The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1906-12-07
DEATH OF JOHK Z. McLAURIN

JOHN Il. McLAUR1N was the SON of
Lauch1in McLaurin, and was born in
Marlboro. county OH the 18th day of Oct.
obsr, lS4l and died at Mccoll, on the
2Ssh day of November, 1906, He did
stas have the advantages 81 a collegiate
education, but upon the Foundation laid
IN the schools of the county he. built Sc
curely and steadily in after life, and 90
quired an education such as fitted ,i,,
for any station in life.
At an early age he volunteered In the
Confederate service, in Co. "K.n Stl s
Z. Regiment, IL among the first organ
lied i'll the State, and remained In th;e
Regiment until after the battle of Ttrede-
ricksburg, when he was transferred ia
the cavalry company of Capt. Peterkin,
and then to the Hampton Lepion.U In
which he served until the close of the
war. His experience in the ariny was
valuable to him, like it was to many
otners' IN developing his naturally strong
1nlnd, and teaching him se1f-reliance, the
necessity of individual Judgment and OF
life.
Like all the other young men who SER
ved the Southern Confederacy so patriot
ically, he started life after the close of
the war with the gloomiest prospects OF
success. But notwithstanding his adverse
environments, he, with the h%opefu1lness
and invitlcible determination born of his
scotch ancestry, was not appalled, by the
situation, but went to work with energy
and resolution to secur success from the
untoward circumstances in which he was
placed and the want of opportunities. BY
dlnt OF u~iiflagging energy, and unwaver-
ing self-reliance, and by the exercise of
a strong individual judgment and a fixed
determination to overcome all obstacles,
he did succeed. He was emphatically
the architect of his own fortune. 1t was
his w ui1aided efforts, coupled with his
indomitable will power and energy, that
made him the man lie was. Most of the
great and successful of II country have
been such self-made men. They have
acquired fame and fortune not by collie
giate Quotations, ancestral advantages or
the influence of the great, but by these
native qualities heroisin and what the
world calls genius, which irnpelled them
to rely upon themselves and their owl,
efforts to attain success.
John T. McLaurin was not only n self
made man, but impressed himself upon
and was appreciated by the generation in
which he lived. Recognizing his mental
and moral qualities he was made n leader
So 80 III iilS SltuIC1 hIlU III
his county. He was elected by his fell
low citizens several times to the General
Assembly, and during the last summer,
at the solicitation of his many friends,
was a candidate for the State Senate.
He was always ready to serve the peo-
pie i'll any Office or capacity in which he
was wanted, and thus exhibited his pub
lie spirit, his patriotism and desire to do
all he could for the good Of his State and
country. 1t is needless to say how faith
fully he discharged the duties of legisla-
tor, for all in the county know his record,
and attested to him while living that he
was a faithful public servant. He was
no time serving politician. He did not
seek Office simply for personal prefer
inent and advantage, but because he be
lievcd he could serve his people and ben
eft them. His patriotism was broad
unsel6sh, untainted by love for Office and
such as made him ready for any sacrifices
necessary for his state and country. The
| writer served with him one term in the
General Assembly and can truthfully sa,
that he was one of the most conscientiou.
untiring, punctual and useful members,
i'll the body. His ~unflinching adherence
to what he believed was right, his strong
common sense, his good Judgment and
his earnest desire to do what was RICH,
irrespective of personal considerations,
were his prominent qualities as a public
servant.
AS a man, John +. McLaurin stood
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