Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-01-24

His father, too, being good Whig, as were
all the Scotch-Irish, saw his cOuntry'S need,
and was reconciled to the abortion OF his
long cherished desire, by his sons volun-
teering to serve his country. Young Moore
joined Colonel Lacy's partisans, and became
the intimate friend OF that gallant officer
the length and strength of whose attach
ment, an anecdote, which have often heard,
will show:
"Years after the war, on one occasion,
Moore was candidate for the Legislature
from the Pinckney district. Lacy, at the
polls in Chester, would station himself at a
convenient spot, and as men approached,
would enquire for whom they intended to
vote If for the opponent of Moore, Lacy
would try his power Of persuasion; and
being man of pleasant address, and per
sonal popularity often, by this means would
turn the ticket. But not succeeding this
wise, he would roundly swear he'd ,chip
am man that didn't rOte for Atec MO0re."
His bravery and vigor were so well known,
few cared to test them and he carried his
point and his friends election at that pre-
cinct
Mr.. Moore was one of the brave little
band of patriots who attacked Houck at
WilliamsOn's where our men killed the
Philadelphia lawyer and routed his COM
mand completely, with hardly one man to
his three. In the division of the spOils, a
very fine gray mare fell to the share OF
Alexander Moore, which he rode many a
day in the rounds OF Lacy's rangers" In
1871 Il think) he was elected lieutenant,
and was in the command Of the company
that guarded the bridge at the battle-near
Biggins Church-of Jumby's Bridge. About
1888 he was elected Sheriff of Camden dis
| trict, (under the constitution of 177S,) by the
Senate and House of Representatives, to
serve for two years. He was reelected to this
office more than once. In 1889 he declined
Il denomination, and was succeeded by Jo-
seph Brevard, (afterward Judge Brevard of
Camden. In 1854 he married Miss DOrcas
Erwin, and settled on "Big Fishing Creek
William S. Moore. BY this marriage he had
four sons and four daughters. His wife died
early and left him with young and help
less family on his widowed hands. She was
beautiful woman, and | remember being
told by an old citizen, that in those days it
was customary for ladies to accompany their
husbands and brothers to the hustings and
at the elections she attended, she was al
ways sure to win, by her popularity of man
ner, many a vote for her husband. After
the death of his first wife he bought plan
tation from Edward Lacy, father Of the Col.
Lacy already alluded to, twelve miles from
i &
fred Moore), to which he removed. Soon
after, he intermarried with Miss Catherine
Marion. BY this marriage there was no is
sue. She survived him many years.
In 1889 he was a candidate from Pinckney
district for the General Assembly, but was
beaten. The cause of his defeat shows the
devotion of our early people to their pastors.
While candidate, Mr.. Moore had on some
occasion that required it, expressed freely
his opposition to the Rev. McCanna re-
manning in charge of Bethesda Church, of
which congregation he was member, from
the habitual indulgence of the preacher in
drunkenness. Relations and friends and
neighbOrs, held up their hands in pious hor-
ror. TO speak evil of the Lords annointed
was heresy beyond their ken, and were
Alec Moore twice as near and dear, they
could not send such man to represent them
in the Legislature. Thus, his own sections
of Chester and York failed him, and he was
left out Before the election of new men,
bers came, the minister had too evidently
fallen from grace for his flock to be blind to
his fault for one day, when intoxicated,
he had assembled the pulpit to try and per-.
form his sacred Offices. In the revulSiOn OF
feeling, "that Moore was right and they
were wrong" to repair that wrong, to a
man, they came forward and voted for him
on the next election. This, united with the
forci6ie style Of his friend, General Lacy,
secured him seat by large majority. In
1892, he, with Hill and McLanahan, were
elected the three County Court Justices for
York county-afterwards called "district."
They continued in office until 1899, when
these courts were abolished. He was sent
again that year to the Legislature, and in
1900 was elected Ordinary, that office being
then established. This position he held till
his death, keeping his office at his planta-
ton, where he lived, twelve miles from the
village but for the convenience of the peO-
pie, always spending Court week and sale
days at the Court House He was often
called upon to perform the marriage cere-
mony, and 1 recall a scene | witnessed at
his house siXty-five years ago, and relate it
to show how a "big Wetlling" was managed
in those days:
Between ten and eleven O'Clock in the
morning, some of the party deserted caval-
cade of apparently thirty-fve or forty per-
Mr.. Moore's residence. In front rode two
men and then behind them two and two,
two and two, a gentleman and lady; the
eutire crowd paired off, and thus strung
out, magnitied their appearance and pre-
sented an imposing spectacle as possible
AS they drew near enough to distinguish
faces, the MOores recognized in the first
gentleman and lady, a couple who were to
be married that day, and though no warning
had been given, knew the meaning Of the
escort About one hundred yards from the
house, the procession halted. The foremost
riders who were the "5oHle ctrriers," turn
cd their horses and rode back the whole
length of the line Zone on the left, the other
on the right, stopping at each couple, be-
ginning ofcOurse with the bridal pair, pre-
senting simultaneously to each lady and
her escort the bottle Of whisky; this every
one kissed in turn, all remaining quiet,
reigning in their restive SteedS till the
creature comfort" was partaken of by all,
and the carriers resumed their places in
| front. This evolution accomplished, the
"goodlie company" moved on. When they
were in front Of the house they entered
the large gate and rode around the house
three times, the men firing off pistols,
loaded with powder, at which the horses
of the ladies, as well as those of the gen
tlemen, would rear and pitch; but female
equestrians of that day were not easily
thrown, and no accident occurred to mar
the pleasures of the occasion. After com
pleting the circle of the house, each time
there would be pause, for the ''6Ottle car
riers'' to make their rounds. The third
time they dismountcd, htched their horses,
formed and came into the house. Squire
Moore went forward to the piazza to re-
ceive them. They announced their desire
for him to marry the candidates for the holy
state. He invited them in and without de-
lay performed the ceremony with due SOL
emnity After Which-the bridal party,
being almost all of them acquaintance and
neighbors- tables and chairs were clear
ed out of the hall. Some one among them