Signatures of two South Carolina Governors 19th century card on backer with signature 'John L. Manning of S. Ca.', H2 3/8" W3 3/4" (Light foxing); signature on fragment 'W. H. Gist' above typeset 'Governor of South Carolina.', H1 7/8" W3 1/16" (Creased above signature). *Biography: Manning was born January 29, 1816 at Hickory Hill Plantation in Clarendon County, SC. He was educated at Princeton and the now University of South Carolina, graduating in 1836. On December 9, 1852 the SC General Assembly elected Manning for Governor by secret ballot; he served as Governor until 1854. He signed the Ordinance of Secession in 1860 and was elected to the US Senate in 1865 but was denied his seat. Manning built the beautiful Milford Plantation in Pinewood, Sumter County. He died in October 1889 in Camden and is buried at Trinity Episcopal churchyard in Columbia. *Biography: William H. Gist was born August 22, 1807 in Charleston, SC and was educated as a lawyer at SC College, now the University of SC. On December 10, 1858, the SC General Assembly elected Gist for Governor by secret ballot. Governor Gist notified the other Southern states that SC was strongly considering secession in October of 1860 and on December 20 of that year Gist signed the Ordinance of Secession. He left office following Lincoln's election as President. William Gist died on September 30, 1874 and is buried in Union District, SC.