The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-12-21
A Good Woman's Death.

A Good WOman'S Death.
From the Houston, Texas Post. the Press
and Banner copies the following modest no.
tice of the life. character, and death Of Mrs.
Crosson. the beloved wife of Judge James M.
Crossop, formerly OF Newberry, s. C.. A
friend in the Post says:
Mrs. Helen M. Crosson, died at Woodyille.
Texas, November 20. 1904. She was In perfect
health to the moment OF her death and passed
away free from pain and appeared to be sleep.
ing. Before retiring she read 10 her husband
the beautiful poem in the Houston Post of
Sunday, November 20, entitled Even this
shall Pass Away" and asked him 10 read 4,
and put in his scrap book, and in less than
three hours she lad passed away A fine
musician, the last thing she played on the
day Of her death was one Of her favorites,
Nearer. My God. to Thee" She was the
daughter OF John Stooo and Ellza6eth Pope
James. She was born IN Lanrens. s. C., Feb
ruary 80, 1880. was married to Major j. M
Crosson, April l9, ls4S, at the home OF her un-
Gle, Chief Justice O'Neall OF South Carolina.
survives her. They lived and loved together
ffty-six years. six months and one day.
They came to Texas in 1851. She left -four
daughters and one son. ell OF Texas; VIZ: Mrs.
Charles Slade Of Woodville, Mrs. I. 5. Hill.
vile of the Mayor Of Paris. Mrs. @. r. Miller,
OF 8505 Louisiana street. Houston. Mrs. C.L.
Mccartney OF Brentwood and Judge I; 1.
Crosson OF BallInger. she was sister TO Lieu
tenant Colonel George S. James, who as Gen.
eral s. D. Lee says in bis diary, fired the hret
shot on Fort Sumter and who was Killed al
Boonsboro Gap.
ington and Archibald Stobo, the first Presoy-
terrain preacher In Charleston, s. G., and was
first cousin to Y. ]. Pope, present chief justice
OF South Carolina. She and Major : tossed
then lived, the ffty-6fth anniversary OF thell
marriage. Fifty.fve years ago she joined IN,
Presbyterian church In Newberry, ). u, ane
nt-.4 RL~A tt~oo kao hmm n nOnHH
Grated Christian. Her life has been one OF
marked usefulness, imparrDg sunshine aDo
gladness to others. She was a fond mother,
devoted wife u exemplary Christian.
Of the First Presbyterian church OF Houston
Major Crosson is q member OF Dick Dowllpe
camp.
1t was the good fortune of the editor Of tht
Press and Banner to live a year in the hom.
Of Col. James NJ. Crosson at Newberry. II
March Of 1856, Col. Crosson and Thos. P. Slider
commenced the publication of The Rising
Sum-" the motto of which paper being, III
Shines for ALL" This editor was employed In
the office as printer anG during that year he
boarded In the home of Col. Crosson. The fac'
q young man Is a boarder in the household
gives him the best of opportunities for know
ing the characteristic and idiosyncraises OF
Ato hSotbs anu thbc ~ 10 thoS 60 N~
; today can testify to the lovable qualities o.
head and heart Of Mr.. and Mrs. James M.
Crosson. Born in the better walks of life,
reared in the shadow Of the church, brought
&. up under all the Christian influences, With
education in the best Of the literary institn.
tons prepared them for living in the higher
and the better atmosphere Of earth. The no
bleness OF their natures was such that they
had goodwill for all. For the great multitud,
who were beneath them they were ready 10
help with the kindly word and the generous
hand. For their peers, who were few, they
were always glad to cheer onward and
upward in the great struggle Of life. They
were always ready to help on to perfection
who sought the higher and better things.
They were free from malice and env.
and conscious Of their own worth, they
never sought to ipjure the feelings or the
good name of m They were jealous Of
non OF course people In their sphere OF
living had an a~bhorrance OF evil doing, but
like the Great Physician, they were always
ready to administer consolation. Their eff
forts were to raise up the fallen and to sci
their feet in the better paths.
In all OF Q years close acquaintance We
have no recollection Of their ever having as
sailed the good name Of any one. To these
good people is the author Of this testimonial
Indebted for guidance n inspiration. And
in the conduct of the Press and Banner for
forty years, the lessons Of the good woman
who has just gone to the beautiful land have
never been forgotten or disregarded. Her
idea was that profanity was sometimes caus
ed by anger or other exciting circumstances
but that vulgarity was always cold blooded,
offensive and inexcusable.
She thought character was too sacred 10 be
lightly assailed, and, while she condemned
the wrong, she never consented to the assassi-
ton Of character.
The mind Of the young printer was then In
Its formative state, and the lessons which
these good people taught took hold Of his ma.
ture.
These matters are only mentioned to show
that sometimes q word, which the speaker
may forget with the passing hour, may be far
reaching in its influence, and as lasting as the
everlasting hills.
Col. James M. Crosson was held In the high.
est esteem by the people OF Newberry county,
where he lived. His genial nature
and his generous heart made for him friends
of all. His ability and his education brought
him to the front rank among the best men OF
Newberry. His acquirem nts and his noble
ness Of character made him not only a son OF
whom South Carolina has reason to be proud,
but 1t made him a friend whose %counsels are
held in grateful remembrance by those who
knew him best