The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1908-02-26
COL. j. ID. Nj. SHAW
DIES in COLUMBIA
Prominent and Wealthy Laurens Citizen
Passes Away and is Laid to
Rest in This City.

occurred SnOrCly after IL O'CLOCK last
Saturday night in the Columbia Hos
pital at Columbia, where he had been
under special treatment since the first
of January. AS was generally known
Col. Shaw had been very seriously ill
for several days and on last Wednes-
day members of his family here and
one or two close personal friends were
summoned to Columbia, his condition
having become very critical and death
was expected at any moment. How
ever, he fingered until Saturday night.
Mrs. Shaw accompanied her husband
to Columbia and remained with him to
the end, assisting the nurses in minis
tering to him in every way possible.
Col. Shaw had been in failing health
for several years and he sought medi-
cal aid in some of the largest hospitals
in the country, attended by eminent
doctors and specialists. When at last
he realized his condition he became
reconciled and simply wanted his last
days made as comfortable as possible.
The remains, accompanied by Mrs.
Shaw, Messrs. Thomas Shaw, John w.
Henry, Col. Geo. S. McCravy and Mrs.
B. w. Davenport, were brought to
Laurens Sunday afternoon and taken to
the home of Col. McCravy, West Main
street.
During the afternoon, evening and
Monday morning hundreds of friends
called at the McCravy home to pay
their respects and offer any assistance
they might render. Monday afternoon
at 8 O'Clock the burial took place at the
city cemetery, the exercises being very
impressively conducted by the Rev. C.
2. Rankin, pastor of the First Presby-
terian church, assisted by the Rev.
John d. Crout, of the First Methodist,
and Rev. William E. Thayer, of the
First Baptist churches.
During the hour of the funeral the
stores and all places of business were
closed and there was tremendous out
pouring of the people to do honor to
the memory of true friend and patri-
otic citizen.
The active pail bearers were: John
N. Wright, Edwin P. Milan, R. Lee
Young, Blum Milan, A. r. Holmes, all
of whom were his former immediate
neighbors, and N. B. Dial, j. D. Watts,
C. A. Power and j. Irwin Coleman, of
the city.
Honorary: w. A. Watts, John J.
Pluss, DR.. H. K. Aiken, Jared D. Sui
livan, Judge o. G. Thompson, John A.
Franks, D. H. Counts, Capt. T. j.
Duckett, Col. H. Y. Simpson, C. C.
Featherstone, Col. j. w. Ferguson,
Col Thos. B. Crews, DR.. w. C. Irby,
w. G. Ross, D. A. Davis, j. o. C.
Fleming, j. S. Bennett, Capt. J. Nj.
Philpot, Senator F. p. MCGOWAN, T. D.
Lake, Capt. John r. Minter, H. E.
Gray, DR.. l.. S. Fuller, M. l.. Cope
land, Capt. J. o. Meredith.
John Davenport Martin Shaw was a
son of Franklin and Elliott Boyd Shaw
and was born in this county 62 years
ago. His school advantages were
meagre and at the beginning of the
third year of the War Between the
States young Shaw enlisted in Company
e, commanded by Capt. j. Wash Will
liams, Seventh South Carolina cavalry,
Hampton's legion, and participated in
all the campaigns thereafter of Hamp-
ton and Stewart, being at the surrender
at Appomattox in April, 1865.
Returning home he found his fathers
affairs in a disorganized condition, debt
ridden and discouraged. Borrowing the
money, young Shaw lifted the debts,
took charge Of the place and in a few
years had the old homestead freed of
encumbrances and its wide fields bring
ing forth abundant harvests each year.
Eventually he acquired additional real
estate, and improved and built up one
of the finest and largest farms in the
county.
While he owned some mill stock and
took part in politics, his sole pride
and ambition was to be the best farmer
in the State. And for years he was
recognized as one of the leading and
successful planters in South Carolina.
Though modest man, he enjoyed this
distinction and was justly proud of his
achievement. He was close calcula-
tor, business man, and always knew
when he was getting results from any
experiment.
He did faithful and patriotic service
for his State in Reconstruction times.
AS an Allianceman he was from the
first prominently identified with the or
ganization and freely used his means
and influence towards it's success. He
was also an enthusiastic supporter of
the "reform movement" and an ardent
admirer of b. r. Tillman. When Till
man was nominated for governor Shaw
threw his entire influence into the fight
and ever afterward, or until 1900, he
was always ready to champion every
movement and measure inaugurated by
the reform party,
Although besought, he would never
accept Office, the only honors accepted
being membership of Gov. Tillman 8
staff and delegate from this congress
sional district to the Democratic con-
vention at Chicago in 1896 when Bryan
was nominated the first time. How
ever, he could have had almost any
thing for the asking and some posts of
honor without seeking if he would haye
accepted. An incident probably not
generally known is the fact that, had
the designations of Senators Tillman
.,1 MaI ~ AoI II.