The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-09-10
!. NOTED Man GONE.
Thomas Y. woodward, Of Fairfield,
Bceathes His Last.
LONG A LEADER IN HIS COUNTY.
II Affairs Of State and
Always Active In Every Move
meat For the Good Of
SiS People.
HiS People.

mcnt For the Good Of
lsis People.
The special correspondent Of The
State. OF Columbia, at Winnsboro,
SAYS that on Thursday afternoon at
G:l5 o'clock Major Thomas W. Wood
ward, one OF Fairfcld's most promin-
ent citizens, Gied at his home at
RGcktUn, after a painful illness OF
several months. His remains were
inferred Friday afternoon in the Epis-
copal church cemetery at Rockton.
Thomas ". Woodward, the son Of
William T. Woodward, was born on
the plantation in Fairfield county, S.
c., which bas been in his family since
a portion Of it was granted to Thomas
the Regulator by King George III.
His birth occurred May I, 1888. He
was given every educational adyan-
tage, having first attended the Mount
Zion college, later Shirley's institute,
and t3e Wake Forest college, Of North
Carolina. Here be spent few months
in 1871. IN the fall Of 1S48 he en-
tered the South Carolina college. His
collegiate career was cut short in his
junior year by his participation in the
famous Steward Hall rebellion" !"
when he was expelled, with l07 oth-
ers. His mother died in his child
hood, and he was but a lad when his
| fathers death lef5 him an orphan,
under the care Of his uncle, Mr.. Os-
mund woodward, his fathers execu-
tor. February Is, 1856, Major'Wood-
ward happily married Miss Cornelia
NJ. Dantzler, of Orangeburg, and at
that time settled on his plantation
and turned his attention to the calling
Of his fathers. Mrs. Woodward died
in 1878. Miss Rebecca V. Lyles,
daughter Of Capt. Thomas NJ. Lyles,
a grandson of the first white settler
in Fairfield county, became his second
wife.
In 1861 Fairfield county elected
Major Woodward a representative In
the legislature, and he was member
of the session which called the conVen-
tion of secession, and his vote was cast
for that measure. He volunteered as
private in the Fairfield Fencibles at
the outbreak of the civil war, and
upon the organization Of the Sixth
| South Carolina Volunteer regiment he
was elected major. He was seriously
wounded at the battle Of DranesYile.
Subsequently he re-enliSted as a pr1-
vate and was rendered the Office OF
quartermaster Of the Twentieth Vol
unteer regiment. Acting in that ca
pacity, Major woodward served during
the remaining years Of the war. His
regiment was attached to Kershaw's
brigade when they vent into Virginia,
and Major Woodward surrendered
with Johnston at Greensboro. Re
turning to his home after the last
struggle OF the Confederacy, he re-
sumed his occupation as planter,
which be since continued with increas-
ing success.
At the close Of the war Of secession
Major Woodward resumed the Dus1-
ness of farming on large scale and
with great success. He took constant
interest in public afairs-on all occa-
sions doing what he could to keep the
white people of his county in good
heart and in the resolution to throw
off the yoke of negro rule at the ear
lest opportunity. He was sent to
every meeting of the Taxpayers
Union: and was one Of a committee
sent in 1874 to President Grant to call
that officials attention to the IN
famieS Of the government of South
Carolina as organized under the recon
struction measures Of congress.
In 1876 he did most effective part
in organizing the white people OF Fair
field for their part in the fight for
Wade Hampton and white rule. In
the campaign in his own county ne
was the constant and faithful coad-
jutor OF John Bratton: the Democratic
county chairman.
In 1880 he was made Democratic
county chairman Of Fairfield and act
ed in that capacity until 1885, when
he declined reelection. Major Wood
ward was delegate to the convention
of 1876, which nominated Wade
Hampton and a ''straightout" ticket,
and for fourteen years after repre-
sented his county in well nigh every
state convention Of his party. he
was elected, without opposition, to the
state senate in 1884 and reelected IN
1888, also without opposition. In the
senate he took rank as one OF the
most useful members.
Major Woodward took an active
part in every movement looking to
the advancement of the agricultural
interests Of South Carolina. He was
one Of the organizers Of the State
Agricultural and Mechanical society,
and always took an active part IN
promoting its objects and its inter-
ests. He served as its president for
two terms, and his charge Of its az
fairs was marked by great success.
He declined to take part In the
farmers movement" Of 1890. holding
that it was for political purposes
only and that tie charges against the
state government and those control
ling it were harsh and unjust.
Major Woodwaod's last appearance
in public assembly was in the Demo-
cratic State convention held in COlum-
bia in May of the present year.