The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-10-21

Der, lo4S-Marrled IN New Orleans, 23rC
December, 18S4-Died in New York.
4th, August, 1885.
Charles Wardlaw was the youngest
child of Robert H. Wardlaw and his
wife Eliza Bowie, the youngest of q
family Of twelve sons and one daughter.
or these, only the aged father and four
Of his sons survive. Charles was born
at the homestead on the outskirts Of
Abbeville. q town which owes not q lit
tie Of its historic lustre to the family
name he bore. Here he lived and
thrived until a lad Of sixteen years he
left school, Joined the Confederate
army as a private and went to the war,
he being the ninth son whom his father
and mother had. suffered to leave their
quiet home and march to the scenes of
strife and death. OF these nine broth
ers two gave up their lives to their
Southern country's cause. After the
war in the universal wreck of fortunes
in South Carolina, anxious to help his
parents as best he might, Charles Ward
law followed the plough on the home
plantation for nearly five years. There
after he went to Augusta, Georgia,
where he modestly took the lowest po-
sition in q commercial house. and by
merit he rose higher. until at the end Of
seven years he filled the highest office
in that house. From Augusta he went
to New York and filled II responsible
post in the house ON Moore, Jenkins &
Co., until it failed about five years ago,
when he was Immediately employed by
the great metropolitan house of Thur
Der, Whyland & Co. He was held in
the highest esteem by all in that empo-
rum, from the principals to the hum
blest clerk. in their service ; and in that
service he was steadily and honorably
advancing. Just last Christmas he
brought his bride from New Orleans
Jeanie, daughter Of A. j. Wither-
spoon, D. d., brought her to Abbeville;
and his own friends and his fathers
friends we'll remember how his frank face
beamed with JOY at the kindness and
warmth Of the welcome given to her
he loved Sc truly. AT the close Of the
season Of holiday and merrilnent, he re-
turned to New York, his young wife
accompanying him.
Of manhood, trusted, respected and be-
loved by all, to our shortsighted ken it
seemed that Charles Wardlaw had only
just begun n long, successful and hon
orable career in the world Of COM
lnerce, whose close should not be until
that ripe old age to which the long lives
of his parents and their progcnitors
might have tempted him to look for
ward.
On the third of last August advised
so to do by his physicians, he went to
the New York hospital to submit to q
operation in surgery. In perfect
health and with buoyant spirits he bade
his friends goodbye, told them where
he was going and that he would see
them next morning. Next morning he
was dead.
Frail man., his days are like the grass.
In the morning it is green and groweth
up. in the evening it is cut down, dried
and withered.
The impression made on his friends
here and elsewhere by tn, tidings of his
death. so sudden and 80 sad, will not
soon be forgotten. 1t was hard for any
OF us his friends to believe or compre
bend that his light and joyous spirit
was %quenched in the night Of death. But
life had closed for him, swift as the eve
Of tropic sun, (which sinks ut once and
all is night"
Few men Of his years had as many
rs Charles Wardlaw, and very
few deserved to have them M did he.
Attractive in personal appearance to an
unusual degree, he was still more SO in
manners and his character. Who
ever met him failed to be charmed
by his genial manners, the outward to-
ken of q warm heart and a sound head ?
While his strength Of understanding, |
decision of character and high sense Of
duty, impressed every one who knew
In his heartand life. in his walk and !
he, filled up the measure
Of q gentleman, and q true son of South
Carolina. He was pious too. with q pi-
ETY. that was the more beautiful because
80 unassuming (; it's modesty was proof
Of its sincerity. What he was to those |
of his own household, to his aged pa
rents, to his brothers, to their wives and |
children, the world will never know.
From the venerable father to the last !
born grand-child, he was the loved Of
all; and they for his sake will comfort !
as they only can the sorrow stricken
wife. SO lately q bride, so soon a widow. |
When the young soldier falls in bat
tie, the cloud Of sorrow is fringed with
glory. When the legislator or profess
man is struck down in the pride |
of youth and on the threshold of his
fame, ar admiring public mourns his
And shall we be silent when
the young mar Of business dies, albeit
he has passed his days ia that less pub
lie walk of life where holds
her sway We may all learn a lesson
from the life of Charles Wardlaw. He