The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-02-02
,Iished 1874. $500 the Year. Tri-Weekly.
GRAVE OF DISTINGUISHED
SON is FOUND IN A
ABANDONED CEMETERY
Stephen Decatur Miller, Governor
Of South Carolina, United
States Senator and State
Legislator

in an ancient and abandoned ceme-
terry in little Mississippi town of a
distinguished son of South Carolina,
Stephen Decatur Miller, one who
was a member of both branches OF
the State Legislature, member of
the Congress of the United States
Governor of the State of South
Carolina and United States Senator
from the Palmetto State-has been
made by the Rev. DR.. W. H. Frazier,
formerly pastor of the First Presby-
terian church of Anderson and now
president of Belhaven College, at
Jackson, Miss.
Copying the inscription found on
the tomb. DR.. Frazier forwarded a
transcript of it to his friend, G.
Pierce Browne, publisher of the
Anderson Daily Mail. In an accom-
panying letter, DR.. Frazier talks in
.terestingly of his discovery of the
grave of this illustrious son of
South Carolina who has been sleep
ing there for eighty-three years. DR..
Frazier's letter reads:
"Mr. G. P. Browne, Publisher,
"The Anderson Daily Mail,
"Anderson, South Carolina.
"My Dear Pierce:
every frequently my duties call
me away from the city for the week
end, such was the case this past
weekend. 1 was sojourning in Ray
mond, Miss, only few miles below
Jackson and one of the oldest towns
in the State. The balmy air and
warm sunshine called me out during
Sabbath afternoon, and as I strolled
along I entered an old cemetery,
and CHANGED to run upon tomb
stone whose inscription revealed
the fact that underneath it's cover
lay the mortal remains of a dis
tinguished South Carolinian.
with my unfagging love for the,
old Palmetto State, I paused and
read carefully the inscription,
which also copied; and I placed
upon the slab a sprig of evergreen,
as a tribute of respect to one who
had figured so conspiciuously in the
early years of the political history
of our dear old State. 1 did this for
myself and also for the State, which
I am sure would delight to honor it's
distinguished son.
"The grave is very neatly kept,
although in an old and now unused
cemetery, and the very fact of the
cutting away of underbrush and
weeds by the people of Raymond re-
yeals a love for South Carolina
which is tender and beautiful.
81 am appending hereto the in
scription, which I copied and one
that may be of interest to you and
your readers.
"With all hearty, sincere good
wishes, I am,
Yours abidingly,
"W. H. Frazier
jackson, Miss, Jan. FL, 1921"
The inscription appearing upon
the tomb of this native Carolinian
reads:
"In memory Of Stephen Decatur
Miller, who was born in Lancaster
District, South Carolina, on the
tenth day of May, 1888, and died in
Raymond, Mississippi, on the eighth
day Of March, A. D., 1887, aged so
years.
"In his native State he had held
public positions of the highest trust.
He had been a member of both
branches of the State Legislature.
In 1918, a member Of the Congress
of the United States. In 1880, the
Governor of South Carolina. In
1881, the United States Senator
from South Carolina. All his public
duties were discharged with signal
ability and faithfulness of noble
qualities; gifted with an uncommon
mind, he was also brave and gener-
Gus, a devoted husband, a tender