New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-01-02
Obituary..
James Lynch. Secretary OF State.

James Lynch, Secretary OF State
Hon. James Lynch, whose death occurred
Ia TINS city at one O'Clock on the morning oF
wednesday last, the 18th Instant. althopoh
ne was personally well known to the n q
Jor,ty Oh inc residents, was, as far as his ante.
ceuehts were concerned, comparative
stranger to the people among whom he moved
ING !oIlowing particulars may DO furnished
al ms time, in this connection. Mr.. LYNCH
was born In the city Of Baltimore. MARYLAND
ABOUT the year 1910. His father. who fol,
ioWea mercantile pursuit, was freedman.
ana his mother had been a slave. but had
nad her liberty purchased by her husband
Nnile quite young, James was employed in
caring Tor his fathers interests, and there
\ are those living who remember him as q re-
i aihaoiy smart and fine appearing lad, driy-
| ing the delivery team which hauled goods to
| ms fathers patrons in tho city. As soon az
oid enough no was sent to Hanover. New
hampshire, to enter Kimball IrniversitS-
from which institution, in due timo. he ord,
uated with usual honors. At tho time OF
which we write the people OF New Hapnp-
SHIRE had few opportunities for heholdlnc.
coiored men, and Mr.. Lynch has bcet. heard
10 describe tho sensation that his descead-
ing IRON the old-fashioned stage-coach pro-
duccd when he made his advent in Hanover.
The inhabitants crowded about and gazed
upon him as in some parts Of tho country
tsey now stand and gaze upon an inhabitant
OF the Celestial Empire upon his arrival
here.
After completing his education Mr.. Lynch
went to Indiana, where he was preacher Of
the gospel for some years. He then went to
Gaiena, Illinois, where he married We next
hear OF him IN Philadelphia, pursuing the
honorable calling of editor of the Recorder. q
popular Methodist publication. He was
known everywhere "a an eloquent sneaker
and able and fluent writer, and he moved in
as good society as perhaps any of his COM
peers enjoyed.
In 1867, Mr.. Lynch came to Mississippi.
from the Methodist Episcopal Church, and
was Presiding Elder ofthis District, also filling
in time as an assistant in the Educational
Department of the Freedman's Bureau. He
also edited, for season, a religious Journal
in this city, Jointly published BY himself and
J. J. Spelman, now Of Madison county. Tha
paper was not successful pecunisrily, and
was finally suspended. Lynch's articles
were always carefully prepared, thoughtful,
argumentalye, and convincing, and undoubt.
eddy performed q good work wherever read.
lie first became polit ca!ly prominent il
Mississippi In what is denominated as the
''Dent-Alcorn" campaign OF lo6g, when he
was nominated for the Office Of Secretary OF
@totO lhC uduo Tue canvass
with the best speakers in the State, and was
duly elected and qualified, and up to the time
OF his deeease had ably and efficiently niled
all the requirements Of that important and
responsible position. His first speech was
made in this city iu conjunction with Gen,
Geo. c. Mckee, the present Representative
in Congress from this, the Fifth, Mississippi
District. He was candidate for nomination
for the Forty-third Congress against General
hIlf Tnfa tod in,
He acquiesced in his defeat, entered heartily
into the Presidential campaign and made
many effective ad ttpcsses fn lie Disttiet A
ztaGnch supporter Of President Grant, he wa5
selected as delegate 70 the pEfilsdeiuhA
Nominating Convention, which Le ATS 5s
and IN the course OF which he. made enc CT
two felicitoas speeches, efforts which wers
characterized by Colonel John ". Fo-neF as
The hest lsnada az the s.,-.s,
while al BROOKLYN, New York, So a repre-
sentative nisa az egAfesAoasst t;hurch gather
ing, he was invited 81 address & yEtacatica
meeting of the citizens of that aristoeratic
and intelligent community. He accepted and
made one of the most brilliant orations Of his
life. 1t pleased the people and was highly
eulOgized by the press and its best critics.
Previously he had made the canvass for
Grant and Wilson in Indiana, giving effective
efforts at Indianapolis, Evansville, and other
prominent places. Extended reference was
made to these speeches in these columns at
the time. They were excellent in tone, con-
vincing in matter, and telling in their effect
upon the result in that State.
Since returning to his home in this city
Mr.. Lynch had not been what could be called
strong in bodily health. The labors Of the
campaign had fastened the development ola
bronchial complaint which he had long been
troubled with. This was preceded by Bright's
dlsease of the kidneys, and some two or three
weeks since he was compelled to absent him.
self from business and call in the services Of
DR.. Harrington, who has since given him his
best services and attention. Bat death mad
taken t1o strong q hold on its victim. He
gradually sunk under the attack and finally
breathed his last, as stated above, on the
morning Of the 18th inst. He died in the
faith of the church, resting upon the promise
of the Word, Of which he was so eloquent an
expOunder. Jackson (Miss.) Pi'ot, Dec. 81,
1872.