Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-09-12

uuuboNlllct Alhst ihnb SNSuihb ~ heii
past nine o'clock. This announce.
ment will be sad news to his friends
everywhere. Although a quiet man
with no public ambition, outside Of
his profession, he was prominent By
force Of character and ability ano
legal attainments. General Humes
was born in Abingdon, Virginia,
in June, 1880, and was, therefore,
only ffty-three years and few months
old when he died. His father, at one
time a wealthy man, lost his property,
aud the boy was thrown upon his own
resources. he borrowed money from
an old citizen aud took q thorough
collegiate course at the Virginia Mill
tary Institute. and with the first
money made after he was graduated
he repaid his beneiaetOr, and he
often related this fact of his early
life with pride aud pleasure. He
taught school, read law, struggled
along, was admitted to the bar and
came to Knoxville, where he at once
entered upon largo practice. There
he married Miss White, Of a family
we'll known in the history Of the State.
Two grown sons, by this marriage, are
living in this city. About 1860, Mem
phis being an inviting field, he came
to this city and began the practice Of
law. When the war broke out be en-.
tered the Confederate service and be.
came a Lieutenant in Bankhead's 3
battery and was afterward promoted
to the rank Of Captain and Major Of
artillery. He was captured at Island
No. 10 and carried toJ ohnson' sIsland.
where he remained prisoner nearly q
year, and where his health was per
manently impaired. After being ex~
changed he was stationed at Mobile
and while there was commissioned as
Brigadier General and assigned 10
duty with the army Of Tennessee. He
served with Wheeler's cavalry until
the end of the war and just before
the surrender was made a full Major
General. He was wounded at or near
Greensboro. N. c., in the last battle
fought by the army OF Tennessee. In
1863 or "a, having lost his first wife
some years before, he was married to
Miss Sallie Elder daughter of Mr..
james Elder Of this city. Four living
children are the result Of this mar
riage. After the war General Humes
returned to Memphis, and has lived
here since. He at once took a
prominent position at the bar
and held it to the very end.
He was very laborious in his methods,
very conscientious aud never took a
case large or small that he did not
master it in all its bearings and de
tails When be took a case he threw
himself into it entirely and worked on
it night and day to the exclusion Of
social pleasure and everything else.
He was too careful to be quick or
even brilliant, but was exceeding sure
to go to the bottom Of every point
aud intricacy that could be
dug up by midnight re-
search. By the profession he was
better understood than by the outside
world. Possessed Of a splendid physi
cal constitution, stapding six4e one
inch high, weighing 22O pounds, sym
metrical and we'll balanced in every
respect, lie shrank rom no labor or
responsibility. Quiet and undemon
strative, he had quick sympathies;
he gave literally to real as we'll as to
the sham objects Of charity aud benev
olence. His services and talents com
manded very large fees; his income at
times was surprisingly large, and his
libeTality was in proportion. 1t was
over work aud supreme confidence in
his powers Of endurance that brought
on a fatal malady-consumption.
For year or two he has been On 9
rapid decliue. Change of climate
medical skill, devoted attention, hi'
own cOmposure and will power, were
of no avail. The strong man went
down at noon in the midst Of his worL
and home responsibilities. he leavel
an interesting family, we'll provided
| for it is true, but bereft Of a most de
voted and indulgent husband anC
father. General Humes was a mem
Der OF Angerona Lodge 1863, L. aud A
NJ, under whose direction the flnera
here will doubtless be announced an(
take place.