The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-03-04
DEATH OF 4 GREAT AND GOOD Man.
A Distinguished Educator, Dip
lomat and Statesman.

The death of DIR. Jabez L. NJ. Curry,
of Washington. D. c., on the 18th Of
February at Asehville, N. c., after a
brief illness of Bright's disease, re-
moves one of the most notable figures
of the South from the arena Of life.
/ The Atlanta Journal says:
I a good and useful life has come to
a close. OF DR.. Curry it may be truth
fully said the world is better for him
having lived in it; it is made poorer
by his taking away. For two genera
tions DR.. Curry has been prominent
in the affairs of his native Southland.
AS soldier, statesman, diplomat and
tinguished service for more than half
Of years and honor.
DR.. Curry was a veteran of two
wars, the Mexican and civil war. He
served in the Congress of two nations,
the United States Congress and the
first Confederate Congress. He and
Judge Reagan, of Texas, were the only
survivors Of that Congress.
DR.. Curry was not only ap historic
figure, but he was a map who had
crowded a great deal of work and use
fulness into one life. He began work
early and remained at it late. Indeed,
he left off only to wrap the robes of
his couch about him and 60 to his eter-
nal rest.
The South owes Dr.. Curry a debt
of lasting gratitude. It was to the
South that he devoted almost his entire
life But especially has she cause to
remember him for his work of the past
twenty years. AS agent of the Pea
body and Slater funds, he gave his en-
| tire time, devoted all of his energy and
great ability to building up and foster
ing a free school system in the South.
He began this great work when it was
not popular. AS strange as it may
seem now it was an uphill task for
many years. Weaker men would have
quit in despair. But DR.. Curry had
made it his life's work; he never once
thought of turning back. He succeeded.
He had the satisfaction Of seeing, be-
fore he passed away, the free school
system established and enlarged from
year to year IN every Southern State.
The thing tbas he had fought for
with TOM ne and pen ali these years
was accomplished. And to DR.. j. L.
NJ. Curry more than to any other one
man belongs the credit for the stand
the South has taken for the education
of the masses. Indeed, DR.. Curry
might properly be called the father
of free education in the South. !"
Through the funds which he controlled
he was, fortunately, 10 a position to
encourage in substantial way the
institution which he advocated, and
but for this fact it was posssib BILE
that the progress of free education in
the South might have been slower.
With all that has been accomplished
and with all that is yet TO be accom-
plished the name of DR.. J. L. NJ.
Curry is interviewer; his name and
memory are part Of the public school
system in the South.
It is not often that the press is called
upon to pay tribute to man whose
life was so full of honor and endeavor
and whose personal traits were so
lofty. Indeed, when one contemplates
that splendid life which has just been
brought to close the verdict forces
itself upon you that it was a complete
life, full in all that goes to make up a
truly great and good existence. A
gentleman born, a consecrated Chris
tian, man without selfshness, sol
dier, statesman, diplomat and scholar,
DR.. J. L. M. Curry was truly one of
the South's grand old men-one Of
the kind that are all too rapidly pass
ing away.
SKETCH OF DIR. CURRY.
He was born in Lincoln County,
Georgia, June, 1925. His maternal
grandfathers were Richard Wynne, Of
Wales, and Huguenot John Lamar, of
France. On his fathers side be was
descended from Captain Curry, of the
English navy.
After passing through course of
study in private schools in Georgia
and Alabama, he entered the Univer-
sity of Georgia and graduated in 1912,
when he was II years of age.
He graduated from the Harvard
Law school at 19, and while there
boarded in the same house with Presi-
dent Hayes, who remained his firm
friend through life. Shortly after
leaving Harvard he went to Mexico to
fight for the freedom Of Texas, and
with CAPTAIN Jack Hayes Joined Cap