Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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6f the best as well as one of the purest men Abbeville county ever produced. He died in 1800. Kerr, John T., Killingsworth, J. Mark, died at Richmond, 1865 of wounds. Killings worth, Preston, died at Brewerton, in Laurens Co., 1909. Killingsworth, William P., eleeted . " ordinance sergeant, dead. Kirkpatrick, Richard F., living. Knight, James M., lives, 1910, on Hogskin Creek. Koon, Andy S., died since the war. Kriminger, Rufus, printer in Presbyterian office. L Langston, E. G., killed at Fort Sumter, 1804. Langston, L. Matthew, living, 1910. Latimer, B. Milton, died of wounds at Richmond, 1862, was in the mercantile business at Due West when hp tnnk nn arms for his coun try. No man ever possessed a warmer or a purer heart. Latimer, James F., died in Green/ ville, 1899. Latimer, James S., died at Point Lookout prison. Latimer, James T.t died at Lowndesville, 1906. Latimer, T. William, wounded at Gaines Mill, and discharged. Lawson, James, survived the war. Lee, James W., killed at Petersburg. Lee, Joseph F., was a man of much learning. From 1850 to 1868 he was Professor in Erskine College. After volunteering in the Military service, he was rejected because of defective vision. He lived to be 86 years of age, dying in 1909, respected by all. Lindsay, A. B. C., lived in Lethe neighborhood until May 28, 1910, was buried at Due West. Lindsay, Poinsett, killed at Gaines' Mill, 1862, was graduated from Erskine College in 1855, was a native of thfi tnwn nf Due West. Lindsay, Winfield W., killed at Snickers Gap, 1862, was graduated from Erskine College in 1856, a native of Due West, son of James Lindsay, who died in 1852, soon after building the Commencement Hall for Erskine College. For many years it was called Lindsay Hall because of the fact that he forgave a debt of $3,100 then due on his contract for erecting the building. The word "Lindsay" was afterward changed to "Commencement," thus making it Commencement Hall up to the time when it was torn down, that a more imposing structure might be erected. Loner, Jacob G., lives near Due West, 1910. Loner, William L., died at ShelbyVille, Tenn., 1862. T .nnor G_ W.. killed at Dutch Gap. *"VMOI ? * , 1964. Long, Henry S., survived the war, is dead. Long, William M., killed at Sharpsburg. Lowe, Thomas W., died at Richmond, 1862. M Madden, LutherC., survived, dead. Madden, Obediah, living, 1910. Maddox, Henry, died at Chattanooga, Tenn., 1863. Martin, James G., killed at Gaines' Mill, 1862. Martin, Jasper B., died at'Donalds, 1910, of cancer. Martin, J. Robert, killed at Bentonville, the last fight of the war, I860. Martin, June C., lives at Donalds, 1910. TVTnx+in 'Rnhort AT rliprl flt. homfi. iuai liu? XVV/UV* W v**vv. .? 1863, on sick furlough. Mattison, G. M., volunteered at Drakes' Old Field, elected captain of the first company that went from Due West, but owing to his age, was excused from service. Mattison, H. Jackson, died of disease, Richmond, 1864. Mattison, James M., killed at Chancellorsville, 1863. Mattison, John W.,wounded twice, living, 1910. Mattison, William N., killed at Atianta, Ga., 1864. Meaus, T. Benjamin, lieutenant Co. G, Orr's Rifles, survived, dead. Middleton, Carlisle, lost in the army. Dead. Milford, Craig B., lived in Santuc, has been dead for many years. Milford, David M., lives in Texas, 1910. Milford, G. W., wounded at Gaines Mill, lives at Antreville, 1910. Miller, G. McD., Captain of Company G. On the death of Col. James M. Perrin he became Colonel Orr's llpfimpnt. He was for many years & member of the mercantile firm of Miller & Robertson at Abbeville. He died at Ninety-Six in 18?. Mitchell, Ben N., died near Antreville, 1899. Moffatt, Josiah, discharged in 1862. Dead. Moore, John M., went through the war, died of pneumonia, 1872. Moore, John N., died at home, J863, on sick furlough. Moore, Julius E., survived, dead. Moore, Samuei, killed