Henry McIver

Henry McIver was born September 25, 1826 in Society Hill, Darlington District, South Carolina, the son of Alexander M. McIver and Mary Hanford.  He married June 7, 1849, Caroline Harrington Powe (August 4, 1829 - January 2, 1902, daughter of Thomas E. Powe and Charlotte H. Harrington).  They are the parents of seven children:  Eleanor Harrington McIver, who married Edwin F. Malloy; Mary Hanford McIver who married James D. Harden; Henry McIver, Jr.; Thomas Powe McIver, who married Susan R. Duvall; Edward McIver; Charlotte Harrington McIver, who married Richard C. Watts; and Caroline McIver.

Alexander McIver relocated his family to Cheraw around 1826.  Henry graduated in 1846 from the South Carolina College and was admitted to the Bar.  In 1852, he was Solicitor for the Judicial Court.   In July of 1850, after his father's death, he was appointed Circuit Solicitor in which position he served until 1865.  He was present when the Chesterfield County Secession meeting was held and was sent as a Delegate from Chesterfield County to the South Carolina Secession Convention.

During the war, he first served as a 2nd Lieutenant in Company A 4th Regiment Cavalry South Carolina Volunteers and was promoted to Captain on June 25, 1863.  He was wounded at the Battle at Hawes Shop Virginia.  He was discharged in Greensboro, North Carolina at the close of service.

After the war he continued his law practice and on May 18, 1877 was elected Associate Justice of the State Supreme Court.  He was named Chief Justice on December 1, 1891, and died in office January 12, 1903.

In his obituary it is stated 'he was one of the ablest Jurist in America, the Chief Justice of Alabama once said " I regard the legal opinions of Judge McIver to be the best written and the ablest of any Judge on the bench and I have tried for years in writing my opinion to use his as models." ' 

He and his wife are buried at Old Saint David's Cemetery in Cheraw, Chesterfield County, South Carolina