Charles Betts Huggins

Charles Betts Huggins, born 7 Aug 1843 in Darlington County, was the son of Rev. John Samuel Huggins (1910-1979), inventor of the first mechanical cotton planter in the south and Zilpha Ham Huggins (1810-1871). He was the grandson of George Huggins (1778-1857) and Catherine Leitia Montgomery (1780-1827)and the great grandson of Capt. John Huggins of the American Revolution who commanded a troop of calvary in the Britton's Neck Regiment of Militia under Col. Hugh Giles in Francis Marion's Brigade and Elizabeth White Simmons (1755-1807).

Charles Betts and all of his brothers (5) served in the Civil War. He entered the Civil War as a private in 1861 and was appointed a Corporal 25 June 1862. Served with Palmetto Bat. Light Artillery Co.C & E.

Following the close of the war, he located in Williamsburg County, where he became a substantial planter, merchant and cotton ginner.

In 1872 he was one of the original founders of the Old Johnsonville Methodist Church located near Venters, SC.

He married twice. His first wife was Sara Ann Davis (1851-1896), daughter of Dr. William Sylvester Davis (1793-1880) and Martha E. Smith (1810-1897). The had 2 living children, Theophelus Walter Huggins (1871-1898) and Frederick Eugene Huggins (1875-1942). Charles Betts and Sara cared for his niece, Addie Aliene Huggins, for a short time after the death of her mother, Elizabeth Timmons Huggins a month after she was born. Charles Betts and Sara Ann were married for 31 years.

On 25 May 1897 he married Catherine Donia Bourne (1873-1956) and they had one son, Rev. Charles Betts Dewey Huggins (1898-1967). Charles Betts and Callie Bourne were only married for seven months and seven days before his death.

Charles Betts Huggins died on 1 Jan 1898 and is buried beside his first wife in the Old Johnsonville Cemetery.