The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1874-09-02
DEATH OF A PROMINENT CITIZEN.


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DEATH OF A PROMINENT CITIZEN.
On Wednesday morning last, our
community was startled by the an
nouncement of the sudden death, during
the previous night, of John A. Calhoun,
ESQ, one of our oldest and most dis
tinguished citizens, at the family resi-
dence in the vicinity of the town. The
summons came so unexpectedly, that
we could scarcely credit the intelligence,
but, alas, it was too true, and Abbeville
is called again to deplore the loss of one
of those representative men, who once
illustrated her councils in the past, and
formed one of the few remaining land
marks of earlier and better days. Death
came without a premonition of its ap-
proach. Dnring the previous day the
deceased was apparently in usual health,
and engaged in his usual avocations.
Retiring at the accustomed hour, he
complained of a feeling Of suffocation,
and sought relief by sitting up, but
without avail, and died in q few mo-
ments, in the arms of his family, and
whilst uttering a few feeble words of
benediction on their heads.
John Alfred Calhoun was the son OF
James Calhoun and Sarah Martin, and
was born in Vienna, on the 9Th Janua-
ry, 1907. His father, James, was the
second son of Patrick Calhoun, and was
one of the four brothers, William,
James, Jno. c., and Patrick, whose
names and memories are honored and
cherished in Abbeville. 1t will be thus
seen that he was the nephew of the
distinguished Carolina statesman, to
whom he was indebted for very liberal
aid in the acquisition of an education.
The uncle in this mode sought to repay
the debt which had been Incurred in the
superior educational advantages which
had been enjoyed by himself. The
deceased was educated at DR.. Waddell's
famous school ut Wellington, and grad
uated at Athens. Ga, in 1928. In 1880
he was admitted to the Bar, and was
married a month afterwards to Miss
Sarah Norwood, of Abbeville, an esti-
mable lady, who still survives. For
eight years he practiced law with that
distinguished son of Abbeville, Gov.
Patrick Noble. In 1888 he was elected
to the Legislature, and made an active
and useful member. In 1910 he moved
to Eufala, Ala, and practised law with
great success as the partner of General
Tennent Lomax, of that place. AS
Mayor of the town, and by unceasing
efforts otherwise, he did much to sup
press drunkenness, gambling, and law
lessness, which then prevailed. He was
recalled to Abbeville in 1S49,. by the
death of his father-in-law, Mr.. Will
hanson Norwood, and for two
years had charge of the estate of the
deceased, after which he removed to his
residence, Rossdhue, near Abbeville
village, where he passed the remainder
of his life, experimenting large plant
ing interest in the Flat Woods. In
1860 he was elected member of the
Secession Convention, and sympathized
with the cause of the South in the
struggle that followed. His death oc-
Cured on the 25th August, in the sixty
eighth year of his age.
Mr.. Calhoun was man of fine intel
ligence, and possessed in large measure
the hereditary talents of the family.
Gifted with a commanding person,
fine presence, and face that reminded
one of the great Carolinian statesman,
there was that in his eye and manner
which made the resemblance even more
complete. Possessed of ample stores of
information derived from a wide con-
verse with men and books, he was a
good talker, and always an impressive
speaker. A man of high character and
noble impulses, he was above everything
low and dishonorable, and was ever
identified with that which he believed
to be the most conducive to the best
interests of his State and section. He
was representative Southern man, and
in the hour of peril was true to the
cause Of the South. A public spirited
citizen, he was long the earnest advocate
of the cherished project of the Savan-
nah Valley Railroad, and for time
the President Of the Company-an en-
lightened friend of education, he was
member of the Board of Trustees of the
University Of the South; jealous
Church member, he was one of the ac-
tive workers in erecting the beautiful
church edifice here, which bears the
name of Trinity. Pure in character,
kind in temper and disposition, the
model husband and affectionate father,
it was in the home circle, where he was
best known, that he was most loved and
appreciated; the idolized head Of a
family especially alive to the instincts
of blood and kindred, and to all the