The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1875-06-02
DOCTOR WHARTON.

acter. 1t remains however to blend them
all into one, and thus give the reader a
full length portrait Of man whose mem
orv ought not to be allowed to die.
Yielding 10 the solicitation Of friends,
and 70 the promptings of his own heart,
the writer has undertaken this sad, bat
not unacceptable duty.
JOIN OvERToN WHARTON was ma
tive Of Tennessee, born in Nashville,
January 18th, 1904, aud vas, therefore,
on the day of his death at New Orleans,
MAY 8th, 1875, in the seventy-second
year of his age. Few men have lived to
that ripe old age, aud left a record 80 free
from stain or blemish.
OF his childhood, and early youth,
little is known beyond the simple facts
that he was n bright boy, and received
kindly that training which it was the
pleasure, no less than duty Of christian
parents to give him. =
After a proper training in academic
studies, he was matriculated at 1ransyl-
yania University, when that was confess
edly the leading University west OF the
mountains, OF lis many thousand gradu-
ates few have left its classic shades with
higher honors than young Wharton.
Others have filled larger space in the
ewes Of the world, but none have held a
warmer place in the hearts of all who
knew him.
After graduating with high honors in
classics he entered the medical college at
Baltimore where he prosecuted his medl-
cal studies with almost incredible zeal
and energy. So that at the early age of
twenty-one, he graduated in medicine,
with honors equal to those which closed
his classical course.
Returning to Nashville, his native city,
heralded by reputation of which so
young a man might feel justly proud, he
was at once taken into partnership by
one of the Oldest, and most successful
physici9ns in Tennessee. After few
years of practice which was crowned with
the most brilliant success, he suddenly
abandoned the profession, and sought, as
he expressed it, ''more congenial employ
ment" This at first may look as if he
were deficient in fxedness of purpose.
But not so ; no man ever adhered with
more zeal, or greater tenacity to any oc-
cupation than he. But he was cOnscien-
tious to fault, if such a thing can be.
Observation and practice satisfied him as
he expressed it to this writer that the
most skillful physician was not unfre
quently mistaken in the cause, or seat of
the disease, and mistaking its nature
was liable to DO mischief by mistreating
it. He chose rather to abandon the pro
fession, and lucrative practice, than to
take any such risks.
The truth is, DR.. Wharton was not
only scrupulously honest, but his sensitive
nature revclted at the idea Of living in
daily contact with disease and death,
without an inward, heartfelt conviction
that his remedies if rightly administered
would prove etticacious in relieving the
sufferers. If he ere, who shall blame
him, seeing that he erred on the side Of
humanity.
Having abandoned medicine, Dr.
Wharton removed to Maryland, and set
Ting in Washington county betook him
self to farming. Soon after he married
Miss Mason, the daughter OF John
Thompson Mason, q gentleman whose
name is written in leglbIe characters on
the brightest pages OF that noble State.
OF Miss Mason it is sufficient to say
that she was bright, particular star in
that galaxy of beauty, grace and elegance
which for an hundred years and more has
placed the daughters Of Maryland and
Virginia in the foremost rank and given
precedence to the name OF Mason.
DR.. Wharton's success as a farmer.
L
society Of Maryland. And IFS manage
ment soon took him into its service. 1t
is not to much to say that his duties were
performed with such marked fidelity,
and high intelligence that nothing but
the destructive influences Of the war
could have thrown him out of position
But being thrown out, and following the
dictates Of Il strong will, and unconquer-
able purpose to I've independently, he
came to Mississippi and engaged in his
old familiar pursuit of farming.
But | must 90 back with him to his
home in Maryland-genial, intelligent,
brave in speech, and brave still in thought,
the independent voters Of Washington
county soon singled him out as a proper
man to represent them in the Legislature.
1t was Wing county, according to the
old division of politics by majority Of
some three to four hundred. He was
an unfiinching Democrat; and yet he so
recommended himself to the people by
his high qualities as q gentleman, man
Of integrity, and politician who could |
not be corrupted, that they returned him |
to the Legislature time and again by in
creased majorities. This fact is worthy |
of note, as alike ereditable to the integrity |
of Dr. Wharton, and the intelligence of |
an enlightened constituency.
The high qualities OF DIR. Wharton as /
a man and politician, would have gained /
him a much higher position, but he did +
not aspire. He held but one other office |
Under the Pierce administration he was
of the port Of Baltimore. With /
the expiration Of that administration, he
quilted public life forever.
His connection with the Agricultural +
College of Maryland, and the high char
lcter which preceded him on his removal
to Mississippi in the fall Of 1866, desig-
mated him to the management of the Ag-
icultural Association Of this State, as one
whose services ought to be secured. He
vas accordingly soon after called to the
presidency Of that body. How well and
he discharged the many and
,nerous duties devolved upon him need
lot be told. If the Association did not
meet all the success it deserved under his
it reached the highest point
hat was attainable in the embarrassed,
Ieranged, and generally demoraIized con
Iition of the country at that time.
Retiring from this position with body
BIZ age, but with a mind wholly
and Will as buoyant, elastic .
nd energetic as in the days OF his youth,
e returned to his farm near Terry,