The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-05-10
DEATH OF GEN. JOS. COUPON
HE MAS AN Ex-CONFEDERATE GEN.
 EBAL OF BRILLIANT RECORD.

Forty-1ve Days Born in New England
 But Spent His Prime in the south-Had
 Lived fin New Haven the Last Fifteen
 Years.
 General Joseph Colton died at his home, 156 Humphrey street, yesterday
 morning, aged about eighty-two years, of the inflrmities of old age. He was born in West Springfield. Mass, in 1878. He came of good old Puritan stock on both fathers and mothers side. On his nothers's side the Days came for Eng land with Thomas Hooker and the first settlers of Hartford. The first settlers of Longmeadow, Mass. were on his fa- thers side. He spent the early part of his life at Amherst, Mass, where he was married to Lucia Smith of that place Eshe died in New York in 1853. When he was a young man he went to the south and entered intosbusiness in Ten nesEee. and remained there until 1880. when he came to New Haven, where he had since resided.
 1 Several years ago hetbuiit house on Humphrey street, where he wass accus- toned to dispense hospitality to his many friends. For the last few sum- mers' he had gone to- Goshen, Command was one of the most popular and well kcome visitors there every summer. In 1879 he married Mrs. Emily Foote of this city. who dted about ten years ago. He removed to this city irnmedi- ately after hss marriage to Mrs. Foote. his residence until few years ago be- ing on Chapel street, the house next to I the Center church chapel, now occupied by the Graduates club.
 One daughter survives him, a Mrs. fEaston of Houma, La. He leaves also three sisters and one brother, Mrs. kGeorge w. Moore of Hartford, Mrs. Jo- seph Merrick of West Springfield, Mass. Mrs. Rogers of Philadelphia, ana solo- mon Colton of BroOklyn, N. Y. General Colton was man of genial temperament and.of a most benevolent disposition. He was particularly re- nthrkable for his love of children and of flowers. He was g. faithful attend ant at Center church as long as he was Fable, and his courteous bearing of good qualities will long be remembered by his friends in the church and elsewhere.
 General Cotton was in Tennessee when the war broke out and although he was a man of strong northern princfpies, yet on account of the fact that he had been, living in the south for forty years his r,.tk la ILL cause. He entered the Confederate ar- my and became brave and distin- guished soldier. He was aide-de-camp to General Pemberton during the siege of Viclzsburg, and General Cotton, who at that time had received the rank of general was chosen by General Penn berton to carry dispatches of the great est importance to Jefferson Davis pres- ident of the Confederate states. He had orders to deliver them into no one's hands but Davis. Davis was at that time supposed to be at Mobile. General Cotton reached there after several days of incessant riding. He found when he arrived there that the Confederate pres- ident had gone to Montgomery, Ala General Co1ton immediately proceeded to that place. He found heresthat Davis had gone into North Carolina He fol- lowed him there, but did not overtaka him until Davis had arrived at Rich- mond, Va, the Confederate capital. He handed the dispatch from General Penn berton to the Confederate president and received his thanks and the praise of his entire cabinet General Cotton had been in the saddle constantly for forty- five days and had travelled 1, ,4S0 miles. It is one of the greatest rides on rec- ord in history. He eluded the vigilance of the Union scouts and passed through their outposts two or three times. He remained with the Confederate army until the end of the war, and peace had been declared as result of Lees sur- render at Appomattox court house.
 After the end of the war, finding most of his friends dead Or impoverished he came north to visit and had remained here the greater part of the time stnce- lie leaves an honorable record as q kind friend and brave soldier and an honest man. He was modest and un- assuming almost to fault. His house. was always open to his friends and he never allowed any to leave without en- them with his best hospital- ty.
 He sometimes told 8 story which we'll illustrates his unassum1ng bearing in spite of all his brilliant achievements in he field. He said that he made a visit Ut Brattleboro, Vt., when he was on his risit north after the war. He attended church one Sunday and 1t became nois- d about that there was an ex-Confed- crate general in the church. When he service was over" he used to say, the people were lined up from the door
 
 what an insignificant fellow was they turned away disappointed"
 General Colton's death will be mourn d by a host of friends in New Haven, ylfo lament the loss of a noble and gem man.
 The funeral will take place from his ate residence tomorrow afternoon at o'clock.