The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-06-03
HAS PASSED AWAY.
Col. James A.. Hoyt Dies at His Home
in Greenville.
his LAST ILLNESS WAS BRIEF.
The Useful Career Of an Able Editor
Gallant Soldier, Jealous Chris
tian and Public Spirited
Gentleman Ended.

Gallant Soldier, Jealous Chris
tian and Public Spirited
Gentleman Ended.
A dispatch from Greenville to The
State says Col. Jas. A. Hoyt died at
his home in Greenville on last Friday
afternoon at three o'clock. Col. Hoyt
had only been sick a few days. The
news Cf Col. Hoyt's death will carry
sorrow to the hearts OF thousands Of
friends in all parts Of South Carolina,
and elsewhere.
Col. Hoyt's career, which is sketched
more fully below, was notable for its
constant activities. Only last week
he was 4 member and prominent par
ticipant in the State Democratic con-
vention, and was elected a district
delegate to the coming ST. Louis IA
tional Democratic convention, rcceiv-
ing the highest number Of votes cast
In the district caucus. In this State
convention, at critical time in the
debate over the question Of hearing
expressions from the delegates as to
their choice for the Democratic nolni-
nation, he arose and in brief, strCng
speech OF five minutes, convinced the
convention, which was evidently wav-
ering, Of the wisdom Of hearing from
the delegates.
life, he was contributing service to
his State and country through his
party. In all public service, in war
and in peace, Col lfoyt was at the
front; when anything WAS to be done
his hands were ready to do and he
was rarely gifted in mental ability
and poise, in gracious tact and moral
and physical courage together with
untlagging industry. Ills life was
freely and generously given through
all its years rather to the service OF
his church, his conntry and his fellow
men than to selfish accumulation, but
he was able always to live independ-
emily, to meet all OF his public and
private obligations, and thus his life
was in the broadcast and highest sense
successful.
The campaign of 1900, when he was
the candidate Of the prohibitionists
within the Democratic organization
for governor and when he was second
in the race, his competitors being
Gov. McSweeney, the incumbent, Mr..
| E. B. Gary and the late Mr.. A. FL.
Patterson was his last participation
in politics except as a worker in the
ranks and in the conventions. He
was a man however, always TO be. re-
E.a f0lz os ael n IleGue
in good cause and SO he will be sadly
missed in South Carolina.
James Alfred Hoyt was born Oct.
IL. 1897, in Waynesboro, Va. His
father, j. Perkins Hoyt, was a native
Of New Hampshire, a jeweler by trade,
who came south for his health and
located in Virginia. He married
Miss Jane Johnson Of Virginia. Col.
j. P. Hoyt was a highly cultured
man, and at one time edited the
Laurensville Herald and the Anderson
Intellip 1cer. From Virginia the
Hoyt family moved to Clarksville, Ga. +,
where th"y lived a short time, and
thence vent to Laurens, S. c., where
James A. tIoyt grew to manhood. At
the age OF II, James A. Hoyt entered
the office of the Laurensville Herald
as an apprentice. When he was lS
years Of age he went to Anderson, as
foreman Of the Anderson Gazette.
| One year later he was editor of ne
paper which position he held vi I'll
1860, when he began the publlcat On
Of the Anderson Intellgencer.
In 1860, Hoyt was leading spirit
in the organization of a militia &C a.
pany in Anderson, known rs the Pal
mettO Rillcmen," and when the com
pany volunteered the next year, ne
was its orderly sergeant. The Palmci to
Ritemcn entered the States service
April IA, 1861, i'm the Fourth South
| Carolina regiment, under Col. j b.
E. Sloan, and in about six weeks was
mustered into the Confederate service.
The regiment was at the front and
participated in the first battle at
Manassas. Iloyt was with tie rei,i-
ment in its memo rablc and heroic
defense Of the Stone Bridge, and sub
sequently was in all the principal bat
ties of the Army Of Northern Nir-
pinia, except Charlottesville and
Gettysburg, in which his comma nd
was not engaged.
AT the reorganization in 1862, the
company became a part OF the Pal,
metto SharpShooterS under the gallant
jenkins, and after Gen. Jenkins pro-
motion, the commander was Col.
Joseph Walker" of Spartanburg. Dur,
ing the second year Of this service
lIOyt was promoted to licutenancy
for gallant and meritori0uS conduct or
the field" and afterwards served az
adjutant Of his regiment. He was
slightly wounded at Williamsburg
and more seriously at FraZier'S Farm
During this time he also contracted
Il severe case of smallpox and came
very near dying. In 1864, while re
turning from sick furlough to the
army, he was placed in command o
an extemporzed expedition OF wound
ed and convalcScent soldiers sent out
from Danville to check Wilson,
federal cavalry at Staunton river
bridge, which was an important pOin
in Lees line OF communication Will
his base of supplies at Danvllle. The
fight was Il desperate one in which
HOyt shared the responsibility OF com
mand with Capt. Riddick and Col
Coleman. Although the federals haC
, Il vastly superior force, the small ant
unorganized band Of Confederates de
Tended the bridge until Gen. w. II
f. Lees cavalry came up.
9 Early in the fight, IIoyt was badl
! wounded and disabled; but he refuse,
S to leave the scene Of action and remain
4 i . q