The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-09-06
AN OLD CITIZEN GONE.
Col. j. TOwnes Robertson, After q Long
and Brave Fight, Yields to the
Last Great EDe tiny,

In the passing OF Col j. Townes Robertfon
last Thursday st midday, September 81. 1905
one OF the old landmarks OF the city has dis
appeared, ami one Of the ties that bound us
to the Abbeville Of the past has been severed.
In the truest and in the best sense, he has
been for more than half . century q citizen
OF the town OF his adoption. In all these
years he has been q man among men. Pos-
sessing well defined character and having
pronounced convictions he was not reluctant
to speak his mind when occasion demanded.
No matter what may have been the oppo
sItIon In the days Of his str ngth Of person
and character he had The courage Of his con-
victionR.
In his early life, or until he was about fifty
years of age, he was splendid speciman Of
handsome manhood; his manner. and his
personality at once pointed bin out as ole
who stood far above the level Of the oom-
mon herd.
and In the difficulties which he met we have
conspicuous and pronounced evidence OF the
fact tha II a young man has the ability and
the ambition TO rise above the sphere in
which he was ,rn, he should break away
from the environment which handicaps him,
and 20 into new and unknown fields OF en-
deavor, " here he will be estimated by his
own worth.
An uneducated man with ability and fix
edness Of purpose will succeed any where, but
such man will succeed far better when
away from those who wonld put stumbling
block in his way and who would drag him
down II they could. A man who Is born In
q circle OF rich kindred and educated friends
will always be supported and held up not
not only by them, but by the fawning ig-
norant poor. But let boy that is born In
the ranks seek to raise himself above the
common level, the chances are that he will
have encouragement only from those who
may be regarded as the higher and the bei-
ter class OF citizens. The probability is that
those of his own ki ndred and OF his own as
sociate nsigbbors who should be proud OF his
success, will be the first TO fall upon him and
tear him 10 pieces. Uneducated In either
literature or in the n. amer Of the educated !,
the probability is that III the battle OF life.
he will make mistakes, or It may be that his
best efforts may be misco nstrued and turned
to evil account.
COl. TODeItbUu Qult plOW CdAuo
from his faiher's 1arm when be was quite
young. He had the ambition TO be and TO
rank with the best q nd The truest OF our Cit
izens. In the course Of years his labors and
bis ambition we're rewarded with the suo.
oess for which be struggled. Until he was
ParaIi zed some twenty years ego he was q
factor In all OF our affairs. and bis speech was
always ON the side Of right, He lived an ex-
empIary life, and his daily conduct was such
as TO commend him TO the good graces of the
business world and to the confidence and
respect OF the church people.
Wubi In the last few years the Episcopal
church has lost some OF Its oldest and most
fait hful supporters. This year Mr.. w. r..
Parker, the Oldest member Of that com mum
lon at that time, laid down the burden life
and Is now at rest. In point OF years Col.
Robertson was next in age. He had been
90 nnected with the church longer than any
member now living, and he too went to his
reward last week. Or the honorary pail
bearers his old and steaGfast friend and
fe ellow.churcbman, Mr.. B. 8. Barnwell follow.
cd nrst the coffin which held the remains of
the man who had for him never lived mo-
ment in coldness Of heart.
Col. Robertson leaves to bis children the
nherita OF good name, and their noble
lives will be the proudest monument to his
virtues, and the crowning glory of long and