Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-12-01
|M}istellaueuns &eading.
YORK'S LEGISLATORS,

II lORkS LEGlSLAIORS.
The Charleston Nens and Courier, with
enterprise characteristic of the manage
ment of that paper, publishes sketches Of
the lives and services of the members of the
Senate and House of Representatives COM
posing the present General Assembly of
South Carolina. Referring to these sketch
es the Neacs and Courier says: 'It is a
bright record, and d.conspicuously so in the
number of our representative men who,
under adverse circumstances and sur
mounting all obstacles, have risen to high
position, not only in their own counties,
to note the number of young men whose
election to their present position is an in
dication of the esteem and honor in which
they are held in their respective commu-
mites and counties. On the roll of honor
will also be found many veterans in the
service of the people. In the hands OF
such Legislature the highest hopes of the
State may be realized and its largest and
best interest subserved."
We copy below the sketches of the Sen
ator and Representatives from York,
which were prepared for publication by a
gentleman ofthis place:
SENATOR J. G. BLACK.
DR.. John G. Black is descended from an
cestry prominent in the past political his
tory of the State. His grandfather, Joseph
Black, of Abbeville, was Senator from
that county three or four terms, and was
also State treasurer of South Carolina two
terms. He introduced the resolution in
the Legislature to establish the State Bank
and was the pioneer mover in the estab-
lshment of that institution. His father,
the late VIM. G.. Black, was native of
Abbeville, and after his admission to the
Bar of that county, was associated in the
practice of the law with the Hon. Arn1isted
Burt. He was elected commissioner OF
equity of Abbeville county, and after
serving two terms moved to York. From
this county he was elected to the Legisla-
ture in 1912 and again in 1914, when he
was elected comptroller general, and again
in lS47 was reelected to the same Office.
After his service as comptroller-general he
was again returned to the Legislature,
serving continuously, with the exception
of two years, from 1850 to 1861. AS a
member of the Legislature in 1860 he was
opposed to the calling of the State Conven-
tion which passed the ordinance of Seces-
sion. During the war he retired from
active political life, but was elected to the
State Convention of 1865. At one time
Senator Blacks grandfather was State
treasurer ; his uncle, James A. Black, was
in Congress from this district; his uncle,
Joseph. A. Black, was Senator from Rich
land; his uncle, John B: Black, was
member of the House of Representatives
ber of the House from York. Senator
Black is native of York county, and is
A years of age. By reason Of the war he
was prevented from receiving a classical
education, entering the Confederate ser.
vice, as he did, at the age of 1S, in Tay.
lor's cavalry company, organized in Co
lumbia. He served in that company two
years, when he was placed on detached
service at Gen. Gustavus w. Smiths head.
quarters. He was afterwards transferred
to Major James +. Harris battery, and as
signed to duty at General M. G. Buffers
headquarters. He surrendered with But.
ler's command at Greensboro, n. G. Sen
ator Black was elected to the House ol
Representatives in 1880, and served in that
branch of the Legislature creditably tC
himself and satisfactorily to his constitu.
ents. He did not again come before the
people until 1884, when he was elected'tc
the State Senate. He is now serving the
term of four years for which he was then
elected. AS legislator Senator Black is
an economist in the strictest sense of the
term, his legislative acts fully bearing out
his pledges before the people. His resi-
dence is at the thriving new town OF
Blacks Station, on the Airline Railroad
REPRESENTATIVE w. b. WILSON.
w. B. Wilson, Jr., the youngest mem
ber of the House from York, is law.
yer by profession; but Notwithstanding
the influence exerted by the farmers
movement" received the largest vote OF
any of his competitors in the primary
election, all of whom are professed farm
ers. He is native of Yorkville, and is in
the 36th year of his age. He received
his academic education principally in the
schools of Rev. DR.. Latham. VIM. Cur
rell, and at Kings Mountain Military
School, completing his course of studies
at the latter institution in 1867, when he
entered the South Carolina University,
graduating therefrom in 1869. He was
admitted to the Bar in January, 1871, and
in the fall of that year went to Texas,
where he remained until the latter part
of 1873, when he returned to Yorkvlle
and entered upon the practice of the law
in partnership with his father. That as
sociation is yet continued, though his
residence is at Rock Hill. Though young
at the time, Mr.. Wilson took an active
part in the campaign of 1876, being at
that time and continuing for most of the
time since, up to his election to the legis-
lature, an active member of the county
Democratic executive committee. Mr..
Wilson was a cadidate for solicitor before
the Judicial Convention of this Circuit in
1880, when Mr.. T. G. CASTOR was nomi-
mated on the eightyseventh ballot, Mr..
Wilson wanting but one vote to secure his
nomination on the eighty-sixth ballot.
He was elected to the House of Represen-
tatives in 1854, receiving his nomination
by fattering vote in the primary election.
He has shown himself to be working
member, and for one of his age, was in
fuential among the members. In the last
session he was one of the "Economics''
and thereby lost several measures he ad-
vocated. Mr.. Wilson is quick and ready
debater, and enjoys the confidence of his
people, both as to integrity and ability.
He married in 1876, Miss Isabella II. Mil.
Ter, daughter of DR.. w. r. Miller, of
Raleigh, N. G.
| REPRESENTATIVE w. NJ. WALKER.
DR.. VIM. M. Walker received the next
highest number of votes in the primary
election. He is 62 years of age, and has
never before been in public life. He was
raised on farm, where he worked until
he was 81 years of age, having in the
meantime learned the trade of blacksmith,
at which he worked for fifteen years.
While working at his trade he studied
dentistry, and graduated from the Balti-
more Dental College early in 1861. On the
outbreak of the war he joined the 9TH
South Carolina cavalry, with which COM
mand he remained until JOhnStOn'S sur
render. Since the war he has been en-
gagged in the practice of his profession
and farming. His farming operations are