The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1918-07-09
SKETCH OF SENATOR
TILLMAN'S LIFE
Served 4 Terms in Senate-As
Chairman of Senate Committee on
Naval Affairs He Did Splendid
Work.

Benjamin Ryan Tillman was born
in Edgefield County on August II,
1847 . He received an academic ed
ucation under the instruction of
George Galphin, at Bethany, not far
from his home, quitting school in
July, 1854, to join the Confederate
army. He was, however, stricken
with severe illness, which caused the
loss of his left eye and kept him an
invalid for two years.
His father had died when his son
and namesake was but two years of
age and the future Senator, vas
brought up by his mother, a woman
of very strong character, whose in
fuence upon his life could be COM
pared only to that of his wife's. He
had access to good books and was
an omniverous reader. He was also
fond of outdoor sports and, grow
ing up On a plantation of eighty
slaves. had abundant opportunity
for INDUCING his tastes in this d.
rection. =,
in 1866, at the age of nineteen,
young Tillman assumed the manage
ment of his mothers farm in Edge
field County, but shortly afterwards,
she bought a farm in Florida, to-
which. he also removed in 1857. The!
year following he was married to-
Sally Starks, of Ebert County, Ga.i
His devotion to her through the
years has been a thing remarked by
all who knew him. A woman of very
forceful personality, she has taken
the most active and constant inter-
est in all his affairs and in every
crisis he has turned to her for adj.
vice. =.
Senator Tillman is survived by
Mrs. Tillman and five of the six
children born Of their union: Bent
jamin Ryan Tillman, Jr., Capt. Hen4
ry G.. TilIman, Mrs. Iona Tillmar
Moore, Mrs. Sophie Tillman Hughes
and Mrs. Sally May Tillman ShulerI
The eldest daughter, Miss Addie
Tillman,. was killed by a stroke OF
lightning, years ago, while standing
beneath a tree under which she and
several companions had taken SHELF
ter. .
How He Started His Career.
The climate Of Florida not agree
ing with MI. Tillman, and his health
failing, he returned to South Caro-
lima to take up farming again in
Edgefeld. At this time there was
NO thought whatever in his mind Of
turning to public life. In the eigh-
ties, however, the price of cotton
was so low, a great many farmers
were in a bad way, and Capt. Till
mamie had headed a militia COM
panty for several years-had con-
siderable difficulty in Augusta where
he traded, in making financial ar.
rangements to carry him on. Great
" depressed in spirits and worried
about the future, he reached the
conclusion that his real trouble, and
that of most of the farmers he knew
was that they did not know their
business. "What we need" he said
to himself, "is agricultural educa-
tion," and when he got home he
Immediately sat down and wrote a
letter to The News and Courier urg-
ing that the State take in hand the
matter of fitting the farmers OF
South Carolina for doing their work
competently and looking after their
affairs intelligently, as the quickest
and surest means of promoting the
prosperity of the Commonwealth.
This was in 1886 and when Capt
Tillman began his agitation ne mad
no intention of going into politics.
He had never made a speech and did
not believe that he could make one
He could write with good effect, how
and the conditions of the times
favored the movement which ne had
initiated. AS time passed Capt. Till
man found himself the leader OF an
-.1.al ,voc rnfhInO SnOrCI