The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1900-12-20
E&. SENATOR JOHN IL. NJ. IItBE

a Remarkable Career Ended in tho
Very t.rImn of ManhJod-He " ~
the Organizer Who Gave Bran
and lmpe, TO the Reform Move.
ment.
Col. John l.. M. Irby, former United
States Senator, Il prominent lawyer
and distinguished ciLizrn OF this State
died at his home in Luurcns on The
9th Inst, In the l7th year OF his age.
John .Iaurens Manning lrby WAS bul
| 46 years old, having been born Ia Lau
rens, Sept. 10, 1854. His father wa.
Col. James IL. Troy, q distinguished
South CarOlinian, who for years repre-.
sented Laurens County in the S at,
Senate and was later lieutenant Cover
nor, at the time John l.. Manning WAS
governor. Oa account OF the friend.
ship OF these two, the lieutenant gov.
! ernor named his son for Gov. Manning
The younger Irby's mother was Nj iss
Henrietta Earle, u daughler of another
distinguished South Carolina family.
Senator Irby was thus near relative
of his successor In the United States
Senate, the late Judge Josoph Ell
Earle. Both of these VINO immediately
succeeded Wade Hampton have passed
away, while the grand old Confederate
chieftain survives them.
Senator lrby spent his boyhOod al
the old lrby homestead in Laurens
This is picturesque sp0t--a grove OF
ten acres surrounding q mansion Of col.
onial design, built In the early part of
the century. The dimensions OF the
Irby home are Identical with those OF
Solomon's temple. Irby Hill overlook t
heycity Of Laurens. and the to,pitallty
OF Its board has been enjoyed by many
Senator Irby and his taIher before him
were lavish entertainers.
The deceased was man OF superio,
education as we'll as Of keen judgmen,
and strong intellect. He was prepared
for college at the local schools and
afterwards attended the University or
Virginia and Princeton. In 1876, u
memorable year in State history, h
was admitted to the bar after reading
the present lief justloe OF the suprem,
court OF South Carolina, and Joshua Il.
Hudson, ex.judge.
His first venture In the practice Of
law was In the city Of Lauren: with w
l.. Gray, E.q,Ias his partner. L,tei
ne was associated with joseph II. j ohn
son, Congressman elect. Young Irby
entered with enthusiasm into The q ca,
campaign which broke down tho rule
of the r0bber barons OF tho radical
party and placed Wade Hampton a.
the head Of the State government. He
was o lieutenant colonel on Gov. Hamp-
toms staff In 1878 he practically gave
up the law to look after his extensive
farming interests.
Irby took no active part In State pol
itics until 1886 when he was elect, d to
the House. This was st a season Of
political disquietu1e. Capt B. II. Till.
man having the summer before sOwed
the seeds Of discord In his memorable
speech at Bennettsville. In 1883 Irby
was returned to the House, ana again
Ia 1890. His political career may be
said 10 date from that latter year. For
1t was then that the Reform movement
was tnaugurated and without Irby it
could not have bnen as successful as it
was. He was tho motive power In the
March convention OF 1890, which noIai-
mated Tillman for governor.
a OiOgr8pher- In writing of this pe.
riod OF his life says "All the forces
which contributed to this political up.
heAval were concentrated at the March
convention. This convention wes q
practical declaration OF war upon OK.
isting political Institutions"
"Egerythlng that could eecuro sue.
cees wac present and all that was need.
ed was that all the elements should be
fused or crystali2 2ed. 1T was st the
most critical moment In the proueed-
ings Of the March convention that
lrby Grst appeared as q master of
poll ttteal tact and organizer of victory.
Notwithstanding that revolution was
intended by this convention, it mar.
rosW'ly escaped passing into history as