OR, THE WORLD HAS CFIANGKD. 79 



went to see Mi'S. Rion and obtained her consent to go to Fort 

 Hill, and then Jim formed a part of our cavalcade to the 

 Pendleton Academy. Our party consisted of Mr. Calhoun's 

 three sons, John C, James E., William Lowndes and Jim Rion, 

 from Fort Hill, Ransome Calhoun, from Keowee, and my Uncle 

 John Hackett and myself from Tranquilla. 



Jim Rion received every kindness from the Calhoun family, 

 and it is believed, to this day, even in South Carolina, that he 

 was of blood relation to the Calhouns, but it is not true. Jim 

 Rion was fifteen years old when he came to Pendleton, and 

 sixteen when he went to Fort Hill. 



My father first noted his brilliancy of intellect and spoke of 

 it to Mr. Calhoun, and through his influence, and the efforts 

 of Young James E. Calhoun, who was then in college, he was 

 entered as a beneficiary and graduated with great distinction, 

 winning the first honors of his class, though some of his com- 

 petitors belonged to the wealthiest and most aristocratic fam- 

 ilies of the State. He also captured a more precious prize 

 from the family of the President of the College, then the Hon. 

 W. C. Preston. 



Rion commenced business as a teacher in Winsboro, S. C, 

 studied law under the famous Mr. Woodward, and soon 

 became his partner in the practice. The war coming on, he 

 was among the first to volunteer, came out as a colonel of a 

 regiment, and was known as a brave and brilliant officer 

 After the war he rose rapidly in his profession and became 

 famous as a railroad lawyer, which branch he made a specialty. 

 He refused to enter politics and to accept any kind of political 

 preferment. He presented two scholarships to his alma mater, 

 in gratitude for benefits received. Mr. Calhoun entertained a 

 very high opinion for James Rion, and in many ways showed 



