Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-07-29

1t is our painful duty to announce the
death of Hon. John Gayle, one of the most
honored and esteemed of our old citizens.
This sad event occurred yesterday morning,
at his residence in Jacksonville, and although
not unexpected, for he had been for con-
siderable period in failing health, and had
arrived at an advanced age. has plunged a
large circle Of friends in the deepest grief,
and filled our whole community with sorrow.
From brief sketch of his career prepared
for publication, we condense some particu-
lars of his life.
John Gayle was born in Sumter District.
S. g., on 18th September, 1872 He gradu-
ated at South Carolina College in 1878, i'm
mediately after which be migrated to Ala
bama-then a portion of Mississippi Terri
tory-where he encountered all the bard
ships incident to the life of the fearless pio-
necr, and was frequently in the army aiding
in REFRESHING the outbreaks OF the hostile In
dams. He studied law with Abner S. Lips
comb, and was admitted to the bar in 1918.
He entered public life at a very early age,
being. at the first session of the Territorial
Legislature of Alabama, nominated for the
Legislative Council, from the 4th Council
District, with Reuben Stafford. one of whom
was to be appointed by the President MIR.
Gayle was appointed, and at the next ses-
sion of that body commencing End Novem
ber 1SIS-he commenced bis political career
/ as a member of the Legislative Council.
On the organization of the State Govern
ment under he CONSTITUTIONAL ISI9-Mr.
GAYLE was elected Solicitor of the LIST Judi
cial Circuit in which Office he remained two
years, when he resigned, and was, in 1922,
elected TO the Legislature from Monroe
| county. In 1928 he was reelected, and, at
| the session for that year, was elected Judge
| of the Sd Judicial Circuit and ex-officio Judge
| of the Supreme Court, in place of Judge
| Webb, deceased. He remained in that office,
| by being subsequently reelected, until 1928,
| when in consequence of the lRdlspusition oil
| his family he resigned and Eli Shortridge was
| appointed TO fill the vacancy. In 1929 he
| was elected to the Legislature from Green
| county, and when the Legislature convened
| he was elected Speaker of the House-the
vote for which stood, for John Gayle AZ, for
| Thomas Bibb %. In 1880 Judge Gayle was
reelected to the Legislature, but was not
| again a candidate for the Speakership of the
House. In 1881. he was elected Governor OF
the State over Nicholas Davis and Samuel
| B. Moore, beating both together by large
majority. In 1888 he was reelected to the
| Chief Magistracy without opposition, and In
1880 he retired to private life.
| On retiring from the Executive Chair, be
| took up his residence in Mobile, and here re-
sumed the practice of his profession In
J 1886 he was voted for, for Presidential Elec-
|
1 White, and in 1910 was again placed before
| the people for the same station by the friends
| of Gen. Harrison. In IS47 he was nominated
by the Wings of the Mobile District as their
candidate for Congress. His opponent was
1 John T. Taylor; the vote was for Gayle o,
$50, for Taylor 4490-quite respectable
| majority for "a Wing to obtain in District
thought at that time 10 be Democratic. Soor
after the expiration of Gov. Gayle's term o.
| two years in Congress. he was appointed, IL
| IS49 by President Taylor, on the recommen
dation of the entire delegation in Congress
District Judge of the United States, tor The
| District of Alabama, to fill the vacancy
caused by the death of Judge VIM. Crawford
which station he filled in an able and digni
| fed manner up to the time of his death.
| Although so often in public station, anC
| holding so many different positions OF innuenc'
and honor, it is said that he never was de
feated as a candidate either before the Legs
lature, or that more potent body, the people
The only exception, and it is hardly an ex
ception, for he was not an aspirant tor thu
| Mace; was, in lS4l when his Wing friends II
| the Legislature gave him So votes for nltet
! States Senator to ~ votes cast for the lat
| Col VIM. Il. King.
| In all the relations of life-public and pri
vate--Judge Gayle was without reproach
| AS husband and father, he was kind, indul
gent and faithful; as friend aud compan
| ion, social and intelligent; as citizen, up
right, enterprisiug and liberal; as a public
officer, just, temperate and magnanimous
In politics he belonged to the Wing Conserva
tive School, and remained faithful to hi
early principles-when trimming" was fash
ionable and trimmers were promoted as lead
ers of the party to which they deserted. II
was strong constitutional man, and he'll
TO the Union of these States as the grea
safeguard of genuine Republicanism-th
only remaining hope of liberty to mankind.
He has gone to the grave full of days an
honors, but the remembrance of his virtue
and his example will not soon perish from III
hearts of those who knew him.-MobiIe III
VeTtiseT, 22d.