The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1858-08-11
Major General John A. Quitman.

at his residence at Monmouth, about one
mile from Na.chez, Mississippi, on the
l7th inst. lie had been for some time
III an intirm state Of health consequent
upon tue National Hotel (Washinston)
epidemic a: tue time of MIR. Buchanan's
Inauguration. Gen. Quitman WAS one of
the sufferers from that disease, and from
It's effects lie never recovered, although
he experienced intervals of partial i'm.
provement. His disease has left blank
IN the national councils, rs he WAS high.
iy esteemed bv all parties for his great
"tegIity and weight of character
lie WAS the son Of The Rev. F. Henry
Qnltman, clergyman Of the Lutheran
Reformed Church, and was born al Rhine
beck, i'll this State, September l, 1899.
lis first studies were prosecuted II, the
seminary in Coopers town, and he after
wards passed TO the College ut Mount
Airy, near Philadelphia, where be was
occupied with the double purpose of fill
'"g "a pro'essorship and studying for the
ministry, Tor whirh profession he MAS de-
s'g"ed 10y he father. The cold coGven.
tonaItIes oI the church had few charms
tor his ardent mrmd, and instead Of study.
!ng dlvlaity, he paid more attention TO
the reading OF law.
About the close Of the year 1920 he
left Mount Airy with his pack on his back
and grn i'll hand, and uaversing the
mountains on foot TO Prrsburg, he there
took flat boat down the Ohio river
lie stopped AT ChIllcolhe, in the Stale Of
Ohio, where he became the clerk Of Mr..
Plat, Bush, who was then receiver for
Delaware county. lie continued tho stu
dy OF the law, and in 1921 was admi,,ed
to the Oar.- Having obtained his object,
he determined to seek new scene Of
life, an! embarked again upon flat boat,
to descend the Missrs' 'gpi. Landing at
Nalchcz, which WAS thvn one Of the,wiI.
dest OF the frontier towns, he commenced
the practice Of his profession, aud shortly
alter entered into partnership with VIII
liam Is. Griffin, Esb., IN eminent lawyer
81 that place.
In 1924 lie married Miss Eliza Turner,
the ony daughter Of ucnry Tuner. E,q,
oi Virginia, and niece at Chauceiiur FUR
ner, OF Mississippi. Mrs. Qritman stiI
survives him, with an interesting iamiv,
consisting m oue sou aud li,e daughters.
Mr. Qui,nan commenced his political
career III 1927, wien he Was elected de
mocratic representative % the Legislature
OF the State, aud became at once lead.
ing member of the Judiciary Committee
o! that body. Ills euuLenl ah dues com
mended him To the rc.nfi f hi, fellow
citizens and The succeeding year. though
only tweuty'nine wears q. age, lie wrs
appointed 10y the Governor Chancellor of
State. Al tie next meeting OF the Leg
stature lie WAS unanimously elected TO
the same office 10y that body and when
the office became an elective ono 5y the
people, IN the adoption Of the new con.
sutuuon, he was tlIird time chosen.
lie continued 10 fill THIS Office for six
years, and in 1885. was elected 10 The
State Sepaie.
The Office OF Governor having become
vacant during the year by the death Of
the incumbent, the Senate WIS convened
and elected Judge Qniman, Presiden, of
th.t body. an Acting Governor. His
message to the Legislature in 1886 is ad.
United even ut The present day 10 De one
of the abIest States rights documents in
existence.
In 1896 the excitement OF the Texas
revolution ran like wilGGre through the
South ana West, and body Of volun.
teers WAS raised at Natchez to 90 to the
assistance Of the Texans. Judge Quit
man wasananmously called upon to take
comn'ard Of this force His position as
President Of the Senate made the situa
tion an embarrassing one, but the posi-.
ton of .be Texans was desperate in the
extreme. General Houston, the Texan
commander, was retrealing before the VIC
torious forces Of Santa Anna, and il was
supposed he would not he able to stop
until he reached the Red River line. In
View OF this emergency, Quitman deter.
mined TO obey the call, and he started at
once with his baud to march by land 10
the relief nf the Texaps. After thirty
Gays oi n toiIsuine journey through the
wilderness thev reached the encainpments
Of the Texans, three DAYS after the battle
of San Jacinto. Finding Santa Anna
prisuner aud the danger passed Judge
Qutman resigned his command and re.
turned TO the scene Of his civic duties.
In 1889 ho went TO Europe to attend
TO the affairs Of the Mississippi Railroad
Company. On his return lie was appoin.
ted by tie Governor ot the State Judge
Of the High Court Of Errors and Appeals
but having become somewhat embarrass
ed in his circumstances from endorse
ments, he declined the appointment and
returned Ia the practice Of his profession.
lie went into partnership with Mr.. J. T.
McMurran, and his success was such as
might have been anticipated from, bis
high standing. He soon paid of 'all bis
debts, and laid the firm foundations of
the large fortune which be has left 10 his
children.
Notwithstanding his legal attachments,
Judge Quitman had always exhiJited the
strongest parlisIily for military Affairs
- ,.ft. t.l.u.. =