The commonwealth., 1902-02-27
GEN. TOC1i DEAD.

Gen. T. T. Toon, State SnpariDten
dent OF Public Instruction, died sud
denly in Raleigh February 18th.
He had been i'll with pneumonia fo,
three months Or more, but was recoV
ering, and his friends and physicians
thought he would soon be we'll. lie
was taken suddenly i'll again Wednes-
day morning and died very soon.
He had grown as rapidly in the
work of his Office as any man in the
history of the State, it is thought.
The News and Observer said in part
LIFE OF GENERAL TOON.
"Thomas Fentress Toon was born in
Columbus county On June 10th, 1910
His father was Anthony E. Toon, Esq
of Irish and Welsh extraction, and his
mother was Mary Mcmillan Toon
daughter of Ronald Mcmillan Of Scot
land. His early boyhood was spent Oh
the farm. Later he attended Wake
Forest College. While a student there
on May Goth, 1861, he enlisted as a
private In the Columbus Guards No.
2, company raised by his half-broth-
er, Capt. William II. Toon, who was
afterwards Mai and Lieutenant Colonel
of the Twentieth North Carolina Reg
iment. After enlistment he returned
to Wake Forest College ana was grad
uated in June, 1861. On the 18th OF
that month, he was elected First Lieu
tenant OF his company. He was chos-
en- Captain on July 22nd, 1861, otaEa
the place q Capt. ". H. Toc;, who
had been elected lIajor. On February
2Sth, 1868, he was elected Colonel Of
the Twentieth North Carolina Raci-
ment. He was appointed Brigadler
General on May 31st, 1864, and on
June 4th, was assigned to command Of
Johnston's North Carolina Brigade.
He followed the fortunes Of Lee, Jack
son, Gordon, Early and Ewell in all
important engagements, unless deferred
by some ofthe Aye wounds received in
battle. After the var, he lived in Rob
eson county county, n. c., from 1891
until elected State Superintendent Of
Public lnsustuction, 1900. During
this time he twice served his county
In the Legislature, once in the House
and once in the Senate.
GAS soldier, he won great Gistinc-
ton for gallantry, being repeatedly
honored, and was finally commended
by General r. E. Lee. His promotion to
the rank OF Brigadier General was won
by gallantry In action. He was wound
ed flye times in battle, and had two
horses shot under him. At the close
of the war, disabled by wounds ane,
broken in health, he was cared for at
the home Of Colonial Coleman in Con
cord.
DEVOUT BAPTIST,
General Toon joined the Baptist
church very early in lite, and has al
ways been a consistent member of that
denomination. While teaching at
Fair Bluff Academy, he was made a
deacon in the church there, and re-
Gently he was elected deacon of the
Tabernacle Baptist church in thls city,
but was never well enough to attend
church after his election. He has al
ways been strict temperance man.
General Toon was never what could
be called politician in the true sense
of the word, although his interest in
public affairs was never lacking. As
has been mentioned te represented
Robson in the House one term, and
Robson and Colum bus in the Senate.
When the Democratic State ccnyen-
ton net here April 18th, 1900,
there was sharp contest over the
nomination for Superintendent of
Public Instruction. General Toon's
name had not been mentioned before
the body met, but his friends brought
him before the assemblage and he was
nominated and triumphantly elected.
GAS to his administration of the
Office, tho present condition of North
Cardinals schools ard the commen-
datlons OF the Governor, the other
State officers, and the public In gener-