Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-12-16

Robert Toombs was born in wilkes
county, Ga, July ., 1910, and was, there
fore at the advanced age of 75 years at the
time of his death. His father died when
he was young, leaving the family a good
estate, comprising the 800 acres granted
to him by the governor Of Georgia before
the Revolutionary war, and II is illus
trative of his tenacty that Robert re-
tanned the farm all his life which his
father had claimed rs one of the pioneers
of Georgia, The entire 500 acres, un-
diminished 10y the loss OF single acre,
were In his possession at the time of his
death, as he inherited ii from his father.
He was educated at the University of
Georgia, at Athens, and at Union College,
Schenectady, n Y, being graduated at
the latter institution in 1928. He took Il
course of law at the University of Nir-
ginia, and was admitted TO the bar IN
1880. Being under age, 1t required a
special act of the legislature to give him
license to practice. In every department
of study he was regarded as an intellect
ual prodigy, and future of brilliant emil
nence was predicted for him from his
earliest youth, which he fulfilled without
disappointment.
At the age Of twenty-siX when war
broke out with the Creek Indians in
Alabama, he organized company OF vol
mteers, and rs captain led them through
the war, serving under Gen Scott untl
the close of the conflict. From 1887 TO
1913 he was a member of the Georgia
legislature, and WAS recognized as
leader in that assembly of statesmen. In
1914 he was elected 10 congress as II
Wing, to which party he adhered until
Al
the dissolution OF that party brought him,
with other Southern leaders, iuto the
Democratic party. BY regular promotion
he rose to the senate in 1853, was re-
elected in $50, and was member OF
that body at the time Georgia passed her
ordinance OF secession, when he resigned
his seat and cast his fortunes with the
Coniederacy Being chosen TO the seccs-
sion convention, he took conspicuous
part in the proceedings OF that body, mud
was soon sent as delegate to the Con-
federate congress at Montgomery. Alex
ander Stephens, his great colleague, says
of him that "he was the Mirabeau OF
that congress, and hut for Il misunder-
standing, without time for an eNplana-
ton, he would most probably have been
chosen president OF the Coniederacy."
The value of his services 10 tile govern
ment was recognized, and President
Davis rendered him the secretaryship OF
state Of the Confederate govern
ment, which he declined, as he
bitterly disliked and strongly dlstrusted
Mr.. Davis. At the ear est entrcaty OF
his friends, however, he consented TO
serve in that position for short time,but
resigned In July, 1861, To take commits
sion as brigader-goIeral III the army lie
served with distinction in Longstreeps
famous lighting corps, especially dlstln.
gushing himself at the second battle Of
Manassas and at Sharpsburg. For causes
which rendered his further services In the
regular army dismsteiul. he resigned his
commission and returned 10 Georgia,
where he was made brigi1ler-general ~
state militl uDon Shcrman's invasion IN
1875 After the close Of the war he lef
the country aud went 10 Europe, where
he visited France and England, until he
could safely return home, which ne did 10
1867. Rrsummg the practice OF lazy IN
his native town OF Washington nc has
resided there until his removal by death.
The chief work of political nature to
which Gen TOOmbs has devoted himself
since the war was the formation OF the
new constitution Of Georgia. HIS was
the ruling mind IN the convention OF 1874
s. hich framed the present consultations
aud il was nodded TO suit his views In
nearly every particular After the adopt
ion Of that constitution he permanently
retired from political life. but not from
the public mind, for his active. energetic
nature would not allow him to sink
INTO an age OF arm chair repose. HIS
council upon all leadng public questions
was sought and his advice followed by