The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1917-11-08
DEATH OF AUDITOR ROWELL.
Prominent Banberg Citizen Passed
Away Monday Morning.

figure in the public life of our COM
munity passed away Monday morning
when death claimed Mr.. Robert Wal
ter Dixon Rowell at his home in this
city. Mr.. Rowell had been in i'll
health for a number of years, and
although the end had apparently
been near many times recently, he
clung to life with almost superhuman
vigor until his vitality was fairly
sapped away. Mr.. RoWell was "a
years old, and was among the best
known citizens of the county. He
was universally admired and liked
by all, both old and young, black and
white. In his death the county has
sustained the loss OF a faithful pub
lie official, capable in every detail,
and efficient to the letter, as his past
records will show. The community
has lost a high-toned Christian gen.
! tleman, and he has left spotless
character and life we'll spent as a
priceless heritage to his family.
Robert Walter Dixon Rowell was
born on September 10, 1853, in Mar
ion county, South Carolina, the son
of the Rev. and Mrs. C. D. Rowell,
his father being a Methodist minister.
In August, 1879, he was married to
Miss Susan Adelaide McRoy, daugh-
ter of the Rev. and Mrs. John w. Nc
Roy. her father also being Method
ist minister of the South Carolina
| conference To this union eleven
| children were born, two of whom are
dead.
In 1888 Mr.. Rowell moved to Gra-
hams, now Denmark, in what was at
that time Barnwell county. There he
opened up a general merchandise bus
mess and also became postmaster
After only a few years thus spent,
he was elected magistrate, and then
he and a brother began together the
publication Of a weekly newspaper
called the Graham News, and later
changed to the Denmark Times, when
the name of the town was changed.
The present Bamberg County Times,
now being published by Mr.. Rowells S
son, Mr.. w. D. Rowell, originated
from this paper, and has been con-
tinuously published since.
In 1900, after being elected audi
tor and county superintendent of ed
ucation, Mr.. Rowell with his family
moved to Bamberg. Thus he has
been a citizen of this county for "a
years. Although his term of office
as auditor and superintendent of ed
ucation only lasts two years each
time, and he has constantly had
strong opposition, each time he has
apparently easily defeated his oppo-
nents by decisive majorities, and has
continuously held these Offices for
the past II years. This is a sufficient
tribute to his worth and competency
as an officer with loyal devotion to
his duty. He gave the greater part
of his life to the service of his peo-
pie, and this fact was recognized by
the people of the county in the last
campaign. Although he had been
physically unable to personally at
tend to the duties of the office for
some time and was prevented by the
dreadful disease which gripped him
from making the rounds of the cam
paign, still he was renominated in
the 1916 primaries by a SUBSTANTIAL
majority
He enjoyed a bright, sunny dispo-
sition, and always had cheerful
smile and word for those with whom
he came in contact. He was life
long member of the Methodist church
and lived the part we'll. He also be-
longed to the Masons and the Knights
of Pythias, and was buried with K.
of P. honors.
Mr.. Rowell had realized for some
time that he could not hold out for
life against such terrible odds, and
several months ago made the request
that the following named gentlemen
act as pallbearers for his funeral:
Messrs. G. A. Jennings, H. c. Folk,
C. G.. Rowell and D. J. Delk, of Bam-
berg: H. C. Rice, of Denmark; H. B.
Grimes, of Lees; w. B. Chitty, OF
Olar; I. D. Copeland, of Ehrhardt;
and J. H. Fender, of Hunters Chap
ell. He further requested at the same
time that the honorary pallbearers
consist of all the Confederate veter-
ans of the county. The funeral SER
vices were conducted by the Rev. E.
@. Watson, D. D., from Trinity Meth
odist church at two o'clock Tuesday.
The burial was held imediately there