Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-10-13


Hon. II. ]. Mckinney died at his
residence, in this city, Saturday morn
ing at half past s o'clock. Although
sad, the event was not an unexpected
one, az he has been confined to his bed
several days, and has been failing rap
/ idly for year His age was seventy
/ two years and eight months.
! The deceased was born in Colerain,
/ Londonderry county, Ireland, Februa-
| ~ LIST, 1903. lie came to this country
when only nine years old, and resided
/ first for several years in Philadelphia.
He afterwards came 10 Hawkins
county, Tennessee, and resolved, not
withstanding he had to contend with
| poverty, toread law, which he did. In
| 1924 he was licensed to practice law.
| He remained "A short time at Rogers
| vile and removed to Greeneville in
| 1926, and continued the practice of his
/ profession, meeting with great success.
lie was elected to the Constitutional
! Convention of 1884, and served with
| distinction. He took an active part in
! the preparation of the Constitution of
! Tenuesss which remained in force
! up to the beginning of the late war.
| Although "a young man at that time,
| he was deferred TO by his seniors in
years, because of his sound judgment,
untiring industry and unquestionable
integrity.
In his early days he took an active
interest in politics, being an ardent adj
mirer of the principles and policy of
the glorious Old Wing party. In the
Presidential canvass of 1886 he took
the stump for Hugh Lawson White,
W. al "a FIR Of
pure patriot aud exalted statesman.
He was never IA politician, however,
in the common acceptation of that
term, and never took the stump eN-
Cept at the time mentioned. The hon
Orable profession which he chose had
for him more attractions than the
stormier field of partisan politics.
In 1913 he married Miss Margaret NJ.
Coffin, who lived only two years after
. their marriage.
4 In 1851 he was again married, to
Miss Mary Coffin, who died about four
years ago.
In 1917, while in the active practice
of his profession, the deceased was
elected by the Legislature of Tennes-
see as one of the Juctices on our SUI
preme Bench, in which capacity he
, served until the commencement of the
late war, when the courts of the State
were broken up. He has always been
looked upon by the Tennessee Bar rs
, one of the brightest ornaments to the
Judiciary. He was able, impartial,
upright honest, charitable and just.
, His published opinions are yet quoted
from the Tennessee Reports, as of the
highest authority. The Bench, when
he was upon it, commanded universal
- respect.
In 1854 he removed from Greene
i willie to this city, where he has since
resided. BY economy and industry he
r has amassed what, for this country, is
considered large fortune. Few men
q were so universally respected AS was
Judge Mckinney. His honesty and
:. integrity were never called in ques-
4 ton He has been member of the
o Presbyterian Church for great many
years, and has lived an earnest, con-
;, sistent Christian life. His seat in the
, church was scarcely ever vacant. He
!. took an active interest in all that APP
:. pertains to the interest of his church,
n and illustrated the beauties of his pro-
fessiOu by living blameless life For
= some years he has suffered "A great
II deal Of physical pain, but his last
n hours were peaceful and quiet, and he
a fell calmly asleep, dying apparently
without pain.
At the meeting of the Chancery
/. Court yesterday morning, Hon. j. NJ.
n ThOrnburgh announced the death Of
Il Judge Mckinney and moved AS Il
+ mark of respect to the memory of the
- deceased, the court stand adjourned,
q which adjournment accordingly took
d place.
: After the adjournment of the court
a meeting of the members of the Bar
was held to take action appropriate to
the sad occasion. Col. JnO. II. CroZier
was called to the chair and Maj. II. =.
= Webb was requested to act as Secretary.
On motion committee of seven
was appointed to draft resolutions ex-
II pTessive of the sense of the meeting,
II consisting of Col. Jno. Baxter, Hon.
IS r. NJ. Barton, Hon. ]. NJ. Thornburgh,
e w. z. Washburn, w. A. Henderson,
d l.. G. Houk and George Washington.
l. On motion it was resolved that the
n members of the Bar attend the funeral
d The Board Of Mayor and Aldermen
II will meet at City Hall to-day at
II O'Clock z. NJ, and will attend the
IS funeral in a body.
= The military organizations of the
n city and the University cadets are ex,
L pected to join in the funeral process
r sion.
;, The funeral will take place at the
= First Presbyterian church Mt , o'clock
o p. NJ. to-day after which the remains
Il of the deceased will he inferred in
e Gray Cemetery, Rev. JAS. Park, ID. D.,
I, will conduct the funeral services, as
|, sisted by Rev. y. Bachman and Rev.
e Jos. II. Martin.
n AN IMPORTANT DECISION.