Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1860-11-08
Dolhtltal.
WILLIAM LoWNDES YANCEY.

State of Georgia-Shoals of Ogeechee-
on the 10th day of August, 1914, and is
consequently now in his 45th year. He
was born at the home of Col. Baird, his
grandfather. His parents resided at the
time in Abbevile, S. e. His father, Benz.
G. Yaucey, was lawyer of the first order
oftalents and the highest integrity, rank.
ing justly as compeer of the late John
G. Calhoun, whose friend and supporter
he was in the memorable aud decisive
conflicts which linked his name honorably
with the war of 1872 The elder Mr..
Yancey died in the year 1917, leaving but
two children, the subject of this sketch
and B. G. Yancey, United States Minister
to the Argentine Confederation, South
America.
Wm. L. Yancey received his earlier ed
ucation while between eight and nineteen
years of age, in New York aud New Eng
land-.which, perhaps, impaired to his
manners an apparent rescrre, and stamp
ed him puritan in his morals, without
taint Of superstition or phariseeism He
is an earnest Christian, aspiring after un-
ostentatious spiritual graces, and so walk
ing with little of profession as an exem-
plary and devout member of the Presby-
terian Church.
While yet child, his mother, a woman
of exalted sensibilities, uncommon talents,
tireless energy, and indomitable will
would assign him a particular position on
the floor, and while she employed herself
with her knitting, require him to declain
the grand old hymn of Steunett, begin
ming:
"On Jordan's stormy banks stand"
Whether the world is more greatly in
debted to the maternal pride and prophet
ic pains-taking which prompted and gave
color and Informing power to these early
exercises, than to the more elaborate train
ing of DR.. Griffin, the President of Will
liams College, a finished rhetoriciau, to
whose care he was subsequently commit
ted, for the grace, strength, and splendor
of Mr.. Yancey's mighty appeals to his
countrymen of the South, which for search.
ing power, senatorial dignity, and impe-
rial grandeur Of genius are not surpassed
in the annals of eloquepce, ancient or
modern, neither he nor the world will ever
know.
He read law in the Office of Nathan
Sayre, Esq, in Sparta, Ca, and completed
his studies in Greenvile, S. c., under the
direction of B. F. Perry, Esq.
Having attained his majority, he mar
ried Sarah Caroline Earle, an estimable
and accomplished lady, who is the third
daughter of Geo. W. Earle, Esq, of Green
vile, S. G.
In 1887, he removed to Cahaba, Ala,
and until 1910, divided his time between
the cares of a small planting interest and
the editorial conduct of the Cahaba Demo,
crat.
In 1910, he removed to Wetumpka, and
in conjunction with his brother, the Hon.
B. c. Yancey, he purchased and edited the
Argus
In that year he took an active part in
the great Presidential campaigu; and it
is doubtful whether he has ever since sur.
passed the powerful popular speeches he
then made in debate with some of the
ablest men who ever graced the platform
in the State. During the late Southern
Commercial Convention, one of its mem.
bers expressed to Johnson j. Hooper,
ESQ.,, we'll known as brilliant author,
and who was neither a political or person
al friend to Mr. Yancey, his surprise at the
reach, depth, and power of one of Mr.
Yaucey's rejoinders in that body-sayine
that "he had come to the convention to
hear him, but that the half had not been
told him. Mr. Hooper's reply was that
"the effort had never been equalled, un
less indeed, by Mr.. Yaucey himself, in
1910" In l84l, Mr.. Yancey was elected
to represent the county of Coosa in the
Legislature. He declined reelection
and in 1943, he was elected to the Senate
of the State.
In 1914, the Hon. Dixon H. Lewis wa
transferred from the House of Represen
tatives in Congress to seat in the Senate
and Mr. Yancey was unanimously nomiu
ated by the Democratic District Conven
tion to fill his seat, and was reelected with
out opposition 10 lS45.
In Congress he made his debut on th
as.;on Of the annexation of Texas. Th