He was Once a Soldier of the Cross and a Soldier of the Confederacy

Bennettsville, August 3. --- Special: The Rev. J.A.W. Thomas, the "Grand Old Man of Marlboro," is dead. He retired last night 
apparently as well as usual and was found dead in his bed this morning. He spent Saturday at the reunion of Confederate Veterans, 
and delivered an eloquent address describing the battle of Battery Wagner. He preached an able sermon in the Baptist Church at 
Tatum yesterday afternoon, and drove eight miles home. No one has ever lived in Marlboro who commanded more respect, esteem and 
love than Capt Thomas. He was born in this county more than 73 years ago, has lived here all his life, and has been pastor of 
churches here for more than half a century. He has kept a list of all he has married and buried since 1865. He had been writing 
a history of Marlboro County for several years. He was captain of a company in the 21st South Carolina regiment, Hagood's brigade. 
He was wounded at Drury's Bluff and Battery Wagner. On last New Year's Day a number of friends called at his home, and Judge J.H. 
Hudson, acting as their spokesman, presented him with a gold pen. Capt Thomas, replying, said that he had used the pen quite 
extensively in his life, for his prepared sermons would make seventy volumes of four hundred pages each and he had preached from 
3,500 texts. He is the father of Dr. A.J.B. Thomas, of Greenville, editor of the Baptist Courier; C.P. Thomas of Florida; W.E. Thomas, 
of Bennettsville, (SC); Mrs. Loch McLaurin of Gibson, (NC); Mrs. J.R. Sampson and Mrs. D.D. McCall, of Bennettsville. The funeral will 
be held tomorrow at 10 o'clock. HHC

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