The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-04-01

On the first day OF April: 1850. Mr.. Wilson
bought one half interest In the lmdepena-
ent Press, and. thus u Is. today Is ms ,nIr.s
office. March, 1885, was the flfty-second
Anniversary of the existence OF the Aboevlile
Banner Next May will complete the lSrly
third wear of the Independent Press. NeNC
September Will round up the seventeenth year
r. is with a pardonable pride that Mr.; VII
son refers to his career aa printer: coming 10
strange town, an unknown boy without
money, he was fortunate In meeting aa op
portunity TO buy paper In ~ ~ Oh r.,
fhe hest people on earth-a com munlty ~nicu
awards lust recognition to worth 10 wnotuso,
ever fonnd-and he was fortunate 10 nuu;ns ss;,
good friends who gave him suostan Iaa s ssSs hasn
sorinnate sIT m in holding the business Of the peo,
nIe for so long period He is still torinnste i "a
In having the friendship and gooowlil oi "a
very large proportion OF bss .ss seen % friendiy to
ihe people, and they have in turn been ITleno-
Iy to him While he Is not AFRAID 10 oiaue'
yet he is aways so% aood 70 %ora for any
M Hugh Wilson. editor OF the Press and Ban
nor entered the Associate Reformed Presoyte-
rial, printing Office as apprentice 10 1881; De-
ing then In his thirteenth year. Twelve Is a
yery tender age for q lad TO lay down tne
he projecting care OF mother. None but
the strugglipg poor who 20 out into the world.
TO earn a living, know anything Of the temp.
fQfiOn6
the youth who leaves the family circle and is T.
freed from the parental restraints. CUT on
from happy, boyish sports, his only satety
lies being born right aad IN ssIer m ie GSTs
tian mother. While in the lives OF al OF US.
we do much that we may or should regret.
yet on the whole u the good squais OF or Goan, Ssre
reason to be thankful. In world OF go 10 mucn
sin and wickedness 1t Is hard for q boy, or
man either. TO be always right when iar re-
moved from the sweeter, purer ana more e'e'
waiting influences Of home LIE.
HIS sAPPRENTICEsHIP-HIs SCHOOLING.
For three years he did the chores. cut the
fire wood TO heat the Office, swept the nooI'
and carried the paper around the t0Wn. ".
w. Haddon during the time naa EM c,esfeq ~ q .
hanled the wood to the printing othce. Ine
small round sticks were nearly as naIo as
bone, aud the job OF cutting II was not an
Mr.. Wilson's relationship with his employ,
er and his associates was pleasant thronghout
the three years term OF apprenticeship unei,
within few weeks OF us psn1t enpas1a''ond and Dr..
Bonner. Mr.. Wilson resolved TO quit, OUT ms
friend, Coleman c. Puckett, e4ercisea s.ea'
influence over him and ino9Gea ,sa hi ,me ~ % The
arqnment which was most effective was, that
he was little boy and DR.. Bonner was man
who stood high With his neighoors ana tnae
wonid take sides with DR.. Bonner and blame
him: that 1t was bad TO break contIac.'
even as resentment for wrong tieatmen. c, y, v
Mr.. Wilson returned TO work. His t LINE me- wss s1,
piration OF that time recommendation oa Iooa
place, and DR.. Bonner was after that, as oeiole,
bis friend. He was teaching school at sne
nired. he offered to board Mr.. Wilson and
Five him free tuition for the remaining hVe
weeks Of the session-if be would work on
Saturday, Up to that Tune pS,cS me pas aaS one OF
the studies that he took up during MS I'VE
weeks attendance on DR.. Bonner's school, ano q
that was the only time which ne de'oteu in
school to English grammar.
HIS CAREER AS JoURNEYNAN PRINTER.
When the school had ended DR.. Bonner
made a liberal offer for his services until
Christmas. which was accepted.
In the Fall Of 1855 he was employed as com,
nositor on the Laurensvile Herald, OF which
paper r. M. Stokes was editor. Hon; !. d,
Crews was foreman Of the office. Coz. James
A. Hoyt now of Greenville was an apprentice
at that time In the Herald office.
Rising Sun, of which paper Slider & Crosson
we're editors.
FELLow.CRAFTSMEN.
Among Mr.. Wilson's fellow,craltsmen slI,s VINO VINO
have done we'll in after life, he would men'
Hon. Robert A. Thompson. now OF the Keo.
wee Courier, once worked at case az Due est
with him. Mr.. Thomson Ia Leading lawyer
of bis section, a high toned editor, and cltl,
zen who has the respect and good VIII OF an an
who know him. He is now far advanced on
lie, lie in NJ Tie reiirem ent OF happy home, with
competency of this worlds goods.
Col. James A. Hoyt was q good soldler 10
the Confederate cause, and pears ds upon MS ms
has been prominent In church analrs, anu
leader In politics for years. when ne was
State chairman Of the Democratic party, ne
had the opportunity to become Governor, ont
rather THAI be truant to his duty as he saw ~,
he declined the prospective honor. Whlle
The office Of Governor was prize worthy 10
be sought, yet Colonel aoSt oio no' "an' H.
Hon. Thomas B. Crews has always been a
notable figure wherever be has been ana In
whatever position he has held. His popular
ity in the county wherein he lives was years
ago attested by his triumphant election on
the first ballot to the State Senate over sew.
eral competitors. He Is now postmaster al
because OF his fitness for the position and be-
cause OF his political influence
Coleman Z. Puckett. his long aud most ipti-
mate friend ut Due West, af5erward @ became ,ss M
he resolved to study medicine, and within
few months after he was admitted to the prac-
tice, his exposure 10 the hot August sun In
duced typhoid fever OF which be died at
the beginning OF q career which promised dis
tinction to himself and benedic,ion to af-
fiicted humanity.
CAME TO ABBEv1LLE.
In the Fall OF 1883 Hugh Wilson came TO Alb
beviile living for a greater portion OF the year
With his pa rents. Not having q situation as
printer. and not being willing to remain idle
he went TO work 10 his fathers mill, which
was bought from Dr. Livingston, and which
stood on the lot that Is now vacant at the
head Of the big gulley beyond Mr. Harden's
home. Mr.. Wilson could not saw plank; he
did not understand the engine; aud he had
not learned 10 grind corn or wheat, but he
could make fire, and 80 he fired the engine
and raised steam-and he raised IL early In
the morning and kept the wheels turning.
Connected with that experience y as little
incident. He did not want 10 wear his starch
ed shirts at the rough work, and applied 10 B..
P. Hughes, ho was then chief clerk for John
White, to sell him enough brown homespun
to make shirts. The cloth was cut of and he
requested Mr.. Hughes to charge 1t to him.
Without hesitation MIR. Hughes said that he
Ibid not make accounts with boys around
town: that he would charge 1t to his father"
1t would not be easy TO describe his feelings
at that speech. II was The only time In bis
life that he had ever bought goods for himself
that were charged To his father. The dem ial
OF credit made It's impress, and Mr.. Wilson
resolved that he would In after years prove 10
Mr. Hughes that his credit was good for cloth
to make two brown homespun shirts In Oc-
tober OF that year he Was offered place as
compassion In the Banner office at "A salary ot
$500 year That paper vas was thea ha'rp pTn,ished
proprietor of The Laurensville Herald. Mr..
Hughes afterward became one Of Mr.. Wilson's 8
best friends. The time came when be was anx-
ions to do him favor and was NOR r. than
willing 10 extend any credit. Mr.. Wilson
continued 10 set type Tor The Aboeville Ban
ner until the first OF April, 1859, when he set
up business on his own account, MS the follow
ing paragraphs will show.