Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1881-04-14
Death of General Gary.

Our exchanges bring US information Of the
sudden death Of Gen. NJ. w. Gary, which oc-
CURED at his residence in Edgcfeld on lpril
9th, at o'clock A. NJ. His death was great
shock to the people Of Edgefelj, as he had on
the day previous attended municipal political
meeting and appeared to be in his usual health.
He was in the prime Of life, being OF his death
forty-six years Of age. He entered the South
Carolina College in 1861 and afterwards went
to Princeton where he graduated in 1864. Ilo
was born in Cokesbury, Abbevile County, but
after his graduation read law in the Office Of
Chancellor Carroll at Edgefeld and continued
to 1.-Two and practice his profession there until
his death. His military record in the Copfede-
rate service was brilliant. There was no
brayer or more fearless officer in the service and
none truer to the South in that trying period or
to his native State since the close of the war.
No better evidence OF the high appreciation in
which he was held as on officer and soldier could
be wanted than his promotion, from time to
timc from the ,captaincy Of an infantry com
pany to the position of major general of cavalry,
nor of his stern patriotism and loyalty 10 the
cause Of Southern independence than in his
being one of the last to lay down his arms after
fighting his way through without surrender or
parole. The reputation won by his military
career gave him footing in the hearts Of the
people and enabled him to render his State
many valuable services. lie soon took a pro-
minent stand " the bar, accumulated property
and exercised n wide influence. His bold de-
nunciatons Of Chamberlain and the corrupt
crew which were sucking the life blood of the
nj o1 H.
Democratic ticket in 1876. Wherever he at
tended public meetings his clarion voice and
cutting sentences were heard in behalf Of his
suffering State and in condemnation Of the
frauds and wrongs heaped on our people by a
government Of ignorant negroes, office seeking
scalawags and plundering carpet baggers. It.
was the fearless, aggressive style Of Gary and q
few others which, without violence or threats of
violence, drove the Radicals from the field of
discussion and gave us the State. His services
In this time Of our greatest need cannot and
should not be forgotten. His services in the
campaign Of 1876 made him one of The ac-
knowedged leaders of the State and he has
ever since had much influence in all public
matters. Since the war Gen. Cary had repre-
sented his county in the Legislature and State
important State conventions, In all of which
positions he was a prominent figure and exer.
oised controlling influence. His name had
been put prominently forward as candidate
for Governor and United States Senator, and
though he did not seek these posilions, yet If
his life had been spared he would in NIL proba--
bility have been elected hereafter to Congress or
to the Office of Governor, either Of which posi-.
tions no would have graced. a number OF the
leading citizens of Columbia met his remains,
in charge Of delegation Of the Edgefeld bar,
at the Wilmington Junction, on their way to
Cokesbury for interment. His death at this
time Is public calamity, as, though not fault
less, our State con lily afford to lose such men
from the watohtower Of liberty.
Mrs, Gary, Gen. Gary'Ss mother, died on
Sunday, in the 74sh year Of her age. She
bad not heard Of the death Of her son.