Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1911-03-09
the solemnity of the occasion
was most imDresSive

nc cil CNluCIlSS vi tIle lTlDuSS
which the people of Fort Mill
wished to pay the memory of
Capt. White the cotton mills were
shut down for the day, the stores
and bank were closed and there
was suspension of the usual
exercises at the graded school.
When the funeral procession
passed through Main and Booth
streets every head was bowed
and when it reached the Presby-
terian church the crowd in wait
ing was composed of several hun
dred men, women and children.
Not more than half of those who
wished to witness the impressive
funeral exercises were able to
gain admittance to the church.
Many beautiful floral tributes,
sent by friends from both the
Carolinas, were banked about the
pulpit, these being taken to the
grave after the exercises in the
church. The pulpit was occupied
by five ministers: The Rev. DR..
j. B. Mack, the Rev. w. A. Haf-
ner, pastor of the Fort Mill
Presbyterian church; the Rev.
DIR. Chalmers Fraser of the First
Presbyterian church of Lancas-
ter; the Rev. DR.. J. H. Boldridge
of the First Baptist church of
Lancaster, and the Rev. Nj. Nj.
Brabham of the First Methodist
church of Lancaster. The funeral
oration was by DR.. j. B. Mack,
years ago pastor of Capt. White
and always devoted friend. DR..
Mack's tribute to Capt. White
was beautiful in it's simplicity.
He spoke of him as the father
of Fort Mill"
We'll it is, said he, that the
hum of machinery is hushed. that
all places of business are closed
in honor of him who lies before
us in his last sleep. Successful
as a farmer, he detained young
men here and encouraged others
to come here by enterprises which
he organized. He conceived the
idea of bank and made it what
1t is. He conceived the idea of a
cotton mill and made Fort Mill a
manufacturing town. His mind,
heart and purse were ever ready
to help this place, which was his
chief pride. He was the man
who has made Fort Mill unique
In the South, in some things hav-
ing no rival. Here through Capt.
Whites gifts and influence was
erected the first monument in
the South to the women of the
Confederacy, also to the Confed-
crate soldier, to the faithful
slaves, and Jointly with the late
j. M. Spratt to the red men
(the Catawba Indians) who were
the friends of the Confederate
soldiers. Not dollar for these
monuments was given outside of
Fort Mill, and only those gave
who wanted to. Confederate
park, Fort Mill, S. c., tells the
history of the races that is made
known in no other place in the
land. We ought to honor Capt.
Whites memory for he loved
this town. He was a wide-awake
citizen, and a Southern gentle
man. He was self-assertive and
often imperious with his fellow
man, but always humble before
his God. Such a strong character
as his had strong temptations.
but he met and conquered them.
The father and mother passed,
his wife and child were taken
from his home, but never from his
heart. Chastened but strength
ened and purified by these af-
flictions, he comes now to Law
down his life, hidden in Christ
in death"
The hymns sung were How
Firm a Foundation, " Asleep in
Jesus" and Il would Not Live
Always. After the benediction
the casket was opened and all
present were given the oppor-
tunity to look for the last time
upon the face of this soldier of
the Confederacy, this gentleman
OF the old South. who did so much
for Fort Mill. In the audience
were a score of Capt. Whites
army camrades. Some of these
old men had walked several miles
to attend his funeral.
After the white people in at
tendance upon the funeral had
passed the bier, the colored peo-
pie were permitted to look upon
Marse Sans" face. Many of
these had worked upon Capt.
Whites plantatiOns and fuo of