The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-07-08
MEL Vim [. KINARD
CLAIMED BY DEATH
cOLUMBIA's OLDEST MERCHANT
DIES AT HOME
Had Been in lil Health Since the
Death Of His Wife a Year Ago.
Confederate Veteran

OH EkltWOOU avenue yesterday diCS1-
noon at 2:30 o'clock after long i'll
ness, He was 81 years of age, hav.
ing been born in Newberry county
May 9, ,1S40~ He came to Columbia
at the age Of II, and except for the
period of the Confederate war, he
has been connected continuously with
the business life of Columbia since
1857, at which time he entered the
dry goods store of his brother, the
late John Henry Kinard.
Mr.. Kinard's paternal ancestor
came to America from Germany, was
an American soldier during the Revo-
luton, and settled upon land given
him Sy the government. The parents
Of Melvin L. Kinard were John G.
and Elizabeth Harmon Kinard. His
father died in 1889, at the age of 81
years.
His War Record
In the winter of 1S60-S1 Melvin L.
Kanard joined the colors with his
company. the Richland Volunteers,
one OF the first companies: taken into
service. He, Witnessed. the firing on
Fort Sumter and throughout the war,
beihs surrendered, st Goidsboro, N.
e:,sas the very aast OF tie war. After
the conclusion of The six months en-
lnfsdent with the IRiehlsnd Volnn-
tesrs, he Joined She Darlington Rifles
oStaassns, Fhifa South Carolina reg:
isishs, kila this company participated
lathe htst Battle Of Bal1 Run. He
nsss soon afterwafds 1invahded' on ac-
c:bufrt Of pneumonia, and sent to the
cbsst. sIfe Joined Person s company
ifshs TRenty-fonrth South Carolina;
uadsr Col. G. q: Stevens. and was
Nth this command in time to partiei
pats in. the Battle of secessiensvlse.
Bis regiment was chen transferred to
theWestern army Under: Gen. Joseph
f. Johnston. Among the campaigns
and battles in which he participated
Wsfe: Fort Sumter and Bull Run IN
1851; james Island and secesicns-
viits,t 1862; campaign in Mississippi,
1893; campaign of Hood and Johnston
iht tennessee, Georgia and Alabama
in,18es. and 1854, including the bat
ties of Chickamauga, Missionary
Ridge, the long fighting retreat from
paNon to Atlanta and Franklin and
Nashville.
Mr.. Kinard was first lieutenant Of
his company at the close. Of the war;
and his worth as soldier is illus
trated by an incident in the retreat
toward Atlanta. His regiment, as
pickets covered the retreat OF Wal
kers division. The supply of .parch-
ed'corn in the haversacks Of the men
had been exhausted for some hours,
hut under orders Col. Ellison Capers,
commanding the Twenty-fourth reg
imeft, held back the overpowerlng
n,,rnber Of the Union forces until
DAYLIGHT: The enemy then closed in
but were driven back BY a spirited
charge. until the Confederates could
cross a river.
E%ssLieutenant Kinard had been quite
az for several days, but declined to
leave his company. In a fainting
condition he reported to Colonel Cap
ers. and presented his sword asking
that it be saved from capture. Colonel
,Capers declared that Lieutenant kln-
ard was much too valuable an offlcer
70 fall into the hands Of the enemy
90 he dismounted and himself pro-
ceeded on foot, requiring Lieutenant
x;nard to ride to safety. This Colo
no, Capers was afterward brigadier
general, and after the war blsnoe
Capers. ~,
At the conclusion of the war, Mr.
K;nard returned to his fathers plan
+,+;on in Newberry county ana curing
+be summer of 1865 assisted in put
t;no in the crops. After this he came
n Columbia and engaged in buying
cotton for some factors. He saved
some $500 in gold and decided to &c
into the clothing business. He IN
vested $500 in erecting store ouho
ing on Plain street, now Hampton
near Main. The remaining 500 pail
the freight on stock of goods wnlcl
ne was able to get on credit. HI
business prospered from the very De
ginning, and increased steadily uns'
Mt one time he was recognized as tn