The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-03-17
NOT ANOTHER is LEFT.
Judge John II. Reagan, Who Died Won
day, Was Last of Con-
federate Cabinet

Houston. Tex, March S.-Judge John H
Reagan, sole surviving member of the con-
federatc cabinet, who died Monday in
years DID, and had outlived by many years
all the other members of the confederate
cabinet. Mallory was the first of them to
go and Memminger was the last. Mall
lory died in 1873, Memmnger in 1885, That
short period of years saw the deaths Of
Stephens. Toombs Walker, Hunter Ben
jamin Mallory and Memminger, al mem
bers of the provisional government.
The life of Reagan was perhaps the most
satisfac tory of those of any of these men.
The downfall of the confederacy inter-;
posed only temporary barrier to the adj
VanCement of his career. AS a statesman
under the union he achieved as great sue
cess as was promised him under the gov
eminent he sought to foster in the south
ern states. Benjamin was the only other
exception to the rule of retirement that
governed the impulses Of these men. and
his career was carried on in an adopted
country and among strange people.
John II. Reagan was born in Sewer
county, Tennessee, October s. 1878. In his
youth he was engaged in a variety of oc-
equations. including blowing, wood chop
ping. keeping books and running a f1atboat
on the Tennessee river. His early life was
full of incident and adventure. Before he
was 20 years old he went to Natchez,
Miss, and later moved to Texas. He en-
listed in force to eXpel the Cherokecs
from the state and did good service. He
then became a surveyor and penetrated
into the Indian country. His was the first
party that escaped massacre by the saw
ages. In 1S4S Reagan was admitted to the
practice of law. He became district
judge and in the enforcement of the laws
was brought into personal collision with
the gamblers and desperadoes who held
sway over the border towns. His physical
courage and moral force won him tr.-
umph and a reputation.
Reagan was first elected to congress in
1885, which office he held with distinction
until he resigned to cast his lot with the
confederacy. He was sent as a delegate
to the secession convention held In Texas,
and then was chosen a deputy to the pro-
vincial congress of the confederacy. The
decided stand he had taken in opposition
to the hostile measures and the confidence
his ability had established for him in the
minds of the people of Texas and Of the
south brought him into position Of grea t
prominence among the advocates of Sc
cession. He was chosen by Mr.. Davis in
the formation of his cabinet for the posi-
ton OF postmaster general.
In the permanent organization of the
he was reapponted to this office and held
1t to the end of the struggle. also acting
as secretary Of the treasury in the last
period OF the war. He was the only one of
the cabinet captured with Jefferson Davis,
and was confined for many months at Fort
Warren. He wrote an open letter to the
people Of Texas. in which the views ex-
pressed with regard to the treatment of
the negroes subjected him to misconstruc
ton and caused him to retire from poll
tics to his home in Palestine. Then he
divided his time between the practice Of
law and the supervision Of his farming in
terests.
In 1884 he was sent back to congress.
where ne served continuously and wit,
distinction for thirteen years. In 1890 be
| took his seat in the United States senate.
where he remained until his resignation In
1892, to accept the Craftsmanship Of the
| Texas railroad commission He was one
of the authors Of the interstate commerce
bill.
His senate resignation was the most
signal sacrifice that has characterized the
political career Of any man in Texas or
the south The position offered neither
the urgent request of Governor Hogg and
other political leaders Of the state Judge
Reagan undertook the work Of organizing
the commission. In the time that he
served he brought the body to the highest
standard Of efficiency that has been at
| tanned by any similar organization in this
country He resigned only a year or SC
ago
Texas loved Judge Reagan. When his
name was proposed to the state delegate
convention in San Antonio, June 81, 1903
as democrat tic national delegate. every one
! of the 800 delegates rose to his feet in a
unanimous vote for his selection.