The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1907-08-14
JUDGE JOHN SNOWDEN WILSON.
After l9 Years Service as Solicitor He is to
Don the Judicsul EInine- e-Sncceeds His
Brother in Law, Judge Purdy, Who
Resigned For Personal Reasons.

Brother in Law, Judge Purdy, Who
Resigned For Personal Reasons.
John S. Wilson of Clarendon yester-
day rendered Gov A .sel his resirna-
ton rs solicitor OF the third Judicial
circuit and will on September I don
the ermIne, becoming Jndge of the
same circuit which he has served for 10
years successfully and faithfully as
prosecuting officer. Mr.. Wilson succeeds
his brother-in-law. Hon. r. O. Purdy Of
Sumter. who resigned from the bench
during the lastsession of the legislature.
The general assembly elected Mr.. VIII
son to be Judge by a very nattering
vote and all arrangements have been
made for the transfer of the Judicial
ermine.
Following is the letter of resigna-
tion handed Gov. Ansel by Mr.. Wilson:
To His Excellency NJ. F. Ansel, Cover
nor, Columbia, S. G.
Dear Sir: Having been elected to fill
the vacancy caused by the resignation
of Hon. r. O. Peurdy as Judge OF the
third judicial circuit of this State, |
hereby tender my resignation as So
licitor of saio circuit to take effect on
20Uh of August inst.
Yours very respectfully,
John S. Wilson.
The vacancy in the Office of solicitor
has caused a number of suggestions for
the appointment which will be n,cde by
Gov. Ansel in few days, Among
those who have had their names pre-
sented by their friends are senator W.
H. Wells of Florence, Mr. J. B. Nc
Laughlin OF Bishopville, and Col. J. J.
Cantey, Summerton.
The resignation Of Mr.. Wilson was
rendered in person. and his friends in
Columbia rejo:ced to see that he has
about recovered from his illness. 1t
will be matter of great qualification
for Gov. Ansel to sign the commission
"Judge John S. Wilson" for the two
we're intimate friends when they came
here for eight successive years as so.
licitors to supervise the preparation OF
bills in the enGrosSing department.
Mr.. Wilson. Nr. Ansel and Mr.. j. K.
Henry OF Chester in all that time had 4
suite rooms together and their inter
course was mutually pleasant and help
ful.
Gov. Ansel, who is never extravagan1
in the use of language, said few day:
ago that he considers Jno. $. Wilson
one of the purest, truest and hlghest
men in the State. This fact was proved
by his having no opposition for Sc
many years in his career as solicitor.
The following sketch of Judge Viii
soa was prepared for The State by one
who has known him for score o1
years and has watched his career with
interest:
John Snowden Wilson comes from
that good old Scotch-Irish stock, which
has furnished South Carolina with 81
many of her most honored sons ane
stamped on her civilization so deep ar
impress. He was born on farm
forced by the circumstances OF war II
early life to work for others more help
less than himself aud learning by self
denial and virtue to set a true estlmase
on the things of the world.
Mr.. Wilson comes from stock which
made old Williamsburg county and res
cued the soil OF the State from the IN
vading hosts of England. His grea
grandfather Wilson and on his mother:
side lis greaJ-grandlrother Paisley
were both in the Revolutionary Wal
and did good service for their country
His grandfather, Coz. David Wilson O.
Williamsburg county, represented thai
county for several years in the State
senate, and his mothers father. Sam
uel J. Snomden, both left their lmpres:
on that community so well known b!
the older generation of people in thai
section Of the State as a center OF cul
ture and refinement, 1ndiantown.
OLD INDIANToWN.
It was and is an old-fashioned settle
ment on the border lire betweenGeorge
town and Williamsburg counties noted
for high tone and culture, the educa
tiou of It's people and the beauty ano
refinement of its women. 1t was IN
such surroundings that young Johr
Wilson was born and from which ne
drew his first ideas Of life. where the
bed rock was laid in his character.
He was born October 81, 1886, whlcH
makes I'm just 81 years and few
months old. His father vas Samue.
Itlev Wilson, a well known and lniu
epcial citizen of that community. far:
mer and gentleman OF education ano
culture. He was gradua5e OF DAVID
son college, completing his course at the
age OF 10.
At the outbreak of the war he joined
the Tenth regiment, which was formed
in that section of the State, leaving his
Young wife and children, to fight for his
country. He was subsequently at
tached to fuckers cavalry and other
details
His mother was Mary j. Snowden:
who, with her husband, rs boy ano
girl, attended the schools in Indian
town: afterwards she was educated al
Bradford Springs and an institution II
Charleston at that time very highly
esteemed as school for young ladies'
Samuel Itley Wilson died in the fall
OF 1876, leaving his widow with i've
orphan children, the eldest of whom
was the subject of this sketch, then II
wears old, with the country in wreck
and the conditions OF life al most lntoI'
erGOle. IN spice VI Il!IS ulSSOui :" 3 IL
condition the little family bravely
faced life and hautled well and success.
fully against the odds that Threatened
to overwhelm them Schooling wa:
difficult in those days, but it was posi-
BILE to get it if the right determination
existed, and it did exist in the case Of
this family. The children were given
advantages of all that the country
afforded and they used them we'll. John
S. Wilson, after training in the Indian
town academy, attended school in Man
ming, where he lived with a relative,
the late 3. Presley Barron, Esq, the
school being we'll known institution
under the management OF John With
erspoon Erwin, one of the real masters
of the art of teaching the boys; later
he attended the academy OF Rev. Robt,
Latham. afterwards D. D., and head OF
Erskine college Although well pre-
pared for college the young man, then
within few years OF his majority, was
obliged to forego his ambition and cut
short his education and return to the