Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-01-05


ite sister married to William Ervir
and though bitterly opposed to tn
match, he afterward became much at
tached to his brother-in-law; and Il
his family met the romance Of his life
which, more for the interest Of m
young readers than an incident Of hi
life, narrate. His reconciliation wit
Erwin, too, is characteristic of tn
times in which they lived. At a larg
public meeting, common bully, VIII
had a drunken spite against Ross, wen
through the crowd, frequently in clos
hearing Of Ross, saying with loud an
insolent oaths, Gentleman Ross wa
no gentleman, and he could whip him.!
This, of course, was very annoying to ;
bold, high-spirited man, but the fellow
was beneath his notice. and his onl.
refuge was dignified silence. Now
William Erwin. in his younger days
was a wild, drinking man, generou
and brave. Although his brother-in
law had never been friendly with him
he was his wife's brother. He did no
choose to allow such indignity to be Of
fered him in public. His Irish wa
up" and he wasn't afraid to fight th'
boasting bravo, which he did, giving
him a good, sound thrashing, making
him leave the assemblage and go quiet
ly home.
Ross, though above noticing the in
science of the man himself, was mucl
relieved to be rid Of it, and apprecia
ted the generous temper which per
formed the act, looked up Erwin, shool
hands, and accompanied him home tina
night to see his sister. And there HI
met Mrs. Graham, the sister Of hi:
Erwin. She was an un
beautiful and attractive wo
man, and more than three years before
had been married to John Graham, al
uncle Of Governor Graham, Of Nortf
Carolina. They had lived very happi
ly for six or eight months after theil
marriage, when the season arrived a.
which he was in the habit of taking
cattle on to Philadelphia for sale. HI
made his arrangements and started tt
1.-The Norrard," as our old settlers called
it, with a fine drove, and he was never
heard of again. His wife was young
and beautiful, and Of a most pleasant
disposition. They had lived agreeablJ
together, and everything combined tt
make home attractive. AS weeks or
weeks went by, and still no tidings o.
him, his friends were forced to conclude
he had, on his road home, been murder
ed for the money he obtained In Phila'
delphia; for such murders were not un'
frequent in those early days Of oul
countrys settlement. At length, too
the young wife gave up hope, believed
this solution Of his disappearance, anc
by her brothers kindly hearth-stone
found, in her early widowhood a home
Frank Ross became acquainted witt
Ler on his first visit to his sisters
house, and was soon captivated by hel
beauty and gentleness. Nor was she
proof against the attractions Of Gen
tleman Frank Ross. The avenues o.
her heart again opened, and love enter
ed in mastery there. She consented tt
marry him; but an unexpected obstacle
presented itself-the bitter opposition
Of Mrs. Erwin, who would not hear o.
her brother marrying a woman whose
husband might be alive. Yielding fol
the present, Ross by no means relin
quished the idea Of making Mrs. Ora
ham his wife. At the end Of three
years, he again renewed his suit, fol
the seven years Of absence Of Graham
made it legal for his wife to marry; bu
Mrs. Erwin could not accept this com
mon rule and overcome her feelings
still insisting they ought not to be uni
ted, without proof Of the husband!
death. Susie Graham's tender con
science had experienced more than ont
prick at the new affection, which hat
at first, unawares, grown in her breast
and she yielded to the prejudices Of he
sister-in-law, rather than to the en-
treaties of her lover, and finally dis
carded Frank Ross. He afterwart
At the beginning of the Revolution
he espoused the cause of the Whie
party, and wasan active partizan leader
up to the time of his death. His frs
service was in the "Snew campaign" II
the winter of 1775-76. In the summer o.
ITS, he commanded a battalion from
York, which was in the "Keowee expe
dition," and in the spring of ITS, II
command of a battalion of cavalry
ioined Colonel Hammond and his ''ligh
horse" near Augusta. On the morning
of the 29th of March, five miles east o.
Rockey Comfort, they attacked a part!
of Cherokees. Nine Indians were killed
and some white men who were dressed
as savages, (three Cherokees and three
whites) captured. The rest fled ant
saved themselves; but here MAJOR KOS!
received a mortal wound in his abdo
men. From MS. journal of Genera
Joseph Graham, of North Carolina, we
make the following extract: 1.-THE
brave Major Frank Ross died of hi:
wounds the 31st of March, and wa:
buried with military honors the 1st o
April in sight Of, and opposite to, Au
gusta. on the Carolina side"
Major Frank Ross was more than sl9
feet in height, Of muscular frame
and weighed above 200 pounds; hat
dark hair, eyes and complexion. of no
BILE presence and commanding port. HI
was cut off in the meridian of life, be-
ing only about 35 years of age, at th'
time of his death. He left three sons
little lads, when he was killed-Jame:
Alexander and William.
A faithful Negro, belonging to theil
father from boyhood, (whose name, a:
he was we'll known and respected II
Iorkville, in my recollection, shall b.
recorded in these "reminiscencesD go
ing always under the soubriquet o.
Cracker Tom," managed their plan
tatlon after his masters death, work
ing himself as well as making other:
do it by force of example combined
with authority, and during all the mi
nority of the young Rosses-mak1nt
the finest crops. keeping everything. II
order on the premises, and proving
himself worthy the confidence reposet
in him. When Alexander and William
removed from the homestead Of thel