The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1897-08-19
J. I. GEORGE IS DEAD.
The State Of Mississippi Loses
Her Senior Senator.
The Great Passes Peacefully
Away-A Long and Honorable Career
Ended-A Grert Lawyer. IA Gallant
Soldier, "A Profound Statesman.

s'ppi ivy, tHc suiL COaSt SltlIDtF resort,
announces the death Of United States
Senator James T.. George, at 2 o'clock
pm.
This morning Hon. A. A. Kincannon.
State superintendent of education,
whose wife is a granddaughter of the
senator, received a telegram to the
effect that he was sinking rapidly, and
when ii became known a shadow OF
gloom was cast over the community.
Later in the day Senator Walthall ar
rived on the north-bound train. He
was direct from Mississippi City, where
he had been with Senator George the
past two or three days, and though he
declined to be interviewed on the sub
ject of the condition of the health of
his Industrious associate, he did not offer
any cheering suggestions.
Pink George, of ~Carrollton, son OF the
sick statesman, was a passenger on the
south-6ount train this afternoon. He
was fastening to his fathers bedside,
being called by a telegram from his
brother, which read: Father is sink
ing rapidly"
Senator George iourneyed from his
home at Carrollton to the gulf coast
about ten days age, and hoped the
change would be beneficial to him and
it was thought it had, until tho news
came today Of the relapse,
Ill Several Months.
Senator Georges illness extended
over several months and precluded his
presence upon the extra session OF CON
gress, but during which he was paired
with Senator WulCott. Being taken
sick at Washington, he was in the in
Urinary several weeks before the people
OF Mississippi knew of his illness, and
when, later on, he came down to his
home at ~Carrollton, Miss, it was an
nounced that he was dangerously i'll.
lie grew better, it was said. and when he
began to take horseback rides his friends
hoped for the best So much stronger
was he in May that he and his wife cell
ebrated the tiftieth anniversary of their
wedding day, the occasion being made
one OF general rejoicing, a month later
Mrs, George breathed her last, and since
that time the health of the senator has
steadily declined. Two weeks since he
journeyed from his home to Mississippi
City, his family thinking a change of
scene and the salt breezes from the gulf
would be beneficial.
News came every day that he was
slowly and steadily improving, and only
yesterday it was announced that his
physician, DIR. Henderson, who is also
his son-in-law, said he would be able to
take his seat in the senate this winter,
and that the senator was himself conf
dent the prediction was safe. This
morning his granddaughter here re-
ceived a telegram that he was dying,
and later came another that he bad died
at a:40. His disease was fatty degener-
alton Of the heart.
Born in Georgia.
Senator George was born in Georgia,
October 20. 1896, and was therefore in
his seventy-first year When a lad his
father moved to Carroll county, where
he died shortly after, and his mother
married again. The only education be
received was in the public schools, and
when a mere boy he began the study of
law against the wishes Of his stepfather,
who wanted him in the field.
But the young man was ambitious; he
defed the old man, quit the farm and
went to school and to reading law. Be
fore be was 20 years Of age he went be-
fore the legislature of tho State, Feb
ruary 90, 1916, and asked that his disa-
bilities be removed, which was done,
and he was made 81, as car be seen by
the acts of 1916, page i2Sl.
In May, ls47, he was married to Miss
Bette Young, a~society belle OF thatday
and time, and the fruit Of the union was
eight children, six OF whom are still
living, three sons and three daughters.
His First Office.
The first political office to which he
was elected was that of district attorney
way back in the early SOS. but prior to
that time he had enlisted in the Mexi-
can war. and came home wearing an of
ficer's stripes, being made colonel for
bravery on the battlefield. In IGl he
again shouldered his musket and
marched to the defense OF his State as .
soldier of the Confederacy, and re-
turned as a general after four years of
faithful service. Moving to Jackson SO
as to better attend to his increasing
practice before the Supreme Court, Gen.
George soon took rank as one Of the
foremost lawyers in the State.
In stormy Days.
In 1875, the year Mississippi deter
mined to throw off the yoke of oppres-
sion and to rid herself of the hordes of
negro and white vampires who occupied
her State and county Offices, and who
were sucking the very life-blood from
the people by oppressive taxation, Gen.
George was made chairman of the
Democratic State executive committee,
and under his wise leadership Ames and
his black cohorts were hurled from
place and power. and decency and in
telligence once more held sway. The
next stepping stone was to the Supreme
Court bench, where he remained till
March 4. 1881. when he was elected to
the senate. He was reelected in 1887
and again for the term ending March, |
1899, during all of which time he has
remained in close touch with his peo-
pie by a faithful performance Of duty
and sympathetic care for their best in
terests. As a member of the constitu-
tional convention Of 1890 he shaped and
directed the most important measures,
and to his foresight and magnificent
brain his people now credit their de-
livery from the then ever nresent negro |