Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1873-06-18
ON THE DEATH OF GENERAL THOMAS f..
CHAMPION.
Meeting of the Manifestations and Trib-
utes of Respect.

Meeting of the Bar-RcsOIutiOns and Trib-
utes of Respect.
The meeting of the Bar to take proper
action on the death of General Thomas e.
Champion, at 10 A. NJ, Saturday, was at
tended by every member of the profession
in the city Hon. e. II. Hall presided, and
James Comfort, Esq, acted as Secretary.
The following preamble and resolutions
prepared by Col. Baxter, were presented
by him on behalf of the committee zassrS
Thomas Emmett Champion, the subject
of this brief and imperfect memoir, was
born in Palmyra, New York, August Sd,
1925. Soon after attaining his majority, he
emigrated to the State of Illinois, where
he entered upon and pursued the practice
of law until 1862, when in response to a
call for volunteers to suppress the late re-
bellion, he rendered his services as a pri-
vate in the army of The United States But
upon the organization of the regiment,
(96th Illinois yolunteers), composed main
ly of his neigh bors and personal acquain
tances, he was elected Colonel, and in this
capacity assumed the arduous duties of mill
itary life. 1t is not our purpose to give in
! this brief sketch, an extended history of
his military career. Suffice it to say that
he participated actively in the bloody
| conflict of Chickamauga. command
ed the advance brigade in the assault,
made on Lookout Mountain, in the battle
of Mission Ridge, and by his patient en-
durance in the field, his wisdom in council
and courage and skill in battle, he COM
mended himself to the confidence and re-
spect of his comrades in arms, and justly
won the promotion which was awarded
| him by President Lincoln. In his new
rank as Brigadier General he continued in
the service of his country until the close
of the war. But the severe exposure
which he had undergone had impaired his
health and rendered change of domicile
| from the cold and rigid climate of North
western Illinois necessary, and yielding to
| this necessity, he selected Knoxville as his
future home. In the summer of 1S65-just
| eight years since-he located in our
midst, and began the practice of the law
in the courts of this and adjacent counties.
From that time until his death, ate o'clock,
yesterday morning, we were in almost
daily contact with him. We met him in
social and professional life, and knew him
intimately and well, and we but discharge
a melancholy duty i'll bearing testimony
to his intellectual and moral worth. AS
lawyer he was industrious, able, learned
| and courteous, and as q man and citizen,
he was emnently just and faithful in the
discharge of every duty, which deVolved
upon him. Sectional and party animOsi-
ties had no abiding place in his cultivated
and generous mind. While firm in his
own convictions, he was tolerant of the
opinions of others, and died as he
had lived in peace with the world
and with the good will and
N which he lived clustering around him.
The death of such man is a loss to any
community we therefore,
Resolve, That in this affective dispense
tion of providence, the Bar of East Tennes-
see has lost an able, learned and efficient
lawyer, the community an upright and
honorable gentleman and the country a
true and tried DatriOt
ResOLUed, That in this their sad bereav-
ment, the family of the deceased have our
deep and sincere sympathy.
Resolved, That copy of this preamble
and these resolutions, be furnished to the
widow of the deceased, and to each of the
papers of Knoxville for publication, and
that the Hon. Thomas A. r. Nelson, be
requested to present the same to the sever
al Courts holden at Knoxville, and request
that they be entered of record as testimo-
NAL of the high appreciation in which we
his professional brethren, held the charac.
: ter of the deceased
Resolved, That as members of the bar,
we will attend the funeral to-day and that
the officers of the various courts as we'll as
each of the county officers as may be in
the city be requested to accompany us.
The report was accompanied with feeling
and touching remarks from Col. Baxter,
whose intimate and long business connec-
ton with the deceased unfolded to him his
many noble traits of character During all
, his acquaintance with him Col. Baxter said
= he had never heard him utter a sentiment
or express purpose inconsistent with the
: highest standard of honor Truly high
tribute to pay to any man. His virtues as
a lawyer and gentleman were portrayed
with truthfulness and much feeling.
Col Baxter was followed by A. j. Kicks,
Esq, who said he could not feel that he
had discharged his duty as friend of the
deceased until he had paid tribute to his
memory, in a meeting of professional
brethren. He had known him as partner
in the practice of the law and as precep-
? tor, and in both characters he knew him as
| an able and faithful counselor and a patriot
and valuable teacher. He referred partc-
ularly to his uniform courtesy and consid-
Grafton to the younger members of the
2 bar many of whom were accustomed to go
t to him for advice and assistance.
Messrs. Andrews, Washburn, McGuf-
fey and Washington made remarks appro-
pirate to the occasion All bore earnest
testimony to his learning, zeal and eff
: ficiency as a lawyer and to the
honorable practice at the bar. Unobtrusive
and modest as his life had been it was very
: apparent from the sincere and heartfelt trib-
utes expressed by his professional brethren
that no one of their number, enjoyed more
universally their highest respect and con-
fidence.