The Savannah morning news., 1902-12-23
AFTER BRIEF ILLNESS
EX-GOVERNOR JAMES BOYNTON
DIES AT GRIFFIN.
HEALTH HAD BEEN FEEBLE
BUT ONLY RECENTLY WAS HE
FORCED TO HIS BED.

GREAT Sorrow Over the Death of the
Distinguished Soldier, Statesman
and Jurist-FuneraI Services win
Be Held This Afternoon at Griffin.
Rev. DIR. NunnaIIy VIII Omciate.
Honorary Escort Named by Many
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES of Governor
BOxnton.
Griffin, Ga, Dec. 22.-Ex-Governor
James Boynton died at his home In this
city this morning at Ills o'clock after
an illness of only a few days.
He had been in feeble health for sew
eral years. and last week was forced
to take to his bed on account. of stom-
ach troubles. The physicians realiz-
ed for the past few days that there was
no chance for the recovery of their
distinguished patient, still they did
everything possible, hoping against
hope that his life might be spared, but
just before noon to-day the great
heart of the soldier, statesman, and
jurist was stilled forever by the hand
of death. During his illness he was
tenderly administered to by his loving
wife and only child, Mr.. L. J. Boynton
of Sunnyside.
The funeral services will be held to-
morrow afternoon at $3.50 at the First
Baptist Church, conducted by DR.. G.
A. Nunnelly of La Grange, assisted by
Rev. ]. ]. Bennett of this city. The
Masons will have charge Of the fun
eral and he will be buried with the
honors of the order. Honorary escorts
have been appointed from the following
orders: Masons, Odd Fellows, Red
Men, Knights Of Pythias, Mayor and
Council, bar of Flint Circuit, Confed-
crate Veterans survivors of the Thir-
tieth Georgia Regiment, Daughters of
the Confederacy, honorary escort of
citizens, committees from the Senate
and House of Representatives and the
Griffin Rifles.
Mayor Bailey has issued a proclama-
ton, suspending all business of the city
during the services, and everyone will
attend and pay the last tribute of re-
spect to the man who was so univer-
sally loved and honored.
Judge Boynton was born in Henry
county, Georgia, May Z, 1893. His only
education was derived from the old
field school, the curriculum of which
embraced only an elementary English
education. His intentions and ambi-
tons were to become a soldier. but
through carly misfortune and the death
of his father. when he was but II years
of age, changed his whole life. The
spirit which made the man shone out
clear and bright In the boy and un-
daunted by early discouragements he
pefsevered in his studies and finally,
in 1852, after drifting about the state
without any definite plans, he located
at Cave Springs, and attended the
Hearne School until his meager hoard
compelled him to make other plans.
He then returned to Henry county and
commenced the study of law under Col.
L. r Doyal, a prominent lawyer or
McDonough After ten weeks hard
study he was admitted to the bar by
the Superior Court of Henry county
and received the congratulations of
the judge and entire bar upon the thor
oughness of his preparations. He COM
menced to practice at Monticello, Ga,
where he practiced until January, 1858,
when he removed to Jackson, Butts
county, and formed a partnership with
Col. James r. Lyons, In 1860 he was
elected Ordinary of Butts county
At the outbeark of the Civil War he
enlisted as a private in the Thirtieth
Georgia Regiment, and after seven
months service was elected major of
the regiment. In December 1862, he
was appointed lieutenant colonel and
upon the serious wounding of Col.
Mangham he was promoted colonel.
Judge Boynton was badly wounded at
Decatur. July %, 1854 which wound de-
tanned him from his regiment until
January 1865, when he rejoined his
men and remained with them until
they disbanded.
The Judge then came to Griffin and
resumed the practice OF his profession,
having moved his family here in 1868.
In 1856 he was elected county judge.
From 1869 to 1872 he was Mayor of
Griffin. In 1880 he was elected state
senator and was unanimously chosen
president of that body. The judge
acted as Governor for a time after the
death of Gov. A. H. Stephens, in 1883.
He was appointed Judge of the Supe-
rior Court in 1886 and was three times
reelected to that important position,
resigning in April 1893. In 1895 he was
elected to represent this county in the
lower house of the Legislature, aft
err which he retired to private life and
again took up the practice of his chos-
en- profession. For several years he
has been in feeble health and unable
to give much attention to business, but
whenever his venerable and kindly
face appeared in court or upon the
streets he was Immediately surrounded
by loving friends who considered 1t an
honor to shake his hand again. Such
is a short epitome of the life of a
truthful, honest and self-made man; a
man honored and respected by all, who
in his ripe old age looked back upon his
private and public career with pride,
for there was not one stain to mar that