The daily gazette., 1875-10-28
Correspondence of the Gazette.)
Memorial of Col. Thomas Jefferson
Randolph.
A SKETCH OF HIS EARLY LIFE,
PUBLIC CAREER AND HIS
LAST ILLNESS.

LAST ILLNESS.
Sad indeed has it become our dHty to
chronicle the death of the last surviving
grandson of ex-President Thomas Jeffer-
son. Probably no American could have
passed away who was such connection
between the past and the present as
Thomas jefferson Randolph, of Edge
Hill, near Charlottesville, Va. Having
been born in 1892. his life was co-equal,
as it We're, with the rise and develop
| ment of the American Republic. His
boyhood and youth We're passed with his
! grandfather, at Monticello, and he, be-
| ing the oldest grandson of MIR. Jefferson,
| occupied the place in his affections and
| fulfilled the duties in his house of an
eldest son, Mr.. Jefferson regarding him
| with such affections, educated him. He
was, in later years, as Mr.. Jefferson him
self expressed it, the staff of his old
age" and being the one with whom the
| great statesman was most intimate, he
remained as long as he lived the one who
| could speak with most authority about
Mr.. jefferson views and feelings upon
all subjects.
| During the excited times which fol-
lowed Mr.. Jefferson's first election, when
the country was greatly agitated by
Burr's misdemeanor. the subject OF our
sketch was a lad Of eight years, and well
did he remember the night on which the
courier on horseback dashed up and de-
livered the desision, of Congress, deelar-
ing Mr.. Jefferson the one upon whom
had been conferred the honor of the
highest gift in the nations power.
To the second Inauguration of Mr..
Jefferson might have been seen young
Randolph in company with his grand
father, on horseback, pacing up Penn
sylvania avenue from the Presidents
house to the Capitol. Where. grandson
1and grandfather dismounting, in those
days of republican simplicity, "hitched
their horses to the paling," the latter
going into the Congressional Halls to
receive for the second time from his
ceuntrymen the highest office in their
gift. His educational advantages were
such as those rude days of the Republic
afforded.
Attaining the age of manhood, he took
into management the affairs of his grand
father, relieving him as far as possible
from all cares and anxieties. After Mr.
, Jefferson ) death it was found by the
sales Of his various property that the
| liabilities excelled the assets by S40, 900,
which sum MIR. Randolph obligated him
self to pay, saying that ne man should
say that he had lost by his grandfather.
E Not only was his generosity manifested
here, but it was shown IN many other
: instances. In 1929 he published the
Life and Correspondence of Thomas
jefferson" At intervals from 1882 to
| 1888, he was a member of the Virginia
House Of Representatives, favoring all
the time the abolition of slavery. His
: devotion to the Union was firm until
the raid Of John Brown, startled at
(which. he Immediately announced his
q determination to stand by his State
|" should she withdraw from the Union
He invested all of his money in Confed
crate bonds, and when all was lost, with.
out one instant's repining, he accepted
the situation and devoted his time and
thoughts to restoring, politically and
. financially, the prosperity of his State
with an earnestness and energy which
\ younger men would have done well tc
, have initiated his example.
His last appearance in public was at
the National Democratic Convention
which convened at Baltimore in 1872
over which he was made temporary
$. chairman, presiding with great ability
s. and dignity in appearance. He was fol-
A. many years rector of the University of
10 Virginia. He continued his daily horse.
is back rides along the mountain side Of
his plantation up to within a few weeks
of his death. His health. however. just
gave an evidence of failure last Spring
His presence graced the occasion of the
versity, Aeld last July, he answering K
the toast '"rhomas jefferson, the Faith
III er of the University of Virginia" Otter
during his last sickness he was PLACED
upon a couch and borne into Il room
from whence he had a full view of hi
lovely Monticello and across fields which
he said were the scenes of his youthful
sports.
. Friends and neighbors hearing of hi
- u
to press his hand for the last time. Be
ing conscious to the last he remarked
"Hew plainly | can note the gtadua
of giving way to disease of one faculty af
ter another" Lingering for q time. h,
: fell asleep in death at 6 o'clock on tn
7th instant, being so placed that he wit
messed the last evening rays Of the set
ting sun playing upon the summit of hi
dear and beloved Monticello-the legac.
which he left he said was his "un.ar
nished honor"
The tributes of respect paid him afte
n death were very touching. A committe
It Of citizens from Charlottesville was sen
rs to Edge Hill, to join the procession which
as it moved along the beautiful road
Charlottesville. was swelled greatly b
: persons coming on foot, or horsebac
and in carriages to meet it. Old me
came and uncovered their heads as tn
:. | remains OF MN tney udu leVertu pdSSe
by, At the precincts of TOW n, a numbe
of citizens were assembled on one side c
the road, and the professors from tn
= University on the other, forming doubl
line, who stood with their heads uncover
nd ed as the procession passed Though. Th
church was quite crowded and the store
all closed. After the funeral his remain
were taken to the Monticello graveyard
where reposes the remains OF Thoma
jefferson and family. The services a
the grave were touchingly closed by
hymn, sung by the former slaves OF tn
ts good man. and his grave covered wit
= flowers, placed there by young ladie
: who, as scholars in his daughter schoo
had for nd happy home in his hons,
and a kind and affectionate friend
him.
VIRGINIA Q. n. IvKRsITY,
Charlottesville, Va, Oct, 25th 1875.
The Rev. Robert Collyer introduce
l.,