Neel Flannagan draws on 12 generations of American roots

Jul. 3—Hundreds of Aiken residents may know Neel Flannagan for his decades of work as an automotive mechanic, largely at Aiken Technical College, and more recently, the Virginia native has focused more and more attention on such topics as Cowpens, Camden and "Charles Town" — crucial South Carolina sites from the Revolutionary War.

The retiree, who lives "out on the other side of Montmorenci," is president of an Aiken-based chapter of Sons of the American Revolution. He came on board with the SAR in early 2019, and has traveled around much of South Carolina and Georgia over the past few years in celebrating history, especially with the approach of the revolution's 250th anniversary.

His SAR chapter is named for Henry Laurens, described on a National Park Service webpage as a man whose "story is at the core of colonial South Carolina and wrought with intrigue, a conflicting moral compass, family, loyalty, and a fierce passion for American independence."

Flannagan's plans for Independence Day include being in Barnwell to help unveil a historical marker near the community's airport, in partnership with the Daughters of the American Revolution.

The subject matter of 18th-century America is familiar territory, with Flannagan being a Jamestowne Society member, as one "descended from early settlers who lived or held colonial government positions in Jamestowne, Virginia prior to 1700, or who invested in its establishment," as described on the society's website.

"Those people were tough," he said, recalling one ancestor who picked up the nickname of "Wash Tub" after his mother saved him in an Indian raid by hiding him under a wash tub. Another ancestor, from the same incident, became known from childhood as "Potato Hole" as he hid in an area where potatoes were stored, all while the father of the family (a doctor from England) was being killed and the mother and their servant fought off the Indians, using a musket of the type primarily known as a "Brown Bess."

"History is important, and factual history is important, so we try to get the historical accuracy out there," he said. "If we can pass on a little bit of the historically correct information to the younger people, then we've done our job."

Tarleton Woodson is Flannagan's known connection to America's colonial days, and the Aiken resident's family tree also includes an extremely high-profile character from about a century later: Jesse James, recalled by some as a folk hero and others as a notorious criminal.

A strong local connection is with Edgefield County Historical Society's founder, Agatha Woodson (who established the organization in 1939) and one of her daughters Hortense Woodson, the society's longtime president. He shares the Woodson connection with Edgefield resident Bettis Rainsford Sr., a former president of the South Carolina Historical Society and current historian of the county society.

Another Flannagan connection is with Jane Randolph Jefferson — not a household name, but hugely prominent in being the mother of the country's third president, also known as the primary author of the Declaration of Independence.

Flannagan's ancestors came to Virginia in 1619, and he is a 12th-generation Virginian and saw plenty of the eastern United States by the time he was ready for kindergarten.

He was born in Charlottesville and his first birthday found him living in nearby Waynesboro, Virginia. Flannagan's dad, as a research chemist, was in demand, so Flannagan's second birthday had the family living in the Chicago area, and his third took place in Wilmington, Delaware. The fourth occurred in Aiken, "and I grew up here," Flannagan recalled.

One of his closest friends, Graniteville resident Ted Walker, is of a similar mindset with regard to American history. Walker, an Air Force veteran, is the current president of South Carolina's SAR, with responsibility for helping guide 21 chapters throughout the state.

As a 1967 graduate of Aiken High School, he barely missed racial integration in the local school system, and went on to serve in the Army National Guard, which led to him being personally acquainted with at least two of the men whose names are on Aiken's war memorial for Vietnam, including "one real good friend."

Flannagan was a motor sergeant, which meant he was responsible for maintaining vehicles' condition and ensuring they stayed ready for battle.

"He's a master mechanic — probably one of the best mechanics that you can possibly ever meet — and his specialty was transmissions," Walker recalled.

"I was fortunate I didn't see any action," Flannagan said, noting that he did not wind up being shipped overseas. His unit was also called up to serve in Operation Desert Storm, but "they stood us down," with combat ending in a matter of weeks.

He earned a bachelor's degree in industrial education at Clemson and then a Master of Education at the University of South Carolina, leading to 30 years (1987-2008) at Aiken Tech, where he led the automotive program and was particularly known for his expertise with automatic transmissions. Over the years, he also became a beekeeper, a frequent blood donor and a booster of such organizations as Molly's Militia and Christ Central.

"Automobiles have been my life," he said, noting that his herd at home includes such creations as a 1981 Porsche 911SC, a 1969 Ford Torino Cobra and his mother's 1966 Ford Galaxie convertible "that she bought new from Satcher."