The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-11-09
Death.

Sumter was shocked and grieved
Sunday night by the announce
ment of the sudden death at his
home on Broad street Of John II.
Clifton, state senator from SUM-
ter county and one Of the leaders
of the local bar Mr.. Clifton had
not been we'll for several months
and while his sudden death was
shock to his friends it was not al
together a surprise to those who
knew that he had continued to at
tend to large practice and business
interests day after day although too
indisposed to do so. Saturday night
he became much worse and he was
under the care Of his physician
continuously until the end came at
1880 o'clock Sunday night. Death
was due to heart disease.
The funeral was held from his
late residence on Broad street at
q O'Clock Monday afternoon. AS a
mark of respect stores and other
houses were closed from $3.50 to 5
o'clock during the funeral. The
Sumter Bar Association attended in
a body. The services were con-
Quoted by Rev. j. W. Daniel. pastor
Of Trinity Methodist church. The
following were the pail bearers:
Active, c. P. Exum, William Built
man, r. D. Graham, w. G. Boyle. F.
A. Mcleod, H. l.. Scarborough. L.
D. Jennings. j. B. Britton; Hon
orary, D. D. Noise, DR.. +. R. VIII
son. r. O. Purdy, A. S. Merrimon,
J. J. Britton. c. l.. Stubs, Man
ming Brown, H. .. Noise. J. l..
Brogdon, I. C. Strauss, L. E. Wood.
Geo. D. Levy.
Besides his wife, who before her
marriage. was Miss Elizabeth Law
Of Elliott. this county, he is sur
vived by four sons: John, Sbep-
pard, Wayne and Poinsett. The
eldest is but - years Old He is
also survived b ytwo brothers and
three sisters: DR.. Jess Clifton and
Sam c. Clifton Of Orangeburg: Mrs.
j. L. Stokes Of Orangeburg, Mrs. L..
r. Camp of Birmingham. Ala. and
Mrs. Clarence H. Wrinkles Of
Brooklyn, n. Y.
The death of Senator Clifton cast
deep gloom over the community
An able lawyer. he was known
throughout the state and he
had represented his county in the
general assembly almost contin-
uously since his first election in
1902. At that time he was elected
to the lower house. After serving
two terms. he was elected to the
state senate in 1905, where he re-
NAMED until 1914. He was re-
elected to the senate in 1918. which
term he was now serving. AS a
parliamentarian. he had few equals
in either house during his long ten
ure of service.
Senator Clifton was born at
Batesburg December 6. 1876. He
was the son of the late Rev. j. a
Clifton, we'll known Methodist
minister. He attended the public
schools in various parts Of the state
and later entered the University of
South Carolina. from which he was
graduated in law in 1898. He
served in the Spanish American
war. being a member of the heavy
battery recruited in Charleston. At
ter his discharge from the army he
Immediately began the practice Of
his profession in Sumter. where he
remained until his death.
During his legislative career he
was the chairman of many import
ant committees. He had served as
county chairman Of the Democratic
party and was delegate to the state
Democratic convention s consecu-
tive years. He was also a dele
gate to the national Democratic
convention in 1908. During the
world war he served as Sumter
county chairman of the draft
board.