The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1901-03-29
JUDGE WITHERSPOON
DIES AT Y0RKVILLE.
"a CHRISTIAN GEN rLEM AN. a TRUE
NOBLEMAN."
Deeply Mourned at Iiis Home - Bril- I
Sketch OF His Public SERVICES to His
State in Several Capacities
Special to The State.1

fully away at 3 o'clock this morning
after an illness of twelve days with
pleurisy. His death was as calm a,
the slumbering of babe upon the
breast Of it's mother. His age was
68 years. Judge Witherspoon wat
an elder Of the First Presby tpriat
church at this place, Christian gen
tleman and true, nobleman. N,
worthy objact of charity or benevo.
lent was turned away by him and in
his legal practice he never refused
to give advice on account of the
poverty of the applicant. During
the dark days Of '7G he was the lead
or Of this county in the redemption
Of the State from Radical rule. H.
was beloved by this community and
his decease falls heavy upon us. He
leaves widow and two children,
Miss Lessie and Dr.. William 1. With
erspoon, Of Sheffield, Ala, with a
large circle Of relatives and many
friends to mourn his departure.
ISAAC DoNNoM wITHERspooN.
Isaac Donnom Witherspoon was
born in York aud was ono of the sons
Of the Hon. Isaac Donnom Wither.
spoon, who was for many years sena.
tor from York district and one of the
leaders in State politics. His mother
was Miss Reid, of North Carolina
He belonged to the historic family
Of Witherspoons, of which the Rev.
John Witherspoon Of Princeton col
lege, signer of the Declaration Of
Independence, was one Of the most
conspicuous members, aud Robert
Witherspoon, congressman from
South Carollua another Tue young
Donnom Witherspoon entered the
South Carolina college and gredu.
ated in 1854 along with James
Lowndes, Benjamin II. Stuart, j. H
Brooks, Hayne McMeekiu, Rev. j. r
Riley, former judge G. p. Townsend,
j. H. Whitner and others. Then he
pursued the study of law, and on his
admission to the bar entered into
partnership with the late VIM. B.
Wilson, and the firm practiced with
great success.
At the beginning of the war. Judge
Witherspoon enlisted in the Twelfth
regiment and served untll delicate
health caused transfer to the branch
Of the treasury department of the
Confederacy stationed in Columbia.
York County was spared by the
federal armies. but suffered worse
devastation, if possible, in 1871 and
1872 because of the brutal Ku KIux
raids of the federal troops, when
Major Merrill, an officer 10 the
United States army, received $500
re >ard for the arrest Of every al.
legged Ku Klux, Innocent or guilty.
Judge Witherspoon had his hands
full assisting his friends and clients.
Not for years did the county recover
from this draggonnade.
In 1876 a determined effort was
made to throw off the Radical yoke
in York. judge Witherspoon was
nominated for senator by the Dsmo-
Gratis and after stirring canvass
was elected with tho Legislative and
county Tickets. He came to Colnm-
bia and was Of great service as one
OF the Democratic lenders in the
senate in which the Republicans had
IL members and the Democrats IL,
and were trying to seat Senators
Gary, Todd and Maxwell, besides
placing Lieutenant Governor Simp.
son over the senate. The struggle
was long, but was attended with sue
cess at last. After Senator Jrter
became acting governor, Judge With
erspoon was chosen president pro
tom Of the senate and served az such
until he was elected Judge of the
, Sixth circuit in place of the unique
Thomas j. Mackey. He had prr.
viously formed a partnership with
Charles g. Spencer which was now
dissolved. After SOL ,ing several
terms, Judge Witherspoon volun.
tarily retired to private life and re-.
sumed the practice of law. He was
actively engaged at the bar at the
time of his death.