The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1904-05-19
ROBERT M. FURMAN.
A Bri-f Sketch of the Life and
Character of On of North Carolina's
NDblest Sons-A brave Soldier,
Christian and Gentleman Culture.

IL
Robert Mcknight Furman, son OF
William H. and Rebecca W. Furman,
was born at the town of LOuisburg
on the 22nd Of September, 1917. He
was married in Calvary EpiscopaD
church, TarborO, to Miss Mollie Ma
theson Of that place, by Rev. Joseph
b. Cheshire, (Sr..) ID. d., on the 18th
of June, 1873.
Mr.. Furmun was educated in the
schools OF his native town, and BAY
ing IL literary bent, at the age OF
fourteen edited Il little paper called
the Louisburg Eagle, probably the
first paper ever published in the
came on when he was still IL boy. but
as soon as he was of sufficient age
he Joined the Confederate army and
when the war ended he was Il second
lieutenant in the Junior Reserves,
his commend being the Seventy-frst
Regiment OF North Carolina troops
and attached to General Hardee's =
corps. He was with his command
on the retreat of General JohnstOn's
army, and having passed through
Chapel Hill and crossed Haw river
into Randolph county, when near
Bush Hill he listened to the farewell
address, OF our gallant General r. +.
HOke to his division. and on May 2,
1860, received his parole as IL Con-
federate soldier and $1.25 in silver
which was given to him and each OF
his comrades without regard to rank.
That was about all he had when he
returned through Raleigh to his i'm
pOveriShed parents. 1t is said OF him,
by those who knew him in the army,
that he was as true a soldier as he
ever proved to be in civil life. OF that
lie the estimate of one who knew
him long and well was summed up
in the words: "He was one of natures
noblemen." Not long after he re-
turned home he established at Louis
burg and edited for several years,
newspaper first called the Courier
but afterwards known rs the Louis
burg Times. He was also engaged
for some timein newspaper work
in Henderson. In 1S71-72 he was
local editor of the Raleigh Sentinel
and as such reported the impeach
ment trial of Governor Holden i'll a
manner very satisfactory to the
management of that paper and the
reading public In the latter part of
1872 he moved to Asheville and with
Mr.. Jordan Stone had charge of the
Asheville Citizen for some years, he
doing the editorial work. Later he
was editor of the Asheville Democrat.
| He was ever a staunch Democrat,
though it was not in his nature ever
to be a bitter partisan. While quite
IL young man he was made a member
OF the Democratic State Committee,
and was ever found wise and conser-
vative in counsel The party H. the
| Legislature recognized his services
by making him for several sessions
chief clerk of the Senate, and in 1892
| he was nominated for the office of
State auditor and triumphantly
elected, and during the four years of
Governor Elias Carr's administra-
tion discharged the duties of his high
office ably ana acceptably. He was
Il favorite of both Senators Ransom
| y
he was secretary Of Il committee OF
which General Ransom was chair
man.
But his life was that of an editor,
and being gifted with a retentive
memory and discriminating judg-
ment, his intermate acquaintance
with the leading men OF the State
and its history and that of the ma
ton for the past forty years, his pen
was used for instruction of the peo-
pie. When the Morning Post was
established in this city in December,
1897, he was elected by the corpora
ton which organized it the first edi-
tor. The history and success OF this
journal have proved the wisdom OF
the selection. And the public who
have been privileged to read his edi-
torials and other matter of his selec-
tion must bear willing testimony to
his ability, taste and fairness as a
journalist. He was ever careful to
present clean sheet for perusal by
Young and old of the households
throughout the State, and that truth
rather than the sensational should
be sought for in his columns. He
had an Old-fashiOn reverance for true
religion, good morals and good man.
ners. and the influence of his facile
pen was for the inculcatiOn of a like
respect upon his readers. His neigh
bOrs were mostly farmers when he
was Young. and he took most live
" and intelligent interest in the sue
cess of agriculture. His essays on
the policy to be pursued by raisers
of tobacco and cotton as the money
crops of the state, and his forecast
as to future prices of those staples,
must have been of value to those
who gave attention to his reasoning
and were influenced by his sugges-
tiOns. His reflections, too, rs to the
policy to be pursued by manufacture
ers were marked by conservative
wisdom. He was a patriotic North
Carolinian and he honestly stroye tC
advance all the best interests OF his
native State.
Mr.. Furman was a Christian as
we'll as a gentleman OF culture, and
was long a member of the Methodist
Episcopal church. He was pure il
thought and in speech, as we'll as IL
his written words: and therefore his
private as we'll as his public infu
ence was for the promotion OF refine
ment and good morals. Surely the
removal OF such a man is a calamity
to the State. as we'll as a great atfilc
ton to his family and friends.
Il
Mr.. Furman. besides his devoted