The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-08-26
THE "GATE CITY,"
New County Barbecue-FamiIy Re.
uniOn-Death.

uusOu-DeatH.
Greenw bod, S. c., August "a, 1896,
Last Friday was big pleasant day in
Green nWood. The crowd was estimated by
good judges, at from 1000 to 5000. Every one
that we could find got their dinner both white
and colored. We had six tables 100 yards
long. (measured0 and another table set at the
operatives. Old uncle Geo. Tillman said in
his speech that we had an AGRA Of tables.
dinner, but TO the contrary they all went
away praising Greenwood. We fed not less
than $500 people and had six carcasses left.
The Chef OF police told me he had no
trouble ut all, not single arrest l saw only
one man drunk. In word l will say that
we had nice orderly crowd, and every body
was In good humor. Uncle Geo. Tillman
was the speaker Of the OCCASION We help
him to celebrate this his 10Th birthday. He
said he had no prepared speech, but l pro-
nounce II fine. He touched on the political
question OF the day, that of free silver, pay
ing Bryan high tribute. A man that could
not admire Bryan, simply did not know him.
He said he had known him for a plumber OF
years and knew what was In him. His speech
was mostly on the advantages OF small cOun-
tics. lie said all old county court houses
would fight new counties. He told US scotch
every wheel and believe nothing an enemy
would say to US when they said they had give
up the fight. He said, I feel certain that
| Greenwood woud get her county II she con.
tinued to do her dnty. could fill this letter
from his speech but will not. Just before
dinner Judge Earle made a very few remarks
date for the Unitsd State Senate. After dinner
Hon. Mr.. Glenn fiom Chester made a short
but pleasant and interesting speech. At
this juncture Hon. e. A. g. Waller the chair.
Black Jr. He addressed the people on the
subject OF the cotton tire trust. He was fol.
lowed by Mr.. Gaines OF Bradleys. After them
Hon. John Duncan, candidate for the United
speech he has made over the State ] will say
by way OF comment that If Gov. Evans is
half as bad man as he Is represented to be-
he Is not the man for the Senate. Before the
meeting closed. the crowd called for Mr.
Ansel. He came forward and told the people
that he thought they had had enough speak.
ing for one day, but he would not refuse 10
make them short speech. He made US q
spicy jovial little speech, letting us know he
would like TO have our votes for Solicitor
! He told US II he was reelected, for none OF
you TO come before him for trial thinking he
would be more linient, on account OF our
votes, but that If he did not convict we mig ht
know the jury did 1t. 1 forgot TO state that
Hon. Geo. Johnston made the first speech
hear him therefore I make no comment
Taking the day all together is was big day
| In Greenwood.
The family reunion Of my mother came of
as appointed last Thursday. To simply cav
we had nice time would not express il. I'm.
agine a family OF seventy-six with seventy.
five present. One grandson n-in-law being the
only absent one. 1t may be interesting tC
|
different relationship. First, Mrs. Nj. 8
Major. our mother, three sons and four dalrh.
ters. three Son-in-laws, three daughters.in.
laws, forly-two grand children. three grand
son-in-laWs, three grand daughtersin laws
and fourteen great grand children, making q
total OF seventv-flve. We are not ashamed O,
our family. 1t is said that selfpraise is next
TO scandal, but DO say our family will com
pare favorably with any in the country. We
had all the old family slaves that were In
reach OF US present. They too enjoyed the oc
casion. There were ninety-fve or one hun
dred people present. We envited our past orr
TO be with us, but only two were present, Rev
DIR. Forester and Rev. Marion Dargan Oul
dinner consisted of a nice barbecue and pic
mic dinner. 1t is hardly probable that we will
all meet again on earth, but hope to mee
all in heaven. Our father was Rev. Samuel
Il. Major. He died December "a, 1858. He
was just 10 years old, leaving mother with
several small children.
| l am not veteran, but the following was
handed me by veteran: Some of the old
veterans would like TO be informed upon
what authority the pension board issued q
pension TO one John Mitchell, colored, o.
Greenwood. The said negro was free born It's
true, and was with the army In the capacity
Of cook, employed for stipulated price. We
had no negro enrolled soldiers, consequently
he could not come under any head of the re-
quirements whereby the board was warrant ted
In reporting favorably in his case. l think
the pension board should make an explina
ton satisfactory to the old veterans who faced
lD6 DulelS
Mr.. Editor, l close this letter by recording
the death of one OF the best and sweetest
young ladies In Greenwood, Miss Maggie
Williams. She went sometime ago To BOr
IeauX to visit n friend, while there she was
seized with that dreaded disease typhoid
fever. She was brought home and lived
about three weeks, dying Sunday morning
about six o'clock. She was buried today
Monday, in the Greenwood cemetery. She
leaves mother and brother. together with
q host of friends 10 mourn her death. Miss
Maggie was young lady not quite twenty
three years old. She had the rare virtue O
capturing every one she came in contact
with. 1t is great loss to any town 10 loose
such a smooth tempered sweet tempered gir
as Miss Maggie was. Tears are plentiful In
not Il few eyes.
May the Lord comfort her widowed moth
er and loving brother
There was a large crowd present 10 pay
this the last tribute to her precious dust. The
following yuong gentlemen acted as pail
bearers MeSSrS. Coleman Waller, John SegO
John Major, Oscar Duckett. Thomas Watson
and Samuel Brunson. She Joined the baptist
church whi lie quite Il young girl. Her pastor
Rev. DIR. Forester, conducted the funeral ser
vices In the presence OF SIX or seven hundred
people. NJ ;. Il.