The New York herald., 1869-03-14
o Bx r uAzx
Iau,es Guthrie.

James Guthrie.
Ntelegram from Louisville announces the deatl
OF this prominent Kentuckian In that city yester
day. FOR many months Mr.. Guthrie has been al
invalid, iOr most OF the time confined to his resi-
dence andNpnable to attend TO his oniclal duties
His decease, will therefore. surprise no person. 4
having been almost daily expected since the latteI
part OF 1857. he had reached the advanced age o
ssventy-six years and three months.
EARLY kIFE or TIE DECEASED.
James Guthrie was born on . farm near Bsrds
town, Nelson county, KY, on the 5th OF December.
17o2 His father was an Irishman and his mother Z
native Of Pennsyivanis. Although persons Of smAaI
means they gave their young son very good educa-
tion at the Bsrdstown Academy, where he graduated
creditably Until his twentieth year he lived on his
fathers farm, engaged in agricultural pursuits, but
In 1912 commenced trading with New Orleans -
owner Of . nect OF natboats. In 1915 he abandoned
this business and. returning to Bardstown entered
the law once OF the late John Rowan subsequently
United States Senator from Kentucky. Here
he studied law for two years, ct the
end OF which time he was admitted to
the bar. After q few months spent In Bardstown ne
went TO Louisville where greater inducements were
offered to an able lawyer His success 10 his pro-
fession was immediate, and in few years he became
known a. one OF the leading lawyers OF the State.
BY means Of an extensive practice be soon amassad
considerable property. Until 1884 Mr.. Guthrie had
held no public of1ce except for brief period that
d0ned for his more lucrative private practice He
had however, taken an active part In politics, and
being OF 80 serious character that it confined him
to his ped for period Of nearly three years.
In 1924 Mr.. cuthr,e pV Was elected member OF the
Kentucky State Legislature, serving altogether nf-
teen years. nine being the lower house and six In
was quite successful On the questions OF railroads
and other internal improvements he took an active
part and to his energy Kentucky Is greatly indebted
for her progress and prosperity In 1850 he was
elected q member OF the State Constitutional Con-
vention and at Its meeting during the early part Of
over owe its deliberations. He had had now Become
widely known throughout the State and was
looked upon as the head Of the KENTUCKY bar.
the banking business and was the originator OF the
Nashville and Louisville Railroad, OF which he be-
Mr. Guthrie resumed the practice or hts profession
without interruption until the Presidential cam
paign Of 1852, when he made vigorous canvass
election OF that gentleman received the appointment
Of Secretary OF the Treasury which position he held
until the close OF the administration. Returning TO
Kentucky, be renamed in private life for number
OF years being known In political circles as
.Union Democrat Prior @ to tne meeting m ,aaS ,S OF
name was prominently mentioned for the candidacy
Of the party for the Presidency but the proposition
came to nothing. During the rebellion he kept
strict neutrality. While he undoubtedly loved the
Union and wished 1t preserved, so many OF his
friends, and, for aught we know TO the contrary,
Kindred, were with the Confederates, that he took
to the Democratic National Convention which met
al Chicago and nominated General Mcclellan.
During the following year he was elected a Senator
in Congress by the Kentucky Legislature for the
ON Finance, Agriculture, Patents, Appropriations
and Mines and Mining. In 1866 he was delegate TO
the 'sNational Union Convention held at
Philadelphia, and which proved q political
and for months he was unable to perform
his public duties. Discovering the. impr0babiltty
OF has health ever becoming sufficiently restored to
enable him to engage again In political life he re-
signed his position in the Senate during the month
Of February Of last year. From that time until his
death on yesterday he fingered IN great bodily
DISTRESS seldom well enough to rise from his bed
and always suffering.
In personal appearance Mr.. Guthrie was very
striking. He was man Six feet two inches in
height, Of q large, gaunt and powerful frame. His
features were quite massive, but always wore q
kindly and charitable air. As private character
there was. in 1860 much said against Mr.. Guthrie;
mics, but few persons believed the charges made
were true. His friends and acquaintances always
spoke OF him as = warm-hearted, generous dis
position.
Mrs. Lydia Beochcr.
This lady, the third wife and widow OF DR..
Lyman Beccher ana stepmother OF Rev. Henry
Ward Beecher. died at the residence OF her daugh-
ter Mrs. Dickinson, in Brooklyn yesterday morn
ing. Nearly o fortnight ago she was attacked by
influenza. which superinduced congestion OF the
lungs from the effects OF which last named disease
she died. At the time OF the marriage with DIR.
son. OF Boston, by whom she had three children, two
OF them being now residents OF Brooklyn. There was