Martin F. Ansel
Encyclopedia
Martin Frederick Ansel was the 89th Governor of South Carolina
from 1907 to 1911.
Born in Charleston, South Carolina
, to John Ansel who was an immigrant from Württemberg
in Germany
and Fredrika Bowers, also a German immigrant, Martin grew up in the German "colony" of Walhalla, South Carolina
. He was admitted to the bar in 1870, first practicing law in Franklin, North Carolina
, for four years, then in Greenville, South Carolina
, where he became involved in politics. He served in the state legislature between 1882 and 1888, then was elected solicitor
in the eighth Judicial Circuit, where he stayed until 1901.
He explored a run for governor in 1902, but did not actually run until 1906. He was re-elected in 1908.
He was first married to Ophelia Anne Speights, daughter of A.M. Speights, founder of The Greenville News
, with whom he had two daughters and a son, but who died in 1894, then to Addie Hollingsworth Harris, who died in 1937. One of his daughters, Frederica, christened the battleship
USS South Carolina (BB-26)
in 1908.
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
from 1907 to 1911.
Born in Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, to John Ansel who was an immigrant from Württemberg
Württemberg
Württemberg , formerly known as Wirtemberg or Wurtemberg, is an area and a former state in southwestern Germany, including parts of the regions Swabia and Franconia....
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Fredrika Bowers, also a German immigrant, Martin grew up in the German "colony" of Walhalla, South Carolina
Walhalla, South Carolina
Walhalla is a mountain city in Oconee County, South Carolina, United States. It is located from Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina and is also located in the Appalachian Mountains of South Carolina. The population was 3,801 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Oconee County...
. He was admitted to the bar in 1870, first practicing law in Franklin, North Carolina
Franklin, North Carolina
Franklin is a town in Franklin Township, Macon County, North Carolina, United States, within the Nantahala National Forest. The population was 3,490 as of the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Macon County. Franklin is an official Appalachian Trail friendly destination...
, for four years, then in Greenville, South Carolina
Greenville, South Carolina
-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
, where he became involved in politics. He served in the state legislature between 1882 and 1888, then was elected solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
in the eighth Judicial Circuit, where he stayed until 1901.
He explored a run for governor in 1902, but did not actually run until 1906. He was re-elected in 1908.
He was first married to Ophelia Anne Speights, daughter of A.M. Speights, founder of The Greenville News
The Greenville News
The Greenville News is a daily morning newspaper published in Greenville, South Carolina. Along with The State in Columbia and Charleston's Post and Courier, it is one of the three largest papers in South Carolina.-History:...
, with whom he had two daughters and a son, but who died in 1894, then to Addie Hollingsworth Harris, who died in 1937. One of his daughters, Frederica, christened the battleship
Battleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
USS South Carolina (BB-26)
USS South Carolina (BB-26)
USS South Carolina , the lead ship of her class of dreadnought battleships, was the fourth ship of the United States Navy to be named in honor of the eighth state, and was the first American dreadnought or all-big gun battleship....
in 1908.