The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-02-20
BENJAMIN king

9eulamln A4A
This eminent citizen Of MisslsslPPA
whose death at his home in Beauregard. on
The Isth inst, has been briefly mentioned,
vas 4 native of this State. He was born
ii Cotton Gin Port. in Monroe county, en-
the oh day of October, 1873.
His parents were Virginians By birth,
and his mothers maiden name was Lee
grand. She vaa Of Hugnsnot extraction
The family removed to Gallatin. in Copiah
county. and BENJAMIN, the youngest child,
was sent to the University Of virginia. from
whence be vas recalled before finishing his
course by the death of his father, and never
returned, owing to the limited means OF
| his widowed mother. She, however, pos
sessed a strong mind and great force OF
character, and managed, unaided, not only
| TO give her children such education as the
| country schools afforded, but also accumu-
lated some property. At school Benjamin
was noted for his proficiency in the langua-
ges. mathematics and metaphysics, and bis
! future eIu1uGuCe Ndb AoS NAASN~S~~~~ -
predicted whilst he was yet youth.
! He began his business career Is mer'
chant q; Gallatin. pursuing that line for
about four years, during which time lie
established q most excellent charae-
/ ter, and formed an extensive acquain-
lance Meantime, however, he cher
ished the design of becoming a lawyer.
and with characteristic zeal and
fxedness of purpose prosecuted his pro
fessional studies during his hours of
leisure. At the end of his four years of
merchandising he found himself possessed
of moderate competence, and closing up
his store he sought and obtained admission
to the'bar.
He knew his vocation instinctively, and
in his best days was never 80 much at nome
as in the discussion of difficult law ques-
tons before the courts, or the interviewer
web of law and facts before the juries.
His Jury speeches were plain. and abounded
in common sense, and everyday illustra-
tions. His mind grasped the whole sub
iect in hand, and held every detail ready
for instant use. In these addresses ne pur-
posely avoided the scholarly and polished
style. This is shown by the fact that as a
writer he was master of the purest and
strongest English. He was apt in the read
ing of human character, and understood
the people. He knew their relationships
r opinions and prejudices, and used this
knowledge to great effect in the empanel-
inc of j1ries. He possessed the rare gift
of making the public feel that his profes-
! Sppyieaz ware a nArQSSltY.
As a lawyer he was successful in double
; sense. He left behind him upon his retire
rnent an enduring reputation as counselor
and advocate, and quit the profession with
an independence in pecuniary sense.
1t was in 1869 that he published a card
announcing his retirement from the law
business, and he has since that time stead
lastly refused such employment. In the
; same year he embarked in merchandising
at Beauregard, Miss, and up to the
time of his death has been chiefly engaged
in that business, and with his plantation on
Pearl river in Lawrence county.
In politics, in daie-bettum days, Col King
was a Clay Wing, and though on the weak
and defeated side, he always maintained
his principles with unfinching devotion
and courage. After the war closed he de-
voted himself to his private pursuits, but
took part occasionally in the politics of the
State. He worked zealously with the Dem
ocratic party for the overthrow of the
Carpet Bag regime. calling himself vol
unteer in those celebrated campaigns.
In 1881 he became an Independent can
didate for Governor on the Fusion ticket.
The result is public history, and too well
known to make recapitulation interesting
> here. Suffice it to say that in the memora-
BILE tour of joint discussions with his COM
petitor, though in exceedingly feeble health,
he established lasting reputation az pc
Itical debater.
He was member of the Secession Con-
vention of 1861, and twice a member of
the State Senate since the war, and was
colonel of Il regiment of State troops dur
ing the war: also served for time as lieu
tenant in the army of Northern Virginia.
He was married in 1916 to Miss Eveline
Harris, daughter of Hr. Charles Harris,
who was brother of Judge Buckner Har-
ris. She survives him.
The immediate cause of his dissolution
was pneumonia, but he suffered from COM
plication of diseases which had kept him
in feeble condition for several years past.
He was attended in his last illness by Doc
tors j. W. Bennett. Joseph Benton and ].
A. Rowan, and his untimely end was soothed
by the sympathetic presence of his wife
and children.
The character of Benjamin King may be
briefly epitomined: He had a powerful
mind, and indomitable will. His individ-
uality was uncommonly marked. His pre-
dominant trait was independence self
reliance He sought no favor or indulgence
from any man or set of men. He could
not tolerate the burden of obligation in the
sense of favor extended. He gave himself
| no rest until the weight was shifted He
insisted on exchanging quid pro quo in all
cases.
There was little of the hero worshipper
| in his composition. He was never dazzled
or abashed by the glare of wealth or Off
/ ciaI station. Knowing that often the ele-
ment of chance is controlling factor in
the advancement of men, he judged the
small and the great alike by their qualities
of head and heart.
| His extreme aversion to sycophancy prob
ably carried him too far in the opposite
direction. But if he nodded with the cool
est indifference to the great, he bent his
ear with patient interest to the humble and
the poor. and in consequence was most ad-
mired and beloved by the latter class. He
| hated sbams, and was quick to expose and
denounce them. He stood by his friends
| unwaveringly, and sought no compromise
with his enemies. The latter he knew in
fallibly, and made no secret of the knowl-
edge. In all his business dealings he was
scrupulously exact and honest, and demand
ed the same course of conduct from those
who dealt with him. He firmly believed
and taught that men who wilfully disre-
gard private obligations are untitled for
public trusts. His conception of the duty
of public servants was of the Hottest char
acter. So high indeed, az he often re-
marked. that he hoped not to realize his
ideal He died on Wednesday, February |
ID, 1884, at 1:l0 p. M, having expressed the /
conviction on the Sunday preceding that
he could not live more than three days
longer.