Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-12-19

Gastonia Gazette, Dec. 16: Mr.. l..
E.. KendricR, who recently received
his discharge from the navy with. rank
of chief petty officer. Is spending some
time here on n visit to his mother,
Mrs. Lula Kendrick..-.... The many
friends of Mr.. j. J. Gamble, who lives
in the Pisgah section near Linwood
College, will regret! exceedingly to
learn that there is little change in his
condition. For the past ten days he
has been critically ill.............John Wes-
ley Gather died at the home OF his
daughter, Mrs. a. l.. Bol!ek, Mt the
,parsonaSre of Chapel Lutheran church,
cast of the city, last night at Q o'clock
following n brief illness aged so
.years.... Misses Clara and Virginia
Armstrong, of Belmont, who were in
jurcd in an automobile accident two
weeks. ago, are improving. rapidly.
Miss Virginia is able TO walk. Miss
Clara, who suffered a broken limb, is
regaining strength satisfactorily and
will soon be able TO sit up.--..Bcnja-
min f. Martin. d. D., one OF the best
known colored ministers i'll this sec
tion and a leader Of his. race in CASTOR
county, died at o'clock Sunday ,nornt
ing at his homo on Union Square, this
city, following an illness of, only three
weeks from uraemic poisoning. Prior
to his final illness he had been in fail
ing health but continued to perform
his duties as pastor of Moore's Chapel
A. M. L. Zion church ct Salisbury.
Funeral services were held at o'clock
this afternoon at; st. Stephens AN. K.
Zion church here, tBishop r. B. Bruce
OF Charlotte, officiating. The burial
was under the direction of the Mason
ic Lodge, Bishop Bruce officiating in
the capacity of the Grand Master of
the state. Bishop Clinton was to have
conducted the funeral but was unable
to reach here in time. The funeral
was perhaps the most largely attend
ed of any colored cit!zen in the history
Of the town. Benjamin +. Martin was
born in Union county, S. c., Decem-
ber S, 1854. After attending school he
entered Benedict College at Columbia,
s. c., where he received his collegiate
education. Later he attended Lincoln
University at Chester. Pa, where he
received his theological training.
Thirty-one years ago he came to Gas
tonia and made his home here since. He
established Martins Chapel A. NJ. e.
Zion church which was later changed
to st. Stephens church. He was for
four years presiding cider Of the Wins
ton district. Last year he was made
pastor of Moore's Chapel at Salisbury
and went to that place each week to
conduct services. He was recent
reappointed to that work for an
other year. He was prominent in
fraternal circles. Of the state, being n
Mason, shriner and q member of the
Odd Fellows, knights Of Pythias,
Household Of Ruth, Eastern Star,
Court of Calanthe and other frater-
nal bodies. For many years Martin
was a leader among his people in po-
Iitical affairs. He was conservative
leader Of his race and his life counted
for much in shaping their affairs here.
He was industrious owning his own
home and carrying considerable life in
surance. He was held in este en- not
only by his own people but by the
white people of his town also. In his
death the colored citizens of the town
lose leader whom they could i'll af-
ford to spare.