Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-11
Sketch of His Life.

John Brown Gordon, thirty-fifth governor
of Georgia, from 1886 to 1890, and United
States senator, was born in Epson county.
Ga, July g. 1892. His great-grandfather
was one of seven brothers who emigrated
from Scotland to North Carolina and Vir-
ginia, and who were all revolutionary SOL
diers. His grandfather was a prominent
citizen of Wilkes county, N. c., and his
father was Rev. Zachariah H. Gordon.
John Gordon was educated at the state
university of Georgia, where he was gradu-
ated in 1852 at the head of his class. He
read law and practiced for a short time in
Atlanta with his brotfer-in-law. l.. Il.
Bleckley, afterward chief justice of Georgia.
but he soon gave up the profession to aid
his father, who was mining coal in Georgia
and Tennessee. He married in 1853, Fanny,
daughter of Congressman Hugh A Haral-
son. He was engaged in mining when the
war began. but enlisted at once and served
heroically to the close, becoming, in sue
cession captain. major. lieutenant colonel.
colonel, brigadier general, major general
and lieutenant general in command of one
wing of the army of Virginia.
Settled in Atlanta.
He settled in Atlanta after the war. He
was a member of the national union con-
vention at Philadelphia In 1866. delegate to
the national democratic convention in 1868
and Seymour and Blair elector that same
year. He declined the use of his name as
a candidate for governor of Georgia, but
was finally nominated, made the race
agains r. B. Bullock. and according to the
claim of his party was elected and counted
out by reconstruction machinery.
He declined the use of his name as can
didate for United States senator in 1871,
when Mr.. Norwood was elected. and the
same year went before the congressional
committee to defend his state in the "Ku
klux'' investigation. He was delegate-at-
large in the national democratic conyen-
ton at Baltimore in 1872, opposing the
nomination of Horace Greeley; was elected
United States senator in 1873. and was re-
elected in 1879. He resigned in 1880, and
raised the money to build the Georgia Pa
cific railroad He was elected governor OF
Georgia in 1886. and reelected In 1883, and
in 1890 was elected United States senator
Gen. Gordon was one of the illustriouS
generals of the confederate armies and
won an International fame as a soldier. An
English correspondent of the London Times
declared him the rising genius of the south.
He was second only to the great Lee. He
was five times desperately wounded. His
devoted wife, who accompanied him during
the entire war, and whose narrow escapes
would equal any romance, by her care and
faithful nursing saved his life when pierced
by five bullets at Sharpsburg. He led the
last charge at fateful Appomattox, taking
the federal breastworks and capturing artii-
lery during this closing scene of the drama.
Greatest Speech Of His Life.
After the war he gathered his wing of the
army and made the greatest speech of his
life to his broken-hearted 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.
States Senate was brilliant and statesman
like He delivered powerful and eloquent
speeches upon finance, civil service reform.
and made q mastery defense of the south.
Louisiana troubles he was chosen by the
democrats in Congress to draft an adj
dress to the people Of Louisiana and the
south, urging patient endurance and an