The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1900-08-02
JAMES A. HOYT.
INTERESTING STORY OF A
WE'LL SPENT LIFE.
SOIaDIEk, GIi IZEN, CHRISTIAN
GENTIiENIAN

Political Record Of IL Fair.Niindc.l
and Sincere Patriot Moral
ahd Religious Record OF n Chris
tian Gentleman The Man who
Represents tho Principles of the
PrOhibittOnists OF South Carolina,
Written for The IorkviIlc Enquirer
James Alfred lIoyt was born October
1lth, 1887, in Wayncsboro, Virginia,
His father, j. Perkins lIoyt, was na.
tive OF New Hampshire and a jcwclcr by
health, and locating in Wayncsbor0, me
and married Miss Jane Johnson, II lady
OF the Virginia family of that name.
Colonel j. L. lloyt was highly cul
tured man, and for u time was editor OF
the Laurcnsville Herald, and of the
Anderson lntclligcnccr during the alb
renee of his son in the army.
From Virginia, the lloyt family moved
to Clarksvillc, Georgia, where they
lived for few years and thence went to
Laurens, 8. G., where young lIoyt grew
to manhood. TIL: cXigcncics Of life
compelled him to seek supper! for him
tered the office Of the Laurcnsvillc
Herald as an apprentice, and from that
time has been engaged in newspaper
work, with the exception of his army
service. When he was Is years old he
went to Anderson and became foreman
OF the Anderson Gazette. In less than
year he was editor of that paper He
continued as editor and part proprietor
until August, 1860, when he began the
publication of the Anderson Intelli-
gcncer, which has ever since been one
Of the leading weekly papers of the
State, except for temporary suspcn-
to f.li
and w. w. Humphreys We're in the
army.
In 1860, Hoyt was Il load ;ng spirit in
the organization of II mil Lia company
in Anderson Known as ihc "ra,mcttO
Ritlenfcn," and when the company vol
unteed the next year, he was its orderly
sergeant. The Palmetto Rillcmcn Inter
tered the States service April ii, 1861,
in tho Fourth South Carolina regiment,
under Colonel j. b. f.. Sloan, and in
about six weeks was mustered into the
Confederate service. The regiment was
at the front early and participated in the
first battle at Manassas Hoyt was with
the regiment in its memorable and he
roic defense Of tho Stone Bridge, and
subsequently was in al the principal
battles Of the Army OF Northern Vir-
ginia, except Charlottesville and Get
tysburg, in which his command was not
engaged.
At the reorganization in 1862, the
company became part Of the Palmetto
Sharpshootcrs under the gallant Jcnk-
ms, and after General Jenkins promo
ton, the commander was Colonel Joseph
Walker, Of Spartanbmrg. During the
second year OF this service, IIoyt was
"promOtcd to licutcnancy for gallant
and mcritorious cOnduc. on the field"
and afterwards served as adjutant Of his
regiment He was slightly wounded ut
Williamsburg, and more seriously at
FraZier's Farm. During this time he
also contracted severe case Of small
pOx and came very near dying. In 1861,
while returning from u sick furlough to
the army, he was placed in command Of
All extcmporized expedition Of wounded
and COnvalcsCcnt soldiers sent out from
Danvillc To check Wilson's Federal cay
airy at Staunton river bridge, which WAS
All important point in Lees line Of COM
Danvillc. The fight was y desperate
one in which Hoyt shared the RESPONSE
bility Of command with Captain Ridhick
and Colonel Coleman. Although the
Federals had vastly superior force,
the small and unorganizcd band Of Con-
fedcratGs defended the bridge until Gen
eral w. II. f. Lees cavalry came up.
Early in the fight, IIoyt WAS badly
wounded and disablcd but he refused
to leave the scene of action and remain
ed in command Of his detachment until
tho end. His GOODNESS under fire was
exhibited by the fact that after he was
disabled, in pain and bleeding, he calm.
ly smoked his pipe, which he now re.
tains rs a mennonite Of the day, having
long since given up the habit Of smok-
ing.
Colonel Hoyt's wound was in his left
leg, the small bone being so badly shat.
tered that it was rcscctcd, three inches
being taken out. From this wound he
still suffers almost constantly, and his
control Of the left foot being impcrfcct,
he now uses n crrtch.
When the surrender came, Hoyt was
in Anderson rccupcrating, and like so
many soldiers in his situation at that
time, he was protiered numerous indg.
mites by Shcrman's bummcrs and the
negro garrison which was sent to An.
dcrson.
AS soon as he was able to work, he
rcsurrcctcd The lntelligcnCer and began
the more peaceful duties Of life where
they had been interrupted. In January
1866, he WAS married to Nj iss Rcbccca g.
Webb, daughter of Elijah Webb, who
was one OF the most prominent citizens
and politicians of Anderson County
Colonel and Mrs. lloyt have four chill
dren.
The ten years following the wal
found Editor Hoyt still fighting fol
what he conceived to be the best inter
ests Of tho State, and he was very active
in the Reconstruction era. He ran fol
the State Senate in 1870 as q vicariou:
sacrifice and was defeated by 900 votes
He was member Of the copvcntiof
that nominated Carpcntur .and' Butler
but spoke against Carpcntcr's> nomina
ton, believing it unwisc. In 1871 ant
1874 he was u member of the TaXpay
ers' conventions from Anderson, and II
1874 he WAS mcnlbcr'of the executive
committee Of the convention and was
delegate from that: body to, Washington
and assisted in thc preparation of th'
famous memorial to Congress-.
In 1863 he stumpcd his county 70
Seymour and Blair; in 1872 he supportc'
Greeley, and, in fact, has always sup
ported the Democratic ticket in nationa
as well as State contests. In 1914, h
-. c.,. M.