Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-12-01
TIE LATE RoREmT G. RRINKLE

THE LATE ROBEHT &. BRIEREEY.
The APPEAL Of yesterday briefly announced
tue death Of this distinguished eitiHsu. On
account Of the prominence and the oonspicu-
Gus position which the deceased has occupied
ia Memphis for nearly forty years, we feel
that he is deserving Of a more extended no
ti,c than has yet appeared in the city press.
Robert Campbell Bunkley was the son of
William and Margaret c. Brinkley, and was
born in Chatham county, North Carolina, on
the taenty-eighth day Of May, 1916. His
father removed TO Madison county, West
Tennessee, in November, 1884, and after
ward became a citizen Of Jackson. About
the time Mr.. Brinkley became of age, he
commenced reading law with Judge Pleasant
VI. Miller. He went to Nashville and read
law with Foster 81 Fogg, then the most emil
uent lawyers in Middle Tennessee. After
procuring hcense, Mr.. Brinkley returned to
Jackson and commenced the practice OF
law IN ISIS, at which place he re-
manned for three years. Mr.. Brinkley
was twice married On the eighteenth day
OF October 1871 he was united to Annie c.
Oyerton, daughter OF Hon. John Oyerton, Of
Nashville, Tennessee. In IS42 he removed
O. Memphis, since which time ne has been 4
prominent citizen. From 1912 to May, 1915.
he continued the practice Of law, when the
death Of his wife induced HIM to withdraw
from the profession in which he promised
much distinction. Mr.. BriulSlcy remained
widower until the twenty-fourth day Of Oc-
t5ber, 1854, when he was married to Eliza
beth Mhoon, daughter Of James q. MhOon,
o! Franklin county, Alabama. By his first
marriage he had two children, Hugh L.
Brnkley and Annie e. Snowden, both Of this
city. BY his last marriage he had i've chill
dren, James, Bette, Robert c., Lucille, and
William. Robert T.. Brinkley has seen the
growth and prosperity Of Memphis from
I-s cradle to the vigor Of its man
hood. Has name, Tor the past thirty-siI
years, is prominently identified with every
public enterprise, the first OF which was
the building of plank road to Germantown.
lie was one Of the original projectors of the
Memphis and Charleston railroad. In 1850
he commenced canvassing for this great
enterprise and has ever been its friend and
advocate, and has always been one of the
largest stockholdars Admiring Governor
James C.. Jones, and appraclating his match
less powers as public speaker, he induced
him 10 remove to Memphis and to Join him
ia soliciting stock for the road, which never
would have been built but for the energy Of
these two men. For many years Mr.. Brink
ley was a director in this road, and in 1850 he
went to England and purchased the iron for
the first fifty miles Of the road. He was
ailerward president Of the Memphis and
Little Rock railroad, and 90 anxious was
he to see tais enterprise completed that he
spent much Of his fortune in his efforts
% serve Memphis. The deceased leaves
only one brother, John II. Bunkley, aud his
two sisters, Jane Bunkley and Mary Ann
Scudder. IL may be truly said that Z. C.
Briukey was the foremost champion OF all
measures calculated to develop the resources
OF West Tennessee, and he never Eavered in
his belief that Memphis was destined to be-
come one Of the leading cities of the Union.
lie was a iberal-minded man in the fullest
sense of the word, and liberal-handed, too.
lie was the Possessor Of large wealth for
many years, and his generous assistance was
never withheld from any patriotic enterprise
or any worthy charitable project. The loss
- ----e ~4Asa--tA - etAluLs GAcAu'sL MS
fortunes that can befall community, and it
was not, therefore, surprising that the death
Of Robert @. Brinklsy has occazfoued such I
universal sorrow. 1t would be difficult to
designate any citizen whose loss would be
more generally or severely felt by the
people OF Memphis, by whom he
vas loved and admired. In the So
gial circle, Mr.. Bankley was one Of the most
t5yao.e men we ever knew. Ia his manner
he was simple and unpsetentious, but the
dignity OF his character never failed 10 i'm
press those with whom he came in contact.
lie Gas inhexibly honest, and 30 great was
his public and private liberality thar he
diminished his magnificent fortune. instead
Of adding to it. All the best elements of
human nature were developed in him to the
highest degree. He was truthful, he was
honest, and he was generous. he had a
nature which seemed 30 attract all. without
repelling any one. His wife almost wor-
shipped him. During his long and
agonlzing illness she devoted herself
to him with an abandon which
only a wealth Of love could inspire. Yester-
day large and sorrowing procession fol-
lowed the remains Of r. c. Brinkley through
the heart of city to whose growth and
prosperity he had so largely contributed, and
did so much by his energy, enterprise and
public spirit 10 advance, to Elmwood, where
he was buried amid the sorroRs of a vast