The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-08-06
IN MEMORIAM.

denmark OepdItCQ tulS lllS Oii tie 40lu
day of June last.
In the death OF Mr.. Denmark the
Georgia Historical Society lost one of
its most honored curators, and useful
and valued members, and this commu-
nifty a citizen of the highest character,
and OF the most illustrious services, life
and example.
He was born in the county of Brooks,
in this state, on the 25th day of April,
1850, and was reared on his fathers
plantation amidst the surroundings
and under the influences of that patri-
archal type Of Southern family life
then prevailing in Georgia. and which
impaired a permanent tone and ten
dency to his subsequent character and
career.
After a course of instruction in
| private school, he entered the Valdosta
Institute, and was thence transferred
| to the University of Georgia at Athens,
where he was graduated in 1871 with
the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Hav-
ing accepted the law as his profession,
he began its study under the tuition
and influence of that eminent counsel
! lor and publicist, the Hon. Henry G.
| Turner. He afterwards removed to
Savannah and entered the office of
Messrs. Hartridge & Chisholm, then
recognized as among the very foremost
practitioners in this city. His studi-
Gus habits, his evident purpose to sue
coed, and his traits of manly and high
toned character, very soon attracted
the attention of his observant percept-
ors; and Mr.. Hartridge at an early date
declared to one Of your committee that
| he had in his Office a youth possessing
such qualities of mind, purpose and
character as assured him great success
in his profession, and high place in
public estimation and trust. This COM
mittee well knows how soon that fore
cast was realized.
Mr.. Denmark was admitted to the
bar in this city in 1872. After several
previous professional connections, he
formed copartnership with Samuel B.
Adams, ESQ under the firm name of
Denmark & Adams, then Denmark,
Adams & Adams, and subsequently
Denmark, Adams & Freeman, and con-
tinued an active member of this emil
nent firm up to the period of his last
illness and death.
He was recognized always as
conscientious. upright and very able
lawyer and as a safe and trusted
legal adviser Those who sought him
as counsel soon knew him as a friend.
To professional contact quickly chung
confidence and esteem. Tendrils soon
thickened into vines and vines clam
bered into cables. Without neglecting
his large legal practice, he filled sue
cessfully many prominent and distin-
guished positions in Savannah. He was
at the time of his decease, in addition
to the occupancy of many other high
official trusts, an active and most use
full member to the Board of Public Ed
ucation. president of the Southwestern
Railroad Company of Georgia and pres
ident of the Citizens Bank of Savan-
nah. These several institutions have
warmly declared his official worth, and
their deep sense of his loss, In terms
fuller and more fitting If not more
sincere, than your committee can ex-
press.
Mr.. Denmark married Miss Anna r.
Starke Of this city, and she and
Thomas Norwood, their son, survive
him.
His domestic relations were always of
the tenderest and most lovable char
acter, and in the sweet seclusion of
home, many of his finest and most win
ming traits were exhibited. 1t has been
declared that no man is a hero to his
valet. 1t was to those who came near
est and touched him most closely that
he always seemed dearest and best
The scrutiny Of the microscope alone
can reveal certain modest and delicate
beauties.
He was a protesting Christian of the
Baptist persuasion, and his life was
ever regulated by an elevated and en-
lightened sense of religious conviction
and duty.
Perhaps the basic foundation of the
mental and intellectual life and char
acter of Mr.. Denmark was an unusual
ly robust and wholesome common sense
This, experimenting his character, gift
ed him with a transparency and di-
reetness of purpose and pursuit that
very few men ever display He never
engaged in the splitting of hairs. He
sailed for his port by the most straight
forward and least circuitous course. 1t
was contrary to his nature to tack.
Rather than enter the safest and most
munificent harbor Of refuge under false
or even questionable colors, he would
have continued to Sail with God the
seas" One of the finest and most at
tractive of all his qualities was un-
questionably this high toned directness
of mind, purpose and pursuit.
No man ever lived who was less in
clined to take refuge under the shelter
of some popular shibboleth. In truth
| he needed no such protection.
He was outspoken, direct and
manly in all that he uttered
or did. He despised that type of hu-
mainly that once aroused old Doctor
Johnson to exclaim that patriotism
had become the last resort of scoun-
| drel."
| His character was simple and SYM