Willowbrook Cemetery

‘Willowbrook’ Cemetery At Edgefield Is Resting Place Of Many Famous Southerners Ancient Stones Mark Graves Of Some of Most Illustrious Names Of South
 By Hortense Woodson
 Extracted from The Greenville News, dated 5 January 1931
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   The old village cemetery in Edgefield, “Willowbrook,” is a never-failing source of interest to lovers of the historic. Here rest men and women whose names are associated with the history of the state and nation. And the memory of whom will linger long after the slabs that mark their graves have crumbled.  The list of Edgefield’s illustrious dead includes statesmen, jurists, military leaders, preachers, doctors, and men of the every-day world who wrought worthily in their respective spheres.
      The Brooks square is remarkable for the number of distinguished men and women who sleep there:  Colonel Whitfield Brooks, of the state militia during the War of 1812, and his wife, Mary Parsons Carroll Brooks, formerly of Charleston.  The latter, after the death of her husband, moved to Ninety-Six and at the outbreak of the War Between the States, furnished all equipment for the company to which her sons belonged. She contributed largely to the building of the Episcopal church in Edgefield, and was also instrumental in building a church near her home at Ninety-Six.
BROOKS BURIED HERE
      A tall shaft bearing the seal of the Palmetto State, marks the grave of their son, Preston S. Brooks, born in Edgefield village August 6, 1819; elected to the State Legislature in 1844; elected captain of Company D, Palmetto Regiment, in  1846; served during the Mexican war; elected to Congress in 1853, and died in Washington City, January 27, 1857.  Preston S. Brooks it was who caned Sumner on the floor of the National House of Representatives, because the latter made a disparaging remark in regard to A. P. Butler, a kinsman of Brooks.
      Another son is Whitfield Butler Brooks, who was born in the village of Edgefield on December 28, 1825, and died in the City of Mexico on October 2, 1847.  He engaged in battles at Vera Cruz, Contreras and Cherubusco, and the inscription on his tomb reads:
      “At the call of his country he marched with the Palmetto regiment to the theatre of war and on the bloody field of Cherubusco received a mortal wound while gallantly charging the enemy.  On the field of battle, with the momentary expectation of death, his only  question was, ‘Have I discharged my duty?’  The reply of his gallant general is his best epitaph:  ‘Yes, like a man; you are an honor to yourself, your family and your country.’”
      Two other sons of Col. and Mrs. Whitfield Brooks, who were captains in the War Between the States were John Hampden Brooks and James C. Brooks, father of the late Gen. U. R. Brooks, former comptroller general and clerk of the Supreme court for many years.
      In the Brooks section also is the grave, unmarked [it is now], of Gen. R. G. M. Dunovant, who served as brigadier-general with a commission from Governor Pickens at the outbreak of the War Between the States. He organized the South Carolina Army and was in charge the first three months of 1861, later serving under General Beauregard as lieutenant-colonel, in command on Fort Moultrie during the bombardment of Fort Sumter.  He married a sister of Preston S. Brooks. 
PICKENS SQUARE
      A cement wall, blackened with age—as are the slabs marking the graves—surrounds the plot known as the Pickens square.  Here South Carolina’s Confederate war governor, Francis W. Pickens, sleeps his last long sleep.  Near his grave is that of his second wife, Marion Antoinette Dearing (his first wife, Eliza Simkins, being buried at “Cedar Fields,” the Simkins graveyard); and between them, the grave of their daughter, Jennie Pickens Whaley.
      Governor Pickens’ third wife, the gracious Lucy Holcombe—noted in the United States and Europe for her beauty and charm—sleeps in an unmarked grave on the square.  And above another grave, the single inscription, “Douschka,” tells the story of a sparkling young woman, born in a Russian palace while her father was ambassador to that country—Douschka, name by the Czar of Russia—who grew up at the family home, “Edgewood,”  near the village; who donned a “Red Shirt” during the perilous days of reconstruction and rode forth as a modern Joan of Arc.  Douschka married Dr. George Dugas of Augusta, Ga., and died at 25 years of age.  Her two daughters, Mrs. Dollie Sheppard and Mrs. Lucy Dugas Tillman, now live in Washington, D. C.
