Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-03-08

A PRIVATE telegram, from Lynch
burg, conveys the sad tidings Of the
death of the Hon. John w. Leftwich,
member of Congress from this Dis
trict, and late Mayor of this city. To
a host Of warm personal friends, and
to the citizens OF Memphis generally,
this will be unwelcOme and sorrowful
news. The deceased was highly es-
teemed, not only for the qualities
which commended him in so high a
degree to the people as a public man,
but for all the characteristics land they
were his most PROMINENT that distin-
guish the true gentleman; refined,
courteous, never fearing to do what is
right, always in the performance of
duty, doing to all as he would be done
by. His motto in public life was "Be
sure you are right, then goahead, F" and
he always acted upon this, no matter
what the consequences to himself, to
his friends or his opponents. During
his two years occupancy Of the
MAJORITY Of Memphis this strong
~ marked trait was notably ex-
empliied. Also during his residence
dence in Washington, where neither
the urging of friends, the pleading Of
political associates, nor the prompt
ings of leading statesmen could induce
him to accept a lucrative position I'M
der the johnson administration, to
the neglect of what he believed was
his to duty the people Of Memphis. He
was an answering friend Of his peo-
pie. D%uringthe war he Thought it his
duty to stand among the few who con
tended that the Union should be
maintained. But while he did so, he
never forgot that the people of the
South we're his kindred and of his
blood, and that he owed them the duty
ofgood neighborhoOd. When the Fed
erals occupied Memphis ne was instant
in season and out, in good words and
works for the people Of the surround
ing country, sorely pressed and Oppres-
ed as they were by arbitrary military
law. The good account Of his efforts
for the ~fatherless and the widow in
that trying time has gone up on high
before him. Doctor Leftwich main
tanned his record as a Union man, but
at the same time that also which he
priced as much, his character as a good
neighbOr, citizen and friend. What
ever power OF influence he could ex-
ert in himself or others was freely and
lavishly % for those, no matter who,
that were Of the poor and needy thous-
ands who in 1S63-4-j were sufferers at
the hands Of the ruthless and some
times savage soldiery Of the Union
he loved. These acts Of kindness and
noble generosity helped him after
ward when he entered political life
and sought the suffrages of the people
Of Memphis and the counties con
tiguous comprising the Eighth Con-
gressional District. Many of them
had shared in this generosity, and
were, therefore, bound to him by ties
stronger than shocks of steel" Born
in ROckbridge county, Va, in 1927,
DIR. Leftwich was but a young man
when called away from a life of
promise, and a family that more than
ever needed his care. From Virginia
he moved with his father in 1882,
whileyet a child, and settled in Maury
county, in this State. Here helabored
upon the farm, assisting his father in
the support Of a large family, earning
enough to educate himself for the
medical profession, which he pursued
for two or three years, and until fail
ing health and a yearning for the ex-
element Of trade induced him to give
it up; shortly after which he removed
to Memphis, in the year 1856, and en-
barked in business, by which he not
only realized a competency, but made
money rapidly. In 1S62, after the cap
ture of Memphis by the Federals, he