The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-09-18
SKETCH OF M. F. ANsEL.
The People Elevate to the Leadership
Of a Great State Charleston
Born Man Of German Extrac-
tion, whose Education
was Cleaned from
the Public Schools

OIL CHuflcStOll, IDc utle DeliiS tHc 1Glh
of December 1850. He is Of German
descent. His father was John j. An
sci and belonged to good and pros
porous family in Wurtenburg, Ger
many. Before coming to this country
he had received thorough course Of
training in one Of the celebrated tech
nical institutions of that country and
had won the degree Of skilled master
mechanic. When he came to this coun-
try, he was still young man, and I'M
married. Soon afterwards, however,
he won as his bride Miss Frederika
Bowers, a native German like himself,
and a woman Of extraordinary refine
ment and force of character.
The marriage of the parents Of the
newly elected Governor was consum-
mated in Philadelphia. They did not
tarry there, however. From Philadel-
phia they came to Charleston, and
here the future Governor was born.
Later the young couple removed with
n party of friends and countrymen to
Walhalla. The home which they there
founded, and where the boyhood days
Of Young Martin were passed. is still
occupied by members of The family.
The close Of the great struggle
which resulted in the overthrow of
slavery found Martin +. Anscl a lad
of Is. He had no opportunity to ell
joy tho benefits of collegiate edu-
cation. lie was, it is true. for time
member Of the literary society of
Ncwbcrry College, but the education
which he received was the education
afforded by the public school at Wal
halla. Hc is today the firm friend Of
the common school. and throughout
the campaign which has Just resulted
in his swccpin" victory at the polls
he has cXlaltcd above cvcrythin" else
those institutions "f lcarnin" to which
so large a proportion of the youth of
South Carolina must look for their
preparation for life. Don t misundcr-
stand. IIc is firmly the friend of
higher education, Of the colleges of
the state, and he ardently desires their
increased prosperity; but it is only
natural that he should have a parti-
cnlarly tender place in his heart for
that class of schools which did so
much for him.
Mr.. Anscl studied law under Major
James II. Whitner. lie had not yet
attained his majority when he was ad-
mitted to the practice of his chosen
profession. For nearly four years
he was located at Franklin, N. c., and
then he came to Grccnvillc, in this
state, in January, 1876. He was ar
rayed with the forces led by the peer
less Hampton in the memorable cam
paign of that cvcntful year.
His political career may, however,
be said to have begun in 1882. with
his election to the Legislature from
Grccnvillc county. He was then 80
the House Of Representatives in 1854
and again in 1856. In each Of these
years he headed the ticket in the pri-
mary election. In 1883 he was elect
ed solicitor of the old Sth judicial cir
cult. He discharged the duties of this
highly responsible office with marked
tldchty. and the esteem of the people
who know him best, who watched him
narrowly, as all prosecuting attorneys
are watched, while for twelve long
years he went in and out among them,
is evidenced by the manner in which
they east their ballots in both the
primaries this year as we'll as in the
primary four years ago when Mr.
Anscl was first an aSpriant for Gu
bernatorial honors. They showed I'M
mistakably that they had full conf
dcncc in him. and Of this tribute Mr.
Ansel is justly proud.
Mr.. Anscl first ran for Governor in
1902. In the primary that year he
lacked but few votes Of being in the
second primary With Capt. y. Clnch
Hayward. The dispcnsary was not an
issue in that campaign. but Mr.. Anscl
two years ago committed himself as
fnvoring the idea Of local county op-
ton in letter to prominent Meth
odist minister. 4 year ago he issued
an address to the Democratic voters
Of the State in which he made public
this portion of his platform.
Mr.. Ansel's Platform.
\ Mr.. Ansel's platform, upon which
he sought the suffragas Of South Car
/ olina, was as follows: