Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-11-04
OBITUARY


JoHN VI. Chiffon, E>Q.-We L,,. -,
ready announced the melancholy r..
gence OF the death of the late John VI ~.
ton. His early and long continued com
ton with TINS city, and the high e.,...
which he was held by all who knew
render proper more extended uot.r. ,l..
the one referred 10. Mr.. Chirou a. H.
already been stated, was born in Lama -.
county, Virginia. and AZ the time 4, /.
death was IN his httieth year. lie re,r.,.I
a liberal, though not complete eiu,,g.,
and at the age Of twenty entered anon 49,
study OF the law. In early lii. he va, p,
markablc for that quickue>S Of utal.,.,..r
perception ana glow OF spark ling Yl,. NH"
were among the chief elements i: III .9.,..
at the bar and OF his social pre-em,nru,a /,
private life. In the year ISL, he ca,unl.,.g
his legal studies at the law school OF i'd,
Tucker, in Winchester. and very soon g,,.r
located to practice his profession in thi, c.,y
| lie at once took a position in the i'm
rank-a position from which, iurin, ma.
tioe Of nearly thirty years, here and IN Now
Orleans, he never receded-snd this /. i.
I light praise, when during that period th, l,-
of Nicksburg had on its roll such name, a,
Prentiss, llclt, Guion, Sharkry. Tompk,p,
Smedes, Marshall and Lake. puriue h.
professional career in this place. he Vas IN
one time partner If Mr.. Holt, the pre>rr,
Postmaster General Of the United S,gc,
then i'll the zenith of his reputation. an! NJ
forwards with the distinguished and mgr,
loved Tonpkins. Tins latter connection .,
I fal Mr
sphere Of usefulness, left flcksburg and H.,
up his residence III the Crescent Civ. Tin,
was done in 1851, and since then he IN,
been, what he was here, among the giants N.
the bar 'pari inter parts. While in NJ,
sssippi, Mr. Chiffon represented this ,.g
. in the lower branch Of the State Legislature.
and the Legislative history Of the time show,
\ that he WAS IN that capacity, n he va, 10
| every other, wise, useful and energetic. gt,.
! ing to the business entrusted IL him all Ii,
powers Of thought and intellect. He Va,
not politician in the ordinary sense Of tie
term, though Of decided political opinions
but these opinions he never permitted 10 Iu.
terfere with his duties ~ "A legislator e.
the law Of probates, guardians. &c., perhap,
the most important IN our legal system h.
gave particular attention and by his rlprt,
the law in this respect cumbrous. rciun.
dant and uncertain, a it was, wa, greatly
improved. Feeling great interest in tn,
branch of the law. he not on y devoted hIr
energies to its improvement while III III"
Legislature, but he also undertook 10 cou-
dense it in a practical form, in which h" ai.
mirably succeeded in hi, WORK.
great research and power Of though, anl al
| alysis. Though 10 some extent superseded
rs work of practice BY our new code. IN
other respects it holds high rank anon.
treatises on those important and intricate
subjects.
The life of lawyer affords but few Incl.
dents that can give much point or interest q
biography. His labors are for til" most
part in the retirement and seclusion d II"
Office, and his displays in forensic debate arr
seldom remembered beyond the occasion,
that draw them forth. In thi, respect, how
ever Mr.. Chiffon was more fvrlunat" than
many OF his compecrs. His racne>, Of VII
giving force aud pungency to his power 81.
argument, has redeemed many Of his effort,
from the oblivion that usually ensurs, and
they are still held in remembrance among
his survivors n among the most pea,au'
and instructive mementoes Of pr"tcsslona.
life. Ills style Of speaking was both cha,-
and ornate. He spoke his mother tongc VII.
purity, and while endowed with great pow
ers of sarcasm and nyectiye, he never used
them SO as unnecessarily to wound the feel.
ings Of others.
In private and social life Mr.. Chiffon
character shone with mild aud hcautlin.
radiance. His house was ever tho home oi
hospitality and genial kindness. lis vi
was keen and flashing, but 1t left behind 2
no sting Pure in his own thoughts, an
upright in all his actions he loved TO think
well Of his fcllowmen, and thus sccuf
through life such friendships ~ rarely at
tach to one Of so marked II character AIDE
voted attachment to his parents and his IN
mediate relatives ever characterized ham
and never was there a more atfcctiOnatc hl'
band and father Around his family clrDIr
clustered the warrnest and ionicst feeling,
of his heart and his last teeting breath wa
given to heaven in . prayer for the hapf
ness of his beloved wife and children. Ia.
the GROWING characteristic of Mr.. Chiffon
was his ever present and ever active love D.
truth and Justice. As nearly ~ mortal "H.
live up to these divine attributes he lid, AM
any, the slightest deviation from them ~
others, was sure 10 call from him tie se'cres.
rebuke, aud the few enemies he had ~ Iie
were those who had thus deserved and Re-
ceived his censure.
His last moments were characteristic T..
his whole life. When told by his phy-clar
that he had but few hours to live he called
l...l !.