The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1901-07-10
CONGRESSMAN STOKES DEAD.
Seriousness of His Illness Not Real
lied by the Public.
Columbia State.

lied by the Public.
Columbia State.
Orangeburg, July G-The death
OF Congressman J. William Stokes,
which occurred at his home near this
city this morning at 5 o'clock, was q
great shock to the whole community,
though rot unexpected; for it was
known several days ago that little if
any hope was entertained of his
final recovery. He had been in
declining health for months, yet his
desire to serve his constituency
caused him to forget self and continue
at his official work until short time
since when he was forced by weak
ness to give up all of his labors.
His private secretary was brought
here, however, and attended to all
matters of pressing Importance.
In the death of DR.. Stokes the
State and county have lost a good
citizen. He was enterprising and
pushing, and in church and matters
of State, he had drawn to himself
thousands of faithful friends who
will sorrow at his untimely taking
off. He was unostentatious and
faithful to every duty; and while it
may be said with truth that at one
time in his political career he had
many opponents of his advance
ment in this his native county, it can
be as truthfully asserted now, that
at the time of his death there were
few who opposed him, so closely had
he identified himself with the people
by his faithful service as a congress
man.
Congressman Stokes leaves sur
viving him wife and mother, and one
brother, Rev. Edwin Stokes, of the
South Carolina conference, M. E
church, South, and two sisters,
Misses Anna and Lula. To all these
go out the unfeigned sympathies OF
a sorrowing people.
Until Monday the body will lie in
state at the home of the deceased
one mile from the city.
The tine for the funeral has been
fixed for Monday, II o'clock a. M, at
the Methodist church. The deputy
sergeant-at arms will arrive here to-
morrow and the congressional COM
mittee are expected Monday morn.
ing.
SKETCH or HIS LIFE.
Congressman J. William Stokes
was born in Orangeburg county in
1853.
After attending the public schools
he was graduated from the Wash
ington and Lee university with high
honors. After graduation he taught
school as principal of the Lincoln
county, Tennessee, school for two
years. Then at the age of q he
decided to study medicine and en-
tered Vanderbilt university for that
purpose, completing the course.
While at Vanderbilt be taught q
school near Nashville. At this gradu-
alton he won high honors and won
from among 3S contestants medal
offered for the best on medical sub
ject. Though offered the superin-
tendency of a fine school in Missis-
sippi he came home and practiced
medicine for a year. Finally, the
offer being bettered, he did go to
Mississippi and took charge of the
schools at Corintb, remaing there six
years. Then Lincoln county's schools
needed him again and he accepted
the superintendency for period Of
five years. At the end of the first
year, however, he was called home to
take charge of his fathers estate,
the latter's health having failed. DR..
Stokes soon became greatly interest
ed in agricultural matters and fell
into the farmers alliance with his
whole soul, first organizing sub
alliance, then the county alliance,
and later on purchasing and running
The Cotton Plant in'June, 1890. He
ran the paper for some time. Still
later he became State organizer for
the alliance in it's palmy days and
was president OF the organization for
some time. In the general election
in 1890 he was sent by his county to
the State senate. From the senate
he went to congress. His career
there, particularly his persistency in
the matter of the rural free delivery
system, is known to all.
r. 1907 n. Sko1,oo M;co