Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-06-29
THE LATE LEWIS MCKENZIE.

THE LATE LEWIS MchENAlE.
AS stated in the GAZETTE, Mr.. Lewis
Mckenzie died at his rooms in the Al
exandria House yesterday afternoon,
too late for more than q simple an
of his decease. The prom
inence of Mr.. Mckenzie, he having
been central figure in this communi-
ty for half a century, Of course entities
him to a more extended notice, as he
was a man of some reputation in Vir-
ginia and was somewhat known nation
ally.
The deceased was born in Alexandria
in 1910, and was consequently So years
old. He was the son of Capt. James
Mckenzie, we'll and favorably known
here at the beginning of the pres
emit century. It is said that Cap,
tain McKenzie's nuptials were cele-
brated aboard of the ship he COM
manded while she lay at anchor in the
Potomac off this port. At an early age
the subject of this notice, together with
the late Benjamin II. Lambert, then also
a Young man, entered the house of Fowle
& Daingerfeld, one of the principal
shipping and commission firms of Alex
andris at that time, where he and Mr.
Lambert acted as clerks until about the
wear 1880, when these gentlemen form
ed partnership and the result was the
establishment of the house of Lambert
s. Mckenzie, which for years prosecut.
ed a lucrative business. In 1858 the
firm was dissolved by mutual consent,
and Mr.. Mckenzie established 3 sep
arate business in new store on Union
street, where he prospered and finally
became one of Alexandria's leading
merchants, as we'll as prominent and
useful citizen. At the close of the war
though he still carried on business at
the old stand, his energies were divert
cd to other avocstions and his trade
Jagged with the depression of the times
until twelve or fifteen years ago when
he babe adieu to commercial life
There have been few Alexandrians
whose fortunes, political and otherwise
waxed and waned more than blr. Nc.
Kennels. Before the war, energetic and
public spirited, he commanded the re-
spect of friend and foe, and was fore.
most in nearly all of the most import.
tant enterprises conceived for the az
grandisement of his native city. He
was the moving power in the
building of the Alexandria, Loudoun
and Hampshire (now W. & o. r. r.,
and was for many years president o.
that corporation. He was also presi-
dent of The First National Bank for q
long time. Mr.. Mckenzie held during
his life many positions of public trust,
among them member of the Legisla-
ture, acting Mayor of the city aud was
presiding Justice of the old magistrates
court. He was also Brigadier. General
of militia in this city. During the -four
years. civil war his sympathies were
with the federal government, though
on many occasions he proved himself @
friend in need to our people in recon-.
mending and vouching for them to the
military authorities or in extricating
them from troubles into which they
were occasionally plunged during those
dark and dismal days when bayonet
rule prevailed. Mr.. Mckenzie had for
many years listened to the hum of the
Congressional bee. and its persistent
buzz caused him to enter the field for 9
seat in the House of Representatives in
1865. The late Gilbert s. Minor and
the late Robert Y. Conrad were also
contestants for the honor of represent.
ing what was then known as the
Seventh Virginia district in the halls oil
Congress, and the latter was elected
though he was not allowed to take his
seat. In the year 1869, however, 9
chance was afforded Mr.. Mckenzie OF
reaching the pinnacle of his ambition.
The late Mr.. B. II. Sbackelford, of Eau.
quier county, had received the nomina
ton from the democrats of tuis distric,
for Congress, but the State still being
out of the union and he being unable
to subscribe to the iron-clad oath ther
in vogue, the party found itself in d.
lena. Should Mr.. Shackelford be elect.
ed and be denied admission to the
House of Representatives, as seemed
inevitable, the radical party, then dom.
inant in Congress, would have seated
the late Charles Whittlesey, the repub
lican candidate. 1t was therefore
deemed prudent by the more conserva-
tive of the democratic party to "pick
up" what was then termed "mild
union man"-one native and to the
manner born, who could con.
scientiously take the prescribed oath
and ct the same time defended the in.
terests of the people who elected him.
A writer in the GAZETTE at this crisis
suggested Mr.. Mckenzie for the po-
sition,* and it was Immediately conced-
ed throughout the district that he was
the man to I'LL the BILL" Mr.. Shackel-
ford subsequently, withdrew from the
contest, though not without protest
from many who had aided in nominal
ing him, and Mr.. Mckenzie was elected
to Congress by large majority over
Mr.. Whittlesey. His career in Congress
was short and uneventful, he serving
only about one year, but his course was
conservative and in the main satisfac-
tory to his constituents. In 1870 he
was the regular nominee OF the republic
can party for reelection, but was defeat
ed by the late Elliott M. Braxton, the
democratic candidate. Four years