The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1902-09-19
a.--a lraHss-a - ~ s-z-
Mr.. William Wilks Thomas,

;tnalrS,Of the Qittce was one of his stronQ-
est points, and he carried off the prize on
the first balioe.by large majority over
both his opponents. Sheriff Thomas is
the son and only child of Mr. and Mrs.
ID. a. Thomas. He was born near San
tue, in Union cpnnIy, April 2S, 1865
His mother was Miss Nsry Wilks, or
Baton Rouge, Chester county. who grad
uated from the liHaestoae Female High
School in the class of 1885 AT the age
eight years Sheriff Thomas came with
his parents to Gaffney City, where he
entered the Gaffney Male and Female
High Schools, and after finishing his
course there he lookup civil engineering
and worked on the 3sO,s and other lines
of railroad locating the line of the Au-
gussa Division of that system. He was
employed in Virginia. North Carolina
and Kentucky In making surveys. FL.
nally he returned to Gaffney and went,
into business as book keeper in the larcce
mercantile establishment of N. Lips-
comb, where he remained until he was
elected Sheriff in 1868. Mr.. Thomas,
as most of our readers know, descended
from Revolutionary ancestry on bott
sides and well has he maintained tat
reputation throughout his life 50 fer as 1
know s '
{ Our next man is that of Stnator-elect
Thomas Boutwell, Butler, who is also :.
Santue boy, born the same year as was
Sheriff Thomas, towit January IL, 1866,
| twelve miles below Union, near Santuc.
He.was reared on the farm until he
| went to Union to live with his uncl,,,
| ex-senator and Governor Thomas Il
Jeter. This mother being ex-Gov. Je,oer's
sister, His father, DR.. Butler. ia an
ielder brother of Gen'l NC. Butter
Mr.. Both Butler received his educa
tiOn in The common coucty AID grad. Il
| schools of Union and the S. G. College.
| He began the practice of law nj IJnion
| being associsted with David .Johnso,
Jr., ard o. l.. Schumpert at different,
times. He moved to Gaffney in 1867
and took an active part in forming the,
new county of Cherokee. He has estat,-
lished law office at Gaffney, where i.e
has built up lucrative practice With
| very few, if any exceptions, he has been
| employed in every important case tried
in the Cherokee county court, either ON
one side or the other. since the count,
has been formed. He was u. S. Com
missioner for few years and resign-i
Was elected Lieut., Colonel 3rd Roet =.
G. ", first being appointed paymas,;r
| 10y Colonel Farley with the rank ~
Captain. He was rendered the position,
OF Referee in Bankruptcy by Judge w.
HI. Brawley, of the u. 5. Court for
Cherokee county, but refused. He hs
served two terms las county chairms n.
He headed the ticket for the House o.
Representatives in 1900, receiving IN
largest vote ever given any candidate
with opposition up 10 that tins in Cher
okee county. On The first OF last Jn,v
hIs inf
United Sens OF Confrdrra' - V etspans hy
Ccmmaa,ier- in. Chief Phos.lp Soou 9;
Waco, Texas This year ne has ben
elected Senator over the present Senator
Hon. r G. Sarratt, who isa very strunr
man with the people and who has helS
that office very acceptably for the lsr f.
four years. The fight between thete
two giants was no children's play. Eyer,.
inch of ground was iotly contested.
much more so than auy contest of the
kind that has ever been in this county
before, but the tone of Mr.. Butler's
card of thanks to the people show
that he has nothing but goJd will for
those who opposed him, r5..a
Finally by odds Mr.. Buffers greatest
conquest and victory las when he
gained the heart and hand of Miss Annie
Wool, under the sacred seal of mat, j.
mony to whom he was. happily married
a few years ago. She is the accomn-
lished daughter of Mr.. A. N. Wood. IF
Gatfney, and her high character AMI
noble womanhood had no doubt rnuch
10 do with the success of her husband
No man, who is a man at all, can fail
with such help mate as she is.
In conclusion will speak OF an
other ex-Union county man, Hon. J.
G. Otis, who likewise was in the race
for the House Of Representatives., br,A
was defeated at the polls. But, ot-
withstanding, he gained for hin self
decided victory and came mt a
much stronger man with the oeonlo
than when he entered the rae > Even
his opponents have expires Aed their
surprise.at his manly b ,arino ord
the high tone in which h, cordncted
his campaign. He stoc 4 snuareJv nv
every issue he espous I'd and he bos
engrafted himself FIRMLY into the
hearts OF those who will hereafter be
compelled to ADM t him as a man Of
s'erlng qualities and invincible back.
bone.
For our otter candidates I have
hothing but, the kindest of words
t1y auy VI them Are my very best
lrienas' but for the benefit of Union
county readers I thought would Il
eaKe up the names of that section
shab they would much prefer to hear
rom, and | hope that what / have
SAD o. each one will be read in sias
sp'f:.t which prompts me to write.
=. / have taken the agency in ..,hero-
kee county to sell the Story