The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-11-30
THoMAs ?. ocHILTREE.
Sketch of Congressman Who Died
Last Tuesday.

Thomas P. ochiltree was born in Liv-
ingston. Sumter county. Ala, on October
26, 1889 According to international law,
he was a citizen of the republic Of Texas,
of which his father, Judge VIM. B. ochil-
tree was resident at the time. Thomas
p. Ochiltree came to Texas early in 1910.
Judge Oehiltree was one of the founders
of the republic, holding respectively posi-
lions on the supreme bench of the repub-
lie, attorney general and secretary of the
treasury. holding the latter position dur
ing the administration of Arson Jones,
the last president preceding annexation
to the United States. Judge Ochiltree was
for a quarter of a century the leader of
the Wing party in Texas. He stood at
the head of the bar was member of the
state legislature for two terms, was
member of the constitutional convention
of 1886 and 1860, a member Of the provln-
cial congress of the confederate states,
and declined an appointment to the cab
met of Jefferson Davis. Judge Ochiltree
resided alternately at Nacogdoches and
Marshall. It was at the former place
that Major Tom Ochiltree passed the days
of his youth under the classical supervis-
ion, respectively of Professors Montrose,
Ely, Ashbel Green and Shepherd, after
which he was intrusted by his father to
The care of the Rev. l.. c. M Chambodut,
of Nacogdoches and later the vicar gener-
al of the Galveston diocese. This eminent
and good man, who was one of the most
learned and distinguished scholars of the
country, perfected young Ochiltree In
the Latin, Spanish and French languages.
in all of which he excelled. He entered
the United States army a little later. and
served in a campaign against the Indians
on the frontier of'Texas in 1854 and 1855.
Tom Ochiltree was sergeant-at-arms
and clerk of the house of representatives
of the Texas legislature In 1885, 1851, 1858
and 1859 He was secretary of the state
democratic conventions of 1859 and 1860.
was elected delegate to the celebrated
Charleston convention, which caused the
secession of the southern states. He vol
unteered as a private in Bass company
First Texas Regiment CHood's Brigade)
in the Army of Northern Virginia, was
promoted successfully as lieutenant, cap
tain and major of the adJutant generals
department serving with distinction on
the staff of Generals Sibley, Green, Dick
Taylor Longstreet and Maxey in the
armies Of Northern Virginia, New Mex
leo, Louisiana, Indian Territory and Ar
kansas. After the war he held several
positions of Importance. He was Texas
agent of immigration for Europe. He was
United States marshal for the eastern
district Of Texas.
Immediately after the civil war Major
Ochiltree went to Europe, via Halifax,
from the prison of Johnson Island, Lake
Erie. After three months he returned to
the United States. landing In New York,
where he wrote for the New York News
along with Roger A. Pryor, Thomas A.
Sneed and s. S. Cox. He was also agent
and special correspondence for the states
of Louisiana and Texas for the News
He settled in Galveston late in 1865 as
g III f,41 1lr4rr L., TO-
shalD, but he soon gave up the practice
on account of military occupation and
martial rule He then became legislative
correspondent and afterward part pro-
prietor and junior editor of the Houston
Daily Telegraph, one of the oldest and
most influential papers In Texas. He
again visited Europe in 1867. at the insti-
cation of the banking and shipping house
of T. H. Mcmahon e. Co., and other lead
ing merchants for the purpose of induc-
ing the establishment of a direct line OF
steamers between Liverpool and Calves
ton. He accomplished the difficult task,
but owing to large losses and want of pa
tronage the line was compelled to sus-
pend.
Major Ochiltree was a candidate for
congress against w. T.. Clark in 1869, but
withdrew just before election. He es-
poused the cause of Grant VS.. Seymour.
Grant had at times shown him great per-
sonal favors. During frequent visits to
Washington Major Ochiltree was a guest
at his house while general of the army,
and Major Ochiltree was intimately ac-
quainted with Grants family and their
near relatives, and often rendered favors
to unfortunate southern people by secur-
ing Grants favor for them. Grant was
always kind, generous and forgiving, ac-
cording to Major Ochiltree. who esteemed
him above all other men of his day. Ma
jor Ochiltree admired Grant for his con-
duct to Lee and his army at Appomattox,
and often remarked that he knew Grant
afterwards threatened Mr.. Johnson with
his resignation IL he violated by jot or
little the parole he had given to Lee and
his men, Major Ochiltree once said: II
have been in the shadow of great men all
my life; have seen Napoleon III, Bis
marck, Bright, Gladstone, Disraeli and
many American statesmen and generals.
The two greatest I have known were
Grant and Stonewall Jackson
On Major Ochiltree's visits to Europe he
had open letters from General Grant to
all the United States ministers. which
gave him the entree to all the courts.
Probably no other private citizen since
John Van Buren,, when his father was
president. was better accredited and bet
ter received, and no one ever more the
honors more creditably. While in Europe
Major Ochiltree met many men of letters
and artists. He was a visiting member
of the celebrated Savage Club" of Lon
don, also of the "Garrick," the white
Friars,' 1.-THE Scribblers," where he met
many distinguished authors, artists, ac-
tors, scientists and men of travel" He
also had the entree of the leading mill
tary and naval clubs. In scrapbook,
Major Ochiltree kept it is shown that at
one time he had a membership In many
rechere clubs all the world over
One characteristic of a good club man
which Major Ochiltree owned was his