The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-03-05
He Passed Away at Shawnee
Tuesday Night.
CITY OF RALEIGH MoURNs
He Was One Of It's Prominent
and Popular Citizens.
HE WILL BE BURIED HERE
Mrs. Faison Started to His Bedside But
Gould Get No Further than Spring
field, Mo-, Before the Sad
News Reached Her.

News Reached Her.
A telegram was received here yester-
day by MIR. Ed Chambers Smith that
his wife's father, Col. Paul T. Faison
had died at Shawnee, Oklahoma. Last
week news came to his family that
Col. Faison was not well, that he had
obtained ''sick leave" and would rest
till he felt better; later news showed
that he was i'll; and on Monday came
news that he had grown worse, and his
wife and son, John, left Monday after
noon for Shawnee. Mrs. Faison tele-
graphed yesterday from North Spring
field, Mo, that she was in communities
ton with special Indian Agent Ogles-
by; that the body had been embalmed;
and that Mrs Faison, Mr., John Faison
and Mr.. Oglesby would leave with the
remains on Friday. 1t is expected that
they will reach Raleigh Sunday morn
ing.
The news of Col Faison's death will
carry deep regret to many in North
Carolina, for Col. Faison numbered his
friends in all sections of the State.
He was man of strong individuality,
true and devoted to his friends, was
interested in whatever interested his
fellow fnen, and naturally had large
circle of friends who will be gr1eyed
to hear of his death far away from has
hc,,,ss.ee and those he loved.
No man in the State was more deyot~
ed to his home, and his enforced alb
sence as Indian Inspector was always
a great deprivation to him.
Paul Fletcher Faison, son of Herod
and Maria Faison, was born in North
ampton county in May 1910. He early
went to West Point Military Academy,
and resigned within a month of grad
nation To enter the Confederate army.
His training at West Point gave him
the high position of Major OF the
Fourteenth Regiment at the beginning
of the war. and he was afterwards pro-
NOTED to be Colonel of the Fifty Sixth
regiment. He served throughout the
war with dictinction, and at its close
returned to his farm in Northampton
where he carried on farming opera
tions on an extensive scale for ten
wears. He then moved in Raleigh and
engaged in the cotton business In
made as much as $4,000 in single
YEAR Later he was not SO successful,
but his knowledge of cotton and the
cotton trade was such that he always
made a large income. When the late
Daniel g. Fowle became Governor it
was one of his chief ambitions to make
the penitentiary self-supporting, and
he persuaded Col. Faison to accept the
position of superintendent at a salary
of 81, 500. He entered upon this impor-
tant work with his accustomed zeal,
and soon his executive ability made
itself felt, and the penitentiary was
placed upon better basis, its opera
tons enlarged, and made TO virtually
pay its own expenses. Under COY
Holt, he continued in this position, eV-
cry year making a better showing and
bringing the institution up where it
could soon be no longer u burden on
the taxpayers of the State Upon the
election OF 6oyrnor Carr, Col. Faison
retired from the management Of the
penitentiary.
In April 1898, he was appointed by
President Cleveland one Of five lnspec-
tors of Indian Agencies, at a salary OF
$1,000 and expenses, which position he
held at the time of his death In the
responsible and delicate duties, he was
eminentIy successful, and won the con-
fidence and esteem of his official assoc
ciates.
The same qualities of quick decision
and rapid action that made Col Faison
a successful soldier were valuable to
him as an Indian Inspector. This is a
very arduous and responsible position,
requiring almost constant travel from
the frozen cline Of South Dakota TO
the arid plains OF Arizona. Talking to
the writer after an experience among
the Indians of the Northern part OF
Minnesota, Col. Faison expressed the
opinion that the exposure TO the severe
cold and the glare of the snow upon
his eyes had permanently injured his
health and eYe-sight, but after he was
assigned to the supervision OF indian
matters in the territory contiguous 10
Oklahoma and Indian Territory, ne
thought the bad effects of the cold and
the glare were temporary and hoped
they had left no permanent injuries
When in Raleigh IN the late fall, he
seemed To be in good health, barring
some affection of the eyes, but his coloE
vas not good, and he had not that
erectness and aIertness that had always
marked him.
Col. Faison had always been an earn
est and active Democrat, not seeking
office. but regular attendant Of con.
ventions where he VAS very Influential.
in securing the nomination Of his
friends. lie had served the city Otter
as an Alderman and was man q
progressive IDEAS and great public
spirit.
Until the last few years, Col FalsoI
always spent the summer with hi'
family at Beaufort and Morehead, ane
was a leader in the anusements ant
pleasures of those delightful summel
resorts.
Col Faison was married during tn
war to Miss Annie Haywood Bryan
Youngest daughter of the late Georg
Il. Badger. His wife survives him, ant
seven children, Mrs. Louis Thorpe, o
Granville county, Mrs. ed. Chamber
smith, and five sons, John, Sherwood