken Williams lays at rest here, he died June 1907.

Die on Socket

The second epitaph I came across says, "To Live In Hearts We Leave Behind Is Not To Die". This quote originates from poet Thomas Campbell, "the hearts we leave behind, are the /friends/people who knew us before we died, is not to die, means that if we are remembered by people we have not died and been forgotten". This epitaph is written on a ledger, where Alexander Kinloch McDowell and Annie Bissell McDowell rest. Alexander McDowell died on September 20th, 1940. Annie McDowell died on March 3rd, 1956. 

Ledger

The third epitaph I came across says, "A Brighter Home Than Ours, In Heaven, Is Now Thine Home". This quote comes from a book called the "The Grizzly Bear". It is very hard to find the meaning of this quote, but I believe it means that the person who passed is going to a be in a happier, better place. This grave can be found in Bethel United Methodist Church cemetery. The grave is a die on socket, the person who rests here is Rosa Mary who died November 2nd, 1881.

Die on Socket

The fourth epitaph says, "I Have Learned The Song They Sing. Whom Jesus Hath Set Free, And The Jasper Walls Of Heaven Ring. With My Newborn Melody". This quote comes from Pilgrim Hymns, the quote is broken up through the hymn which makes it hard to find the meaning. It is very hard to find information on this quote, but I believe it means the deceased person is being set free from this cruel world, as the angels sing and the Lord opens the gates of heaven to greet her. This is a very beautiful quote. This grave can be found at Bethel United Methodist Cemetery. This grave is a die, base and cap. The woman that lays at rest here is Rebecca Jane who died November 21st, 1875.

Die, Base and Cap

The fifth epitaph says, "Forever With The Lord". This quote comes from the Bible (1 Thess. 4:17). It means to spend eternal life in heaven with God. This grave can be found in Bethel Methodist Church Cemetery. It is a die on socket where Olin B. Davis is buried. He died in December 1866.

Die on Socket

The sixth epitaph says, "As The Bird To Its Sheltering Nest, When The Storm On The Hills Is Abroad, So Her Spirit Hath Flown From This World of Unrest to repose on the bosom of God". This quote is by William H. Burleigh. It means she has left this world to reclaim her place in heaven with God. This grave is from Bethel United Methodist Cemetery. This is a fallen over headstone, the person who lays at rest here is Elizabeth Moore, who died October 26, 1861.

Headstone

The seventh epitaph says, "Eternal Rest Grant Onto Him, O Lord". This quote comes from the "All Souls Day" prayer. It means give this person peace in heaven. This grave can be found at Magnolia Cemetery. It is a die on socket. The person laying at rest here is John Adams, who died February 12th, 1905.

Die on Socket

The eight epitaph says, "How Is The Strong Staff Broken And The Beautiful Rod". This quote comes from the Bible (Jeremiah 48:17), this quote is here to remind us that God is Sovereignty, God will take care of us. This grave comes from Magnolia Cemetery. It is a box tomb, where Charles H. Simonton lays at rest. He died in 1902.

Box Tomb

The ninth epitaph says, "Asleep In Jesus: Peaceful Rest Whos Waking Is Supremely Blessed". This quote comes from a Lutheran Hymel by Margret Mackay. The person who past is resting peacefully and when they awake in heaven they will be blessed by the Lord. This grave can be found at Magnolia Cemetery. This is a pedestal grave, where Elizabeth Jones Buist lays at rest. She died on November 23rd, 1875.

Pedastal Grave

The final epitaph says, "Faithful Unto Death". This quote comes from the Bible (Revelation 2:10), it means this person believed in the Lord all throughout life. 
This person definitely has a special place in Heaven. This grave can be found in Magnolia Cemetery. 
It is also a pedestal grave, where Stephan Thomas lays at rest. He died on January 2nd, 1894.

Pedastal Grave

While writing this post, I have learned the importance of epitaphs. People can put a lot of meaning into a little quote. These are very important to graves because it can tell a lot about a person. This helped open my eyes to how special epitaphs can be.

Magnificent Magnolia

From its beautiful landscape to its incredible graves, Magnolia Cemetery is one of a kind. As we entered the gate into Magnolia Cemetery, my first impression was, "WOW, how can a cemetery be so beautiful"? You think of cemeteries as being dull and sad, but no, Magnolia Cemetry tells a different story.

Magnolia Cemetery Entrance Sign

Magnolia Cemetery has lush grasses, flowers, and trees, as well as, a beautiful lagoon. The cemetery also has paths and a bridge to help navigate people through the cemetery. These features are what make Magnolia Cemetery so unique. I've never seen another cemetery quite like Magnolias. Every other cemetery I've visited has headstones and maybe one or two unique monuments, but Magnolia Cemetery flourishes with them!

While walking through this beautiful cemetery, I came across many unique graves. Three of these graves caught my eye. The first grave I came across was a very unique Sarcapogous. The Sarcapogous is surrounded by columns, almost what looks to be a fortress. The Sarcophagus has many symbols on it and an urn on top of it. This makes this grave very unique. Sarah Calhoun Simond was buried here, she was born on January 19th, 1839 and died February 9th, 1908. 

Sarcophagus

The second grave I came across is one of the most beautiful I've ever seen. It is the Lipinski Mausoleum. It has a beautiful garden in front of it, as well as a walkway to the doors. This is unique because in the Lipinski family there is an Olympian. Tara Lipinski was an Olympic ice skater that won the Olympics in 1998. This Mausoleum has stain glass windows, the windows actually have the Olympic rings depicted in them. 

Lipinski Masouleum

Lipinski Stain Glass Windows

The third grave I came across was amazing, it has two women on the first half of the grave and on the second half, there is an angel holding what looks to be a cross. This grave also has a pathway leading up to it and many different grave symbols. This grave would be considered a masterpiece because there is so much to it. Jacob Birt and his wife Ann Elizabeth rest here, Jacob Birt died December 12th, 1876 and his wife died May 18th, 1898. 

Birt Masterpiece

My final thoughts about this cemetery are that its absolutely breathtaking. No other cemetery can compare to this one. The overall layout of landscape and graves is one you will never see unless you visit Magnolia Cemetery. Magnolia Cemetery is one trip I will never forget!

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