at Fraziers y Farm, 1862. * Morrah, W. R., died at home in Antreville, 1885. ' Morrison, John, killed at Gaines' Mill, 1862. Morrison, William P., killed at Gaines Mill. Mullinax, Johu E., Mundy, William R., lives near tr?1 in,/, XLUUgCS, itJl\J9 Mc McAdams, A. J., lives at Due West, 1910. McAdams, James R., died at Richiii on d, 186". McAdams, R. O., lives at Antreville, 1910, and knows more of the men who went from Due West than anyone else. McAdams-, W. X., lives at Due West, 1910. McAdams, William R., lives a Ray, 1910McCaslan, Thomas 0., killed In i>attle. j McClain, Samuel C., lived near Donalds, died 25 years after the war. ] McConnell, Wm. T., discharged, 1861. < McDill, Henry WM lives nt Ora, Laurens Co., S. C., 1910. McDill, Thomas N., died at Sullivan Island, 1861. McDill, W. W., killed at Strawberry Plains, Tenn., 1863. McDonald, John, died at home. McGhee, Abner H., killed at Gaines Mill, 1863. McGhee, A. Hill, Jr., killed at Gaines' Mill, 1863. McGhee. James, killed at Sharpsburg. McGhee, John L., transferred to 24th Regiment. Killed in battle. McGhee, M. H., killed at Gaines Mill. McGhee, William H., killed at Harpers Ferry. McGill, James, served in the 19th S r. V. in the Western Arm v. and was on duty until the surrender. He died in 1890, aged 80 years. McKee, Frank M., died at Richmond, 1862. McKee, Wm. I., survived the war, is dead. McKee, W. Jeff., survived the war, dead. McLain, Samuel C., sergeant Co. I, 19th Regiment. After submitting to all dangers throughout the war without wound, it would seem the irony of fate that he should be killed at Bentonville, the last battle of the war. McLane, Burton O., McLane, John C., lives at Level Land, 1910. McLean, James M., died at home, 1862, on sick furlough. McLean, Samuel, McLean, William A., survived the war, dead. McWhorter, John T., died at Richmond, 1862. McWhorter, William A,, lives in Level Land, 1910. N Nabors, Austin, killed in battle. 0 Owen, Dock B., living. Owen, Virgil, living. P Patton, E. L., perhaps the most scholarly man in the army. He was 1 at different times professor and president of Erskine College. At one time he was president of the State University. He died in 1895, a^ed 80 years, pure in heart, pure in life. Poore, H. C., died at Due West, 1909. Posey? Newton, killed at Lookout Mountain, Tenn. Pratt, James, lieutenant, was in command of the Company at the surrender. Living near Abbeville, 1910. Pratt, John J., Pratt, J. William, living. Pratt, Robert L., living at Level Land, 191U. Pratt, Rufus, died in Mississippi 20 years ago. Pratt, S. Lang, died at Richmond, 1862. Pressley, Samuel P., lives in Upper Long Cane neighborhood. Pruitt, Enoch W., killed at Gaines' Mill, 1863. Pruitt. F. Vol., disabled by wound and discharged, died near Due West. Pruitt, John M., wounded at Gaines Mill, died on Hard Labor Creek, 1895. Pruitt, Samuel J., dead. Purdy, S. A., lives in Anderson Co., 1910. Pyles, Reuben, killed at Second Manassas. R Radcliffe, William O., elected 3rd lieutenant Co. F, Holcomb Legion, survived the war, is dead. Rasor, John M., died near Don -u?mnn musvme, xv\ju? Reid, S. O., killed at Mechanicsville, 1862, first man killed in Orr's Rifles. Richardson, S. R., dead. Richey, George B., killecl at Gaines Mill, 1863. Richey, Samuel T., survived the , war, dead. Rickets, Peter, died at Casville, : Ga., 1863. i Riley, William, living in Georgia, < 1910. Robertson, Captain Hugh, lived in 1 Level Land until 1886, when he died, i Robertson, L. K., Robertson, R. A., 1 Robertson, Wesley, corporal, discharged, dead. Robinson, Isaac, lives at Robert* 1 sons bridge in Anderson Co., 1910. ' Robinson, J. L., Russel, John T., died at Shelbyville, Tenn., 1862. S Seawright, I. C., died of disease in Hospital, 1863. Seawright, James B., survived the war, is dead. Seawright, Robert, went safely through tne war, acciaeniauy Kiueu by wound received in leg by dog knockitig down a loaded gun, bled to death. Seawright, William, dead. Selvey, John, died