Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-09-16
OBTTUARY.


Nothing that has occurred here in
many years 30 surprised our citizens as the
~ announcement yesterday afternoon Of the
death OF Colonel John 5. Kerr. He was in the
enjoyment OF such excellent health, was so
buoyant I'D fun OF hope, that not one OF the
many who knew him but regarded him as
possessed Of a long lease of life. His death
literally fulhhed the scripturaI warning Of
the coming Of the Inflated messenger in the
IWlnEliug Of an eye. He had left the dining
room in one OF his happisst moods, and re-
tired 10 the room in his UncleIs residence on
Poplar street, which ior some days he had oc
cupied as guest. Scarcely had he entered
when death seized him. There was the noise
OF his fan 10 The floor, which brought his uncle
and family promptly TO his assistance; but
short as was the interval between the sum
mons and their arrival, they were too late
lie was already In the thrOes and agonies
Of death by apoplexy, from which a few
minutes after their entry he was happily re-
leased. And so passed away a gentleman
who, with all his idiosyncracies, was one |
anopg The purest and most blsmeless OF our
public men,. We OF the press, who have en-
cOuntered him in the heat and fervoi Of his 1
political campaigns, know that he never sunk /
the genial, bright and cheerful faith which !
was his unfalIing source Of inspiration in any
dlsappOinfmsuts, and that he was courteous
and chivslrous 10 his opponents. He had de.
cIded views, and boldly aud fesrlessly avowed
IneIns but ne always conceded 70 Others the
liberty he claimed foT himself In all his pub
lie contests We never heard Of his having a
difficulty, and when be surrendered his bat
terles and sDeathed his sword in 1855, he gave
himself wholly 20 his profession and 10 such
assistance as ne could render IN the work Of
bringing tine state ont of the chaos and con-
fusion Of war. He was essentially good cit
1zen.
Colonel Kerr was born IN MuniordvilIe, (
Kentucky, IN 1850, and was the only son Of the
late Hon. , L. Kerr, by whom, after an edu-
cation pur1 ued at tue best schools OF the c0un-
IrJ, lnclu1lug " esl Point, where he gradu-
ate15 ne was Trained IN law, upon the practice ,
Of which be entered bere IN ISIS. He was quite :
successful = but attracted by the growing repu-
lauun or Chicago emlgrated Ihitber in !
lsJj, and there remained, enjoying an unusual 5
prosperity, until ls5l, when he returned to I
his native Kentucky, F., and there raised a com
pany- al toe head Of which he entered The l
Conf aderate ssTyl lc6, in which he advanced TO 1 6
the honorable grade Of lieutenant colonel Of I
strllLlri4. lie vas = gallant soldier. devoted r
70 the south 70 the last; beloved by the mem o
beEs OF his command, whose ndelity was of- il
teu marker 70 hirn after the war in mum ber- -
less good offices aud klndnesses He settled In .
Memphis Iu lsGl, and entered upon the prac-
uc- OF his profession, at which he was | p
successful. lie was an ardent Democrat,
aud participated in al the cam paigns OF his Z
party being regarded as one Of the most
-IecLlFe spes6ers and sturdy debaters. he
vas rev aried by the people, in ls32, with a
seat in the legislature where he dist nguiGhed 81
lliusel as au enlightened, liberal anu honest u
leglsl sfOr, winning 10 large share OF public NJ
goodwill as Induced MIN 10 become a candi- II
date for governor. In this ne was not success
fol, nut be retired from the contest without
.nE los Ol particle of the esteem which men
s1erl.hed for him in every part Of the State. 10
His canvass Of Tennessee was one OF the Incl 81
dents OF a campaign not yet closed, an incl q
lent that more than any other OF his life proved st
-le h.erliug Independence Of the man. cl
Colonel Kerr Was one OF a family distin-
gui--led for the talent and ability il has given l.
HE country, mum Dering, as 10 does, the Jeffer-
IDu-, EaucOIphs, Clarkes and Lewises, or Viz
s-ula and his distinguished uncle, Rev. DR.. A. u
d.. Kerr, long resiIent Of Mem b
lrls- aII known Far and wide one "
If the Leading minds Of She Presbyterian OF
,lurln. His iher, too, was distinguished oi
as'g eTr and occup Cd a very honorable place C
imllE the urists OF Kentucky. Thus eligibly II
'olleeted ne c0ula not fall to make his mark, u
is he did. aud ID vas among the posi- biliUes -
NAT Colonel = s. Kerr, had he lived, would 70
lne day tase-as high place - he aspired 10, l.
md De distinguished - a leader among men. OF
sut DE has b+en called away, let rs hope 70 q ~
lr ter and better tate, leaving 70 his rela- a
ives and associates the memory Of a large
Iearled. generous noble, Eelf-sacrihcing son
md friend. r,