The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-02-07
MONUMENT TO PELHAM.
The People Of Jacksonville Want His
BODY to Remain There.

Body to Remain There.
Jacksonville, Feb. 5, 1900-The move
ment to erect a monument to John Pei
ham, at our State capital created the
impression that the remains of Pelham
might be moved to Montgomery, and
had the effect of checking in
some degree the work of the John
Forney Chapter, u. d. c., at Jackson
VILE. to place a marble shaft over his
grave in the cemetery here Ills family
were communicated with on the subject.
Mrs. B. P. Neil of Atlanta, a sister of
Pelham. replying to a letter of enquiry
from the John Forney Chapter, says in
part:
No, no. My brothers John Pelham's)
remains will never be taken from Jack
sonville with the consent of myself or
brothers. / like. to hnow he is sleeping
his last long sleep close to his dear
mother who loved him so You need not
fear either of us will ever consent to
have him taken elsewhere. l love all
those who honor his memory and want
to mark his grave so that others who
may make Jacksonville their home may
sometimes place flowers on his grave
Go on with your noble work without
consulting any of his family for any
thing you decide on will meet with our
approval and heartfelt thanks"
Replying to this John Forney Chapter
sent Mrs. Neil the following:
Jacksonville, Ala, Feb. 1, 1904
Mrs. b. p. Neil. Atlanta Ga:
Dear Madam: John Forney Chapter,
u. D. c., of Jacksonville. has instructed
me to acknowledge receipt of your recent
letter and inform you that our chapter
has honored itself by enrolling you as an
honorary member of the same
Your assurance that the relatives of
your noble brother, John Pelham, would
never consent to the removal of his re-
mains from the cemetery here has been
most pleasing to the people of Jackson
vile, and 1t has been ordered that your
letter be preserved in the archives of our
chapter.
The social life of your family prior to
the war was part of that of this COM
munity, and here the young hero, before
he became a cadet at West Point found
kindred and associates congenfaI to his
noble spirit and passed many of the hap
piest days of his cary lie. For this rea-
son we have always claimed him as one
of ours, and have felt reflected glory
in his fame. We have loved and cherish
ed his memory as we have that of all
the noble youths and men of our town
who lost their lives fighting under that
banner that Pelham defended In life.
it has long been the hope of the people
! here to testify their love and regard for
him by raising a marble shaft over his
grave. Early after the Close of the war
Chancellor John Foster started a move
ment to that end. but the war had, as
you know, left the people of the South
very poor. and the movement failed, not
for lack of disposition. but for lack of
| means. After years of bitter struggle
against poverty, our people, as elsewhere
in the South, are getting In better finan-
| cial condition, and with this improved
condition recurs the purpose TO complete
work conceived while the South was
yet. IN ashes and almost In despair. Our
community 'is small, as you know, and
Tor this reason We can not hope to raise
monument commensurate with Pei
hams fame; but we will raise a shaft of
which this community and his family
will not be ashamed, as a testimonial of
affection for that noble and gentle youth
who once sat at our hearthstones and par
ticipated with us in the amenities of a
social Ire remarkable for it's refinement,
its culture and its profound yet simple
religious faith-a life around which now
hangs a halo of romance-the traditions
of which our elders preserve with fond
recollection and which we contemplate
with growing reverence and regard. A
wider movement throughout the State
and the South win raise a grander mon
ument neutrality-suspicious. at our State
Capital-which will express more fitting
ly the pride of the South in a soldier
whose fame Is worldwide and whose fine
career Is now part of the history of the
glorious cause for which he fought
With sentiments and esteem ] am yours
truly. Eva Priyett.
Cor. Sec. John Forney Chapter