The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1904-03-02
JOSEPH YOUNGER ERETWELL.
rs ". ". krls.

BtlltVlnS II 10 Dc duty TO nOnOr inc
memory of good and worthy men who
have served their generation and en-
tered into rest, beg the privilege of
paying an humble tribute to the man
whose name heads this article. He
helped to make Anderson County one
of the choice counties of South Caro-
lima, and his memory richly deserves to
be honored a..d revered by those who
have succeeded to the goodly heritage
OF land which he aided in making de-
iightsome. am also impelled in pay
ing this tribute by the consideration
that he and my hOnorcd father were
life long friends. They were close
neighbors and enjoyed fellowship
many years. Oi my fathers friend,
and the father of my own friends. it is
real pleasure to write.
Capt. f'rctwell WAS past middle life
at the time first recall him, and 80
think of him rs an old man. Having
passed the ago when men are expected
10 take an active part in the affairs Of
life. he was spending his days in we'll
earned ease and comfort in his quiet
country home, which nestled IN
beautiful grove of oaks three miles
west OF Anderson. lie loved his home,
and it was indeed seldom that he was
not to be found somewhere about the
house Or yard. OF the very many
times | went to his home ] can recall
only two or three that he was absent.
1t wac not handsome house i'm which
he lived, but there was an air of com
tort about it that was attractive, and
think OF 1t always as one OF the sweet
homes of the community. Who ever
vert there and enjoyed the hospitality
OF Capt. and Mrs. Fletwel that did
not desire to go again? While he was
not q rich man and made no preten-
sions to luxurious living. he had an
abundance for oil the needs Of his farm
and household. There were always
good things for the refreshing of the
Inner man" on his table, and the house
wa! was furnished most comfortably. Sit
ting on his porch on o pleasant day
with the smoke from his pipe curling
above his head, he was very picture
of contentment.
This leads me to say that Capt.
Fretwell was most hospitable man.
his doors were open always to his
friends and neighbors, and he was
never happier than when they would
come in to spend an hour with him
He knew how to make one feel at homo
in his house. Even children would
He was n good talker--bright, enter
tanning, and never indulging in unclean
or coarse language. He enjoyed joke
and could tell one pleasantly, but his
jokes were clean and his language
always chaste. Being given to hospi-
tallty and knowing how to entertain,
it is no wonder that his friends loved
to visit him and that they were fre
Quently found in. his homo.
n iko1 II
man, but he was also an accommodate
ing and fraternnl neighbOr. 1t fre-
Quently occurred in those days, just as
| suppose it does in these latter days,
that country ncighbors called upon one
another for favors, such rs the loan of
q buggy, or q wagon, or horse, for n
day or for two days. 1t fell to my lot
to 60 to Capt. Fretwell's once or twice
OH such IN errand, and it really seemed
ever favor my father had to ask, and
have no doubt whatever that his ex-
pressions of pleasure were perfectly
sincere And in many other ways he
manifested his fraternal good will for
his neighbors. The exchange of the
mtiny little cour tesies between the
homes in q rural community that add
80 much to the pleasures Of life were
participated in by him and his good
was oickness or distreas In the home OF
neighbof, they were quick to offer
eympathy and help. IL there was need
Tor cooperation In some general COM
munity movement, Capt. Fretwell
could be depended on to do hin full
duty. He identified himeeie fully and
with genuine heartiness with all the
interests. that affected tho neighbor-
hood, whether OF social, moral or
a n nNkn
1t will be readily concluded from
what have already said that Capt.
Fretwell was model citizen. doubt
It he ever had law suit in his long
life, or any serious difference with one
of his fellow citizens. l remember to
have heard one OF my brothers say
once that il the county were made up
of such men as Capt. Fretwell, there
would be no need for courts or 'jails or
amount to practically nothing. l was
but g child when TINT remark was
made, but it stuck in my mind like a
bur and has been recalled hundreds of
times and always with the feeling that
no higher compliment could be paid q
citizen Of community. Nobody then
called the truthfulness of the remark
in question, and | am sure no one will
do it now: He attended strictly to his
own business and let other peoples
business alone-a thing, by the way,
that is not always easy to do. He had
high ideals for the citizen in private
life and high ideals for the man who
aspired to public Office. He had con-
victions and the courage of his oonvic-
tions.. He did his own thinking, spoke
his mind freely, yet without offense.
Capt. Fretwell was loyal to his
friends. They never appealed to him
in vain. If they needed his help, they
had only to let it be known. know
that in the days following the Civil
War. when anarchy reigned. and no
man was safe from the assassin nor his
homo from the midnight torch, that he
stood with his friends in great trial,
and when he knew that in so doing he
was endangering his own life and
the risks he.was taking, but he took
the risks rather than desert his friends.
some Of whom were driven from their
homes and were Being. chased by Fed
orol a01diera Whethar Tho 'rr;osa