The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1905-05-26
IN MEMORY OF
VIM. r. BYNUM
ElOQUsnt AsmorIAl Submitted -
the House Committee.

AAlhAuAboeCs EAA.g mAy AOS AOOOs
Hon. Albert w. Gilchrist, Speaker Of
the House of Representatives
Sir-YOur committee appointed by
the House Of Representatives to pre-
pare a memorial upon the life and ser
vices Of It's late Chief Clerk, DR.. VIM.
Forsyth Bynum, take great pleasure,
though It be q melancholy one, in per-
forming the duty assigned Us.
DR.. Bynum was born in Mecklenburg
county, Virginia, July %, 1925, and
died at Live OOk, Fla, May 8, 1904.
His father moved to Richmond county,
Georgia, when DR.. Bynum was O small
boy, and lived there until his death, in
1854. His son was educated In Vir-
GINA, and afterwards graduated at the
Augusta ga Medical College. After
travelling over the Southern States for
O few years, he entered upon the active
practice Of his profession at Albany,
Ga.
He was married three times. First,
to Miss Annie Posey, daughter Of Judge
VIM. Posey Of Warwick, Worth County,
Georgia, to whom three gOns were
born, two Of whom survive him, tO-wit:
Hon. J. II. T. Bynum, of Live Oak,
Fla, and J. w. Bynum, of White
Springs, Fla.
His second wife was Miss Mary J.
Brinson, of Suwannee county, Florida,
and his third wife, who survives him,
was Miss Fannie p. Anderson of Dan
bury, Ga,
In 1854 he moved to Lafayette
county, Florida, where he practiced his
profession till the outbreak of the Civil
War, when he enlisted in Company E,
Third Florida regiment, and was elected
second lieutenant, and rose to the rank
of captain. He was continuously in
the service until the war closed, being
severely wounded in 1864 in east Ten
nessee.
Upon learning in April, 1866, that the
army was to be surrendered, he declar-
ed that he would never sign q parole.
On communicating his determination TO
the fourteen men, who constituted the
remnant of his company, they decided
to a man to stand by him, and he led
them from North Carolina to Florida by
avoiding the towns garrisoned by Fed
eral troops, and travelling by country
roads, and all reached home safely,
where they disbanded.
He moved to Suwannee county and
settled near the site of the present town
of Live Oak, before the railroad located
the station there, and commenced the
practice of medicine He was soon told
py a Federal revenue officer that he
could not follow his profession unless
he took the oath of allegiance to the
Uuited States. He replied: "All right,
then, I'll throw my saddlebags under
the bed and quit. This he did and
turned his attention to farming
When the town of Live Oak sprang
I'D around the railroad station, he en-
tered into the drug business, which he
continued until his death. For few
wears he sold drugs at White Springs.
He was elected chief clerk of the
Housed Representatives at the session
of 1884, securing a furlough from the
army that he might serve. He served
continuously until his death, except one
term of carpetbaR rule, in which he was
reading clerk, and one term when he
was incapacitated for performing the
duties by severe attack Of rheuma-
tism.
tics, and, as he was a good judge Of
men, his services were very valuable to
his party in the many campaigns, espe-
cialfy in those during the reconstruction
era.
He was a prominent and consistent
member of the Baptist denomination
for fifty years.
AS chief clerk of the House of Repre-
sentatives ne was useful and efficient,
having performed the duties until they
we're as familiar as the simplest duties
Of everyday life. His popularity was
90 great that he seldom had an opponent
for the Office, and it was regarded az q
sinecure. -,
AS a physician he was prompt, skill
FIJI and sympathetic, and won the love
and confidence of his patients.
As a druggist, careful and painstak-
inc. a. a neighbor, kind and accommO-
dating, and the family relations true ~
husband and father.
In his intercourse with others, as q
man he was urbane and courteous,
WHICH was the secret Of his popularity.
He had a clear, comprehensive mind,
. which was we'll stored with vast fund
: Of useful knowledge, which had been
chilled from q vast fund Of useful know1-
ed0e. which had been culled from q va
ried and extensive course of reading,
10th OF books and Of the leading period
icals of the day. In short, he belonged
not to.the large class Of men who fol-
low, but was q born leader Of men.
DR.. Bynum was q very enthusiastic
Mason, and hardly ever missed a meet
ing Of the lodge, filling all the positions