The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1907-08-21
DEAD white MAN
Honored by Negroes by the Erec-
tion of a Monument.
To His Memory Because lie trcscht'
ed Them With the Ground Now
UScd as CcmctarI.

cd Them With the Ground Now
Used as Ccnctarf.
The monument erected in Lal4
ter county by colored people to
white man as 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 1som
C. 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 lead
ing member of the Lancaster Bar.
The monument unveiled Thurs
day was erected by the members of
Mount Moriah Church, a colored
Methodist church four miles west of
Lancaster, in honor Of the memory
of the late James W. Williams, a
prominent white farmer, who donat-
ed the land now used by them as a
cemetery, which is located at or near
The church huildinp. The idea of thus
honoring their white benefactor or
iginated with one OF their own num-
Der, Jarvis Cunningham, 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 s feet
and eight inches in height. it is q
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. T. B."
The letters &C. 7. B. " stands for
chairman trustee board.
The inscription on the north side
is. Born December 27, 1887. Died
February 10, 1908. Peace to his ash
es. "
On the south side: Trustees; M. NJ.
Young, Jim Brown, D. Johnson, j..
T. Thomas, D. Mckinney, Adam
Watts, deceased, John Wren, secre-
tary; Joe Brown. treasurer. God love-
tn cheerful giver. %
On the west side: REV. Z. Belton.
pastor"
The unveiling 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 a.n
address, but was prevented from
coming by call in Boston, Mass.
The veil that covered the monument
was drawn aside by two small color
ec. girls.
Mr.. Williams, the man whose mem
ory the colorcd 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 gallant Confederate soldier.
At the outbreak Of the civil war, in
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..
Fosters company. Buffers brigade.
He was on duty as scout during
much of the war and was delegated
to pilot Buffers forces through this
country about the time Of Sherman S
raid. As a slave owner Mr.. Williams
was kind and humane, and after en-
ancipation his treatment of the ne
gro was ever characterized by fair
ness and justice. He is kindly remem-
bered by all the colored people who
knew him.