Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-19
THEIR LIVES ENDED.
THE HAND or DEATH BUslLY At
WORK IN RICHMOND.
Major John III, Claiborne. Mr.. Truman "A.
Parker. James U. Carneai, and
Mrs. Cutshaw Dead.


Major John Fl. Claiborne died at half
past 9 o'clock last night at his residence,
No. Gl2 east Leigh street.
He was sixty EIGHT years ofage, but having
suffered from sickness for the last decade
appeared much older.
The deceased. who was a son of Mr..
Herbert A. Claiborne. was born in this city
February 8. 1922 He received a good COM
mOn-school education. and at a compare
tivelv early age entered mercantile life.
He was a member Of the firm of Williams
x Claiborne and later on of Womble Il
Claiborne, grocers and commission mer-
chants. In addition 20 this he owned and
operated plaster -mill-frst at the foot Of
Virginia street and afterwards on Seven
teenth, just across the dock.
USswERvISG INTEGRITY.
During the war Major Claiborne was at
tached TO the commissary department, be-
ing stationed in Richmond, and was one OF
the few men in that branch Of the service
against whom no breath of suspicion was
ever raised.
CHIEF OF POLICE.
In December, 1866 few months after
the close of the war, the Major was elected
Chief of Police of Richmond by the City
Council, Mr.. David J. Saunders being
Mayor Of the city at that time. Here he
displayed that same cOnscientiousness so
Characteristic OF the man and spent many
a night in his chair at his desk when he
should have been at home asleep.
INSURANCE AGENT.
Having held this Office for about two
years. in the latter part Of 1861 Major Clai-
tar,.a mad 20 haennnp papnral MANAGER
OF the Arlington Life-lnsurance Company,
a position which he held for some time
after il was merged with the Piedmont.
In the early seventies the deceased
severed his connection with this corpora
tian and accepted the general agency
of the New York Mutual Life-lnsurance
Company. which he held for several years.
Subsequently he did general insurance
business, associating his son, Herbert A.,
with him, the frm-name at the time of his
death being John II. Claiborne y Son.
REFUSED OFFICE.
When the late Henry X. Ellyson became
Mayor Of Richmond, IN 1863, by virtue OF
the enabling act. one of the first things he
did was to tender Major Claiborne the Of
fee Of Chief Of Police, which he had so
well filed several years before. Mr. Ely
son knew that true and tried men were
needed and his unerring Judgment dld not
fail him in this instance. But the deceased
felt that in justice to his family he was
compelled 10 continue in the more lucra-
tive business in which he was then en-
gagged.
FAMILY CONNECTIONS.
Probably no family in Richmond is more
highly connected than Major ClalbOrne's
His first wife, Miss Bassctt, to whom he
was married about 1880. was descendant
Of George Washington. Their eldest daugh-
ter married Governor Buckner, Of Ken
tucky. The other children by this mar
rage are Messrs. Herbert A. Bennett, and
Landon Claiborne.
In August, 1868. the Major welded
second time-a Miss Blalr-who, with
three children, Walter, Louisa, and Ellen,
survive her husband.
The deceased has four living brothers,
Mr.. Herbert A. Claiborne, Of this city Dr.
james Claiborne, of Petersburg Mr.. How
ard Claiborne, Of Texas, and " Bishop
Claiborne Of California.
POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS.
Major Claiborne was an earnest and con-
sistent Christian aud one of the oldest
members Of the yestry of st. James Epis-
copal church, from which his funeral viii
be held.
Being good citizen and an upright
man tho deceased was OF necessity "a
Democrat, and IN the days succeeding re-
construction he was one OF the leading
Conservatives OF Richmond. He was pre-
sident of the Kempor Kampaign klrb lat-
terwards the kOnseryatiye Rampalgn
Klub). which did SO much towards freeing
Virginia from Radicals and carpet-baggers.
y and whose famOus initials. Il. X. n,
were so often construed "Kuklux Klan."
The deceased was q member of the Ma
sonic fraternity and several kindred or
ganizations. Death, while resulting from
general breaking down of the system,
was in the form of paralysis.
Before the war Major Claiborne was an
enthusiastic fireman and was one of the
most ardent members of rho volunteer ser
vice. He was always ut the fires aud his
services were yaluableh
Sudden Death Of DR. Truman A. Parker.
Mr. Truman Alfred Parker, well known
TO the businessmen of Richmond, aud
whose figure was for nearly half century
familiar one on the streets of the city,
died very suddenly about II O'Clock We'd
nesday night at his residence, No. 3l4 west
Franklin street. His illness was of less
than an hours duration.
His demise was a great shock 10 his
friends and the community, as he attended
to business on the day Of his death and
seemed in unusually good health and
spirits.
DIFFICULTY IN BREATHING.
He retired that night about 10 o'clock in
apparently perfect health. but about a
quarter OF an hour later complained to his
wife Of experiencing difficulty in breathing.
He arose and took small dose OF cough
mixture. DIR. Cullen was immediately sum-
moned, but Mr.. Parker continued to grow
worse, and by IL O'clock he was cold in
| death.
Tho deceased was conscious almost to
| the end and seemed 10 realize his position.
| His last words were, 81 shall never see my
poor children again" alluding 10 his son
and daughter. both Of whom were away
at school when the end came.
NEARLY sIxrY-rHREE.
On the goth Of this month Mr. Parker
would have been sixty-three years of age
had he lived. He was born in James City
county, and came to Richmond in lS45,
when he was about eighteen years old. In
| 1850 he embarked in the lumber business,
| and his name was household word IN that
| trade. His large yards at Canal and Fifth
streets. at which he located soon after the
evacuation, are among the best known IN
| Richmond.
Death was caused by heart-failure. to
which deceased had been subject. but not
| a sufferer TO so great an extent as to cause
grave apprehensions.
| FAMILY CONNECTIONS.
The deceased married Miss Sallie Rich
ardson. Of this State, and by this union
| there are two children-Miss Ellie, who is
now at Hollins Institute, and Mr.. Alfred
Parker. student of Hampden-Sidney Col
| lege. The sad intelligence was telegraphed
to each of them Wednesday night, but ow-
ing to the breaking of the wires in South
west Virginia his daughter had not up TO
las. night been heard from, and it was
feared that the terrible message had failed
TO reach her.
His other immediate relatives are Mrs.
| w. j. Scott, Mr. George A. Parker. and Mr.
John N. Parker, of Curtis q Parker.