The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1892-05-19
Death OF Hon. John s. Barbour.

State which he had the honor to repres-
ent in the greatest legislative body OF
the earth. The sad event occurred at
o'clock on the morning Of the 18th,
without scarcely a warning of the ap-
proach Of the grim monster He had
retired in his usual health. During the
night he complained of q choaktng SEN
sation. Medical assistance was instantly
called, but before any remedies could
be applied, the end came, with few pres
ent to witness the ebbing of life. Miss
Daingeriald, his sister in-law, who pre-
sided over his household Capt. Ham.
Shepherd, an intimate and devoted
friend of the Senator, who was visiting
at his residence ut the time, and Mr.
Thompson, his nephew, were the only
persons, besides his physicians, who were
at his bedside when the fatal summons
came.
We knew Mr. Barbour WELL While
differing with him politically, we had
the pleasure of numbering him among
our personal friends We knew him well
character, his astute, discerning and
comprehensive intellect; his keen and
practical grasp Of conditions, and his
quiet, yet resolute, will in giving direc
tion and force to his convictions. Those
who were nearest to him in the business
and general relations Of life, knew him
to be a man of courage, integrity and
fidelity. He was bound to those who
enjoyed his friendship with hooks OF
steel. He was loyal to his convictions;
to his friends to his State and country,
and demeaned himself through life as q
gentleman of scrupulous honor; un>
blemished reputation, and consistent
and jealous love of his State Virginia
loses in his death one of her most de
voted and useful sons, and his party a
counsellor, whose service will be greatly
| missed.
Hon. John S. Barbour was born in
Culpeper county December 90, 1920, and
came of a family that for q century or
more has been prominent in the history
of Virginia. After an excellent prepare
| ton at the best schools of that day, he
entered the University of Virginia, where
he graduated and was qualified for the
profession of law, the practice of which
he began in his native county.
In 1347 the people of Culpeper sent
him to the Legislature, and he served
them four consecutive sessions.
| la 1852 he was elected president Of the
railroad then known as the Orange and
Alexandria. in which position he re-
NAMED until it was merged into what is
now known as the Virginia Midland. In
all he served the railroad twenty~nine
years.
The Democrats nominated him for the
| Forty seventh Congress, and he was res
elected to the Forty eighth and Forty
ninth, when he declined to be again :
candidate In 1888, Virginia then being
dominated by the Malone party, and
the Democratic prospects exceedingly
dismal. the State convention met at
| Lynchburg and the votes Of the dele
gates called Mr. Barbour to the chairman
ship of the State Committee. He &C
cepted, proceeded to reorGanize the
party, and led it in a campaign Of rnex-
ampled yigor. Success crowned him and
his associates with victory, and the Dem
ocratc party, then returning to power,
| has been ever since able to maintain Its
self against Republication in every
shape.
/ From 1888 until the election of Hon.
! Basil b. Gordon, in 1882, with the excep-
tion of 1886, when he. was in Europe,
Mr.. Barbour led the Democrats Of Viz
GINA to unyarying success.
On the night Of December s, 1887, Mr..
Barbour was unanimously nominatedfof
| United States Senator by the Democratic
caucus. He was elected on the Goth of the
same month Mr.. W. A. Anderson, of
Rockbridge, nominating him in the joint
session, and Lyon G. Tyler, of Rich
mond, seconding the nomination. The
vote upon that occasiog was 81 for Bar
bour and - for Malone.
He took his seat in the United States
Senate March 1, 1889.
He was buried in Washington on Mon
day last, with the usual honors and GER
emonies attending the death of persons
in the distinguished position he held
Among those present at the obsequies,
from the Valley, were R. w. Burke, ESQ.,,
of Staunton, and his son. w. S. Burke.
PARTICULARS OF MR.. BARBCUR'S DEATH.
The account given by the Associated
Press agent at Washington of the death
of Hon. John S. Barbour, embraces the
principal facts attending the distressing
event; they are given under date OF
Nav Il, and dated at Washington SIS
follows:
Another name was added to the grow
ing list Of United States Senators who
have died suddenly within the past few
years by the death this morning of Sen
;,tor John S. Barbour, OF Virginia. Sen
ator Barbour passed away quietly at his
residence in this city. The warning OF
approaching death came only ten min
utes before the end, and its real charac
ter was probably never known to the
victim.
About O'Clock this morning Miss
Dangeriield, Senator Barbour's sister-in-
law, was awakened by n knocking on
her bedroom door, and found the Sen
ator there. He said he had an Cypress
i've feeling in his chest, and thought he
was about to have an attack of Group
At his request Miss Dangerfield sent !;
servant for the doctor, and then follow !
ed the Senator into his room across the
hallway.
Capt. Shepard, of Warrenton, Va. an
intimate personal and political friend of
Senator Barbour and Mr. r. G. Thomp-
sola, private secretary and nephew of
the Senator. were awakened and went to /
the Senator's bedside, but found him
unconscious. Within fifteen minutes |
after Miss Dangerfeld had been awak
ened Senator Barbour was dead.
When the doctor arrived he pro
nouncad heart failure the cause of death. |
The death of Senator Barbour was en-
tifeiy unexpected. Although seventy
two years Of age. he was still hearty ia
appearance, and other than u slight |
stoop in the shoulders and the appear
ance of failing eyesight, he gave no in
timation of advanced years
The only recent premonitory symp |
tom of illness came to Senator Barbour
last week He had been to the rscas