The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-12-29
THE LAST BANoUET9
Ihe Passing OF the Jeryey Honsn-
Long Landmark, COmmorated by
the Faithful Friends of Uncle J,,,,

The Jervey House was the scene
OF gracious hospitality the other
evining extended to his guests and
friends as a farewell supper. prepara-
tory to his~ temporary retirement
from the management of the .Jeryey
House, by it's proprietor, Mr.. James
E. Jervey.
bountiful repast awaited the
guests and amid "reminiscences and
from lest to earnest" the old days
were recalled that were spent hap
PLY under the roof presided over nv
that cultured, lovabie and Charitable
woman, Mrs. Vermelle Jervey. the
wife OF its big hearted, energetic and
always lovable host, Mr.. James. E..
Jervey
Among the assembled guests were:
DR.. II. j. McLaurin, who had served
with the host of the evening on
Virginia's bloody battle field and
faced fearful odds; the Hon
Thomas E. Richardson, Probate
Judge of this county; the Hon. H.
Lee Scarborough, Ex-Treasurer: Mr..
and Mrs. w. H. Sykes, Mr.. and Mrs.
Archer, Mr.. Thomas r. Dunlap. of
Baltimore; Messrs. Levalle Jackson.
Mood Brown, George Burkett,. Sher-
if w. H. Epperson and wife. and
Mr.. Isaac M. Loryea.
After the cloth was cleared and
coffee served, Mr.. Mood Brown acted
as toastmaster and called upon Mr..
Scarborough, who responded feeling
~ OF days long gone by. Judge
Richardson spoke Of his associations
with Mr.. Jervey, covering over a.
third of century, and Mr.. Isaac M.
Loryea, by request Of all present
spoke as follows:
Fellow Guests Of the Jervey House:
In arising this evening it brings
pain to me that the pleasant re-
lationship existing for many wears
Is to be severed by the temporary re-
tirement of that lovable, genial. big
hearted. boniface. Mr.. James e. Jer-
vey, who has served the public so
faithfully and so well.
Farquhar in his comedy 1.-THE Bea-
ux's Stratagem" introduces one bon
iface a landlord or an inkeeper as II
was termed in those days in old
England in those days the jolly land
lord, but in the boniface we have not
alone a jolly landlord, but one whose
heart always responded to the sor-
rows and privations Of others. in all
the years that he and his admirable
and devoted helpmatesst passed
away. no one was turned away from
the Jervey House, but in many in
stances received the loving and kind
ministrations Of both man and wife.
So while landmark is passing away.
for the Jervey House has been iden-
tilted with the history and the pro-
gress Of Sumter since the cessation of
hostilities between the States.
Briefly 1t will not be out of place
to recall certain events connected
with the house, for the Jervey House.
In Sumter and Clarendon counties.
are as household words
In the year 1869 Mr.. Jervey was
in the employ of that old time con-
servative merchant and excellent
citizen, Mr.. ]. T. Solomons, whose
death was SO much lamented. Mr..
Solomons introduced him to a gentle
man in 1878, Mr.. Clarence Knowles.
now an influential and permanent in.
surance man OF Atlanta, Ca, and re-
quested him to become his host, which
Mr.. Jervey did with his usual hos
pitality which has always character
lied him. His guest was so charmed
That on leaving he asked his host II
he could not do something for the
comfort and accommod dation of the
traVenng men. Mr.. Jervey stated
that 1t was almost impossible as he
did not have the requisite capital.
But the seed was planted, and the
energetic and indefatigable, our hon
ored host, bought out at IL O'Clock
the next day hotei situated on
Main street, in the old Hulbert's
brick house opposite the present
Sumter Hotel, with only one negro to
assist him, by the name Of Jacob
Middleton, since dead, and yet with
indormitable energy and industry, he
accommodated 80 guests nightly.
Later, that gallant soldier, patriot
ana gentleman, Gen. e. w. Noise.