The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1910-08-25

Il
born forty-two years ago on farm
in Newberrv County.
His father, Henry Fl. Blease, and
his fathers three broth:ss saw ser.
vice In the Confederate Army. Basil
Rlease, one Of these brothers, be-
cause of his daring bravery, was
steadily promoted from the position
of private to the rank of captain.
Henry H. Blease, the father Of the
subject of this sketch, married Mary
Livingston, of what is now Saluda
County, formerly Edgefeld. The LiV-
ingstons were. all farming people: The
four brothers of Mary Blease were
soldiers of the Confederacy. All the
Bleases and Livingstons were true
to the cause of Wade Hampton In
the days Of 'f6.
Cole L. Blease was admitted TO
the bar twenty-five years ago. He
soon became one of the leaders in
his profession, and he has contin-
uously enjoyed an excellent practice.
For the past fifteen years he has been
connected with many of the impor-
tant cases tried in Newberry County.
He has also been associated in i'm
portant cases in Saluda, Laurens,
Greenwood, Union, Lexington, Rich
land, Kershaw and Dorchester Coun-
ties. For two years he served as
city attorney of Newberry.
Mayor Blease was married geverol
years ago to Miss Lille Summers,
whose father, a farmer, resides in
Anderson County. Mrs. Blease's 8
father was a Confederate soldier,
her grandfather was in the Mexican
war, and her great-grandfather was
Capt. Philemon Waters, soldier OF
the Revolution. Being descended
from him, Mrs. Blease is a mem Der
of the Daughters Of American Revo-
luton.
{ When Cole L. Blease was a very
Young man he was chosen to repre-
sent Newberry County in the House
of Representatives. Twice he was
reelected, each time heading the
legislative ticket by a handsome ma
jority. In the House he was recog-
nized as a leader: and bcause Of his
ability as parliamentarian he was
twice selected as speaker pro tem.
In 1904 Mayor Blease was elected to
the State Senate from Newberry
County by a handsome majority, and
was chosen by the members OF the
Senate as president pro tenn. of that
body in 1907, serving in this capac-
ity for two years. He voluntarily
retired from the Senate with the
close of his term in 1908. He is
now Mayor of his home town, New
berry, having been elected to that
position in December, 1909.
For two years he was County
Chairman of the Democratic EXecu-
tive Committee. Several times in
succession he was elected by the
County Conventions as a delegate
to the State Conventions. For the
past twelve years he has represented
his County on the State Executive
Committee.
In politics Mayor Blease has al
ways been straight Democrat. Both
in 1896 and 1900 he was one Of the
presidential electors for William j.
BRYAN, the Democratic nominee for
the presidency.
Mr. Blease for many years has
been prominent in fraternal circles.
He is an Odd Fellow, Knight Of Py-
thias, Red Man, Elk and Woodman
of the World. He is a past chancel-
lor in the knights of Pythias, and
has been grand master and grand
Representative Of the Red Men.
Mayor Blcase ut Home.
There are no State campaign
meetings this week, the campaign
having been arranged so as to give
the candidates an opportunity to at
tend the Confederate reunion at
Spartanburg, and Mayor Blease
came home on Sunday and spent
yesterday in Newberry. He will go
to Spartanburg today.