at Adams Run, 1862. Shannon, Terry, wounded. Dead. Sharp, E. A., survived the war, dead. Sharp, John R., died at home, 1862. Sharp, M. G\, living. Sharp, Robert W., died at Home, 1862. Shaw, H. W., Shirley, James, wounded and captured at Mission Ridge, Ldied in Northern prison. Shirley, W. N., died at Richmond, 1S62, of disease. Simmons, Talley S., killed at Atlanta. Simms, John A., Simms, J. R., killed at Chickamauga, September 19,1863. Simms, S. S., t Simms, T. B., died at home, 1863. Simpson, James H., survived the war, dead. Simpson, John, Sr., died in prison at Elmira, 2s. Y, Simpson, John, Jr., killed at Sa pona, Va., 1864. Simpson, William H., killed a Gteines' Mill, 1863. Singleton, A. R., killed at Gaines Mill, 1863. Singletery, W. H., discharged Dead. Singleton, Henry M., survived th war, dead. Sitton, James Y., died at Du West, some 15 or 20 years since wai He quit a carriage manufacturin establishment to go to war. Hi kindly nature was only equaled b, his patriotism. Slater, William W., was an ol< man when the war began, discharged dead. Smith, Caleb, died in Hospita 1862. Smith, James, died at High Poir N. C., 1865. Smith, John W., Smith, Joseph, wounded at Gaine Mill, discharged. Smith, J. Moses, died at Rich mond. 1862, of disease. Stokes, J. H., died at Antrevilh 1905. Stone, James E., living. Stone, Robert P., living. Stone, Wv D., killed at Franklin. Strawhorn, Robt., killed at Sharps burg. Strickland, Franklin, Strickland, S. E., discharged, dead Strickland, William L., living. Strickland, William, kilhid a Fredericksburg, Va. Swancey, John R., died at Kicfi mond, 1862, of disease. T Thomson, John W., living in Ar derson. Timms, James T., killed at Ceda Creek. Tribble, Pickens, died at Donaldf ville, 1909. Tribble, Robert W., survived th war, dead. Tribble, Stephen M., died at homt Tribble, William, lived near Littl River church when he died in 1886. COL ROBERT THE OLDEST AND THE MOS' BELOVED PRINTER. Patriotic Statesman, Valorous soioiei Devoted Churchman, Citizen Without Reproach. By P. H. Fike. The last living Burvivor of the secei sion convention?face to face with th only man living who, fifty years age affixed his name to the parchmen which set forth the ordinance tha caused the great Cival war?the othe one hundred and sixty eight have al passed to the great beyond?only on left to tell of that history-making cor vention?Robert Anderson Thompso: Had the issue of State's rights pre vailed the nam.es of the signers of thi ordinance would have been written ii letters of gold on the hearts; of thei countrymen for ages and ages yet t come. It was of thifi convention tha the late Dr. J. H. Thornwell, the mos illustrious personality of the Southeri Presbvterian church, said: "It em braced the wisdom, moderation am integrity of the bench, the learning am prudence of the bar, and the eloquenc and learning of the pulpit." And th newspaper man was face to face wit! the only one left of that distinguishei and representative body. When askei to tell something of the convention am its proceedings in his own way, Col Thompson said: THE SECESSION CONVENTION. "There were more white-headed mei in that convention than any gathering I ever attended. It was a remarkabl body, in that it was truly represents tive of the people of South Carolina and the spirit of the times. Every ca] ling and profession was represented b; leading exponents of character am conviction. The legislature issued th call for the convention, just as an; constitutional convention is called There were no bars or restrictions as to any citizen serving as a delegate Members of the legislature, member of congress, judges and chancellors ministers and other professional me: were there. The various district elected their delegates, and in the lov country, of course, they were selecte from parishes. I was a commissions in equity at the time I was elected delegate. THE CONVENTION. "On Deoember 17, 1860, the conver tion