The Van Buren press., 1878-12-10
=
ELIAS RECTOR.
From Little Rock Gazette

who were men in Arkansas when II bc
came State and those whom Deaf!
smltes not for yet awhile are more an,
more alone in the world, as one after an
other goes away into that unknown liant
from which no voice of the dead eve
speaks to tho Living who yet hinge
behind.
"Thero is no state. no accident, no cir
cumstance Of our life, says the cloquen
Bishop Of Down, Corner and Dromore
but it hath been sonred by some SAT
instance ofa dyi & friend. II is nigh
ty change that is made by the death o
every person, and it is visible to us who
are alive Let our life be never so long
yet still the period shall be that all this
shall end in death, and tho people shall
talk OF us awhile, good or bad, according
rs we deserve, on as they please; and
once it shall come to pass, that concern
ing every one OF us, il Shall be told in the
neighborhood that we are dead.
| first met ELIAS RECTOR in the year
1885. At what time he had removed
from Missouri to Arkansas do not know.
There were great men in Arkansas in
those old days, Ben. Desha, Sewer, Rob
ert Crittenden, John Pope and others,
and the territory was the arena OF strife
of Ambrose II. Sewer, two OF the most
efficient and prominent were the broth
ers, " harton and Elias Rector, both men
of siHgu ary striking personal appear
ance, keen-eyed, quick, alert and reso-
lutte, of vigorous intellect, great force Of
will and individuality Of character; and
withal, generous and magnauimous.
was one of their political party, but
in 1888, even, the old bitterness between
men had begun to die out aad personal
no more occurred. Circum-
sta res brought me into association with
these gentlemen, and made them my
friends, and that friendship with Elias
Rector grew and strengthened with the
years, and continued undiminished un
til his death. AT his home, often, in
the better days before the war, at Wash
ington, and travelling in the Indian coun
try, was much in his company for ma
ny years, aud few knew him better than
| did.
He was man who leapcd to conclu
sions without resort to the processes of
logic, and acted promptly upon his i'm
pulses aud convictions. A man OF great
integrity and keen sense of right, injus-
tice and meanness always aroused his
indignation, the open utterance whereof
policy and prudence never prevented
OF hasty temper, aud little given to con-
trolling it, cholerc and impetuous, an
ger did not inspire him with Il desire to
injure those of whom he spoke with bit
ter words, and his quarres We're never
long lived, for he was Of kindly and
generous nature, and seorned to take an
revenge.
Beyond measure lospitable, convivial
and genial, his friends ever met at his
house near Fort Smith princely wei
come and a singulariy quaint humor,
with great oddness and originality of ex-
preston, made him the most entertain
ing of hosts and companions.
Frank, outspoken, and not over-cere
monious with men, he was, in the pre-
scnce Of ladies, most cxcellently cour-
ing himself the peer OF any maa, howev-
err high his rank, he never bowed his head
as IN inferior before any, nor lost his self
possession in any presence.
Marshall for several years. and Super
intendent of Indian fairs, he was Wig
liant, faithful and honest public officer
Sent to Florida by the Government be
put an end to the Seminole war, induce
the Semiuoles to emigrate to the lndlar
country, and returned to the Treasury
Of the United States large part of tn,
moneys placed in his hands to effect theil
removal.
lie was man not without faliugs
but in whom these were Tar out weghec
by the excelleacies of his nature. Will
old age there came to him calamities anc
rcverses. The war oppressed him will
losses, his health failed him and his eye
sight became dim; but the old resolut'
spirit still lived in him, and the old hu
NOR flashed out at intervals, when saw
him only month ago.
Dear old Elias Good citizen, faithful
officer, loyal to the losing cause, warn
friend kind father and loving husband
there are those yet left who know 20,
long ago and loved you always. Unit
us also
The autumn days of life have come, the frost
begin to fall;
Beyond the river dark and wide we hear oil
| comrades call;
And in little while we also shall eros
it and see the loved faces again.
A. p.
November q, 1878.