The Washington times., 1904-01-10

John Brown Gordon, thirty-fifth gov
ernor OF Georgia, from 1886 to 1890 and
United States Senator. was born in Up
son county, Ca, July ., 1892 His grand
father was one OF seven brothers who
emigrated from Scotland to North Caro-.
lima and Virginia, and who were all
revolutionary soldiers. His grandfather
was prominent citizen of Wilkes coun-
~, n. c., and his father was the Rev
Zaehariah H. Gordon.
General Gordon was educated at the
State University of Georgia, where he
graduated in 1852 at the head of his
class. He read law and practiced
short time in Atlanta. Ga. with his
brother-in-law. L. E. Bleckley. who af-
terward became chief justice of Geor-
gia.
Enlisted in Army.
General Gordon soon gave up the pro-
fession TO aid his father. who was min
ing coal in Georgia and Tennessee. He
married. i'm 1855. Fanny daughter Of
Hugh A HARRISON He was mining
when the war began, but enlisted at
once and served heroically TO the close,
becoming in succession captain, major.
lieutenant colonel, colonel. brigadier
general. major general, and. lieutenant
general in command of one wing of the
Army of Virginia.
After the War.
General Gordon settled in Atlanta after
the war. He was a member Of the ma
tional Union convention at Philadelphia
In 1866. delegate to the national Demo-
cratic convention I'm 1858, and Seymour
and Blair elector the same year. He
declined to use his name as a candidate
for governor of Georgia. but was finally
nominated. ran the race against r. B.
Bullock, and, according TO the claim of
his party, was elected and counted out
by reconstruction machinery. He de-
clined the use of his name as a candi-
date for United States Senator in ISL.
when Mr.. Norwood was elected, and
the same year went before the Congress
sional committee to defend his State in
the "Ku-Klux' Investigations He was
delegate at large in the national Demo-
cratic convention in Baltimore in 1917,
opposing the nomination of Greeley; was
elected United States Senator in 1913,
and reelected in 1873. He resigned IN
1880, and raised the money TO build the
Georgia Pacific Railroad. He was elect
ed governor of Georgia in 1856. and re-
elected in 1888. and in 1890 was again
elected United States Senator.
n dmOuS 0OlO1cl.
General GorGon was one of the illus
trious generals of the Confederate army,
and won an international fame as a sol
die.
An English correspondent of the Lon
don Times declared him the rising
genius of the South. He was second only
TO the great Lee. He was five times des-
perately wounded. His devoted wife,
who accompanied him throughout the
war. and whose narrow escapes would
equal any romance, by her care and
careful nursing saved his life when
pierced by five bullets at Sharpsburg.
! He led the last charge at Appomattox.
/ taking the Federal breastworks and cap
! turing artillery in the closing scene of
/ the drama. After the war he gathered
! his wing of the army, and made the
| greatest speech of his life to his heart
| broken men, exhorting them to bear
| the trial. go home in peace, obey the
| laws, rebuild the country, and work
for the veal and harmony of the re-
public.
In the Senate.
His service in the United States Sen
! ate was brilliant and statesman
| like. He delivered powerful and elo-
| quent speeches upon finance. civil ser
| vice reform, and made a mastery de-
i IenSe or the south, eXeIllnB a con
! servative influence. In the Louisiana
troubles he was chosen by the Demo
erars in Congress to draft an address
10 the people OF Louisiana and the
! South. urging patient endurance, and
an appeal 10 returning sense of justice
to cure wrongs. He took masterful
| part in the debate, and a serious vari-
ance between him and Senator Conk-
ling was adjusted by Senator Bayard
| and others.
for his efforts in the advancement OF
agriculture. He aided Lamar In saving
Mississippi from political misrule. and
was empowered by Governor Hampton
to look after South Cardinals interests
having canvassed the State for its re-
demption with Hampton. and after tbs
| adjournment OF Congress secured the
For this he received the historic dis
! patch. South Carolina thanks you.
His life-siZe portrait hangs In the state
/ capitol. The women sent his little
daughter, born in Washington. silver
urn with HamptOn's dispatch on 1t, anC
TO Mrs Gordon a superb silver service
each piece mounted with a gold palmetto
/ tree
Faultless Administration.
AS governor, General Gordon's ad
ministration was faultless. A New York
| paper declared his first Inaugural