The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-03-30
James B. McCants, ESQ.


James b. McCants, Esq, died at his
residence in Winnsboro on tho morn
Ing Of the 28th instant. For more than
year he had been suffering from
general prostration, but death, al
though long looked for, came uncx-
pee edly at last, and as Easter Sunday,
which celebrates the triumph Of i'm
mortality over mortality was Just be-
ing ushcred in, his spirit, quietly
peacefully and almost impcrccptibly
burst its bonds asundcr and winged
Its flight into the boundlcss realms of
eternity. Thus has passed away one
who for many years was a conspicuous
actor III the legal, political and busi-
ness circles of Fairfield.
James Is. McC0nts was born in
Fairfield District, South Carolina, OH
the ninth day of August, 1914.
He graduated with distinction at the
South Carolina College in the class OF
184l, aid was admitted to the practice
OF law in December, l84l. Very soon
after his admission to the bar he form
cd a law partnership with the Hon.
Joseph A. Woodward at Winnsboro,
which was dissolved IN the spring Of
1913, upon his promotion to the office
Of Commissioners in Equity for Fair
field District. This Office no held
until Dccembor, 1861, when he volua-
tarily retired from it, and devoted him
self to the practice Of his profession
up to the ti,no of his late Illness. Hc
was elected in October, 1858, one Of
the Representatives to the Legislature
from this District, and by continuous
successive reflections remained such
Representative until shortly after tho
raid of sherman's army through this
State. 80 -
=. In politics Mr.. McCauts was always
conservative, avoiding extremes, on
account of which and for his ,populari-
ty, with both races, he was placed ON
the Legislative ticket in 1870, in tho
Carpenter and Butler reform move
meht. The defeat Of this ticket was
convincing evidence that the colored
Ephraim was COINED to his idols"
Mr.. McCants retired from politics.
His last political speech was for
Hampton and Reform in the stirring
days of'76.
AS q lawyer, Mr.. McCants' career
was marked with gratifying success.
10 Q naturally strong, vigorous and
well balanced mind he added the lucu-
d''atto Viginti annorum-thc study of
years. Besides grasping the princi-
pies involved in the issue, he man.
aged his case well in the courthouse,
; and d;by the faculty he possessed of
reading hdman nature, of detecting
the foibles, the prejucides, the bent of
mind Of men, ho rarely blundered in
tho selection of his jury in cases of
moment. For several years past he
was the senior member of the law firm
of McCants & Douglass, of this place.
AS q conversationalist, when in his
prime, Mr.. McCants had few superb
ors. Hc had an ample fund of in
formation from which to draw, and
when disposed hc cnlivencd his talk
with flashes Of native wit and humor.
lie had a warm heart. Whether to
propositions of public Improvement or
to the private appeals Of charity, he
tnrncd no. deaf ear, and many a poor
man and poor woman were relieved
IN trouble through his, bounty. Flo
took lively interest III educational
matters, and was for years jealous
member and an efficient president of
the Mount Zion Society.
The deceased had passed nearly the
slotted period Of mans existence
when the summons came for him to
join the inn,mcrablc caravan that
inarches from death. to life. Yet num-
bcrless friends, not only In his native
county, Fairfield, but throughout this
and othor States, will mourn that tho
places that once knew him shall know
him no moro. -,
The funeral services wore conduct.
Cd at the Presbyterian Church on Sun
day afternoon by the Rev. II. B. Pratt.
The pail bearers were Judge W. r.
hobertson, Mr.. J. NJ. Elliott, Mr.. II.
u Elliott, Mr.. Thomas Jordan, Capt.
q James Beatty, Col. James II. Rion;
Capt.'I. n. Withers and DR.. w. f..
Aiken. Avery large cortege followed
the remains to their last resting place
\ we regret extremely that want OF
sime prevents a more fitting tribute
70 tue memory Of the deceased. To
/ . his ls., wife sd aud family we extend heart.
felt ltsynpathy. ,s3 n
SIS -A number of Horncllsvillo vonth.
81 recently cahsed "a man to believa he
had trernens by slyiy putting an angle
i; worm fntO.A glass Of ~ hiak,s ,,,l{nt,S.