The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-06-02
MLAURIN THE MAN.
HE SUCCEEDS THE LATE JOSEPH n
EARLEAS JUNIOR SENATOR.

Gpv. Enerbe Issued the Conmission Wed
nesd ay Appointing Hon. John L. McLau
rim United States Senator to Succeed tn
Late Senator Earle.
Governor Ellerbe. on Wednesday
the 25th inst. duly commissioned
John Lowndes McLsurin to be Senator
from South Carolina in the place o
the late Joseph II. Earle, until tn
General Assembly shall regularly
! elect a successor to fill out the mex
pired term commencing on the 4th o.
March last. :,
It seems TO be understood on al
sides that there will be primary
election to choose 3 man who shall oe
presented to the Legislature as the
choice of the Democratic voters ol
South Carolina. In view OF this ex
pectation there have already oeen
number of gentlemen mentioned al
probable candidates-Senator Nay helo
of Barnwell, Solicitor Bellinger OF the
same county. Mr. M. L. Donaldson OF
Greenville, Ex Governor John Gary
Evans and Mr.. John L. Duncan
Judge Brawley was also spoken OF,
but it may be considered certain thai
he will not enter the race.
The appointment of McLaurln caus
ing a vacancy in the sixth Congress
ionsl district, there are already aspl
rants to the latter place-Sollcltor ).
M. johnson of Marion, Comptroller
General Norton and Mr.. w. D. Evans,
of Marlboro, at present a member OIL
the State railroad commission. Others
may come in later. 1t now seems to
be understood that there Will be no
primary in this district-the csndi'
dates going before the people them
selves.
THE NEW SENATOR'S CAREER.
John Lowndes McLaurin was born
in Marlboro county, May 9th. 1860.
His fathers name was Philip B. Nc
Laurin. He was a lawyer of marked
ability, but died at an early age, leav-
ing the subject of this sketch, Thomas
and Margaret. Thomas died when
about 12 years old and Margaret is
now is now living in Marlboro county
as Mrs. Grassland. His mother was a
daughter of Col. T. @. Weatherly, who
was prominent in public life before
the war. He was sheriff of his county
and represented it in the general as
sembly for many years. Whatever OF
political ability and taste that Mr.. Nc
Laurin has is from this side OF the
house, all of the Weatherly's being
successful politicians. Mr.. McLaurin's
father while he was in politics was
elected st the very early age of % to
the general assembly. He was just
old enough to be eligible. On this
side of the house there was marked in
tellectuality and culture; while they
were in politics. they did not care as
much for them as for matters of an
intellectual character. Mr.. McLau'
rims father was a fine speaker.
His father died from illness con-
tracted from exposure in the army IN
1864. In 1867 his mother married Mr..
William S. Mowry, of Charleston, S.
@. MIR. Mowry was very wealthy
gentleman and the family lived for
several years in Marlboro county and
then moved in 1878 to Euglewood, N.
j., where MIR. Mowry has since that
time been a very successful member
of the cotton and stock exchange.
Mr.. and Mrs. MowrY, and five half
brothers and sisters are now living at
this place. All Mr.. McLaurin's half
brothers are in business in New York
city.
In those early days the school sys-
tenn of South Carolina was so defect
i've that johnnie and Tommie" were
sent up to the Bethel Military academy
near Warrenton, Va. Tommie died
while attending the school and John,
the new senator of today, was then
taken on to Englewood and sent to
school there until he was Is years OF
age. He was then sent to Swarth-
more college near Philadelphia. A
Quaker school didn't suit ardent
South Carolina temperament and af-
ter two years, Colonel Weatherly,
Johns grandfathr, concluded that a
military school and disciplinarian
like Col. John P. Thomas were needed
10 properly train and hold in check
the promising young Carolinian. He
remained under Col. Thomas in his
school at Charlotte, N. c., until he
graduated in 1880. John was noted
more as baseballist and boxer than
as "a student, though his natural quick.
ness and aptness enabled him to stand
well in his classes. He then went to
the University of Virginia and took
the law course and in 1882 went to
Bennettsville and began the practice
of law.
Although MIR. McLaurin up to this
time had given very ltttle attention to
the realities of life and his future pros
poets, having been wayward youth
at college insofar as respect for rules
and so on were concerned, when he
began the practice of law he desired
to turn over a new Leaf and make 6
name for himself in his profession
He hung out his shingle. Soon an
opportunity came along in the shape
of cases brought against 80 road hand:
known since as the Hebron road cases
It was a kind of a feud in the county
The prosecution employed all the
leading attorneys in the county, in
cluding the present assistant attorney
general of South Carolina, ex Judge
Townsend. Mr. McLaurin was alone
for the defense and many had advised
the accused to plead guilty. After
five days of legal fighting, Mr.. Nc
Laurin won in every case by appeal:
to the jury, the law and evidence ant