Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-03-27

Scr1Der does not care 10 write ana Will
report the facts to US, we will under
take to present them to the depart
ment.
JrpGE WITHERSPOON DEAD.
Judge I. D. Witherspoon, one Of the
most prominent citizens Of York coun-
ty, and for many years Of an unusually
active public career, leader in the af-
fairs Of South Carolina, died at his
home in Yorkville last Sunday morn
ing at 3.15 o'clock. His death was not
unexpected. He had been suffering for
more than two weeks with an attack
Of grip complicated by pleurisy, and as
far back as last Thursday, the attend
ing physicians were able to see that
the case was hopeless.
Judge Witherspoon was a native of
York county. He was born in York
vile, on Feb. "a, 1888, and was named
for his father, Isaac Donom Wither-
spoon, who was Of the same family as
John Witherspoon, one Of the signers
of the Philadelphia declaration of in
dependence. He spent his boyhood In
Yorkville, attending the common
schools Of the village and vicinity, and
was here prepared for the South Caro-
| lima college, from which institution he
was graduated in 1854.
After his graduation from the South
Carolina college, I. D. Witherspoon
Jr., returned to Yorkville, and entered
the law office of his father, who was a
| lawyer Of distinction, not only in York;
but throughout the state. I. D. With
erspoon, Sr., was also a public man OF
much prominence. He was leader ir
the public affairs of the county and
had the support Of a powerful folloW-
ing that was ever willing to accept his
cial or political. These and others were
among the advantageous conditions
under which I. D. Witherspoon, Jr., be.
gan his life career.
After being admitted to the bar. I. D
Witherspoon, Jr., married Miss jeanette
Amelia Reese, Of West Point, Ca, or
the Alabama line. This was in the fal
Of 1855. He brought his bride to York,
vile, and established his home in the
residence now owned and occupied by
DR.. Miles Walker; but which had beer
| built by the deceased. The next year
August 10, 1856, Mrs. Witherspoon died
Of puerperal fever, and the happy home
Of the young husband was deserted.
After the death of his wife, Mr.
Witherspoon left Yorkville and went to
Montgomery, Ala, where he again be-
gan the practice Of law. He remained
in Montgomery until the death of his
father, which occurred at White Sui
phur Springs, Va, on the Goth Of July
1858, after which he returned to York
vile, and in the following October
formed law partnership with the late
Colonel w. B. Wilson, who had been in
partnership with I. D. Witherspoon,
Sr. This partnership continued fol-
several years and was dissolved by
mutual consent.
Mr.. Witherspoon was again married
on March 13, 1861, his second wife be-
ing Miss Margaret E. Wright, daugh-
ter Of the late ]. Leslie Wright, of
this county. Two children were born
to this union-Mr. William I. Wither-
spoon and Miss Leslie D. Wither-
spoon, both Of whom survive unmar-
ried, and are now at home comforting
their widowed mother in their common
bereavement.
Married in March, on August 20, fol-
lowing, Mr.. Witherspoon was elected
junior second lieutenant of Company
A, 18th regiment South Carolina volun-
teers. He accepted the commission
and shortly afterward went to the
front with his company. After some
active service on the coast, he resigned
his lieutenancy to accept a position as
post commissary in Columbia and con-
tinued in this service until the close
of the war.
The most conspicuous service Of the
deceased to his county and state began
in 1876, and continued over a dozen or
more years. following. Completely
overrun politically, by carpetbaggers,
Negroes and white adventures, there
was but little in the existing state of
affairs to encourage the people Of this
state to hope that a successful revOlu-
tion would be possible. Above all, as
condition precedent to the undertake
ing, there was a need for men Of the
right kind to push forward the move
ment. Political leadership against the
powers that were. was not an honor to
be sought after in those days. Major
James F. Hart undertook the guidance
of the reform forces, as county
chairman. There was every pros
pect Of failure, and but few chances
Of success. Success held out but
few inducements in the shape of
immediate reward, while failure was
subject to all of its usual attendant
penalties. A good, strong, able and
conservative man was needed to make
the race for state senator. More than
one leading citizen was urged and per-
suaded to undertake the work; but in
vain. It Is fair to say that Mr.. With
erspoon was not anxious to enter up
on the fearful task. He understood
full we'll what he would have to do,
and how success was possible only
with the united help Of all the white
citizens. But at length he consented.
and such a political fight as followed
had never been seen in York before, nor
has it's like been seen since. OF course
the candidate for senator did not do it