The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-03-10
'OHN H. REAGAN DEAD.
Gge Reagan Was the Sole Sur
viving Member of the Cabinet
of President Davis.

met, died on Monday at Palestine,
Texas. OF pneumonia. Judge Rea-
gan, who was 50 years old. had been
in falling health Tor year Or more.
Judge Reagan was in Houston
Thursday transacting business. When
he returned home the family phySi-
clan was called. Judge Reagan COM
planning OF pain in the lungs. On
Sunday pneumonia set II, and Judge
Reagan grew rapidly worse. Gath
cred in the death chamber were his
wife and daughters and W. Green
wood his sor-in-law.
Hundreds OF telcgrams OF condo
lence are being received from all
parts OF the United States.
The funeral took place at Palestine
" cGncsday afternoon.
Judge Reagan was postmaster gen
cral in the Confederate cabin I. Be-
fore the War Between the Sections
ne was elected district judge IN Tex
as. He went 10 the United States
senate in 1887. Alter retiring from
the senate Judge Reagan was ap-
pointed chairman OF the state rail-
road commission. but from this he
resigned d few years ago. At the
time OF his death he was engaged in
writing his autobiography.
He was a native OF Tennessee, 'hav-
ing been born in Sewer county in
1913, 81 years ago. He earned the
money to educate himself,
workin at all sorts of man
ual labor and running boat
on the Tennessee river. In 1889
he went to Texas and early took part
in the fights to drive the Cherokees
out OF that country. Gen. Albert
Sidney Johnson made him scout
and he could have had a commission
as lieutenant but declined, preferrlng
to take up his work as surveyor. His
work kept him in constant danger
from the Indians. who were given to
massacring surveying parties.
He studied law and was admitted
to practice in 1S4S. He had already
been elected colonel of militia and
was made probate Judge of Hender-
son county in 1916 The next year
he was sent to the legislature, and
became chairman OF the committee
on public lands. In 1S4o he was de-
feated for the state senate but later
was elected district judge. 1t was
in this office that he made the record
that brought him prominence and es-
tablished his reputation for the fear
less discharge Of official duty. At
that time the country over which his
jurisdiction extended was full of
gamblers and desperadoes, men OF
reckless spirits and daring characters.
He enforced the law with a heavy
hand and his life was constantly IN
danger. but the moral and physical
courage Of John H. Reagan were not
for a moment to be doubted and his
court became respected and feared.
In 1856 Judge Reagan-he has
ever since been called fudge" in
Texas-was elected to congress as
democrat and he was a member Of
that body until 1861, when he went
home to take a seat in the conven-
ton called for the purpose OF cons'd-
ring secession. He voted for the
secession OF Texas. He was then
elected to the provisional Confeder-
ate congress. and was soon thereafter
made postmaster general, all office
he held throughout the war, serving
for a while towards the close as sec
retary Of the treasury.
Judge Reagan was the only one OF
the Confederate cabinet who was with
President Davis in his flight from
Richmond. and when Mr.. Davis was
captured the Judge also became a
prisoner. He was sent to Fort War
rem, where he remained in prison for
many months.
Returning to Texas, Judge Reagan
wrote an open Letter 70 the people Of