met in the Baptist church in Col umbia. The legislature was in eesBio: at the time. I saw clearly at this fire session that secession would result. I: fact, it was agreed to- A rumor wen about that there was smallpox in Co! umbia, and the convention adjourne to meet the ne it day in Charleston. A the Columbia meeting organizatio was effected by the election of Genen D. F. Jamison of Barnwell presiden and B. F. Ar;hur of Columbia, clerl The convention on JJecemDer 10, at p. m., met in St. Andrew's hall i Charleston. The State legislature fo! lowed the convention to Charlestoi and the house of representatives hel its sessions in Hibernian hall, while tb senate held its meetings in the Charlei ton court house. "Thursday, December 20, 1860, we the momentous day. On that date tb convention, by an aye and no vofo unanimously passed the ordinance ( secession. The question of the authoi ship of this historic ordinance is a muc mooted one. My personal opinion : that Chancellor F. H. Wardlaw c Edgefield was its author. GOVERNOR PICKENS IN ATTENDANCE At 7 o'clock that evening Governc Pickens and staff, both branches of tb legislature and people of Charle; ton, assembled in what was calle "Institute Hall," on Meeting street, t witness the signing and ratification < the ordinance of secession. The attei V t Vandiver, Edward W., killed at Gettysburg. ? Vandiver, W. S. i. w Wakefield, James A., living. e Ware, William A., died near Due West, 1908. e Webb, John, dead. Webb, Williams, killed at Atlan;:ta, 1864. s 1 White, Clark, killed at Petersburg, y: 1864. | Whitlock, Thomas, died at Richd: mond, 1863. [ j Wideman, James W., praticing ' | physician at Due West, 1910. I i Williams, Gabriel, dead. ' i Williams, John F.. wounded. dead, itj Williams, J. M., aied in Hospital, i of disease, 1864. Williams, Matthew, died of dispense at Charleston, S. C., 1862. Williamson, John, killed at Getty3l-: burg. Wilson, James S., killed at Chanj ' cellorsville. *' Wilson, John S., survived the war. Y Young, John A. B., j. Young, Luther J., discharged 1862. Young, Samuel R., Baptist preacher in Mississippi, still living, 1910. I. Young, W. D., died of disease at Mumhreesboro, Tenn., 1862. it Young, William P., Z l" Zeigler, M. G., came safely through the war. He wad one of the most generous men that ever lived in Abbeville County. The people loved l- him and he was elected Clerk of the Court in 1876 and he held the office j- for many years. Finally he was run over and killed by the cars. ' Total enlistments from Due West..383 Total killed from Due West 98 e Died of disease during the war... 76 Died since the war 143 Living to-day 66 e Total enlistments in the county..3,000 Killed in war 346 ^THOMPSON r dance was great, and hundreds could 1 not enter the big hall. The convention was called to order by the president, General Jamison. The ordinance had been enrolled on parchment and lay on a table in the center of the hall. The ordinance was signed by every member of this convention, the election districts and parishes being called in alphabetiorder. As the members attached their names to the parchment, waves of applause swept over the assemblage. After the signing had been completed the president, General Jamisop, arose and said: "The ordinance of secession has been signed and ratified, and I pro claim the State of South Carolina an 0 independent 'sovereignty.' When the >. president pronounced the instrument 't signed and ratified, there was a scene -t of the wildest enthusiasm. There was r clapping of'hands, wild shouting, waving of hats and canes, and other acts of e unbound exuberance and spirits. Outi side stood thousands, who kindled bonQ fires, exploded fireworks and were >- otherwise celebrating. There were lots s of things going on all that time. You 1 know the convention was in session r several months, and frequently we o would adjourn and the members go t home for a week or two. During that ^ ^ T ? ~ /?!? fUo nnmVior nf v ULUtJ X WHS Dtl U^a w ivll uixxj ii ULU k/ui v* Q prominent visitors from other Southern J States in Charleston. While the coni vention kept up its sessions, a great fire * visited Charleston and burned the St. 6 Andrew's hall in which the ordinance ? of session was passed. i TIMES WERE EXCITING. ^ "Now going back to the secession ^ convention. Prior to the constitutional convention counties held meetings for the purpose of seceding. Among these I recall Greenville, Laurens and probably Spartanburg. Times were redhot 11 and oonservatism was reduced to the ? rear ranks. The air was filled with e irresponsible and unconquerable forces, ^ the forerunner of the great storm soon ? to burst in fury. Pendleton, the home of Calhoun, was a hotbed of politics. 7 I remumber distinctly that in Green^ ville, Dr. Furman, a Baptist minister, 6 def eal ed Governor Perry for delegate to 7 the secession convention, and up to that - time Greenville had never failed to give o Governor Perry the full measure of > loyalty and support. Dr. Furman ? fnr aocarlinnr and Governor Perrv. I ~ ObV/UU JLVl ? w , i. as yon know, was against it. Andrew Q P. Calhoun, son of John C. Calhoun, s was a candidate for the convention v from the Pickens district, but he was d left at home. Yes. you could see the r storm-clouds lowering. a OTHERS THAN MR. BURT SAID IT. "I heard J, C. Chestnut, Jr., at that time United StateB senator from South I" Carolina, say in a speech at Pendleton that he would drink all the blood that "J would be spilled in the war between ? the States." [t COL. THOMPSON'S LIFE. I- It's the little things of everyday life d trifling, indeed, within themselves that .t make the children of men the dice of n destiny. Ju6t seventy-two years ago a il small barefooted boy was ploughing a it mule in a South Carolina new-ground c. within three miles of the up-country 4 home of John Caldwell Calhoun, n Had the 12-vear.old plowboy stuck to I- the job, he would, doubtless, have the i, lesson of breaking up the soil, and d made a successful, independent farmer, <e winding up his rural life in a small s- competence, the righteous fruit of industry and thrift, just a good, quiet, is unobstrnsive citizen. But the die was ie cast. That boy was Robert Andrew a, Thompson, the sole survivor of the >f secession convention. The farm life r-1 was not for him. h Robert Anderson Thompson was is born June 18, 1928, in Pickens district, >f about eight miles north of Pendleton, on Twelve Mile river. His father was , Charles Thompson, and his mother was Mahala Gaines Thompson. His grand>r father William Thompson, was a naie tive of Union county, South Carolina, s- His great-grandfather, James Thompd son, was a native of Ireland, as was ;o also his great grandmother. They )f reached America in 1776, and after i- landing at New York came on to Union county, South Carolina. , It was the writer's privilege to visit w Colonel Thompson in his little law ^ office in the beautiful mountain town ' of Walhalla a few days ago. The col- \ onel was in a personally reminiscent \ mood, and for hoors talked of t&e ] past. At the age of 82 the fire is still t in his clear eyes, the red blood mantles < his cheek. He carries himself with | that ease and dignity, which naturally ] assumes itself on a man whose life is ( crowned with honors and dignities in j the service of his country and for its \ people. The personal appearance of the man is worthy of note. Dressed in neat black, in keeping with the season, with 1 standing collar and Andrew Jackson \ black tie, low-quartered shoes, neatly polished, and Bpotless linen, his gentility 1 was pronounced. But it was when he began conversing that the charm of his ' individuality made itself felt. The in- ! nate gentility and culture of the man : is distinct without the need of an in- ( terpreter, In touching on the great 1 conflict and the cause that led up to it ' the colonel's conservatis was remarkale. : One became singularly impressed