The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1907-08-23
DEAD WHITE MAN
Honored by Negroes by the Erec-
tlon of a Monument.
To His Memory Because He prescnt-
cd Them With the Ground Now
Used as Cemetary.

cd Them With the Ground Now
Used as Cemetary.
The monument erected in Lancas-
ter county by colored people to a
white man a. heretofore published
in The News and Courier, was form
ally unveiled Thursday with impress
sive ceremony and in the presence Of
an immense crowd of both whites
and blacks.
This is probably the first recorded
instance where negroes have thus
paid tribute to the memory Of one of
the white race. The nearest approach
to it in Lancaster county occurred
some years ago, when Bishop Isom
q. Clinton, now dead, erected a hand
some monument at the grave of his
former master, Mr.. Irwin Clinton,
who, in his day and time. was q lead.
ing member Of the Lancaster Bar.
The monument unveiled Thurs
day was erected by the members of
Mount Moriah Church, q colored
Methodist church four miles west of
Lancaster, in honor of the memory
of the late James w. Williams, o
prominent white farmer, who donat-
ed the land now used by them as a
cemetery, which is located at or near
the church building. The idea Of thus
honoring their white benefactor or
iginatcd with one of their w mum
Der, Jarvis Cunningham, a respected
colored citizen of that county, who
has, by farming, accumulated con.
siderable property. The suggestion
took we'll with Cunningham's fellow
church members and all of them con
tributed literally to the fund which
was raised to carry out the plan.
The monument, which stands on
the cemetery lot, was made by Mr..
A. p. McNich, proprietor of the Ian.
caster Marble Yard, and is what is
known as Vermont blue marble.
Though not as tall as such monu
ments usually are. being only 6 feet
and eight inches in height. it is 8
highly creditable, handsome piece OF
work. and presents an imposing ap,
%pearance.
The principal inscription is on the
side facing the east and is as follows,
"On motion Of Jarvis Cunningham
this .momnnt was erected by the
members of Mount Moriah Church
in 1907 to the memory of Mr.. Jas.
W. Williams in appreciation of the
gift to the church by him and his
family of this plat of land for a Gem
etery."
&C. w. Mackey, C. r. b."
Who lnitD,n, go T ID - i. n L.
chairman trustee board.
The inscription on the north side
is. Born December 81, 1897. Died
February 10, 1903. Peace to his ash.
cs."
Onthe south side: Trustees; M
Young, Jim Brown, ID. Johnson, j,
I: Thomas, ID. Mckinney, Adam
Watts, deceased, John Wren, secre
tary; Joe Brown. treasurer. God love.
tn a cheerful giver."
On the west side: "Rev. Z. Bolton.
pastor"
The unwilling exercises consisted
principally by an address appropriate
to the occasion by Principal M. D.
Lee, OF the Lancaster Normal and
Industrial Institute, Bible read and
prayer. Music was furnished by a
brass band. DR.. A. j. Warner of
Charlotte, was to have delivered an
address, but vas prevented from
coming by a call in Boston, Mass.
The veil that covered the monument
was drawn aside by two small color.
ed girls.
Mr.. Williams, the man whose mem.
DRY the colored people have signally
honored, was one of Lancaster Coun.
tvs most prominent and influential
citizens. He was a large and success;
full farmer and lived in the neighbor.
hood of Mount Moriah Church. He
was a gallant Confederate soldier,
At the outbreak of the civil war, ir
the summer Of 1861, he enlisted with
the Lancaster Grays and served with
that company until December, when
he was honorably discharged on ac-
count of bad health. Recuperating,
in April, 1862. he entered the ser,
vice, joining the cavalry, Capt. j. C.
rosters company. Buffers brigade.
He was on duty as a scout during
much of the war and was delegated
to pilot Buffers forces through this
country about the time of Shcrman's
rand. AS a slave owner Mr.. Williams
was kind and humane, and after en-
anclpation his treatment of the ne
gro was ever characterized by far
ness and justice. He is kindly rcmem-
bcred by all the colored people who
knew him.