Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1899-03-15
THE MAYORDEAD
MIR. THOMAS E. MoCORKLE DIED All
His HOME IN THIS PLACE ON /, 4.
p FRIDAY NIGHT.
A EARGE FUNERAL SUNDAY
A CONCOURSE OF PEOPLE TURN OUT
TO PAY THEIR RESPECT TO
his MEMORY,

expected. On Friday his condition
| was such that his friends feared h.
would not last through the day. Al
night he grew steadily worse until the
end came. Hi death was caused froi-
diabetes.
On the morning Of February 10Th
| Just after breakfast Mr.. McCorkle suf-
fered stroke OF paralysis, his entire
left side being affected. He seemed to
improve for some days and hopes were
entertained for his recovery. MOI c
than a week before bis death he began
to get worse and so continued until The
last. Mr.. McCorkle was first paralized
in August, 1897, and for several months
| was conf ed to his home. He gradu-
a!ly recover ed from the effects of tie
attack, but he never enjoyed as good
health afterwards as before.
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
Thomas E. McCorkle was born thrI @
miles from Lexington ffty-four years
ago. He was son of the late Th omas
McCorkle, a prominent farmer of this
county, who was descended from Revo-
lutionary stock, his grandfather, Lieu
tenant John McCorkle, being killed in
the battle of the Cowpens. His mother
was Miss Susan Alexander, who was o
descendant of Robert Alexander, the
distinguished principal of the famous
Augusta Academy which after mary
changes became Washington and Lee
University. Young McCorkle entered
the Confedt rate Army in 1862 an
served with distinction until the close
of the war. He was q member of tn
Rockbridge Artillery and was a brave
and gallant soldier. He took part in
many hot engagements and as gun
ner, he was noted for the accuracy Of
his shooting.
After the war Mr.. McCorkle married
Miss Lula Anderson, daughter of Mr..
David Anderson, of Louisa COUNTY, bu
later of Richmond, where he died some
years ago: Mrs. McCorkle also could
trace her anc estry to Colonial time
she being direct descendant of Coll
mel Richard Anderson of the Revolu-
ticnary Army. One child was born to
them, daughter, who in June, 1898,
married Rev. G. j. Boppell and went
with him to Africa as missionary,
where she died in November, 1898, OF
Afric.n fe7er. Mr.. McCorkle is sur
vived by his widow; also by two broth
ers-Dr. William McCorkle, OF Knox
vile, Tenn, and Mr.. Samuel W. Nc
Corkle, of near Lexington, and one sis
ter, Mrs. James Montgomery, of Rich
nond. 4
During the days when the canal was
the only means Of transportation to
and from Lexington Mr.. McCorkle was
engaged at East Lexington in the mer-
camille and commission business Later
he studied law at Washington and Lee
University, and since his graduation in
1885 he devoted his time to the prac
tice of his profession. During the
boom bays of this section, in 1890 and
before, he was one of the leading men
and possibly did more than any other
man fer the Inauguration of the tnter-
prise which afterwards developed into
the city of Buena Vista.
SECRET SOCIETY MAN
The deceased was q secret society
man. In 1865 he was associated with
Mr., S. z. Ammen of the editorial staff
of the Baltimore Sun, who was then
student in Lexington, in founding the
Kappa Alpha fraternity. He was a
Mason, Pythian, and also belonged
to other secret orders. He was an
enthusiastic member of Lee-Jaekson
Camp, Confederate Veterans, Of this
place.
AS MAYOR OF LEXINGTON.
Mr.. MeCorkle was elected mayor of
Lexington in May, 1897, by a large
majority. He served the community
with ability and impartiality. He was
man of generous disposition and wa
held in high es eem by hi, associates,
AID by The public generally.
THE FUNERAL.
A large crowd Of people oil all cl sses,
the number limited only by the capacity
of the building, gathered Sunday after
noon at 3 o'clock in the PIesbyttr an
church to pay the last tribute Of respect
to Lexing tons dece sed may or, Thos.
IA n oN...l1 nuo ,,o1Ior, ~ a racorv