Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-06-11
PASSING OF CAPT. RoppEY.

Mr.. B0gSS conducts 5cnool Tor DoyS
at Glenn Springs.
PASSING OF CAPT. RoDDEY.
Capt w. L. Roddey, one Of the best
known, wealthiest and most influential
citizens of York county, died at his
home in Rock Hill last night at $50
o'clock, after hopeless illness Of near
ly two weeks, with uraemic poisoning.
Capt. Roddey was born in the Neely's
Creek settlement of York county, about
seven miles southeast Of Rock Hill, In
1884. His father was the late John
Roddey, a we'll to-do farmer, and his
early life was spent on a farm, with
such limited educational opportunities
as were afforded /. by the times until
he was 16 years Of age, when he en-
barked in the mercantile business at
Lewisville, Chester county.
Notwithstanding the fact that he had
built up large and prosperous busi-
ness, and had only been married on Sep
tember 20, 1860 to Miss Anna Baskin,
of the neighborhood, when the civil
war broke out, he raised company OF
volunteers and went to the front. His
war service was that of a cool, brave,
determined, dashing soldier. He was
severely wounded In the shoulder at
Chickamauga, Tenn, and as the result
Of a wound in the head at Dalton, Ga,
was left for dead on the battlefield and
fell INTO the hands Of the enemy,
who carried him 20 Johnson's Island,
Ohio, and kept him there until three
months after the close Of the war.
After his release from Johnson's Is
land. CAPT. Roddey returned to his low
ing and anxious wife, who had all
through the war been as GOOD a soldier
as he, and together they set out to re-
pair their shattered fortunes and help
their fellowmen with the great and
terrible problems that new conditions
presented. Creditors were clamoring
for money; but unable to collect what
was owing him, Capt. Roddey had moth
ing with which to pay. He managed,
however, to borrow $4,000 and with this
arranged all his more pressing obliga-
tions, and in 1856 removed to Rock
Hill, where he re-established business.
The story Of Capt. Roddey's life, es-
pecially from the time Of his location
in Rock Hill, Is a story Of usefulness
to himself his family, his church, his
town, his county and his state. He
began as a merchant. He was quiet
and unobtrusive in methods. His rule
was that of absolute fairness and JUS
tice. Scrupulously honest himself In
every fibre of being, he hated dishon-
esty in others. AS merchant he was
complete success. All during the
stressful times when time prices and
liens were the basis Of business, he
made 1t a rule to charge goods secured
by liens, just the same as on open ac-
count, and it Is notable fact that un-
til his business grew to such an ex-
tent that his personal supervision In
detail was an impossibility, he was
never involved in a lawsuit.
Although there Is no feature OF capt.
Roddey's record or character that Is In
need Of defense, explanation or apol-
ogy, 1t Is a fact that the public knows
but little, except in a very general way,
Of the breadth, the liberality, the gen.
erosity, or the deep human sympathy
that characterized practically his whole
life. There are many good things that
he did of which the public has full
knowledge, not that he cared to have
them known, but because 1t was i'm
possible to keep the knowledge secret.
HIS rule in good things was almost
literally not to let his left hand know
what his right hand did. There were
good reasons. Because of his great
wealth, he was persistently besought
in behalf of things that did not appeal
to him, especially while he had other
work of his own that was more i'm
portant. His widow and children can
not tell nearly all that he did In the
way of charity and benevolence; but
If they cared to they could tell enough
to open the eyes even Of those close
frio hn in1 RnaW him
add still greater volume to the copious
flow Of tears that will be shed as 1t Is.
The story Of Capt. Roddey's civic
career would be in very large part the
story of the business growth and de-
velopment of Rock Hill. He seldom
posed as a leader in public works, even
where the object appealed to all OF his
sympathy. Pass in review, however,
all of Rock Hills best achievements,
the organization of the public schools,
the requirement of Winthrop, the erec-
development of the cotton mill and
other Industries, and while others have
been more conspicuous as leaders, ex-
cept for the help of Capt. Roddey's
shoulder at the wheel, the result would
have been different.
Captain Roddey was a member OF
Neely's Creek Associate Reformed
church. He was not an officer, because
he would never allow the congregation
to make him one. He was a faithful
and consistent member, however He
gave absolutely essential aid in the
erection Of the Associate Reformed
church in Rock Hill, and was one Of its
principal supporters. He contributed
largely to the support Of other churches
when his help was needed. AS rule,
however, except when his help was
really needed, he did not contribute.
Capt. Roddey's business interests
were large and varied. To enumerate
them in this brief article. would be a
very difficult task. The Institutions IN
which he took most pride. however
were the Roddey Mercantile company,
because 1t was his first love. Next
the National Union bank, because,
probably 1t Is the greatest monument
of his efforts, and next the Victori1
cotton mill, because 1t furnished OPP
portunity for work along q special line
that appealed to him.
Captain Roddey leaves a widow
and four children. The children are
Messrs. w. Joseph and John T. Rod
dey. and Mesdames w. c. Whitner
and o. s. Poe. He also leaves one
Roddey's.
The funeral is to take place this
afternoon at $50 o'clock. at the AS
sociate Reformed church Of Rock
Hill. and the services will be con-
Quoted by Rev. A. S. Rogers, assist
ed by Revs Alexander Martin, oliver
Johnson and W. II. Stevenson. The
interment will take place in Laurel
wood cemetery in Rock Hill.
The following will serve as active
pail bearers: J. F. Reid, Thos. l..
L. Irn u niinlan II Millar