The Indiana State sentinel., 1891-06-24
DEATH OF COL. JOHN LEE.
An Estimable Citizen OF Indiana Passes
Away-Other Deaths.

AWdy-OtneF Doatnb.
CRAwFoRDsvILLE, June 1s.-lSpecial. /
This morning at 10 o'clock Col. John Lee
died peacefully at his home after an ILL
ness of six weeks, which was brought on
by an attack of la grippe and which re-
suited in blood poisoning.
John Lee was born in Montgomery county,
/ Indiana, March IL, 1926. His father was the
| pioneer Of the old school baptist church in
western Indiana and the founder of the Craw-
! louisville society. His paternal grandfather
was q soldier under Gen. Washington and his
lineage the same as that Of Richard Henry Lee
! president Of the colonial congress and one Of
the signers OF the Declaration of Independence
| Gen. Lee, the famous confederate commander
was also Of kin TO him. The early life of the
subject Of this sketch was devoted 20 hard Ia
| bor. He assisted in opening and improving
three farms but found time to acquire the rudi-
ments OF an English education. At nineteen
| he began a clerk for his brother and five
| years after was partner in the business and in
| 1856 he was elected treasurer of Montgomery
| county on the democratic ticket. He served
two years. In 1860 he was deputy u. s. mar
! shal and in 1861 when the war broke out sided
| with Stephen 4. Douglass and was in favor of
a vigorous prosecution of the war. He spent
much time in collecting sanitary supplies and
| pushing them forward to the soldiers
in the front. Many years of his life were spent
| in prospecting and pushing forward various
/ runway enteT pElbeb. was tuo pIeblOeQb Ol
| the Lake Erie & ST. Louis railroad, of the In-
| disnapolis Springfield, and in 1876 OF the In
/ dianepolis Chicago, now known as the
Monon. In 1879 he was elected president of
| the Anderson Il ST. Louis road, now known as
the Midland, and in the same year was
elected director OF the state prison north.
At the time OF his death he was the president
| of the New York & Chicago road and a men,
| Der of the worlds tair commission. During
Cleveland's administration he had charge OF
one of the Indian schools at Salem Ore. He was
married May II, 1s4e, TO Miss Lettia West. the
| daughter of wealthy farmer of Montgomery
county. Three sons and two daughters blessed
ried the Hon. Maurice Thompson.
and the other his brother, Mr.. Lee was
| a member of the old school baptist church. He
was democrat from his boyhood and always
| interested himself in the fortunes of his party.
In 1878 be was q member of the state central
committee and one of that organization to take
direct charge Of the canvass OF tnat year, which
resulted in decisive democratic victory. He
was a good stump speaker and frequently can
vassed the state for the democratic state and ma
tional tickets. In 1879 he created much enthusi-
asm in Ohio in advocating the election of Gen.
Ewing to the governorship of that state. He was
an hOnored and respected citizen OF national
reputation, and In his death the citizens OF his
own immediate community and those of the
state sustain q serious loss. He was honest,
reliable friend, kind husband and father ana
an upright, intelligent and faithful citizen.l
PAXTON, June 16.-[ Special. 1.-The Hon.
Richard Davidson, whose recent death has
been announced, was born in Jessamine
county. Kentucky, April 80, 1875, and was
therefore ninety-slX years, one month and
six days old. Mr.. Davidson was married
to Mary Handley July 20, 1915, and twenty
one children blessed the union, two OF
whom survive him, his consort having
IL 4 slr
in the war of 1872, and was with Col.
johnson when he (Johnson) received or
ders from Gen. Harrison to take his Ken
lucky horsemen and charge the English
front in the famous battle of the Thames.
He was with those who returned with
Gen. Harrison amid the plaudits of the
nation. The deceased came to Sullivan
county, Indiana, in 1920, and settled
on the Hacket farm near Carlisle. he
was one of the noble pioneers who cleared
away the proud forest, hunted the deer.
established schools and churches and
made our great state what it is today. Mr.
Davidson was a stanch democrat and
cast his first vote for Jackson in 1924.
Since that time he has not missed an cleo
ton, the writer stamping his first vote
under the Australian system. He filled
the offices OF assessor, constable. and was
for many years justice OF the peace. He
was married Nov. %, l845, to Susan Bed
well, and since the spring OF 'SS has re-
sided with his stepson, NJ. G.. Bedwell.
He was a member of the methodist epis-
copal church until after the late war. Dur
ing series of meetings, conducted by the
Rev. Joe Wolfe, he became a member of
the Christian church ct Carlisle in 1853.
He was an active, self-made man, WAS
a leader in all public measures for the
good of the community in which be lived,
ever ready to confer any act OF charity
upon his neighbor, and was the possessor
of a grateful heart. After much suffering
for seven long weeks his life peacefully
closed, respected by the people and
revered by a large number of relatives
and friends.
Grace was in all his steps. h:aven in his eye.
In every gesture dignity and love.
EVANSVILLE, June 20.-[Special. -
Thomas B. Byrnes, aged forty-seven, local
manager of the Jenny electric light COM
pany, died hero this morning from the
effects of an apoplectic stroke sustained
Wednesday night while seated with
friends at the Crescent club. Mr.. Byrnes
was a member of the. state democratic
central committee in 1876 and 1878. In
1882 and 1890 he was defeated in conven-
ton for state treasurer, but ran in 1886
and 1888, being defeated at the polls both
times by j. A. Lemcke. Mr.. Byrnes has
been a resident of Evansville for twenty
six years, and was clever, whole-souled
man who made hosts of friends and no
enemies. His first attack of paralysis was
sustained in 1890, and he had three later
strokes, the last one proving fatal.
After lying unconscious for fifty-six
hours death came to his relief at 80
o'clock this morning. The end was peace
full, and when the last spark of vitality
left his body there was no perceptible
change on the features of the man, whom
to know was to honor and esteem. When
the final moment came several friends of
the stricken gentleman surrounded bis bed
side, among whom was his brother Frank
| The body was permitted to lie at the
hospital until after the preparations for
burial had been made, when il was moved
to tho home of Mr.. Frank Byrnes, where
il will lie in state until tomorrow noon.
The funeral will occur Sunday afternoon,
at 3 o'clock, from the church OF the As
sumption, and the interment will be at
st. Joseph's cemetery. Tom Byrnes, as
he was known to every one, was "hale
fellow well met" and yet possessed of
considerable reservation. He was a man
who could adapt himself TO circumstances
and was thoroughly at home in any assem-
hlu nr oOrnnanU I1n 70 tho tifna af the