PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY VA PENSION APPLICATION: REBECCA COLLIE HART

Copyright (c) 2003 by Janet Putt Neville.  [jandneville@yahoo.com]

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Source: Library of Virginia Digital Collection



WIDOW OF A DECEASED SOLDIER, SAILOR OR MARINE FOR A PENSION. 

NAME:: Rebecca Collie Hart, age 79 as of 1944, resided with her niece, Mrs. 
Frank Marshall; Widow of James Franklin Hart who died in 1905 in York, SC of 
cancer; married Sept. 1900 by Rev. R. C. L. Aylor.

PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY, VA --Chatham

MEMBER OF: Washington Light Infantry, Then Cavalry and then Horse Artillery, 
Wade Hampton, Col.

Paper found in files titled "Death of Major Hart from the Yorkville Enquirer, 
Friday, April 21, 1905:
      Major James F. Hart is dead.  He passed away at his home in Yorkville 
yesterday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock.  For several months past his condition had 
been such as to excieth the alternate hopes and fears of his family and friends. 
There was a sudden collapse on Wednesday, followed by a slight rally and then a 
gradual sinking through hours of unconsciousness.
     The death of Major Hart ends a long career of activity and usefulness.  He 
has been a landmark in Yorkville for nearly forty years, and during that time 
has been identified with all that has mede for the progress of the town and 
county, socially, politically, educationally or otherwise.  No other citizen of 
the county has been more active among his fellows for a longer period.  A 
comprehensive sketch of his career, only the barest outline of which can be 
included in newspaper article, would fill volumes.
      Major Hart-James Franklin Hart-was born in Union County on Feb. 15, 1837.  
He attended the common  schools of the county during boyhood and in 1854 went to 
the Citadel, graduating from that institution in 1857.  He entered the 
confederate service in 1861 as a lieutenant of the Washington Light Infantry, 
and shortly afterward the captain of that Company.  Later he was transferred to 
Hampton's cavalry corps, and became a major of horse artillery, known as Hart's 
Artillery.  He lost his leg at Burgess's mill in 1864 and came to Yorkville to 
practice law in 1868. 
     Major Hart's service in the war was conspicuous from the beginning.  
Because of his military education and his especial fitness for the work, Gov. 
Pickens and his lieutenants made use of him in the preparations for the attack 
on Fort Sumter.  He was in close touch with all the operations around Charleston 
and the battery to which he was afterward transferred became famous not only 
because of the splendid material of which it was composed, but largely because 
of his unusual capacity, courage and enterprise.  Like many of the famous 
leaders of the Confederate armies, he adopted original methods, and it is 
claimed that in some respects he was the cause of a complete revolution in the 
artillery practices of the time.  His battery did service on many a hard fought 
field and more than once turned the tide against the enemy.  Before the close of 
the war, Major Hart had a reputation throughout both armies, and the fear with 
which his dreadful guns inspired the enemy was equaled only by the condidence 
and enthusiasm that they frequently brought to hard pressed friends. 
     Locating in Yorkville in the troublous times following the war, Major Hart 
bore his full part in bringing order out of chaos.  By nature and education he 
was filled with high ideals, and there were mant tests for the splendid courage 
which no man ever disputed.  During all the dark days of reconstruction he stood 
boldly and consistently for equal justice to all his fellowmen and never 
faltered in his support of law and order.  The corrupt magistrates and judges of 
the day stood in mortal dread of his fearless ability and he was frequently able 
to make them give his clients justice, even where it was evident that there had 
been deliberate intent to override the law.  In the campaign of 1876 he accepted 
the position of a count chairman, despite the slim promise of succes then in 
sight, and within a few short months completed one of the most perfect and 
powerful county organizations in the state, literally sweeping the opposition 
from the field. 
     In 1861, Major Hart was appointed commissioner along with the late Charles 
H. Simonton and the late Wm. H. Parker to codify the laws of the state and the 
work that was done by these gentlemen stands unequaled before or since.  
     When the late E. D. Witherspoon was elected to the bench from the Senate, 
Major Hart was chosen as his successor, and filled out the unexpired term.  He 
was a candidate for re-election, but was defeated in a three cornered race, with 
