Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1904-10-15
GEN. RANSOM DEAD
Prominent Southern Statesman Goes
10 Ms Reward
WAS LOVED. IGNORED. RfsPfcTtr
yhe imperishabie Career OF North
Cardinals Most Distinguishes PR
vste Citizen Closes at the 18th Mile
stone In His Life.

Weldon. -. c. Special Ex- Senator
Matt. W. Ransom. North Caroiinas
foremost citizen. died suddenly SatGr-
day morning at his country home 40
Northampton county. near Garysburg,
OF heart failure
The end came shortly after O'Clock
and was the peaceful passing OF
fame which had fickercd but feebly
for some months. IL Was hts 18Th
birthday.
Gen. NJ W. Ransom was horn on
Oct. ). 1926. in Warren county. He be-
came Attorney General for the state oi
North Carolina in 1852. being only e
years Of age at the time. thus being the
Youngest man 10 hold this position ID
the history OF the State. BY reason oil
Gov. Vance being unable 20 Quahty as
Senator after his election. Gen. Ran
som became United states Senator ma
1872. which position ne held constantly
until 1895. Immediately after which he
was appointed United states minister
TO Mexico. in which capacity ne served
FOR two years. He was a member OF
the board or arbitration in the N'ne-
zuelan troubles with Mexico
He leaves five sons and one dc,-rntet
and a wife. lie was probably the i2rs-
est landowner in the state. the acre
age being variously estimated from IL
eco 10 $4,000. in fact. h recently re-
marked. There is only one person
who knows how much land own ana
that is myself"
The funeral will take place Monday
afternoon at 4:30 o'clock and the inter
ment will be made i'm the family bury
ing ground. He viii be buried with
Masonic honors.
The following is a brief life sketch
of EN- Senator Ransom.
Tie was born in Warren county. tOiS
state. I'm 1926. and is now. therefore.
siNty-two years of age. For more Than
half q lifetime he has been a conspiru-
Gus parsonage. and a man OF recognized
ability and pronounced influence in
North Carolina. Shortly after his grad
uation from the Univers ty at Chapel
Hin. in lS47. ne was admitted 90 the
bar. and FIVE years later he was elected
F Attorney General OF tho State. Few
+ men have meritcd or won srch SUE .ess
SO early In life and fewer have follow
( Oh 10 with so continuous public SER
/ vice In 1855 ne resigned the attorney
f Generalship. and was not again In or
/ fee until the year 1858. when he Nas
+ a Representative in the State Leeisia-
ture And again. in 1859 and 1860. he
filed that position. He was sent as a
/ peace commissioner from the state 90
North Carolina 20 the Congress- ~
Southern States al Montgomery. Ala.
IN 1861 on the breaking ont OF She
/ Civil War he entered the Cunfedcrate
army and rose successfully through
the positions OF lieutenant colonel. loi-
. onel and brigadier general 90 that ~
/ major general IN the last named -onn
be served until the close OF the war
and surrendered with General iee s
army at AppomattOX. A. soldier
. General Ransom showed himself 90 h.
a courageous man and a brave an,
/ sk.liful officer. and he enlearei himself
f greatly. by his humane ma11cemtn
and courteous bearing 20 the mon al
his c0mmsnd Returning 20 his n8tiF'
state al the close of the war. Genera
Ransom resumed the practice OF th'
law. at the same time being engage
D extensively rs q planter. and 81 was no
until tie wear 1872 that be again cn
tered public life Then. for the trs
time. DE was elected ~ the Senate O.
] the United states. a position he ha
b occupied continuously until the prcsen
e time. having been reelected liz lS1
ID and IN 1883 Al the expiration Oc hi
r. present term. in March 1889. he vii
Z have eighteen years In the HIGHEST OF
D fec within the gift OF the people of In
G own state. an honor OF which he an
,. the state may be proud Senator Ran
som was a man OF marked ability an
OF broad culture Though be has SCI
dom made set speeches In the Senat'
vet his efforts were characterized b
I those qualities Of conservative goo
b sense. elegance Of expression an
p grace Of delivery that are PECULIAR
+ his own.