The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-08-08
The Last Of the Great Co,1,tUe17tjo,,
Col Robert Thompson Wasn, Conven
ion that Passed the Ordinance o Secession in December

| ton that Passed
Walhalla. August 7.-Colonel Robert
Anderson Thompson died at his home
here at 1890 Friday. after an illness
of several weeks. The funeral SER
vices will be held from the Presbyter-
Ian church Sunday morning at II
O'Clock. Services will be conducted
by his pastor. the Rev. Geo. M. Wilcox.
Colonel Thompson's wife preceded
him by several years. He. leayes the
following children: Mrs. w. u. Row
land, Taylorsvilie, N. ca; Miss Sadie
Thompson. Walhalla: CT. Thompson,
Charlotte, N. c.; p. r.. TilCnpson,
Woodruff; F. S. Thompson, Anderson.
The following grandchildren were
reared at Col. Thompson's home; r.
I. Keys. Savannah; Mrs. Marvin Phin-
ney, West Union; H. B, Keys Homo
lulu; Joel p. Keys, Walhalla. All of
the above except H. B. Keys will at
tend the funeral.
The death of Col. Thompson has
been expected for days. 1t was re-
markable how man in his eighty
seventh year could hold out 30 long,
yet his death is a sorrow to every
body. He was man whom everybody
revered. He was sent to the lcgisla-
ture from this county after he was rs
years of age.
Sketch Of His Life.
r. A. Thompson was born in Pickens
county, June 13, 1928. His father,
Capt. Chas Thompson, q native of
Union county. died at the advanced.
age Of II. Col. r. A.'Thompson spent
his childhood dayc on farm, and at
the age of IA he entered the office of
the Pendleton Messenger, established
IN 1907. There he served a four years.
In 1S49 Col. Thomp-
son acquired an interest in the paper
In 1853 he went to Pickens. where he
established the Keowee Courier. Ho,
has been connected with this, splendid
county paper until year or two. ago,
and until 1868 was its sole owner ano
editor. In the latter year he moved
the paper to Walhalla.
In 1853 he was elected commission
er in equity for Pickens county, sery-
ing In that capacity until 1868, when
the office was discontinued by leglsla-
tive enactment. ~.
In 1860 he was a member of the Sc
cessfon convention, and in 1861 enter
ed the Confederate service as captain
OF Company B, Second South Carolina
regiment. In the fall Of 1862 he was
promoted to lieutenant colonel, having
commanded his company. with singu-
lar courage In the battle of Seven
Pines. Late. in 1863 be resigned his
commission on account OF i'll health,
and he was never able to re-enter the
army.
In 1872 he was admitted to the bar,
associating himself, with Judge Sam
Mel MCGOWAN. He divided his time
between law and Journalism and: was,
unusually successful in each profess
sion. x j.
=. In 1876 through. the press and on the
stump he exertea his Influence fo-
democracy and mas In many cam
patgnE been chairman OF the county
democratic executive committee. He
stands high in Masonry In the state.
and; has for years been a staunch and
devout Presbyterian. -
I (The following sketch and Interview
with Col. Robt. Anderson Thompson
was published several yenrs ago,. the
author being Pierre II. Fike, at that
Time q we'll known new spaper writer,
and now postmaster nj Spnrtanburg. }
It's. the little things of everyday
lifo. trtfing. indeed, within them-
selves. that make the children OF mem
the dice OF destiny. Just 72 years
ago a, small barelooted Z. boy s. was
blowing q mule In O South Carolinas
new, ground, within. three miles OF: the
un-c country home OF John CaldwelE
Calhoun, The ploughshare /. stuck
deep into an: old stump and there was
an abrupt pause to the proceedings.
Tho mule couldns bulge, the etumU
wouldn't nudge: and the lad stuck ito
! tho, plow handles That was the.
first time In his life that this ploW hoy
HAD struck a snag. He urged !. tho
mule on. and with q great effort the
animal made headway, distntegrating
the rotten stumpa and spiIlinR the
pIOW and fts driver aIl about the field.
Tho boy- picked himself up, some 40
Yards away, then picked the parts OF
the Splow up out OF tha new ground,
+ aud led sthsf mule book home. Z He
told: his mother that The WASH t cut out
sor g Iagmer, and gaent nsoceed.:
no farthey and q I'D that q ;hs W Waa sgSins Gin ITO to
i1,sndle Teton fa g, y.as lew sfni iest away
and learn the printer IL trads in the
|oficS OF the Penife fet01s Messenger. s. 4
Hag the 2syear-di pfoWboy stuck
Ito the t1pb. he would Doubt less, have
shfsS SploW ttis the Held !, kept ID
wary eye out for sha ss,S learned well.
Ethn lesson OF sbreak Ding up the coil, and
made q successful, independ lent tar.
mar winding up his rural & life ina
small sfnrmhouse$ With g small comps-
itahce the righteous fruit .of industry
land thrift, lust g good, quiet, unobtru-