      One of the most interesting graves is that of Edmund Bacon, the “Ned Brace” of Longstreet’s “Georgia Scenes,” whose epitaph was written by Judge Augustus Longstreet.   Edmund Bacon was born in Augusta, Ga., April 17, 1776, and during the visit of George Washington to that city in 1791, Bacon, who was a student at the Richmond Academy, only 15 years of age, was given the privilege of making a speech of welcome to the president. 
      “This delicate and honorable task was so well performed,” a historian writes, “that it attracted the special notice and attention of the great man, and induced him to give the youthful orator a handsome present of several law books." ” Judge Bacon was considered the finest lawyer at the Edgefield bar in after years.
      His wife, Eliza Fox Bacon, is buried here, and while her grave is unmarked, it is said that she lived to be 105 years old. Their son, Judge John E. Bacon, who grave is nearby, was a son-in-law to Governor Pickens, and went as his secretary when Pickens was United States minister to Russia.  Later, John E. Bacon was sent by the United States as minister to Buenos Aires.
MOTHER AND SON
      In this cemetery also, a mother and son rest together in the same gave.  They are Mrs. Pierce M. Butler and her son, Elbert Butler.  Mrs. Butler having died when the news of her son’s death on the battlefield reached her.  One son had already been killed in the War Between the States, and previously her husband had lost his life while commanding the Palmetto Regiment as colonel during the Mexican war.  Colonel Butler had served his state as governor, and his body was brought in state to Columbia for burial.
      Another distinguished member of the Butler family buried here is General Calbraith Butler, who had the distinction of serving as brigadier-general in two wars. The War Between the States and Spanish-American war and he was for years United States senator from South Carolina.
      The grandfather of the present United States Senator, C. L. Blease, also is buried in this cemetery.  The inscription on his monument reads:  “Thomas Wainwright Blease, born in Liverpool, England, June 8, 1796, died May 31, 1837, leaving a widow and seven children.”
      The only vault in the cemetery holds the remains of the first Mrs. John E. Bacon, who was Pawnee Butler, daughter of Governor and Mrs. Pierce M. Butler.  About the vault was built a small frame structure, within which was placed a trunk, dolls, toys, and a large number of sea shells which had been the property of the deceased when she was a child.  For years, children peered in to see these curiosities, which have disappeared within recent years, and the structure has fallen into decay.
      Among other illustrious personages whose dust lies here are Chancellor Hugh Wardlaw, a member of the Secession convention who wrote the Ordinance of Secession; Gen. William C. Moragne, brilliant writer (editor of The Edgefield Advertiser for years) and orator, in addition to his military service; Col. Simeon Christie, Col. Joseph Abney, Col. Elbert Bland, Col. Thomas G. Bacon, Col. William P. Butler—all with the bona fide military title of “colonel,” and brilliant members of the Edgefield bar; and Judge John S. Jeter, who was likewise distinguished as a jurist.
“UNKNOWN DEAD”
      One Revolutionary soldier buried here is Rev. Joseph Moore, pastor of the Methodist church, who died in 1851 at the age of 84 years.  A large number of Confederate soldiers lie there, awaiting the last roll call, and a shaft in one section is dedicated to 37 “unknown dead.”  Soldiers of the Mexican war and of the Spanish-American war also rest there, and two soldiers of the last great war, Warren Hill and Frank Jones, were brought to their native Edgefield for burial and sleep in the village cemetery.
      Here, too, is buried one Charles McGregor, a native of Dunbartonshire, Scotland, born July 24, 1808, died May 21, 1857.
      Above one grave floats a tiny United States flag a mute symbol denoting the fact that here rests the granddaughter of Francis Scott Key, author of America’s national anthem—Mary Lloyd Pendleton Abney.  Mrs. Abney and her husband, the late John Rutledge Abney, although residents of New York, were buried in Edgefield,  Mr. Abney’s native county, at their own request.
      Many, many others,  who served their day and generation well, sleep there—where stately magnolias with their creamy blossoms, keep watch above the marble tombs; where tall cedars waft their sighs to the breeze; where tendrils of ivy cling protectingly over the mouldering stones.  Here they sleep until the Resurrection morn.  And above them, sweet-throated birds chant a continuous requiem.