The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-01-11

Death Of Colonel George w. Munford


A wELL-KyOwS GENTLEMAN AND HoNonED
vTRGrNIAN GONE TO HIS REST.
Colonel George wvthe Munford died
quite suddenly yesterday about 1890
O'clock A. NJ. at his residence, corner Of
Franklin and Second streets. Last week
he had severe attack OF what was thought
10 be colo, bat which his physician as soon
as he had examined him pronounced gout.
By the application OF active remedies he
was relieved, and Monday night he
walked hOme-half a square-wlth
lady who had been visiting his family.
That night he retired in apparently
about his usual health, but about l2:2O
Colonel Charles Ellis was aroused by the
cries and calls OF his sister, Colonel Mum
ford's wife. Hastily dressing, be went
down stairs TO find Colonel Munford gasp
Ing for breath. A mustard-plaster was ap-
piled 10 the back OF his neck and medical
assistance was summoned, but in about ten
minutes the Colonel had breathed his last,
and 4 Virginian Of the olden time, gem
tleman Of high intelligence and unblem-
isbed character. was numbered with his
fathers.
BIRTH AND EARLY LIFE.
The deceased was born in Richmond in
1903. and nearly the whole Of his life was
spent in this city. He was a son OF VIII
liam Munford, the prOtege Of Chancellor
Wvthe. Of William and Mary College, who
early foresaw in the father Of the deceased
those scholarly qualifications which later
on became recognized by the literary world
upon the publication Of his translation Of
the Iliad. Educated for the bar, Mr.. VIII
liam MunfOrd, after some years Of practice,
became clerk OF the House Of Delegates.
His son Wythe, named after Chancellor
Wvthe. after graduating at William and
Mary and preparing himself for the law.
went 10 the House to help his father, and
was doing most Of the work when, in 1929
his father died, and he was then elected bis
successor.
TIKI. COTEMPORARY OF GREAT MEN.
When the Convention of 1s29-'30 was
Organized Colonel MunfOrd was elected its
secretary, and there he knew and was daily
associated with James Monroe, James Mad
ison. John Randolph, Abel p. Upshur,
BENJAMIN Watkins Leigh. William B. Giles,
George c. DrOmgOole, John Marshall. John
TYLER. John Y. Mason, and many others Of
distinction. who were members Of that
body. Beginning life, as il were. in such
company, and continuing in public service
almost uninterruptedly for half a century,
Colonel Munford had an acquaintance
with the public men OF Virginia
possessed by no other person in
an equal degree. and his memory, bright
and clear to the end, contained a precious
store OF "reminiscences concerning them.
Colonel Munford resigned the House clerk
shin 10 become secretary OF the COnven-
ton. and the time for the meeting Of the
House drawing nigh while the Convention
was vet in session. he resigned his position
in the latter 10 return TO the former. He
was for about twenty-five years Clerk Of the
House. and from that position was pro-
NOTED to be Secretary OF the Common
wealth. where he continued until the fate
Of war disrupted the state Government.
AFTER THE WAR.
For some years Colonel Munf0rd resided
in Gloucester county, and upon or soon at
ter the re0rganiZatiOn Of the State govern
ment bv the Conservative party he became
clerk OF the House Committee on Courts Of
Justice. There his store OF information
was Of vast service. He had been about
forty wears in the House and in the office Of
the Secretary Of the Commonwealth. and
had prepared the Code of 1860, and no man
was better acquainted with the laws, tan
gled and intermixed as they then were. In
the intervals Of service with this committee
he prepared the Code of 1873, which, after
thorough examination by legislative COM
mittees. was purchased and published by
the State.
Later on, upon the death Of the venera-
BILE Joseph Jackson, he was appointed by
Auditor Taylor to take the desk in that Of
fee where Mr.. Jackson had for fifty years
stood. keeping the accounts OF the Com
monwealth. Here Colonel Munford re-
mained-doing his duty faithfully, as ever
he had dOne-until a changed condition
of affairs ut the Capitol threw Auditor
TAYLOR and him and Colonel Bigger and
Others out Of place. Then he sought and
obtained a clerkship at Washington, and
some time ago he lost that and returned
here 10 his old hOme-a home he never
Quilted except temporarily-and where 1t
was ordered that he should pass suddenly
from the midst OF loving friends and rela-
tives into the light Of perfect day.
LITERARY.
Colonel Munford was a man Of decided
literary attainments, and was careful and
painStaking writer. Besides the two Codes
which he complied, lndeXed, ana annotated,
he was the author of a series OF biographical
sketches Of ancient Virginians, which be
called the ..Jewels Of Virginia" At the
lime of his death. and at intervals OF leisure
for many years previous, he was en-
caged in the preparation OF a work
which was truthful pOrtraiture OF
Parsons Buchanan and Blair, and
Of the men and customs OF their day.
This he left almost finished, and gentlemen
who have seen the Ms. and VINO are COM
petent Judges declare that IL is wonderful
work. The Colonel was al one time editor
Of the Southern Historical Papers" and
wrote forthem number Of valuable articles
bearing upon the history Of the late war.
His writings given 70 the press from time
to time, If collected, would make large
volume, and in every line would appear
the love which he bore his mother state.
FAMILY.