The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-05-25
A SKETCH OIN HIS LIEE

ancestors were among the earliest set
tiers in the vicinity - what is now
known as the city Of Greenville His
iat2er and grandfather owned nearly
al tho northwestern section Of Tt @ city.
beginning at tho forks Of Buncombe
and Rutherford streets, and the family
homestead was located where the res
idence of G. a. David now stands. The
family burial ground is on the original
tract OF land, beyond the Sampson
mill on the Buncombe road, and it was
| here that the parents of Senator Earle
were buried. He owned the plot Of
ground which included the cemetery.
Senator Earle's mother died wnou-
ne was three years old, and his father
u lew years later. Left an orphan at
an early age, he was taken by his
grandmother, and the large family of
| children were scattered among rela-
tives here and elsew here, so that thew
were never together again as a family
and yet there was an uncommon alice
| ton maintained between them, especial
| ly among the brothers who remained ia
In this State. The Senator received
his education at Furman University,
out he was not graduate, as he ac-
cepted position to teach in Claren-
don County, where he was unusually
successful. In 1868 he was chosen to
be principal OF the Chick Springs
Academy, and while there he was also
engaged in the study of law, which he
had selected for his life work. 1t was
matter OF honest pride with him in
after years that the ties formed at
Cn'ck Springs between himself and
the cltlZ+ns OF that community were
never broken, and among tho earliest
advocates OF his election to the United
States Senate were friends in that
vicinity who know him as faithful
teacher, and who admired his uili.
gence and worthy ambition to succeed
in life.
After two years he was admitted to
the practice of law, and in 1870 he
| located at Anderson, where he was
married to his cousin, Miss Annie
Eirle, daughter of Mr.. John Baylts
Earle, one Of the wealthiest and most
prominent citizens of Anderson Coun.
ty. He remained i'll Anderson four or
live years, and there as elsewhere he
formed attachments that were kept
unbroken the balance Of his days. In
1919 he removed to Sumter, whore a
part OF his boyhood wastspent, and be-
gan career that brought him into
| prominence very speedily. He was "A
Ic"n"picu0us figure in the campaign OF
1876, and was recognized as dashing
ana lmpctuOus leader Of the invincible
ed shirts OF Sumter County. He was
nominated for tho House of II R.presen-
tatives In that campaign, but no with.
| drew shortly before the election Tor
| reasons that were most creditable to
| MIN Us patriot and citizen who was
anXlousto promote harmony rather than
eXaIt himself. When the Legislature
had convened, and the dual govern
| ment was in operation, with tho Wal
| M.inl ~,
for the mastery, the Democratic otfi
cials in Columbia summoned five thou
sand citizans to make IL demonstration
! on the oeleagured State House for the
| protection OF the noble baud under
| Speaker Wallace, who were threaten
ca with determination by a rowdy
gang OF negroes from Charleston.
brought to the capitol and concealed
witlln It's walls for the contamination
OF This diabolical plot. Senator Earle
with company from Sumter was
among the first to arrive on the scene,
and in the grey dawn Of that memora.
ole morning he was there with one
hundred stalwart men, who were arm
ed with Winchester rifles, and ready
FOR the fray. The withdrawal OF the
Wallace House ended the dread appre-
tensions OF the day.
In the election Of 1873 he was chosen
to represent Sumter County in the
House OF Representatives, and in 1882
he was elected to the State Senate,
where for four years he served with
ability and distinction. In 1880 he was
q delegate to the National Democratic
Convention in Cincinnati, which nomi-
mated Hancock for President, and in
1884 he was delegate to the conven-
tion which nominated Grover Cleve-
| nd nd ~.
on the committee to notify the candi-
dates OF their nomination, which was
done in the city Of Now York. He
worked faithfully in the campaig gn
which followed. and was an earnest
supporter OF Mr.. Cleveland at that
time.
In the campaign Of 1886 there was an
unusual degree OF Interested man.
ifested throughout the State in
regard to the choice OF State officers.
large element in the convention
fought vigorously for the promotion
OF young men who were imbued with
progressive ideas, and among those
who were relied upon was Senator
, Earle, who received the nomination
for Attorney General by u handsome
vote over the incumbent, Chas. Rich.
ardson Miles, an able lawyer and
polished gentleman. In the Office o
Attorney General, which he held for
four years, he made an unexampled
record, as the Office did not cost the
/. State a dollar for special counsel dur
ing the two terms. Every case was
, argued by the Attorney General, ex
copt where arrangements had beer
made prior to his Induction into office
and his legal ability was shown to bt
+ of the highest order.
q The State Democratic Convention O
\ 1888 develop,d d strong desire for s
change OF administration, contrary tt
r the precedents already established
@ that tho Governor should serve foui
q years, and the dissatisfied element
!, under the lead Of Capt. b. II. Tillman
V urged the nomination of Senator Earle
r for Governor as means of HARMONIC
e Ing the Democracy, which was deemet
s by many rs the best method for pre-
o venting the split that came two year
70 later. The selection of Senator Earl
as candidate to oppose Governo
iS Richardson WAS undoubtedly In accor,
o. with the views OF majority In tn
convention, and his nomination 70
y Governor was clearly withinshis gras
. when he arrived In Colpmbia the morn
. 'iuU the DDn v(.lltffso ~ IA to tnaat 4