Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1888-09-12
DEATH OF GEN. WILLIAM TERRY.
OF WYTHE.

The sudden calamity which was announced
long after nightfall on the 4th instant to the
people of WytheviIle Of the death of General
| William Terry of that town by drowning In
Reed Creek, a stream a short distance west OF
| the place, as he and Mr. Joseph W. Caldwell
were in buggy crossing it, sent as poignant
sorrow over the State as the mournful message
was sudden and heart.rending to hts family
and to the people Of his own community. Gen.
| eral Terry and Mr.. Caldw ell had been at Gray
son Court the Monday previous, and were re-
turning in buggy drawn by two horses. 1t
was after night when they reached the steam
which was much swollen. Attempting to cross
1t. the flood soon swept over both gentlemen.
Before he could realize 1t, Mr.. Caldwell missed
General Terry and in an instant was himself
swept down the stream. He caught hold of
overhangin bra inches of a tree and succeeded
in reaching the shore. losing sight of the horses
and buggy as well as of General Terry. He
called, but in rain along that dismal stream for
his companion. It was two miles or more to
the Wytheville Railroad station, to which he
hurried and sent the sorrowful message to town
by wire. The search discovered the dead
horses, and the wrecked buggy the next day,
and on the 8th General Terry's body was found
half mile below, lodged against log.
The deceased was no ordinary man. His
means were limited. but still when young he
managed to obtain the advantages of the Uni
versity of Va, and thus equipped he COM
menced the study Of law. and taug ht school at
the same time. his first effort being in the
north OF Bedford, a few m lies from his home,
which was in the western part of Amherst Co.,
of which he was a native, and was born in
1924. Whilst teaching. his home was with Mr..
Benz. Wigginton, of Bedford. whose daughter
he married after locating at Wytheville where
he was an editor in addition to that of rising
m ember of the legal profession in the south
west and sooL he was among the foremost of
his br ethren. and in the confidence of the peo-
pie. He was Lieutena Mt of his company of
which the late Col Jos. F. Kent was captain
which served at Charlestown at the execution of
John Brown. That company subsequently en-
tired the 4th Infantry Stonewall Brigade. His
career in the army was identified with that
brigade throughout its service. He was the
last of Its heroic commanders and returned his
sword to its scabbard when the last musket OF
his comrades was surrendered:
General Terry served two terms In Congress.
He was elected from the ninth district in 1870
and 1874. His political faith before the war
was that of an old-line Wing. Since the war
he was foremost in maintaining the demo-
cratic standard.
General Terry was q distinguished member
OF the Masonic Order, and twenty years ago
was Master Of the Grand Lodge ct Virginia.
He leaves widow and several children. Hh
sons are members of the legal profession and
editorial fraternity of Wythe.
Nearly forty years OF intimate social and
personal relations with General Terry would
incline us to write more, but in the language
OF another, we can say that his death ends the
life ''of as brave man, as true friend, as in
corr uptible a patriot, and as intensely and
loyal Virginian as the blessed God ever per-
mitted to draw the breath oflife."