Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-09-26
W. C. CARRINGT0N.
DEATH AT WILLIAMSBURG OF A POPU-
LAR Ex-MAYOa OF RICHMOND.
sketch of His Life ss n Citizen, Confed-
crate Soldier, and Public Oficial--
Family Connections

Colonel Darlington had been in Ill health /
for long while. and for the last few days I
his death had been almost hourly expected. /
1t was on Monday that his condition be-
came so alarming as TO preclude ali hope |
of his ever getting better. So,
Hrs remains will be brought 20 Rich 4
mond. arriving here on the III O'Clock traln /
tomorrow morning. and the funerai VIII |
be held from the Chesapeake and ONO de
pot. the services being conducted at hol- I
iywood. where the interment will be made. /
The arrangements have not yet been tur- /
ther perfected.
HIS LAST hours.
The Dispdtchs Williamsburg correspond /
ent last night telegraphed the following;
Colonel Darlington was totally uncOn- I
scious and had been so for several days I
previous to his death. He - So much re- /
duced as scarcely to. resemble his former 4
self-is in fact nothing more than skele- /
ton. His son is in town but was not pros |
ent when mis- father died. but was imme- !
diately notified by an asylum officer.
He seems much distressed, and IA con; 4
versatIon with your correspondent stated !
that when no saw his father lying upon ms /
death-bed in an asylum and thought OF the /
position he had held it was ~ much rs no
could stand. He feelingly alluded TO the
kindness his father had received at the
hands of the Williamsburg people.
Colonel Darlington was great fayorite
here and was looked upon as man OF
rare qualities and a gentleman OF the old
school. While here he was allowed the
freedom of the town and by that means
relieved in great measure the depressing
influences of his situation"
HIS EARLY LIFE.
The deceased was son Of Joseph
Nicholas aud Mary Darlington, and was
fftv-fve wears old. He was born near
Cartersyille. in Cumberland county, Nav
26 1885. His mothers maiden name was
jefferson. His father died when he was
two years OF age, and his guardian, Mr. \.
Francis Cabell. of Warmlnster. Nelson
county. sent him when ten years old 70
boys school at the residence of General
John II. Cooke. Of Bremo. tluvanna coun-
ty. From there be went TO Hampden-
Sidney College. where he obtained his col
legiate education. He pursued the study
OF law in the class OF Judge Brocken-
borough. at Lexington. and obtained his
license 10 practice IN 1896.
AS LAWYER.
After being admitted 10 the bar he set
tied at LOyingston the cOunty-Seat OK Nell
son, and practiced his profession until
1859. whom he removed 70 Howardsvllle,
| Albemarle county. Here he was made
| counsel for the Howardsyille Bank and
| James-River and kanawha Canal Com
pany. He formed q partnership with ko-
| bert W. Elsom in large mercantile busl-
ness under the tirm-name II kisom " OaT-
rington This firm also ran line OF canal
| boats on the Kanawha canal in competl;;
tion with tho lsae firm of Boyd, Edmond
| d Davenport.
WAR RECORD.
At the breaking out of the war Alr. Car
! rngton volunteered and Was made trss
! lieutenant Of Company ID, Nineteenth re-
piment OF infantry, Cookies brigade after
| wards Plckett's brigade. He was appoint
! ed provOst-marshal by General Phllp ~.
| George Cooke and remained IN tins rank
until the First battle Of Manassas. HIS
! health then failing. he was sent home on
! slck-leaye, aud while there, together with
| Captain Albert CAN'T, organized com
pany of artillery. Not being able 10 OBJ
| tain the guns. this COMPANY was mustered
into service in Company !. Fifth regiment
1 Virginia cavalry. under General l.. u. 10,
max. Deceased served with this command
until the close Of the war.
An INSURANCE PRESIDENT.
In the spring of 1867 he organized at
Howardsville the Piedmont Real Estate
and Insurance Company. OF wnich ne was
| made president. lie moved TO Richmond
| in the fall Of 1903, and in September. 1869.
his company combined with the Arlington
| Mutual under the nsme of tho Piedmont
and Arlington Insurance Company, which
had what ~ now known as the Hanne-
winckle Building. a. the northeast corner
OF Main and Ninth streets, erected. lie
was chosen president OF tins company ana
| served IN that capacity for several years.
He then served as attorney for the CON-
pany.
| HE ENTERS POLITICS.
Deceased was elected member Of the
| Board of Aldermen in 1874 and was that
wear a candidate for the State Senate.
| The contest. in which the aspirants were
the deceased. General Bradley /. Johnson,
and DR.. A. ;. McRae. WAS a very exciting
one and resulted IN the election OF Dr.
McRae.
When the First regiment Virginia volun-
| toors was organized he received large
| vote for the colonelcy He was at that
time captain of the Sidney Grays. lie
was the second colonel of Lee Camp, and
always took q deep interest in all meetings
of veterans.
MAYOR TWELVE YEARS.
In the spring Of 1876 he entered the
race for the mayoralty. aud in May de-
feated the Hon. A. NJ Kelley who
! then in Office in the Conservative
primary. lie and Mayor Kelley were
staunch friends, and often went TO the
/ meetings where they were 10 speak IN the
| same carriage John Amber smith was
! the Republican candidate for Mayor, but
! Darlington received very large ma
| iority. lie was reelected for five success
siye terms and wonld have offered again IN
1888 had not his condition. physical ana
| mental. been such as to cause hls family
| TO withdraw his name. Hon. }. TAYLOR
Ellyson and Captain George A. Alnslie then
became candidates before the primary ana
the former was chosen.
HIS ILLNESS.
In the summer Of 1888 the deceased was
| taken to Marion. where he remained for
/ rather more than year. when he returned
| home greatly improved IN both body ana
mind The legislative contest was then
| APPROACHING and he announced himself as
n candidate for the House. tie developed
ereat strength. aud would perhaps have
| been nominated and elected had not the
| excitement caused his mind 20 again
| become oyerbalanced. He was then sent
! 70 Williamsburg, where he had since re-
| NAMED While delicate during his entire
! confinement II was only within the last
few weeks that alarming symptoms de-
yelOped.
POPULAR AND GENEROUS.
Colonel Darlington was man OF un-
| ceaslng industry a. long as ms neaitn per.
mitted. HIS courtesy was unlimited, ana
il was this that gave him the hold upon
the masses, especially the working ele-
ment. whom he delighted 10 call the tim
bucket brigade" Time and again he was
elected TO office until forced by feebleness
10 retire from public lite. He was a man
of generous impulses. and responded I'M
hesitatingly 10 the many dema lds that are
incessantly made upon the chief executive
OF the municipal government. During his
best days be was q charter member OF near
ly every new order instituted in this city.
lie was good friend of the newspaper
men. and any paper or information in his
| possession was always at their service.
he was a splendid conversationalist. and
few men entertained with more bountifui
hospitality.
| his FAMILY.
In October. 1857. Mr.. Carrington mar
ried Miss Mary L. Loving. OF LoyinRston,
Nelson county. and by this union there are
five children living-Mr G. Irving. Mrs:
Lille Hoofnsgle. DIR. Reid Darlington, OF
! Amherst county. william Jr.. engaged in
business at Colorado and Miss Grace ID.