The Gainesville star. [volume] (Gainesville, Fla.) 1903-19??, 1904-01-15
Grim Reaper Takes from Earths Labors
ldolized Hero Of Confederacy, States
man, Orator and Beloved Civilian
PASSED AWAY AT HIS HOME IN FLORIDA
Ills Illness was Sudden and Of Comparatively Brief
Duration -Close of Great Life was Calm and
Serene--Short Eptome of His Career
in War and in Time of Peace.

Resigned In 1879 to take up the
building OF the Georgia Pacific Rail
road
In 1886 was elected governor Of
Georgia over Hon. A. o, Bacon.
In 1888 was re elected governor
without opposition.
In 1890 was elected again to the
United States senate, and was the
only Georgian ever elected Three times
TO that body.
Retired voluntarily at the expiration
of his term In 1897.
Since 1897 he shared with Presi.
dent Mckinley the glorious work Of
finally uniting the sections by his
masterful lectures, and the prepare
ton of his patriotic "reminiscences.
Universally Loved.
Probably no character in public lilo
was more universally loved than Cen
eral Gordon. Possessing every trait
OF character that appeals to the con.
fdenco and esteem OF his fellows,
General Gordon has not only main
tained the enylable position in the
hearts OF his people, but as time
passed on increased his friends and
made more secure his position In the
hearts OF the public.
After his brilliant campaign during
the civil war, at which time he dem
onstrated his nobleness OF character,
as we'll as his courageous manhood, he
struck the keynote TO his future con.
duct, by advising HE oyerpowered sol.
dlers to return home, obey the laws
OF the Union, and aid IN upbuilding
those very things which they biuanaif
but succeeded In destEo5lhfg. Return.
,pS 4, M m. ssislcRen home, under these
conditions. General Gordon began the
greatest work OF his life. in aiding
TO stanch the fow Of blood and erect.
\ Ing on their former site the homes
OF the south.
His Course In Peace,
Laying aside his sword, with an
ever abiding faith In the future OF
right and justice, General Gordon
sought to win the hearts OF his peo'
pie not by violence, of course, but
| by the earnest pleading OF his elo'
quent voice. No man ever more cor
daily received, or more earnestly
given the support of his people, than
John B. Gordon
! Magnetic, eloquent, with his martha
: bearing. he found no difficulty In hold
: Ing his audiences, or In converting
: them to his plan of thought. Every
, where, during those troublesome times
. OF reconstruction, General Gordon wal
hailed as one Of the greatest mer
of his day. He welded an influence
for good that cannot be exaggerated
nor overestimated In after years
Though he was one OF the most en-
ergetic and enthusiastic supporters o
the southern cause, after the surren
der he became one Of the most zeal
Gus of the builders OF the New South
His counsel was sought on all occa
}. slons, and was always found to b.
good. His judgment was unerring, hi
energy without limit,
Chief OF the Confederates.
: General Gordon has always occu
pied conspicuous position In the oil
+ ganlzed ranks OF the United ConfedeI
ate Veterans At the several RI
!. unions, since he became CON
man der.in.chief, he was the mos
& picturesque character OF the Confede
!. ate cause. He had repeatedly bee
8 elected commander-lnchief, thong
I time and again, influenced by his IL
creasing age and III health, and b
II the ever growing demand made upo
his time, suggested that some otht
s. veteran more active than himself,
Z, elected commanderin.ohief OF Ii
y, United Confederate Veterans; eac
d. time his suggestion has fallen upo
deaf ears, and It Is conceded by ever
II one, that so long as Gordon live
N Confederate veterans would have .
other leader than himself,
stricken While In Fine Health.
u General Gordon arrived at his coul
of try home ON Biscayne bay, s mile
above Miami on Monday befol
II Christmas, to spend the holiday Sc
4. son with his family. He enjoyed Il
rest from the requirements Of an e
ID tensive. lecture tour, from which
had just returned.