The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-10-21
Death Of Mr.. j. II. Lnifmer.

Mr.. james Marion Laiimcr, the subject o
this sketch WAS born on llOgskin creek, Alb
neville county, 9th OF December, 1874, where
he spent his boy Wood and early manhood. Or
September &c, 1873, he was united In marriage
10 Miss Mallala Young, daughter OF VIM
and Sarah Young, whose memory will ever u
rnSilrincl I'm the hearts Of tho people around
OLD Smyrna. Mr.. Iailincr first Sctllrd In TIT
Level Land section (ncnr his fttlier.ir-law
where he remained til 1851 when he, together
with his iutlier-in-law and family, bought ant
moved to, lands In the fork OF Rocky aud Si1
vAIlnth Rivers, Il few niles from Luwndes
Vile.
Mr.. and Mrs. Latirncr had born to them 1v'
children, three sons and Two daughters, lou
Of whom passed away in early Lille, the Othel
liz now the wife of Mr.. T.. Baker.
Mr.. Latiincr was raised . Baptist, and hi
predictions We're all in that direction during
his youth, and I'LL after he married into on
section. He WAS lei BY this, or some other
cause to unite with the Mctiiodists. In $50, a,
Smyrna. About that time he was powerful!
and souudiy converted TO God, In tue roat
Ing then going on ut Shiloh. His conversion
wils so marked and genuine that he never af
terwnrd doubted 1t. The fire then kindlct
WAS ever kept burning upon the n.tur OF hi:
heart-he was ever ready and willing 10 un
dcrtake any and every work assigned him
having nearly all of his life sustained sOln'
official relation 10 the church, either rs Stew
ard, Sunday School superintendent, or sun
tllS IoCtlOtl lcslCIltI. Al al tllCSC IcSllOIlSlOI
positions ho acquitted himself nob'y, always
proving TO bc the right man IN the right place
which of Itself WIS very remarkable, as gen
orally the man fitted for the one place, is no
for the other.
On the 9Th OF February, 1871. his wife wa
called To- her reward above. On the 9Th o
January 1915, lie Was married to Miss Carri
a.. Young, II sister Of his first wife. and VIII!
still survives hin. Mr.. Latimer began lif
comparatively poor but by energy aud pcrsc
v~erancc, he continually added TO what lie hat
I'LL he acquired considerable property.
In 1872 Mr.. lntlmer bought u place In Lown
dcSvillc, to which lie ut once moved. Now J
would seem as If lir would take life easy, bu
no, n " life had no allurcmcnts for him
his innate and ind0uitabfe energy still KEEP
him moving, and almost every mornings sun
rise, rain or shine, found him upon his farm
four miles distant, experimenting his buSi
ness. In time old age began to make inrond
upon what had once been Il very robust fran
then bought other lands nearer Lowndcsvlll'
which he still, always In person., overlooked
aiI upon which he made fine crops.
To the day Of his death he always drove hi
business, never allowed it to drive him
When and where Mr.. Latimcr was raised
schools were not, as now, on almost ever.
hilltop, therefore his educational advantage
gether with an ambition to learn, enable!
him to acquire Il fund OF knowledge whicl
caused his ulterances 10 be Intcntly Listened
TO and his advice eagerly sought. There wn
| lo NttSStlillIOl VI NlNCllIE SkDOlD iii. 1ASb
once formed his conclusions and they .wer
always correct. As II citizen he was highl.
rcSpectcd-wns several times solicited AM
urged to allow his name used as Il calididat
for the legislature, but he always declined
lie. however, several times represented TIL
county In State Conventions.
In 1877, when our State was still In a yer
unsettled condition, and when but few Induce
melits were offered TO engage In either publ
or private enterprises, Mr.. Latimcr conceive
the idci. Of attempting 10 revive the Savni
nah Valley RAILROAD. He accordingly wrot
10 @e a, Duo 5; ri W.T. @.a ci He and miN Mr b f. nake eq wen
there, and upon consultation 1t was decide
TO appoint another meeting at Anderson, {
III. y lew more gentlemen met the abor
mentioned at Anderson. That meeting Wa
line Of ioad. The enterprise begun at Du
West, and Tor which Mr.. Latiiner deserves a.
the credit, will III The hear future be complel
ell. At the organization Of the Savanna
Valley Railroad Company, he was, withou
opposition, elected President, u positio
which he held Tor four years, when he pcs
lively declined II reelection. He was tn
handspring, the motive lower OF that Srcu
enterprise, and it was mainly through his In
tiuence and management that it Is now S
hear completion. lie Travelled night and da
up and down the line %ArOusing the people
without any hope or prospect OF reward, Utl
rr than the consciousness Of duty DONE, an
the satisfaction and pleasure accruinG to hill
IN seeing the SECTION III which all OF Ills ailet
lions and Interests were centred dcrolOpet
Alas! he did not live TO realize the full lru
ton oi his hopes In this particular.
He was foremost In every good word an
work. His libcrulity was well known, an
whenever the church OF his choice was !
need OF aid, an appeal to him was never !
vain. Ills hospitality was nbounded, und a
visitors were cordially welcomed and bOun
tiiulIy entertained, SO long as they chose I
remain His genial, warm hearted nntui
male him Il general luvori,c with all classe
and conditions Of ucople, from Joyous youi
to liOary age, ali united in doing him reyel
euce, as there was q halo OF attraction Sui
rounding him., which hone could resist, an
the iiunle OF Mr.. Marion Lnttmer will long n
nluln q household word, and his liio and O.
ample will be considered worthy Of emulu
ton.
Although lie Ind reached the allotted age {
mortality no one believed the end SO neal
and when Oh the morning OF the 18th, he va
called away without u moments warming, b
could not, as he would have done, left test
rnony rs To his prospects of a life beyond IN
Hood, yet such testimony was not needed, u
his daily life had been such as to give prom
Use Of Il blessed Immortality beyond the gravt
4 great and good man has fallen, great, Il
that he was IL sclf-madr, good, in that he dis
charged his dulles with fidelity, In all the rt
lationS Of life, anu his death has created
void IN the community winch cannoL be Gu:
lily flied, but we know that our loss IL hi
gain, anu we hope when our limit OF being
done To be reunited to him IN Iaircr cllIncs {
end .css BLISS. j. W.. Ii.