The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-01-01
GEN E. r. HEMPHILL DEAD.
Editor, Scholar, Soldier, Has Passed
to the Great Beyond-Clerk OF
the State Senate.

Robert Reid Hemphill, editor OF
the Abbeville Medium, after a long
illness, died at his home in the city OF
.Abbeville, December 2S, 1908, in his
69th year.
General Hemphill was a son Of the
late Rev. ". R. Hemphill, D. D., who
was once pastor Of Long Cane AS
soeiate Reformed Presbyterian
church from which position he resign
. ed to become professor in Erskine
college. Later on, in the sos when
it was determined to make an effort
to endow that college, General Hemp
hills father took the field in the in
terest of Erskine, and it was largely
through his efforts that the first en-
dewnment was secured.
In(1859 General Hemphill was gra-
duated from Erskine college at Due
West, bearing off the first honor OF
his class.
In 1861 he went to the front and
served as volunteer aid on Gen. Bon
ham, 5 staff at 1st Manassas. 1mmed-
lately afterwards he enlisted as a prl-
vate III Co. B. of 9TH S. G. Reg, Col.
Brown commanding: on June "a,
1862, he was transferred to 20. u.
Orr's Rifles and was made Sergeant
Major.
After the war he was admitted to
the bar of South Carolina. He NOV
ed to Texas and for few years ne
practieed his profession in Cleiburne
Of that State.
Returning to Abbeville in 1868 he,
three years later, together with Is
brother, Mr.. James Calvin Hemphlll,
now Of the News and Courier, COM
meneed the publication Of the Abbe-
vile Medium in 1871, which news
paper is still published. From its
first issue it has been a power IN
: shaping thought and public opinion
in Abbeville county. His ability and
his political sagacity were recognized
and in 1876 he, together with Will
liam K. Bradley, F. A. Gonnor, Will
Ian Hood, and T. L. Moore were
nominated by the Democratic party
as candidates for the house OF rep
resentatives in opposition to the Re-
publican party.
In tbs historic campaign OF 1916
when the battle cry was champion
and Home Rule General Hemphill
took an active part, and he was fac
tor in the redemption Of the State
from the rule Of the negro and the
alien. The widest excitement and the
greatest enthusiasm characterized
the campaign, in which the white
people won the victory by the slight
est margin. On the assembling of the
legislature in Columbia, he and others
Of the Democratic delegation from
Abbeville county we're subjected to
many tests Of party loyalty and per-
sonal courage. In each instance they
served county we'll and acqult-
ted themselves nobly. Their exper-
ience in the "Wallace House" was
perhaps the most exciting incident to
which any legislature was ever sub
jeeted.
In the halls of the general assembly
there were sitting eontesting delega-
tons with two presiding officers,
while United States soldiers with
rifles and other equipment for war
took charge to prevent violence, If
not to defeat the Democrats. and It
was only at the command OF the mill
tarv that the Democrats withdrew
from the house which was rightly
theirs.
Under direction Of Governor
Hampton all the threatened violence
was avoided, and the Democrats were
finally victorious and returned to
the house. when the State was in ille
hands of its rightful owners.
Mr. Hemphill remained lii the house
Of representatives as DELEGATE itom
\ Abbeville county until 1886, When he
was elected to the senate. =: which
latter BODY he sat until 1894.
In 1895. General Hemphill, +. +.
Gary, ". c.. MCGOWAN. J. c. k}ush,
r. F. McCaslan. and I. II. M:Calla
were elected from Abbevll.e county
as members Of the constitutional con-
vention. He was chairman Of com
mittee on printing and on constltu~
ton, style and revision.