The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-05-04
GEN WILLIAM w. HARLLEEI
He Was n Prominent Figure i'm South
Carolina for Many Sears-He Had
Reached an Advanced go.

He Was n Prominent Figure i'm South
Carolina for Many Years-He Had
Reached an Advanced Age.
Gen. w. w. Harllee died ut his home
in Florence on the 9th OF April, at the
advanced age Of 81 wears.
He vas born at Harlleesville, now
Little Rock, Marion County, on July
26th, 1872 He vas the youngest child
OF his father, who removed to this State
from Virginia and settled in Marion
County many years before the birth Of
Gen. Harllee, and was q member OF the
State Legislature for eight years and
afterwards clerk Of the Court and or.
binary Of his county.
Gen. Harllee did not enjoy the ad-
vLntages Of II collegiate education, but
received instruction in the "old field"
schools OF his county. After leaving
school he entered the Office OF Chan
ceilor Dargan, at Darlington, land pros.
ecuted the study of law until his ad-
mission to practice, in November, 1888,
when he associated himself with MIR.
Dargan and began tho practice of his
profession at Marion Court House.
In 1896 he was elected &c the Legis-
lature from Marion County, and on the
cali for troops for the seminole war he
was commissioned by Governor Butler
to Jake command of u battalion of five
companies, with which he moved to the
front. He was in Florida for three
months In active service, and built q
fort on ST. Tatrre River, which was
known as Fort Harllee, now on the rail.
road from Cedar Keys to Fernaudina.
After he returned home, in 1897. Major
HarlIee was elected colonel OF the 321
regiment OF the State militia. In 1871
he was ell cted b~rigadier general OF the
Sth brigade, and in 1915 major general
Of the 4th brigade.
In 1916 he was again returned to the
Legislature from Marion County. In
1918 he vas elected president of the
WI nlngton and Manchester Railroad
Company, which position he ii led with
great ability for seven years. Begin
Ming with IL subscribed capital of $3.50
. he pushed the road through to com
plctlon. in 1854, at a cost Of 50 000, 600.
His health failing he retired from the
control Of the corporation in 1855 and
actively resumed the duties Of mis- pro,
fessiOn.
In 1861 Cen. Harllee was elected to
the Secession Convention, and he also
was elected Lieutenant Governor OF
the State on the ticket with Governor
f.. w. Pickeus. He was also sent as O
delegate to the Secession Convention
al 1860, which took the State out Of the
Union and precipitated tho war, and
was afterwards Il member Of the State
Executive Council He was proposed
Tor Governor to succeed Governo,
PIckcns, bat declined to run for the
Office.
In 1876 Gen Harllee was known as
an extreme Democrat, and when the
Democratic Convention met which
nominated Gen. Hampton for Governor
ne was elected president. He filled the
the position with great credit.
In 1880 he was elected to the State
Senate from Marion County against hi
wishes, and was one of the most in.
iuential and active members of thai
body. He a chairman OF the com
mittee on Interpretations and e~nioye(
the respect and confidence Of ever,
member on The floor. la 1882 he was
made president pro tcmporc Of the Sen
ate as a deserved honor t O one who had
always served his State with unfalter
ing devotion.
This was Gen. III ~,rllee's last publ,
once. lie was even then quite an ole
man, having reached his three score
years and ten, and he has since lived
IN honorable retirement, but pructic
ing his profession to within a few
months OF his death.