National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-05-16
MEATHERm COPYRIGHT.
Death OF Venerable and Distinguished
Wasbington Journalist.


Lawrence,.A Gobright died on Saturday
afternoon at half past five O'Clock at his residence,
1909 Ninth street. of general debility, in the sixty
fifth year of his age. There has been no figure In
the changing life of the Capital well and favor
ably known as Father" Gobright. Of genial,
| joyous nature he charmed all with whom he came
| in contact. At the same time he was an industri-
GUS and reliable collector of news, and 10 one mas
had wider acquaintance among public men ana
enjoyed more fully their confidence than he. HE
was not only one of the oldest journalists of this
country, but he had been connected with the press
of Washington for
| MORE THAN FoRTY-FIvE YEARS
| Within that period has occurred most of the i'm
potant political events in the history of the coun-
| try, and during the same time many men, whose
public acts are now history, lived and fourlshed.
Brought by the nature of his business right in the
midst of these stirring scenes, and in close contact
with the actors the history of his life, written with
| the pen of a Pepys, would form one of the most
valuable additions to the history of that period.
Mr.. Gobright was born in the village of Hanover
| York County, Pa He learned the printers trade
at Baltimore when quite young, and then went 10
Ohio where he established Van Buren, paper at
Batavia called the Ohio Sun. In 1Si1 he came to
this city, where he has since resided After work
ing at his trade he became the correspondent of a
Ben: Perley Poore and James Brooks, of the New
York Express, were the only
RECOGNIZED CORRESPONDENTS
in congressional circles. He then became con-
nected with the New York Associated Press, and
maintained active connection with it for thirty
years. He retired from active service in 1873.
Holding as he did, such an important and re-
sponSbe position, he ever preserved honorable re-
lations with public men. and had their fullest
confidence. He was not only known to the politi-
cal leaders through these years but had their
friendship. There was, perhaps no journalist that
was on more intimate terms with the public men
of both parties. Even down TO the period of his
death there were but few members OF either House
that did not personally know Father GObright.
During the war; when the press dispatches for this
city were under a military censorship, Father Co.
bright enjoyed the confidence of President Lincoln
and Secretaries Seward and Stanton, and was often
in consultation with them. When Andrew John
son made his famous swing around the circle ="
Mr.. GObright accompanied him, and prepared the
very elaborate and interesting reports that were
telesraphed throughout the country.
IN PERSON
Mr.. Gobright was small and spare, and preserved
the dress of half century ago. His fund of
stories never seemed to have been exhausted, and
he was always ready with one. He was the life of
every circle that ne entered ana MS genlal, Kindly
nature secured for him hosts of friends. He had
no enemies, and his memory will always be asso-
ciated with kindly deeds and pleasant words
He was member of the Oldest Inhabitants So
ciety, and was a past grand patriarch and past
grand representative of the order of Odd Fellows
The funeral will take place next Tuesday after
noon at two o'clock, under the auspices of the odd
Fellows
A meeting of the local newspaper men and the
Washington correspondents of papers at distance
will be held at the Associated Press Office in Cor
coran Building, this morning at eleven o'clock to
take action on the death of Mr.. L. a. Gobright.