Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1873-06-14
Obituary.


we elsewhere announce, was born in
Palmyra, Wayne county, New York, on
the Sd day of August, 1925. Of his early
youth we know but little. His parents,
we believe, were farmers and gave him the
advantages of common public school edu-
cation, then obtainable in Western New
York. At the age of twenty-four he took
his place in that vast army of resolute, en-
terprising men, who followed the star of
Empire in its Westward course. To Illi-
nois, the great Prairie State, he directed his
steps, and for twelve years prior to the war
was resident of Warren, Joe Daviss coun-
| ty. On first reaching his new home he
directed his attention to the study of medi
cine and for short time was an active
practitioner at Warren. But not finding
it an agreeable profession, he began the
study of the law and continued actively in
that profession to within q short time of
his death.
In 1861, soon after President Lincoln's
first call for troops to suppress the rebel
lion, Mr.. Champion volunteered his SER
vices to the Governor of Illinois, taking
his place in the ranks of the Goth Illinois
Volunteer Infantry. At the organization
of the regiment he was elected its Colonel.
He served with his regiment until near the
close of the war, sharing with it the dan
gers and hardships Of all the marches and
battles of the memorable 14th Army Corps,
better known through the fame of its Clio.
rious old commander and hero-Maj. Gen.
George ri. Thomas. At the head of his
regiment, Col. Champion was part of the
assaulting column that led in that famous
"battle above the clouds, ESQ wildly describ-
ed by Gen. Meigs, Quartermaster General of
the Army, and popularity known as the
battle of Lookout Mountain. At Chicka.
manga Col. Champion was with his COM
mand in the thickest of that bloody fight
part of the corps that was stubbornly held
by Thomas to check the terrific onsets of
the hopeful, eager columns of Gen. Bragg's
army, then confident of an overwhelming
victory. OF rather feeble health at the be-
ginning of the war, the exposure and |
hardships of that active campaign were
too much for Col. Champion, and soon |
after Chickamauga, he was detailed on |
military commission that assembled at |
Nashville for the trial of officers and SOL |
diers charged with breaches of military |
regulations. Near the close of the war he |
was brevetted Brigadier General for faith
full service.
In 1865, General Champion moved to
Knoxville and became associated in the
practice of law with Col. John Baxter. |
Thrown at once into an unusually extend
ed and remunerative practice, in State |
whose statute law were new to him, and |
when his studies had been for years of a
character quite different from that Of his |
profession, he found the work lsboriOus
and responsible. But with fidelity and
high sense of professional honor, he ap>
piled himself to his work and soon won
recognition as one of the ablest members
of the Bar of East Tennessee. His mind |
was of nature that peculiarly fitted him
for his profession. He was laborious and
accurate in his researches of elementary
works and court reports, and at the same
time discriminating in his. Judgment.
He Investigated to ascertain the law;
not alone to find authorities to sus-
tain him in some particular case.
During the last session of the Supreme
Court he made arguments of conspicuous
ability, which were the result of a careful
preparation of authorities and clear and
full argument of principles. In May,
1870, the law firm with which he was con-
nected dissolved, and he soon afterwards
formed partnership with Hon. Nj. l..
Hall, which existed up to the time of his
death.
AS lawyer and citizen he enjoyed in
an eminent degree the confidence and re-
spect of his professional brethren and
neighbOrs. During an intimate business
association of some five years, the writer
knew him as an honorable, conscien-
tious lawyer, whose purpose was to do
right.
Though not unexpected, his death was
rather sudden. For months his strong
frame had been wasting away under the
attacks of consumption. His death was
somewhat fastened by other causes. In
the full possession of his mind, TRANQUILITY
aud peacefully, he passed into his final
rest. His life had been unostentatiOus,
but useful. He had done we'll his part in
the world, living up to his faith in the doc
trines of Swedenborg, of whom he was
follower, dying with malice toward none
and good will for all.
In February, 1s4S, General Champion
was married to Miss Mary Elizabeth Hay
den, of Coldwater, Michigan. His estima-
BILE wife with four children survive him.
An affectionate husband and parent and
an upright citizen, he leaves behind him
many warm friends and few, if any, enc
mics
Picnic Yesterday.
L H. /