The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1901-04-04
HON. ISAAC d. WITHERSP DON
"A Christian Gentleman and
True Nob1eman "--Sketch of His

Lite.
Ex Judge Isaac D. Withcrspoon, of
Iorkville, passed peacefully away on
Sunday morning Gath inst, after an
Illness of twelve days with pleurisy.
! The lorkville correspondent Of The
State says that /" his death was as calm
as the slumbcring of babe upon the
breast Of its mother. His age was 65
years. Judge Withcrspoon was an cl-
der of the First Presbyterian church at
TINS place, Christian gentleman and
lrue' noble man. No worthy object
charity or bencvolcncc was turned ava v
by him. and in his legal practice he
never refused to give advice on acc omit
or the poverty Of the applicant. Dur
ing the dark days of 'TG he was the
leauer OF this county in the REDEEM ption
or the State from Radical rulo. He was
! beloved 3y this community and his de-
, cease 1alls heavy upon us. He leaves q
) widow and two children, Miss Lcssic
and DR.. William |. Withcrspoon, of
Sheflcld, Ala, with large circle of rel.
j atlyes and many friends to mourn his
; departure" '''
Isaac Donnom Withcrspoon WAS horn
in York and was one of the sons If tbo
}, Hon. Isaac Donnom Withcrspoon, who
u was for many years Senator from YnrL
u district and one of the leaders in Stat,
politics. HIS mother was Miss Reid NJ
4 North Carolina. He belonged to in,
Il. historic family of Withcrspoons, o.
il which the Rev. John Witherspoon, O
r Princeton college, signer of the Declare
D tion of independence, was one nf tn,
e mOst0 conspicuous members, and Robcr
! WjthnranOOn Cnn
4 Carolina, another. The young Donnon
{ Withcrspoon entered the South Carolin
|, college and graduated in 1854 alon
with James Lowndes, Benjamin II
% Stuart, j. H. Brooks, Hayne McMeekir
Rev. j. r. Riley, former Judge G.. I
Townsend, j. H. Whitner and others
4 Then he pursued the study Of law, an
| on his admission to the bar entered int
4 partnership with the late VIM. B. VII
q son, and the firm practiced with grca
success.
Y At the beginning Of the war, Judg
A Witherspoon enlisted in the Twelft
\ regiment and served until dcljcat
4 health caused transfer to the branch O
the treasury department of the Confcd
= cracy stationed in Columbia.
i York County was spared by the Fed
\ eral armies, but suffered worse devasta
A tion, if possible, in 1871 and 1872 becaus,
Y Of the brutal Ku Klux raids of th,
& Federal troops. when Majo Merrill, al
] officer in the United States army. re
g ccivcd 5000 reward for the arrest OF
every alleged Ku Klux, innocent OF
Y guilty. Judge Withcrspoon had his
hands full assisting his friends and
! clients. Not for years did the county
G recover from this dragoonadc.
! In 1876 determined effort was made
Z to throw off the Radical yoke in York,
4 Judge Withcrspoon was nominated for
\ Senator by the Democrats and after q
stirring canvass was elected with tho
' Legislative and county tickets He went
10 columbia and was OF great service as
one of the Democratic leaders in the
Senate in which the Republicans had l8
members and the Democrats II, and
were trying. to seat Senators Gary, Todd
and Maxwell, besides placing Lieuten
anu Governor Simpson over the Senate
Ihe struggle was long, but was attend.
ca with success at last. After Senator
Jetcr became acting Governor, Judge
q Wlthcrspoon was chosen president pro
4 tenn OF the Senate and served as such
until nc was elected judge Of the Sixth
circuit in place Of the unique Thomas J
Mackey. Hc had previously formed
which was now dissolved. After eerv
ing several terms, Judge Witherspoon
voluntarily retired to private life and
resumed the practice of law. Ho was
actively engaged at the bar at tho time
Of his death
Judge Witherspoon married Miss
wright, daughter OF Col. William
wright, who was the president and chief
builder and owner Of tho Kings Noun
tain railroad He had two children, Dr.
William |. Witherspoon and Miss Leslie
Withcrspoon, both Of whom, with their
mother, survive him. He has two broth
ers living, DR.: j. Harvey Withcrspoon
and Mr.. Joseph r. Withcrspoon.
Juogo Wltherspoon was consorva |
tive man, good citizen and a safe coun. |
sollor. He had many friends through. !!
out tho State who wUl bo dou6lv |
gricvcd that ho has so sobh followed his
friend and colleague, JudRe W. II. Wal.
lace Judge Fraser, an{aber contem-
porary in tho rcconstrucY3on and sub.
t1xr