Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-09-17
The Aurkrillr Guq11irer.
YORKVILLE. s. &. {:
THURSDAY MORNING, SEPT. II, 1885.
DEATH OF COL. J. NJ. IVY.

DEATH OF COL. J. NJ. IVY.
Colonel James Morrow Ivy, of Rock Hill,
died at his residence in that town on Friday
afternoon last at 5 o'clock. The immediate
cause of his death was cancer of the liver,
though shattered constitution and general
exhaustion of the entire nervous system,
caused by overwork and unremitting atten-
ton to an extensive and varied business for
the past twenty years, contributed in no
small degree to sapping the vitals of a
vigorous life, and he was cut down while
yet in the prime of manhood, at the time
of his death being in the 46th year of his
age. Though from previous reports con-
cerning his condition the event was not
wholly unexpected, yet the intelligence,
when received here on Friday evening,
cast gloom of sorrow over the community.
Col. Ivy was we'll known by our people and
by them universally esteemed for the many
high and prominent traits distinguishing
his personal character, and as a business
man controlling large interests.
Col. Ivy was born in Lancaster county,
this State, on the 5th day of December, 1S49,
and is son of Rev. Adam Ivy, we'll
known minister, now living.
He began his studies in school at Rock
Hill, successively under w. H. Thomasson,
Col. J. NJ. White and Gen. J. A. Aston
and when Gen. Aston was called to take
charge of old Mount Zion Institute, at
Winnsboro, in the year 1858, he followed
him there, where he remained one session,
and then entered the school of John R.
Shurley, at EbeneZer. At this school he
completed his preparatory course for the
South Carolina College, which institution
he entered in the year 1859. Here he pur'
sued his collegiate studies until the Spring
of 1861, when on the breaking out Of the
war he joined the military company com.
posed of the students of the college, and
commanded by Captain John Gary. This
company was ordered to Charleston to re-
port for duty to Gen. Beauregard. In his
command he served as sergeant and was an
eye witness to the inception of hostilities,
the bombardment of Fort Sumter, in April,
1861. After the fall of Fort Sumter the
"College Company" was ordered back to
Columbia, but Mr.. Ivy with many other
students, decided to enter the regular SER
vice, and soon after the return of the COM
pany to Columbia he withdrew from the
college and joined the Washington Light
Infantry Of Charleston, under the COM
mand of Capt. James Conner, and one
of the companies of the famous Hampton
Legion. He passed unscathed through the
first battle of Manassas, on the ever-mem-
orable 21st of July, 1861, although several
times struck by spent balls; and was in a
desperate charge on Ricketts, Battery,
where the Hampton Legion suffered so Sc
verely. He remained in the Army OF
Northern Virginia during the fall and win
ter of 1861 and in the spring of 1862, was
transferred, with his command, to the Pc
ninsular, where, in the battle of Seven
Pines, on the 3lst day of May, 1862, he was
severely wounded in the left shoulder by
MIME ball, which he carried to the grave,
and from the effects of which he never fully
recovered the use and strength of his arm.
In consequence of his severe wound, he
remained in hospital at Richmond until
about the middle of July, when he was
honorably discharged from the Confederate
service, and returned from the theatre OF
war, disabled soldier, to enter new and
happier life-the knight of Mars becoming
the slave of Venus. He married, on Au-
gust 5th, 1868, the daughter of Hon. Henry
Conner, of Lincoln county, n. c., who, in
1914, entered the U. S. Army as Aide-de-
camp to Gen. Joseph Graham, in the Creek
war, and afterwards served as a member
of Congress for twenty consecutive years
from 1921 to 1S4l-when he declined a re-
election.
Owing to the failing health of Major Con-
ner, Mr.. Ivy settled at Beattie's Ford, in
Lincoln county, the home of his father-n-
law. 1t was then that he first commenced
his career as a merchant. He opened a
store of general merchandise at Beattie's
Ford in 1866 and conducted successful and
prosperous business for three years.
In 1867, he conceived the idea of seeking
another and wider field for the exercise OF
his business tact and energy, and upon in
vestigation decided that Rock Hill afforded
rare facilities for opening and developing
the mercantile business. Accordingly, he
established and organized at Rock Hill, in
that year, the firm of Ivy, Roach & Jones,
and left the Rock Hill house with his part
ners, giving his own personal attention to
his business at Beattie's Ford, but making
occasional visits to Rock Hill.
In June, 1869, after the death of Major
Conner, he closed out his business in North
Carolina, purchased property in Rock Hill
and returned with his family to his native
State, to make his home amid the familiar
scenes of his boyhood and among the friends
of his youth. From that date he was the
head of several mercantile firms, conduct
ing large business, and at the time of his
death was member of the firm of Ivy &
Fewell, merchants, which partnership was
formed in 1877. The house of j. M. Ivy d.
Co., was distinct from that of Ivy e. Fewell,
and was engaged strictly in the cotton and
fertilizer business, under the immediate
control of Col. Ivy. In 1872 he introduced
into the Rock Hill market the system of
dealing in futures. BY this plan of opera
tions he handled about 10000 bales each
season, his purchases extending to all the
surrounding markets, where he kept agents
regularly employed. 1t is claimed that he
was the first buyer in this section to afford
to planters the facility they now possess, of
selling their crops at remunerative prices
in advance-to be delivered in the Fall
thus ensuring the planters against the fuc-
tuation of the price of the staple and render
ing their transactions in cotton also safe.
Besides his enterprise as merchant, he
was always among the first in all things
concerning the public welfare. He ever
,oon;foctoJ I;borol;t1y a cbo and a Duh-