WINNSBORO – There is a connection between James E. Webb, for whom the newly launched NASA space telescope is named, and Winnsboro.
Dr. William E. Aiken, a Winnsboro physician in the mid-1800’s, raised a large family. His daughter Augusta married Charles Douglas. Charles and Augusta built the house that sits at 101 Evans Street, now occupied by the John McLeod family.
Charles and Augusta lived there a short time until Charles, a lawyer, decided to move to Washington, D.C., where they lived for many years with their three children – Margaret, Talley and Patsy.
Patsy married James E. Webb who was later appointed Chief Administrator of NASA, a post he filled from 1961 – 1968, with distinction.
A portrait of Augusta hangs in the living room of the Fairfield Museum.
Other children of Dr. William E. Aiken and sisters of Augusta, were Annie Davis, the grandmother of John D. McLeod and Annie McLeod Jenkins and Carrie A. Elliott, the ancestor of Tom Sprott and Laurens “Bootsie” Livings.
Charles and Augusta Douglas had another child, Sadie, who died in infancy and who is buried in the Aiken family plot in Sion Presbyterian cemetery. Patsy Douglas Webb and Patsy (Patsie)Davis McLeod were both named for their grandmother Patsie Woodward Aiken. Jim Webb was from a small community near Oxford, NC named Tally Ho.
Remember when Johnny was invited to Dinner at their Home in DC