William L. Mauldin
William L. Mauldin | |
|---|---|
| 59th Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina | |
| In office December 30, 1886 – December 4, 1890 | |
| Governor | Hugh Smith Thompson |
| Preceded by | John Calhoun Sheppard |
| Succeeded by | Eugene B. Gary |
| Member of the South Carolina Senate from Greenville County | |
| In office 1884–1886 | |
| In office 1904–1912 | |
| Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from Greenville County | |
| In office 1882–1884 | |
| In office 1898–1904 | |
| 7th Mayor of Greenville, South Carolina | |
| In office 1877–1879 | |
| Preceded by | William C. Cleveland |
| Succeeded by | Samuel A. Townes |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 13, 1845 |
| Died | August 13, 1912 (aged 67) Greenville, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Resting place | Springwood Cemetery[1] |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Eliza Thompson Kern (m. 1871) |
| Children | 6,[2] 5 surviving him[1] |
William Lawrence Mauldin (June 13, 1845 – August 13, 1912)[1] was a South Carolina politician and railroad executive. He was mayor of Greenville, a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, a member of the South Carolina Senate, and the 59th lieutenant governor of South Carolina.[2][3] The University of North Carolina has a collection of his papers.[4]
Early life
Born in Greenville, South Carolina, to Samuel and Caroline née McHardy Mauldin,[2] he had a brother named Belton, and a sister, Elizabeth.[5] Mauldin attended Furman University (1855–1860) and worked as a druggist and farmer.[5] During the Civil War, in November 1861, he enlisted into the Confederate States Army and served in South Carolina's 6th cavalry regiment for a year; in June 1863, he reenlisted and served with the 2nd regiment through the end of the war.[5][2] Mauldin married Eliza Thompson Kern in 1871.[6]
Political service
In 1877, Mauldin was elected mayor of Greenville. In 1882 he was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives. In 1884 he became a member of the South Carolina Senate.[2] Mauldin served two terms as lieutenant governor from December 1886 to December 1890.[7] He cast a tie-breaking vote to approve usage of the Clemson/Calhoun estate to establish Clemson University.[2] Mauldin was elected again to the state house in 1898 with reelection in 1902, then to the state senate again in 1904, wherein he remained a senator until retiring after the 1911–12 session.[1][2]
Legacy
Mauldin, South Carolina, is named for him. He brought the Greenville and Laurens Railroad, of which he was president, through the village.[2][8] The original train depot was erected in 1886 and bore Mauldin's name.[9]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d "Senator Mauldin Answers Death's Relentless Call". The Greenville News. South Carolina. August 14, 1912. p. 8.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Hemphill, James Calvin (June 12, 1908). Men of Mark in South Carolina: Ideals of American Life: a Collection of Biographies of Leading Men of the State. Men of Mark Publishing Company. pp. 301–302 – via Google Books.
- ^ "LibGuides: Belton O. Mauldin Family Correspondence, 1856–1902: Scope and Contents". LibGuides at Furman University. 2017-09-14. Retrieved 2020-06-21.
- ^ "William L. Mauldin Papers, 1820–1829, 1870–1912". finding-aids.lib.unc.edu.
- ^ a b c "Belton O. Mauldin Family Correspondence, 1856–1902: Scope and Contents". Furman University Special Collections and Archives. Retrieved January 24, 2026.
- ^ "Mauldin, William L. (William Lawrence), 1845–1912". Social Networks and Archival Context. Retrieved 2020-06-21.
- ^ "Lieutenant Governors of South Carolina 1730–2025" (PDF). South Carolina Legislative Manual. 2025. p. 634. Retrieved January 24, 2026 – via South Carolina Legislature.
- ^ "Mauldin". Historical Marker Database. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
- ^ "Chapter 9: Cultural Resources" (PDF). City of Mauldin. p. 9-1. Retrieved January 24, 2026.