The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-10-26
DHATH OF FAGAN MARTIN.
The Aged Philosopher is At Rest-He
Has Gone to Hie Reward at Peace With
All Mankind

The Aged Philosopher is At Rest-He
Has Gone to HE Reward at Peace With
All Mankind.
Tho Groenvillo Mountaineer.
For some weeks it has been certain
that the slender thread Of life would be
quickly loosened, and that the spirit Of
Pagan Martin would be freed from the
clayey tenement and wing it's flight to
another world. No. ono knew this fact
better thar himself, and with calm re-
signation he awaited the last hour,
which came to him at 10 o'clock Wednds.
day night. He was 70 years Of age, and
had toiled increasingly from his youth
never complaining that his lot was cast
in humble paths or that his portion was
poverty instead Of riches He enjoyed
life in his own way, and down to old
age he was q keen observer Of men and
things, quantity humorous in his say
ings and using sarcasm when he liked.
He was a native Of Lincolnton, N. c.,
and learned tho printers trade at that
place. His education was limited, but
he made good use Of the advantages to
be acquired in newspaper office, and
throughout life he was feeding upon
tho current news and issues of the day,
80 that he had largo store of informa-
tion and his memory was unusually cx-
cellent.
Pagan Martin came to Greenvillo more
than fifty years ago and went to work
on tho Greenville Mountaineer, when
1t was owned by MIR. o. H. Wells, tho
father Of the late Capt. G.. q. Wells.
He remained here for six or eight years :,
and in 1867 became tho publisher of the
True Carolinian at Anderson, which
was owned and edited by Col. John V.
Moore, who was killed at the Second
Manassas in command of the 2nd s. G.
Rifles. Pagan remained at Anderson
for several years until the True Caro-
linian was discontinued, and went with
the printing Office to Pendleton, where
the material was used in the publication
Of the Pendleton Messenger, revived by
the son Of the former publisher, Dr..
Symmes. The, Office was afterwards
transferred by young symmos to Hart
we'll, Ca, where the paper was con-
tinued under the name Of the Hartwell
Messenger, and ceased to exist when the.
war began in 1851. Pagan Martin was
an important part Of the newspapers
with which he was connected in Andcr-
son, Pendleton and Hartwell, and he
contributed regularly to their columns
In the way Of locals and corrcsron.
dence, always enlivening his writings
with spicy sayings and quaint deliver
ances upon current topics. In those
days ho seldom took tho trouble to write
out his thoughts and convictions, but
would compose an article and put 1t
into type at the same time, an improve.
mont even upon stenography and type.
writing.
Pagan was q Confederate soldier, and
served faithfully in tho Bloody Six
which was his favorite term
for tho rogiment raised in this county
by Col. @: j. Elford. and afterwards
by Col. James Mccullough.
Some years after the war he settled tho
place whore he died, and began to raise
fruits and vegetables, which he sold to
the people OF Greenvillo, and which was
his dependence for a living when old ago
compelled him to quit the printing bust
ness, bat he stuck to the "case" 80 long
as he was able to do fair work. Ho
frequented the printing offices with
great regularity, and found good custo-
mers among his own craft when he
brought fruit to sell. He wrote con-
.antly for tho Greenvllle News, and