The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-11-12
4 Bygone Character, Colonel "Jeems.. !.

He was Colonel of the militia. AS
before stated, he was a stout man.
There were three stout men in the
community, the Colonel, Captain
Lishy" and the Squire" who was
the largest Of the three. All three
were bald their scalps glittering like
peeled onions, with ruddy compilations,
and all lived to a good old age. They
were men of marked personality,
strong character, and extensive inhu-
ence.
The Squire was jnstice of the peace
and was SO popular that he held the
Office during republican rule, and up
to his death. He was also a minister
of the Gospel local preacher in the
Methodist Church. The Captain was
never anything save Captain of the
militia and stingy man, while the
Colonel served several terms in the
legislature. A plain blunt farmer, he
was perfectly unsophisticated, and
knew little of that fnesse so prominent
in more public men. He stood square
ly on the constitution, especially that
clause which reads call men are Great
ed equal [ doubt whether he ever
called any man of his years Mister.
It is related of him that on one oc-
casion, while member of the legisla-
ture, having met the immortal John
| G.. Calhoun, be thus addressed him:
"tWell, Calhoun, how is your crop?
cit is not known whether he fathered
any bills but we may be we'll assured
that he did good, honest work, fight
ing all wild cat measures, using all his
! influence against anything that was
not for the good of the common veal.
He was brave man, not afraid to
express hinnself, and though he saw
no service in the war he did full ser
vice at home. When 'Sherman's
Bald" came through he did not take
to the swamps, but stayed strictly at
home. When the Yankees came to
his house he was sitting on his piazza
in big arm chair, walking stick
close by. None of them meddled
him but one, young scapegrace who
started to search his pockets, Keep
your hands off me, scoundrel'' storm
ed the Colonel, ''or will frail You
with my stick. -
It is a remarkable fact that the
young man, whether through rever-
ence or fear is not known, offered
him no violence. The Colonel could
enjoy joke-at some one else's e1-
pense-and never lost an opportunity
to have one, but sometimes the tables
were turned, as the following anecdote
will show. He met a. old hag at
store and thus accosted her, "Well
Luce, you are not married yet. :" She
replied ono, Jeems, am waiting
for you In furry of temper he
retorted " You won't get me, you won't
get me, then turning to this son he
said, "You tell Shat, sir, and I Will
put my stick on you" A nephew Of
his and brother of the writer played
Christmas trick on the neighbors
exchanging their horses. The next
morning as my father sat down at
breakfast the Colonel hailed at the
gate "Hello John R., come out
here.'' When my father asked him to
come in he declared, 81 havn't got
time. Somebody has stolen my FLY
and left your mule at my house. He
was in much distress and my father
who was in utter ignorance of the
ldCUS III GuS Case, COQ1O o11OA AS SoH
ISOLATION. Turning to his nephew who
was present, the Colonel asked with
much concern, "Bill, do you think |
will ever get my flly?" When Bill
replied that he hoped so, the Colonel
said with great emphasis, May the
Lord grant it.'' But he no sooner
found out the trick that had been
played than, not entering at all into
the humor of the joke. be turned
severely on Bill and said Bill, you
won't do, you won't do. Your daddy
made the wrong boy lawyer. He
ought to have made you. You have
one qualification now; the lying part,
l have good mind to put my stick
on you
His wife, Mary, a lineal descendant
Of maid of honor to "Mary Queen
Of Scots,'' was the saintliest woman
I ever knew. The Colonel was not
so sanity, but he held family prayer
night and morning without fail. 1t
is related that he sometimes made
this petition, Lord, bless Lishy
and his crop, Philip and his studies,
Clara and Belle in their domestic
affairs, and Lord, bless Mary, for
she is getting old and contrary" :"
This, of course, was one Of the many
Jokes on the Colonel, and had no
real foundation. He was pillar OF
strength that it was difficult to re-
place when he was taken away.