Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-09-22
Formerly a Citizen of York.

Cameron, Texas, Herald, September
IA: On Monday morning at the early
hour of $40 the long life Of Mr.. ]. II.
w. Gill passed away in the home Of
his son, DR.. Gill in this city. Deceased
was born in York county, S. c., In
which state he received his education,
In Blairsville academy, then moved to
Arkansas at the age Of 20. On March
2. 1S5S, he married Miss Sarah E.
Steele of Camden, Ark, where they
lived for nearly fifty years. Six chill
dren were born to them, four sons and
two daughters. all Of whom, with their
mother survive him. whose death Is
the first in their family. He Is surviv-
ed also by nineteen grandchildren and
four great grandchildren. He was the
last member Of his fathers family all
Of whom lived to advanced old age.
Mr.. Gill was a member of the Cumber-
land Presbyterian church. He was a
Mason and during his active life at
tained the Royal Arch degree. During
the civil war, Mr.. Gill belonged to the
Arkansas division serving under Gen.
Cabel, from whom he received the
commission as lieutenant. He was
seriously wounded at the battle Of Mt.
Elba, Ark, and was rescued from the
battlefield by his faithful wife after
long, perilous night journey.
Opening of Winthrop.
Rock Hill, September 20: winthrop
college opened this morning with a
total enrolment of 7S0 pupils. the
largest in the history Of the college.
The opening exercises were held at 10
o'clock and were conducted by Presi-
dent D. B. Johnson with reading of
Scripture and a. song by the girls. af-
ter which Rev. w. J. Nelson, pastor of
the First Baptist church of this city,
made a very earnest prayer. Presi-
dent Johnson delivered a most inter-
esting address to the student body,
directing their attention especially to
the fact that their future and success
at the college would depend largely on
effort they put forth during the COL
lege course; that he wished them
much success and was ever ready to
assist and advise them in every way
nossble for their welfare. He then
introduced Mayor John T. Roddey of
this city, who made most forceful
hut short speech. welcoming the young
ladies to the city, and telling them
that Winthrop was the pride Of Rock
Hill and that DR.. Johnson was the best
college president in the United States.
President Johnson introduced Rev. E.
K. Hardin, pastor Of St. Johns Meth
odist Episcopal church of this city
and a former professor at Wofford
college, who extended a most cordial
welcome to the young ladies in behalf
of the churches Of the city, after which
the regular routine work was taken
up.
How They Were Tipped OFF.
Recurring to the memories revived
by the visit Of Sergeant McNeel. Of COM
pany c, 18th infantry. few days ago,
a Yorkville citizen who was perfectly
familiar with the events Of the early
70s said, And Benner-Lieutenant
Benner I knew him well. He was a
good hearted fellow. who had no SYM
pathy whatever with the wholesale a.
rests of the so-called Ku-Klux. He
got quite intimate with a number Of
our Yorkville people. His closest
friend. probably, was the late Thomas
J. Bell. They were very close. Ben
ner would visit Bell at his Office or his
house and that night Bell would go on
his horse and perhaps ride all night.
Next day we would get information
maybe Of a half dozen or a dozen
prominent citizens who had suddenly
disappeared from their homes. The
Information came through the clrcum-
stance that a squad Of soldiers had
been aroused to arrest them and they
could not be found. Just what con-
nection the matter may have had with
the circumstance Of Benner's visit to
Bell. Of course, it might have been diff
ficult to say: but nobody ever had
much doubt that Bells visit to them
had a very material influence on the
situation. AS to whether Merrill ever
saw what the rest of us saw, I do not
know: but the presumption is that he
did not Except for the activity of Mr..
Bell, the probability is that there
would have been a good many more
arrests than there were"