The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-03-04


 States Army, in honor of Colonel Birds daughters, pretty birds of the forest" as he called them. She was Of | a distinguished family. Three of hcr fathers sisters married signers of tue Declaration of Independence-James Wilson and George Ross of Pennsyi- vania, and George Read of Delaware. Colonel Bird was native of PennsyI- vania, and his home was famous ref uge of persecuted patriots during the revolutionary war. He first settled in Alexandria Va, and there married a noted belle of that aristocratic com munity, a daughter of Colonel Dalton. who became mistress of "The Aviary'F and the mother of all of his children. He moved to Georgia in 1796. A young CT sister of Mrs. Yancsy, Miss Louisa married Captain Robert Cunningham of Rosemont, Laurens District. south Carolina, a gentleman of great wealth, lIberality and high culture. and an offi- cer of the war of 1872. To Mrs. Cum ningham is due the honor of having projected the Mt. Vernon Association to rescue the tomb of Washington from the hands of speculators. At her sug- gestion the invalid but brilliant daugh- ter, Miss Annie Pamela, wrote for the newspapers, a series of letters, signed Southern Matron urging upon the wo-
 men of the United States the duty or founding the Association. When at length the organization followed these appeals Miss Annie Pamela Cunning ham was made the first Regent.
 While Mrs Yancey was on visit to her father and family in Georgia, Will liam Lowndes Yancey was born August 10, 1874. His father, while on pro- fessional trip and engaged in great trial, was taken sick in August, lSlI. near Edgefield, South Carolina. and at ho rlx oa nf RI VHarS. All testimony goes to show that he was man of commanding intellect and In his Bench and Bar of South Carolins Judge o'Neal said ''the tears of State fell on his early grave"
 or William L. Yancey's mot CT, Gov. B. r. Berry of South Carolina, wrote to William F. Sanford, (father of our late Governor): T knew the mother of Will liam L. Yancey we'll She was woman of remarkable intellect and rare ac- complishments. and I believe 1t most firmly. no great man ever came or an ordinary woman"
 Such was the ancestry of William l.. Yancey, and that he inherited the gifts from both sides was amply demostrat- ed in his remarkable career Mrs. Yancey, with her sons, resumed her residence under her fathers roof after the death Of her husband In a few years when they were sufhctentiy grown, she removed with them to Mount Zion Academy, Hancock County, Ga, kept by Rev. Nathan s. s. Beman' A clergyman of the Presbyterian faith, who went to Georgia from New York. But the training of the lad was not left wholly with the accompiisneo head of the Academy. 1n the zeniLh of his oratorica1 fame William L. Yancey often. spoke feelingly of the enduring influence of his mothers care over his. early education. His mother afterward married Mir. Beman, who Ieft Georria and returned to Troy, N. T.,
 where he became pastor of Presby- tertan Church. Young Yancey had the advantage of the very best schools where he was prepared for Williams College. Mass. He was diligent stu dent and at college developed his me controversial powers. through the col iege paper, of which lie was the assist ant editor. Pecuniary reasons caused him to return to Georgia before his college course was completed. In the law office of Nathan Sayre, an attorney at Sparta, Hancock County he began the study of law. He met MT. B.. F. Perry, of Greeuville. s. C., and went there to further prosecute his legal studies. Although afterwards they widely differed in political matters. the closest friendship ever existed between them. Mfr, afterwards Governor Perry was the leader of those in South Car olina opposed to secession while MT, YAaneey became the foremost advo- cate of that policy. In the first years of his political life in South Carolina he sided with those who opposed f1ulli- sfcation which was an attempt to defy the laws of the United States. He and those who acted with him were called the Union men of that day. Wien just 20 years of age he made RIr Iro1 1NIa aTAaChaa of his life to a great meeting in Green vile in 1884, and of this MT. DuBose says; His height was medium, five feet ten inches, his figure slight. Tho clean -shaven face, fair skin, dark blue eyes, light brown hair, self boise and clear voice reminded those who had known his father or the strong resemb- lance of the son to him. The speech continued for an hour, without any notes to assist the orator and in rapid, unchecked utterances. From the first melodious tones every eye was turned to him; and ,I,s1s.,, not !" nson.o,Id man left Probably there had been no coun- terpart to the scene since Alexander
 Hamilton, when two years younger than this orator. had visited like Surprise upon puhsic meeting of revolutionary patroits." Mir. Yancey soon afterwards became the editor of me MOuntdlneSTp lu6 great upCOunIIy South Carolina Union paper. In May, 1885, he resigned the post of editor. Three days after reaching the age of 2t. on the 18th of August, 1885. he married Sarah Caroline, Earle daughter of George Washington Earle. a wealthy planter of Greenviile District. Since then the word district has been changed to county in south Carolina. He Immediately settled upon a farm fnr he always seemed to prefer agri- culture to any other occupation. Tn 1863 he moved to Alabama, and settled in Dallas County. There he spent the greater part of his time. returning