The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1889-06-08
EDWARD j. GAY.


Louisiana loses one of its most able
and influential members of Congress,
New Orleans a citizen prominently
identified with its commercial enter
prises, and the sugar district one of its
most extensive planters.
Mr.. Gay was born almost at the foot
of the Blue Ridge Mountains, in the
Town of Liberty. Bedford county,
Va, on Feb. 3, 1916. -Four years after
his birth his family moved to Illinois,
and thence, four years later, to st.
Louis, Mo. He received his earliest
education in Belleville, ILL.,, and COM
pleted his studies in the session of
1884 ut Augusta College, Kentucky.
After his graduation from college he
entered into business in St. Louis
with his father, and soon became ex-
tcnsivcly engaged i'll commercial at
fairs in that rapidly growing city,
which affairs he conducted personally
or directed during absence from 1888
to 1860. He took up his residence il
Louisiana in 1855, where he immedi-
ately started or shared in various ell
terprises OF il commercial. manufactur-
instrumental in the erection OF the
Merchants Exchange building i'll st.
Louis, and the first president OF the
Louisiana Sugar Exchange of New Or
leans. which was founded six years
ago. He built the large refinery ut
the foot of st. Louis street, at the time
of its construction the most extensive
refinery that had ever been built here.
Without having participated pre-
viously i'll political affairs, Ill the cam
| paign Of 1884 MIR. Gay was solicited to
run for Congress i'll the Third Con-
| gressional District of the State, at
that time represented by DIR. {. b.
Darrall, Republican. He accepted
this nomination, and, though without
experience i'll politics, opposed by
one Of the strongest aud abiest Re
publicans i'll the State, eN-tov. VIM.
Z. Kellogg. and running i'll a district
where the Republicans claimed !.
large majority, hc was trinmpllantly
elected after an able and brilliant
campaign. His reputation III the
Forty eighth Congress won large
Republican following over tO his sup
|
for Congress by the Democrats OF the
third district he siynally defeated
DIR. e. Is. Darrall, the Republican can
didatc, regarded the strongest III the
district.
In 1888 Mr.. Gay was renoninated
by the Democrats and reelected to tht
Fifty first Congress, practically with.
out any opposition. us the Republi'
CANS of the third district had come t.
regard him as All invincibie candidate
In his entire congressional career
Mr.. Gay distinguished himself for hi:
devotion to the interests Of his State
He was one Of the most earnest cham
pions Of the frequently threatened
sugar district, amt, with MIR. Wi,kin
son, Of the first district, did much Il
save sugar from the heavy reduction
of duty contemplated by propose,
tariff legislation. Though often IL sui
fercr from falling health, he was con
startly ut his post of official duty, an
served our State diligently, faithful
and well.
His death is Il serious loss to Louis
lana, as his unbounded enterprise ae
compiished great deal toward tn
advancement Of it's leading industries
. and were source Of wealth to tn
State. while they provided the mean
4 Of subsistence to thousands of its cit
zens. His useful career III the nation
al legislature was Il fitting termina
ton to life that had been spent
vigorously stimulating to prOsperOu
proportions the interests and indu.
tries OF the two States in which all til
years Of his manhood were SPENT
Iimes- Democrat.