Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1914-08-12
COL. ROBT. A. THOMPSON
is CALLED TO HIS REWARD
Aged and Honored Citizen of Oconee Passed Away
Last Friday-End Came Peacefully, Without Pain or
Suffering Was in His 8 9Th Year-Oconee Mourns-
Faneral Sunday Morning Largely Attended.

81 -------
ColS Robert Anderson Thompson,
soldieE patriot and honored citizen
-"Oconee's Grand Old Man"-died
at his home near Walhalla last Fri
day morning at II o'clock. He suf-
fered from no disease, but the raw
ages Of time and the infirmities of
age had wrought their work Of de-
struction and the venerable gentle
man Tor weeks past had calmly re-
signed himself to the inevitable,
waiting patiently the end, ready to
answerSand to go whenever the sum-
mons might come.
Funeral services were held at the
Walhalla Presbyterian church Sun
day morning at II o'clock, conducted
by ReS, G. NJ. Wilcox, the pastor. The
church was not large enough to ac-
commpdate all who came to attend
the 'fpneral. The interment took
place Immediately after the service,
the large congregation assembled in
and around the church following the
remains to Westview Cemetery,
where all tina. was mortal Of Col.
Thompson was tenderly lowered to
its last resting place by the side of
hi wife, who had preceded him to
the grave several years. The service
at the grave was in charge Of the
Masonic fraternity, there being
large number of members of that Or
der present. Among the visiting
Masofts present, were Judge Thos. J.
Mauldin, Of Pickens; Frank H. Shir-
ley, usWestminster; J. G. Shearer,
Of Anderson. There were many beau
N OF
which Vas banked with flowers and
floral emblems at the close Of the
service. The active pail bearers
were Judge j. w. Holleman, w. l..
Vernef, ] b. S. Dendy, James f.
NeviiIa Wade G. Hughs and George
asSeai = sesets 1sha hon aryy pail bearers
were Dr. j, w. Bell, Dr. J.W. Wick
life, E. r. Lucas, w. A. Strother, j.
w. Shelor, VIM. J. Stribling, r. II.
Jaynes, c. r. d. Burns, ]. A. Steck,
f. A. H. Schroeder. e. l.. Herndon and
J. R. Earle.
Col. Thompson is survived by three
sons and two ughters-Robert S.
Thompson, of Anderson; Charles J.
Thompson, of Charlotte, N. c.; Pick
ems r. Thompson, OF Woodruff; Miss
Hadie Thompson, of Walhalla, and
Mrs. w. T. Rowland, of Taylorsville,
n. C. To the bereaved ones The
Courier joins with thousands of 9TH
ers here and elsewhere in extending
sympathy in their sorrow. Oconee
mourns the loss Of this good man in
marked degree.
A Brief Life Sketch.
Robert Anderson Thompson, the
subject of this sketch, was born in
Pickens District, South Carolina, on
the 18th day Of June, 1928, and was
therefore at the time Of his death
passing into his S7th year. Combin-
ed in his remarkable character were
those sterling qualities which made
for the highest attainments as SOL
dier, statesman, lawyer and citizen,
and in his every sphere of activity
from young manhood to ripened
years he was never found to falter or
turn back where duty called or the
prOmDtings Of an ever active con-
science directed. For long years Col.
Thompson had been known as "Oco-
nee's Grand Old Man." and the hon
ored title was fittingly bestowed and
wOrthily worn. He was a grand old
man in every sense Of the term. Hon
est, honorable, conscientious, his
every act and thought seemed to bear
the stamp of mature deliberation and
thoughtful study, and it was this
characteristic that gained for him the
highest appreciation Of his OPINIONS
and guiding counsel in all matters
pertaining to politics and local gov
ernment, in matters OF State and
church and in the everyday affairs
in this section, which had been his
home for so many years. In his
passing away it is not an eXaggera-
tion to say that Oconee has lost her
most honored citizen, and that the
country as a whole mourns deeply
and sincerely. At the close Of a
long and useful life he has been
gathered to his fathers full Of years
and honors," and hundreds there are
who can say that his life had proved
blessing and an inspiration to at
tainment toward the higher ideals
and the better things OF life.
Was self-NIade Man.
Col. Thompson was in the true
sense OF the word a self-made mar.
In the sparsely settled section Of the
State where he was born and reared
to young manhood there were few
educational advantages to be had
even under the best of circumstances,
and by reason of this fact his early
education was perforce neglected.
Yet he was ambitious to learn and
grasped every opportunity that came
his way to educate himself, and by
dint OF perseverance, coupled with
the meagre opportunities offered in
the old field schools Of his early days,
he attained sufficient knowledge to