Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1857-12-09
Death of James G. Birney.


James G. Birney died at Eagleswood,
near Perth Amboy. n. j., on Tuesday
evening. He was born in 1898, at Dan
vile, Kentucky. His father, a native Of
ireland, was a man whose enterprise had
accumulated wealth, which, employed
with generosity. conferred upon him
popularity and social position. Hi.
mother was s beautiful and accomplished
American lady Of the name of Reed.
At the age of nineteen, two years af
ter a distinguished graduation at Nassau
Hall, New Jersey. Mr.. Birney becsms d
student in the Office of Mr.. Dallas, al
Philadelphia.
Returning to his native State in 1914.
he commenced the practice OF law, and
at the The age of twenty two was chosen
member of the Legislature. At this
tune he contracted a marriage with a
lady of great personal attractions and
distinguished family. Three years at.
ter he became a planter in Alabama and
the owner of thirty-ive slaves. Suisse
quently resuming the practice of his pro.
f%ession at Huntsville. he gathered an ex
tentive and profitable business. Just
before his return to Kentucky he served
with distinction in the Legislature oil
Alabama.
Mr.. Birney's career attracts peculiar
interest from the beginning of his con-
nection witty the ami slavery movement.
Early in life the wrongs inflicted by the
whites on the Indians touched his heart.
and called out his indignant eloquence
of tongue and pen. Sympathy for one
suffering class Of human beings natural
~ led to sympathy for another; and &C
cordingly he was soon greatly interested
in the welfare of the negro. The plan
of emancipation which at first seemed
to him the most feasible was that OF
the colonizalionists, and to advocate their
views he abandoned q lucrative and hon
orsble profession.
In 1884 he caused a deed of emanci-
patton for the six slaves he brought with
him from Alabama. to be entered at the
County Court for the county where he
resided, and announced his intention of
starting an Anti Slavery newspaper in
the State Of Kentucky. When no prin
ter could be persuaded to undertake The
mechanical part Of The enterprise there.
he commenced the publication in Ohio,
but not without exciting dangerous hos
tility. The recital Of the perils to which
he and his friends were exposed is almost
incredible, and shows the change of sen
timent which has since taken place to
make Ohio one of the freest in senti-
ment of the Western States.
Just before the death Of his father,
Mr.. Birney caused such disposition
10 be made of the paternal estate,
that all the slaves, twenty one in number
should fall to him; and on the occurrence
Of hat event he set them at liberty,
making suitable provisions for their COM
fort. About this time his wife died, the
mother of eleven children, of whom We
believe, five are still living.
In 1910 Mr.. Birney visited England,
and look a prominent part in the anil
slavery movements which then agitated
that country. In 1841 he married the
sister-in-law of Hon. Gerrit Smith, a
lady Of the family of Fi'zbugh, who sur
wives to cherish his memory.
In 1914 he was nominated for the
Presidency by the "Libtrty psr!y," and
the vote polled for him being chiefly
subsiracied from that Of Mr.. CLAY, de-
that statesman.
A few years since he removed from
Michigan to New Jersey, in order that
he might end his days among the friends
of the reform 10 which he had devoted
prime, and that his youngest 20
might enjoy the advantages of Mr.
Yields school at EsgleswooI.-Nw
VoyE Po,f