Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1879-12-13
DEATH OF HON. A. N. LAY.

Hon. Alfred Morrison Lay member o!
congress from this, tho seventh congress
sional district of Missouri, breathed hi:
last In Washington City, last Monday
morning, at 10 O'Clock.
1t will be remembered that MIR. Lay
was stricken with paralysis while ma
king a speech at Otterville, during the
canvass of 1878, and that he Was elected
to congress while lying upon his bed al
home. stricken and helpless. He recov
cred sufficiently to attend the extra ses
sion and to assist at the organization o
the house. After this he went to Ho'
Springs, Ark, where he was much ben
Gifted, and returning home gradually
recovered until he could walk about ant
attend to business without difficulty. Al
the present session he was promptly in
his place, and it was thought that his
health would admit of his taking 8
moderately active part in the business o.
the house. A second stroke OF parafy'
sis, however, laid him low, and denied
him the opportunity, which We know ne
so ardently wished for. to serve his con-
%stituents.
Mai. Lay was a native of the grand
old state which he represented, and he
loved her as u patriotic son. He was
born in Lewis county, May Goth. 1886
In the year 1912 his father removed to
Benton county, where he received those
educational advantages which could at
that day be obtained in a frontier GUN
try. He was afterward a student a,
Bethany College, Va, while that instl-
tuition was under the presidency of the
late Alexander Campbell, and he gradu-
ated with honor in 1856. He studied
law at Jefferson City. in the office of the
late Acknowledgements Gardenhire. In
1858 he was married to Miss Annie
Boon. eldest daughter OF VIM. c. Boon,
now OF Jefferson City. but at that time
living at Glasgow. MIR. Boon IS a Inca
descendant of the historic Daniel Boon,
Maj. Lay was appointed United States
attorney for the western district of Mis-
souri,. by President Buchanan, vice Gen.
NJ. NJ. Parsons. who resigned in order te
take his seat IN the state senate. He
discharged the duties of the office with
distinguished ability until 1861, when
he resigned his position to enter the
Confederate army, attaching himself te
Gen. John B. Clark's division of the Mis-
souri, State Guard. He served in the Con
federate army faithfully to the end, thu
viclssitudes of war permitting him fol
part OF the time to be a prisoner in thu
hands of the enemy, at Alton. After thu
war he entered into partnership. in thu
law, with Hon. j. Ed. Belch, speaker o
the thirtieth general assembly, which
| connection was continued till hisdeath
He was one of the hardest working
members OF the convention which form
ed the present constitution of the state
In 1874 Maj. Lay became a candidate
for congress IN a contest between him
self, Hon. T. T. Crittenden and Hon. J
F. Philips, made memorable by the con
vention, first at Clinton then at Sedalia
which after 600 ballots resulted in the
nomination of Col. Philips. The same
gentlemen appeared before the conven
ton of 1876, and Col. Crittenden wa!
successful. In 1878. Lafayette COUNTY
being for the first time in the seventh
district. Maj Lay, Col. Crittenden ane
Judge Young, of this county. were can
didates, and Maj. Lay was the nominee
Politically Alfred Lay was a democra
and a gentleman. He was as pure as
politician as he was in his business o.
private relations. He loved his stat'
and he loved his country. He was
conscientious, industrious and faithful
public servant. He was narrow in moth
ing; broad, manly, honorable. AS
companion he was genial and pleasant
His happy smile is before US as we writ
and remember in him the warm hearted
generous friend. a tender husband ant
IA loving father. it might be said in sum
ming up his character:
"His life was gentle; and the elements
So mix'd in him, that Nature might stand up
AMI say to all the world, This was a mani ,