with 1 his one desire and aim to s&y nothing 1 that would offend the living or injure curoigu vuv iuvwwvMp?. ? _ apprentice. And it wag history-making times, too. An Englishman named Miller, who was tried in England before coming to America for publishing the famous "Junius Letters." attacking the reign of George III, edited the Pendleton Messenger at the time John Caldwell Colhoun was a frequent "loafer" in the Messenger office, and Pendleton was the culminating center for all the representative, illustrious, prominent and near-prominent folks of that day and generation when away from Charleston. The little apprentice kept his ears and eyes open, and his person free from the vicious habits that early ! beset some members of the craft Serving four years, and after get- ] ting his advance from "devil" to journeyman printer, _Robert .Anderson Thompson went to .Laurens, s. u.. ana worked on a paper owned by Bailey i Brothers and edited a yankee named { Clink. This editor afterwarks married i a sister of Colonel James H. Irby, the i father of the late United States Senator i J. L. M. Irby. One of the Baileys was 1 a physician and the other ran a drug s store." They were Charlestonians. One 1 day Dr. Bailey drove up in his baggy in i front of the printing office, and after <] : going in for awhile, returned to his seat I in the vehicle and started to drive off. His horse became frightened and ran ? I away, throwing the buggy against a 1 brick wall near the store of Mills and ( Robertson, on west side of the Laurens * court house square. The doctor was J harled against the wall and klled out- ( right. Col. Thompson was a spectator ( of thi3 tragedy. After a stay of two years in Laurens, Colonel Thompson j went to Columbia to work on the first dailypaper ever started in the State 1 capital, which had for its editor Dr. ] Gibbes. While in Colombia he board- 1 ! ed with a Baptist minister, who, as I ' I recall, was active in organizing a Sons 1 j of Temperance society, and Colonel [ Thompson became one of its members. "My grandfather Gaines came from 1 Virginia," continued Col. Thompson, ' "and we held our heads just as high as ' anydody. I was born June 13th, 1828, ! on a farm near Central, South Caro lina. When I was ten or twelve years nM T went out to plow up that new ground, and the plow stuck" in a root and finally the root popped and scattered me and the plow all over the field. Thaferuens with the stump led me into the printing business. When I entered the Pendleton Messsenger as prentice a man named Bridwell was the printer in charge; he was a brother of Zion , Bridwell, who published the first paper , at Chester, S. C., which paper was edited by Samuel Melton, a man of great , intellectual ability. Dr. Simms was ! editing the Pendleton Message then and he was a great friend of John C. Calhoun. I saw Mr. Calhoun often and , thought him one of the greatest men, that eyer lived. Colonel Frank Burt , bought the Pendleton Messenger. He was one of your first-class men. In those days Franklin Pierce was president of the United States, John C. Calhoun was a senator and Armistead ^ 1 - 1 i-1 ? ^AlAnal "Rnrt ?jurc, a oruiaei U1 VUIUUVi x/ua V| was in Congress. Colonel Burt's friends got up a petition to make bim Governor of Kansas, as there was a good chance in those days to admit Kansas into the Union as a slave-holding State. But Nebraska was knocking at the door too. There was no probablity of letting Nebraska in as a slave-holder. "Senator Burt and other friends of Colonel Burt did what they could to have him named governor of Kansas, but President Pierce thwarted their plan.s by naming him governor of Nebraska." He died after serving as governor of Nebraska about two years, and his body whs brought back to Pendleton and buried. Ibsen J. Rice, a South Carolinian and a graduate of Erskine college went out to Nebraska with Col the dead. The consideration shown 1 ana rue nue maimer ui uummmuig mo personal equation