The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-06-11

lor and tire sympathizing friend
one endeared to US by the cherished
memories of the past, and to whom,
in his serene wisdom, we still fond,
ly looked to guide us in the perils
of the future.
Hon. David Lewis Wardlaw was
the eldest ot large family, many
of whom survive, and who are
known and honored among US. He
was the Son of James and H.
Wardlaw, was the first native o1
our town, and was born on the
tweuty-eighth of March, 1890
being at the time of his death in
the seventy-ffth year of his age
His father was for many years ths
Clerk of the Court for Abbeville
and had the reputation of being
one Of the most capable and eff
cient officers in the State. Iu Jan
uary 1910, the deceased was sent tt
the celebrated academy of DR.
Waddell, at Wilmington, where hi
was prepared for the South Carroll
ma College, and which he entered
in November 1914, graduating attc
two years. course, in DecembeI
1916, with the first honors Of hi
class, not having yet attained tht
age Of eighteen years. His brother
Francis H., the late distinguished
Chancellor, and who was one yeal
his junior, graduated in the follow.
ing year, also with the first honors
-of his class. The deceased studied
law at Abbetille with Patrick No.
bic, Esq, afterwards Governor, and
one Of Abbeville's most loved and
honored names, and with whom he
was tor come time associated in
practice. He was admitted to the
Bar, as Attorney at Law and Solic-
itor in Equity, in 1920, and soon
rose to eminence III his profession,
and attained to large practice.
In October91S26 he was elected to
the Legislature, and at the meeting
of that body he was elected in De-
cember 1926 Speaker Of the House
of Representatives; the duties of
which he discharged for many years
and with signal ability. In Decem-
Der 1S4l, he was elected Circuit
Judge, and upon the establishment
of the separate Court of Appeals.
would have been transferred to that
tribunal, but preferred Iris position
on the Circuit, where he remained
until finally in 1866 he was elected
to the Supreme Bench. having as
his associates Judges Dunkin and
Inglis. lie was President. Of the
State Convention of 1865, was one
of the Commissioners appointed by
that Convention to wait on Presi-
dent Johnson, and was afterwards
a delegate to the Philadelphia Con-
vention of 1868.
Such is meagre outline of some
of the facts in the life of the de-
ceased, and Of the official positions
held by him in d long lifetime.
They show the precocity of his ge.
MUS; his commanding ability and
controlling influence. But to other
and ADLER pehs we shall consign the
task of doing full justice to the life
and public services of the deceased,
and to the ability and fidelity with
which he discharged every public
trust. Let it content us to echo the
universal sentiment, that as a law
yer he was the bold, unfinching
and eloquent advocate; as Speaker
of the House, the model of pre-
siding officer, ready, courteous, and
firm; as Judge on the Circuit,
be was patient, laborious, paius-
taking, just; and as a member of
the Court of Appeals, learned in
all the lore O. his profession, and
to the solution Of its vexed
questions the serene wisdom of a
highly endowed and highly cult
vated intellect. Truly might Chief
Justice Dunkin say of him, after an
intimate acquaintance Of twenty
years, "He was the wisest man in
counsel Lever knew"
Tie sagacity and foresight, as
we'll as the true heroism of the
man was we'll illustrated in that
memorable scene in the grove near
Abbeville, which opened the ball Of
our Revolution. The words of
wisdom then disregaried, came to
US with the force of prohecy after