Birmingham state herald., 1897-05-21
SENATOR JOSEPH H, EARLE South caroIina's Brilliant Sena-
 Sor, Passes Away. A GENTLEMAN BY BIRTH Hf 2 Yer Forfeited His Birthright-His Life -. Vas an Honorable One and He Died q S Respected of all Men.

Columbia, S. C., May 20-Unlted States Senator Joseph H. Earle, who was elect ed last January, died al his residence in Greenville this afternoon at 5:35 o'clock. H. had been i'll for several weeks, but until yesterday hopes were entertained of his rec0yny. Brisht's disease was the trouble. He was born in Geeenville, April 30, 1S47. He was elected after a hard fight in which he pursued a manly course. His death is universally de- plored. Gov. Ellerbee will have to ap- point a successor to serve until the gen. eral assembly meets next winter when il will elect a senator for the unexpired term. Congressman McLaur.n and At toTney General Barber are mentioned in connection with the appointment. AS yet the public sorrow is too great for the question of a successor to receive much attention. Gov. Ellerbee is absent from the city.
 Judge Earle was born of highly hon. orable parentage in Greenvilla county, on April 30, 1S47. His father. Elias D. Earle, of Greenville, was a prominent lawyer, and a. one time held the office of superintendent of public works of the state. Judge Earle's father married Su- san c. Hainesworth, of Sumter county, this state, in 1886. They had sigkt chill dren, of whom Judge Earle was the youngest. Judge Earle's early educa ion was received in the Academy of Sumter Immediately upon having the academy he hastened to join the ranks of the con- federate army. In July 1864, at the age of IT, he enlisted as private in Charles battery of light artillery, at thE close of the war a part of Kemper's artillery
 At the close of the war Judge Earle re- turned home and entered Furman uni versity, whei5 he graduated in 1867 Like most southern people the family of Judge Earle were impoverished by the war so young Earle had 70 make his own way in life. He chose law as his profession, but being too poor to study it independ- ently, he taught school by day and stud jed law by night. Tn April, 1870, he was admitted and began the practice of his profession at Anderson. where he re- ma1ned un il 1875, when he removed to
 As a lawyer Judge Earle soon distin- guished himself. In 1878 he was elected to the legislature and for four years he was useful and able member of that body. He declined reelection to the house in 1880, but was elected senator from Sumter county in 1882. In 1886 he was elected attorney general and for two terms filled that responsible position With signal ability In 1880 he had the honor of representing his party in the national democratic convention at Gin cinnati. Again in 1884 he went as a del- egate to the national convention and was selected as a member of the committee 10 notlfy MT. Cleveland Of his nomina- tion as president. In 1888 Judge Earle declined the nomination of governor be- cause he was committed to the support of Gov. Richardson, who was candi- date for reelection. He ran against Tillman for governor in 1890, but was de- fcated. Judge Earle then returned to Greenville, the home of his boyhood, and opened his law office, determining to de- vote his entire attention to the practice of his profession.
 When he was asked to advise the peo- pie he told them to cease their quarrels and their bickerings and obliterate fac tional lines. His good judgment was appreciated and in 1892 he was elected judge of the eighth circuit. On the bench his great courtesy his impartiality and rigid adherence to the law, as he found 1t written, won for him the reputa- tion of being an honest and capable judge. The history of the campaign in which he triumphed over John Gary Evans and was chosen by the people as United States senator is familiar to all. On entering the senate he at once com- manded the respect of the chamber. He was gentleman by birth and never for feited his biiS bright. He was an upright, moral man and a member of the Baptist church.
 Judge Earle was married May 19, 1869, to his cousin, Miss Anna M. Earle, a most attractive and interesting woman. To them have been born nine children, of whom six survive.