William L. Mauldin
American politician and railroad executive from South Carolina
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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]
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] |
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]
