William L. Mauldin
William Lawrence Mauldin was a South Carolina politician and railroad executive. He was mayor of Greenville, a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, a member of the South Carolina Senate, and Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina. The University of North Carolina has a collection of his papers.
Early life
Born in Greenville, South Carolina, to Samuel and Caroline née McHardy Mauldin, he had a brother named Belton, and a sister, Elizabeth. Mauldin attended Furman University and worked as a druggist and farmer. During the Civil War, in November 1861, he enlisted into the Confederate States Army and served in South Carolina's 6th cavalry regiment for a year; in June 1863, he reenlisted and served with the 2nd regiment through the end of the war. Mauldin married Eliza Thompson Kern in 1871.
Political service
In 1877, Mauldin was elected mayor of Greenville. In 1882 he was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives. In 1884 he became a member of the South Carolina Senate. Mauldin served two terms as lieutenant governor from December 1886 to December 1890. He cast a tie-breaking vote to approve usage of the Clemson/Calhoun estate to establish Clemson University. Mauldin was elected again to the state house in 1898 with reelection in 1902, then to the state senate again in 1904, wherein he remained a senator until retiring after the 1911–12 session.
Legacy
Mauldin, South Carolina, is named for him. He brought the Greenville and Laurens Railroad, of which he was president, through the village. The original train depot was erected in 1886 and bore Mauldin's name.