The Robesonian., 1897-02-17
SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF THE
LATE EDITOR OF THE
ROBESONIAN.


est child of VIM. Mel. McDiarmid,
well-to-do and sturdy Scotch farmer,
and Elizabeth McDiarmid, his wife.
His educational advantages we're such
rs the home training and neighborhood |
schools afforded.
In 1862, at the age of 16, he joined |
the Confederate army, enlisting in the |
First battalion of North Carolina
heavy artillery, commanded by Major
McRae, father of the Late Alex |
McRae, of Argyle. His command was
stationed at Fort Caswell and Fort |
Fisher, and his surviving comrades
testify that he served to the close of
the war as faithful and brave soldier,
participating in the last battle, at Ben
tonvile, where his company suffered
sevelly. When the last gun had been
fired, and the last sword drawn in sup
port of the position taken by North
Carolina in the struggle between the
States had been sheathed. then strip
pling of nineteen years, he returned to
his home and began the battle of life
anew, under the changed conditions
brought about by four years of unre-
lenting war. The farm and the tur-
pentine forests were left, and to the
cultivation of the farm and work in
the latter his summers were given;
while the winter was spent in teaching
neighborhood schools.
In 1870 his older brother, Rev. w.
A. McDiarmid, began the publication
of the RoBEsoNIAN at Lumberton. the
county seat of Robson, and some
months later the subject of this sketch
entered the Office as an apprentice.
Mr.. Chas. A. Holland, now q success
full hardware merchant, of Maxton,
taught him to set his first type. The
transition from handling pillow handles
and mule checks, to small plea and
minion, was such that one with less de-
termination to succeed might we'll have
given up in dismay. But with patient
perseverance, he mastered the art pre-
servative, and about 1872 was able to
start newspaper of his own-the
Pioneer, of Florence, s. G.
On the Goth day of May, 1878, his
brother was drowned while bathing in
Lumber river, treacherous stream
whose dark waters have strangled
many a hero, fringing it's banks with
aching hearts and weeking eyes, Until
it is often called drowning creek"
Soon ritter the death of his brother
Mr., McDiarmid disposed of his Flor
ence paper and bought tho ROBE
soNIAN. To the building up to the
front rank of country journalism he
= spent the remainder of his life.
Early in life he joined Bethel Pres
byterian Church, where his member
ship remained until he became per-
manent citizen of Lumberton, when ii
moved there. He was elected O Dea-
con q number of years ago, aud has
served the Lumberton church so faith
fully in that capacity as to make it hard
to fill his place. While doing his bes,
in the every day affairs of busy men,
he did not neglect the development oi
the higher life. His ideal was above
the stars, and he grew toward it. He
tried to make a paper with an uplifting
tone-a paper which could enter the
home circle freighted with the happen
ings and thought of the week, ye
bring no blush to the cheek of tht
pure; no easy task in these days O
sensational journalism. The labor
of those who have set apart their live
to the advancement of Christ's king
dom on earth always found placs il
the columns of the RoBEsoNIAN. II,
was married on the 9th day of May
1873, to Virginia p. Norment, young
est daughter of L. A. Norment, O
Lumberton, who with one child
Thomas Norment McDiarmid, a youn
man OF 10 years, survives him. Fo
the twentyfour years of their marie
life she proved helpmeet, rejoicin
and aiding in his successes and symps
thizing and encouraging him in time
of defeat and disappointment.
His idea of journalism and it's fel
OF influence and usefulness was exalue
and it was always his desire to 81
above the low strata of personalities
politics, to which the peculiar cond
sioLs of parties seemed to consign tt
writer of the past who was loyal to IL
best interests of his people.
lie was always a Democrat, an
worked intelligently and earnestly fl
his party's success at oil times. Wha
ever name or phase the opponents
Democracy have assumed in the pa
twenty-four years-and their name
legion--they have found a manly fl
the person of W. w. McDiarmid, wi
has At all times been an able defend
OF the Democratic party.
Recognizing his loyalty, honesty al
ability, he was nominated by his par
Tor county treasurer in 1882. I'll
was an ''off year." and the vote bel
light the Democratic ticket was
feated, Rev. Mr.. johnson, father
the present treasurer, was elected, /
failing to qualify the county comm
sioners elected j. A. McAllister, Es
who served acceptably two years, wh
W. W. McDiarmid was again nom;l
ted and elected, and was successiy,
reelected in 1886, 1888 and 1890.
His genial disposition was noted :;
was living witness of the truth of
aphorism, 'laugh and grow fa-
Wherever he went bright, clear lau
ter rang ont carrying cheer to many
fellow traveller. His courtesy tow,
his brethren of the press, added to r
ognizei devotion to their calling,
to his election as president OF
State Press Association; and his sci
ton as its representative in the
tional Press Association more Il
onee-honors which he greatly apr
oiated.
In recording the news and In
discussion of such questions as clain
his attention he wrote with clearr
and force. But the work we liked |
to read was called forth by his visit
his old home or trips through the GO
ty; IN these records of his touch V
his fellows he appeared at his b
they showed his sympathetic he
they showed the man he was.
The benevolent side of his mai
found vent not only in his church "
but as a member of st. Albin's Lodp