From the book, South Carolina Portraits, A Collection of Portraits of South Carolinians and Portraits in South Carolina, compiled by The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of South Carolina, edited by Christie Zimmerman Fant, Margaret Belser Hollis and Virginia Gurley Meynard, page 326: Edwin Wales Robertson was born in Columbia on September 3, 1863, son of Thomas James and Mary Ophelia (Caldwell) Robertson. He graduated from Yale University in 1885 and earned a law degree from South Carolina College. After practicing law for five years in Columbia, he gave up the law to enter banking and founded the bank which became the National Exchange Bank in 1903. That same year he built the state's first skyscraper, later known as the Barringer building. A pioneer in public utilities, he constructed a hydroelectric facility near Columbia in 1912. He was instrumental in the establishment of Camp Jackson as an army training camp in 1918. He also organized the Wales Realty Company, which developed Wales Garden, and built the Arcade in downtown Columbia. Robertson died on November 20, 1928, and is buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Columbia. His wife was Evelyn Perkins Titcomb.
His obituary found in The State 23 November 1928: Funeral services for Edwin Wales Robertson were held at 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon at his beautiful home, Laurel Hill, and interment was in Elmwood cemetery. The services were simple. The Rev. Henry D. Phillips, D. D., of Trinity church, his rector, was in charge. He used the Episcopal orator. There was no music, either at the house or at the grave. Mr. Robertson, wealthy Columbian, died Tuesday at the LaSalle hotel, New York, where he had gone to attend a meeting of the board of directors of the Equitable Assurance society. He left Columbia a week before his death. He became ill several days later but his condition died not become alarming until Monday. Tuesday morning his heart failed and he quietly passed away. Out of respect to the memory of a man who had done much for his native city, many places of business closed their doors during the hour of the services. Several groups of men attended the funeral in bodies. Who's Who in America gives the following epitomized biography of Mr. Robertson: "Robertson, Edwin Wales, banker, b. Columbia, S.C., Sept. 3, 1863, s. Thomas J. and Mary O. (Caldwell) R., A. B. Yale 1885, LL. B., U. of S.C., 1887, m. Evelyn Perkins Titcomb of Kennebunkport, Maine, Sept. 29, 1886, practiced in Columbia 1887-93, established Columbia Dime Savings Bank in 1893, acquired control Loan and Exchange bank of Columbia, also absorbing the Central National bank Feb. 1902; nationalized the Loan and Exchange bank July, 1903, as National Loan and Exchange bank of which was president 1903-1927, chariman of board since 1927, his son, Thomas J., succeeding as president, director Equitable Life Assurance Soiety of U. S., state chairman for S.C., of first, second, third and fourth Liberty Loans, and chairman fifth Federal reserve district for Victory Liberty Loan, Mem, Chamber of Commerce of U. C. (com. of foreign relations), Southern Settlement and Development Org. (exec. com), S.C. bar asso., American Bankers asso., S.C. Bankers asso., Yale alumni asso. (advisory bd.), Psi Upsilon (Yale), Pi Sigma Tau (Hopkins Sch.), Democrat, Episcopalian, Mason, Clubs: Palmetto, Ridgewood, Lakeview (Columbia S.C.), University (Yale), Bankers (N.Y.), Congressional, Country, Army Navy and Marine Corps Country (Washington, D. C.). Home 1001 Laurel St., office: Nat. Loan & Exchange bank, Columbia, S.C." Mr. Robertson is survived by his widow, three daughters, Mrs. J. B. S. Lyles and Mrs. Edward Cantey of this city and Mrs. Basil Hwoschinsky of New York City, and one son, Thomas J. Robertson, president of the National Loan and Exchange bank of this city.
