Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1873-10-03

DEATH OF HON. JOHN BROWN
BALDWIN.
OF THE BAR-MEEr1Na OF CrrIzENs-PRocssD-
1sas OF THE SUPREME CsURr-REcE, r1os OF THE
News AT THE CAPITOL
&C., &C., &c,
It is our painful duty to announce this
morning the death of Hon. John B. Bald
win, who died. Tuesday night at 81 o'clock,at
his residence, on Frederick street, in this
city. The following are some facts gath
cred hastily, of the life and death Of this
eminent lawyer, able and upright stesman
and Chivalrous gentleman
Hon. Jno. B. Baldwin was born in Staunton
in 1919, and was therefore 81 years of age at
the time of his death. He was a son of
Judge Briscoe G.. Baldwin. a famous law
yer of his day. and at an early age COM
menced the study Of law in his fathers
Office. Entering the practice of his profess
sion, he soon became very successful at the
bar. His great talent, his popular address
and more than all, his entire reliability and
high character as man, soon attracted
the attention and gained the confidence of
his fellow citizens, and in 1874 he was elected
a member of the legislature from Augusta,
where he served two terms, but was de-
feated for the third term, the white basis
being the issue and he being mixed basis
man. He ran with Massie on that ques-
ton, and they were defeated by Chapman
Johnson and Shelley. That was in 1S47,
and in 1859 he was defeated for Judge Of
the Court of Appeals by VIM j. Robertson,
of Albemarle. In 1851 he was elected to
what was afterwards known as the Seces-
sion Convention, the three members chosen
from this county being John B. Baldwin,
A. II. Fl. Stuart and George Baylor. In
that body he was prominent friend.to the
Union, and, it will be remembered, had an
interview with President Lincoln, in COM
pany with another member of the Conven-
ton, Hon. John Minor Bolts. At the Sc
cession of Virginia he was appointed by
Gov. Letcher Inspector General of the
. Virginia troops, and mustered in the State
volunteers. He was afterwards appointed
Colonel of the Fifty-Second Virgin
ia Regiment, Of which Colonel NJ. G..
Hartman was 1t. Colonel and W. D.
Ross, Major. He was afterwards elected
twice to the confederate Congress, beating
Col. Harper first, and ex-Gov. Letcher for
he next term. After the war he was
speaker Of the Virginia House of Delegates
ii 65-a and 66-7. In the reconstruction Of
he State he took a prominent part as a
nember of the famous Commute of Nine,
nd to him has always been credited much
IF the success achieved by that body in Sc
curing more favorable terms for the admis-
sion of the State. Since reconstruction he
has filled the position Of counsel of the Ches.
4 Ohio Railroad Company, and has prac-
tised law in the Virginia Courts.
A few months since the community was
startled to hear that he had premonitory
symptoms of paralysis, report which
proved unfounded, but which was renewed
\ few weeks ago by sudden nervous pros
tration occurring while attending divine
service at Trinity church, of which he was
an attendant Upon consultation with emf
inent physicians it was found the cause of
his illness was not paralysis but the result
of an old disease. A week ago he seemed
to rally and was able to ride out, but
on Thursday last his condition was again
critical. 1t was determined by his physi-
clans in consultation with his family to
procure the services Of a distinguished sur
gon of New York, DR.. G. W. S. Goulay
to perform surgical operation which it
was hoped would remove the cause of the
attacks. His system had been much pros
trated and he could not have lived more
than two or three days, so that the opera
ton, though hazardous, could not add to the
danger of fatal termination of his illness
and might give relief. DR.. G. arrived in
Staunton Monday, and Tuesday about
noon, assisted by Drs. Fauntleroy and
Donaghe, performed the operation while
the patient was under the influence of
ether. After its close the patient revived
sufficiently to take some beef tea, but his
system had been too much Frustrated to
permit his recovery and it was not long be-
fore it was seen that he was sinking. At
$50 O'Clock shat night he died.
4EE FEELING In THE CITY.
81 close place to the heart Of every
man in this community did this one hold,
that in an hour after his death, the sad news
had become generally circulated. At the
hotels, those surface indicators Of popular
feeling, Little gatherings Of citizens, were
talking over the distressing 10. |
diligence, momentsrily augmented by fresh
arrivals, anxious to ascertain the truth o,
he report, and the next morning the story |
mas told in every house and on every |
g rect corner. One expression in street
crowd 10 fair sample Of the general feeling
toll you. gentlemen, he was the flower Of
sm l." Later in the day the intslli.
epce was conveged to the country BY men
,ho had sis d town, and many rode into
N eitv 10 kaoW the trush. frss