Three African American men founded Aiken County SC. There hasn't been a push for education in Aiken County school's teaching this history, there is also no prominent showing of this history in Aiken County besides the museum. Aiken County is the second largest county in the state, we should know that our great county has a rich history of African Americans behind its inception. Having a statue erected to commemorate this incredible history of these three African American men, is the goal!

Short history of each founder.

Samuel Jones Lee

was an American Civil War veteran, politician and lawyer from South Carolina. He served as the first African-American Speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives and was a committed member of the Republican Party.

Charles D. Hayne

was an American politician, tailor, and railroad investor from South Carolina. Hayne was born in 1844 in Charleston, South Carolina. He was the son of a white father and Isabella R., a free black mother. He was the nephew of powerful South Carolina politician Robert Y.

Prince Rivers

was a former slave from South Carolina who served as a soldier in the Union Army and as a state politician during the Reconstruction era. He escaped and joined Union lines, becoming a sergeant in the 1st South Carolina Volunteers, a Union regiment in the American Civil War.