Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-03-24
WACO, TEXAS.

w ACO5 IGlNAo.
This is the home of the genial, genuine
and gusty George, yet his announcemenU
was not received here with more Gu
thusiasm by his admirers than was the
maution of Ed Rotan as a possible canol-
date for governor. by thoughtful and con,
sentative men with quiet satisfaction and
pleasure. Ed Rotan is not an obscure man.
He is as well-known as any purely business
man in the state, yet business men nave no
noisy hired heralds of fame, nor time nor
inclination to extend their title to dlstlnc-
tion. Fame is a truant dame and is more
easily won by words than service II IL
were otherwise, nothing need be salo OF
Edward Rotan He has given to Texas as
faithful able and worthy service as any
man within her borders. Like all business
men who have made eminent success ne
has never sought, perhaps Will never SeeK'
poliiical preferment. Yet tradition says
there was a time, and hope whispers II
nav come again, when honors moved I'M
SOUGHT to those who deserve them. II such
n blessed time should return to US, Edward
Rotan will be forced by his merits TO the
highest place. Mr.. Rotan Is now IN New
York If he were present the mooeSty OF
the man might forbid the use OF ms name
in this connection, but the writer re1olces
in the opportunity of paying this tribute 10
his worth. A man is known by his WORKS.
The life work of Edward Rotan is like the
man himself, modestly eloquent, and
mirrors his character.
He was born in 1874 at Sparta. little
village hidden among the mountains OF
Middle Tennessee. He was the only chlid
of a widowed mother and passed his early
life in his native village. When In MS
seventeenth year the war began he was at
college. The guns of Fort Sllmpter reVer-
berated through the land, and college walls
could not keep out the sound that reused
every Southern bosom, that warmed
manly heart Three weeks after he wrote
to his mother simply SIT is my duty" ana
before she could reply joined the SlXteenIn
Te1nessee volunteers, the regiment COM
nanded by Col John H. uSavage IN Cheat
HAMS brigade. Within year young Rotan
had risen from the ranks to be nrst neu-
tenant. His record was not more brlIlang
than that of many another honest man ana
soldier, the memory OF whose qeeos, IN
known to history, is yet locked IN the
hearts and preserved in the traditions or
orr people. The Young soldier saw much
service. He fought at Cheap Mountain,
Port Royal, Corinth, Perryville, Murfrees-
boro. Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, IN
theA Atlanta campaign, at Franklin and
many other less notable engagements.
He was left for dead on the field of
Perryville. Two comrades, resolved 10
give him burial, turned back and 1ouno MN
not dead, but unconscious from deep smell
wound in his shoulder. The soldiers tell
story of him at Dalton. Distress for water
had grown so great within the Confederate
breastworks that it became necessary for
some one to face the Federal sharps hooters,
run down the hill upon whose PROV the
Southern forces lay intrenched, ana orlnS
water from a spring at its foot. A danger
Gus piece of business. AS was the custom
Young Rotan, who commanded his company
in the Illness of his captain called for VoIun-
teers. Mems faces blanched. No one spoke.
In the absence of volunteers, mis- duty tnen
was to detail a man for the service. LOOK
ing around him for moment not hndlng II
in his heart to send comrade into such
peril. the slight beardless boy quietly SAID,
s'Give me the canteens, will CO." and ne