Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-01-10

! OrkVllle Is now SITUATE. llCrc, lTOln HIS
high sense of honor, wealth, and uncommon
grace Of manner and person, he soon ac-
| quired in the settlement the title Of ''gemIc-
man," a custom brought by the Scotch
Irish from the "old country" and every
now and then, we find the epithet applied,
in old times, to some man Of the commu-
nifty, admired and looked up to for his Su-
periOrity in accomplishments, property, or
| family. In all the old land papers of Ross,
though signed by Il cross, he is styled "Gen-
tIeman Frank Ross"
Gentleman Frank Ross had iavorite
sister married to William Erwin, and
though bitterly opposed to the match, he
afterWard became much attached to his
| brother-in-law and in his family met the
romance of his life, which, more for the
interest of my young readers than an cpl
sode of his life, 1 narrate. His reconcilia-
tion with Erwin, too, is characteristic of the
times in which. they lived. AT a large pub
lie meeting, common bully, who had a
drunken spite against Ross went through
the crowd, frequently, in close hearing of
Ross, saying with loud and insOlent oathS,
"Gentleman Ross was no gentleman, and he
could whip himn' This, of course, was
very annoying to bold, high-spirited man,
but the fellow was beneath his notice, and
his only refuge was dignified silence. Now,
William Erwin, in his younger days, was 4
wild, drinking man, generous and brave
Although his brother-in-law had never been
friendly with him, he was his wife's broth
er. He did not choose to allow such indig-
nifty to be offered him in public. "his
Irish was up," and he wasn't afraid to fight
the boasting bravo, which he did, giving
him good, sound thrashing, making him
leave the assemblage and 60 quietly home.
Ross, though above noticing the insolence
of the man himself, Wasmuch relieved to be
rid of it, and appreciated the generous tenn
per which performed the act, looked up Er-
vim, shook hands, and accompanied him
home that night to see his sister. And
there, he met Mrs. Graham, the sister of his
brother-in-law, Erwin. She was an uncom-
monty beautiful and attractive woman, and
more than three years before had been mar
ried to John Graham, an uncle of Gov. Gra-
ham, Of North Carolina. They had lived
very happily for six or eight months after
their marriage when the season arrived at
which he was in the habit of taking cattle
on to Philadelphia for sale. He made his
arrangements and startedto "the NOrrard," !"
as our old settlers called it, with atine drove,
and was never heard of again. His wife
was young and beautiful, and of a most
pleasant disposition. They had lived agree
ably together, and everything combined to
make home attractive. AS weeks on weeks
went by, and still no tidings Of him. his
friends were forced to conclude he had, on
his road home, been murdered for the mon
murders were not unfrequent in those early
days of our ountry'ssettiement. Atlength,
too, the young wife gave up hope, believed
this solution of his disappearance, and by
her brothers kindly hearth-stone, found, in
her ca rly WidOWhOOd home.
| Frank Ross became acquainted with her
on his first visit to his sisters house, and
was soon captivated by her beauty and gen
tleness. Nor was she proof against the at
fractions Of Gentleman Frank Ross. The
avenues Of her heart again opened, and love
entered in mastery there. She consented
to marry him, but an unexpected obstacle
presented itself-the bitter opposition of
Mrs. Erwin, who woWd not hear Of her BROTH
er md7Ying a 1ron'd71 whose hus6a1d M igh 6e
alire. Yielding for the present, Ross by no
means relinuuished the idea of making
Mrs. Graham his wife. At the end Of three
years, he again renewed his suit, for the
seven years Of absence of Graham made 1t
legal for his wife to marry; but Mrs. Erwin
could not accept this common rule and
overcome her feelings, still insisting they
ought not to be united, without proof of the
husbands death. Susie Graham's tender
conscience had experienced more than one
prick at the new affection, which had at first,
unawares, grown in her breast, and she
yielded to the prejudices of her sister-in-
law, rather than to the entreaties of her
lover, and finally discarded Frank Ross.
He afterward married Rachel Love, of York
District.
| At the beginning Of the Revolution, he es-
poused the cause Of the Whig party, and
was an active partzan leader to the time of
his death. His tirstservice wasin the ''snoW
campaign" in the winter Of 1775-T6. In
the summer of l77G, he commanded bat
talon from York, which was in the ''KeoWee
expedition" and in the spring of 1779, in
command Of battalion of cavalry, joined
Colonel Hammond and his Eight horse"
near Augusta. On the morning of the 29th
of March, five miles east Of Rocky Comfort,
they attacked a party of Cherokees. Nine
Indians were killed, and some white men
who were dressed as savages, (three Chero-
KEGS and three whites) captured. The rest
| fled and saved themselves but here Major
Ross received a mortal wound in his abdo1-
men. From Ms. journal Of Gen. Joseph
Graham, of North Carolina, we make the
following extract: "The brave Major Frank
Ross died of his wounds the 3lst of March,
and was buried with military honors the lst
of April, in sight of, and opposite to, Au-
gusta, on the Carolina side"
Major Frank Ross was more than six feet
in height, of a muscular frame, and weighed
above two hundred pounds; had dark hair,
eyes and complexion, of noble presence and
commanding port He was cut off in the
meridian of life, being only about thirty-tive
years of age, at the time of his death. He
left three sons, little lads, when he was
killed-James, Alexander and William.
\ faithful negro, belongingto their father
from boyhood, (whose name, as he was well
known and RESPECTED in Yorkville, in my re-
collection, shall be recorded in these "remin-
iscences'D, going always under the souhri-
quet OF "Cracker Tom," managed their
plantation after his masters death, working
himself as well as making others do it by
force of example combined with authority,
and during all the minority of the young
Rosses-making the finest crops, keeping
everything in order on the premises, and
proving himself worthy the confidence re-
posed in him. When Alexander and Will
liam removed from the homestead of their
father, "Cracker Tom," now verging toward
old age, begged to stay in his ''old cabin
home" They indulged him, and every
year corn and meat were sent down for his
made him willing to 60 to "Mas' Williams"
to be taken care of till he died.
James Ross was dearly beloved, but died
early, unmarried, and always heard was Il
youth of exceeding promise. Alexander
studied law, and settled in Lancaster, where
he also died single. William married and
left a family. One son DR.. Frank Ross now
resides in Char lotte, n. G..
TO BE CONTINUED.
<Dlxn1un1Ez1111AD
SAVED \ SuILLING.-A weaver took to
his emDIOvar a piece of cloth he had lust