Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-03-30
Mistellanepns Reading.
JOSEPH JAMESON,
Nearly a Centenarian.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.

Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
The name which appears as the
caption of this article will, no doubt,
call up long forgotten memories to the
older inhabitants of York county.
During the early part of the present
century, Mr.. Jameson was a citizen
of the county and identified with her
interests and as a farmer quietly pur-
suing his vocation but the tide of en-
migration turning attention to the
advantages of settlement in the Far
West, and in the hope of bettering his
temporal estate, he, then (1S45) a man
in middle life, resolved to seek his for
tune along with others then settling
out west, and after weary weeks of
travel by wagon, came to the fertile
valleys and healthful hills of northern
Mississippi, where he located, and
since then he has been a permanent
citizen of this state.
While Mr.. Jameson does not enjoy
the extensive reputation OF some, is
perhaps hardly known beyond the
limits of the communities in which be
has resided, and there is nothing ma
terially to distinguish his career from
many others, yet his remarkable Ion
gevity and the interest which it is
supposed York couDtians may have in
brief outline of the life of worthy
son who is nearly as old as the CEN
tury, is the sufficient excuse for this
sketch.
On the 9Th of February of this pres
ent year, Mr.. Jameson passed the 9Th
milestone of his earthly pilgrimage.
For several years past, with some de-
gree of regularity, his many friends
and kindred in this neighborhood have
been accustomed to honor the annual
occasion by gathering at his house and,
with him parlaking of sumptuous
dinner, previously prepared by the
several guests for the event. The last
birthday was not an exception, only
The celebration was had on the 5lh,
for the 9th fell on the Sabbath day.
He is nearly, if not quite, the Oldest
|inhabitant of this section of country,
and though so advanced in years, is
quite active, and enjoys tolerably good
health.
"Uncle Joe," as he is familiarly call
ed, is of Scotch Irish Presbyterian an
cestry. His paternal grandparents
were natives of the Emerald Isle.
They were not married, however, in
Ireland, nor did they cross the water
at the same time. Indeed, we suspect
young Jamieson-for he was mere lad
when he left the old country-had
about that time concluded that the
question, sis marriage failure ?" was
correctly answered only in the affirm
alive, and especially 50 when it affiict-
ed lad of his parts with an undesira-
BILE stepmother. His father, after the
death of the lads mother, had married
again; but the new mother was not
satisfactory 10 young Jamison. Per.
haps the father did not consult the son
about this important matter, perhaps
the son refused to adjust himself to
the new relation but, at all events,
the new mother and son got on badly.
1t fell on a day, when the father was
away, that the pentup rage of the son
overcome him, and in all evil moment
he struck her. What the last straw
was that broke the camel's back of his
patience we do not know; but as in
most cases of the sort it was doubtless
Just a straw, and for which he was
probably in large measure responsible.
He was not slow to realize the inevita-
BILE consequences of bis deed, directly
his father returned. Nor was he slow
to conclude that immediate flight
would be the part of prudence, and
accordingly sailed by the first oppor.
tunity for America. A stranger and
penniless upon his arrival in this coun-
try, he hired to Presbyterian minis
ter in Pennsylvania to pay his ocean
passage.
He was subsequently married in that
state, and in 1854 he and wife came
south to Chester county, S. c., remov-
ing all their effects by packhorse.
Here a son was born to them but
about this time they removed into
York county, settling in the Broad riv-
er section, where the son was chiefly
"raised." The son-Uncle Joe's faith.
er-although quite young, fired with
patriotic sentiments of the times, en-
listed in the service of the Revolution
ary army, and bravely fought for lib
erty and independence. His marriage
took place after the close of the war,
and of the children that were born to
them, only Uncle Joe still survives.
Mr.. Jameson first saw the light at
Blairsvile, on February 6, 1901, as al
ready stated. He was child of ordi-
nary talents; but his opportunities OF
mental culture were in those early
days necessarily limited. His Scotch
Irish blood made him at an early age
independent in thought and self:reli-
ant, which, at least on one occasion,
put him at a disadvantage. He was
going to school. The curriculum OF
public schools at that time consisted
chiefly of the Bible, which was the
reader for the most advanced, and a
paddle, on one side of which were
pasted the spells of the small children,
and which served the essential double
purpose, at limits, of light and heat
Joseph was in the Bible Reader class,
and appreciated his advancement as
only a youth can. His father was moi
so sanguine over his attainments, and
decided to test his sons knowledge OF
.t. - ,ood h., n ,,arcopol oyomi ina