The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1884-10-01
THREE GEORGIAN PIONEERS.
Senator John y. Kings Romantic Career.
The Predecessor of Governor Stephens

The Predecessor of Governor Stephens
The CaptOr of John Howard Payne.
ATLANTA, Ga. Correspondence Globe Democrat
There are three old men in Georgia whose
lives read like romonce, similar in some re-
spects and widely dssimilsr in others. The
first of this iliustrious trio is ex-senator
John p. King, whose life runs back to a
period behind the m emory of the Oldest in
habitant Between 1915 and 1920 Mr.. King
spent much of his time in Europe, as a
young man of leisure and fortune. In
France he made the personal acquaint-
ance Of the Marquis de Lafayette,
and friendship was formed which
was only broken by the death of the illus
trious Frank. In 1925, when Lafayette made
his memorable visit to Gergia, Mr.. King was
appointed by the City Council OF Augusta
to extend the invitation to become the guest
of the city. This task Mr.. King performed
to the delight of his old friend and the ap-
probation Of the people. Later Mr.. King
took some interest in politics, and in 1886
was appointed by the Governor OF Georgia
to a seat in the United States Senate to fill
vacancy created by the resignation OF the
duly elected Senator. This makes Mr.. King
the oldest living ex-member of that body.
He was not long there, however, before he
fell under the displeasure of the ruling
faction at home. Petitions relative to
African slavery in the development
of the abolition idea, were being poured
in upon the Senate. The Southern members
opposed their reception; Senator King
created: al sensation by voting in favor of
their reception. He explained that while
the Abolitionists were fanatics, and un.
worthy of recognition, vet the right of pc
tition was a constitutional one, and by no
vote of his would he abridge it. The result
was eventually, that Senator King resigned,
fundamentally upon his return home was
elected PI esident of the Georgia Railroad,
WI 10 hal
the people forgot that he had ever been any
thing else. Owing to old age, he was then
retired, but against his own will. Mr.. King
amassed q princely fortune. He was the
father OF TWO daughters, the first OF whom
was great lover of society. For years she
was the belle of the highest circles in Lon
don and Paris. She married an English
nobleman, and thus gained ADMISSION into
the most exclusive circles. Upon the death
of her husband about seven years ago, she
married one of the Pagots friends of the
Prince OF Wales, whose scandal brought so
much discredit upon the English nobility.
Their married life was not happy, however,
and it has now been only three years since
that Paris was shocked by the scandal which
ended in their separation. Mr.. Kings Sec
oDd daughter, Miss Louise King. who died
in Germany few years ago, was thoroughly
American in her tastes and habits, and
spent her life at home in works of charity
ana DeueVOience. MI Ming Ale Is So lnucu
of the past that even in the city OF his
eighty or ninety years of residence, his ex-
istence is known only TO few newspaper
and commercial men.
COLONEL COOPER AND GOVERNOR STEPHENS.
The second and a much more entertaining
figure is Colonel Mark A. Cooper. of Barton
County. Forty. five years ago he was a mem
Der OF Congress. Being man OF good bust
ness education, and having a turn for the
practical side of legislation, he proved to be
q conspicuous exception from the average
Southern Congressman, who was always an
orator or gentleman of leisure. Coming toto
possession of some heavy mining interests,
Colonel Cooper resigned his seat in Congress
in order to devote his entire time TO his
business. To fill the vacancy just created,
Young man of sallow complexion, who
was a perfect ruckle of bones, was
elected. This young man served sixteen
terms in the House, becoming one
of its most distinguished leaders. When
war broke over the country he became
the Vice President of the new Confederacy.
The war over, he re-entered Congress, from
which he only resigned to accept the Govern
orship OF Georgia, in the possession of which
Office he died, at the age of seventy-three. 1t
is thus that the life, both long and eventful,
OF Hon. Alexander H. Stephens is but an in
cident in the life of Mark A. Cooper, who
still lives at patriarchal age in his country
home in North Georgia. While Mr.. Cooper
has absolutely divorced his life from National
litics, vet he has been q man of rare pub
lie spirit, giving much time and attention to-
ward the education OF the people and the de-
velopment OF the material resources of the
State He has lately brought himself into
some prominence by denouncing the prohi-
bition craze which is at present agitat1ng
Georgia.
CAPTURING THE AUTHOR OF "HoME, SWEET
HOME"
The third gentleman, who is conspicuous for
having lived so long after his Congressional
career had ended. is Judge Junius Hillyer,
who now livea in Decatur Ca He was 8
member of Congress before the 40s, and re-
signed to accept seat on the Georgia bench.
In State politics and jurisprudence he has
ever since remained prominent figure. He
has family of childrin and grandchildren.
One incident OF Judge Hillyers lille has
tinge of genuine romance. When he was quite
ayoung man there was considerable trouble
with the Cherokee Indians in North Georgia,
which part of the State was then the domain
of the red men. Troubles among the Indians
were fomented by missionary busy-bodies
from the North. Georgia claimed exclusive
jurisdiction over the Indians in her territory,
and the arrest of intruders was ordered.
Young Hlllyer was one OF band oil young
men who arrested three suspicious strangers,
near Rosser's Landing since known as Chat
tanooga. The party hurried with their plis.
oners southwark to Milledgeville. which was
then the seat OF government On the way
| they camped near Athens for a night.
Around blazing fire the young men sat
and related anecdotes amidst laughter and
mirth. At length a song was called for, when
| young Hillyer, who had fine voice, sang
with deem feeling the well-known words OF
Home, Sweet Home" Every head was
bowed in thought when suddenly
one of the young prisoners looked
| up and remarked TO the guard beside him,
| when l wrote that song L did not expect TO
hear it sung under these circumstances"
| The guards were incredulous at this state
ment, but when after sshort conversation
with the prisoner, young Hillyer declared to
his companions that the prisoner was none
other than John II. Payne, whose sweetsong
| was SO familiar with them all, they became at
once the ardent sympathizers with the unfor-
tunate stranger. This sympathy took shape
| by the release of Mr. Payne, and generous
| aid given him 70 reach his home again.
| Judge Hillyer now lives In comfortable
| home-like mansion on the outskirts of the
historic town, Decatur, where he is visited
| by hundreds OF people, who have an interest
| IN fho hioforv 0f his life