Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-06-21
JOHN JAMES HEMPHILL.
Ex-RepresentativeO Of the Fifth Con-
Eressional District Of South Car

From The Successful American for
June.
John James Hemphill, the subject Of
this sketch, comes from good old
Scotch-Irsh ancestors, both on his pa
ternal and maternal side. His grand
father came to America from the north
Of Ireland when quite young. and first
located in Pennsylvania, where he re-
ceived his education, having graduated
at Dickinson college, Carlisle, Penn
sylvania. His name was John Hemp
hill, and he was Of old Covenanter
stock. Near the close Of the Revolu-
tionary war he removed to Chester
county, South Carolina, permanently
settled there, and preached until his
decease. Mr.. Hemphill's grandmother
was a daughter of Colonel Nixon, who
was a conspicuous officer in the army
Of the Revolution, winning distin-
guished honor at the battle Of Kings
Mountain, and was afterward killed by
the Tories in South Carolina.
Mr.. Hemphill's father, whose name
was James, as we'll as his uncles, John
and William Hemphill, graduated at
Jefferson college, Pennsylvania. His
uncle John was an eminent judge, who
was chosen as the first chief justice of
Texas, and prior to the civil war rep
resented that state in the United States
senate. Mr.. John James Hemphill,
whose father practiced law for 65 years
in Chester, South Carolina, was born
at Chester, on August rs, 1S49. After
graduating at South Carolina college,
at Columbia, s. c., in June, 1869, Mr..
Hemphill took up the study Of law and
gave to it his entire attention for two
years, when, being admitted to the bar,
he entered upon the active duties Of his
profession at his place Of birth, and
has ever since continued to practice
there. The existence Of a law office In
the same community for a period ap-
preaching 10 years and descending from
father to son Is an unusual experience
OIulSu olhlCo. Soo IhSi SeoA hoN
been his work Of preparation that Mr..
Hemphill's qualifications as an attor-
ney and counsellor were quickly dis
covered, and he obtained almost from
his very start lucrative practice; and
his later great success is owing to the
fact that there are few members Of the
legal fraternity in any part Of the
country better informed professionally
than he. During Mr.. Hemphill's ser
vice In congress he made many friends
throughout the whole country, and the
impression he gained amonst them as
a strong and successful lawyer has led
to his being frequently called from his
home in South Carolina to participate
in important legal contests In the
courts Of the National capital and In
other portions Of the country. Proba-
bly, no lawyer from the south has been
more frequently employed in recent
years in legal matters beyond the linn
Its Of his own state.
A man so we'll equipped in legal lore
as was Mr.. Hemphill could not, In such
state Of born politicians as is South
Carolina, be permitted long to remain
in private life; and hence, In 1876.
when he had just entered upon his 9th
year, he was chosen a member Of the
legislature of South Carolina, and was
continued in that position by success
sive re-elctions until 1882, and then, at
80 years Of age, he was nominated by
the Democrats and elected to represent
the Fifth congressional district of his
native state, being the youngest men,
ber, save one, Of the Forty-eighth con-
gress; and in that position he served
through five elected terms, from 1883 to
1893, for four years filling the position
of chairman Of the committee on the
District Of Columbia, as we'll as serv-
ing on important committees. There
being no right Of suffrage in the Dis
trict Of Columbia, the people are with
out any representative in congress, and
all legislation relating to the Nations
capital comes from the hands of the
committee on the District Of Colum-
bia Of the senate or house. While Mr..
Hemphill presided over the house COM
mittee it made an unusual record FOR
wise legislation in matters entrusted to
1t for consideration and report to the
house.
Mr.. Hemphill, during his service in
congress, was a close student In ques-
tions relating to finance and taxation.
and took an important part In their dis
cussion. In the Fifty-first congress he
was appointed on the committee to
which was referred the proposed New
Election Law. In the remarkable con-
test in the house Of representatives on
the well-remembered Lodge Bill, known
as the Force Bill. reported from that
committee, Mr.. Hemphill led the Dem
ocratic phalanx. Mr.. Lodge, now
United States senator from Massachu-
setts, had charge Of the Republican
side of the fight.
For 25 years Mr.. Hemphill has al
ways taken active interest In politics,
and being an excellent debater. has,
under the auspices of the Democratic
National committee, done efficient duty
on the stump in many Of our states.
His first entrance in public life as a
legislator was during the exciting cam
paign of 1876, when, under the lead Of
General Wade Hampton, the white
people Of the state of South Carolina
overturned the carpet-bag government
While Mr.. Hemphill is not personally
engaged in the industrial development
of the south now attracting such gen.
eral notice, his wide acquaintance
amongst business people north and