from any part of the conversation bearing on the secession convention or the civil war itself would have penetrated on the most indiffer- I ent listener. As Laertes was admonish, ed by Polonius. Colonel Thompson gave no unproportioned thought his act." And yet this man, a member of the convention that set the irrevocable stepk forward, bringing on the great conflict, who afterwards became an officer of distinction and gallantry in the Confederate army talked briefly and modestly of himself at all times, aftid with extreme prudence and moderation of ? others at all times reiterating that he did not want to say anything that might offend the living, or worse still, injure the dead, who could make no defense. How nice a distinction to observe in this commercial age! Here was one who lived and exerted an influence in the portentous times just prior to the civil war, lived through that bloody epoch and has lived long afterwards to see his native land smile and blossob like the rose?with all his , faculties remarkably clear and his mind ! peculiarly alert and abreast with the present. , Robert Anderson Thompson is the very best product of the manhood that | was the glory of the old school, yes. Of the old school, where honor, honesty ; temperance in all things, manliness cul- 1 ture and gentility are synonyms of that cavalier strain that made the history of the old South a dream as gorgeous . and magnificent as the story of the field ofthecloth of gold. Knighthood was ! in flower when that plowboy walked from his home over to Pendleton and [ tVio 'MMflBnorftrnfflfKi m a honnd 1 feDnel Burt, and he, too died out there. Along about this time something happened that went against my grain, rhey sold the old Pendleton Messenger X) Colonel Orr and Jake Reed. It made She tears come to my eyes when that aappened. Yon see the Messenger had ilways stood for "high" polities, while Colonel Orr and his crowd represented the "low politics of the State. The Messenger, after the purchase, was movjd from Pendleton to Anderson. I went to Anderson and continued to w<yk on the old paper awhile. FROM ANDERSON* TO DUE WEST. "From Anderson I went to Due West to work for Dr. Bonner on this Associate Reformed Presbyterian paper. Due West is the best town in the entire South 3r the best anywhere when it comes to that. It was wintertime when I reachad there and Dr. Bonner went to the office with me. The printing office was in an unceiled building and there were tracks and holes in the frame-work besides. He complained about the print of paper. I told him that could be easily remedied by ceiling the building an?! stopping up the cracks. This was done and the print on the paper was fine. It was then and there that I first laid my eyes on Jtiugn Wilson. 1 asked Dr. Bonner what assistance there was to get ont the paper He said there was a "colored" man to help about with the press and the forms, and then pointed to a corner of the building where a small boy stood. This boy had the reddest hair and the most of it I ever saw on any boy's head, and this hair was standing straight up. 'That boy,' said Dr. Bonner, 'helps about too, and he's mighty handy. * And that little boy was Hugh Wilson, who grew to be one of the best and most successful newspaper men South Carolina has produced. I always liked Wilson, we have been friends evqrsinoe, and that's saying no little, for Hugh. Wilson is one of the "kicking"jpind of folks, if he don't like you. This Dr. Bonner was an abolitionist, and his Darter was started as a secular one. He always called the negro a "colored" man. I had a great liking for him. I have a high admiration for the Associate Reformed Presbyterians, too; they certainly are good people. FROM DUE WEST TO ABBEVILLE. "Erom Dne West I went to Abbeville, S. C., and worked on a paper published by Charles H. Allen, while there I boarded at a place run by a Mrs. Allen This house was the place where the noted lawyers of that town stayed, and