Mexico weekly ledger., 1879-07-24
THE LATE JOHN A. FLOOD.
A Touching Obituary on the
Life of am Ex-senator from
Missouri.


ing followed 10 the grave by a large
of the friends of the de-
ceased. The funeral services were
conducted by Rev. T. Z. Bliss, pas
tor of st. Paul's church, and were
quite impressive IN their character .
The following touching biography OF
his life will be read with interest by
his many friends in this city and
throughout Missouri:
Hon. John A. Flood was born in
Shelby county, Kentucky, April 10,
1912. His father, the late Joseph
Flood, moved with his family to Cal
laway county, Missouri, when the
years old. Under the most health
full, moral and religious influences,
the lad grew up under the parental
roof, and early acquired a profound
reverence and affection for his gcodly
father, who seems ever after to have
exercised a large influence in mould.
ing the character of his son. At the
age of fifteen he entered upon his
course Of study and graduated, with
honor, at Westminster college, in
Fulton, Missouri, at twenty-one
years, choosing the law for his pro-
fession. He shortly after entered
Harvard law school, at Cambridge,
Massachusetts, where he pursued his
studies with his accustomed zeal and
success. On his return home he en-
tered upon the practice of law, which
he continued for ten years-steadily
rising in his profession and growing in
the confidence and esteem OF his fell
lOw-citizens. Ia 1876 he was elected
to the state senate of Missouri, and
at once rose to a position of CON-
manding influence. His calm, clear
mind, his genial ways, his honest and
noble bearing, combined to make
him a marked figure in that body
from the first, and the more fully he
became known, the more cheerfully
were the highest honors accorded to
him. With broken health he spent
the summer of IT in California. Re-
turning in autumn, he resumed the
practice of law, but soon found that
he must settle up his affairs and seek
q congenial climate. Some two
years since he came to this state
visiting at first different places, and
finally settling down in this city, which
proved to be his last earthly home.
He fell a prey to that flattering disease,
consumption. His decline was gradual
like the going down of the sun. As
his bodily health faded, his spiritual
life grew brighter and beautiful.
He thought over all his affairs and
made himself ready for the summons.
He talked calmly of his condition,
and looked for the coming of the
great change with a steadfast trust in
his Savior. And so he passed over
to the shining shore. He was mar
ried July l, 1868, to Miss COrnelia
Machett-a sister of the wife of Prof.
{. G. Hersman, of Westminster col
lege. In his last sickness everything
that the fondest love and care could
do was bestowed without intermission
during the long and anxious watching.
A widowed heart and little 0 of six
years survive him. His professional
life was all that the brightest hopes
could anticipate. He was known as
an honest lawyer. His abilities we're
of a high order, but they were regu-
lated by moral principles equally
high. In many instances 1t is known
that he could not in conscience take
cases that were offered to him. But
after hearing one side-asked for the
becoming satisfied that
his friend had ''no case" or that it
was very doubttui-he frankly stated
difficulties and ayised a peaceful set
ment. This course might not have
been so well for his purse, but it was
better for his character and influence.
People soon came to trust HIM al
most implicitly, and ere long gave
HIM their full confidence and the
honors at their disposal. His mind
was clear and logical, and bad he
the highest positions-on the
bench or In political life-were ap-
parently open before him. Said an
eminent jurist of him: Il regret to
see so honorable a lawyer 60 out Of
the practice"
Early in his professional life Mr.
Flood was appointed to the positions
respectively of ''city, county and
and district Attorney" and when
chosen to the state senate, his highest
expectations were full re allied. The
following extract from a private letter
is full of significance: II regard
him as one OF the best men l ever
knew. He is now a member of our
state senate, in which he serves with
great credit" Another in speaking
Of him says: SHE is a fine lawyer
and occupies a very high and enviable
position at the bar and in the senate
Missouri" On account of falling
health Mr.. Flood felt it his duty TO
lender his resignation as senator.
This was Reluctantly accepted, and
many in all the walks of life testified
their high appreciation of the man,
ana thelr sincere regret that such a
step was necessary. A local paper
Of his district spoke of him at the
time as zone of the purest and best
men that ever entered the arena of
politics. Surely a good name Is
TO be chosen than great riches
and loving favor than fire gold" As
expression Of the confidence re-
posed in him, he was elected a trus-
of Westminster college by the
Synod Of Missouri, and also one of the
board OF curators of the State u~niver-
slty. During the short time that he
served it is believed that he was large
ly instrumental in securing to the
university the services of its present
very able president, DR.. S. S. Laws.
1t was in the winter and spring of
1871 that he was especially Impress
eel with the sacred importance of per-
sonal religion. He then sat under the
ministry of the late DIR. N. L. Rice.
that time pastor of the Presbyte-
nan church at Fulton, Mo, and
president Of Westminster college at
place. The discourses of that
able divine and his repeated CONVEX
.atlons with him on religious SUBJ
jects, made a deep impression IN tho