His obituary found in The State 23 November 1928: Funeral services for Edwin Wales Robertson were held at 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon at his beautiful home, Laurel Hill, and interment was in Elmwood cemetery. The services were simple. The Rev. Henry D. Phillips, D. D., of Trinity church, his rector, was in charge. He used the Episcopal orator. There was no music, either at the house or at the grave. Mr. Robertson, wealthy Columbian, died Tuesday at the LaSalle hotel, New York, where he had gone to attend a meeting of the board of directors of the Equitable Assurance society. He left Columbia a week before his death. He became ill several days later but his condition died not become alarming until Monday. Tuesday morning his heart failed and he quietly passed away. Out of respect to the memory of a man who had done much for his native city, many places of business closed their doors during the hour of the services. Several groups of men attended the funeral in bodies. Who's Who in America gives the following epitomized biography of Mr. Robertson: "Robertson, Edwin Wales, banker, b. Columbia, S.C., Sept. 3, 1863, s. Thomas J. and Mary O. (Caldwell) R., A. B. Yale 1885, LL. B., U. of S.C., 1887, m. Evelyn Perkins Titcomb of Kennebunkport, Maine, Sept. 29, 1886, practiced in Columbia 1887-93, established Columbia Dime Savings Bank in 1893, acquired control Loan and Exchange bank of Columbia, also absorbing the Central National bank Feb. 1902; nationalized the Loan and Exchange bank July, 1903, as National Loan and Exchange bank of which was president 1903-1927, chariman of board since 1927, his son, Thomas J., succeeding as president, director Equitable Life Assurance Soiety of U. S., state chairman for S.C., of first, second, third and fourth Liberty Loans, and chairman fifth Federal reserve district for Victory Liberty Loan, Mem, Chamber of Commerce of U. C. (com. of foreign relations), Southern Settlement and Development Org. (exec. com), S.C. bar asso., American Bankers asso., S.C. Bankers asso., Yale alumni asso. (advisory bd.), Psi Upsilon (Yale), Pi Sigma Tau (Hopkins Sch.), Democrat, Episcopalian, Mason, Clubs: Palmetto, Ridgewood, Lakeview (Columbia S.C.), University (Yale), Bankers (N.Y.), Congressional, Country, Army Navy and Marine Corps Country (Washington, D. C.). Home 1001 Laurel St., office: Nat. Loan & Exchange bank, Columbia, S.C." Mr. Robertson is survived by his widow, three daughters, Mrs. J. B. S. Lyles and Mrs. Edward Cantey of this city and Mrs. Basil Hwoschinsky of New York City, and one son, Thomas J. Robertson, president of the National Loan and Exchange bank of this city.
From the book, South Carolina Portraits, A Collection of Portraits of South Carolinians and Portraits in South Carolina, compiled by The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of South Carolina, edited by Christie Zimmerman Fant, Margaret Belser Hollis and Virginia Gurley Meynard, page 326: Edwin Wales Robertson was born in Columbia on September 3, 1863, son of Thomas James and Mary Ophelia (Caldwell) Robertson. He graduated from Yale University in 1885 and earned a law degree from South Carolina College. After practicing law for five years in Columbia, he gave up the law to enter banking and founded the bank which became the National Exchange Bank in 1903. That same year he built the state's first skyscraper, later known as the Barringer building. A pioneer in public utilities, he constructed a hydroelectric facility near Columbia in 1912. He was instrumental in the establishment of Camp Jackson as an army training camp in 1918. He also organized the Wales Realty Company, which developed Wales Garden, and built the Arcade in downtown Columbia. Robertson died on November 20, 1928, and is buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Columbia. His wife was Evelyn Perkins Titcomb.
