Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-03-02
of his nativity changed by new sur
vey, it is probable she got the facts re-

of his nativity changed by new sur
vey, it is probable she got the facts re-
versed.
A portion of York district formerly
belonged to North Carolina It formed
g. portion Of q county called Tryon
which also included the present coun-
ties of CASTOR, Lincoln, Catawba, etc..
in it's boundaries. The court house OF
Tryon was located near where the road
from Salisbury to Smiths ford, on
Broad river now crosses the road from
Yorkville to Lincolnton, known as the
Kings Mountain" road" For this To-
cality I am indebted to Rev. 8. L. Wat
son; but neither he nor can designate
the points Of lines which then formed
the boundary between North and South
Carolina.
Judge Smith received the first ele-
ments Of his Latin under DR.. Alexan-
der but finished his course within the
time-honored walls Of Mount Zion co.,
lege, Winnsboro. That he was man
of the first order Of intellect, the va
rious positions Of eminence to which he
was preferred, undoubtedly prove. His
career furnishes to young men q most
encouraging example, portraying the
effect Of ambition, energy, persever-
ance and sobriety. His parents were
happily able to give him good educa-
tion and profession. His further patri-
mony was but good advice and bless
ing. Two young men who were his con-
temporaries-Simon Taylor and Bob
Hill-dashed about in their sulkies on
the circuit, while Smith rode a chunk
Of horse, carrying saddle-bags filled
with law books. In the race Of life,
now far he ran ahead! They were the
sons of wealth and had not the stimu-
lus Of an empty purse to spur them on
and call out every faculty to gain the
goal. True, in the beginnings there
was little promise in the young lawyer,
Of the future brilliancy Of his career.
He was wild and dissipated. Suddenly
he was brought to consider and mend
his ways.
Galloping his horse at full speed one
day, he came to the forks Of the road.
He wished to take one-the horse the
other. The result was the animal ran
up against a tree, the force Of the
shock throwing both to the ground
the rider apparently lifeless. The ef-
fort to restore consciousness by the
companions Of his ride, were, for some
time without effect. At last animation
was restored, but the injury received
was a serious one, conflning him for
sometime; but he found the bed Of pain
profitable for it brought him to him
SELF"
At the very time he got his hurt he
was determined to leave South Carroll
ma, in consequence Of trouble got into
through his misdemeanors, and had
matured his plans to do 80. He was
thus prevented from carrying out his
design, his season Of reflection chang
ed his course, he determined on better
things and new way Of living. He
was q man ever able to abide by a firm
resolve, and a long tide Of success re-
warded the arduous study and temper
ance Of his after life.
For many years Judge Smith was g
member of the legislature from York
and at the time Of his election as Judge
in 1908, filled the position Of president
of the senate In 1916 he was first
elected to the United States senate. In
1922 he was defeated by Robert Y.
Hayne for the United Stats senate.
His York friends showed their sympa-
thy and confidence by returning him
at their next election, a member for
the house of representatives; and the
following years in the house, he took
Prioleau's resolutions and changed
them.
In 1926 Judge Smith was again elect
ed to the the United States SEN
ate to fill the unexpired term of
John Gaillard. The doctrine Of null
liflcation, about this time, became
the popular one of South Carolina,
and Judge Smith being an un-
compromising Union man, was again
superseded in 183O-this time by Ste
phen D. Miller. His friends in the dis
trict of York, to soothe his wounded
ambition, elected him to the state sem
ate.
think Of Judge Smith as one of the
bitterest politicians I ever knew. His
temper, naturally dogmatical, was
soured by the constant defeats OF his
party. He hated Mr.. Calhoun with bit
ter animosity and felt that honors Of
fered to the latter by the state, were
insults to himself. His affections were
finally so alienated from the people of
South Carolina he removed from the
limits Of the state and found a home
in Alabama, where, some years earlier,
he had transferred the greater part of
his property.
In many essentials Judge Smith was
kind man, a pleasant neighbor, a
Ihospitable gentleman, and a good COM
panion to those he liked; but implica-
BILE in his prejudices and unforgivins
in his enmities. One Of Johnson's good
haters, but true as steel in friendship.
1t was while at DR.. Alexander's g
school he formed an attachment to
William H. Crawford, which friend
ship remained intact during their lives.
After the contest for the presidency
in 1924, when Adams, Jackson, Clay
and Crawford all entered the arena,
an article published in the papers, quite
humorous in tone delineating the race
as one of a jockey club course, caught
the mood Of the people, and was read
and referred to constantly. Smith,
then residing at Pinckneyyille, Union