The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1903-02-18
MIR. SIMKINS PASSES AWAY.
Death OF an Able Lawyer and NObl,
Gentleman.

Mr.. Lewis w. Simkins died at his
home in this city at 7.2O o'clock last
Thursday morning after a weeks ILL
ness with pneumonia. Not until just
before his death was his condition re-
garded Immediately critical.
Mr. Simkins was 40 years old on jan
uary 8 last. He was a member OF the
distinguished Simkins family of Edge
field, his father, Col. John @. Simkins,
having been killed in one of the battles
around Charleston during the Civil
War. His mother was Miss Rosa
Wardlaw, daughter of the late Judge
D.. L. Wardlaw of Abbeville. She died
here some years ago.
Mr.. Simkins married Miss Mary A.
Moorman of Newberry, who died In
1898. Five children, T. Norman, Of
Columbia, Lewis W., Virginia, Robert
and John Eldred, survive him. The
latter four were here at his death,
Moorman arriving a few hours later.
Mr. Simkins also leaves three brothers,
Arthur, MCGOWAN Inc Eldred.
Mr.. Simkins was educated In the Alb
beville schools and during his boyhood
had the companionship OF his grand-fa-
ther, Judge Wardlaw, of whom he was
a favorite. Later he attended for two
years the Washington and Lee Uni
versity when General r.. T.. Lee was
its president. He then clerked for
awhile in a Columbia bank, was later
clerk In a law Office In Newberry and
was admitted and practiced law with his
brother-in-law, the late Mr.. Thomas
Norman. In about 1884 he came to
Laurens and prac.iced law, under the
firm name of moorman 81 Simkins. In
1901 he formed a partnership with the
late Col. b. w. Ball with whom he
practiced until the l%atter's last illness
In 1902. He was mayor Of Laurens one
term and represented the county In the
house of representatives from 1893 to
1900.
Mr.. Simkins was looked upon as an
exceptionally able and thorough law
yer whose mastery of legal principles
was uncommonly strong. There was no
clearer headed lawyer at this bar nor
perhaps in this part of South Carolina.
His judgment was always conservative
and his opinions we'll weighed. Every
body had the fullest confidence In his
incompatible and high ideals of per-
sonal integrity.
He was a devoted member of the
Episcopal Church, a mano Of intense and
feryent piety, charitable to the faults
of Others and firm in his loyalty to his
friends. He had his weaknesses as
others have them but Laurens knows
no man OF purer life and cleaner prin-
ciples.
A number of Mr.. Simkins' kindred
and friends were here for the funeral
services. Among them were:L Lewis. w.
Parker of Greenville, A. w. Smith OF
Woodruff, Arthur Simkins of Column
bia, Miss May Moorman of Columbia,
7. Norman Simkips OF Columbia and
MCGOWAN Simkins of Edgefield.
Mr.. Simkins' funeral was held from
the Church OF the Epiphany on Friday
afternoon at $50 o'clock, Rev. w. s.
Holmes, conducting the service. 1t was
"Vtehueu ny " idrBo c~ohcoufso VI uis
friends and a number of relatives,
The pall-bearers were as follows;
Active = John NJ. Clardy, w. w.
Ball, Col. IL. Y. Simpson, O. d. Barks-
dale, Joe Burton, j. G.. Brown, T. N.
Barksdale, T. ID. Lake.
Honorary-Col. T. B. Crews, N. b.
Dial, w. II. Ricbey, T.. p. MCGOWAN,
Col. Jno. w. Ferguson, Or. w. ID, Fer
guson, DIR. II. X. Aiken, Or. w. ii,
Washington, DR.. IL. u. hughes.
The intermeks was In the city come
tery in the family plot