The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-06-01
imperfect, be was forced to use a

imperfect, be was forced to use
crutch. When the surrender came
Royt was in Anderson recuperating
and like so many soldiers in his stu
alton at that time, be was profferet
numerous indignities by Sherman;
bummers and the negro garrison which
was sent to Anderson. AS soon as h'
was able to work, he reSurrected Th'
Intelligencer and began the more
peaceful cutieS Of life where they hat
been interrupted. In January, 1866
he was married to Miss Rebecca c
Webb. daughter OF Elijah Webb, wht
was one OF the most prominent citizen!
and politicians Of Anderson county
Col. and Mrs. Hoyu have four chill
dren. The children are: Mrs. A. G
Furman and Misses Gertrude an6
Lucy Hoyt Of Greenville, and Mr.
James A. Hoyt, Jr., Of the Columbia
State.
The ten years following the war
found Editor Hoyt still fighting fol
what he conceived to be the best in
terests of the State, and he was very
active in the Reconstruction era
There was not a Democratic conven.
tion or citizens meeting held in Co.
lumbia during that period but what
he was a member and participated in
it's deliberations. His bold stand at
this time caused him to be heartily
hated by the Radicals, who frequent
ly threatened his life. but without
effect upon his course. His service
upon the State executive committee
was equally vigilant and active. He
was assistant sergeant alarms of the
Wallace house, and was with Judge
Haskell when he discovered the means
of entering the State capitol.
In the early part of 1877, Col. Hoyt
became editor of the Columbia Regis
ter, which was the champion Of the
unterrifed Democracy while it was
under his control After two years in
this work, be left The Register and
purchased The Working Christian,
which he transformed into The Bap-
tist Courier and removed to Greenville.
The paper was enlarged and improved,
and under his management as chief
editor and proprietor, it became one
of the leading denominat:onal papers
in the south. His connection with
The Baptist Courier made him ac-
quainted through out the State, and
as he had the exceptional faculty of
remembering names and faces, he en-
joyed a remarkable wide range Of
friendships.
During his editorship Of The Bap-
tisJ Courier, he continued to take an
interest in politics, and until 1890 he
represented Greenville county in the
State Democratic executive commit
tee, and in that year was elected it's
chairman, as one who was not an ex-
tremist on either side Of the factional
fight then brewing, and who had the
confidence Of both factions. AS chair
man be refused to rule out the nomi-
nees OF the famous March convention,
though he did not approve the meth
ods used to inaugurate reforms in the
State government. While opposing
these methods, be deprecated strife
and bitterness and was one Of the first
to appeal for the obliteration Of fac
tional lines.
In 1895, Col. Hoyt was unanimous
ly elected president Of the Baptist
State convention and was reelected
for nine successive terms, when he de-
clined to serve longer. For over 20
years he was trustee Of Furman un.
iversity, and was at one time vice
president Of the Southern Baptist con-
vention. For several years be was a
vice president OF the American Bap.
tist Educational society and has de-
livered an address before that body
and also before the American Baptist
Publication society.
In June, 1891, be sold his interest,"
in The Baptist Courier and contem-
plated a inal retirement from the
newspaper business. For a time he
was financial agent Of Furman uiVer-
Sity; but tae habits and associations
of a lifetime were too strong, and in
January, 1892, be assumed control Of
the Greenville Enterprise aid Noun
taineer as editor and proprietor. The
name Of tie paper was changed to it's
original form, The Mountaineer, and
Col. Hoyt continued as its editor and
proprietor until his death.
Having been so long active and
prominent in State politics, it was
natural that Col. Hoyt should have
been often solicited to become can
didate for governor: but he always
steadfastly declined until 1900, when
the demand upon him was such that
be could not refuse. Having always
been an outspoken advocate of prohi-
bition against every other method of
controlling the liquor traffic, and hav-
ing repeatedly favored making the
fight for that principle in this State,
he felt that ne could not decline the
nomination which was given him by
the prohibition Democrats, and ac-
cordingly be accepted the responsible
ity and took the stump as the candi-
date for governor. Besides his adVo-
cacy Of prohibition be possessed other
elements of strength in his acknoWl-
edged ability, his respected high
character, his long experience and
service in public life without reward,
his success in business and his reputa-
tion as man and Christian.
AS prohibitionist, Col. Hoyt was
strictly consistent. He never used
whiskey himself nor ever permitted
the use Of wine or liquor Of any kind
in bis home. He was a member OF a
temperance society when youth, and
later joined the Good Templars, whose
principles he always exempli6ed in his
daily life. AS an employer, Col. Hoyt
made il a rule not to allow anY one