May 2
1903: James Edwin McTeer, known as the High Sheriff of the Lowcountry, was born in Hardeeville. McTeer served 37 years as Beaufort County Sheriff from his initial appointment in 1926 until his retirement in 1963. McTeer was widely known as a root doctor and an expert on witchcraft, according to the Beaufort Gazette.
May 3
1825: Laura Matilda Towne was born in Pittsburgh, Pa. In 1862, with help from her friend, a Quaker named Ellen Murray, Towne founded Penn Center on St. Helena Island, the first school in the nation for freed slaves. The school started with nine students in the back of a plantation house.
Editor’s Note: If you know of any significant dates pertaining to history, business, social life, etc., in the City of Beaufort, the Town of Port Royal, the old Beaufort District, the Sea Islands or anywhere else in northern Beaufort County that you feel we could or should add to our list, please let us know at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.
