Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-06-02
Col. j. j. Waters Dead.

Rock Hill special Of May 80, to the
News and Courier: Col. ]. ]. Waters,
former mayor and one Of Rock Hilrs
most prominent men, died suddenly at
his home this evening of heart trou-
BILE. He was about 65 years old, and
leaves a widow and four children. Col
Waters was born at Baton Rouge, in
Chester county, but his parents soon
after removed to the plantation four
and one-half miles southwest of this
city, where he was reared. His early
education was in the schools of the
neighborhood and was interrupted by
the war. He was a mere boy Of 16
when he entered the army the last
year o. the war, first going to Char
lesion and thence to Virginia and sur
rendering at Greensboro, N. c., with
Johnston's army. In the Red Shirt
campaign of 1876 he was very active
and he was highly honored by ap-
pointment as a colonel upon Governor
Hampton's staff. Afterwards Colonel
Waters studied law, and attending
Richmond college, was graduated from
that institution in 1881. After prac-
ticing in Rock Hill for several years
he entered the real estate business. in
which he has ever since continued. He
was married in 1885 to Miss Brice Of
Woodward, who died in 1896, leaving
two daughters and two sons. About
three years ago he was married to
Mrs. King of Greenwood, who, with all
Of the children by his first marriage,
survives him. Col. Waters was twice
mayor Of Rock Hill, was a member
Of the school board from the time Of
the organization of graded schools here
and was chairman Of the board at the
time of his death. He was a deacon in
the Baptist church and one Of its
strongest supporters. He was man
Of conviction in all things and with
the courage to carry 1t. In all things
in which he has been honored by his
fellow citizens he has been faithful
and true and this community will miss
him.
Some History Recalled.
Charlotte Chronicles: The Whining
ton Star copies from the Chronicle
some comments about the Kings
Mountain right gougers and
the possibility Of the Southern Power
company "sasshaying" around that
town. In connection, 1t recalls some
interesting history. Editor Harris"
the Star says, mo doubt remembers
what great storm there was when 1t
was proposed to build the Piedmont
now a link in the Southern's great
York. Today, the Piedmont outstrips
all portions of the south because Of
the construction of that railroad, the
one great factor which has brought
about a development that Is one Of the
marvels of the south's Industrial area.
Spartanburg and Greenville were
hardly on the map, while Gaffney, Gas
tonia, Kings Mountain and other pros
porous towns were never heard Of till
the trains began to thunder along and
awaken them to growth. Crossroads
have become thriving cities Of 10000
or more population, the country Is q
hive of industry, and 1t is the hives
of industry that the Dukes interurban
line proposes to connect with electric
railways. When the counties and
towns were stirred up on the question
of voting bonds to build the Air Line,
a very influential man In York county,
South Carolina, took the warpath
against bonds and carried the day
against the strong fight made for the
railroad by the lamented L. M. Grist,
of The Yorkville Enquirer. The re-
suit was that the Air Line skirted the
entire northern portion Of York coun-
ty and so the beautiful town Of York
vile was left an isolated victim to be
sapped by the growth of Gastonia,
Gaffney, Kings Mountain and perhaps
other places" 1t is fact. Yorkville
having held up the Air Line under the
belief that it had to come that way,
anyhow, the Air Line proceeded to take
an out of-the-way route instead Of
the direct line through Yorkville. 1t
lost time and distance, but, as the Star
says, developed big business towns.
When corporations like the Southern
Power company, or the Southern rail-
way, have choice of several different
routes, the town that undertakes to
gouge them, will simply find itself
left "