The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1896-08-06
FAMOUS TENNESSEANS.
COL. RULES INTERESTING SKETCH
OF WILLIAM G. BROwNLOw.
A Native of Virginia, He Became a
Power In the stormy Times of His
Adopted State - His Career as an
Editor and I'm the Halls of Legisla-


tion.
iCol. VIM. Rule, In Knoxville Journal.)
William Gannaway Brownlow was
born in Wythe County, Virginia, on the
18th day Of August 1906, and died in
Knoxville, Tenn, on the goth day of
April. 1877. His father died when he
was but II years old, having removed to
Sullivan County, Tennessee, and his
mother less than three months after
ward. He was left to the care of his
mothers relations, who raised him up
to hard labor, up to the time he was IS
years old, when he went to Abingdon,
Va, where he served a regular appren-
tlceship to the carpenters trade. He at
tended the common schools Of the coun-
try, irregularly, and his early education
al advantages were hardly worthy Of
consideration as advantages at ALL At
ter learning his trade, he again attended
school, and then and afterwards, by
dint of industry and perseverance ac-
quired a good English education. He
Joined the Methodist Church when quite
a young man, and for ten years was
Methodist itinerant minister. He won
distinction In that sacred calling, and
his high standing in the Holston Con-
e. .aI. he ,,.opohar fe
attested by the fact that in 1882, when
only 81 years old, he was elected as a
delegate to the General Conference,
which that year was held in the city OF
Philadelphia. It may be here remarked
that this honor came to him unsought,
he telling members they ought to give
that honor to the older brethren who
wished and expected 1t. He rode to
Philadelphia on horseback, stopping on
his way to visit the old home Of Thomas
Jefferson. with other delegates he
called upon President Jackson, in WASH
ington, by whom he was cordially re-
ceived, and with whom he had much
conversation. He wrote home about
this interview, that, "detesting Old
Hickory's politics must say OF him
that he is the most courtly, polished
gentleman in his manners l have ever
met" A few years afterwards he quit
the regular travelling ministry, and was
for sometime interested In the iron busi-
ness in Carter County, Tennessee. In
the year 1888, newspaper was started
at Elizabethton, in Carter County,
called The Republican and Manufact-
urers' Record. Several communications
appeared In the paper, anonymous, In
advocacy OF Henry Clay's American
System" as 1t was then called, which
was only a protective tariff in the in
terest of American manufacturers. The
unknown writer afterwards became
known to fame as William G. Brownlow.
editor of the Knoxville Wing, Governor
of Tennessee, and Senator In the United
States Congress.
In May, 1889, the paper was succeeded
by the Tennessee Whig, with William
G. Brownlow as its editor. A year later
the publication office was removed to
Jonesboro, where the Wing was pub
lished for ten years, and then removed
to Knoxville. 1t was published regular
ly as a weekly and semi-weekly until
it was closed out as one Of the results
of the war in October, 1861. Soon after
the publication Of the paper ceased, Mr..
Brownlow was arrested and imprisoned
on a charge of treason to the Southern
Confederacy. He remained In prison
and under military guard at his resi-
dence from Dec 6, 1861, to March 3,
1862, on which latter day he was sent
through the Confederate lines to Nash
vile, then occupied by the Union forces
During the year that followed he deliv-
cred many lectures and addresses in
support of the Union cause, in the larger
Northern cities, and was eagerly heard
by large audiences wherever he went.
After Gen. Burnside with his Union
forces took possession Of Knoxville In
September, 1863, Mr.. Brownlow returned
to this city and soon after began the
publication of his paper. In 1855, when
the State Government was reconstruct
ed. he was elected Governor Of Tennes-
see. and was reelected in 1867. In 1869
he was elected United States Senator to
succeed Hon. David T. Patterson. and
took his seat in the Senate on March
of that year. When his term in
the Senate expired he purchased half
interest in the Knoxville Daily Chron-
lcle, and the Weekly Wing and Chron-
icle, and was editor-in-chief Of that
paper up to the date of his death, the
writer of this article being his partner in
the business. He had been in feeble
health for years, but retained his mental
faculties in their vigor and never lost
his love for newspaper editorial writing.
His last sickness was of only few
hours duration. On bright Sabbath
day in April he met the memorable con-
queror Of all mankind with composure
that was remarkable, and in the pres
ence of family and friends he peacefully
passed away to the spirit land.