Smyrna times., 1865-03-09

that time he had remarkable vigor of constitu a,
tion, and never till bis "Reminiscences was he SC
confined to his bed for more than day or two h
at a time, d
He was united in marriage, on the llth of W
November, 1882, with Miss Margaret A. B. h
Laws. She was the first add only one whom t,
he ever addressed, The union was eminently
happy one. Few, if any, ever lived together "
in more tender aud uninterrupted affection t
His bereaved companion has suffered an nn- a
speakable loss. He addressed her habitually i
in the tenderest and most epdearing manner,
and his conduct fully corresponded with bis 9
language. Thirteen children were born to &
these happy parents. Of these eight have s
gone to the company above; five still remain
to mourn the death of their beloved father and
to sustain their dear mother in this crushing
afHiction.
Elmira, an infant of nine months, was the
FIRST representative of this christian household Il
who took her place before the throne in glory.
Margaret Maria, another infant of thirteen
months went at the call of the Master two years
after to keep her little sister company. Mary
Ann, beloved daughter aged l6 years depart
ed next. In the language of her father, as he
has made the entry in the family record in his
own handwriting, she departed this life in
full and certain hope of eternal life, December
28th, l849, after living a uniform and consist
ent member of the NJ. E. Church over two
: years and four months" Charles Franklin,
an infant son aged fifteen months, Marion, |
daughter of three months, and two little un-
named ones, have gone to the better land, and
on the 18th day of August, 1868, Captain Viii |
liam Laws Cannon, a bright and promising
young man III his 25th year, a graduate of
Dickinson College, and member of the Meth
odist Episcopal Church, tell in the service OF
his country.
In business life the christian character of
Gov. Cannon strongly manifested itself. An
: incident will show how clear and strong were
his convictions of duty, and how prompt he
was even at the expense of business success to
obey those convictions. When he embarked
in business with his brother Henry, he was
about 81 years of age. All the stores in those
Ie days sold Intoxicating liquors. The Temper
lie ance Reformation had not then made its mark
" on the public mind, and religious men did not
- scrupe to engage in the traffic. Gov. Cannon
Il saw the whole matter in its true light, and as
er the conscience of the Church has since viewed
e. it, and he said to his brother, If / go into
IN business with you, shall have nothing to do
,o with liquor selling.
he His political career may be more appropri-
OK ately discussed in another place. and it will re-
ceive the eulOgistic appreciation of the histori-
an and the friend of freedom. In lS45 he was
elected to serve his county in the State Legis-
lature. In lS49 he was again elected. He
< was thus State Legislator for four years. Du-
' ring the gubernatorial term of Hon. VIM. Ii.
10 Ross he was State Treasurer. In lS6l he was
all member Of the 4" Peace Congress, and went
r. there the firm friend of the Crttenden Com
m promise, and of an unbroken Union. In 1862,
he was elected Governor of his native State,
~ aud was the incumbent of that responsible Of
g, ice at the time of his death. Though cOnnec-
ng ton with politics is usually cOrrupting and
We generally epdangeS the life Of a Christian, yet
l. Bro Cannon was associated with those eXcit-
No ing ISSUES during the most mOmentous crisis
ne of the national fe without loss Uf spirituality
k and with no abatement Of his religious enjoy
ment.
:. His positions in the church are evidence Of
y" the affection and confidence OF his brethren.
Ire In addition to the office of classeadcr and eX-
err horter, which he continued to hold till death
IN he was the recording Steward of the Circuit,
,ro and for years the Lay-Steward Of the District
~ :, in the Annual Conference.
OK Religion gave tone to his entire character
ted He remarked to me more than once, Il cal
never do enough for the Church and for the
cause of Christ; for it is to the religion o
:, Christ and to the Church of God that ow'
III all have in temporal well as spiritua
point of view" The demands which religion
made upon him, and the guiding and sustain
ing grace Of God in enabling him to meet them
seemed to be thought ever present with him
our An analysis of the character of our decease'
md friend would develop very symmetrical com
on, bination of the choicest virtues. He was no
on faultless-if he had been, he would not hav
F been man. He was compassed about wit
'lc' many in6rmities, which none complained G
)re- near as much as himself: but such was the cor
the trolling power of the religion Of Christ, that
ave was one of the best men | ever knew, and sue
Gle n' - III ','"' nav "
nee He was thoroughly conscientious; and col
led. science with him was educated by the Word {
SER God which he habitualy read, and by the Ell
,om tightening of the Holy Spirit whose inAuenC
oih and teaching he sought in prayer
ng: He was honest IIe gave away many deb
live and refused to press many just claim; but
Dg suppose he would challenge all with whom b
had business transactions with the same kin
Of assurance which Samuel had when he stoo
ire, before Israel and exclaimed, " Behold, here
at am witness against me before the Lord an
rch before his anOinted: whose OK have taken
ncy or whose ass have | taken? or whom have
)bs defrauded? whom have | oppressed! or
the whose hand have | received any bribe to bin
his mine eyes Herewith? and | will restore 1t
the you.
He was the embodiment Of energy, ente
we'd prise, activity and perseverance. He was VIC
e of awake to the affairs and improvements oil Il
wed times. In agriculture, architecture works
ther public improvement, and in every good VOL
as and work which promised blessing to eth
wer, the bodies or the souls of men, he was q ma
her of action,-prompt, whole-souled, earnest, vi
her orous persistent action. lie wouiu irequeeh'
do thing while another was thinking aeo
ubt- beginning He threw energy and vigor IN
in every enterprise with which he stood associ
ted, and while others were despondent al
.rest predicted failure he nerved himself and all
lent sociated with him with an indomitable indu
in try which seemed resolute on claiming succe'
y r. He was man of sound Judgment and the
oughly practical. He was largely endow
oods with common sense, and he was SO far remoy
God from the visionary and the impracticable th
' his he was very eminently fitted to be wise a.
con- safe counsellor. A man that took his adv
and in business would very seldom have occasion
ed to regret it.
iour. Mon who succeed in business to the extc
sions that he did are too often selfopinonated
the hard in their judgments Of those who fail, a
zee of stern and exactng in their claims upon othe
leath With Gov. Cannon the opposite was the ca
Holy He was kind and generous and full OF the
, that derese and sweetest humanities No one e'
rated loved 10 help poor man more than he