The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-11-06
THE LATE KlNLoCH FALCoNER
A SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.

In 1901. the eultOF OF the OkuDOeha
Citizen was editor Of the Marshall Dem
ocrat in Holly Springs kinioch's father
was the editor of the Holly Springs
Herald. Howard, an older brother Of
kinloch' : were both boys and did all the
work in their fathers office. 1t affords
us melancholy pleasure to be able to
embalm his memory in the columns of
the Citizen, and make a brief mention of
his short and brilliant career We be
came acquainted with him in his early
boyhood, when his smiling face would
once a week illuminate the Democrat
office, as carrier boy of the Herald.
The Falcouers were talented family,
and left their mark on all they touched.
But this brief notice is devoted to
Kinloch.
AS soon as kinloch was old enough,
he became an apprentice in his fathers
office, where he was indicted into all the
mysteries of printing to be learned in
country newspaper Office. He was by
turns, devil, carrier, roller boy, typo and
pressman. He became thorough prin-
ter in all branches, and was known
eventually as one of the fastest compos-
itors and best office managers in the
State. But his general education was
not neglected during his apprenticeship.
When he could be spared from the office,
he attended the fine schools for which
Holly Springs has always been noted.
In 1858 he entered the junior class of
the University of Mississippi, and grad
uated as second honor man in the class
of 1860, and afterwards became associate
editor with his father of the Southern
Herald, and studied law.
AT the breaking out of the war, he
enlisted as private in a Holly Springs
company, commanded by the gallant
Captain Thos. w. Harris. He was the
Private Secretary of Gen. Bragg, and
afterwards Bragg's Adjutant General.
In December 1862, at the age of twenty
two, at the request of Gen. Bragg, he
was appointed by the Secretary of War,
to duty with the staff of the Army of
Tennessee, with the rank of Major. He
soon became the best known of the Off
GERS of that staff. Everybody knew and
hOnOred him, from the private soldier to
the Commanding General. Thoroughly
efficient and strict in the discharge of
his official duties, he was at the same
time atfable kind and easy of access to
all. In the latter part of the year 1865,
he became "a partner of Hon. John w.
G. Watson in the practice of law and
in the summer of 1866, he received his
diploma from the law school of the Uni
versity. But his first love, the newspaper,
had an irresistible attraction for Linn,
and in August, 1867, he became associa-
ted with his brother in-law, Columbus
Barrett, as editor of the Holly Springs
Reporter. The Reporter Immediately
took position among the leading papers
in the State, and Col. Falconer added
largely to his reputation and popularity.
In 1868, was nominated as the Demo
cratic candidate for Lieut.. Governor, on
the ticket with Gov. Humphreys, and he
was triumphantly elected. But the same
vote which elected him defeated the new
Constitution under which the Anti
johnson Republican were seeking to re-
construct the State, and the State was
continued in the hands of the military"
At the time of his death he held the
Office of Secretary of State, having been
elected on the Democratic ticket in 1875.
Leavi his Office in Jackson, where there
was no yellow fever, he went to Holly
Springs, his native place, right into the
jaws of death to comfort his dying father
and sick brother, and when both had
died, he himself was smitten by the
plague, paid the penalty Of his sublime
devotion to filial affection and noble hui
manity. Thus has passed away in the
zenith of splendid manhood, one of
Mississippi's grandest sons, doubly hero,
heroic in wars carnage, grandly heroic
in the carnival of pestilence Peace to
thy ashes Rest in Heaven through the
long ages of eternity to thy great soul
Another tribute from a writer in the
Woodville Republican
"We have strewn the roses on the
grave of Kinloch Falconer."
Though | knew not Kinloch Falconer,
save by reputation, yet was | greatly
impressed by the foregoing quotation
from a letter recently written from Holly
ry of itself; how beautiful how touch
ing
1t doubtless will be asked, and who
was Kinloch Falconer
The simple answer is. he was a hero,
One who threw himself into the deadly
breach,
Self-abnegating, sprang to the aid of others
Writing in tolls of that fell destroyer
Now sweeping DER our land.
He strOve to save a father and brother
loved,
And when they fell, stood fighting on
For friends. for strangers, and for all,
Until tn insatiate foe struck him.
The shining mark, to earth.
Yet was not kinloch FalcOner but the one,
The single type, of that great Brotherhood,
That Godlike band of men, and women
too
Who, ignoring ease and co mfort, all
WeRt forth to battle in the philanthropic
cause.
To stay the progress of the ruthless foe,
Or fall while battling in the unequal fight.
Of that great Brotherhood, now to be
Numbered
Not by scores, but hundreds, that have
fallen.
Were many souls, like RocKwOoD" and an
UPHAM.%
Who nobly fought and fell,
And now haYe gone to reap their great
reward.
And yet another Brotherhood, confederate
with these.
We see, and recognize with heart and hand +;
Who, distant from the deadly strife,
Have shown that ''of such" too were they /;
They of the North, the East, the West
Who, by their deeds, have won
The love oppressors ne'er could gain.