Daniel W. McLaurin, CSA Veteran
The Dillon Herald, Dillon, South Carolina
July 19, 1928, Vol. 33, no. 37
Gen. McLaurin Dies Near Dillon
End Came Friday Afternoon at Home of His Niece
Gen. D. W. McLaurin, 84, commander of the South Carolina Division,
United Confederate Veterans, died Friday afternoon at he home of his niece,
Mrs. M. A. McCormac, near Dillon.
General McLaurin who has lived in Columbia for the past 25 years,
attended the ______ reunion of Confederate Veterans in Bennettsville, June 13. 14
and 15, but not feeling well, did not return to Columbia afterward, coming to the
home of his niece at Dillon.
General McLaurin was employed in the office of the comptroller
general and was in charge of pensions for Confederate soldiers. The appointment
was made in 1927, and Governor Richards remarked when he made the appointment
that it was to help the comptroller general out, as he was overworked and he
considered General McLaurin the right man for the position. Previously the general
had served as pension commissioner. When in March, 1919, he was elected to that
place and took charge of that office at Columbia, he was by no means a stranger
at the state capital, since he had been a member of the legislature and as land
commissioner had been a well known figure in state public life for many years.
General McLaurin could never call any place home, except his
plantation in Dillon county. He was born in Marlboro county, December 16, 1843.
Of the McLaurin family it is hardly necessary to speak at length. It is a name
distinguished not only in South Carolina but in other parts of the South.
The grandfather of General McLaurin was John McLaurin, who came
from Scotland in 1792 at the age of 18 and located on land long known as the
McLaurin plantation, near the present town of McColl. Two of his older brothers
had preceded him to South Carolina, reaching the colony prior to the Revolutionary war.
General McLaurin's father was Laughlin L. McLaurin.
Daniel W. McLaurin, soon after the beginning of the Confederate war
in 1861, volunteered as a private in Company G. of the Twenty-third South Carolina Infantry.
He served the full period of the war, four years. He was corporal and sergeant.
He was in Lee's army of Northern Virginia, in General Evan's (later Wallace's)
brigade and was almost constantly on duty in Virginia except for a
period when the brigade was assigned to duty during the siege of Vicksburg. He was
three times wounded while in the war and one month and seven days before the final
surrender was captured and taken to Point Lookout, Md., and was not released until
July 2, 1865. His companion in service was his twin brother Hugh L. McLaurin.
Despite his prominence in public affairs, General McLaurin was true
to the traditions of the family and gave his best years to planting and agriculture.
For many years his home was in Dillon county, that portion which was originally a
part of Marion county. He represented Marion county in the state legislature six years.
He was state land commissioner for 22 years. He received the title of colonel due to
his position on the staff of Governor Evans and that of general from his Confederate
comrades. He held various positions in the United Confederate Veterans in South
Carolina, and was commander the last years of his life. He as an elder in the
Presbyterian church for over 50 years. Only a few weeks ago he moved his church
membership to the First Presbyterian, Columbia.
He was a member of the pension board of Richland county and one
of the original trustees of Winthrop college.
Mrs. McLaurin, whom he married in 1866 was Miss Martha C. Lucas
of Marion county. She died several years ago.
General McLaurin is survived by a brother Luther M. McLaurin of McCall.
The funeral services were held Sunday at Reedy Creek Presbyterian church. The services were conducted by Rev. L. A. McLaurin of Rowland, N. C. assisted by Rev. A. G. Buckner, D. D. of Red Bluff.
A large crowd attended the funeral. Among the number were Governor John G. Richards former Governor Thomas G. McLeod, Gen. J. P. Durham of Conway, former Lieutenant Governor Andrew J. Bethea, a delegation from Winthrop College consisting of Dean James P. Kinard, personal representative of Dr. D. B. Johnson, president of Winthrop, Dr. J. W. Thompson, Miss Lelia Russell and Miss Sarah Grant, Mrs. L. Cottingham, official representative of the Untied Daughters of the Confederacy, Division of South Carolina; Joshua A. Fletcher, commander of Camp Henagan, Confederate Veterans of Marlboro county, who opened the recent Confederate Reunion at Bennettsville, and representatives of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.
The active pall bearers were his six nephews, Ralph McLaurin, James McCormac, E. Z. McCormac, Jr., John Hugh McCormac, E. L. McCormac, Jr., and Hugh McLucas. The seventeen honorary pall bearers were G. G. McLaurin,
John McLaurin, C. B. McLaurin, D. L. McLaurin, J. M. McLaurin, C. McLaurin, H. N. Cousar, H. Charlton Couser, D. D. McColl, H. L. McColl, C. C Stokes,
A. McGregor, Billy Fletcher, Joshua Fletcher, Louis Fletcher, J. Thomas Stanton and General Craig of the offices staff of the United Confederate Veterans of South Carolina.
The body was laid to rest in Alford cemetery. The grave was covered with an elaborate display of flowers.
Transcribed by Helen B. Moody from microfilm at the Dillon Library, Dillon, South Carolina.
Submitted by Helen Moody, 15 Sept 2003.
Copyright © 2003, 2005 Victoria Proctor. All rights reserved.