Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-10-03
JUDGE WILLIAM SMITH

1913.
| JUDGE WILLIAM SMITH
Only Man to Go from York County to
United States Senate.
The editorial statement reproduced
In the last issue Of The Enquirer that
Judge Smith Of Yorkville, was the
leader of the first successful revolution
against the political dominance Of the
city of Charleston and the Episcopal
church in South Carolina, gives pres
ent interest to the sketch Of Judge
Smith that was printed in DR.. Moore's
"Reminiscences Of York" This sketch
was as follows:
/ The limb Of the law" which first
engrafted its destinies with those Of the
| growing town, was Of material which
afterward formed strong plank in
the bench Of the state.
William Smith-later Judge Smith
was the first resident lawyer Of York
Vile. have always thought he was
from Lincoln, and am still under the
impression, though biographical
| sketch Of him published some years
ago by his granddaughter, says he al
ways spoke of himself as a South Car
Gilman; and she had a vague impress
sion that by the adjustment Of the
boundary lines between North and
South Carolina, his birthplace was
thrown from the latter into the former.
think IL she is correct in believing the
state Of his nativity changed by new
survey, It Is probable she got the facts
reversed.
A portion of York district formerly
belonged to North Carolina. 1t formed
a portion Of county called Tryon,
which also included the present coun-
ties Of CASTOR, Lincoln, Catawba, ETC.,
in its boundaries. The court house Of
Tryon was located near where the road
from Salisbury to Smiths ford. on
Broad river now crosses the road from
Yorkville to Lincolnton, known as the
Kings Mountain" road" For this To-
cality am indebted to Rev. s. L. Wat
son; but neither he nor can designate
the points Of lines which then formed
the boundary between North and South
Carolina.
Judge Smith received the first ele-
ments Of his Latin under DR.. Alexan-
der, but finished his course within the
time -honored walls Of Mount Zion col
lege, Winnsboro. That he was a man
of the first order Of intellect, the vari-
Gus positions of eminence to which he
was preferred, undoubtedly prove. His
career furnishes to young men a most
encouraging example, portraying the
strength and accuracy. Much Of his
effect of ambition, energy, persever-
ance and sobriety. His parents were
happily able to give him good educa-
ton and profession. His further patri-
mony was but good advice and bless
ing. Two young men who were his
contemporaries-Sim Taylor and
Bob Hill-dashed about in their sulkies
on the circuit, while Smith rode a
chunk of q horse, carrying saddle-bags
filed with law books. In the race Of
life, how far he ran aheadi They were
| the sons OF wealth and had not the
stimulus Of an empty purse to spur
them on and call out every faculty to
gain the goal. True, in the beginning,
there was little promise in the young
lawyer, of the future brilliancy of his
career, He was wild and dissipated.
Suddenly he was brought to consider
and mend his ways. a.
GaIloping his horse at full speed one
day, he came to the forks Of the road.
He wished to take one-the horse the
other. The result was the animal ran
up against tree, the force Of the shock
throwing both to the ground-the rid
Fer apparently lifeless. The effort to
restore consciousness by the compan-
ions Of his ride, were, for sometime
without effect, At last animation was
restored. but the injury received was
serious one, confining him for some
time; but he found the bed Of pain
profitable for 1t brought him to him.
self"
At the very time he got his hurt he
was determined to leave South Carroll
ma, In consequence Of trouble got into
through his misdemeanors, and had
matured his plans to do so. He was
thus prevented from carrying out his
design, his season Of reflection chang
ed his course, he determined on better
things and a new way Of living. He
was a man ever able to abide by firm
resolve, and long tide Of success re-
warded the arduous study and temper
ance of his after life.
For many years Judge Smith was a
member of the legislature from York,
and at the time of his election as judge
in 1908, filled the position Of president
of the senate In 1916 he was first
elected to the United States senate. In
1922 he was defeated by Robert Y.
Hayne for the United States senate.
His York friends showed their sympa-
thy and confidence by returning him at
their next election, member Of the
house of representatives.; and the fol-
lowing years in the house, he took
Prloleau's resolutions and changed
them.
In 1926 Judge Smith was again elect
ed to the United States senate to fill
the unexpired term of John Gaillard,
The doctrine of notification, about this
time, became the popular one Of South
Carolina, and Judge Smith being an
uncompromising Union man, was again
superseded in 1S30-this time by Ste
phen D. Miller His friends in the dis
trict of York, to soothe his wounded
ambition, elected him to the state sem
ate.
think of Judge Smith as one Of the
bitterest politicians I ever knew. His
temper naturally dogmatical. was
soured by the constant defeats Of his
party. He hated Mr.. Calhoun with Bit