The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-06-07

the State will be closed out OF respect
to the deceased.
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE
Willism q. Elle.be, who vas inaug.
urated as governor of South Carolina
for the first term January 18. 1897,
being elected by as almost unanimous
vote. vas at tba. time ooe Of the young
est men who had ever bald the position.
being jus. 81 years of age. His home
was in Marion county, and be had
lived there always except while attend
log college and serving as comptroller
general.
Governor Ellerbe vas practical
farmer, and in his early youth bis hands
we're hardened By constant contract with
the plow and hoe handles. He always
applied himself steadily to his business,
aud Was very successful in his chosen
pursuits, and whilst it VAS not necessary
sitter he reached manhood's estate that
be should engage in the nanusl labor
Of the farm be vas fully qualified for
work Of .oy kind th.. should be found
necessary,
Governor Ellerbs went from . com.
mon. school in his own county to Vol
ford college at Spastsnburg, bu. before
srsdaasiog there Be. entered Vanderbilt
University. Ga account OF i'll health
be. ~. prevented .trom 6nishiog his
coarse at the latter institution. aud re-
tursine 70 his home, took up tho pur-
suis Of farming - his life work.
In the memorable campaign OF
1899 the Same convention that nomi.
mated Capt. B. 3 Tillmsn for gov
srnor, and in which the Rsformess,
Of course, were largely in the major.
ity, these were two men nominated
for comptroller general. Messrs-
Stokes and Ellerbe, TIE latter being =
smooth faced young man, very boy
ish in appearance and entirely un-
known in politics. He was regarded
by his friends as . moderate Reform
er. His opponent was much more
extreme partisan. The vote showed
Ellerbe's opponent to be in the lead,
but at the solicitation of Columbia
newspaper man four of the Richland
delegation changed their vote before
the result was announced, and Mr..
Ellerbe was nominated by . small
majority. He did not make speech
in that campaign.
In 1892 Mr. Elierbe wss renomi-
mated and elected comptroller. This
important Office. for the four years he
was as Ito head. was acknowledged
on OH sides to have been ably, bon.
estly and impartially conducted.
In 1894 they had what Was called
= Reform primary-a scheme to let
Reformers choose their candidates
and shutting out Conservatives Mr..
Ellerbe entered this % . candidate
for governor sgainst Evans, Tindal
and Pope he was opposed to the
plan which shut him off from the
support Of oil the people. but in the
conditions then existing he was
helpless: The result of the contest
was the nomination of John Gary
Evans A free for oil primary would
hare undoubtedly resulted in the
cho;nA ~ Eltnrha
In the summer Of 1896 Mr. Elierbe
once again announced himself. . can.
didate for governor and received
seventy-odd thousand votes %
against 1900 as the combined
strength of Messrs Harrison and
Whitmsn, although Senator Harrison
was . man of considerable political
strength in the State.
Governor Ellerbe assumed the
gubernatorial duties with q large
following Of all classes. more than
any governor has had since Governor
Richardson's retirement, and every
one predicted for him cafe and
prosperous administration.
Time rolled on The Charleston
metropolitan police force and other
too numerous to men
,ics, characterized his administration.
He bad hard time of it from first to
last
Then the campaign last summer
came on The governor stood for
re election The story Of that cam
psign is still fresh in the minds Of
aIl Governor Ellerbe attended prac
tically all the campaign meetings.
and really broke himself down Then
came the close election, the second
primary, after several days Of doubt,
assuring him Of second term The
race between the governor and Mr.
Feasherstone was one of the closest
and most exciting ever known in the
4 Al At