Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-09-28
BILLY CORKILL DEAD.

BILLY COhhlLL DEAD.
Mr.. William M. Corkill, the we'll
known auditor of Chester county,
died at his home in Chester last
Saturday morning at 9 o'clock, after
an illness of about nine weeks.
The immediate cause of Mr.. Corkill's
death was gastritis, the result of q
minnie ball which he received in his
side at the battle of Seven Pines, and
which has caused him intense suffering
ever since. Several efforts were made
by surgeons at different times to re-
move this troublesome ball but with.
out success. Often, previous to his
death, Mr.. Corkill was confined to his
bed on account of it for weeks.
Mr.. Corkill was born in Columbia in
1912, of English parents. His parents
removed to Yorkville in 1874, aud his
father, Thomas Corkill, who was q
blacksmith by trade, died here in 1S46
His mother, Mrs. Catharine Corkill
still lives in Chester.
Mr.. Corkill was a printer by trade
having served his apprenticeship un'
der the late R. w. Murray, of Ches'
ter. He worked at various towns in
North and South Carolina, and fol
several years previous to his removal
to Chester, was composition on THE
ENQUIRER. Notwithstanding the con.
stant annoyance of his wound, on ac'
count of which he was not able to
stand on his feet long at time, he
was remarkably rapid and correct in
his work.
He. removed to Chester about the
year 1882, and in 1884 was recommep'
ded in the primary by an oyerwhelm,
ing majority, for appointment as au.
ditor. He filled the Office so we'll and
satisfactorily to the people of Chester,
that they continued him in the posi-,
ton. He laid on sick bed during the
last campaign, and was unable to make
the canvass and although one of bis
competitors was as strong a man as
can be found in the county for the
position, he again received the nomi-
nation.
Though man of much information,
Mr.. Corkill's educational advantages
were largely confined to what he was
able to learn in the printing office.
But all that he did was thorough.
His handwriting was miseraLly poor.
When the comptroller general first
saw specimen of it, shortly after his
original appointment, that official
was disgusted. He openly announced
that Chester's auditor was totally in
competent. But that was before the
comptroller general knew whereof he
spoke. Afterward the unusual cor
rectness and thoroughness of Mr..
Corkill's work forced themselves to
his attention, and he changed his mind.
From that day to this, each succeed
ing comptrolled general has been will
ing to testify that Mr.. Corkill was one
of the most efficient auditors in the
state.
And Mr.. Corkill was a man. He
was q Christian gentleman, the like Of
which there are not many. He had q
kindly word and a kindly feeling for
everybody, and one golden character
istic in which he excelled, was that Of
attending strictly to his own business.
Except when the business of other
people concerned him, he let it strictly
alone. 1t was this more than anything
else, probably, for which the people Of
Chester appreciated him so highly.
Mr.. Corkill leaves a widow, four
daughters and two sons. He has been
able to give his children good educa.
tional advantages, and those that are
old enough are filling responsible posi-
tions.
The funeral took place from the
Baptist church, of which Mr.. Corkill
was a member, last Sunday. Almost
the entire town turned out on the oc.
casion. The funeral procession was
nearly mile in length, and scarcely
more than a third of the people were
able TO get in the church.
Mr.. Corkill was a noble man. The
people of Chester and friends else
where who were acquainted with the
deceased, join their sincerest sympa,
thies with the bereaved family in
n locc