Biographies   Colleton County - South Carolina Genealogy Trails BELLINGER, JOHN RICE,  son of William Cotesworth Pinckney Bellinger and Jane Elizabeth (Rice) Bellinger, was born in Walterboro, Colleton county, South Carolina, March 14, 1851. His father was a merchant and planter of unusual strength of character, noted for absolute integrity, fidelity to every duty, sobriety, industry, faithfulness and loyalty to friends and in every relation of life. Mr. Bellinger's forefathers on his father's side came from Northumberland county, England, in the seventeenth century. Among the earlier arrivals in America was Edmund Bellinger, the landgrave. J. R. Bellinger's mother's people came from Wales, to which country they had migrated from Ireland. The mother's family name was originally Rhys. The family are descendants of King John, the last king of independent Ireland. Among the family ancestors are also to be counted Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, Charles Pinckney, and Thomas Pinckney, distinguished in statesmanship and law. Though small of stature, the subject of this sketch was as a boy strong and healthy. His early life was passed in the town of Walterboro, with occasional visits to the country. He was regular in his habits, was fond of books, and, though it was often self imposed, he enjoyed the discipline of labor. He split rails for a pastime, cut and hauled most of the wood used by the family for some time after the war, and also beat rice. He had serious difficulties in obtaining an education. He attended a preparatory school taught by ladies, and the Walterboro Male academy; but was obliged to leave school at the age of seventeen, and he was never graduated from any institution. What he has since learned has been the result of his private studies. He read law under Colonel Carlos Tracy, of Walterboro, finishing in 1872. His reading, earlier and later, included history, Shakespeare, the Bible, books of law, and a few novels. From his earliest recollection he wished to be a lawyer, and to earn success. To home influence, private study, and contact with men, Mr. Bellinger attributes, in large part, the bent of his character; religion, however, he believes has been the chief force in molding his life. His active work began on April 21, 1872, in the practice of law at Blackville, South Carolina. He has practiced law constantly since his admission to the bar, keeping books a part of the time in early morning and at night. He practiced at Blackville until March 19, 1880, at Greenville, South Carolina, from March 21, 1880, to March 24, 1896, and since that time at Bamberg, South Carolina. He has been a trustee of public schools both at his present home and in Greenville, and has several times acted as solicitor. He is very prominent in Masonic circles. He has been grand master of Masons in South Carolina. He is, and for eight years has been, most excellent president of the grand convention of anointed high priests of South Carolina. In politics Mr. Bellinger is a Democrat. In religion he is a Protestant Episcopalian, and he was for several years a vestryman and lay reader in Christ church, Greenville. He enjoys whist and other card games, also riding and driving. He has experienced the vicissitudes which have taught the necessity of prudence and economy. His advice to the young is: "First, endeavor to find the calling for which you are best fitted, then bend every energy for success therein. Obey conscience; maintain the highest principles of integrity; and live soberly, industriously, and morally." Mr. Bellinger is opposed to the present tenure of the judicial office, believing that judges should hold for life or good behavior and be paid at least five thousand dollars per year. On October 23,1872, he married Miss Martha Cornelia Bice. They have had twelve children, four of whom are still living. His address is Bamberg, Bamberg county, South Carolina.  Men of Mark in South Carolina By James Calvin Hemphill Published 1907 - transcribed and contributed by Barb Ziegenmeyer..SC#4 BACK to Colleton County South Carolina Genealogy Trails © all rights reserved to the original submitter