Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1873-06-15
on THE DEATH OF GENERAL THOMAS E.,
CHAMPION.
Meeting OF the Bar-ResOlutiOns and Trib-
utes of Respect.

|
| Meeting OF the Bar-Resolutions 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, yesterday, was at
tended by every member of the profession
in the city. Hon. E. I. 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:
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
ne entered upon and pursued the practice
of law until 1862, when in response to
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 volunteers), composed main
ly of his neigh bors and personal acquain-
tances, he was elected Colonel. and in this
capacity assumed the arduous duties of mil
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 dOmiciIe
| 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-iust
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, att 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
melancholy duty in bearing testimony
to his intellectual and moral worth. AS
lawyer he was industrious, able, learned
and courteous, and as man and citizen,
he was eminently just and faithful in the
discharge of every duty, which deyolved
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
sympathies of the whole community
in which he lived clustering around him.
The death of such man is loss to any
community; we therefore,
Resolve, That in this affective dispense
ton 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 patriot.
ResoEUed, That in this their sad bereav-
ment, the family of the deceased have our
deep and sincere sympathy.
ResOlced, That a 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 well 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 sentiment |
or express purpose inconsistent with the
highest standard of honor. Truly high |
tribute to pay to any man. His virtues as
lawyer and gentleman were portrayed
with truthfulness and much feeling.
Col. Baxter was followed by A. ]. Kicks,
ESQ.,, who said he could not feel that he
had discharged his duty as friend of the
deceased until he had paid a 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 patriot
and valuable teacher. He referred partic-
ularly to his uniform courtesy and consid-
Grafton to the younger members Of the
bar many of whom were accustomed to go
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
apparentfrom 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.
The meeting adjourned to attend the
funeral in body, accompanied by the of
flcers of the various courts, in which the
deceased practiced.
THE FUNERAL.
The funeral services of Gen. Champion
took place yesterday afternoon at o'clock,
Rev. s. Saltmarsh, officiating. The service
and remarks of DR.. Saltmarsh were exceed
ingly appropriate and affecting. He spoke
feelingly of his relations to the deceased
and spoke words of comfort to the afflicted
family.