The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1896-09-25
THE NEW
JUNIOR SENATOR.
SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF JOSEPH
Ii. EARLE.
Career OF the Man Who Has just Beat
en- Evans and Will be tho Sue
cessor to Irby.


and career of South Carolina's junior
United States senator elect, whose
election has been such a complete sur
prise to great many people of tho
State:
General Joseph Earle was born in
Gresnville, s. c., April 90, 1847, and
received his education at Sumter, s.
G. He afterward attended the Fur
man University at Greenville, gradu-
ating from the latter institution in
1867. General Earle entered the Con-
fcderate army in July, 1864, starting
as private in Charles battery of
light artillery, at the close of tho war
part of Kemper's artilley. On his
return from the war, as above stated,
he entered Furman University. Leav-
ing this institution. he was appointed
principal Of the Chicks Springs high
school at Greenville, holding that po-
sition two years, studying law in the
meantime. In April, 1870, he was
admitted to the bar before Judge
James l.. Orr, afterward minister to
Russia.
Following his admission to the bar
he opened a law office ut Anderson, s.
c., where he practiced until 1875,
when he removed to Sumter, at which
place he resided and practiced his pro.
fession with r. o. Purdy as q law
partner for several years.
In 1878 General Earle was elected
member of the State legislature from
Sumter county and served two terms,
declining O nomination for reelection
in 1880. In 1882 he was elected to the
State senate for four years, and in 1886
was elected attorney general of the
State, being reelected in 1888.
He was selected in 1880 as q delegate
from South Carolina to the national
convention which met in Cincinnati
and nominated General Hancock for
President. In 1884 he was.selected as
delegate to the Chicago national con-
vention, which nominated Grover
Cleveland, and was one of the commit
tee selected, one from each State. to
notify Mr.. Cleveland of his nomina-
tion. He has also been chosen o dele
gate to the State conventions on q num-
Der of occasions.
General Earle was married May 10,
1869, to Miss Anna NJ. Earle, daug ghter
of Baylis J. Earle, of Anderson. To
them have been born nine children,
one dying in infancy. The Christian
names of those surviving are: Baylis
H., John H., Eleanor NJ, Lucia p,
Anna c., Joseph H., Lillian and Will
ton.
In 1888 General Earle refused the
nomination on the Democratic ticket
for governor, not desiring to oppose
the reelection of Governor Richard
son, declaring that, if nominated, he
would not stand as q candidate; but in
spite of his declaration more than 100
votes were cast for him in the conven-
tion.
In 1890 he made canvass of the
State for the nomination of governor,
but was superseded by B. r. .Tillman,
who was nominated by the Reform
movement, after whose nomination
General Earle refused to oppose him,
though strongly urged to 40 80.
General Earle's father was Elias d.
Earle. who was born in Greenville, S.
c., and there practiced law for many
years, at one time holding the office of
superintendent of public works of the
State. He was married in 1886 to SUI
san c. Haynesworth of Sumter, S. c.,
and they had eight children, OF whom
the subject of this sketch is the young
est The father died in 1852 and the
mother in lSi?. Some years ago he
moved to Greenville and his home is
now in That city.
After General Earle made tho fight
against Tillman in 1890, he returned to
his home in Sumter county and re-
sumed the practice of his profession.
At the session of the General AS.
scmbly two years ago he was elected
Circuit Judge over Mr.. G.. E. Brea-
Zealc. one of the strongest Reformers
in the State, by Legislature that was
more thoroughly Reform than any be-
tore or likely to be again.
General Earle was elected upon his
merits and in consequence of the eff
forts he had made to bring the white
people of the State together again.
This he now considers his proudest
and greatest achievement. He has
had Il remarkable career. But few
men, occupying the position he did in
1890, could stand where he does today
without n blemish upon his character,
with his integrity and honesty Of pur-
pose unchallcnged by anyone. As n
Circuit Judge he has been success.
He Las rjycn universal satjsfaction,