The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-10-27
VOLUME e---NO. 18.
Sketch of a Self.Made Man.

For the encouragement and stimulation Of
the boys and young men among our readers,
we append brief sketch Of the past life and
struggles of our longetried friend, Col. VIM: P.
Price, of Georgia, which is taken from the Air
Line Eayl; published at Gainesville:
Hon. W. P. PRICE, THE btMocRATto CAN.
DIDATE FOR CONGRESS IN THE SIXTH Dis
TRIcT;
Was born ON the 29th day of January; 1885,
and is consequently in the 96th year of his ape.
His father was native of Virginia, and after
his removal to Georgia, resided for several
years in Gainesville, from which place he re-
moved to Dahlonega in Lumpkin county-then
the home of the Indian, where w. P. Price, the
subject of this sketch, was born. Being at
very early age left an orphan by the death of
his father, his mother was able to give him but
little education. At the age of ten years he se-
lected the trade of printer and learned the
business in the Dahlonega Watchman Office he
successively flied the positions Of devil, pub.
Usher and editor of that paper before he had
reached the age of sixteen years. At that age
he left the State and went to Greenville, South
Carolina, where he labored as journeyman
printer until he entered Furman University.
After pursuing a course of literary studies in
charge of the Greenville Enterprise, which he
founded in 1854 This paper still ranks as one
of the most influential papers in that State
Whilst conducting that paper he studied law
in the Office of Messrs. Thompson and Easley
the senior member of that firm was the late
Gen. Waddy Thompson; but it was under the
superior training and culture of Gen. Easley
that he was prepared for admission to the bar,
which took place in Charleston, s. c., in Janu-
ary, 1856, just as he had completed his 21st
year.
Soon after his admission to the bar, he mar
ried the eldest daughter of the late Col. VIM.
Martin, of Dahlonega. In 1857 he formed
co-partnership with the Hon. James L. on,
then the Speaker of the House of Representa-
tives of the United States Congress This part
nership lasted until 1866, when it was dissolved
by the election of Col. Orr as Governor of the
State.
COL Price went into the war as non-com-
missioned officer of Kershaw's I'd S. G. Vols,
and with that Regiment was in the severe fights
of 1861 at Bull Rum Manassas, and sotrte other
less important engagements. At Lewinsville
near Washington City, in a small engagement,
he received d severe wotind BY the explosion of
bomb-shell, which incapacitated him for ac'
tive service for q long time
In 1864 he was elected to the S. G.. Legislas
ture, and. was returned to that body in 1865,
Just after the surrender. Finding that he could
not properly attend to the duties of a Legislas
tor, and at the same time look after the extern
sive business and interests which devolved on
him on the death of Col. Martin, his father-in-
law, he resolved to move from Carolina to his
old home in Georgia. He therefore resigned
his seat in the Legislature of South Carolina in
October, 1866, and settled down in Dahlohega,
the place of his birth.
In 1868, he was elected as Democrat to the
Legislature of Georgia-Lumpkin county was
regarded previous to that time as Republican
county, He was selected by his party as the
Chairman of the Democratic club of the coun-
ty, and was afterwards elected to the Legisla-
ture by very handsome majority.
Upon the assembling of the Legislature he
was defeated for Speaker Of the House by only
one vote, giving his own vote to his opponent.
His course in the Legislature has been conser-
vative, believing that it were better for the
State and people to accept the situation and
make the most out of it, than to cautiously op-
pose the obvious intentions of Congress.
COL Price is truly self-made man, and his
history is another illustration Of the superigfi-
ty of American institutions, where the humblest
citizen, and those upon whom fortune has
seemed to frown, may aspire to positions of dis.
tinction and honor; and his success should
stimulate every bright-eyed boy in the land
orphan though he be-who is struggling witt,
poverty and adverse fortune-for it is another
proof that the greatest obstacles may be over.
come, and that, sooner or later, true merls will
be appreciated and rewarded.