His obituary found in The State 23 November 1928: Funeral services for Edwin Wales Robertson were held at 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon at his beautiful home, Laurel Hill, and interment was in Elmwood cemetery. The services were simple. The Rev. Henry D. Phillips, D. D., of Trinity church, his rector, was in charge. He used the Episcopal orator. There was no music, either at the house or at the grave. Mr. Robertson, wealthy Columbian, died Tuesday at the LaSalle hotel, New York, where he had gone to attend a meeting of the board of directors of the Equitable Assurance society. He left Columbia a week before his death. He became ill several days later but his condition died not become alarming until Monday. Tuesday morning his heart failed and he quietly passed away. Out of respect to the memory of a man who had done much for his native city, many places of business closed their doors during the hour of the services. Several groups of men attended the funeral in bodies. Who's Who in America gives the following epitomized biography of Mr. Robertson: "Robertson, Edwin Wales, banker, b. Columbia, S.C., Sept. 3, 1863, s. Thomas J. and Mary O. (Caldwell) R., A. B. Yale 1885, LL. B., U. of S.C., 1887, m. Evelyn Perkins Titcomb of Kennebunkport, Maine, Sept. 29, 1886, practiced in Columbia 1887-93, established Columbia Dime Savings Bank in 1893, acquired control Loan and Exchange bank of Columbia, also absorbing the Central National bank Feb. 1902; nationalized the Loan and Exchange bank July, 1903, as National Loan and Exchange bank of which was president 1903-1927, chariman of board since 1927, his son, Thomas J., succeeding as president, director Equitable Life Assurance Soiety of U. S., state chairman for S.C., of first, second, third and fourth Liberty Loans, and chairman fifth Federal reserve district for Victory Liberty Loan, Mem, Chamber of Commerce of U. C. (com. of foreign relations), Southern Settlement and Development Org. (exec. com), S.C. bar asso., American Bankers asso., S.C. Bankers asso., Yale alumni asso. (advisory bd.), Psi Upsilon (Yale), Pi Sigma Tau (Hopkins Sch.), Democrat, Episcopalian, Mason, Clubs: Palmetto, Ridgewood, Lakeview (Columbia S.C.), University (Yale), Bankers (N.Y.), Congressional, Country, Army Navy and Marine Corps Country (Washington, D. C.). Home 1001 Laurel St., office: Nat. Loan & Exchange bank, Columbia, S.C." Mr. Robertson is survived by his widow, three daughters, Mrs. J. B. S. Lyles and Mrs. Edward Cantey of this city and Mrs. Basil Hwoschinsky of New York City, and one son, Thomas J. Robertson, president of the National Loan and Exchange bank of this city.
His obituary found in The State 23 November 1928: Funeral services for Edwin Wales Robertson were held at 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon at his beautiful home, Laurel Hill, and interment was in Elmwood cemetery. The services were simple. The Rev. Henry D. Phillips, D. D., of Trinity church, his rector, was in charge. He used the Episcopal orator. There was no music, either at the house or at the grave. Mr. Robertson, wealthy Columbian, died Tuesday at the LaSalle hotel, New York, where he had gone to attend a meeting of the board of directors of the Equitable Assurance society. He left Columbia a week before his death. He became ill several days later but his condition died not become alarming until Monday. Tuesday morning his heart failed and he quietly passed away. Out of respect to the memory of a man who had done much for his native city, many places of business closed their doors during the hour of the services. Several groups of men attended the funeral in bodies. Who's Who in America gives the following epitomized biography of Mr. Robertson: "Robertson, Edwin Wales, banker, b. Columbia, S.C., Sept. 3, 1863, s. Thomas J. and Mary O. (Caldwell) R., A. B. Yale 1885, LL. B., U. of S.C., 1887, m. Evelyn Perkins Titcomb of Kennebunkport, Maine, Sept. 29, 1886, practiced in Columbia 1887-93, established Columbia Dime Savings Bank in 1893, acquired control Loan and Exchange bank of Columbia, also absorbing the Central National bank Feb. 1902; nationalized the Loan and Exchange bank July, 1903, as National Loan and Exchange bank of which was president 1903-1927, chariman of board since 1927, his son, Thomas J., succeeding as president, director Equitable Life Assurance Soiety of U. S., state chairman for S.C., of first, second, third and fourth Liberty Loans, and chairman fifth Federal reserve district for Victory Liberty Loan, Mem, Chamber of Commerce of U. C. (com. of foreign relations), Southern Settlement and Development Org. (exec. com), S.C. bar asso., American Bankers asso., S.C. Bankers asso., Yale alumni asso. (advisory bd.), Psi Upsilon (Yale), Pi Sigma Tau (Hopkins Sch.), Democrat, Episcopalian, Mason, Clubs: Palmetto, Ridgewood, Lakeview (Columbia S.C.), University (Yale), Bankers (N.Y.), Congressional, Country, Army Navy and Marine Corps Country (Washington, D. C.). Home 1001 Laurel St., office: Nat. Loan & Exchange bank, Columbia, S.C." Mr. Robertson is survived by his widow, three daughters, Mrs. J. B. S. Lyles and Mrs. Edward Cantey of this city and Mrs. Basil Hwoschinsky of New York City, and one son, Thomas J. Robertson, president of the National Loan and Exchange bank of this city.
Gravesite Details
Transcribed from the book Interment Records of Elmwood Cemetery, Columbia, SC (three volumes)
Family Members
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