among these I recall General, afterwards Justice, Samuel McGowan of the supreme court, Judge Cothran and Mr, Farker. "Mr. Allen was getting along nicely with his paper, when a man named Ben Lane Posey came to Abbeville and atav+xi/1 a rival vwlrlr thn Tn^AnonHant Press. This Posey was a regular agitator, a mix between a socialist and anarchist, and his paper was of the sensational kind; he was always printing something startling and frequently questionable. This kept him in hot water, and he nad one duel to fight, as well is many street fights with citizens. The people all liked to read his paper, though, whether they liked him or not Abont this time F. W. Selleck came to Abbeville and bought Charles Allen's paper, the Abbville Banner. This Selleck was just back from the Mexican war, having served in it as a member of the famous Palmetto regiment, and to him belonged the distinc;ion of being the first man to plant the American flag over the palace of the Montezumas. j'ROM ABBEVILLE TO PICKENS AND THENCE TO WALHALLA. KB After Selleck bought the Abbeville Ban-H ler I worked for him for some ^ime, butH prew tired and wrote to Mr. Rose, who^f vas then publishing the Keowee CourieiB it Pic hen s. In 18531 bought the Courier? from him and for him as editor andpnb-H isher while it was issued atPickens andH lubsequently when moved to- Walhal^H a. The Keowee Courier was founded i Spartanburg man William Trimmier.M TWENTY YEARS AS COMMISSIONER? For twenty years Colonel Thompson H served as comissioner. His journeyings^^ ;o Columbia at intervals and his offieial^f luties kept him in direct touch and con-^^ ;act with the representative men of theH mte-bellum times, as well as of theflj lays of the civil war and the blightiug^f ;ra following in its wake. B COLONEL THOMPSON'S MARRIAGE.' H In 1.858 Colonel Thompson mar-^H ried Miss V. Rose Sarritt, of Clarks-^B /ill, Ga , who was his devoted compan-^l Ion for more than half a century. She^l lied last October. Six children snrvive^B this union, as follows: Robert S. Thomp^H 3on, Mrs. Lizzie R. Keys, Miss MahaLa^H Thompson. In 1870 he was admitted t(^| the bar. His first law partner was Gen^H Bral Samuel McGowan., afterward asso-^B ciate justice of the supreme court. Latei^H Dn Colonel R T. Janes, a distinguished^^ lawyer of Walhalla, was associotec^H with him. SH COLONEL THOMPSON AT HOME. 9 Colonel Thompson lives on his com^B fortable farm one mile and a half fron^H the town of Walhalla.' Here he is surH| rounded by loved faces of his children his maiaen aangnier occupying tn^Hj place as the head of household affair^H He stated that he walked into town.Bj one and a half mile stretch, frequenfcly^B and did so the day I saw him. fie eat^H two meals a day, breakfast and fapper^O and enjoys them. He rests well at mght^E and has no complaint to make on th^H loss of sleep. With a clear conscienc^H of duty performed at all times and oft^N Bn under trying circumstances in th many periods through which he and hii^H country have passed, he awaits thesum^B mons to a better world, the reward o^n the true and the faithful. Throughou^B the long span of years, before and aftei^H LU.C ? ax , auu iu luv, iuvw* l1111r^?| he has ever been regarded as a safe an<9| sane leader. His character and abilit^H made him a potent factor for all which his country was involved and h^H has well kept the faith. The honor^H which have followed his pathway hav^fl come unsolicited: a member of the conH| vennon 01 secession, an omcer in tn^M Confederate army, an active agent iiHl redeeming his State from the horrors o^H reconstruction and radical rule, no^H later than ten years ago a member o^| the State legislature and also a membe^H of the constitutional convention of 189<^H he has spent his life and been spent active duty for the country. In th^H Presbyterian church he is an elder. anc^E is prominently and actively identifie^H with the religious and moral advance^? ment of the community in which h^H lives. BH