Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1873-12-12
Death Of Judge Underwood.

John Q. Underwood, Judge OF the U. 5.
District Court for Eastern Virginia, died
suddenly in Washington on Sunday night
last. His life is well known to the people
Of Virginia, and of his death the Washing
ton ssChronicle" gives the following ac-
count:
Judge J. G. Underwood died last night
at II o'clock of a congestive chill, at his
residence, No. 226, Sd street. He was all
ing but an hour or SO, and almost before
the nature of his malady was apprehended
he was corpse, although the best medical
assistance was summoned. He was IS
years of age. Judge Underwood was in
perfect health yesterday, and indeed seemed
to his friends in better spirits than ever
He visited Howard University yesterday
afternoon and made calls on several mem
bers of the faculty, and while there felt
what he termed ''chilly feeling" and
without completing the purposes of his
visit he returned TO his home. He then
complained of severe pains in his limbs,
and took bath, after which he retired
Heavy breathing then attracted the men,
berS of his family, who summoned DrS.
Wharton and Boyle, the former arriving be
fore his death, and the latter only in time
to pronounce him dead.
The career OF the deceased was an event.
full one. He was born in Litchfield, Her
kimer county, N. Y, and long before the
late war purchased land in Clarke county,
Virginia, where he for years resided. In
1856 he was delegate to the convention
which nominated Fremont for the Presi-
dency. He then went to New York city
and remained there until 1861, as the Sec
| rotary of the Emigrant Aid and Home
stead Company, society formed for the
| of caf+1inn oo11inn Soufh
lands. In 1851 he was appointed Consul
| to Callao, Peru, which he declined, to &C
cept the position of Fifth Auditor of the
Treasury Department, and while holding
| that position he received the appointment
! Of Judge of the District Court of Virginia
| His career has since become part almost
of "War History" principally from his
| charges to juries in opening the sessions Of
| the District Court in Richmond, Va. He
was better known latterly in these parts as
the defendant in the McVeigh suits in
| Alexandria, which were brought to recov-
er property confscated by act of Congress.
The funeral will take place tomorrow at
D. M, from his late residence on Third
street, and the interment will be made by
| Harvey, according to his express wishes,
beside .classmate and intimate friend in
the Congressional Cemetery. He leaves a
wife, son, and daughter.
The Richmond State Journal' has the
following about him, differing somewhat
from the above:
Judge Underwood has been resident Of
Virginia for the last thirty-two years. He
was born in Herkimer county, New Y ork,
| in 1910, and was consequently sixty three
years of age at the time of his death. He
removed to this State in 1912 OF 1913, and
engaged successfully in agricultural pur-
suits in Loudoun county, where he resided
up to the commencement of the late civil
war. Here he became acquainted with
and married Miss Jackson, an accomplished
Virginia lady, and first cousin to Stone
wall Jackson, by whom he leaves two
| children, son and daughter, both grown.
On the breaking out of the rebellion he
was driven from the State by reason of
his loyal sentiments, and was soon after
wards appointed Auditor Of the Treasury
under the late Chief-Justice Chase. On
March 9th, 1868, he was appointed by
President Lincoln, on the recommends
tion Of Mr.. Chase, United States district
judge Of the District of Virginia, which
position he held until 1870, when, on di-
vision of the judicial district, he became
judge of the Eastern District of Virginia.