Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1922-08-16
Death of MIR. Arthur Smyly
Tompkins.

Saturday afternoon just as the
sun was sinking below the. western
hills and the shades of night were ap-
preaching, a pail settled upon Edge
field, caused by the announcement OF
the death of Mr.. Arthur S. Tompkins
at his home here. He was one
of Edgefield's best beloved citizens,
who though advanced in years, was
yet youthful and buoyant in spirit.
Mr.. Tompkins had never, not even in
his youth, been strong, physically,
and yet not until within the past
year had he succumbed to any ply
steal infrmity. For one of his
physique and strength, Mr.. Tomp-
kins was remarkably active, ever af-
ter the weight Of years bore heavily
upon him. 1t was his wont to take
long strolls around Edgefeld and
also when he visited the scenes Of
his boyhood days at Meeting Street.
Mr.. Tompkins was 60 years of
age. He was born at Meeting Street
March 81, 1854, and attended the
old field schools after the Civil War
and then attended the South Caro-
lima University. After graduating
from that institution he read law
with one of the leading law firms OF
Augusta. After being admitted to
the bar he practiced law at Edge
field until his death. Although fire.
quently importuned to enter public
life, he never yielded to the temp
tation, but preferred to pass his
days untrammeled as a private citi-
zen. However he never shirked duty,
even though Of a semi-public char
acter. For more than 80 years he
was a member of the board of trus-
tees of the Edgefled public schools
and no one else ever labored and sac
rificed for the support and upbuild-
ing of the school as did Mr.. Tomp-
kins. He not only aided in the man
agement of the executive side of the
school but kept in personal touch
with the teachers, giving them his
full sympathy and cooperation.
Mr.. Tompkins was a lifelong
member of the Baptist church and
served as deacon and superintendent
of the Sunday school for nearly thir-
ty years. His service was not Of a
perfunctory character, but was
marked by rare zeal and faithful
ness. Furthermore, his field of activ-
ity was not confined within denomi-
national lines nor alone to the Bap-
fist church at Edgefield. He detested'
narrowness and bigotry, and delight
ed working with and among the
churches in the rural districts as
much as he did in his own church.
Too, he was always ready and will
ing to lend a helping hand to the col
ored people, finding much joy in at
tending some of their services and
speaking to them. He was always in
terested in the young people, es-
pecially young men. In his appropri-
ate remarks at the funeral Mr.. Lam
ham bore testimony to Mr.. Tomp-
kins' influence upon his early life,
stating too that he was chairman of
the first county committee of the
Young Mems Christian Association.
MI. Tompkins cared little for the
material and sordid things of life. Be
ing endowed with a rar intellect, he
was an omniverous reader and as
simulated much that he read, which
made him a charming writer and a
ready and interesting speaker. 1t mat
tered not whether he was addressing
a jury, speaking to a body OF school
children, addressing. a religious gath
ering or responding to a toast on
some festive occasion, Mr.. Tompkins'
unusual versatility enabled him to
be not only always ready but highly
entertaining and edifying. AS an af-
ter dinner speaker he was without a
peer in Edge6eld. He was gentle,
lovable, sympathetic, kind and alto
gether unselfsh, which caused him
to be universally beloved. Mr.. Tomp-
kins will be sorely missed by every
body in Edgefeld, from the humblest
to the highest walk of life.
Mr.. Tompkins was one of the char
ter stockholders of the Bank of
Edgefeld and served the bank as at
torney and director from the days of
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