two other strong competitiors, and retired from politics in 1888.
     Major Hart was public spirited, not only in politics, but in social, 
educational and industrial affairs as well.  He is justly entitled to be called 
the father of the Yorksville Graded schools, for with Mr. J. F. Wallace and two 
or three other gentlemen he brought them into existence.  He was one of the 
pioneers in the extension of the old Kings Mountain railroad from Yorksville to 
Lenoir.  It was due to his efforts principally that the Yorkville water system 
was constructed. He had much to do with recent improvements in the public roads 
of the county and he was one of the organizers of the Commercial club of 
Yorkville.  In short, he has participated as a co-operator in the advancement of 
practically every move that has ever been made in Yorkville or York.  At the 
time of his death, he was chairman of the board of trustees of the Yorkville 
graded schools.  He had been a ruling elder in the Presbyterian church since 
1857.
     For some time after his graduation from the Citadel, Major Hart was senate 
reporter for the old Charleston Courier and did the work well.  Shortly after 
locating in Yorkville, he became associate editor of the position with credit to 
himself and the satisfaction of the readers of the paper.  He is generally 
conced to be an able and formidable writer, and there is little reason to doubt 
that if he had continued in journalism, he would have won no less success than 
he did in the war. 
     During all the period that has followed the war, Major Hart has never 
forgotten his comradeship with the Confederate soldiers; but has maintained the 
elbow touch that was established in service.  He was prominent in reunions, and 
he was kind and sympathetic to his soldiers and for that matter to his fellow 
man.  He made the first Memorial day speech of which The Enquirer has any 
knowledge on June 4, 1874, and on that occasion had the manhood to advise his 
hearers that the war was over and that all sectional animosities should 
thenceforth be buried forever.  He has made many Memorial day speeches since 
that time, and up to the time of his death was held in high esteem as a sound 
and pleasing creator.
    Major Hart stood high in his profession as a lawyer.  He was not only a hard 
student but a hard fighter, and when he undertook to represent a client, it was 
understood that he was in deadly earnest.  He was not to be moved by 
considerations of fear or personal advantage, and he knew no surrender short of 
the court of last resort.  If he lost there, it was his custom to acquiesce 
without complaint, even though he might still believe that he was right.  The 
law reports of the past forty years contain the records of numerous cases in 
which he figured before the supreme court of the state, and there are not many 
lawyers in the state who made a more credible showing in these volumes.     
     Major Hart was twice married, the first time to Miss Janie Ratchford, who 
died in 1883, and the second time to Mrs. Rebecca C. Grier in 1900.  He is 
survived by his second wife and six children of his first wife as follows.  
Messrs. A. G. and J. Frank Hart of New Orleans, Mr. Ed W. Hart of New Iberia, 
La., John M. Hart, Esq., Miss  Daisy Hart and Mrs. Walton S. Neil of Yorkville.
     The funeral will take place this afternoon, the procession leaving the 
house shortly after 4 o'clock, and reaching the church at about 4:30.  Rev. Dr. 
W. G. Neville is expected to conduct the services.
     It has been arranged that the funeral is to be under the auspices of the 
military as far as possible.  Capt. W. W. Lewis and Lt. J. R. Lindsay of Col. 
Boyd's staff are to lead the procession.  They are to be followed by the Jasper 
Light Infantry under command of Capt. W. B. Moore, acting as honorary guard.  
Next will follow the hearse with the active pall bearers on either side.  Then 
will come the honorary pall bearers consisting of officers of the Presbyterian 
Church and members of the Yorkville bar.  These will be followed by as large a 
detachment of the York County regiment of the United Confererate veterans, as 
can be collected.  The deceased was colonel of this organization.  Next will 
come the board of governors of the Commercial club, of which the deceased was 
vice president, and following them will come perhaps the graded school children 
and citizens generally.
     There has been a stream of visitors at the house all day and it continues.  
Many floral tributes have been received, the most conspicuous among them 
probably being one from the Winnie Davis Chapter U. D. C., another from the York 
County Democratic Executive committee, and a third from the Commerical club of 
Yorkville.

A True Copy--Minnie F. Ferguson