Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1894-12-26
o j. O. PRITCHARD.

The Herald and Tribune has hereto
fore referred TO the probable election
of Hon. j. G. Pritchard, of Marshal,
N. c., as one of the United States SEN
tors to be elected by the Legislature of
that State next month. A brief sketch
of his life may encourage some other
poor boy to renewed courage in fighting
the battle of life. Mr.. Pritchard was
born in Jonesboro, Tenn, July IL,
1867. His father, w. II. Pritchard,
died in the Confederate army during
the war. In 1869, when the Herald
and Tribune was established by Wheel
er and Mahoney, "Jeter" Pritchard, rs
he was then known, was %apprenticed
by his mother to DR.. G. Wheeler to
learn the printers trade, and it was in
this office that he laid the foundation
for the prominence he has since attain
ed. His mother, in the meantime, had
moved near Erwin, and young Pritch-
ard, after working on the Herald and
Tribune for some time, returned to his
mother and went to school one term at
Martins Creek Academy. Being anx-
ious to have him complete the printers
trade, his mother made an arrangement
with Col. Geo. E. Grisham, where Jeter
worked on the Union Flag for one year
as an apprentice, which added to his
experience in the Herald and Tribune
Office, equipped him for the position Of
foreman in Col. Grisham's Office, which
position he held until the cholera broke
out in 1878, when Col. Grisham died,
and the Union Flag was suspended.
Jeter then went to Erwin and attend
ed school II term, going from there
to Bakersville, N. c., where he induced
Rev. w. G. Bowman to purchase a
newspaper outfit and establish the Ra'
kersville Independent, with Mr.. Pritch'
ard as foreman of the office. When he
reached Bakersville he had only ten
cents in money and one extra shirt
which he carried under his arm. II
was not long until Mr.. Bowman took
him in as a partner in the newspaper
office, while Prof. Bowman became his
teacher, to whom Pritchard recited his
lessons at night after his days work
was completed.
In 1878 he located in Madison Coun.
ty, N. c., working on a farm, and part
of the time in the revenue service, and
in every contest canvassing that coun'
ty for the Republican party.
In 1884 Mr.. Pritchard was elected to
represent his county in the Legislature,
was re elected in 1886, and the third
time in 1890. In 1888 he was the Re-
publican nominee for Lieutenant Gov
ernor, and in 1891 the caucus nominee
of the party for United States Senator
again st the late Senator Vance, whose
%unexpired term it is probable Mr.
Pritchard will be elected to fill out.
In 1891 a Protective Tariff League
was organized for North Carolina, and
he was made its first President. He
was a delegate from the State at large
to the National Republican Convention
in 1899, and was one of the recognized
Harrison leaders in that body.
He was the nominee of his party il
1892 for Congress, and though defeat
ed, reduced the Democratic majority
in the district over 800. He was admit
ted to the bar in 1887, and has risen tt
the front rank in his profession.
Such, in brief, is the history of oui
Jonesboro orphan boy, and if the ''Tal
Heels' will elect him to the United
States Senate, we may reciprocate by
honoring another Tar Heel" in Ten
nessee.