Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-10-23
OBITUARY.

Died. al tho residence of Mr.. il. l.. Smith, in
| this city, on Tuesday. the 10Th day OF August,
| at nine O'clock p. IN, aft.r painful ana I'm,
gering illness, Colonel Il. y. ROCKET. aged
| iifty-two years.
He was a native of Eylaton, Ala
bama, in whose vicinity he in puerile
glee climbed the mountain activities
sported in their verdant valleys, and
roamed along the romantic banks of
their murmuring streams, from whose
crystal waters he angled for the silyery,
hued fish that rejoiced upon their placid
bosom.s He delighted 10 dwell upon the
scenes of his boyhood that fingered
around that hallowed spot, ever recurring
TO them as a cherished reminiscence Of
halcyon days. II was there that his
young heart was fascinated by the en-
chanting grace and loveliness of blue.
eyed charmer before its pulsations OF
ambition we're blighted or it had been
lacerated by the deoeptions and astter-
les which are the heritage of man. His
early energies were devoted to the hardy
and invigorating pursuit of agriculture,
in which occupation he was engaged up
TO his arrival to the stature Of manhood.
Blessed with such limited education as a
preparatory school could bestow, the in
| tellectual prominence he attained is at
tributed 10 his self-culture. He prose
cuted the study of the law, which he
adopted as profession, and, If correctly
informed, commenced its practice in the
State of his birth, but it not proving u'
erative, or for some other cause, he
abandoning parental endearments aud
severing the associations that had clust'
cred around ham from his youth,
sought a different field of action
in the county of Psaola, Mississippi,
where he settled to-pioneer a new for
tune, and pursued, with assiduity, the
arduous labors of his vocation.
sHe evinced an earnest zeal, active in
terest and extensive information in
politics, and was chosen, during his resi-
dence there, the Wing candidate to rep
resent the county of Panola in the Leg
islature at the time the questions of
National bank, the.tariff, the distribution
of the proceeds Of the public lands and
internal improvement were the issues
that perturbated the public mind and
divided the two honored and revered
parties Of the country who adorned with
their statesmanship, learning and elo-
quence its local and national legislation.
Though defeated in this election, there
being a decided Democratic ajority
against him, he displayed in the canvass
such signal talents, cogent logic, versa
tility and familiarity with the grave
topics which engrossed the attention OF
the Leople, as ranked him amongst the
first speakers and ready debaters OF
that era.
Having but little inclination for the
dry details Of the law, his tastes impelled
him TO the press as the medium Of ex-
preston of the gems Of thought and
ideas which flowed from his solid, prac-
tical sense and prolific imagination,
with which he became connected as the
editor of the newspaper published in
the town Of Pamela, and continued to
edit it till about 1855, when he located
in Memphis, and was associated as one
Of the editors OF the Eagle and Enquirer,
and afiervard with the Bulletin.
Much Of the original matter that
distinguished those journals for ability
and political ssgaedy. emanated from
his fluent pen up tc the time the clouds
Of diseord that lowered in the Southern
and Northern skies portended and ulti-
mately eulminates into the storm Of
civil war. A faiihiul sentinel upon the
watch-tower Of passing events, he had
the forecast TO discern, and did with
prophetic visionHforeshadow the disas-
ters 70 the South which would result
from secession, a theory which be op-
posed with arguments which conclu-
sively convinced his earnest nature, and
brought conviction to others Of the dan
gers With which il was fraught bis op-
position 10 this dangerous principle was
unabated until the doctrine Of the coer-
cion Of the State was advocated By the
proclamation Of President Lincoln, at
tempted TO Be enforced, and Tennessee,
~ Sete Of her citizens, withdrew from
- Sulon- Upon this occurrence