The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1879-12-04
Dcm,h orW. ID McDOwaiI.

her best and most beloved members
Memory fails ms when we attempt to
tell of parallel to that feeling which
for weeks has pervad"d this little town
at the illness aal death Of Mr. NIcDowa!l.
and ~ the church bell on last Sabbath
tolIed its funeral dirgc. and the casket
that held all that was mortal OF him
was silently aud slowly borne to the
Presbyterian church, the appreciation
of the worth and merit OF this goodIy
man Was attested by the outpouring Of
q suffering people, to pay the last trlo'
ute of respect to his memory. No class
or creed was there, but there was that
ocnerous outburst which showed itself
in the tears and sympa'hies OF all; ard
the church that he had attended for
so many years was filed to overtioWlns
by those not only from Camden, but
from the surrounding country. All, all
attested the deep love universally tet
for this noble man. William Douglass
McD,wall. was born in Scotland in the
wear 1897. Being Of delicate health.
it was thought that trip TO America
would be of great advantage to him
and consequently he came over here
at the aga Of twelve years. He en-
Gagged in the mercantile business IN
early lif., and was powerfully kn"Wn
a. a merchant If the highest character
and ionr In f.ct, it was 81 d, in our
paluv days, that To send an ordr to
him was only to insure i's prompt and
f,i,hiul x .curion. T. trust him was
as na.urai as to trust til" rising OF the
San after the night. He was too al
vauc"d 10 years to join us in the terri
BILE war that swept over our country,
but his hand. his heart, his purss all
was fur us: and he showed that deep
Lore and affection for his adopted coun-
try that only could come from high
and noble nature. lie 7cnS rs hne as
to the manor born. War passed Oft, and
it VISA in the quiet walks of his good ll'e
when poverty was universal, and want
was common that he rose to the true sub
limity of lis grand nature, and showed
what he really was. Taking upon him.
self the lish and responsible duties OF
the banker, position of vast trust, h"
50 conducted it, that he knitted around
him IN meshes stronger taan steel or
adamant, the confidence Of the men
who were his patrons; and when he sur
rendered to the great monarch that
called him from these duties, he lett the
old bank with trust stronger by lar
than when he entered its walls. But
alas! all is perishable. 1t is but q
tenement of clay at best, and the vi
tai spark that inhabi's i. must quit the
mortal frame, and to-day as We drop our
tears upon hi. fresh grave we can truth
fully and honestly say that lie existed
in no more honorable or upright body
than his, A mau Of keen senslbllltv
and high sn',;' he yet was pure, k'nd
aud generous His heart was open to
any appeal, and to the unfortunate, lie
seem"d to have nature overwhelming
for kindness. lie scorned decclt and
hypocrisy. He was not the one to run
as the syc"phApt in the hey-d"y 0:
prosperity, aud to blast yoa when the
first stJrm f iverslty came. tic was
all 10 all. tie highest type OF really
true and gm.d nan that We ever knew,
aud as he passed down the dark valley
of the >had,,w Of d,a'h" !hrre was not
thu tiroh of any heart in this coun.
ty that was not quickened as they
thnneh' and r"aiz the terrible fact.
The GOOD and blessed women Of this
immunity have lost an invaIuabl"
freud. Ia him ,h'y couGded. and III
him taey trusted. No cpnidspc" was
ever refused, no trust was ever betray-.
ed aud sad, sad indeed, will be the
many many hearts as 'hey wax ia'o
the old bauk aud miss the form Of this
noble man. Yes. he is gone! He rests
in the boSom Of the Kindred earth, cold
lev, sileut and deep lie lays away
No pompous display of hero, or solder,
or stat su.an, .oi.owcl him to his tJmb.
but no srauder, or higher, or hobler
epissph could, be written than thar