The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1905-09-22
RESOLUTIONS OF RESPECT.
Court Holds Memorial Session in
Honor of the Late ]. G. Smith.

Court Holds Memorial Session in
Honor of the Late j. G. Smith.
| A meeting of the bar of Obion
County, Tennessee, was held in the
Circuit Court room at Union City
on Tuesday, Sept -, 1895, at 2
o'clock p. m. for the purpose OF
taking such action as may seem
proper relative to the death OF
Mai. James Graham Smith, an
eminent and much esteemed mem
Der of the bar.
On motion Judge Andrew j.
Lawson was made chairman of the
meeting and Henry G. Stanfeld
was elected secretary.
On motion of Judge W. H.
Swiggart a committee of five was
appointed to draft suitable resolu-
tions commemorative of the life
and work of our distinguished
brother, and present them to the
meeting for their consideration.
The chair was pleased to appoint
as this committee Judge w, HI.
Swiggart, +. W. Moore, G.. N.
Lannom, r. A. Pierce and d. j..
Caldwell. The meeting then ad-
journed until Monday, September
Is, 1905, pending the report of
committee on resolutions.
On Monday, September Is, 1905,
the bar met pursuant to adjourn
ment A. j. Lawson presiding.
Judge w. H. Swiggart, the chair
man heretofore appointed present
ed the following resolutions of
respect, and a motion was made to
adopt the same.
The undersigned committee, ap-
pointed at a meeting of the Bar of
Obion County, beg leave to report the
following sketch and resolutions:
Major James G.. Smith died at his
home in Troy, Tenn, on the fifth day
of August, 1905, after an illness of
about ten days. He was a citizen OF
Obion County for more than half a
century and member Of the Bar and
ministered at the altars of the courts
of this county for about forty.six
years.
He was born in Chester County, S.
c., on September rs, 1928, and was
therefore nearly seyentY-seven years
of age when he died. He moved to
Upton County with his parents when
about four or five years old and was
reared to young manhood in that
county. He acquired liberal educa-
tion, not only in English, but in the
classics, although the opportunities
for education at that period we're most
unfavorable. In 1853, while still quite
a young man, he came to Obion Coun-
ty and became the principal in charge
of Westbrock Academy at Troy, an
institution Of learning of high char
acter and wide reputation in its day,
from which many young men and wo-
men were educated and sent cut to
become useful members of society.
In the meantime, without the aid
of law schools, he devoted himself to
the study of law, and in 1859 was adj
mitted to the bar and at once began
the active practice of his chosen pro-
fession at Troy. Being well grounded
In the elementary principles of the
law and having liberal education he
at once took high rank as lawyer,
and he devoted himself to that profess
sion with a singleness of purpose to
the end Of his life. During his long
career at the bar, without exception,
he enjoyed the confidence, respect and
esteem OF the courts, OF MS brOtner
lawyers and Of the entire community.
He was successful, not only In at
tanning and maintaining high rank
In his profession as a jurist, but in ac-
quiring a good estate. He was for
many years leader and molder Of |
thought on all public questions. !
While never consenting, though often
urged, to hold any public office, yet he
took an active interest in affairs of
State. He was Democrat and often
held the position Of chairman of the
party committee of his county and
gave literally Of his time and means
to promote what he believed to be the
best interests Of the State. In 1886
he was urged to accept promotion toI
the Bench, but declined, as he had