and public-spirited and Incorruptable citizen.
Seven years ago, on the 22nd of October, 1891, one of the best of citizens and a gallant soldier in the gloomiest times, (my words are weighed and measured) entered into rest at ‘Elmwood,’ his plantation in
Hampton county; his remains were buried at Stoney Creek Church.
When this sad news went forth who, that knew and appreciated him living, will forget the pang inflicted?
In
South Carolina it was quickly realized that a courtly gentleman, a gallant soldier, a genial and lovable
Carolinian, honored and esteemed throughout the
State, had passed away.
It has been wisely remarked that ‘men of character are the conscience of the society in which they live;’ that ‘character is an estate in the good will and respect of men, and they who preserve it through life find their reward in a general esteem and a reputation fairly won.’
Of
Colonel Colcock all this may be truthfully said; he was certainly an admirable citizen, and it is to me a privilege to recall, though imperfectly, the story of a life such as his.
The name revives that of his grandfather,
Judge Charles Jones Colcock, son of John and
Mellicent Colcock, born in
Charleston, 11th August, 1777, and died there on the 26th of January, 1839, a noble Roman, who in his day and generation was held in the highest public and private esteem.
As a Judge upon the Bench, and afterwards as president of the Bank of the State of
South Carolina, managing millions of the funds of the
State, he was a conspicuous figure, a man of ability, piety, courage and public spirit.
His wife,
Mary Woodward Hutson, was one of a noted family of attractive women; their sons were
Thomas H., a planter; John, a merchant of
Charleston; Richard W., a graduate of
West Point, and superintendent of
