Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-04-05
JOSEPH WARREN T0LBERT
New Referee Of South Carolina Pat.
f0ndge.
HAS LONG RECORD OF LOYAL SERVICE

Something About the Personality and
Record of Man Who Has Remain
ed True to His Colors Through Long
Years Of Better Political Feeling, to
Find Vindication at Last.
The following familiar appreciation
of Joe w Tolbert, the leader of the
recognized element Of the Republican
party in South Carolina, is from the
Columbia State of yesterday:
] met up with Joe Tolbert Oh the
train. was glad of the meeting for
wished to talk with him about the
old Star fort at Cambridge near
Ninety-Six: This land is owned by'
Jos. Tolbert, and it should be owned
by the state of South Carolina and
should be preserved as one Of the i'm
portant battle grounds of the Revo!u-
tion. Joe is the Republican referee
in South Carolina. Usually referee
is the chief justice Of fistic bout or
the head undertaken of q football
holocaust, but in this case the referee
Flis onerous duties are TO see that
federal appointments are filled by the
true and the good-the same being
men who can give the high sign OF
the G.. O. =. according to the referees
liking. And Joe Tolbert has his like
especially his dislikes. BY the way,
his middle name is Warren. Every
body these days who has a middle
name like that is digging it out Of the
attic and brushing it UP.
The first time | ever met Joe Toll
bert was in 1asS, just on the heels of
the election riots at Phoenix, near
Vardery in Greenwood county. Col.
John r. Tolbert, father Of Joe and
Red and Tom Tolbert, had been pain
fully wounded, his entire head and
body being sprinlSled with birdshot,
and he was brought TO the Old
Wright's hotel for surgical attention.
Feeling against the Tolberts WAS run
ming very high. got an interview
with the picturesque leader Of the
clan. He was proppcd up in bed, his
patriarchal beard was stained with
his own blood, his arms and hands
were bandaged, and his eyes from be-
meath n turban Of gnuze, glared and
glittered, and flashed like falcons
he was a glnecock-bruised, blooded.
handagcd, ostracsed, Stunned and at
that time hated. But he was full OF
''pep" as well rs wounds, and his in
domitable spirit showed itself.
gathered some facts of family history
from Joe Tolbert.
Came From Ireland.
Robert Tolbert came to America
from County Antrim, Ireland and was
one Of the pioneer settlers Of New
berry county, US '"Tolbcrt's old field"
yet-+in the possession Of the Tolhcrt
family. Old Robert was a. Presbyter-
ian Irishman, with will and way
of his own. He and all Of his de-
scendants have always been Union
men, although John r. Tolbert when
the time came made Il good Confer
crate soldier John r. Tolbcrt grad
uated from the South Carolina college
with honors in q class Of men after
wards distinguished. He was state
superintendent Of education under q
Republican administration. He sent
his sons Joe and Red to the Prcsby-
terian college at Walhalla, Adger COL
lege. it was called. Col. Tolbert's sons
all followed him in political align
ments. Joe, or J. Warren Tolbert is n
mixture Of amiability and reticcncc
and shrewdness and his main chalnc-
teristic is tenacity. He has been Il
member of the national Republican
committee for 1G years. and in that
time he has rubbed elbows with the
big men Of the party. One Of his first