The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-05-12
THE EBENEZER SECTION.
ANOTHER GOOD CITIZEN OF
A GOOD COMMUNITY.
Francis Marion Kay. HOnored
and Esteemed by Every One.

Francis Marion Kay. HOnored
and Esteemed by Every One.
Mr.. Editor: Francis Marion Kay, though
not so prominent in public life as Col. John
Martin and Rev. A. Rice, yet like them
contributed largely to the prosperity and
| popularity of the Ebenezer section of An
derson county. He was the eldest son of
Gabriel and Mary Kay, nee Clinkscales,
| and was born near Broadmouth church, in
| Abbeville county, on the 22nd day of May,
1916. When he was a small boy his father
moved from Abbeville into the Ebenezer
neighborhood, where he grew to manhood
and afterwards lived and died.
His was quite an extensive family connec-
ton on both sides, as I presume all the Rays
in Abbeville and Anderson counties are
more or less related and then his mother,
being a Clinkscales, brought him into con.
nection with that very extensive and re-
spectacle family. At a reunion of the latter
family a year or two ago, Col. John G..
Clinkscales made o speech in which he
humorously said he had often read and
heard of Adam, but never knew his sur
name until he came to trace back the
Clinkscales family, and then found that it
yas "Clinkscales"-tdam Clinkscales be-
ing the elder ancestor.
+. NJ. Kay, the subject of this sketch, was
rather of a quiet and unassumlng DISPOSE
ton, and consequently never aspired to or
sought public office of any kind. AS a
matter of accommodation to his %neighbors
he held the Office of postmaster, at his own
house, for some length of time before the
war. The name of the office was Orrville.
In addition to the oversight of his farm, his
life work was that of a blacksmith, and not
only one of the best. but the best ever
saw. have often watched him as he put
his labor and skill on q piece of metal,
seemed as if he knew exactly. where ana
how to strike il so as not to give one lick
more, nor one less, than was really neces-
sary to perfect the thing desired. AS evil
dence of his skill, he left his family quite a
number of well-made and nicely-polished
tools of various sorts and sizes.
He was twice married. The first time to
Miss Rebecca Manning, a daughter of
ESQUIRE Manning, and sister of Rev. 10.
seph Manning, q ~well-known local preacher
of that section. To this union were born
two sons and four daughters, several OF
whom are still living in the county. His
second marriage was to Miss Mary e.. Pratt,
of Abbeyille county, II bore him seven
children, four sons and three daughters, all
of whom are now living in this and ad.
joining counties, except one son who died
in young manhood a few years ago.
NJ Tou wao pnpvprtn6 and 1nlnpQ The
Methodist church at Ebenezer early in life,
a relation ne we'll maintained until he en-
tered the church triumphant. He took
much delight in religious services, and
greatly enjoyed q good sermon, under
which the big tears could often be seen
rolling down his cheeks. AS the Rev. MIR.
Tyler used to say, a few such earnest and
devoted men as that in C congregation
would make a preacher preach himself to
death.
Mr.. Kay was a very quiet, peaceable,
kind and sympathetic %neighbor. Free him
self from q spirit of bitterness and meal-
the close of the wal he went into camp
with the old men on the coast Of South
Carolina, and remained there three months.
As he was the only blacksmith in a very
large section of the county, he was dis
charged from the army on a petition OF the
people.
From this time on he continued to work
at his ~favorite occupation until 1887, when
he had to retire on account OF failing
health and on the 2lst day Of October of
that year, after q lingering illness and much
suffering for several months, he died.at his
home where for more than half a century
he had lived. His remains were laid to
rest in Ebenezer cemetery, where he had
witnessed and assisted in many buryingss,
and where sleep the dust of many of his
loved ones. The funeral services ere con-
Quoted by the late Rev. w. A. Hodges in
the presence of numerous relatives and
fr;ondc Senrab.