The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-06-01
HAS PASSED AWAY.
Col. James 4. Eoyt Dies at His Home
in GreenVille.
Els LAST ILLNESS WAS BRIEF

61S LASI 1ILN Go0 w 40 oA4SE
The Useful Career Of an Able Edicor
Gallant Soldier, Jealous Chris
tian and Public Spirited
Gentleman Ended.
A dispatch from Greenville to The
State says Col. Jas. a. Hoyt dice at
his home in Greenville on last Friday
afternoon at three o'clock. Col. Hoyt
had only been sick few days. c,he
news Of 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 a member and prominent par
ticipant in the State Democratic con-
vention, and was elected district
delegate to the coming ST. Louis ma
tionai Democratic convention, receiv-
ing the highest number Of votes cast
in the district caucus. In this State
convention, at a critical time in the
debate over the question Of hearing
expressions from the delegates as to
their choice for the Democratic nomi-
nation, be arose and in brief, strong
speech Of five minutes, convinced the
convention, which was evidently wav-
ering, of the wisdom Of hearing from
the delegates.
Thus, in the last few days OF ais
life, he was contributing service to
bis State and country through his
party. In all public service, in war
and in peace, Col. Hoyt was at the
front; when anything was to be done
bis 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
unfagging industry. His life was
freely and generously given through
all its years rather to the service OF
his church, his conntry and bis fellow
men than to selfish accumulation, but
he was able always to live independ-
emily, to meet all of bis public and
private obligations, and thus bis life
was in the broadest and highest sense
successful.
The campaign of 1900, when be was
the candidate Of the prohi bitionlstS
within the Democratic organization
for governor and when he was second
in the race, his competitors being
Gov. McSweeney, the incumbent, Mr..
F. B. Gary and the late Mr.. A. 81.
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-
lied upon for service whenever needed
in a good cause and so he will be sadly
missed in South Carolina.
James Alfred Hoyt was born Oct.
II. 1887, 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. Hcyt was a highly cultured
man, and al one time edited the
Laurensville Herald and the Anderson
Intelligencer. From Virginia the
Hoyt family moved to Clarksville, Ga,
where they lived a short time, and
thence went to Laurens, S. c., where
James a. Hoyt grew to manhood. At
the age Of II, James A. Hoyt entered
the Office Of the LaurenSville Herald
as an apprentice. When be was 18
years of age he went to Anderson, as
foreman Of the Anderson Gazette.
One year later he was editor Of the
paper, which position he held Until
1850, when he began the publication
of the Anderson Intelligencer.
In 1860, Hoyt was a leading Spit
in the organization Of a militia CON-
pany in Anderson, known as the Pal
metto Riflemen," and when the con-
pany volunteered the next year, he
was it's orderly sergeant The Palmetto
RiAemen entered the States service
April IA, 1861, in 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. Hoyt was with tie regi-
ment in it's memorable and heroic
defense Of the Stone Bridge, and sub
seQuently vas in all the principal bat
ties Of the Army Of Northern Vir-
einia, except Charlottesville and
Gettysburg, in which his command
was not engaged.
At the reorganization in 1852, the
company became 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,
Hoyt was promoted to lieutenancy
for gallant and meritorious conduct on
the feld," and afterwards served as
adjatant Of his regiment. He was
slightly wounded at Williamsburg,
and more seriously at Frazier's Farm.
During this time he also contracted
a severe case Of smallpox and came
very near dying. In 1864, while re-
turning from a sick furlough to the
army, be was placed in command of
an extemporized expedition Of wound
ed and conyalescent soldiers sent out
from Danville to check Wilson's
federal cavalry at Staunton river
bridge, which was an important point
in Lees line of communication with
his base ofsupplies at DanVille. The
fight was a desperate one in which
Hoyt shared the responsibility OF com
nand with Capt. Riddick and Col:
Coleman. Although the federals lad
vastly superior force, the small and
unorganized band Of Confederates de-
Tended the bridge until Gen. W. b.