John S. Thorne
John S. Thorne (c.1840–1904) was called one of the "Black Kings of Edisto" because of his efforts to improve the lives of the formerly-enslaved men and women of Edisto Island during Reconstruction era.[1]
Born a Free Person of Color in Charleston, Thorne came to Edisto after the Civil War. He organized a "co-op" in which men and women pooled their funds, and in 1871, acting as agent for that "co-op," Thorne purchased two former plantations on Edisto: Baynard's "Seaside" and "Shergould". The total acreage was around 500 acres.
Thorne then had the plantations subdivided and each of the "co-op" members received a share of land proportional to his or her investment. Thorne thereby made landowners of nearly 40 formerly-enslaved Edistonians.[2]
Thorne continued to purchase and resell real estate on Edisto, including keeping land for himself on which he built a thriving cotton business. He operated six cotton gins and a general store. He was also known for making advances to farmers so that they could plant their crops.
A reporter from the Charleston News and Courier reported in 1880 that Thorne was one of the richest men on Edisto, with a personal worth of over $20,000, with his cotton gins ginning more cotton than any of the White-owned cotton gins on Edisto. He also had "a comfortable house," which house is still standing.[3]
Thorne joined with Jim Hutchinson and several other prominent Edistonians and obtained a state corporate charter to run a ferry from Edisto to Charleston.
Always looking out for his community, Thorne headed up the Hurricane Relief Committee for Edisto in the wake of the destructive "Sea Islands Hurricane" of 1893. He would later serve as enumerator on Edisto Island for the federal census of 1900.
Thorne died at his home on Edisto in 1904. His remains were removed to Charleston to a family plot for burial.
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