The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1880-08-26
A GREAT MAN DIES.
Hon Henry N. Spoford Pays the
Last Debt of Nature.
Imposing Funeral obsequies in PulaIE-
the People Universally Mourn.

On last Wednesday a telegram
summoned Maj. j. b. Stacy and DR.
c. c. Alternately to Cincinnati, con
veying also the sad Information
that Judge H. NJ. SPoFFoRD was
thought to be dying at Red Sui
phur Springs, w. Va. They left
on the next train and met Mrs
Spofford il Cincinnati, where she
has been for several weeks, and
proceeded thence to Judge SPoF-
FoRD's bedside, but before they ar
rived death came to relieve him OF
suffering. He expired at 8 O'Clock
Friday morning, Aug. goth, of alb
scess of the liver.
Judge H. NJ. SPoFFoRD was born in
Chinatown, n. H., Sept. 8, 1921. He
was a graduate, with highest hon
ors, of Amherst College, Mass and
located in Shreveport, shortly after
wards going to New Orleans, and
at once entering upon the practice
of law. He early gave promise OF
a brilliant future ana rapidly rose
at the bar. In 1854 ne was elected
to the Supreme Bench of Louisiana
and filled that exalted station with
signal credit until he resigned in
1858, returning to the practice of
his profession and to Uhe achieve
ment of those honors which clus
tered so thickly about his name
and make his memory imperishable.
Possessing great wealth, and hav-
ing risen to the highest attainable
eminence In Lis profession, poll
tics had little that could allure him.
He nevertheless accepted an cleo
ton to the u. 5 senate in 1877 by
the Nichols legislature. How he
was cheated OF his office by the re
publican senate, and how a demo-
cratic senate has. sigually disgraced
itself by failing TO undo that great
wrong, is matter OF public knowl-
edge. He never ouce wavered in
his struggle before the Senate, pur-
suing it,a he has told us. because he
thought it due to the people who
had elected him that he should de-
vote all his energIes-to securing the
office for them. 1t is a matter OF
little doubt chat the heavy weight
of this great wrong upon his mind
and the harrassing cares of pros
ecution he never permitted to waver
FASTENED the disease that caused
his death at so unfortunate a juno
ture.
Judge SPoFFoRD was united in
marriage with Miss OPHELIA MAR
TIN, daughter of our late honored
citizen, THOMAS MARTIN, ESQ.,, la
dy of rare mind and magnificent in
all the graces that adorn in 1860.
To them were born three chill
dren, all of whom are yet living.
Judge SPoFFoRD left New Or
leans on the 18th of March last and
came to Pulaski, when he was al
most Immediately taken down with
the disease tLat has harrassed him
for two years-a liver complaint.
He lay foI some time at the point
of death, but skillful treatment BAT
fed the disease to that extent that
he was able in a few weeks to go to
Bailey Springs, where he spent two
or three weeks and returned better.
About a month ago he went to
Cincinnati to consult physicians
and from thence went to Red Sui
phur Springs, w. Va, in company
with his son, where his earthly Ca
reer closed.
On last Tuesday morning at IL
o'clock, the remains of Judge SPoF-
FORD arrived in Pulaski by special
car, accompanied by Mrs. Spofford
and her son Thomas, with Mrs.
Geo. Martin, a widow of q brother
of Thos. Martin, decd, and her son
Mr.. Martin, of Columbia, Hon.
r. Spofford, Librarian
of Congress, DR.. G. G. Alternately,
Mr.. Hugh G. Topp and Maj. j, B.
Stacy. The train WAS met at the
depot by several hundred Of our
people and the remains were taken
in charge by the pall-bearers APP
pointed at a meeting of our citizens
the day before. The procession
moved slowly to the late residence
of Maj. HUI. f Ewing on LIST street,
which had been fitted for the recep-
tion Of the family (their residence
on I'd street being in process of re-
pairs) J, where the remains were de
posted until 3 o'clock, when they
were conveyed to the NJ. E. Church.
Out of respect for the eminent dead,
and under a proclamation of the
Mayor, all business was suspended.
and Pulaski en- mdsse dropped its
head in solemn sorrow in homage
and love for the great man thus
brought low by the grim hand of
death. At the NJ. +. Church at D
O'Clock one of the most immense
audiences ever assembled in Pulas-
XII met to pay the last sad tribute
OF respect TO the mortal remains of
the honored dead. The pulpit and
altar had been draped In mourning,
IN elaborate testimony of sorrow,
and DR.. w. NJ. Leftwich pronounced
the most touchingly beautiful and
profound funeral Grafton we ever
heard upon such ar occasion. 1t
abounded in grand thoughts and
lessons drawn from the eminent
success and faultless life of the de-
ceased and was grand and last
tribute to his memory.
At 6:15 the cortege started for
the New Cemetery. where the last
sad rites were said, the bitterest
tears were dropped and the mortal
remains of HENRY NJ. SPoFFoRD
were deposited in the spacious tam
lily vault, close beside those of the
family gone before.
Thus has passed away forever one
of the grandest men of the times.
Profound in all the sciences, versed
in literature and history, eminent
in law and politics, and grand in
stood the peer of the great
est. But these noble attachments
we're heightened snd softened and
adorned by a pleasant sociability
and elegant suavity that took away
from him that impenetrability and
inapproachability that generally
shrouds men of genius in repul-
sive garb. Sir Walter SCOTS great
genius lay in complete knowledge
IL % l,f, ha